p. 13 | The Message in Kafirland by W. B. WHITE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 11, 1915

The Message in Kafirland

By W. B. WHITE

W. B. WHITE

The writer recently had the privilege of spending a week in the above-mentioned country, attending the closing exercises of our native school, and holding a council with our workers.

These exercises were held at Maranatha Mission, the central station, Thursday evening, November 26, three schools joining in the program. A large number attended, and the schoolhouse was crowded with brethren and sisters from Fish River, Pemba, and Maranatha. To give the writer the exercises were of great interest, as many of the young people and children present had only recently been brought into our schools from the heathen villages and the degrading influences of the kraal life. When brought under religious and educational influences, what a wonderful transformation is quickly wrought in the minds and hearts of these youth and children! The young people in the long row in the illustration were all present on this occasion, and took part in the exercises. They are all Kafirs, students in our schools, and, best of all, are all Sabbath-keeping children, and love God and his truth, and are as well behaved a company of young folks as the writer ever associated with. They love God, and we know God loves them, and it is a pleasure to work for them.

At the Maranatha Mission, Miss Victoria Sutherland, a graduate of our Claremont Union College and a teacher of experience, has been doing most excellent work, and her students are making good progress. She also frequently visits the schools which are conducted by native teachers, and gives them needed assistance.

On this visit to Kafirland the writer was led to an appreciation of the services of our teachers that he had never had before. Surely. these teachers in Africa are doing a great work for God, and our schools are the most effective means of getting the truth before young and old. We are finding that it is very difficult for the evangelist to accomplish a permanent work among the native tribes, in advance of the teacher; but in conjunction with him the evangelist's labor is valuable. What Africa needs

is more native schools, and, still more, taught by consecrated men and women. In this way thousands may be reached with the message of truth.

In the other illustration is seen a group of our teachers in Kafirland. Miss Sutherland, the principal, is seated in a chair. All these teachers are hard-working and faithful, and are leading the children and young people to God. At the time of our recent visit, eleven received baptism, Brother Charles Sparrow, one of the local elders of the church, performing the rite. Our church at Maranatha now has more than one hundred members, and is growing steadily.

Brother E. W. H. Jeffrey, who for a number of years has been the secretary of the International Tract Society at Cape Town, is now in the field, and has entered upon his duties as superintendent of our work. He was reared in Kafirland, his father being among the earliest Wesleyan missionaries to this people. Brother Jeffrey has a good command of the language, and can readily preach to the natives in their own tongue. This they greatly enjoy.

Calls are coming to us to establish our work farther in the interior in the darker regions of this country, and the local committee that has the work in charge is investigating to see what can be done. It is evident that the Holy Spirit is working on many hearts in this region, and now we feel is the time to press in and do a great work among them. More schools should be opened as God prepares the way before us.

Kafirland is as healthful a region as there is in the world, and is almost as dark and unenlightened as any portion of Africa that the writer has visited. This is the home of the Red Kafir, who is always seen with his red blanket about him, and his body plastered with red clay; and some of our brethren and sisters who have recently accepted the truth were formerly of this people. Now they are rejoicing in the new-found truth.

Good rains are falling at all our stations, greatly cheering the hearts of our workers, and we hope for a good year. Pray for the work in Africa.