The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1889-10-26 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

MODERN CHRISTIAN MARTYRS.—In his book, "Two Rings of Uganda," the Rev. R. P. Ashe gives a graphic account of the martyrdom of a number of native converts to Christianity during the fearful persecution of the Christians by the vile King al'wanga. He says : On the 29th of May Mackay visited the King, who was still at Munyonyo, and begged for the lives of the Christians who were under sentence in prison. The King promised to spare them, but did not keer his word. The next day I went to Munyonyo. On the side of the road as I passed there was a human head, which looked as if it had been carefully placed there after been severed from the trunk. It had a sort of fascination for me. I tried to discern the features, but it was the face of no one whom I knew. A little further, on the other side of the road, were the limbs hacked in pieces at the joints. I went on, sick at heart. I arrived too late, and was not admitted to the King's buena. While sitting outside In the storehouse, I was told of the death of Mukasa, a bright, brave boy, who on one occasion had administered a thorough thrashing to a companion who was leading some of the younger pages astray. His Christian name was Muss, ; he was one of the first killed. He was murdered at the door of WalukagaSi smithy. I beard, too, the story of Waluksga's capture. When they came to seize him, his wife Hannah, a most intelligent woman and clever reader, escaped with the rest of the household; but he stood firm, and was taken. He waited for a definite reason, and it was this The Christians were suspected of disloyalty and sedition. Now the most prominent of them would not run away nor go into hiding, lest they should give colour to this suspicion. They appealed to the laws of their country, and were prepared Kuwoza Musango," to plead for judgment, before the proper tribunal. It was this spirit and this confidence in the righteousness of their cause which so puzzled the rulers, and which made the Christiansauch a power in the country. Then followed the crowning act in the cruel tragedy, when Walukaga and some 30 others met their heroic deaths A mighty pyre was heaped about the Christian captives. Each was firmly bound, a burning brand was brought, and scorn the consuming fire enfolded this company ot saints, of whom the world was not worthy ; and so calling, if report speaks truly, on their persecutors to believe in Christ, they were caught away in their chariot of flame. A little later and we heard of the death of Musali Kidza, who had been warned by his roaster the Mujasi to make his escape ; but, like Walukaga, he refused to do so. He was accordingly taken; the unrighteous sentence was pronounced, and they dashed his brains out with • club, and this was the manner of his martyrdom. When Munyaga was captured he was in his house actually teaching at the time. The little party of readers saw the "Bamboa," executioners, coming up the slope of the hill on which stood the house, where they were. Immediately there was a stampede, and the lads and others escaped. But Munyaga, like Waluksga, would not fly, but sat where he was and waited. The executioners came cautiously up. They saw a gun leaning against the reed lintel of the door and stopped, hesitating, believing it was the possession of a loaded gun that gave Munyaga such confidence. He, seeing their evident fear, told them they need not be afraid of the gun, for he did not mean to use it. So they came up to apprehend him. He begged to be allowed to put on his kansu " (white robe), which they agreed to, and then they led him away. His trial was a cruel mockery, and he was ordered to be hacked in pieces and burned. His torturers cut off one of his arms and flung it into the fire before him, then they cut oil a leg, and that, too, was flung into the flame, and lastly, the poor mutilated body was laid on the framework to be consumed. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection of the dead A