South Africa by M. E. EMMERSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 22, 1909

South Africa

By M. E. EMMERSON

M. E. EMMERSON

On coming back from the South African Union Conference, held last December, my mind was fully made up that the book work must advance in Basutoland; so, just as soon as I could arrange the affairs of the mission to safely leave it, my helper and I went out to sell some small books. We canvassed hard all day, selling only two or three books, at six cents each. “No money,” was the cry that came to our ears all day. This seems to have been the trouble in past years, as the natives have little or no cash. And yet the hills are covered with sheep, goats, cattle, and horses.

I questioned with myself thus: Why can we not sell books to the Basutos, when they have so many things we can turn to cash? So I suggested to my helper that we must use the natives’ wealth, if ever we expected to do much in the book line. He also thought the plan a good one. From the storekeeper close by, I ascertained for what chickens and skins could be cashed. The price was good, and we started out to give our new plan a trial. When the natives pleaded poverty, we told them to bring their chickens, skins, or anything they had which we could turn to money. Then some would commence to call chickens, and others would hurry away to find some skins. The first day we took in articles to the value of five dollars; that is, they actually cashed for that amount. Since that time, we have been able to place many books in the hands of the natives, and have always been able to obtain a cash value at least equal to the price of the books.

Not long after we commenced to canvass, there was a demand on the part of some for a school. Seeing there was really a good opening for this work, and realizing the importance of looking after the young, I wrote to the president of our union conference, asking that we might use two hundred ten dollars, profits from our book sales, to support a school in Basutoland during 1909. This request was granted, for which the Basutoland Mission is very thankful. Not many days after, finding we could not secure as a teacher the man for whom we had planned, I was informed by an English shopkeeper that I ought to take out a license, if I intended trading with the natives. Not being well informed in regard to the law in such matters, I thought it best to consult the assistant commissioner. So I rode twenty-five miles to Mafeteng, to see him. I laid my plans fully before him, and told him we desired to canvass all Basutoland; that the motive was not to make money, but to place our books in the hands of the natives; furthermore, that our intention was to put native canvassers into the field to sell these books. He said he did not know such a work had been done heretofore, but that it was all right, and gave me a written statement to the effect that I was permitted to sell books here at the mission, and elsewhere, without taking out a license. He told me that if it ever became necessary to obtain a license, he would doubtless secure it free for us.

This was very encouraging to me, and I went on my way homeward rejoicing. Night overtook me in a strange place, so I stopped in a native village, preferring that to the risk of getting lost in a strange country. Many of the natives could speak English. I told them that we were selling books in Basutoland that tell of the soon coming of our Lord. They were deeply interested, and I gave them a short study on the second coming of Christ. At the close, a man present said, “If I may, I will sell your books.” I answered, “If you desire to sell our books, you would better come to the mission and study some, to see if you are in harmony with what they teach.” He replied, “I am ready to go at any time.” I set a day, and he came. I found he had many points of truth held by us. After some study upon the Sabbath question, he accepted it. I felt that he was in earnest. In Sabbath meeting he expressed himself as being thankful for the truth, and in his evening prayer he thanked God for the Sabbath.

The way was now opened for both book and school work, so I left Brother Kalaka, my mission helper, to take up the school work, and took the new mission helper out to start him selling books. He did well. After spending some time with him in the field, I left him to try it alone, and returned home to see how things prospered at the mission station. While here that time, we started the school, with ten pupils, most of them small. That was three weeks ago. Since that time the number has doubled. Still more are coming. We teach them Bible, music, Bible geography, mathematics, and reading. Already some are making rapid progress, and we are much encouraged by what God is doing for us along this line.

On that visit home it was necessary to stay a few days, on account of having the mission house repaired. This took over a week, at the end of which time I went to visit my book man. I found him of good courage in the canvassing work, and hard at it. One of the first things he said was: “My brother-in-law is out selling the books, too. He has been out three days. And my two younger brothers want to canvass, as well. Can I not take them with me?”

I have employed another man to travel with me in the wagon. I have the vehicle covered nicely, and arranged so that I can hold lantern meetings. I shall visit each canvasser monthly, and gather up grain, skins, etc., which they are taking in continually for books. Just now we are getting a considerable amount of beans, corn, and wheat. While I am visiting the different canvassers, the man traveling with me will canvass by himself.

We believe there are better days for the work in Basutoland, and we ask the prayers of all God’s people, that he will continue to prosper it until finished.

Wepener, O. R. C.