THE CURSE OF POLYGAMY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 28, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 29.

THE CURSE OF POLYGAMY.

THE following from Mr. Ransom, of the Zulu missions of the Congregationalists, reveals a little of one of the great evils which the missionary has to meet in Africa:—

“Some of these girls have been tied, whipped, and their books have been burned. But their enthusiasm is not quenched, and there came an order to-day for five new primers. Some of them are engaged to old polygamists, and pine to escape the horrid bondage. They sounded me to see if there would be a place for them should they run away to the station. We have five kraal girls in a space which is not too large for one, and do not feel as if we could take any more. Nor does it seem possible for the others to add to present cares.

“Umzumbe and Inanda are a long way off, and beset with some danger, even if they screw up their courage to go and we pay for a guide. Two whom we sent under good conduct this term were pursued and taken back to their homes. Some of these runaways, of course, do not do well; but must the hungering few be left to starve and die in hopeless bondage?

“Oh, this curse, this curse of polygamy! As I study the hellish system, and see it entrenched by English law and growing stronger year by year, and, perhaps, becoming more and more a source of revenue, my heart burns within me, and I long for the voice of a prophet. The preachers at the out-station come to me, saying, ‘What use is it for us to go and awaken these aspirations for a better life?’ And it is hard when those awakened simply beat against their chains. It seems as if we must provide more homes for these little ones, who, it must be remembered, have only a little measure of light and courage. They sometimes have enough to run here, but their hearts fail them when we suggest a journey of sixty or seventy miles. But even this provision at best is temporary, and does not strike at the root.”