W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, C. C. Crisler, T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers, J. N. Anderson
June 2, 10 A. M.
L. R. Conradi in the chair. GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.9
I. J. Hankins offered prayer. GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.10
L. R. Conradi: Are there any reports from standing committee? GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.11
Guy Dail: The committee on plans has a further partial report to submit (reading):— GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.12
WASe
Whereas, It is extremely important that immediate and aggressive efforts be put forth for our children and youth who are too young to join the Missionary Volunteer Society,— GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.13
21. Resolved, That all union and local conference Missionary Volunteer secretaries take hold of the junior work at once, adopting plans and methods designed to organize and build up this work. GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.14
Whereas, There is the utmost need of preserving the cause of God from the harm that might be occasioned by the enrollment in one field of members dismissed in another, or by the employment in one field of laborers that have been dropped from the list of workers in another; we therefore,— GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.15
22. Recommend, (a) That the transfer of membership from one church to another or from one field to another, be effected only by means of church letters of recommendation. GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.16
(b) That no laborer who has been dropped in one field be reengaged in another without a thorough examination of the case on the part of the conference officers proposing his employment. GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.17
On motion to adopt, the consideration of the report was deferred. GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.18
L. R. Conradi: If there is no other business, we will listen to the reports from South Africa. GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.19
R. C. Porter (reading):— GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.20
WASe
It affords me pleasure on behalf of the South African Union Conference to greet the delegates from all parts of the world, and to assure you that during the past four years there has been a steady advance in our field spiritually, both among the workers and the laity. This has brought its returns in a healthy growth in all departments of our work. GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.21
My first work, after becoming acquainted with the conditions in the field, was to join with the presidents of each of the two conferences in tent efforts, the first resulting in thirty accepting the faith, and the second in accessions to the number of twenty. GCB June 3, 1913, page 243.22
PHOTO-ELDER W. H. ANDERSON ADN DAUGHTER NAOMI AND ELDER R. C. PORTER AND WIFE LEAVING THE BAROTSELAND MISSION
Our European population numbers less than two million, extending from the Cape to Lake Nyasa, a distance of almost three thousand miles. Including our native population, exclusive of German Southwest Africa and Portuguese East and West Africa, it is 7,370,437. Our faithful band of self-supporting paper-and-magazine workers have placed $9,795 worth of this class of literature in the hands of the people during the past four years. The distribution of 50,000 copies of the special Sentinel and De Wachter on the Eastern Question has demonstrated that when our forces are all unitedly enlisted in the work, we may do much more than we have yet accomplished. To supply the population of America proportionately would require an issue of 3,750,000 papers. GCB June 3, 1913, page 244.1
The loyalty and faithfulness of our canvassers has been unsurpassed in any other department of our work. Within the limits of our territory where our books are sold there are but a million and a quarter white residents. Our cities are small and widely separated. We have only thirty-nine towns and cities containing more than five thousand inhabitants. In much of our country territory the farmhouses are from two to seven miles apart. In many houses where books are sold, from two to six of our books may be seen in private libraries. In one library sixteen of our books were found. The difficulties under which our canvassers labor call for a spirit of consecration and devotion to the work which appeals to honest hearts and wins them to the message. The report of books delivered during the past four years amounts to $47,473 worth. Two thirds of the sales are for morocco bindings. We have sold “Patriarchs and Prophets,” “Great Controversy,” and “Daniel and the Revelation” as our regular canvassing books for a number of years, using “Coming King,” “Christ Our Saviour,” “Seer of Patmos,” and “Story of Daniel” as helps. The field has been previously canvassed for “Bible Readings” and health books. GCB June 3, 1913, page 244.2
These departments have shown a good advance. A very vigorous campaign has been conducted to develop a deeper spiritual experience in all members. Our young people are lining up for service in any department that needs their labors most, and our Sabbath-schools stand in the ranks of those who are giving all their offerings to missions. GCB June 3, 1913, page 244.3
The work of this department has been conducted through the publishing department. Articles have been furnished the leading daily papers, and leaflets have been freely distributed, setting forth the inconsistency of Sunday laws and enforced military training, with the result that no Sunday legislation has been passed by parliament, and in passing the Enforced Military Training Bill, provision was made that those who conscientiously oppose bearing arms may serve in the hospital corps if called into service. GCB June 3, 1913, page 244.4
There has been an increasing spiritual awakening in the educational department of our work during the past quadrennial period. Most of the young people attending Claremont Union College have come with a definite purpose to fit themselves for work in the cause. Every student that has been graduated during the last four years has been offered work in some department and nearly all have accepted and are now doing faithful work. Thirty colonial workers have joined our forces during the past four years, aside from our self-supporting colporteurs. Many of these were college students. GCB June 3, 1913, page 244.5
The attendance at our college has averaged from fifty to sixty, including local students. GCB June 3, 1913, page 244.6
The church-school work has been effectual in allaying outside prejudice, and interesting our young people in the work. By careful management on the part of the principal, who is also business manager, and his staff of workers, the college is now self-supporting. The last year’s balance showed a gain of $250. GCB June 3, 1913, page 244.7
The medical department of our work in South Africa is handicapped by the rulings of the medical council, which do not permit a physician to advertise, or to connect in any way with an institution which advertises for patronage. It also holds that a physician who connects with an institution on salary, and carries an outside practise at the same time, is guilty of unprofessional conduct, and is therefore barred from practise. He may operate as a private practitioner outside of an institution and attend patients on call, teach classes of nurses, and donate all above a reasonable living to any objects he may choose without infringing the requirements of medical ethics. To meet these conditions we have arranged our medical work on this basis. Our doctors have been loyal to the plan, and during the past four years they have contributed to the work $5,500 from their earnings. These contributions have aided in starting well-equipped treatment-rooms in Cape Town and Muizenburg, as branches of the Plumstead Sanitarium, and in relieving the indebtedness of that institution. They have also aided in adding a wing to the main building of the Plumstead Sanitarium, built a ward for Cape colored patients, and provided a much-needed ten-room dormitory for nurses. Besides, they propose to support a white medical missionary in a needy mission field, and to keep up this inflow of contributions as in the past. Treatment-rooms have been opened in Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, East London, and Pretoria. Dr. Bell has connected with the Belair Hydro, in addition to meeting the demands for medical attendance at the Maritzburg Institute. GCB June 3, 1913, page 244.8
PHOTO-A NATIVE AFRICAN VILLAGE. IT IS IN THESE THAT OUR NATIVE TEACHERS CONDUCT OUT-SCHOOLS
The influence of our medical work throughout the field is good. Among our patrons are members of parliament, professional and commercial men of the highest standing, and natives from the huts of the lowliest of Africa’s millions. We have always made it the rule that in our medical work we would turn none away because of their poverty who apply for medical aid or nursing. God has rewarded our efforts to assist such by using them as he did the little maid in Israel, to bring others in whose homes they are employed as servants, to a knowledge of our work. The spiritual influence of the work done through our medical department has brought, not only physical relief, but the full light of the message to many. GCB June 3, 1913, page 244.9
Four years ago two conferences, struggling under the shadow of some internal discouraging conditions, were confronted with the after-results of the Boer war, and the worst financial crisis in the country known in South Africa in many years. Today three conferences, surrounded by much more favorable financial conditions, with a united band of workers full of courage, are pressing the triumphs of the message with firm faith and steadfast hope that the message will enlighten all the dark portions of the great South African field before the close of this generation. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.1
In 1908 the membership of the South Africa Union Conference was 679, with 88 additional Sabbath-keepers. The membership has increased during the past four years to 1,257. The tithes for 1908 were $11,896.48, making $13.19 cents per capita. In 1912 the tithe was $23,670, making $16.20 per capita. It should be remembered that 524 of our present members are natives. But for this the rate per capita would be greatly increased. The offerings have increased proportionately. The report for 1912 shows that the regular offerings for that year amounted to $6,000. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.2
The three conferences and the union conference are free from indebtedness, save a small amount owing for the recent purchase of two mission farms, and the starting of the Cape Town treatment-rooms. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.3
The tract societies are on the verge of singing their jubilee of freedom from debt. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.4
The Plumstead Sanitarium, which was bonded for $7,279, has recently paid $5,000, and is planning to continue the well-begun work until the bond is released and the institution free from debt. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.5
Claremont Union College, which was bonded for $10,000, has paid $4,139, and other pledges are yet to be paid, which it is hoped will reduce the bonded indebtedness to $5,000. When the effort to relieve the indebtedness of these institutions was begun by taking pledges at the Bloemfontein conference two years ago, the Lord signally blessed the effort by a most remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the entire time that pledges were being taken a quiet, subdued, tender spirit, so deeply convicted and touched all hearts present that nearly the whole congregation were in tears, and three efforts to close the meeting failed because the people were unwilling to cease pledging, and increasing their pledges. Shower after shower of refreshing fell sweetly upon the meeting, and $8,525 was pledged, and hundreds of relief books were taken by the one hundred fifty people present, Without any urging, nearly all the pledges have been paid in, and the money has been applied on institutional indebtedness. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.6
In 1908 we had six industrial missions in South Africa. Three of these were owned by the union conference, one was held by a conditional grant, and the others on lease. We were operating thirteen out-schools in connection with these stations. We now have twelve stations, owning nine, and operating three on lease, with seventy out-schools. In 1908 the property of our missions was valued at $30,497. It is now valued at $76,678, not including Selukwe and Maranatha mission farms, recently purchased, valued at $9,000. At that time some of our missionaries held private investments in connection with their mission stations. These have all been turned over to the mission, and no missionary now holds any private investment in connection with his mission work. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.7
When making an unconditional grant of our first industrial mission farm, Hon. Cecil Rhodes said, “I am glad to give the land for opening an industrial mission in Rhodesia, for I have learned that missionaries are better than soldiers for keeping the peace among the natives, and it is much less expensive.” We are now receiving a small yearly grant from the government for our Solusi mission school. The government school inspector submitted a full report of the work at the Solusi Mission to the government at the close of last year as an illustration of what may be done in the line of agriculture and dairying in south Rhodesia. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.8
PHOTO-SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST NATIVE SCHOOL TEACHERS, RHODESIA
Both the Solusi and the Barotseland Missions, each requiring between five and six thousand dollars annually for operation, are now entirely self-supporting. Several other stations expect to reach the self-supporting basis as soon as they are properly equipped with teams, tools, and stock to make self-support possible. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.9
We are sometimes asked if conducting self-supporting mission work is not against the spiritual interests of the missions. We reply that Christ and Paul were self-supporting missionaries, and it did not detract from their spirituality. When the Lord wished to develop in Moses a deeper Christian experience preparatory to calling him to lead Israel from Egypt to the land of promise, he sent him out into the fields of Midian on the self-supporting industrial basis, and he soon developed the meekest and the most humble Christian experience of any man in all the earth. We find the effect favorable to spirituality in our self-supporting mission experience. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.10
Because we were unprepared to operate a portion of our territory, and the times demand that it should be occupied at once, in consultation with the General Conference Committee, we have turned over to the European Division of the General Conference the Kongo Free State, Madgascar, German Southwest Africa, and Portuguese East and West Africa. The European Division has been so generous in response to our request, that they have not only accepted this territory, but they have proposed to take the South African Union bodily into their territory. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.11
1. This latter question should be considered at this conference. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.12
2. We should have an experienced couple sent as teachers to supply the need of Claremont Union College. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.13
3. More workers and appropriations are needed for opening the unoccupied territory in Bechuanaland, Barotseland, British Central Africa, the Transkei, and other unoccupied territory in our union. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.14
4. A white minister is needed to labor as an evangelist among the white population in the vast territory of our mission fields. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.15
5. We greatly need one or two new books for our canvassers. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.16
6. We need $3,500 at an early date to provide a rest home for workers in South Africa. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.17
7. Above all, we need divine enlightenment and the Holy Spirit, that we may have wisdom to discern and power to accomplish the work in our field which the times demand in the brief space left us in which to finish the work. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.18
In conclusion, the people of the South African Union wish to express to the General Conference and the churches and Sabbath-school in America their hearty appreciation of the loyal support they have given to our mission work in South Africa. Your liberality has contributed largely toward making possible the progress the work has made during the past four years. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.19
We have great reason for gratitude to God for his special care over the work and workers in our field. During the past four years, though our workers have been repeatedly visited with fever and black water, and exposed to other dangers, not one of our missionaries has fallen in death. Our mission stations have been repeatedly visited with showers of rain, while drought conditions have prevailed about them. GCB June 3, 1913, page 245.20
The clouds of discouragement overhanging the work on account of financial depression and other causes four years ago, have been lifted by the kind hand of God, and today a loyal, consecrated, united, and courageous band of workers stand ready to go anywhere, facing any danger, where they can serve the interests of the work the best, firmly believing the work will be finished in this generation. In what has been accomplished we have had very little to do. I We have many times marveled at the wonderful working of God; and for all his mercies, of which we are unworthy, we would express our deepest gratitude, and take courage as we join with our fellow laborers throughout the world for the speedy finishing of the work. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.1
PHOTO-BRINGING A CHILD TO A MISSION STATION
The following lines adapted to Africa by one of our missionaries on furlough express the feelings of our workers when required to leave the field for a time to recuperate their health:— GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.2
“Let me go back! I am homesick
For the land of my love and toil.
Though I thrill at the sight of my native hills,
The touch of my native soil,
Thank God for the dear home country,
Unconquered and free and grand!
But the African dark, dark shores for me
Are the shores of the promised land. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.3
“My brain is dazed and wearied
With the home land’s stress and strife,
With the race for money and place and power,
And the whirl of the nation’s life.
Let me go back! Such pleasures
And pains are not for me:
But O, for a share in the harvest home
Of the field beyond the sea! GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.4
“For there are my chosen people,
And there is my place to fill,
To spend the last of my life and strength
In doing my Master’s will.
Let me go back! ‘Tis nothing
To suffer and do and dare,
For the Lord has faithfully kept his word.
He is with me always there!” GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.5
R. C. PORTER, President.
During his report Brother Porter described the meeting in which pledges were being taken to relieve the sanitarium of debt. He said: We asked each one to pray that God would instruct him how much to give. The Spirit of the Lord fell upon the congregation, and the sweet Spirit of Christ melted almost every heart to tears. There was no time but half of the congregation were weeping,—just a quiet, subdued spirit of weeping,—both ministers and people. After the pledges had been taken in the regular course, I tried to close the meeting. I was afraid to have them give more, for fear of a reaction, when they would feel that they had overdone it. But one brother arose and said that if his wife were there, he knew she would like to give $25, and so he would pledge that amount for her, and if she did not pay it, he would. That spirit was taken up, and again the pledging went through the whole congregation. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.6
Then, when I tried to close after that, another brother arose and said that if his children were there, they would each like to give $5, and he would like to add that much to his pledge. He said if they did not pay it, he would. And that wave went through the whole congregation. I tried to close a third time. Then a brother arose, and said that if our deceased Elder Williams, who had been president of the conference, and was always a liberal man, were there, he would like to contribute toward the relief of the indebtedness of these institutions. So he wished to place a pledge, which he would pay, in the name of Elder Williams. That was also caught by the congregation, and went through the entire meeting. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.7
When we came to close the meeting at last, I turned to Elder Edmed, and asked him to close the meeting with prayer. He was standing there weeping, and he said, “I cannot pray; I am to full for utterance.” I turned to Professor Elffers, but he gave me a similar reply. That feeling seemed to be all through the entire camp. But we did close with prayer, and thanked God for his presence with us. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.8
Then the question was raised: “Will these pledges be paid? Are they good? or have the people overdone it?” But we said, “The Lord has given the people a heart to pledge, and he will give them a heart to pay.” Before I came away, an amount equal to the sum pledged that day had been paid in and applied on the indebtedness. It was the most remarkable manifestation of God’s taking a meeting into his own hands of any I have ever witnessed. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.9
I may say further that at both the Solusi and Barotseland stations last year we were confronted with drought conditions. It was reported from there that unless they had rain inside of a week the crops would be a failure. The church and the mission stations all united in prayer that God would send us rain. And God answered our prayers. At Solusi a cloud hovered over the mission station, and it rained on the mission farm alone, while all the rest of that country was dry. The missionaries believed that God sent that rain in direct answer to prayer, and it increased their faith in God. We had other droughts afterward, and again in answer to prayer the mission farms received rain, while other parts of the country were dry. Afterward, the report went out through the country that our farms were cared for by God, and we received invitations from people that had hitherto been prejudiced against us, to come and open up schools in their neighborhood. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.10
L. R. Conradi: We are surely all thankful for this good report. Now we will hear from Brother Beckner. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.11
H. S. Beckner: The report I shall read to you is the report of Brother Clark. He is our canvassing agent in this field. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.12
H. S. Beckner (reading):— GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.13
WASe
United South Africa is twelve hundred miles long and eight hundred miles wide. It has four provinces. We have a union conference composed of three local conferences. The union conference missionary agent is the only canvassing agent in the entire field. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.14
The total population is six million persons. There are less than one million two hundred eighty thousand white people here. About one half of these are Dutch; the remander are mostly English or of English descent, Jews, and Scotch. There are more people in Philadelphia than white people in our entire field. The remaining four and three-fourths millions are natives (mostly heathen), colored people, and Indians. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.15
We have two cities, Johannesburg and Cape Town, that, including suburbs, contain respectively 237,000 and 155,000 inhabitants. Outside of these two places, we have only 11 cities with over 25,000, and 26 towns with over 5,000 inhabitants. Three fourths of the people live in the country and small villages. They are widely scattered. Farmers live from two to seven miles apart. These long distances make our work very difficult, as traveling by foot or bicycle is impossible. On account of horse sickness, mules or donkeys must be used, and books sold out of hand. Just how to reach and help these scattered country people is one of our serious questions; but the Lord has a plan, and in due time it will be carried out, to the salvation of souls. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.16
We have two well-equipped and well-manned tract societies. They are each at the extreme end of their conferences. One canvasser is now working nine hundred miles from the office, and the freightage on one hundred large books will be about eight dollars. GCB June 3, 1913, page 246.17
Nearly all our work during the past four years has been done at the centers of population. Some places have been canvassed as many as three times. In the majority of the homes in the cities and towns can be found from one to twelve or fourteen of our books, and yet we are still going over the territory. Probably no country on earth has purchased, according to its white population, more books than South Africa. The command to work the cities has been well heeded here. Modern dwelling-houses on either side; store in center; native huts (boys’ dormitories) in foreground. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.1
PHOTO-GENERAL VIEW OF SOMABULA MISSION, RHODESIA
With the deepest gratitude to our Heavenly Father, we submit the following report of book and periodical work for three and three-fourths years, or since the last General Conference to the middle of March, 1913:— GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.2
| ORDERS | DELIVERIES | |
| 1909 | $21,700 | $ 4,916 |
| 1910 | 27,845 | 16,670 |
| 1911 | 20,653 | 14,190 |
| 1912 | 14,585 | 10,415 |
| 1913 | 1,819 | 1,282 |
| Total$86,602$47,473 |
The average deliveries reported are fifty-five per cent, which of course is below the real average. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.3
In one day one canvasser secured $123 worth of orders, and during another week secured $240 worth. Three of our number have together delivered $12,600 worth of books. one of these delivered $2,850 worth of “Daniel and the Revelation” in Pretoria, the capital city of the union. One has canvassed and reported 170 weeks out of a possible 183 weeks. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.4
The following nationalities have been represented in the work: American, English, Scotch, Welch, Holland, German, Jewish, Scandinavian, Dutch, colored, and Kaffir. All are pressing together to help finish the work in this generation. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.5
We have used mostly “Daniel and the Revelation,” “Great Controversy,” and “Patriarchs and Prophets,” with “Coming King” and “Christ Our Saviour” as helps. Two thirds of our orders are for the morocco binding. The people prefer this, even at a higher price. As the English publishing house is nearest to us, we deal mostly with it. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.6
Several of our canvassers have been permitted to bring precious souls into the truth, and these in turn have become laborers together with God. There is a great work yet to be done here, especially among the white farmers and the colored and native people. Our leading brethren especially have given much assistance and most hearty cooperation to this department of the Lord’s work, for which we are grateful. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.7
At the present time we have ten canvassers, and all join in sending hearty greetings to our fellow workers at the General Conference and elsewhere. May our wise Counselor be in all your deliberations, and guide till the work is done. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.8
G. H. Clark, Union Miss. Agt. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.9
L. R. Conradi: Brother Sturdevant, of the new Tsungwesi mission, is next. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.10
M. C. Sturdevant (reading) :— GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.11
WASe
Mashonaland is the northern portion of Southern Rhodesia, lying south of the great Zambesi River. On the east it borders Portuguese East Africa, Port Beira being its outlet to the sea. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.12
This portion of Southern Rhodesia has about half a million native people. Other denominations had entered the field before us, and schools were quite plentiful in some portions. But this message of the soon-coming Saviour must be given to all, and the Lord had placed a burden upon our souls for this people also. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.13
PHOTO-NATIVE SCHOOL, SOLUSI MISSION, RHODESIA
In March, 1910, we made a trip through Mashonaland in search of a suitable location to build a mission station. The Lord graciously opened the hearts of government men to help us in many ways, so that our journey was prospered from the first; and by the latter part of October of that year word came that the government would grant us the farm we had chosen on condition that we would release to them the same number of acres from the old Solusi, Matabeleland station. The old Solusi station consisted of twelve thousand acres, and our brethren in South Africa decided that we could well spare a portion of the old farm in order that the work might be opened among this people. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.14
The new Tsungwesi Mission site consisted of 3,666 acres of most fertile soil, well wooded and well watered, lying only four miles from the railroad, seven miles from a siding, in a most healthy portion of the country. Having received from the government permission to take possession at once, with a small company of our trained native workers from Matabeleland, we left Solusi Mission Oct. 30, 1910, arriving at the mission farm November 6. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.15
This farm had been occupied by an Englishman one year, who had put up a few rough buildings made of poles and mud, with grass roof. Though the grass fires had swept all around, even sharing some of the poles, we were most thankful to find four of these buildings still standing, for the heavy rainy season was right on us. These buildings, by adding a few temporary ones, gave shelter for all our company at once, and we were able to go right ahead with the mission work. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.16
Our outfit consisted of a good American wagon, twelve little donkeys, a few fowls, and our household goods. We at once purchased plow, harrow, hoes, and axes, and began clearing and plowing. As this farm was on forest land, there was need of much grubbing and clearing. The first season we were able to put in only about eighteen acres, to corn, peanuts, and garden-stuff. This help a great deal in supplying our food the first year. As the natives began at once to urge us to open our school, we commenced it Jan. 1, 1911. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.17
Our first enrollment was twelve. Four were boarding students, and the others came in from the village near by. The number kept increasing, till at the end of 1912, two years later, we had seventythree enrolled, with some forty boarding students. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.18
As the dreaded cattle sickness, called the African coast fever, was on two sides of us, we were not able to purchase cattle or oxen the first year, save a few from the natives herding their cattle on the farm. Thus our farm work was greatly hindered, for our donkeys proved entirely too light for heavy work. But we pushed ahead, and by the second season were able to plant sixty acres of rich cleared land. This brought us in good returns, which helped greatly. At the beginning of 1912 we were able to purchase cattle, the restriction against movement of cattle being lifted by the government. So now, two years later, the mission owns eight-five head of cattle and five mules. This enables us to go right ahead with our work of clearing, planting, and building. GCB June 3, 1913, page 247.19
In brief, I would now say we have two hundred acres of land under cultivation, planted to corn, peanuts, wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes. We also have a nice young orchard, consisting of many kinds of fruit. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.1
PHOTO-ORPHANAGE SCHOOL AT THE MISSION FARM, MATABELELAND, 1901
Before the development of the out-school work, orphans were cared for and trained at the central station. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.2
Our buildings have increased from the four original mud huts to twenty or more such buildings for the natives, a large church and school-house, dining and night study room, a store building, wagon and tool sheds, and shop. For, our European workers we have two good houses, with five rooms each, and large verandas. These are built of brick, with iron roof and cement floors. They are on high ground, and are most comfortable. We make our own brick, and do our own building, with the help of our black boys. We have been able also to purchase more farming tools, so that the temporal side of our work looks most encouraging. We hope by the blessing of the Lord to soon be a self-supporting mission, and even more. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.3
There is another side to our mission work, and the one that lies closest to our souls,—the spiritual and educational side. The outlook in these respects is most encouraging indeed. We have already spoken of the school work, which is increasing as fast as we are able to handle it. And the spiritual interest is good. Every Tuesday evening we have prayer and social meetings, and it is certainly cheering in these meetings to hear the words of praise and thanksgiving to God from the students for the light he has caused to shine on their path. Sabbath-school and meetings are well attended every Sabbath, from one hundred to one hundred thirty-five coming regularly. Eleven of the Mashona natives have been baptized, and a class of twenty or more are now in the second baptismal class. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.4
Of our needs and plans for the future, time will not allow me to tell in this paper. Our hearts overflow with gratitude to God for his blessings bestowed upon us. We ask the prayers and support of our brethren, as we continue the blessed work God has entrusted to our hands. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.5
M. C. STURDEVANT, Superintendent.
L. R. Conradi: Now we will hear from Brother F. B. Armitage, of the Zulu Mission. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.6
WASe
F. B. Armitage: I praise God for the privilege of speaking again to you in behalf of the work the Lord has done for us in Africa. I will tell of some of the experiences in connection with our work there. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.7
About two years ago I was asked to search out a place for a mission station in Zululand. After getting the place, I endeavored to equip it with medical apparatus and other things necessary to carry on the work. This was done in order that I might keep continually in touch with the people by working for their physical needs as well as for the salvation of their souls. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.8
At one time when passing by the wayside, I stopped at a little brook to rest and eat my dinner, when a native woman came up to the wagon. She was a widow. Her husband had been executed for having had part in killing a man. Our interpreter told her about the salvation of Christ. She said to him: “It is all right for you to talk that way; for you have fallen into good hands. You have fallen into the hands of a missionary. But I can only lie at home in my hut and dream about Jesus, while you have the privilege of being taught those things. No one comes to our village to teach us the way to Jesus.” And she plead for some one to come and teach her people. But we had no one to send. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.9
PHOTO-ELDER ARMITAGE’S MISSIONARY WAGON, BY NATIVE CHURCH
During the time I was searching for a location, I had left Mrs. Armitage in charge of a small plot of ground, with some of the native boys, who were working the land. It was not very long before I heard from her that she had harvested a crop of a thousand dollars worth of corn. I would say that while this crop was in the field a hail storm passed through that part of the country, and following this storm came a very severe drought. But this storm passed around the mission station, and our corn was left untouched, while the corn about the country was very largely destroyed. We believed the Lord put his hand over our field and covered it from the storm. At another time the drought destroyed nearly all the corn in that part of the country, while ours was good. We were able to bring about one thousand dollars into our treasury. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.10
I searched nearly two years for a station, in vain. Finally I heard that there were farms for sale in a certain district. I knew the price of the land there was high, and did not go for some little time. Finally I went into that district, and to my great surprise I found myself on the old farm of Spionkop, that famous battle-field of the war between the English and the Boers. I was certain that that was the farm the Lord wanted us to purchase. But there were many difficulties before we could get it. We had no money on hand to pay for the place, and they would only allow us ten days in which to decide. So we sought the Lord, and before the ten days were up, we had received sufficient funds from our brethren in that part of the country to secure it. Last June it passed into the hands of our denomination, not to be used as a battle-field on which to fight for earthy supremacy, but one on which to fight the good fight of faith; and I believe the victory is sure. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.11
A call came to us just before I left South Africa, from a native woman living some distance from our place, who had known the truth for a number and years, and was engaged in working for her people. As a result of her work, there were forty-five keeping the Sabbath. She made a plea that I should either go myself or send one of our workers to her place to teach the people, as they were all stir and wanted to know more about the truth. But we had no one to send. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.12
I met a man at Ladysmith, as I was passing through one day. [Spionkop is near Ladysmith.] He had heard of the truth, and he said: “Can you not send some one to come to our place? There are some eight or ten men I have been talking to about your message, but I do not know enough about it to teach them,—and they want to know more about it.” But we had no one to send. GCB June 3, 1913, page 248.13
That call has not been filled. And these things make the missionary’s heart ache as he sees the openings but cannot fill them. GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.1
We began our work on the Spionkop mission in a three-roomed sod building, the back wall of which formed one side of the cow yard. Two windows opened out into this yard. In this humble place, which had been used as stable, we began the work. We now have one out-school, besides a day and night school. We also have an organized church of twenty-five members. GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.2
PHOTO-SPIONKOP, A SOUTH AFRICAN BATTLE-FIELD, NOW A SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST ZULU MISSION FARM
One good Methodist woman who was present during the last baptismal service we held said: “I want to be baptized, but my husband is not at home, and I must wait until he comes, because I want him to be baptized with me. Then there is another thing: We have a number of pigs, and these must be sold, for when I start out in this new life, I do not want to feed pigs.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.3
Another woman said at the same time: “When you first came here, and we heard your preaching, we went to our preachers and told them about it, and they said, ‘Why, we can explain that; they are all wrong.’ They said, ‘We wish you would have one of their preachers come here, and we will talk to him.’” So we sent one of our native boys down there, and he told them from the Bible of the things we believed. He pointed out to them that Sunday is not the Sabbath according to the Word of God, and asked them if they could show from the Word of God that it is. The ministers said that they believed Sunday is the right day, but could not show it from the Word of God. The woman said that this boy began teaching the people, and many of them accepted the Sabbath truth. GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.4
In Rhodesia and in Nyasaland the natives are hungry to learn the truth. I was in Ladysmith at a meeting some time ago where was an old chief attending the service, and his minister was with him. He said to his minister after the meeting: “I am afraid of you now. I am afraid you are teaching me the wrong thing. Can you prove from the Word of God that Sunday is the right day?” The minister said, “I think we are right, but cannot prove it.” Then the chief said: “I will never trust you again. I want the Word of God. I want to hear what God says.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.5
I will mention one more incident. As you know, the natives are very fond of giving every one who comes to their country a nickname. I had lived in Africa without a nickname until just before I came away from Spionkop. One day one of the boys said to me, “Do you know that you have a nickname?” I said, “No.” He said, “The people on that mountain over there that I visited have given you a nickname.” Here is how it came about: Our native boys were traveling through that part of the country, and their provisions were short; so they asked those through whose land they were passing, for some. But before they give you anything there, they must know all about you, where you come from, and what your business is. So our boys told them that they came from the mission farm, and the natives, of said, “O, we know that man that goes alone!” They gave me this name because I had always taught in my preaching that whether any man believed what I did or not, it did not make any difference to me, that when I had God’s Word, I was willing to go alone. And so they gave me a nickname meaning, “The man that goes alone.” F. B. ARMITAGE. GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.6
I. R. Conradi: Brother J. C. Rogers will report for Nyasaland. GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.7
J. C. Rogers (reading):— GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.8
WASe
The Malamulo Mission opened in the Shire Highlands of Nyasaland in 1902. It has a 2,000-acre farm, which produces all the food for its students, besides rubber, potatoes, etc., for sale. It has a dairy, which sells about $1,000 worth of butter annually. At this main station there is a training-school for native teachers, enrolling 200 students each year. There are 22 village schools in the district of the main station, with an average enrolment of 50 each. GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.9
PHOTO-JEREMIAH, ZULU PREACHER, SOUTH AFRICA
We have an out-station at Matandane, in charge of Brother and Sister Konigmacher, with a school of 100, and 16 village schools. GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.10
This makes two station schools, and 38 village schools, with an actual enrolment of over 2,000. All the teaching in the villages is done by our 63 native teachers. Many thousands of people are under the influence of these schools all the time. About 200 are enrolled in special Bible classes, preparing candidates for baptism. There are two native churches, with a membership of over 200. The work is directed by six Europeans, including wives of missionaries. GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.11
Africa is not a land of idols, but of spirits. The people are very religious; they worship at every shrine of nature, animate and inanimate. They believe faintly in a Creator, but know not God. They propitiate every spirit, but were never born of the Spirit. So they live and die without hope, and without God. GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.12
From the time of the earliest missionaries until now is a story of conflict with heathenism and with Islam. The scenes are brightening, however: and yet the conflict is on in deadly combat. Islam grows and spreads like the devouring fire it is; Christianity moves forward to the attack—always attacking, sometimes conquering. GCB June 3, 1913, page 249.13
Our work was begun in British Central Africa, or Nyasaland, in 1902. Thomas Branch and Joseph Watson were our first workers. We reached the mission in May, 1907, to find a growing work in the hands of Brother Branch and his faithful wife, later taken from us. Then S. M. Konigmacher and others followed. GCB June 3, 1913, page 250.1
PHOTO-Teachers’ training-school, Malamulo, Nyasaland. There are sixty-three natives now teaching.
When Livingstone explored Nyasaland in 1863, he could reach the interior over two routes, the first up the Shire River, the second over the hills. The latter route took him over our Malamulo Mission estate. Chief Kwitamula was living there at the time, and he told us of the great explorer, of his kindness, his pleasant manners, his absolute justice, and that his camp had been pitched on a spot between the present church and mission house. GCB June 3, 1913, page 250.2
According to recent historical research, there arose near the Nile source, during the thousand years before Christ, a pure negro type, with a new language allied to the Hametic. This sturdy race of Africans soon became very numerous, and began to spread west and south, eventually overspreading all equatorial and South Africa, which was inhabited by dwarfs until the sixteenth century. This became the Bantu race, of twenty-two tribes, which conquered all lesser races and tribes before them. It includes the Zulus, Basutus, Matabeles, Barotse, Kafirs, Angoni, Anyanja, Swahili, Waganda, and Bateke, and displaced the Bushmen, Coruna, Hottentots, etc. It now numbers a third of Africa’s population with 195 distinct languages and 45 dialects. The Bantu is a splendid type physically, a good workman, a faithful servant, and has been in the past a silent, suffering slave—and slavery has not yet ended. GCB June 3, 1913, page 250.3
God sent patient workers before us, who gave to the people his Holy Word. So we find them with portions of the Gospels, some tribes with all the New Testament, a few with the complete Bible. Among the natives we find a general awakening and desire for education. GCB June 3, 1913, page 250.4
To illustrate: A boy fifteen years old came to the mission in 1908. He was not ragged or dirty, for he wore no rags to get dirty. I questioned him as to why he came, and he replied that no one sent him, but he came just because he wanted to learn. He had walked a day and a night through a hostile tribe, and reached the mission tired and hungry. When it was found that no food remained from the boys’ evening meal, just finished, he cheerfully said, “Palibe kantu, ndidzadya mawa” (Never mind, I shall eat tomorrow). He was put to work herding cattle for a month, to try his sincerity, but mostly in this case to get fifty cents’ worth of cloth to appear in school with. After a week he stole into the night school and sat on a bench in a dark corner of the school-church, gazing longingly at the boys with books, who were studying and asking questions. A primer was given him. Every night he was in that corner. At the end of the month, having earned his calico, he came to school a half day, and herded the other half. In one school year he had finished the vernacular books of two years. GCB June 3, 1913, page 250.5
PHOTO-1. Baptism of twenty-six converts at an out-school. 2. A typical village school, manned by Seventh-day Adventist native teachers. 3.Chief Provera and family, sabbath-keepers.
During this year he had also learned many Bible memory verses, the ten commandments, and the beatitudes of Matthew 5. Then he began the study of the Gospels in the regular teachers’ course of four years. All the first year I watched his unfolding mind. He was feeling after God, almost unconsciously. He attended Sabbath-school and the preaching service every Sabbath. In the middle of the third year he came to me alone, and quietly, humbly said, “Teacher, I want to enter your Bible class.” This class is that of candidates for baptism, and his entering it meant that he had found the Saviour, and had left his heathen ways. He was given six months or a year in this class, with personal teaching, and much prayer in and out of class. Then he was given a careful examination in gospel truths and the message. And he who had come a naked heathen three years before went down with twenty or thirty other candidates to our little “Jordan River,” from which he arose no more a heathen. This instance is only one of very many. Do missions pay? GCB June 3, 1913, page 250.6
This is our method of building a native church in the wilderness. At the same time there are, out in a hundred heathen villages, as many native teachers doing the same work so far as they have been trained to do it. And in two or three years we have points of light springing up where all was darkness before,—and “how great is that darkness!” GCB June 3, 1913, page 250.7
Where our out-schools are planted, the life of the natives is greatly changed for the better. They forget old feuds, and forgive old enemies. The children learn to read and write, and this helps them to understand the Word. They memorize all hymns which they learn to sing, and scores of Bible texts. They become intelligent in the simple rudiments of education, which lifts them out of the dull apathy of heathenism; and they find a fuller, better life in every way. GCB June 3, 1913, page 250.8
Our natives in these village out-schools are preparing souls for baptism. I went to one school sixty miles from the main station, and found forty who had been in the class for two or three years, and were, they thought, prepared for baptism. I thought that I dared not baptize so many at one time. I remained with them a week, and studied with them, and asked them questions, and tried to cut down the number, and have some wait. I examined them on all points of gospel truth and the third angel’s message. The very best I could do was to cut out fourteen, leaving twenty-six who were baptized in the mountain stream that day. All this was the work of our native teacher, except the visiting, which I did once in two or three months. We now have sixty-three working in native villages, and many more preparing for the work. GCB June 3, 1913, page 251.1
PHOTO-Malamulo mission, Nyasaland.
I wish there were time to speak of Moses, the slave hunter and warrior, now a faithful Christian at Matandane; Ezra, of the heathen village, now an excellent teacher; Simon, son of Bvumbe, chief of the Angoni, now our leading teacher and evangelist; Ruth, my wife’s mainstay in sewing and women’s work; and of many, many others who are examples of the miracle-working God among the heathen. GCB June 3, 1913, page 251.2
With these evangelists and teachers going out into the villages everywhere, extending their work from place to place, all the people will some day be reached, and many gathered out for the kingdom. GCB June 3, 1913, page 251.3
And then will come your reward, for you are giving your (a) prayers, daily, I hope; (b) your sons and daughters, too, I believe; (c) your money, I know, as no other body of Christians since Pentecost. GCB June 3, 1913, page 251.4
L. R. Conradi: Now we will hear from Brother Konigmacher, who is working in the same field. GCB June 3, 1913, page 251.5
S. M. Konigmacher: Through the kindness of my father-in-law (paying the passage), I have the privilege of presenting to you personally the greetings from the two organized Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Nyasaland, and from the workers and the superintendent in that field, to the brethren gathered here. We all have troubles of our own; so we will not take time to mention ours. The work in that field is onward. I want to explain to this audience what is meant by the out-schools. When we find a group of villages, a center, where we think it will warrant a white worker, we send to that field a white worker. Then this white worker goes out and finds smaller centers, not large enough to place a white worker, and there we place a native evangelist; and we instruct that native evangelist to begin Bible classes, and to instruct the natives in his district in regard to the points of our faith. On Friday and on Sabbath he is instructed to get together the natives in the different villages near by, and preach to them the gospel, to help them, and to lead them to Christ. Some have said to me, Is not it awful to be in Africa among all the black people, and not be able to see a white face. But we do not go to that field for complexions, but we go there for souls, and God is giving us souls. GCB June 3, 1913, page 251.6
Our latest effort in connection with our work has been in printing one of our tracts. I have in my hand the first native tract printed there on the Sabbath question. In that field we meet opposition from the older missions, the same as you meet opposition in this country. There is a paper there printed in the native language, and in that they tried to attack our work. We instructed our native teachers not to argue with any one in regard to points on the Sabbath question. Strange to say, the wrath of man was made to praise God because of the article which they printed. The natives who read it said that it teaches that the seventh day is the Sabbath, instead of proving the contrary. I found some of our boys reading this tract, and said to them, “What are you reading?” “O, we are reading something that tells us not to keep the Sabbath; in fact, it was printed for that purpose; but it does not say that at all.” I secured a copy, and sent it to our superintendent, Brother Robinson. He wrote a reply, and we had it printed at once. This work was paid for by the second tithe which was paid by the workers in the field. GCB June 3, 1913, page 251.7
PHOTO-Malamulo out-school, Nyasaland. Visitor: R. D. Porter.
Soon afterward vacation time came, and nearly ninety of our students located at the main station went to their homes. Each one of them, as he went into different parts of the country, took some of those tracts to distribute among their people. Many of the natives can read; and so these tracts will go into the dark corners of the country everywhere. One of my best evangelists went through all this district here (pointing to the map), distributing these tracts. I said to him: “I do not want you to enter into any argument, or get into any trouble. I simply want you to leave the tract with those who can read, and the tract will be its own witness.” He did this. He went up into our mission borders, very near to territory that is occupied by the Dutch Reformed Mission. Three of their teachers came out and said to him: “We do not want you to circulate these tracts in our district. If you do, all our boys will leave our schools, and go to your schools.” They realize the truth of God when it is presented. We ought at the present time to press up into this unoccupied territory. GCB June 3, 1913, page 251.8
H. M. Hiatt: Where do you hold these out-schools, if you have no buildings? GCB June 3, 1913, page 251.9
R. C. Porter: Just build native huts, which they build themselves. Just a word regarding this school started up here. We had a great problem on hand as to how we would get along where the other missions occupy the field. One of the boys from our school went home and was asked by the villagers to open a school, away off one hundred fifty miles from the Malamulo station. He opened the school and began work. The next year he did not return to our school. We learned afterward that he was conducting a school in the territory of another mission. They tried to run him out, but they could not do it, because he belonged there. The last time I was there he came down to the Malamulo station with eighteen converts, whom he had labored with until they were thoroughly instructed, and we had the privilege of baptizing all of them. GCB June 3, 1913, page 251.10
J. C. Rogers: This boy who went up into this new territory was Peter. He came to our mission and wanted us to support him; but we said, “We cannot do that because you are in the territory of another mission.” We gave him some clothing for his wife, and I gave him one or two suits of clothes. When Brother Konigmacher went to this station where he had been so long, he thought it was a very dark outlook, and that there was not much chance to do anything. Now there is an organized church there, sixteen native schools, and five thousand people under the influence of those schools, and about twenty teachers at work—all in four years’ time. GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.1
The Conference adjourned.
L. R. CONRADI, Chairman;
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.