Abyssinia by Anol Grundset

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 16, 1912

Abyssinia

By Anol Grundset

Eighteen Years in Prison for Conscience' Sake

THE following is taken from a news-letter from Adis Abeba, the capital city of Abyssinia. It tells of sufferings endured because of religious convictions.

Wobe, or Wube, as the name is written in the Amharic, received lasting impressions, when the German missionaries under King Menelek's younger days were here. A Bible translation came out, if I remember rightly, in 1845, which has since been revised twice.

The Bible in Amharic—Geez the people do not understand—has proved to be stronger than all martyrdom that the priests invent for the readers of it. . .

Before the German missionaries came here—they were supported by an English company—the people spiritually lived in deepest darkness. That darkness the bishop and priests delighted in. But as the light began to pierce through the darkness, there began the persecution of the light bearers. Those found to adhere to the way of light were imprisoned. Those drawn toward the light did not, however, reveal the forbidden Book, but hid them in the earth, uncovering and reading them nights. In this way, many even to-day read in secret. The light advances. There are Nicodemus souls scattered in the land, the open professions are very rare. Such souls as imprisoned Wube are few to be found. There was but one like him, who dared openly confess his faith. This his comrade was whipped to death, and Wube at the time received forty stripes. Since then he has been dragged from province to province, from mountain [lone place] to mountain, with his limbs locked in chains, and with chains still tighter drawn at every time he has been retried and been unwilling to surrender his faith. When now Tajelenj was imprisoned, Wube was brought here and again questioned, but remained steadfast. He has not suffered in vain.

The bishop and minister of justice have at every trial gnashed teeth against him; but it has been heard from persons standing near these officials, that their consciences are aware that they have not dealt rightly with him, that he is more righteous than they; but what shame now to acknowledge their wrong! Because of fear that, if they should let him loose, light should take on wings, and much which they suppose to be hidden would be revealed, they keep him guarded in chains. They hope in this way to torment him to death, and in silence hide him and his history under sod. We may yet see the outcome. A few pages of this man's sufferings ought to be written up in Amharic and spread among the people, for one or more of such histories should help toward attaining here religious liberty.

The happenings of the last months, in which the bishop and priests, after the death of the late king, began another persecuting career, in which even foreign representatives have taken steps to interfere, prove that darkness is still cherished and the Bible and its adherents made subjects of attacks. To us especially interested in the removal of barriers, are these things momentous. I believe the Lord in and through all this will work out in His own time, in His own end, the opening of Abyssinia for the preaching of the everlasting Gospel of the third angel.

The ambitious, unscrupulous queen of Abyssinia, who reached the throne by a series of cruel murders, among which were two or three husbands

We hear often Abyssinia spoken of as a Christian land; but ah, 'tis a land of utter darkness, with a corrupted priesthood holding the people by reins of superstition and falsehoods. The messengers of the Gospel are interpreted to be demons, and their teachings errors. The people are warned to have nothing to do with us. Nevertheless, amid obstacles, our school has gone well. Some students have run away from home and villages to come to us to get the opportunities of education and learning.

Dear believers, let your prayers unite with ours, that the Word, God's precious light, may soon have liberty to circulate among the people of this dark land, and that its saving truths may germinate in some honest hearts to bear future fruits.

Yours to rescue from heathen darkness,

ANOL GRUNDSET.

Asmara, East Africa.