Evening star., 1941-09-09
Aimee's Missionaries
Prove Too Wild for
Belgian Congo
Authorities Soon Muy
Expedite Departure Of
Remaining Brethren
By GEORGE WELLER,

Foreisn Correspondent of The Star and
Chicago Daily News
LEOPOIDVILLE, Belgian Congo,
Sept. 9.-Aimee Semple McPherson's
missionaries are proving too wild
for the Belgian Congo and may have
to be sent back to Los Angeles.
A statement in the official maga-
zine Of Sister Aimee's temple, to the
effect that the recall from the jungle
to the United States of her ennis
saries has become necessary because
Hitler has captured the Congo, has
strained the patience of the Congo
lese authorities to the point where
1t may soon expedite the departure
to California of Aimee's remaining
brethren.
While the nearest German is at
Dakar, about 5000 miles away-as
near the United States as the
Congo-Sister Aimees blunder In
giving to the Third Reich the vast
Congo basin, administered from Lon
don by the Free Belgian government
might, under ordinary circum-
stances, have been condoned by the
Belgians. But both the Belgian and
United States governments, the
latter being represented here by
Consul Patrick Mallon and Vice
Consul David x. Newman, have been
called on more than once during
the last two years to take q hand
in the affairs of the international
Church of the -Four Square Gospel
Mission" today more tangled than
the jungle itself.
Unable 10 Limit Activities.
OF the $50 Americans residing In
the Congo. more than 80 per cent
are hard-working, self elf-sacrificing
members OF missionary families.
For over half century they have
served as explorers, road builders,
physicians and progressive teachers
Of the natives and have accom-
paished more toward bridging the
gulf between cannibalism and
civilization than almost any other
single agency. Other clergymen and
mission doctors, shocked by the
jungle misdemeanors Of Aimee's
emissaries - which the Belgian
government claims range from fist
ticuffs to borrowing money from
natives--have been unable 10 do
anything about limiting their activ-
titles.
The -Four Square gospelers have
never been admitted as members of
the Protestant Council of the Congo,
the senior organization of recog-
nised missionary sects and are,
therefore, not subject to any dis
cipline other than Belgian law.
Their right to preach the Angelus
Temple gospel or anything else they
choose is protected under the Congo
Basins open-door policy formulated
In the treaty Of st. Germain-en-
Leye Of 1919.
Aimee herself, through Giles
Knight, head Of her world revivalist
organization, has tried to get several
errtng preachers to return to Los
Angeles and In the cases of those
enjoying good standing even offered
to pay their transatlantic fares.
But so far It has been difficult to
pry the -Four Squarers out of the
wilderness OF Kasai, where most are
located, near the trading post of
Luisa.
Refuse to Emerge.
The Angelus Templars have set
tied In an unspoiled spot where
hippos, elephants, lions and apes
abound, where even airmail delivery
from Leopoldville takes from fort
night upward, and Aimee's clarion
call for them to come home has
reached them too family to require
obedience. The gospelers also have
ignored all consular calls to emerge
from the bush, remaining sequest-
cred In Kasai even after the Belgian
government last March filed a lien
on the church property which Mr..
Knight values at 100000.
At the time of taking the above
step the Belgians stated:
THE attitude and actions of GER
tain members Of the Four Square
Gospel Mission have produced q
deplorable effect upon the European
and native population of the region
"A slugging match has occurred
between the Messrs. Henri G.
Kramer, Ralph c. Cobb and Merriel
L. Sigler.
Several suits at law have been
filed against the above three persons
upon their own initiative as well as
by natives.
Kramer has not paid his native