p. 14 | Mission Notes

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 23, 1908

Mission Notes

“Victory over besetting sins,” is the motto adopted by one mission band out in a trying and difficult field, where fierce opposition is being brought to bear upon the work of the message by one who has turned away from the church. As a result of each member’s striving for the mastery over his own sins, the worker records that only one member has departed from the faith in their company during the past year. A pretty good recipe for meeting apostasy anywhere.

To illustrate the joy which fills the hearts of the workers when they get the good word that recruits are on the way to join them, we quote from letters recently received from Elder D. C. Babcock, West Coast, and M. C. Sturdevant, of Solusi mission, Buluwayo, Africa. Brother Babcock says: “Your good letter received. How glad we are for the good news of help coming! I could scarcely keep from weeping for joy when I read that Professor French and wife would soon join us in the work here.” Brother Sturdevant says: “We are cheered to hear that help is on the way, and a telegram tells me to meet them [Brother and Sister Campbell] the third [of June]. How gladly we shall do it!”

BROTHER J. C. ROGERS, in describing the way in which a young man finds for himself a wife in Nyassaland, says: “Their marriage ceremony is very simple. If the girl wants the man, she cooks a pot of porridge, and sends it to him. If he eats it, that constitutes the engagement. From that time on he gives her a yard of cheap calico occasionally, to bind the bargain. When the time set for the marriage comes, all the people in the surrounding country assemble, and they make great pots of beer, and gather all the food to be found. This big feast constitutes the marriage ceremony. If any one has a grudge against the bride,—if she has refused to carry water or wood for her parents or her elder relatives, if she has disobeyed them in any way, if she has not knelt humbly at their [the elders] august approach in the footpath, in short, if she has displeased any one at any time in her past life,—they do not take revenge at once, but simply say, ‘I will remember.’ Then just before the time of marriage, each one holding a grudge is at liberty to bring a large whip, and beat her to his heart’s content.” Thus the ceremony ends, and the young man takes to himself his wife. Brother Rogers has applied to the government for official papers authorizing him, when necessary, to perform this sacred rite in a Christian manner, especially among our own people.