Persecution of Protestant Christians in Madagascar
A REPORT to the Missionary Herald says the Jesuits continue to harass the native Protestant Christians in Madagascar in every possible way. They close the churches, or claim them for their own, and in various ways terrorize the inhabitants into accepting the Roman Catholic religion. On this subject the Journal des Missions says:— Nothing is more difficult than to arrive at the truth as regards religious liberty in Madagascar. The state of mind of the natives renders testimony by witnesses almost impossible. A thing seen by dozens will be denied if the true recital of the facts is supposed to be displeasing to those in power. For instance, a French colonist, who had beaten many native teachers, severely beat a Protestant teacher with a club, closed the doors of his school, and forbade the children to go to any school but the one he had set up in the Protestant church building—adding insults to these injuries. Two missionaries, armed with proofs, laid this outrage before the general commanding. The result was that the colonist was fined $20 and allowed to go free. He retired in triumph, threatening further injuries.