This story is told of two generals when undertaking the capture of a city: As they were disposing the forces for the final attack, the general of the western army said to the eastern general: “Have you arranged for suitable ground on which we may retreat?” “Retreat? Retreat?” replied the veteran of the east; “we do not intend to retreat.”
NATIVE TEACHERS, SOMABULA, AFRICA
So our missionaries in Africa are making no plans for retreat. Their reports of work done and plans for advance are inspiring. Like the educational convention which turned into a missionary movement, so the South African Conference just closed, turned its attention largely to mission work. The additions in membership and new churches were mostly from mission stations. Advance is sounded along our whole front. This is seen in the earnest calls made by every missionary for men and means to extend the work. W. H. Anderson calls for help at the new station in Barotseland; M. C. Sturdevant wants help to take charge of the Matabele Mission so he can go far into the interior; F. B. Armitage wants a teacher at Somabula so he can superintend the native teachers at the out-stations, and secure new mission stations. A well-qualified teacher is needed to train the advanced boys from all our Matabele stations for teachers and evangelists; J. A. Chaney needs more help in Basiutoland, and G. W. Shone calls for help in Kafirland.
The writer will open a new mission at Shiloh, near Blantyre, Nyassaland, while Thomas Branch holds the ground at the Plainfield station. More help will soon be needed in Nyassaland.
Before us lie Pondoland, Zululand, Khama’s Country, Namaqualand, Damaraland, and the Great Kongo basin, including Angola, French Kongo, and Kongo State. This brings us only to the equatorial regions, beyond which lie many unentered lands. Africa is behind in the proclamation of the message. We have fewer believers than in any other continent. Probably less has been done to warn the native races than in any other continent.
Believing the mighty message we do, why should we not occupy these countries at once? God would have it so. Will the home land stand by us with the men and the means?
Some of our native converts feel the burden of the message. I quote from letters written to Elder Hyatt over a year ago. The call is still unanswered:— “S. D. A. MISSION, BULUWAYO, Feb. 2, 1906. “I desire to write a few lines to you again, . . . but I have nothing to say only the same words that I wrote you last time. I was waiting for your answer, but I do not get it. I wish you would answer me, my dear teacher. As I think about my people, my heart just trouble me very much. I do not want to go there just to see them,—no, no, not me! But if I just have a time before Jesus comes to show them that Jesus is coming, yes, he is very near. I ask all elders of the Advent Church, Why do you passed my people and do not take the truth to them? I beg you to read this letter before all.”
