THE MISSIONARY MONTHLY - Huntington University

More documents

Recommendations

Info

2 THE MISSIONARY MONTHLY REPORT OF OUR AFRICAN MISSION CONFERENCE By Superintendent G. D. Fleming The West A frican Annual Conference of the United Brethren Church met in session at Bonthe, Sherbro, on the first day o f January, 1924, at 8:45 A. M. Devotion was led by Rev. Lloyd Eby, the scripture lesson being the 13th chapter of 1st. Corinthians. At 9:00 o’clock conference was called to order and Rev. G. D. Fleming was chosen chairman, and the following members were recorded as present: Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Fleming, Mr. and Mrs. L. Eby, Miss Mabel Shultz, Miss Ellen Rush, J. T. Harvey, T. Beckley, L. J. Davies, D. T. Seeley, A. Brooks, S. W. Mosier, A. S. Yarn, A. Nelson, H. A. Williams, Henry J. Becker, Lucy Caulker and R. A. Morrison. The forenoon was spent in hearing quarterly reports from the different members, a few being left over until the afternoon. Before adjournment at 11:00 the following committees were appointed: Ways and Means, School, Resolutions, Literary and Recommendations. Also one to suggest possible ways of interesting the teachers’ and workers’ wives, and how to get them to work in the church. Afternoon The devotions precedin g the session was conducted by Rev. G. D. Fleming. At 2:00 o’clock the conference was called to order, and the remaining quarterly reports were heard and acted upon. The yearly reports followed and were also acted upon. A question was raised by the chairman as to whether Gbamgbama should be retained as a sub-station, owing to the low state of the finances. Different suggestions were offered and a vote taken, with the result that it remain as a sub-station. Wednesday Morning, January 2 After devotions the business session was called to order at 9:00 o’clock. After the roll-call the report of the School Committee was called for, and the committee presented the following recommendations: 1. That from the Third Standard up the lecture method of teaching be adopted. 2. That if possible, Danville have two more steady teachers besides the two already engaged, and that one of them be a tailor as well. 3. That an addition be built to the school-house at Danville during this vacation. 4. That one more teacher be added to the staff at Bonthe. 5. That each teacher have a daily record book. This report was considered item by item and adopted. The report of the committee on Ways and Means was next presented with the following recommendations: 1. That free house-rent and free passage be supplied for our workers to annual conference. 2. That a missionary subscription be taken in the afternoon by the Superintendent, and that each missionary and worker be urged to pledge one-twentieth of their salary, which is automatically to become due monthly, and to be kept out of the salary and credited to the pledge. 3. That three copies of the conference minutes be typewritten; one copy sent to headquarters at Huntington, one kept at Danville and one at Bonthe. This report was considered item by item and adopted. A paper on “ Successful Methods in Church W ork” was read by Rev. L. Eby. A fter a short discussion on the paper the conference adjourned until the afternoon. Afternoon After devotions at 1:30 and the calling of the roll, Henry Becker gave his financial report of the Danville church, and requested that a definite rule be established regarding the pledges. The yearly reports were again taken up. A question was raised regarding the feeding of the boys at Taninihu and Mokelleh. It was decided that for each boy given: four bushels of clean rice to be provided by the parents for the year. This arrangement to be made between the mis- > sionary in charge and the parents of the child in the presence of the chief. Some time was given for the consideration of mission problems. Different suggestions were offered regarding ; the care of “ W atch-care” members. Also a penalty, in. the form of a fine, was made to apply to teachers who failed to keep their yards clean. Henry Becker read a paper on “ The New Birth,” which was both interesting and profitable. The report of the Committee on Recommendations was called for and read. The committee recommended: 1. That the pledge required be so changed that the.; people be allowed to bring provisions, on order, to fill their: church obligations. 2. That each Station have two men instead of one. 3. That a better plan be adopted for equipping the boys for industrial work. 4. That a house be built in Bonthe for the convenience of the workers when attending meetings there. 5. That marriage between the young men and women of the school be advised and encouraged. This report was amended so as to strike out item two (2) of the report, and it was adopted as amended. A missionary subscription was then taken, all pledging one-twentieth of their salaries, except two, as recommended in the report of the Ways and Means committee. Thursday Morning, January 3 After devotions and roll-call the yearly reports were again taken up and finished, and the committee appointed to “ suggest ways of interesting teachers’ and workers' wives in church work” was called upon to report. The committee reported as follows: 1. That the wives of the workers should call other women to church. 2. That they should help their husbands in other religious services. 3. That they should attend the church services regularly. Although this report suggested no ways of inducing the women to assume these duties, the report was adopted by the conference. A ballot was taken suggesting an appropriate watchword for the year. The ballots were placed in the hands of the School Committee, to choose the three most suitable balloted for, these to be voted on during the afternoon session. The question of the place of holding the next quarterly meeting was next considered. It was decided that it should be held at Victoria, for the encouragement of the workers there. It was also decided that each worker should have a circle of towns surrounding his own town, for which he would be responsible as an itinerant. The committee on Resolutions reported as follows: 1. That a standing vote of thanks be given to the people of Bonthe for their kind hospitality. 2. That a vote of thanks be extended to our visiting workers, and those from other churches who helped to make our conference a success. 3. That we express our gratitude to our superintendent for his efforts to push the work forward. 4. That a Teacher Training class be organized at Bonthe and Danville. The vote on the Resolutions was deferred until afternoon. z
Afternoon The afternoon session was called to order at 2.00 o’clock. Some time was given for the consideration of miscellaneous business. By motion it was decided that each worker should have his wife on the field of labor as quickly as possible after appointment. The report of the committee on Resolutions was adopted. A vote was taken on the three names suggested previously for a watchword for the mission. The word “ FORW ARD” was chosen, after which the conference stood and sang one verse of “ Onward Christian Soldiers.” The last item before the session finally adjourned was the reading of the report of the Stationing Committee, as follows: BONTHE STATIO N : Rev. and Mrs G. D. Fleming, Miss Mabel Shultz, Miss Ellen Rush, James T. Harvey, Mrs Lucy Caulker, Marion George. VICTORIA STATION : A. Nelson. T A N IN IH U : S. W. Mosier. GBAMGBAMA: To be supplied. DANVILLE STATION : Rev. and Mrs. Lloyd Eby, Dayton T. Seeley, Arthur S. Yarn, A Tailor teacher to be supplied, J. T. Claye. MOKELLEH STATION : R. A. Morrison. PEG IBO U : H. A. Williams. Henry J. Becker, Traveling Itinerant. Conference cloosed by singing “ Blest Be the Tie that Binds,” and prayer by Rev. Lloyd Eby.— R.A. Morrison, Secretary. A COUNTY FAIR IN AFRICA Rev. Lloyd Eby No, it wasn’t really a County Fair, because we have no counties. It was an Agricultural Show for the southern Province of Sierra Leone. The Government holds an annual agricultural show in each of the three Provinces to encourage the natives to farm more extensively, and in a more modern manner. Through the kindness of the Elder Dempster Agent, we went and returned in a launch, and thus what would otherwise have been a hard trip became a pleasure. We were anxious to go, as we are attempting to do a little more agricultural work at Danville. It proved a great help to us in laying our plans for the future. We hope to be among the exhibitors next year. The District Commissioner looked after us handsomely, giving us a new house in the D. C’s compound. There were many things of interest, but I will only mention a few : An exhibit of 36 different kinds of rice attracted some attention. We were interested in the cocoa, as we have 1000 trees growing at Danville and Victoria. Some yams weighing around 300 pounds were a curiosity to me. The natives couldn’t understand why these did not get the prize instead of the smaller ones. The reason is that they are really of no use, being too tough to eat. The woodwork and wickerwork and native clothes, were interesting to look at, and there were many queer looking objects carved out of wood, and a few were exceptional good workmanship. While perhaps not as beneficial, there were some interesting things outside of the show. The natives themselves were the most interesting study to me. There were 42 Paramount Chiefs present. What with their attire, they afforded' a good study in colors. Red velvet and gold braid was the “ predominant note,” as the fashion reviews THE MISSIONARY MONTHLY put it. One old man had a large silver crown (I have no reason to doubt its being silver) . One m adam chief wore an old silk plug hat and heavy men’s boots. The Mohammedan chiefs could be recognized by their fez. Each chief had his retainers, including his drummers and dancers. There was plenty of action and more noise. I’ve not tired as' yet of watching them. Speaking of their drumming, I would like to say this good thing about them. There wasn’t the sound of a drum on Sunday until after 6:00 P. M. Almost an example for Christian America. Eh, what! The queerest incident I have yet seen happened while here. It shows that superstitions and fears are found more or less under the newly adopted clothes of civilization : While Lady Slater, the Governor’s wife, was handing out the prizes, the 42 chiefs were sitting decorously in a long row in front of the Governor’s p a v ilion ; their retainers grouped behind them. With other visitors, the crowd numbered thousands. All at once a sharp cry was heard at the extreme left, and about twenty men were seen running. In less time than it takes me to write it a dull roar came from the whole crowd. The decorus chiefs forgot their dignity and sprinted for the town on the right. Their retainers did the high-jump over the chief’s chairs, and in two minutes the crowd was in a stampede for town. In two minutes more they were back, and nobody hurt. Why all the fuss? It will remain one of those unexplained mysteries. One ran because the other ran. No. 1 runner has not been found yet. A fine example of African fear plus superstition, minus reason, and incidentally the greatest enemy of Christianity. The Government is to be commended for its many e fforts toward the betterment of these people. Most of the officials are working hard to help the natives. W e have a fine example of Britain’s successful colonial policy in Sierra Leone. Governor Slater is a good man. He is doing his best to better his country, and realizes the importance of and encourages missionary effort. We are attempting to make our land more productive, and by example, show these people how to make a better living. Their present system of clearing a new patch of ground every year cannot last much longer. There are so many people that the land is not left long enough idle to regain its fertility. They must therefore learn how to fertilize and keep improving the same piece of ground. Our great hindrance at Danville in the development of agriculture, even as other things, is the lack of funds. It seems the Lord’s work is always held back for this reason. However, we are grateful for the sacrifice many are making to enable us to carry on a little work for Him in needy Africa. AN UNOCCUPIED FIELD From Northern Congo up through British Sudan to the east of the continental divide which marks the boundary of British and French Sudan, another 1,000 miles; to the northwest in the direction of Lake Chad, considerably more than 1,000 miles; west northwest toward Nigeria, more than 1,500 miles, and west into the Cameroons, more than 1,000 miles— along all these lines there is no Protestant mission or missionaries! Who can view the vastness of this territory with no Gospel light and realize the many tribes whose languages must be reduced to writing before the people can get the Gospel message, without a conscious call to pray “ the Lord of the harvest” to send forth laborers? If we do not pray, “ how dwelleth the love of God in u s!” 3
Page 1: THE MISSIONARY MONTHLY Vol. XXVIII
Page 5 and 6: an ulcerated leg. A Mohammedan woul
Page 7 and 8: giving them all the personal help h
Page 9 and 10: Corresponding S e c r e t a r y ...
Page 11 and 12: IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE Emiline Amstu
Page 13 and 14: Mrs. C. “ I’m afraid ‘later
Page 15 and 16: this. I cannot realize that time go

THE MISSIONARY MONTHLY - Huntington University

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?