Darkness in the Dark Continent

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Oct 4, 1906

Darkness in the Dark Continent

“THIS is a darkness that may be ‘felt’” says Dr. A. T. Pierson. “In many places paganism here reaches its lowest depth. Superstition, cruelty, worship of demons, immorality sanctified by the example of the gods, lying, stealing, polygamy, slavery—this is, for three fifths of her people, Africa’s religion. Here depravity meets no real obstacle in its gravitation toward destruction.

“Islam, though holding a smaller number in bonds, presents a graver problem than paganism. It has more truth, being monotheistic and non-idolatrous. Its converts are more decent and intelligent, less barbarous and degraded. But it only refines the vices it can not reform, and makes the sinner only a little more proud and self-satisfied with his respectability. A Moslem said to a European: ‘You must not wear our clothes.’ They are given us of God to set forth the character of our religion, as yours set forth the character of your own. Our clothes are wide, easy, flowing; so is our religion. We can steal, lie, commit adultery, and do as we wish, and our prophet will make it all right for us at the last day. Your clothes are like your religion: tight-fitting, narrow, and restraining.’ ‘The pliant pagan readily becomes the fanatical Moslem’—more unreachable than ever by the gospel.”