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JOEL C. ROGERS

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 28, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 39.

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JOEL C. ROGERS

By Joel C. Rogers

Nyassaland

JOEL C. ROGERS

In March I spent considerable time visiting the out-schools in Malamulo District, Brother Konigmacher doing the same in Matandane District. The pictures show some features of this village work. Where the schools are now showing the people the way of God, only heathen ways prevailed before.
I will mention some recent experiences, showing growth in the work. We have had three baptismal services this year, fifty-eight souls thus being rescued from heathenism. At the main station a special candidates’ class was formed from the regular class, with some from the village schools, about forty in number. After one month’s careful instruction, twenty-five persons were baptized March 4.
Going to the Monekera out-station, in charge of Brother Malinki (native), I found another class of forty, some coming from the other village schools under his charge. Most of this class were adults, and I made the instruction and examination of each individual quite searching. I decided to submit the covenant with additions against heathen customs, as a test of their conversion. This proved the severest test that could have been found. Some said, “How can I promise for the future?” While they discussed it, I retired into the woods to pray, asking God to work it out for their salvation, even if not one was baptized. On returning I asked, “Are any ready to sign?” One large man, his countenance expressing his resolution, arose and came forward to sign. Twenty-four others followed.
One man said: “I can not sign. I am working, and my master may not release me.”
I could only reply, “I am sorry for you, but you must wait.”
Next day he appeared in line at the water’s edge. “How about signing the covenant?” I asked. “O, here is my wife going to be baptized, and I want to go with her.”
He signed, and four couples, two by two, were led into the water and baptized together. Thus twenty-six, in all, were added to this company, and the next Sabbath the ordinances were celebrated. We hope to organize a church here soon, which will be the first purely native church in Nyassaland.
I next went to Peter Nyambo’s group of five new schools, nearly a hundred miles away. Here I found nine boys and girls who were able to repeat the ten commandments and the beatitudes without any mistake (see picture). Peter is now visiting among the other villages where schools will soon be opened.
Returning to Malamulo for the closing of the school there, we arranged for a teachers’ institute to begin April 14. The vacation being only two weeks, a few of our teachers were unable to get back in time, but forty-four came, and about ten others arrived before the close. Some of them live over two hundred miles away, and they are sometimes delayed by sickness or other trouble, at their homes. All our staff had been called to Malamulo, including Brother and Sister Konigmacher, Brother Ellingworth, Mrs. Rogers, and myself. We united in trying to instil the message into the hearts of our fifty teachers, and impress them that they must teach it to their people.
One of our head teachers returned with the report that his people in Portuguese Nyassaland desired us to give them schools. Brother Konigmacher volunteered to go at once to interview the people, and, if desirable, the governor of the district. After twelve days hereturned to give me his report at Blantyre just before I was to start for Europe. Both the people and the governor received him kindly, and the latter encouraged us to place our request for a permanent station before him in writing. I wrote the request, and we hope that as soon as we are able to find the worker, we shall gain entrance into that vast Portuguese East Africa, with its millions.
Brother Konigmacher is willing to undertake this new work, and is well prepared for it. His present station is on the border, and he speaks the language of the Portuguese natives.
May 1, our teachers went out to their schools with many prayers for God to keep them faithful in the heathen darkness of those villages. Brother Konigmacher is in charge at Malamulo while I am absent attending the General Conference Council, and Mrs. Rogers volunteered to go alone to carry on the work at Matandane until other help arrives.