p. 18 | South Africa by I. J. Hankins

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 8, 1906

South Africa

By I. J. Hankins

ORANGE RIVER COLONY.—There is but one Seventh-day Adventist church in this colony. Its members are widely scattered, some of them living sixty or seventy miles from “Heisterbach” (the name of a farm), the place of meeting. Only three families live near enough to attend the regular Sabbath meetings. On quarterly meeting occasions they have a general gathering. It was my privilege to meet with this church in December, and spend a few days with them. Brother Louwrens met me with his cart at the Kroonstad station, seventy miles from his home. We drove over fifty miles the first day, and stayed all night with a brother who has been keeping the Sabbath about six months. His seven children, four of them young men, observe the Sabbath with their parents. During the war this brother lost all his stock, his house and orchard were destroyed, wagons and farm machinery were broken to pieces and strewn about the premises. This is a common thing all over the Orange River Colony. The little town of Lindley, through which we passed, was totally destroyed, not one house being left. Wire fences were torn to pieces and strewn over the veldt. Graveyards here and there mark the resting-place of men who had fallen in battle or as victims of disease. We outspanned at the foot of the hill, where about four hundred of the English yeomanry, after three days’ fighting, were taken prisoners. Eighty-four were buried at this place. Truly the spirit of war is the spirit of the destroyer.

Most of the Heisterbach church have accepted the truth since the war, and all suffered heavy losses. Some who were Adventists had all their property confiscated. Some of these are still hoping for small compensation. The church numbers thirty-seven, twenty-five of whom have embraced the truth the past year. Elder Freeman, who has been laboring in this field for more than a year, was with us at this meeting. He speaks the Dutch very well. I spoke through an interpreter. Four native Zulus were received into the church, and for the first time took part in the ordinances. They speak the Zulu, Basuto, and the Dutch. It was refreshing to hear their earnest testimonies. They have had a Christian experience in other churches, but are now rejoicing in the new-found light.

One of these natives is servant of the brother with whom I stayed all night, and received the truth from him, and then gave the light to the others. These men are all anxious to give the message to their people, and are visiting neighboring kraals for this purpose. The work in the Orange River Colony has been mostly among the farmers, who wholly compose the Heisterbach church. Their tithe amounts to about two hundred and fifty dollars a quarter. These brethren are zealous in the work, scattering literature and talking with the people. Brother de Lange is in the employ of the conference, and travels from farm to farm as a colporteur, with a cart and a span of mules. The Dutch Reformed ministers bitterly oppose our work, warning the people against our books, and taking them from those who will give them up. But the Lord has lighted a fire which must spread over the entire Colony, yes, over the entire “Dark Continent.”

The services at Heisterbach are held in a room fourteen by thirty-three feet, which was built for a dwelling-house. A church-school has been conducted there during the past year, and the brethren are much pleased with the progress of the students, and with the good influence in the school. As the families are so widely scattered, and all are poor,—just recovering from the effects of the war,—the education of their children is a perplexing question. Government schools are free, and education is compulsory. Our brethren do not wish to send their children to the government schools, but what can they do?

The Lord greatly blessed us during this meeting, as we considered his Word and work. The testimonies of the brethren showed a degree of love and earnestness which was most encouraging. Two persons were baptized, and several were taken into the church. All returned to their homes full of courage, taking a good supply of literature, and determined to do what they could to advance the message.

I. J. HANKINS.