Sadly in Need of Help

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 5, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 14.

Sadly in Need of Help

Sadly in Need of Help.—Haiti—the Black Republic, as it is called—has on the whole island some 2,000,000 inhabitants, all of whom are Africans. Altho a brave people (as proved by the manner in which their forefathers fought, and won their freedom from slavery more than 100 years ago, under that noble negro chieftain, Toussaint Louverture), yet to-day they are in the most pitiable condition, materially, politically, and morally.

Since 1860 the recognized island religion is the lowest type of Romanism, tho the people generally, if not entirely, are blind devotees of voodooism, who, in addition to immoral orgies, frenisical dances, and other disgusting and revolting practises connected with the devil worship, at times sacrifice human life, even the blood of innocent babes, to slake the thirst of their demon god, whom they have been taught for centuries, both in Africa and Haiti, by the Papa Lois (witch-doctor) to fear and dread.

At the dawn of this century it is almost incredible that there should be at this moment an island, five times the size of Jamaica, and with over three times its population, in such a benighted and deplorable state, and with very little organized effort to better the moral condition.—Missionary Review.