A QUESTION of paramount importance concerning the evangelization of Africa is, Who should go as missionaries, to carry the Gospel of salvation from every form of slavery by which sin has claimed the human family, and from the ultimate result of sin’s dominion, even eternal death?
The first qualification that a missionary should possess is a heaven-born love for perishing souls, a burning zeal which only death can quench. He must be sure that his calling is divine, and not merely at the request of man; that his anointing for service is within; that he is filled with the Spirit, whether “by the laying on of hands” or otherwise, as it pleases God.
It may be wise to have the general supervision of mission work laid upon individuals of mature age and experience, but, as a general rule, persons should be selected for the African field who have not reached the age of thirty years. Costly experience has proven that the great majority of successful missionaries in tropical lands have entered upon their life-work before reaching the age of twenty-five.
Only those who possess robust health should be advised to go to a tropical or sub-tropical climate. Every such climate has a tendency to lower vitality, to reduce energy, and to bring a greater tension on the nervous system than a temperate climate. Then, too, persons of vigorous health can more readily resist the ravages of disease than can those of less vigor of body. Fever has easy victims in those who possess small vitality.
In the estimation of the writer, the best choice that can be made of missionaries for the African field is young married couples who possess good education, and who are willing to sever all ties which bind them to home and native land, that they may, by-and-by “see of the travail” of their souls, in the blood-bought throng around the throne, “and be satisfied.”
The reasons for this selection are, first, wherever such a couple go they can have at least a simple home; they can comfort and encourage each other in trials and labors, and minister to each other in case of sickness. If children are born to them, it will be a period of perhaps ten years before they will have to receive education aside from that which can best be supplied in a true missionary home. Such children will not know, and therefore can not recall, the associations in the native land of the parents. The rearing of children who by experience know of the pleasant associations in the home-land is sometimes extremely trying to parents, and may have a strong influence in leading them back.
Young persons can more readily adjust themselves to new conditions and strange environment, than those in more advanced life; and language can be acquired much more readily by the young than by those older. The advantages of a good foundation education will be apparent. Perhaps the principal work of the missionary is to teach others. He is best qualified to teach who has been taught, and whose mind has been trained to study. Then, too, missionaries should become able to translate, grammatically, into the native languages. One with a good education has every advantage in learning a new language, but yet he must not depend on book-study alone for this purpose, for there is no agency so potent in acquiring a new language, as constant association with those who speak the language desired.
Probably there are none, who fill the foregoing qualifications, better calculated to go as missionaries to Africa than the colored people of America. Naturally, if converted, they should have a deep interest in the salvation of their own race; and it is a demonstrated fact that such are received more readily by the Africans than are Europeans. It is a marvelous thing among the tribes of the interior of Africa, to see and hear an educated man of their own race and color.
There is, however, special danger to the cause of truth in sending colored Americans to Africa as missionaries. Some of this class have gone there, under the auspices of various denominations, and, seeing their own people ruled firmly by a small European population; seeing also that under such rule it is impossible for the African to attain to a recognized equality, in any particular, with their rulers, they have mistaken their mission and joined in what is known as
“The Ethiopian Movement,”
which means “Africa for the African.” This movement, if followed to its legitimate conclusion, would result in dispossessing the whites of all the valuable property which they hold in Africa, including the richest gold and diamond mines in the world.
Naturally all foreign governments which have been ingrafted in African soil seek with the strong arm of the law to suppress this movement; and he is an unwise missionary, whatever his race or color, who will manifest any degree of sympathy with it. His work is to preach Christ, and, while teaching loyalty to all earthly governments, make citizens for the kingdom of heaven. Naturally one of African blood would be more deeply stirred over this movement than a European, but the moment he takes any part in this mistaken mission, that moment his work is in danger of being suppressed by the government. Thus his voice would be silenced from preaching the Gospel.
It is doubtless true that the Gospel has more free course in Africa under European rule than it would have under the original rule of the native Africans.
Who can doubt that He who ruleth “in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will,” has ordained that Africa should be ruled by Europeans, to the intent that “the everlasting Gospel” should be proclaimed in this generation, “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people”? The one who joins in “The Ethiopian movement” may be found even fighting against God.
By their unsaved condition, if not in very actions, more than two hundred millions of perishing souls in “Darkest Africa” are pleadingly holding out their hands to you, my Christian friend, for that which you hold within your grasp—the knowledge of salvation. Many of these souls, for whom our Saviour gave His priceless life, will shine as bright stars in some soul-winners’ crown. Will you, by the dedication of your life and your possessions to God’s service, wear a worker’s crown, bedecked with some of these brilliant stars? Will you have the privilege of associating throughout eternity, in a sinless, painless, deathless world, with those that you have been instrumental in saving from death’s cold embrace? May the reader and writer be faithful soul winners. G. W. REASER.
