British Central Africa by Thomas H. Branch

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 3, 1907

British Central Africa

By Thomas H. Branch

PLAINFIELD MISSION, CHOLO.—Our days are full of work for the Master. There is, indeed, no place found for idlers here. The Lord has surely gone out before us, and we are doing all we can to follow in his leading.

For the past year we have had, and just now are having, some peculiar experiences with the missionaries of a certain denomination. There are several large villages within eight miles of Blantyre, the headquarters of this established church. The chiefs of two of these villages, having heard of the Word of God as it is taught here at our mission, desired us to send them teachers, saying they would build the schoolhouse.

I went to see these chiefs, and they and their people all said, “Yes; we want teachers from America” (for so this mission is known and called). But as we had no land there on which to carry forward the work, I had to go and get permission from the government. This I did gladly, and received a permit. The papers, however, could not be forwarded to me for a week. In the meantime the minister of the —— mission heard of our plans to open a school so near to his mission. He went to the government, had the permit revoked, and had word sent to the chiefs that if they wished a school, they must get their permission and their teachers from the —— mission.

Strange to say, both of these chiefs and their head men refused to receive their teachers from that mission, and a number of the men and their families have come here and built their houses, and say that they must hear for themselves what the Book of God says.

This denomination, with its schools and books, and a fine corps of teachers and workers, has been here thirty years, and of course they and the government work together. It is not because we are Americans, but on account of the stir the natives have made over the Sabbath and other kindred truths, that has brought on the difficulty. But the message, the work, the people, and the workers are all God’s, and this message, according to his word and his commission, is to go to all the world.

All the different missionaries in British Central Africa held a joint meeting, and agreed that if this Seventh-day Adventist mission did not come in and join with them, and work as they worked, we should not be allowed to use the government land for school purposes. I knew nothing of the time of this meeting. While they were gathered in session, a native sent me word that near a certain mission there was land for sale. I went immediately to see about it, and arrived at this mission station just as the missionary and his coworkers were coming from that meeting. He seemed out of sorts to see me, whereas before he had been very friendly when meeting me or any member of my family. I stated to him my business, and he said, “Yes; I have the land for sale, but can not sell it to you, unless you will agree to come in and work as we do.” And not waiting to hear what I had to say, he continued: “We have just come from a meeting of the missionaries from different missions, and all agreed to shut your mission out, unless you come our way.” He even refused to show me the land. I told the good brother that I had a definite and important mission to give a certain message, and would gladly appreciate it if all professed Christians would join in and help, but it was impossible for me to change and go their way.

Elder Hyatt has advised me to keep a sharp lookout for a good location, and to buy when such a place can be found. I know that the Lord will provide a place, that the work may go forward.

The work has never looked more promising since we came than now. We have a few boys who are staying by the work. There are two who before coming here had received respectively eighteen and twelve shillings a month as overseers. Over two years ago they came to us, and engaged to work at hoeing for one shilling and sixpence a month, that they might learn the Word of God. They have both been converted and baptized. They are good, trusty boys. I am working hard with them and others daily, that they may become workers for the Lord.

Our native preacher and worker, Brother Malinki, is doing excellent work, and is learning rapidly. He is of great service to the work, as he understands and speaks six different languages. He has a very good knowledge of English, and Mabel is giving him lessons, so that he can understand the English Bible correctly.

There is one way by which we judge many of our present boys to be quite different from some of those who were here long ago: those that are married have their wives here with them, and build their own houses, and all are busy making their gardens. I have told all the boys that if they wished to stay here and learn, those that had wives must bring them. This is having a good effect on them. They stay longer, and are more attentive to their work and their studies.

If all is well, I expect to go down to the meeting to be held in Cape Town in January. I hope to get the work in such condition that I can leave it with Brother Malinki and my family. But I can not tell how it will be, on account of the native uprising in Natal. This dreadful unrest is said to be due to the teaching of the Afro-American missionaries, under the name of the Ethiopian movement—“Africa for the African.”

We are of good courage, and are trying to do all that we can to give the message, and to present Jesus to the people. My wife’s health has failed, but she keeps on, trying to keep up her part of the work. Mabel and the boys are very well. I think that my health was never better since coming to Africa.

THOMAS H. BRANCH.