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The Missionary

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 11, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 43.

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The Missionary.

By P. W. B. Wessels

THE SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION FIELD.

God in his providence has provided that the Third Angel's Message should also be introduced to that distant land generally known as the "Dark Continent." South and Central Africa has been an active missionary field for the last thirty years. Different societies from England, Scotland, Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, France, and America are represented there. Although the missionaries were persecuted and at times even murdered, new ones, and double the number, were sent to fill their places; so that the country is now dotted by missionary stations, in which are educated and trained some of the Christian natives, as teachers and ministers to their own tribes. Some of these prove to be very intelligent and earnest Christians and workers.
There are many tribes, which may be classed in two general divisions—the copper-colored and the blacks. The first may be classed as follows: The Malays, originally brought as slaves from the Malay Peninsula, near India. Their religion is Mohammedanism. Second, the Bushmen, Hottentots, Gorandars, and the Griquas, who principally occupy the western territory of South and Central Africa. They are worshiping images, insects, and other objects.
The Kaffir races inhabit the eastern and central parts of South Africa, which consist of the Damaras, Ovampoes, Kreli, Basutos, Fingoes, Zulus, Setsuana, Bethsuanas, and Amaswies. The copper-colored have each their distinct dialect, and also the Kaffir races; nevertheless, there exists a similarity in the languages, and the larger tribes can mostly understand each other.
I have visited some of these mission stations, and I had also the privilege on my voyage from Africa to England to be in the company of one of the principal missionaries of South and Central Africa, and I obtained valuable information regarding those different tribes and races. Receiving such information, and by my own experiences when I visited the different missionary stations, the question came to my mind whether that is not a favorable field for us to present our truths,—whether these dark races of South, Central and Northern Africa are not also included in the gospel commission: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." You will all agree that they are. Many of them have already accepted Christianity, and are now trusting in the merits of a risen Saviour. So we plainly see that the Third Angel's Message must be proclaimed to these races, for are not the one hundred and forty-four thousand to be composed of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people? The end is near, as prophecy plainly proves. When will this work be done? and by whom? You say we must wait. Wait for what? Can we not hear the pleading, Go and preach the gospel to every creature? God has prepared the way for the presentation of the Third Angel's Message to these nations. Shall we not follow on as he leads?
P. W. B. WESSELS.
(To be continued.)