Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1960-02-05
Billy GrdhGm
African Crusade
Meets Snoqs

MeefS SnoqS
Continued from Page ~
vention Peoples Party, which sus-
tanned DR.. Nxrumah's struggle to
free Ghana and put him into Of
flee, said sharply:
Not . few (Africans) have
been disappointed, actually stun
ned, by DIR. Graham's attitude
toward the intention Of Christ
ian France TO detOnate an atom
bomb In the Sahara, the evil ef-
fects Of which win not spare any
African Christians"
Although Ghana, a member of
the British Commonwealth, is a
Christian nation, many of its peo-
pie are Mohammedans and pagan.
Ghana is the most rugged indie
pendent and politically-forthright
Of the IL independent African ma
tons and through its leader, Prime
Minister Nl1rumah, who was elect
ed to office while he was imprison.
ed for his political activity by the
British, is considered to be the
most persuasive force for self-de-
termination in all Of Africa.
1t becomes a republic on July l
Of this year although it will still
remain a member of the British
community of nations.
Enthusiastic Reception In Liberia
Graham, fast-talling North Car
olina-born religionist who has en-
ployed the talents Of entertainer
Ethel Waters to sing for him in
selling himself as the foremost re-
vivalist, and sent a Negro "asso-
ciate evangelist, Toward Jones,
ahead Of him to prepare the way
for his '6-city, 9-county "Safari
for Souls" through Africa, expect
ed the same reception in Ghana
that he got in Liberia, where the
President, William v. S. Tubman.
now in his fourth term, is a prea-
cher Of the Methodist church.
Graham's press secretary, Tom
McMahRn, religious editor of a
daily paper in Columbia, South
Carolina, one Of the most preju-
diced cities and states in the US,
reported from Monrovia last week
that Graham's tour of Africa,
judging by his reception in Liberia,
was nearer an official project of
the national government than any
other campaign the globetrotting
evangelist has ever held"
McMahan said Liberia is pro
baby the most Christian nation in
the world, officially speaking,
from the Protestant point Of view.
Many high officials double as
Ministers" and Liberals declara-
ton Of independence was addressed
to the nations Of Christendom.
However, McMahan noted that
"Animism "a belief that all objects
have souls) is still prevalent in the
interior and it is estimated that up
to IS percent Of the population is
Mohammedan."
NOnetheless, the Graham party
was dOmicIIed in . government
rest house as guests Of President
Tubman.
Graham was given q luncheon
by Tubman at the Executive
Mansion, where the Order Of Az
rican Redemption, Liberals Sc
cOnd highest honor, was confer
red upon the former North Gar
Ollna farm boy.
McMahan claimed that Graham
spoke to a first night audience Of
$500 and converted 500.
But after Liberia, Graham is ex-
pected to run into more Of the
same type Of redemption he got in
Ghana, excepting possibly in Nj
geria which win not be independ-
ent until October and where the
British are still a restraining in
nuence.
He is expected to cut his tour of
Ghana short and go on to Kenya,
where his failure to take stand on
such issues as atom bomb testing
and independence viii doubtless
cause the native population to make
short shift Of him, also Tangan-
yilka, and Ethiopia, where fiery
old Emperor Halle Selassie Is also
expected to take a dim view Of the
religionist's expediency and failure
to speak out against color discrim-
nation, second class citizenship,
and atomic explosions In Africa.