Mission Notes

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 24, 1907

A LETTER from Cape Town, South Africa, brings an appeal for help from Brother D. C. Theunissen. He says: “We have quite a nice, large company at Salt River, two or three miles from Cape Town. Sabbath after Sabbath we are crowded into a room not very large, for which we pay thirty shillings a month. We can not afford to hire a larger place. What we need is a suitable building, large enough to accommodate a good-sized congregation, that the cause of God might be established here among the colored people. We need about four hundred pounds—from one hundred to one hundred and fifty for the lot, and the remainder for the building. I appeal to you to help us in our extreme need. I have prayed earnestly about this matter. I trust God will help.”

MISS ANNA T. JEANES, a Quakeress of large means, has given one million dollars, the income of which is to assist in establishing and maintaining rural schools for the colored people all through the South. Booker T. Washington is one of the trustees in charge of these funds, and colored people and white people will be represented on the governing board, the power of naming being lodged with the three trustees. Mission schools will be supported as far as such schools can be started. This is not to be understood as providing for all that needs to be done in this direction; for the report closes by saying: “Notwithstanding such gifts as this of Miss Jeanes, and of Mr. Rockefeller to the General Educational Board; notwithstanding the increased prosperity of the South as a section; notwithstanding the

new disposition of the Southern political leaders to champion generous appropriations for the education of the negro, his former and long-tried friends in the North still have their duty and generosity to perform.”

THE power of real self-sacrifice, and the true courage born of it, are beautifully illustrated by an incident in the life of Robert Moffat, who was surrounded one day by a South African chief and twelve followers with poised spears, ready to kill the noble missionary on the spot. At the time, Moffat was engaged in repairing a wagon; and his wife, with babe in arms, was watching every movement of their foes. She heard her heroic husband, in a singular tone of voice, defy them to do their worst, as he bared his breast, after dropping his tools, calmly saying: “Your threats are vain. We have come to bless you, and here we stay. If you are bound to be rid of us, do what you will. But our hearts are with you, and we shall stay with you till we are killed. Now spear me, if you will, and when you have slain me, others like me will come to take up the work.” Down went their spears, and the chief turned to his comrades, saying: “These missionaries are so fearless of death, they must have ten lives: there must be another life beyond!” From that time, instead of opposition, Moffat had the co-operation of the natives.