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THE CONGO FOR CHRIST
HI}* ^torn of tljc Congo jHission
JOHN BROWN MYERS
(association secretary baptist missionary society)
author of "thomas j. comber," "william cake\ ," etc.
SECOND EDITION. NINTH THOUSAND.
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY
NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO
Publishers of Evangelical Literature.
LOAN STACK
^ ■ fJT/g r
a\/
PREFACE.
NUMEROUS inquiries have been made for a
concise history of the Congo Mission, brought
up to date. With the view of meeting this
demand the present volume has been written.
The late esteemed Treasurer of the Baptist Mission-
ary Society, Mr. Joseph Tritton, published " The Rise
and Progress of the Congo Mission" in 1885, which
publication has for some time been out of print, and
during the last ten years the Mission has greatly
developed. Considerable information is also to be
found in the Memoir of Thomas J. Comber, appearing
in this Series, but that work is necessarily restricted
by its biographical character. The story of this
remarkable Mission has been told in such leisure
moments as the writer could command, and may
therefore, on that account, as also on account of the
limited space at disposal, be inadequately told. It is,
however, confidently believed no one can read these
pages without being led to thank God for the great
337
VI PREFACE.
work which has been accomplished, and for the heroic,
Christ-like spirit displayed by those who have served,
and suffered, and died in the prosecution of it.
The records of the Baptist Missionary Society have
largely contributed to the matter, as also its woodcuts
to the illustration of the volume.
It now only remains to express the prayerful hope
that, as the book shall find its way into Christian
homes and Christian Churches, into Sunday Schools,
Christian Endeavour Societies, and other institu-
tions, the study of it may help to sustain and
deepen the interest which from its origin has been
so extensively taken in this Congo Mission.
J. B. M.
May, 1895.
NOTE TO SECOND EDITION.
Since the issue of the First Edition, circum-
stances have led to the substitution of YAKUSU, near
Stanley Falls, for Mojembo, not at present practi-
cable, as the site of the new station. It may also be
stated that a commodious School-House has been
recently erected at Bolobo.
To the death-roll a further name has been added,
that of Rev. Philip Davies, B.A., of Wathen Station,
who passed away on the 4th of December, 1895.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE, LANGUAGE, AND CLIMATE,
CHAPTER II.
HOW THE CONGO MISSION BEGAN, .
17
CHAPTER III.
EARLY DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME,
24
CHAPTER IV.
INGATHERING OF THE FIRST-FRUITS,
41
CHAPTER V.
THE WORK AMONGST THE CONGO BOYS AND GIRLS, . 5 1
CHAPTER VI.
LITERARY LABOURS,
. 62
viii CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
PAGE
THE SERVICES OF THE MISSION TO CIVILISATION AND
PHILANTHROPY, 71
CHAPTER VIII.
THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES,
. 88
CHAPTER IX.
THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES— {continued), . „ IOO
CHAPTER X.
THE EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS OF THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN
CHURCHES, 113
CHAPTER XI.
THE DEATH ROLL AND HOW TO REGARD IT, . . . 1 23
CHAPTER XII.
THE FUTURE OF THE CONGO MISSION, . . . .139
CHAPTER XIII.
OTHER MISSIONS IN CONGO, 147
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
CHAPTER I.
THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE, LANGUAGE, AND CLIMATE.
IT was in the January of 1878 that the Pioneer
Baptist missionaries first landed upon the shores
of the Congo, some six months after Mr. Stanley's
emergence from the mysterious depths of the
Dark Continent. The knowledge of Congo country,
previous to the wonderful journey across Africa of
that intrepid traveller, was most meagre. During the
four centuries which elapsed since Diego Cam dis-
covered the mouth of the river, little of interest
had transpired save the entrance, almost immediately
after that discovery, of some Portuguese Roman
Catholic missionaries into the chief town of Congo
proper, to which town they gave the name of San
Salvador, and where they built a cathedral and
received the king and the inhabitants generally into
a nominal Christian Church. In less than a hundred
years, however, the Portuguese were driven from the
9
10 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
place, who then transferred their ecclesiastical influ-
ence and privileges to St. Paul de Loanda on the
coast of Angola.
Mention may also be made of a British expedition
in charge of Captain Tuckey, sent out by the Admir-
alty at the beginning of the present century to explore
the course of the Congo. But the results were slight,
owing to the fatality with which the expedition was
attended, though useful information concerning the
lower reaches of the river was obtained.
The only other preliminary event requiring notice
here, is the expedition sent out by the Royal Geo-
graphical Society, under the command of Lieutenant
Grandy, organised for the search of Dr. Livingstone.
Not finding it expedient to follow the course of the
Congo from its mouth, Lieutenant Grandy proceeded
from Ambriz, reaching San Salvador after a month's
journey. The knowledge of the interior country
which he was enabled to communicate to the Geo-
graphical Society was very valuable, and was of great
service to the missionary pioneers. It will thus be
seen that, at the best, the knowledge of the country
obtainable was very limited, and bearing in mind
that the details of Stanley's journey were not yet in
their possession, the country into which these pioneers
of the Cross were entering may be truly described as
"Terra Incognita."
But while Congo country was at that time an
unknown territory, it is very far from being so to-day.
It would be out of place, in this volume, to detail the
various steps which have resulted in the present
development of the Congo Free State, the founding
of which took place in 1885. A glance at the map
recently published in Brussels, showing the state, the
trading and the mission stations, the postal offices,
the railway projections, as well as the various districts
into which the vast territory of the Free State has
been sub-divided, is abundantly sufficient to produce
the impression that a more rapid and remarkable
COUNTRY, PEOPLE, LANGUAGE, AND CLIMATE II
instance of progress in civilisation has not been
witnessed in this or in any other age.
The tract of country, over which the philanthropic
and noble-minded King of the Belgians, Leopold II.,
rules as sovereign, and which by the consent of the
Powers is on the point of being transferred to Belgium,
thus virtually becoming a colony of that nation, in-
cludes an enormous part of equatorial Africa, extending
in its more northerly points about 5° N. Lat, and in its
THE LOWER
CONGO
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BAPTIST MISSION STATIONS.
OTHER MISSION STATIONS.
southern boundary 12° S. Lat, stretching across the
continent to the great Eastern Lakes, 30° E. Long.
The extent of area thus covered is no less than nearly
900,000 square miles, with splendid navigable water-
ways of some 5000 miles in length, the population
being estimated at 50,000,000, an estimate which, on
further explorations, may be largely exceeded.
It is a great satisfaction, in view of missionary
operations, that in the delimitation of frontiers the
12 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
districts of Banana and of Boma, situated on the
north bank of the Lower Congo, should have been
ceded to the Free State, thereby the great gateway
into the interior being neither under the control of the
Portuguese nor of the French Powers.
It is appropriate that in this introductory chapter
a brief reference should be made to the general
questions of the Religion, Language, and Character
of the Congo people, as also to the Climate of their
country. As to the first of these questions, that of
Religion, it may be said the ideas of a God, of a future
state, and of retribution exist in the native mind.
" But," as has been graphically remarked, " over all the
religious beliefs of the Central African rests a dense
cloud of superstition. He trembles before the witch-
doctor. He kills his own wife when he imagines her
bewitched. He kills one child because it cuts the
upper teeth before the lower. He kills another child
when it turns from one side to the other in sleep.
The ghost-like medicine-man, the universal demi-god
of savage nations, with his hideous miscellany of dead
lizards, hide, nails of the dead, lions' claws and
vulture-beaks, stalks through the village imparting
strange efficacy to claw or bone, stick or stone. And
as beneath the dull, leaden skies of the distant north
there are believed to be structures haunted by ghosts
and goblins, so here the forest, with its tenantry of
owls and bats, is the abode of malignant spirits,
and the rustling of the foliage at eventide is their
mysterious dialogue. Shadowy vagueness and super-
stitious terror are the cardinal elements of Central
African religion."
With respect to Language, it cannot but be of great
advantage in the evangelisation of the Congo, that as
the people, — with the possible exception of the dwarfs,
the singular beings with whom Mr. Stanley has made
us familiar, — are of the same origin, belonging to the
great Bantu family, the language spoken, though vary-
ing much in dialect, and practically distinct in several of
14 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
its tongues, is yet throughout Central Africa governed
by the same grammatical principles and rules. " In
a general and wide study of the Bantu, or of any
other family of tongues/' says the Rev. W. Holman
Bentley, who has devoted himself more especially
to the study of language, " we may expect to find
certain individualities, forms, and tendencies, much
more developed in some languages than in others ;
some forms most rare and obscure in one member of
the family occurring frequently in another, in which
also the construction appears most simple. Thus,
each language reduced, should not only aid us towards
a fuller knowledge of the general principles of its
class, but, should elucidate some of the difficulties
belonging to other branches of its family." "The
Congo language," says Dr. Cust, a high authority on
the modern languages of Africa, " takes its place by
the side of the Swahili, the Zulu, and the Pongwe, as
one of the typical languages of the Bantu family.
Differing from each other in many particulars, they
still have such ineffaceable affinities as indicate their
common stock. The mechanism of one often explains
misunderstood anomalies in the others."
In Character, some of the tribes are less cruel and
more open to influence than others. Whilst occasion-
ally, the missionaries have been received with hostility,
and in some towns have found it unsafe to dwell,
generally speaking, their visits have been cordially
welcomed, and their message listened to with respect-
ful wonder. In mental capacity, the natives are said
to be bright and quick, and by no means the stupid
and stolid creatures they are sometimes represented.
High hopes are entertained that, as Christianity and
civilisation advance, the Congo people will take rank
with the foremost nations of the earth.
A final word as to the Climate of the country.
Hereafter we shall have occasion to touch upon the
sad losses, which have so sorely tried the hearts of
the supporters of African Missions, and of those of
i6
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
this Congo Mission in particular. Optimists cannot
commend the climate as being without risk to health.
No one in his senses will go forth to a tropical
country, where malarial fever is frequent, denying
that he incurs peril ; but the reputation of the Congo
climate has unquestionably had to suffer through
consequences resulting from ignorance and lack of
prudence. With increasing knowledge is coming
greater medical skill, and given certain conditions —
conditions deemed more and more possible, and the
prospects of continuous and prosperous work will
grow brighter.
This, then, is the nature of the country in which,
and the kind of people among whom, the Christian
Mission is being conducted, whose remarkable pro-
gress and beneficent labours are about to be traced
in subsequent chapters.
CHAPTER II.
HOW THE CONGO MISSION BEGAN.
VERY evident to a devout mind is the working
of a Divine Providence in the circumstances
which led the Baptist Missionary Society to
enter upon missionary labours in Congo land.
In the origin of no similar enterprise were the con-
currence of events and conditions more remarkable.
The labours of other Societies whose representatives
had entered from the East Coast — those of the Free
Church of Scotland Mission on Lake Nyassa, the
Church Missionary Society's Mission in Uganda, and
the expedition sent out by the London Missionary
Society to Lake Tanganyika — had awakened the
interest of the Christian Church generally in the
evangelisation of Africa.
For a long time the conviction had been strengthen-
ing in the minds of the supporters of the Baptist
Society, as the result of experience gained at coast
stations, that their true policy, wherever practicable,
was to penetrate into the interior, where the Gospel
might be preached unhindered by the hostile influ-
ence of demoralising traders. The opinion strongly
expressed by many, pre-eminently by Dr. Livingstone,
17 B
1 8 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
who was continuously calling upon missionaries " to
leave the unhealthy, fever-stricken, trade-cursed tribes
on the coast," created a readiness to embrace any
favourable opportunity for work in inland regions.
In pursuance of this desire, special journeys at this
very time were being made from the Cameroon
stations, to ascertain if it were possible to enter the
interior from that part of Western Africa.
It was just at this particular moment — date the 14th
of May, 1877 — when the Committee at home were
desirous to start operations in central regions, and
when missionaries abroad were exploring with a view
to that end, that Mr. Robert Arthington, of Leeds,
whose interest in the degraded peoples of Africa is
well known, and whose gifts to promote their moral
and spiritual welfare have been most generous,
communicated with the Committee of the Society,
calling their attention to a part of Africa, " not too
far, I think," to quote his own words, " from places
where you have stations, on which I have long had
my eye with very strong desire that the blessings of
the Gospel might be given to it. It is the country of
the Congo." And then after referring to the Romish
Missions of three hundred years ago, the traces of
which may be seen in the Cathedral ruins at San
Salvador, and giving certain information respecting
the country thus mentioned, he concluded his letter in
the following terms : —
" It is, therefore, a great satisfaction and a high and
sacred pleasure to me to offer ^"iooo if the Baptist
Missionary Society will undertake at once to visit
these benighted, interesting people with the blessed
light of the Gospel, teach them to read and write, and
give them in imperishable letters the words of eternal
truth. By-and-by, possibly, we may be able to extend
the mission eastwards on the Congo at a point above
the rapids.
" But, however, that may be, I hope that soon we
shall have a steamer on the Congo, if it should
20 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
be found requisite, and carry the Gospel eastwards
and south and north of the river, as the way may
open as far as Nyangwe. The London Mission-
ary Society take twenty miles west of Lake Tangan-
yika."
The receipt of this communication at so opportune
a moment awakened the liveliest interest. Was not
a voice from heaven speaking ? Was not the hand of
God discernible in such an incident?
On Mr. Arthington's letter being laid before the
Directors of the Society, a special sub-committee was
at once appointed to make all necessary inquiries
and gain all possible information. The practical out-
come of their deliberations was to suggest a prelimin-
ary exploration of the Congo. On Mr. Arthington
being informed of this proposal, that gentleman wrote
a second letter as under: —
" It is to the King of Congo, and the existing com-
munities of the ancient Christian Romish civilisation
now decayed, at San Salvador, of the country called
Congo, that I have so long, and so strongly desired
to send, in all its life-giving freshness, the Word of
God, and to give them in their own tongue, never to
be forgotten, the words of Jesus and His Apostles.
" Then, besides that, I want us to be on the Congo
River by-and-by (when we get the intelligent interest
and co-operation of the King of Congo) above the
rapids, and sail the messengers of the everlasting
Gospel on the mighty river up as far as to Nyangwe.
" Does not God call us by His providential indica-
tions to attempt great things for His Christ, and the
Gospel.
" God is over all, and we may depend upon it He
intends now to open out Africa to Christian evan-
gelisation. Think of the thousands of souls come
across by Cameron west of Tanganyika. Are these
to live and die without the knowledge of the all-
precious Gospel? Nay, hardly so. In my opinion,
it would be wise, without delay, to send a man, most
HOW THE CONGO MISSION BEGAN. 21
prayerfully chosen, full of faith and love, who will
determinately make his way to the King of Congo,
and ask him if he would receive and encourage your
Christian missionaries ; and, at the same time, he
should make all needful inquiries.
"If you find the man and inform me, I intend at
once to send you £50 to encourage you."
When the July quarterly meeting arrived, the
special sub- committee were prepared with their
report, which was unanimously and enthusiastically
adopted, its recommendation being most gratefully to
accept Mr. Arthington's proposals, and assure him of
the deep and hearty sympathy of the Committee in
his desire to send the Gospel into the interior of
Africa by way of the West Coast ; to appeal to the
friends of Africa on behalf of the expenses of a
proposed preliminary visit to San Salvador; and to
appeal for one or more suitable pioneers to undertake
the projected journey.
The public announcement of this decision called
forth the fervent approval of the Churches, and
promises of support were speedily forthcoming.
We have referred to indications of Divine leading,
and in this connection we have now to mention a
significant concurrence of events, surely to be regarded
as something more than a mere coincidence. In the
appeal made by the Committee for the funds needful
to enter upon the preliminary undertaking, they made
use of the following language : — " Who can say but
that it may lead to the proclamation of the glad
tidings of the Gospel all along the banks of the
mighty Congo ? That, with San Salvador as a base,
the missionaries may be able to follow that mysterious
river from above the Falls, as far as Nyan gw£, and
thus solve the great and perplexing question as to the
Lualaba being identical with the Congo?
" The gallant Cameron says : — ' This great Lualaba
must be one of the head waters of the Congo, for
where else could that giant among rivers, second only
22 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
to the Amazon in its volume, obtain the two million
cubic feet of water which it unceasingly pours each
second into the Atlantic'
" Probably this question will soon be set at rest by
the intrepid Stanley, who is now engaged in trying to
find his way from Nyangwe to the West Coast, by the
banks of the Congo, from the very point where
Commander Cameron was most reluctantly compelled
to turn southwards, and abandon his long-cherished
idea of reaching the West Coast by the waters of the
Congo."
At the very time the article containing this appeal
was being prepared for the press by Mr. A. H.
Baynes, the General Secretary of the Society, to
whose skilfulness and enthusiasm, both as to its
inception and management, the Congo Mission owes
so much, Mr. Stanley's famous despatch, dated
Embomma, Congo River, ioth August, 1877,
announcing the successful accomplishment of his
marvellous journey, and publishing his most import-
ant discovery of the identity of the Lualaba and the
Congo rivers, was on its way to England.
By this great discovery the purposes of the Com-
mittee were naturally much strengthened ; and,
further, their way was made still more clear by the
receipt of a donation from Mr. Wathen (afterward
Sir Charles Wathen) of ^500 to meet the estimated
cost of the proposed preliminary expedition. Other
gifts followed ; and, as showing the spirit of intense
interest which had been aroused, we may quote a
typical letter received from a Staffordshire collier : —
" To the Secretaries of t]ie Baptist Mission.
"25th September, 1877.
" Dear Sirs, — Ever since my conversion, now
some few years ago, I have taken a deep interest in
mission work, especially mission work in Africa.
I always carry a map of Africa in my pocket, and
HOW THE CONGO MISSION BEGAN. 23
often look over it in my spare time in the pit. For a
long time I have been thinking of the great Congo
River, and praying that missionaries may be sent
there, and I now see in the Missionary Herald for
this month that the answer is coming, and the Lord
has put it into Mr. Arthington's mind.
" Times have not been very gay with us of late,
but I have put by from time to time a little for
Africa, and now with a glad heart I send you a five
pound bank-note for the Congo Mission, with a
prayer that the Lord may bless it, and I remain
yours in Christ,
"A Staffordshire Collier.
"PS. — I have just heard about Mr. Stanley and
his wonderful journey. How the Lord seems to be
opening up Africa. Can't we all do something more
for Africa ? "
Careful deliberations as to the persons to whom
this important expedition should be intrusted forced
upon the judgment of the Directors the desirability of
seeking the assistance of those who possessed some
experience of African life, and who were men of
proved capacity. The choice fell upon the Revs.
George Grenfell and Thomas J. Comber, two
missionaries then stationed at Cameroons, and whose
recent journeyings into the interior from that part of
the West Coast had helped to fit them to undertake
the new enterprise. No sooner did the communica-
tion reach these brethren, inviting them in the name
of the Lord Jesus to render this service, than they
both placed themselves, in the spirit of heroic devo-
tion and in humble dependence upon Divine help,
unreservedly at the disposal of the Society.
Such, then, were the circumstances in which the
Congo Mission was originated.
CHAPTER III.
EARLY DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME.
IT was not without an adequate sense of the for-
midable character of this Congo undertaking
that the initiative steps were taken. The diffi-
culties certain to be encountered were not
under-estimated. It was deeply felt that much
patience and prudence, courage and endurance, would
be required.
As indicating the fitness of the men to whom the
enterprise had been intrusted, no sooner had they
intimated their readiness to serve, than they deter-
mined, whilst waiting for the detailed instructions
from England, to take the first opportunity to sail
down to the mouth of the Congo River, so that on
the spot they might gain all the information obtain-
able, and thus be the better prepared to make the
necessary preliminary preparations. The advantages
secured were great. They gained a practical know-
ledge of the river for some sixty miles into the
interior ; they ascertained to what extent they might
be able to rely upon native carriers ; they entered
into cordial relations with Mr. Bloeme of the Dutch
Trading House, who promised them all the assistance
24
? s
^ g
S o
I
26 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
in his power ; and they were able to despatch a letter
to the King of Congo advising his Majesty of their
intended visit.
After returning to Cameroons the Home instruc-
tions arrived. And then, as soon as the preparations
could be completed and the small party got together,
they embarked again for the Congo, their spirit being
expressed in the following terms : — " Earnestly, most
earnestly do we pray that the gracious Lord, our
Master and Guide, may give us favour in the eyes of
the people, open up a way for us, go before us, be
round about us and ever with its; we indeed are
weak, as but children, but He can so order and over-
rule, as to enable us to unfurl the Banner of the Cross
at San Salvador, that with that for a base, from it,
may enable us or others to pierce the interior, and
carry the glad tidings of salvation through His blood
all along the densely populated bank of the mighty
Congo and its great tributaries."
After eight days' sail Banana was reached, and in
fourteen days more the expedition, increased to
thirty-five persons all told, was on its way to San
Salvador. The journey was uneventful ; the route lay
over rough roads, hills some seven hundred feet high,
and through valleys where the paths were nearly
blocked by tall thick grass, in some places as
much as twelve feet in height. In eight days their
destination was reached, and they were immediately
ushered into the presence of the king. The first
impressions of San Salvador were far from favourable.
They were disappointed in the size of the town, as
it did not contain more than about one thousand
inhabitants. They found, too, that the Portuguese
Jesuits, having heard of their intentions, had preceded
them, and had arranged regular services, and in other
ways had asserted their influence. They came,
therefore, to the decision to settle, if possible, in
preference, at Makouta or Kinsuka, of which places
they had gained encouraging information. After
EARLY DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. 27
remaining, however, for a short time at San Salvador,
and having visited the district of Makouta, they
eventually came to the conclusion — especially as Dom
Pedro, the king, expressed a very earnest wish that
they should live in his town, at the same time assur-
ing them of his protection — that it would be better
to found a station, as originally intended, at San
Salvador.
The purposes of the preliminary expedition being
now fulfilled, it was deemed desirable for Mr. Comber
to visit England, so that he might confer with the
Committee of the Society as to future proceedings,
and especially to procure reinforcements, Mr. Grenfell
returning to Cameroons.
The enthusiasm which Mr. Comber's home-coming
awakened, the success with which the appeal for new
missionaries was attended, his marriage to Miss Minnie
Rickards, the ever-memorable meeting in Cannon
Street Hotel — all these deeply interesting particulars
are described at length in Mr. Comber's Memoir, that
book being one of the volumes of this Missionary Series.
After a six weeks' voyage, on the 9th of June, 1879,
the missionaries — Mr. and Mrs. Comber and the three
new men, Messrs. Bentley, Crudgington, and Hartland
— arrived at Banana, and thence proceeded without
delay to San Salvador. At the calling station previ-
ous to Banana they had heard with intense interest
the most important news " that Mr. Stanley was
expected soon from Zanzibar, where he had gone to
procure carriers ; and that he was intending to enter
Africa from the mouth of the Congo, going first to
Stanley Pool, with the object of establishing trading
stations along the bank of the river."
Though this important information did not lead to
any alteration in their plan to attempt to reach the
Upper Congo River from San Salvador as a base of
operations, the missionaries nevertheless felt that Mr.
Stanley's movements might have a very significant
bearing upon their future action.
28 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
It is not proposed in these pages to detail the
labours and experience of the Congo pioneers during
the period they endeavoured to force their way to
Stanley Pool from San Salvador ; neither do we
dwell here upon the first great trial which came upon
the mission in the lamented death of Mrs. Comber.
For these particulars we must refer our readers to Mr.
Comber's biography, already mentioned. We cannot
do better than sum up the results of this period in the
words of Mr. Bentley : " Our work at San Salvador
made good progress ; but our aim was the evangelisa-
tion of the Upper Congo, and this had to be kept in
view. Beyond the king's territory we were blocked
by native traders. When we endeavoured to make
our way from San Salvador towards Stanley Pool,
they steadily and persistently refused to allow us to
pass, in spite of all we told them of our errand. ' No,'
they said, ' you white men stay on the coast ; we will
bring the produce to you there ; but if you go to the
Pool you will know our markets, and buy where we
buy ; our trade will be lost ; then how shall we obtain
our guns and powder, beads and brass, crockery-ware
and knives, cloth, and all the fine things we get now ?
No, we will never let you pass our towns ; and if you
persist, you will be killed.' They could not conceive
of people who were not traders. Thirteen attempts
were made, first on one road and then on another,
until Mr. Comber was attacked and shot. He was
able to escape, and the slug was extracted. Then
followed long palavering, and at last the road was
declared open. Meanwhile, we learned that Mr.
Stanley had returned to the Congo, and was engaged
in making a road from Vivi, on the north bank of the
Congo, the point where the river ceased to be navig-
able. He was said to be acting for the King of the
Belgians, and to have instructions to open up com-
munications between the coast and Stanley Pool.
This was good news indeed."
It was then resolved that an effort should be made
V
30 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
to reach Stanley Pool along either bank of the river,
Mr. Comber and Mr. Hartland taking the south and
Mr. Bentley and Mr. Crudgington the north bank.
The attempt of the former party was soon found to be
impracticable, and had to be abandoned ; but that of
the latter was ultimately crowned with success. As
this very remarkable journey, from obvious reasons, is
barely mentioned in the memoir of Mr. Comber, it is
appropriate that some detailed reference should find a
place in this volume.
Starting from Musuka on the 17th of January, 1881,
Messrs. Bentley and Crudgington kept the south bank
until Matadi was reached, from which place they
crossed over the river to Vivi on the opposite shore.
For the next five days, as far as Isangila, they were
able to avail themselves of Mr. Stanley's road. At
some points they were charmed by the impressive
scenery ; particularly was this the case just above the
Yellala Falls. "On our right roared the Falls, tumbling
and foaming madly over huge rocks in the bed of the
river. On our left rose a very high mountain of
rocks almost perpendicularly from the water, and we
were amazed at the wonderful piece of engineering
which Mr. Stanley has accomplished. To get round
this mountain he had to blast and throw over huge
masses of rock, to build up a strong road which the
river should not wash away even when it rose to its
highest, which was within a foot of the level of the
road. At low water — i.e., in the dry season — this road
or embankment is about ten feet above the river. In
front of us lay a fine undulating road through this
wood which runs down to the edge of the river.
Beautifully shaded from the hot scorching sun, it was
a most inviting spot to camp for the remainder of the
day. The air seemed alive with butterflies of every
conceivable colour and tint. Birds of every descrip-
tion fluttered from branch to branch, while the small
monkeys laughed defiance from the tops of the trees.
We did not hurry our boys along this part of our
EARLY DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. 3 1
journey. Indeed we said we would like to spend a
week here exploring the beauties of the place, and
rinding fresh bursts of lovely scenery ; but we were
bound for Stanley Pool, so could only take a passing
enjoyment."
On leaving Isangila the missionaries entered an
unknown country, with their compass as their guide,
and dependent upon the information they might pick
up as they passed along. In some parts they had to
pull themselves up steep ascents by tufts of grass and
roots of trees. So difficult was the way that their
headsmen refused to proceed farther, and, moreover,
declared the people ahead to be bad people, with bad
customs. The next day the same difficulty again
occurred, the guides who had been obtained at the
town where they had spent the previous night, declin-
ing to go beyond a certain point because they were
not acquainted with the people in front. After remon-
strating, it soon became evident that the men were
conducting them in a wrong direction. " At length,"
says Mr. Crudgington, "we declared we would go no
farther with them. They began palavering, and — we
were in the midst of a lot of towns — the men collected
with their guns, and we feared mischief." Having left
their guides, they struck off in an almost opposite
direction, but only to lose the path in a marshy river.
Cutting, however, their way through the tall grass,
they entered upon another path, which brought them
to a small town, the people in which soon showed
them a friendly spirit.
We may here refer to the difficulty these pioneer
missionaries were continually encountering through
the necessity of crossing the streams which so often
impeded their progress. In some instances, these
rivers were without bridges, and so had to be waded
or swam across, the men getting their loads over as
best they could ; and where the streams had been
bridged over, it was only with creepers swung from
trees on either side. " Sometimes," they said, " the
32
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
bridge would be so badly made, and swayed so
dangerously, that when our men began to cross with
their loads we had to steady it by means of other
SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
long creepers tied on each side of the bridge, and at
times they would be so high above the river that
when we had crossed we had to scramble down a
palm tree like bears down a bear-pole."
EARLY DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. 33
The accommodation available for the travellers
was frequently of the most uninviting character, so
undesirable that sometimes they had to sleep in the
open, whilst drumming and dancing and yelling
would be kept up till dawn. On arriving at a place
called Kibindika they described the women as being
the ugliest without exception they had ever seen —
round flat faces, with noses of very broad proportions,
and large thick lips. This ugliness, they remarked, is
increased by putting on a mixture, which might, by its
appearance, be soot and treacle. The hair is carefully
preserved until it is of sufficient length to allow of its
being clothed up with a similar mixture, giving the
head a mop-like appearance. Over all this preparation
of hair and face an oily mixture is poured. The ears,
of course, are pierced, and, failing rings or beads, a
bundle of rags, three or four inches long, sometimes
containing medicine, helps to finish the adornment
of the person.
After having been rather more than three weeks on
their march, on the 10th of February, an event of
great interest occurred, being nothing less than the
sighting of Stanley Pool, the travellers' then " Ultima
Thule." They had heard from the natives that the
pool was not far distant, and they were naturally full
of excitement. " Our anxiety," they say in their
diary, " was now greater than it had ever been lest
at the last hour we should get turned back and not
accomplish what we wanted." After rising early the
next morning, they passed through fine woodland
country, with many sandy streams and some beauti-
ful open spaces covered with short grass. At one of
these open spaces on a little hill, Mr. Crudgington
sighted a wide stretch of water on the horizon, which
appeared a long streak of cloud. He exclaimed to
Mr. Bentley, " Look, there 's Stanley Pool ! " They
thought they must be mistaken, but another view a
little farther on made it unmistakable. They then felt
they could walk any distance to reach the Pool that day.
C
34 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
Not that, but the next day, however, to their inex-
pressible joy, found them on its shores. The physical
characteristics of the Pool in many respects surpassed
their anticipations. The White Dover Cliffs, the grass
covered and tree-clad hill, the numerous sand islands,
composed a lovely picture. The Pool itself they
found to be in size about twenty-four miles long, and
in some parts the same distance broad.
Here the missionaries made the acquaintance of
the great chief, Nga Liema of Ntamo. After a long
palaver they were admitted into his town, but their
position was by no means without peril, as the follow-
ing extract from their journal will show : — " We were
conducted into an enclosure and shown a house. The
people, many of whom were hideously painted about
the face and body, were hanging about us with their
formidable looking spears and knives. Some other
chiefs, of not a very prepossessing appearance, ex-
amined the exterior of our baggage. In the evening
our capata expressed great fear. The chiefs had
been talking to him about our cloth, and had ex-
pressed a liking for ears and tongues. This a chief
repeated in my hearing," says Mr. Crudgington,
" and his manner of expressing himself conveyed
very graphically his kind intentions. They also
said, ' Kroo boys had plenty of salt in them.' This
had a very significant meaning. Fearful, lest our
Kroo boys, who were very much afraid of the people,
should take the canoes and go off in the night, we
had the headman and another to sleep in our house.
I need not say we did not sleep comfortably that
night. There were many rats running up and down
the grass wall of the house by the side I was lying,
and sometimes I wondered whether a native were
outside trying to get his spear through. Needless
fear, perhaps, as they were large enough in numbers
to easily overpower us. But amongst such people any
suspicion makes simple things assume horrible forms."
From Ntamo the missionaries proceeded to Nshasha,
3^ THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
but when within a short distance of the town, some
two hundred savages, hideously painted, rushed out
upon them armed with knives, spears, clubs, and
guns, and yelling in a most threatening manner.
"As they advanced," records the journal, "we re-
treated, palavering with them the whole time, in
order that our men might have a chance of escape.
Once or twice we felt it was utterly useless to hope
for our lives. True, our lives were in God's hands,
and we did not fear though they might kill us ; but
our great sorrow and concern were for the men whom
we had brought with us, and whose lives to a certain
extent were in our hands."
Their escape, it would appear, was due to a dis-
sension that arose amongst the chiefs.
On the 14th of February, just a month according
to the day of the week from their start on the upward
journey, the missionaries began to retrace their steps,
their return journey being marked by various inci-
dents. Two of these may be mentioned. When
three-fourths of their way down they were agreeably
surprised on entering a small town to see a white
man's house some two or three hundred yards beyond.
There they were pleased to find two brethren stationed
of the Livingstone Inland Mission. After spending
two pleasant and refreshing days in their fellowship
they resumed their travel.
Soon after this incident, Messrs. Bentley and Crud-
gington were very fortunate in meeting with Mr.
Stanley's camp. The great traveller was most
friendly, showing them and their party all possible
hospitality. Having persuaded them to stay the
night, Mr. Stanley entered most sympathetically
into their plans, and next morning sent them down
to Isangila in his steam launch.
On the 15th of March these brave pioneers reached
Musuka, the point from which they had started, with
hearts overflowing with gratitude to their Heavenly
Father and Divine Protector, the whole journey,
EARLY DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. 37
partly by river in canoes, and partly on Hnd, having
been accomplished, not reckoning the time occupied
between Salvador and the Congo River, in forty-seven
days.
This great feat, so essential to the development of
the Congo Mission, having been thus so successfully
achieved, it was felt by the missionaries that time and
expense would be saved if Mr. Crudgington were to
proceed forthwith to England to confer with the home
authorities on the establishment of a Mission station
at the Pool and at suitable intermediate points up
from Banana.
Mr. Grenfell who had returned to the Congo from
the Cameroons, wrote, shortly after Mr. Crudgington's
departure, pleading with Mr. Baynes "to urge the
Churches at home to do their utmost to fully realise
the high privilege that the Master has given to us ;
the taking so important a part in the evangelisation
of this part of Africa. When," he asks, " has a wider
door been opened or a greater work attempted ? Cer-
tainly not, in my judgment, since the noble founders
of our Mission undertook their grand work in India."
The executive were not slow to respond to this
appeal from the missionaries — indeed their appeals
had been anticipated. Many generous gifts before
Mr. Crudgington's arrival had been received, and
amongst them a splendid sectional steel boat for use
on the navigable parts of the Lower River, this being
the gift of an anonymous friend at Plymouth, after
which town the boat was named.
As the result of conference with Mr. Crudgington,
the Society resolved that the station at San Salvador
should be maintained ; that the route to Stanley Pool
should be by the north bank of the river ; that a steam
launch for service on the Upper Congo, according to
Mr. Arthington's proposal, should be provided ; that
intermediate stations should be founded ; and that
six additional brethren should be added to the mission-
ary staff. These decisions having been deliberately
38 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
and prayerfully reached, Mr. Crudgington, with Mr.
Dixon, one of the accepted new missionaries, returned
to the Congo.
The deep interest awakened by the announcement
of these resolutions called forth further most encour-
aging expressions of sympathetic support, certain
friends generously taking upon themselves the cost
of maintaining some of the reinforcements.
And now it was felt that the time was fast approach-
ing, when the proposed steamer would become the
great want of the Congo Mission, as it was hoped
that the intermediate stations on the Lower River
would without delay be planted. It was consequently
determined to put the vessel in hand at once, and its
construction was duly intrusted to the well-known
firm, Messrs. Thornycroft & Co., of Chiswick, the cost
to be about £2000, Mr. Arthington meeting the entire
expense, as well as contributing .£3000 besides to be
invested for its maintenance. To Mr. Grenfell
would be committed the responsible task of putting
the vessel together again at Stanley Pool, and it was
deemed desirable that he should return to England
for the purpose of watching its construction, Mr.
Doke, a student of Bristol College, the last of the six
new brethren (the other five being Messrs. Dixon,
Weeks, Butcher, Moolenaar, and Hughes), assisting
him. In the construction of the steamer a great
difficulty presented itself, owing to the unnavig-
able nature of the greater part of the Lower Congo,
thus necessitating the building of the boat in sections,
each section not to weigh more than 64 lbs., the weight
of a carrier's load. When it is stated that the steamer
would consequently have to consist of some 800 loads,
it will be felt how stupendous was the task to be
accomplished, her length being 70 feet, and her width,
10 feet 6 inches. The boat was constructed with
screw propellers, and in seven watertight compart-
ments, and could be driven at full speed at twelve
miles per hour.
40
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
Early in December, 1882, Messrs. Grenfell and
Doke left Liverpool, taking with them this precious
steamer, henceforth to be known as the Peace, at the
donor's special request. But a terrible trial awaited
the Mission, being nothing less than the death of
Mr. Doke almost immediately on his arrival.
The cargo being discharged at Underhill station, and
carriers being procured, the march up country began.
About a year and a-half passed away before the Peace
was launched, the reconstruction and whole manage-
ment of the undertaking being regarded as a remark-
able exhibition of resourcefulness and engineering
skill.
Thus the early pioneer difficulties of this Congo
Mission, from the starting of the preliminary expedi-
tion to the launching of the steamer, were one after
the other, in dependence upon God's blessing, heroic-
ally and triumphantly overcome.
Epi^OTW
CHAPTER IV.
INGATHERING OF THE FIRST-FRUITS.
AFTER perusing the foregoing pages some readers
may be disposed to ask : Is it for such work as
this a Missionary Society exists ? Is this
procedure after the Apostolic method? We
thought the great commission ran : " Go and preach the
Gospel!" Is this preaching the Gospel! Only fail-
ure to grasp the special conditions of such a field of
missionary labour as that of the Congo could permit
of these and similar interrogations. And how much
of the work done at home would have to be dis-
approved on like grounds ? But who in the mission-
ary enterprise can distinguish between the religious
and the secular, labelling this spiritual and that
earthly ? If ever there were a mission, originated and
developed by men who brought to their work the
purest, noblest, highest motives, men who found their
inspiration and powers of endurance in living fellowship
with the Divine Saviour, it was this Congo Mission.
But do not let us think these Congo pioneers were
indifferent to spiritual results. It was truly no love
of adventure, no mere liking for foreign travel, that
41
42 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
took them from home and friends. The power by
which they were impelled was surely none other than
the constraining love of Christ, and ardently through
all the weary days did they long for the time to come
when they would be able to devote all their energies
to the more spiritual aspects of their service, and when
their great message should everywhere be understood
and received. " Oh for the time," exclaimed one of
their number — and he but expressed the yearning
of all their hearts — " when we can write of hundreds
of souls saved ! This is our only aim ; we only live
for this, and we shall not work in vain."
It would be a mistake, however, to suppose that the
whole of the preliminary period was entirely occupied
in travel and physical toil. Not only at San Salvador,
but elsewhere, much direct and continuous evangel-
istic effort had been put forth. It is noteworthy that,
as in William Carey's experience, and in that of other
distinguished missionaries, years of patient labour had
to precede the ingathering of results.
It was not until the March of 1886, more than eight
years after the first entrance into Congo, that the first
baptism gladdened the missionaries' hearts. The
convert was Mantu, Mr. Comber's personal boy. For
a long time he had given evidence of true conversion,
but there was care not unduly to hurry the profession.
Two other converts would have been baptised with
Mantu, but one was in England with Mr. Bentley,
and the other had a charge alleged against him which,
though false, it was needful thoroughly to disprove.
With something akin to the rapt feelings with
which Dr. Carey baptised his first Hindoo convert,
Krishna Pal, Mr. Comber administered the Christian
ordinance to Mantu, the first convert of the Congo
Mission. The service took place about a mile outside
San Salvador, in the presence of the principal men
from the town, a few women, and the boys from the
school, of whom at that time theie were as many as
fifty-two in attendance. It was a solemn occasion,
INGATHERING OF THE FIRST-FRUITS. 43
and the spectators were deeply impressed by what
they saw and heard.
About six months after this event, Lo, the personal
boy of Mr.Davies,who went to Congo in 1885, became a
decided Christian. The account written by Mr. Davies
from Stanley Pool is so beautifully interesting — not
only because of the information it imparts concerning
Lo, but as well because of the insight it gives into the
spirit of the missionary — that we are glad to reproduce
it in these pages. "During all the travelling I have had
since the beginning of April, Lo and I have been thrown
a good deal together ; and at night in the tent, when
everything was settled for the night, we generally
talked together a good bit about God and His Son ;
and while I was pleased with the conceptions he was
forming about God, I never said anything to him to
make him declare himself a Christian, but preferred
to wait and let careful instruction bear its own fruit
in course of time. There was always the utmost
naturalness and freedom in all we said, and it was he,
more than I, who led our chats round from things in
general to God and salvation. I shall never forget
the decisive night, in a native house a day's march
from here. We had had an hour or two's talk first
with some of the carriers, which Lo carried on for me
with great earnestness with them.
" By nine o'clock they had all gone out to sleep,
and, as usual, we had a little quiet talk between our-
selves, only, instead of gradually settling down to
sleep, he made more anxious inquiries than I had
ever heard before about salvation, asking me to teach
him. He told me he wanted to serve God and to do
right, but felt unable from his weakness ; and a thing
that pleased me was, he seemed to want more to be
saved from sin — from sin itself — rather than the
punishment of it only. He showed so much know-
ledge of the true nature of God and of sin, that I felt
I must do all I could to help him to be really con-
verted that night ; and as he leant over the side of my
44 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
bed and took my hand, I put my arms round him and
drew him to me, and I could feel all his frame tremb-
ling and his breast throbbing, not with hysterical
excitement, but with intense emotion ; in fact, we
were both so quiet, that any one half asleep would not
have heard us. For long intervals we could neither
of us speak at all, but we both prayed ; and as I
thought of things that might be helpful, I spoke to
him. We went on in this way till nearly midnight,
when we lay down again, he possessing the new heart
which he was longing for. Every one that asketh
receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth ; and with all
his heart he had that night asked for salvation and
sought the Saviour. He is only a boy, perhaps
fourteen years old, and he needs help. I have loved
him for a long time, and all the more now ; and as
his failings and weaknesses much resemble mine at
his age, I may be able to help him till he has devel-
oped a strong Christian character, and, as far as man's
help goes, can stand alone."
In the meantime, the good work was proceeding at
San Salvador. It being felt that several of the
people there had become real Christians, the mission-
aries in charge of the stations resolved to have a week
of special meetings. The natives came in large
numbers, so much so, that the new large chapel then
in process of building, capable of holding 500 persons,
had to be used for the services. The names of over a
hundred inquirers were taken ; many brought their
fetishes and publicly discarded them.
As Mr. Comber's knowledge of the people was of
longer duration, and of the language more complete
than that of the missionaries then at San Salvador, it
was deemed desirable that he should be specially
asked to pay the station a visit at this deeply interest-
ing but critical time. He arrived on a Friday, in
good time for the Sunday's services. Unfortunately,
as he thought, when the Sunday came the weather
was anything but inviting, being wet and chilly. It
INGATHERING OF THE FIRST-FRUITS.
45
was questioned whether it would be wise to hold the
morning service, but when the bell was rung, in five
minutes the chapel was being filled — the women
hurrying along clanking their heavy anklets. Mr.
Comber was thrilled with joy and gratitude when the
people joined in singing the opening hymn ; and
when he addressed them from the words : " Old
things are passed away, behold, all things are become
INTERIOR OF THE CHAPEL, SAN SALVADOR.
new," the utmost decorum and most earnest attention
prevailed.
At other meetings it was most delightful to hear
the simple prayers of the native converts, and the
fervent words with which they entreated their fellow-
countrymen to become disciples of Jesus also.
Amongst those who declared themselves Christians
were several of the wives of the old king. Dom
46 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
Pedro did not altogether approve of their attendance
at the meetings. On his forbidding them to go, they
felt they ought not to be obedient. " The king
became furious. He took gun and sword, and in spite
of his age and enormous size, which renders it difficult
for him to move about, he came to the outside of our
gate, and waited in the dark for his wives. Immedi-
ately after the meeting, as the people were going to
their homes, there was a tremendous clanking of
anklets and screaming, as the king was found outside
the gate ; but no harm came, only one woman being
struck with the flat of the king's sword. His wives,
however, were not allowed in his enclosure, and they
slept with Matoko's women. The following day three
of them came to see me (Mr. Comber) privately, for
a little encouragement and advice in their trouble.
They were very strongly determined not to give up
attending the meetings, and one of them said, ' Never
mind if he kill us. We don't mind dying for Jesus; He
died for us.' I promised to go and see the king about
it, and after a few words to them, and a little prayer,
in which one of them joined, they went back to
Matoko's enclosure, and I went to see the king.
I told him that as king he should require obedience
in many things, but that it was very wrong to try to
force his people in matters of religion, as their souls
were at stake. After a long talk he agreed to with-
draw his opposition, and to let his wives return to
him, but wished the time of the evening meetings to
be altered to an earlier hour, so that his wives should
be home before dark. This, of course, we acceded to,
and hold our services at five instead of seven."
The missionaries, feeling it to be most important
that time should test the genuineness of these pro-
fessions, baptism was delayed. And as it was neces-
sary to extend the probationary period in some cases
longer than in others, the baptisms occurred at various
intervals, until at length, in the course of about two
years, twenty-six, out of a large number of inquirers
INGATHERING OF THE FIRST-FRUITS. 47
concerning spiritual things, had been encouraged to
make a profession of their repentance towards God
and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
At other stations the first-fruits were also being
ingathered. In the early part of 1888, Wathen station
witnessed the baptism of Nlemvo, Mr. Bentley's boy,
and shortly after, two native girls were baptised.
The first of these girls, Aku, had been brought down
from near Stanley Falls by an Arab chief, to be used
as ready money. Through some transaction, she
came into the hands of one of the work-people at the
station. Hearing of this barter, the missionary paid
the man what he had given for the girl, and thus her
freedom was procured. On a visit of Mrs. Bentley
to England, Aku, acted as her little nurse. Some-
time after her return, she became thoughtful, and
eventually gave her heart to the Saviour. The other
girl, Kavazwila, whose home was some distance
beyond the Falls, whither the Arabs had conveyed
her, Mr. Grenfell redeemed and brought her down
the river. As the result of some talks Mr. Comber
had with the children at Underhill, she decided
to love and serve Christ, and became a happy and
devoted Christian. Several were present to witness
the baptism of these two native girls, amongst them
being three gentlemen of the State Station, and some
of the men. The Communion Service which followed
in the evening of the same day was particularly
sacred and blessed ; four of those who were present
as spectators found in the service the means of their
conversion.
At Arthington Station on the Pool, too, similar
encouraging events were being experienced. Through
the influence of Mr. Silvey, who was stationed there,
three of the native boys were constrained to give their
hearts to the Saviour. The following particulars sent
to this country by Mr. Silvey cannot fail to interest.
" Simbi is from the Madimba district, near San
Salvador. He was one of twins, but the brother,
4 8
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
who was born at the same time, died. A witch
palaver was held, and the ngang'a ngombo decided
Simbi was the witch. He had caused his brother's
death. The matter was allowed to lie over until
Simbi was five years of age. A great palaver was
called, and the people wished to put Simbi to death.
His chief did not wish to lose the boy, and so paid a
large sum as a ransom. Simbi became impressed
MR. SILVKY S TiiKEii CONGO BOVS.
during the San Salvador meetings. He has a very
bad temper, and when it has hold of him, he used to
lose control of himself. This has caused him to fall
several times. For the last year, with the help of
God, he has been able to keep it under control. We
believe he has had a change of heart, and is truly
following Jesus. Mr. Grenfell, Mr. Brown, Mr. Billing-
ton, and myself are satisfied as to his conversion.
INGATHERING OF THE FIRST-FRUITS. 49
" Mwema is also from San Salvador, and has been
with me full three years. His heart was touched
at the San Salvador meetings, and his consistent
Christian life since leaves no room to doubt. He had
a bad leg recently, and went to Dr. Sim's hospital at
Kintamo. A few days afterwards I saw the doctor,
and told him we were sorry to give him the trouble of
looking after Mwema. ' Why,' he said, ' I am glad to
have him ; he is an influence for good among my
boys ; he is always speaking to one or another of
them. On Sunday evening I asked him to speak to
the boys after prayers ; he stood up and gave a
splendid testimony. I have not a shadow of doubt
Mwema is savingly converted.'
" Ntoni is at present visiting his home at San
Salvador, and could not be baptised yesterday. He
will be baptised as soon as convenient. Ntoni is a
bright little fellow. Everybody loves Ntoni, and if I
wished to part with him there would be no difficulty
in finding someone to take him. Ntoni has been
impressed for some time, and hung back a little ; but
I urged him to settle the matter once for all, and I
believe he has now given his heart to Jesus. When
travelling on the road in the quiet of the night, I
have seen Ntoni creep into a corner of the tent to
pray. I asked Mr. Billington to talk with Ntoni.
He, Mr. Billington, told me he was very pleased with
Ntoni's answers ; but he says, ' A little incident came
under my notice the other day that speaks to me
louder than words. Bafuka, my boy, was quarrelling
with one of the Bateke boys in the boys' house.
Ntoni tried to stop them, but the boys were too angry
to listen. Ntoni took them both by the arms, and
said, " Let us pray about it ; " and down on the floor
all the boys knelt, while Ntoni asked God to take
away the angry spirit. There was no more quarrel-
ling that day.' Nobody saw this, and Mr. Billington
would never have known about it if his own boy had
not told him.
5o
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
" These boys are boys of many prayers and much
personal effort. God has promised we shall reap if
we faint not. To Him be all the honour and glory."
Thus the early efforts in the pioneer days were
receiving proofs of the Divine favour ; God did not
leave Himself without a witness, His Word was not
returning unto Him void. In subsequent chapters,
the progress of the spiritual work of the Mission will
be recorded.
CHAPTER V.
THE WORK AMONGST THE CONGO BOYS AND GIRLS.
IT was only to be expected that the missionaries
would feel the importance of bestowing much of
their attention upon the welfare of the young.
They were wise in remembering that in the
course of a few years the boys and girls, who might
be won for Christ, would develop into useful Christian
workers ; and at several of the stations to-day, the
religious services, the school teaching, and the evangel-
istic efforts, are being largely maintained by those who
in early life learned to love the Saviour.
And then some of the missionaries, previous to
their life on the Congo, in the home country had been
especially happy in their work amongst the young,
so that it was most natural that they should manifest
a similar care for the poor degraded African children.
How sorely the Congo children needed the kind
help of the missionary their bitter lot declares. The
cruel customs which prevail are fatal to the existence
of home love and joy. Owing to the lack of care in
early life, a large percentage die in infancy, albeit, the
mothers suppose that witchcraft is the cause of death.
In consequence of the custom of regarding children
5i
52 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
as the property of the relatives of the wife,- the father
has little interest in his family. " The right of inherit-
ance/' says Mr. Bentley, in his Life on the Congo, " is
from uncle to nephew ; thus a man's slaves and real
property go to the eldest son of his eldest sister, or
the next-of-kin on such lines. His uncle also, knowing
that his nephew is to inherit his goods, while his own
children belong to his wife's clan, cares more for his
nephew than his own children."
The boys at a very early age have an eye to making
gains by barter. It is their aim, for instance, to pos-
sess, as soon as possible, a pig of their own, which they
may be able to sell profitably at the market. They
spend not a little time in hunting for rats, especially
when the tall grass has been fired, and the rats are
more easy to catch. Whilst they are quite small they
will frequently leave their own homes to live with
other and older boys in what is called a Mbonge.
The girls help on the farms and in the cooking ;
they, like their mothers, do most of the menial work.
They are often betrothed when little children, and
before their marriage the price which has been fixed
upon by the girl's relatives has to be paid. Some of
the girls are free girls ; but most of them are slaves,
and thus being the absolute property of their masters,
are exposed to most cruel treatment.
It must not be supposed that the children are
always unhappy. The boys at least enter with zest
into their native games, and much of their time is
merrily spent in swimming, fishing, and fighting sham
battles.
They are naturally very superstitious, being led to
believe from infancy in the powerful influence of
charms, and the terrible powers of the witch doctors.
As so much of the time of the missionaries has
been devoted to the Christian education of the
children, it will be interesting if we give a specimen
of the stories the lads tell each other as they sit at
night around their fires. We are indebted to Mr.
WORK AMONG THE CONGO BOYS AND GIRLS. 53
Darby of Lukolela for the following rendering of one
of their stories : —
"THE LEOPARD, THE DOG, AND THE TORTOISE.
" A dog and a leopard lived near together in the
forest. Each had his own hole in the ground, and in
it he lived. One day the leopard gave birth to ten
children. The dog came to see them, and the leopard
said to him, ' Hey ! Mister Dog ! You stop here and
watch my children while I go and hunt some food for
them. When I come back, if I find that you have
taken good care of my family, I will give you a piece
of meat for yourself.' ' All right,' said the dog. The
leopard had scarcely got hidden among the trees
when a tortoise came along. ' Hello, dog ! ' said he,
1 how are you to-day, and what are you doing here ? '
' Oh,' said the dog, ' the leopard has gone out to hunt,
and he has left me to watch his children, and when he
returns he is going to give me some meat.' ' I say,
dog,' said the tortoise, ' it is no use waiting until the
leopard returns ; bring out one of those young leopards
and let us kill and eat it.' ' I dare not,' said the dog ;
1 when the leopard returns and finds one of his children
missing he will immediately kill me.' ' Oh, never
mind the leopard,' said the tortoise, ' he can't count,
and the young leopards are all alike, he does not
know one from the other, so can't tell if one is missing.'
At last the dog brought forth one of the young
leopards, killed it, and he and the tortoise ate it. In the
evening the leopard returned when it was dark. ' Well,
dog ' said he, ' are the children all safe ? ' ' Oh, yes,'
said, the dog. ' Very well, then, come and let us have
some supper.' Next day the leopard again went in
search of food and left the dog in charge of his family.
The tortoise came again as before, and another young
leopard was eaten. So it went on for five days, and
only five of the young leopards were left. At the end
of the fifth day, when the leopard returned, he said,
54 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
' Dog, are the children all safe ? ' ' Yes,' said the dog.
' Let me see them ! ' The dog began to tremble,
but, acting on the advice of the tortoise, he brought
out one young leopard at a time, and then returned it
to the hole before bringing out another. In this way
he made it appear as if there were ten young leopards.
The leopard was satisfied. They ate their suppers
and went to bed. Next day the leopard went off
hunting again, and again the tortoise came up begging
for another young leopard. The dog was afraid, and
told him how the leopard had counted the children
the day before. The tortoise said that it was very
easy to deceive a leopard. All he had to do was to
trust to him (the tortoise) and he would see that all
was right. So they ate another young leopard. At
last only one of the family remained. ' Dog,' said the
leopard, ' my heart yearns for my family ; let me see
them one by one.' So the dog went to the hole and
brought out the young leopard and showed it to its
mother. Then he carried it back into the hole and
brought it back again. This he did ten times, so
making the leopard believe that all her family remained
in the hole.
" Next day the tortoise came again, and he and the
dog ate the last of the young leopards. ' Now, dog,'
said the tortoise, 'when the leopard asks you how
many children he has, you tell him, None. If he says,
Where are they ? Tell him that you and I have eaten
them, and then run off as hard as you can to the
towns, and live among the people there, for they like
dogs, but always try to kill leopards.'
" In the evening, when the leopard came home and
asked the usual questions, the dog replied as the
tortoise had instructed him. Then the leopard
became very angry, and ran after the dog as fast as
he could, and the dog also ran as fast as he could
until he reached the town. When the people saw
him, they said, ' Hello dog, have you come to live
with us ? That is good ! Abide here always.' Just
WORK AMONG THE CONGO BOYS AND GIRLS. 55
then they heard a noise in the forest, and, looking
around, they saw the leopard. They immediately got
their guns and spears and drove him off. He returned
and told all his brother leopards, and from that day
to this, whenever a leopard can carry off and eat a
dog,* he does so in order to revenge the death of his
young kinsfolk."
The first school opened for these Congo boys was,
of course, at San Salvador. When the missionaries
had succeeded in overcoming their shyness, and
established a feeling of friendship, the boys were most
eager to be taught. They watched for every oppor-
tunity that arose, they followed the missionaries
about, and were disappointed when no school could
be held. By their kindness and interest in them, the
missionaries gained such an influence over them that
there was nothing the boys would not do to be in
their company. No wonder that a considerable
school was soon established, and that as the mission
developed, and other stations were planted, school work
should grow to be one of the most important factors.
The boys are represented as remarkably quick
in learning, being by no means dull and stupid.
When it is borne in mind that they were without any
literature, without indeed a formulated language, the
rapid progress many of the lads have made in read-
ing, writing, and arithmetic, indicates most promising
intellectual ability, so that there is good reason to
believe that as Congo-land advances in civilisation,
the Congo natives will be quite equal in mental
capacity and attainment to the requirements of their
improved lot.
It must not be thought that the boys are induced
to come to the schools by reason of bribes. When
they do come from a distance, it is found necessary
* The natives say among themselves that leopards prefer dog flesh to
that of any other animal.
56 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
to provide them with the means of subsistence, but
this being of the most frugal character is inexpensive,
and in most cases is provided by the special offerings
of Sunday schools in England. When, however, the
friends of the boys live at or near a station, such
supplies are not allowed.
The accompanying picture represents a midsummer
treat at the Bopoto Station — one thousand miles from
the coast — which, with the Christmas entertainments,
are the only inducements given to secure attendance
at school.
The late Mrs. Cameron, just before her death, sent
to the Mission House in London the following
account of the way in which Christmas had been
spent at Ngombe or Wathen Station on the lower
river. "About half-past seven in the morning my
husband called all the boys and workmen together,
and I gave each boy a shirt and waistcloth, the men
a cloth and handkerchief. The girls and women on
the station got each a dress. In this way we clothed
in all about a hundred and twenty. At eight o'clock
a service was held. Afterwards the children amused
themselves as they liked, many of them going into
the house of Mr. Davies, others coming into ours,
playing with toys and looking at picture-books, etc.
"About half-past one the great event of the day
took place. This consisted of races, jumping, tug-
of-war, and scramble.
" Mr. Davies and my husband were the judges, and
awarded the prizes to those who had won them.
These lasted for about two hours, and the children
were glad of a rest after their exertions.
" About five o'clock we began to share out the pig,
which constitutes to the Congo mind a feast. No
festival is complete without a pig.
" We also used during the day ten gallon^ of lemon-
ade, and a large number of pine-apples. We left the
children enjoying their feast, and went to get our
house ready for the evening's entertainment
schoolboys' midsummer treat, bopoto.
57
58 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
" Outside the house we had a number of Chinese
lanterns, which, when lit, gave quite a bright light
all around.
"About half-past seven the children came to the
house, and we had a magic-lantern entertainment ;
the subject was ' The Pilgrim's Progress.' I ex-
hibited the views, and my husband explained them.
The children listened most attentively, and seemed
to enjoy the views very much. When this was over,
a large tin trunk was brought out, which contained
a present for each child, with its name written on the
paper which was wrapped round it. I wish you who
have so kindly sent toys to me could have seen the
children's faces when they opened their parcels. You
would indeed have been glad you sent the toys to
make these children happy ; but I 'm afraid the noise
they made when they began' blowing trumpets, etc.,
would almost have frightened you away. At last we
said good-night, and before very long all the children
were fast asleep, most of them having been up since
five o'clock in the morning. We all spent a very
happy day."
At this particular station, Wathen, the facilities for
imparting instruction to the young have been greatly
extended by means of a generous gift of a school-
house from the late Sir Charles Wathen, after whom
the station has been named. This building is thirty-
six feet wide by eighty feet long, being equally divided
into a school-room and dormitory. The structure is
admirably arranged with a view to good sanitary
conditions. The dormitory has accommodation for
one hundred and twenty boys ; at the present time,
the attendance at the school is about one hundred,
including a small number of girls, who are under
Mrs. Bentley's care. The largest girls' school is at
San Salvador, which Mrs. Lewis superintends.
And not only is the educational progress of the
Congo boys a cause for much encouragement ; but by
their devotion, their fidelity, their tenderness in times
TWO LUKOLELA BOYS.
59
[/. 60.
60 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
of sickness, they have endeavoured gratefully to repay
the kindly interest the missionaries have taken in
their welfare.
The aptitude which has been shown by these boys in
the various industries taught them, will find more
fitting reference in a subsequent chapter.
A large part of this volume might be filled with
deeply interesting accounts of the personal history,
the conversion and Christian character of these Congo
scholars. We cannot more appropriately conclude
this chapter than by giving a description of the
Lukolela lads, whose portraits, taken by Mr. Darby,
are seen in the illustration on page 59.
The one on the right dressed in white is Bateku.
He was Mr. Richard's boy. " I was born," he himself
says, " in a town, far away inland, many, many miles
from this place. I do not know its name. There
were many people there, and they were always fight-
ing with the neighbouring towns. It was in one of
these fights that I was captured and made a slave.
The people who captured me brought me a long way
from my town and parents, though I do not now
remember my father or mother. These people (my
captors) sold me to some other people. They cut
some of these marks that are on my body. After
living here some time I was again sold and carried to
the River Lulanga. Here they put their marks on
my body. While living here Diwoko (his present
master) came and bought me ; he brought me to
Lokoele. The people here cut these marks on my
forehead. After awhile the white men came, and now
I have come to live at their town."
The other boy on the left is Mr. Darby's personal
boy. His native name is Latumba, though he is
called "Jack." Let him tell his own story: — "I was
born far away inland at a town called Likuba. It is
many days' journey from here. There is no large
river there. The people are all very poor. Every-
body wears the native grass cloth. They have no
WORK AMONG THE CONGO BOYS AND GIRLS. 6l
white man's cloth. I remember both my father and
mother, and if I were to see them I think I should
know them. One day some people came from
another town to fight us. My people were obliged to
run away. My mother left me on the ground and
ran away with the rest. I and several other little
children and a number of women were captured and
made slaves. They brought me a long way from my
home and sold me. I lived here a long time. Some
people came from the Lulanga to trade, and I was
sold to them and carried to their town. After living
here some time I was again sold. This time Eyoka's
wife bought me, and I was brought to Lokoele.
(Eyoka is one of the big chiefs at Lokoele.)"
" How much did you cost, Jack ? " Mr. Darby
continues.
" Soko ! " (perhaps), he replied.
" Perhaps ten brass rods ? " (about 6d.)
" Perhaps ! I don't know."
" I do not think the elder of the two is more than
nine years old."
CHAPTER VI.
LITERARY LABOURS.
ONE of the peculiar characteristics of the Congo
as a mission field, was the important con-
sideration of its language not being available
to the missionaries in any reduced, literary-
form. Upon the pioneers, therefore, devolved the
immensely difficult task of collecting words with a
view to the compilation of a Dictionary, and for the
purposes of translation, of the still further duty of
constructing a grammar on sound principles and rules.
But as in other missions, so in this Congo Mission,
the Divine Providence is conspicuously seen in sup-
plying the workman to accomplish the work required
to be done. To Mr. W. Holman Bentley belongs the
great honour of having been called to fill the high
position of Philologist and Translator in connection
with this particular African Mission — a position grate-
fully and unanimously recognised by his fellow-
missionaries.
At the outset Mr. Bentley was absolutely without
the use of any vocabularies with the exception of
some fifty words which Mr. Comber and Mr. Grenfell
had picked up on their preliminary expedition. The
62
LITERARY LABOURS. 63
most helpful work to which he had recourse was
Bishop Steere's Handbook of Svvahili, which enabled
him to gain some idea of a language in certain re-
spects similar to that of the Congo. After he had pro-
ceeded some way with his task, he was glad to become
acquainted with a translation by Mr. H. Grattan
Guinness of a Latin work, discovered in the British
Museum, containing some rules for the more easy
understanding of the most difficult idioms of the
people of the Congo, written by a Roman Catholic
Prefect in 1659. A small grammar also, which Mr.
Guinness published subsequently, of the dialect spoken
at Mpalabala, supplied some fifty words.
In entering upon this tremendous undertaking, Mr.
Bentley was almost entirely dependent upon the
workmen, the carriers, and especially upon the child-
ren. With the children he was, therefore, constantly
in contact, often playing with them at their games,
ever ready to note down any new words he might
happen to hear. In the evenings he would discuss
with his colleagues the additions made to his stock.
As his own knowledge of the language and facility
for speaking it grew, he was, of course, able to take
the opinion of the natives so as to correct his mis-
takes.
The study of the language was necessarily much
interfered with by the itinerating required for estab-
lishing the new stations. " It was very difficult," says
Mr. Bentley, "to find time to record the words
acquired and make the necessary corrections. Now
and then we had opportunities for taking down some
fire-side stories, and this folk-lore gave us new words.
We were too busy to study, classify, or enter the
words ; but our careful notes and rough memoranda
were treasured up, and whenever a little leisure could
be found, the attempt was made to lessen the ever-
growing bundle of papers."
A large stock of material having been thus accumu
lated Mr. Bentley returned to England to set about its
64 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
preparation for the press, bringing with him a lad
named Nlemvo, who had been taught in the school
at Salvador. This was in the year 1884. "On
arriving in this country," to quote again Mr. Bentley's
own words, " it was found that there was much more
to be done with the chaotic manuscript which I had
brought home with me than we at first expected.
Prepositions, pronouns, adverbs, and conjunctions
seemed to be used indiscriminately ; Vo, for instance,
standing for ' on, off, from, there, when, after, thither,
if, etc' It was clear that more time and thought
were necessary to solve these difficulties, and find out
the rules by which things worked. This was done by
making up English sentences, in which the English
adverbs, conjunctions, etc., were used in every conceiv-
able way, and then translating these into Congo.
Bishop Steere's and other vocabularies were again
searched for special phases of action and ideas, which
should form their counterpart in Congo, and so things
began to take a more definite form. Finally,
in writing out for the printers, Mr. Kolbe's ' Herero
Dictionary ' was before me, lest any shade of idea of
English verbs, simple or compound with prepositions,
such as ' to come ' or 'to come in crowds/ etc.,
should have escaped my attention. Even at this
stage, new words were constantly cropping up, and,
wherever possible, inserted into the proofs that were
under correction. My work was growing larger than
I had ever expected. Instead of being simply a
clear transcription of the material brought home with
me, the end of the work seemed ever receding. I
had hoped and expected to keep my printers well
supplied with copy as the transcriptions progressed,
but the correction of the proofs revealed errors, and
sometimes also fresh niceties of thought, which required
a great deal of time to formulate correctly.
" As the proofs of the English-Congo section came
in from the printers, I sent them to a friend, to be
written for the reversed section of Congo into English.
6s
66 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
He wrote each word, as it appeared, with its English
equivalent on a separate slip of paper. As he sent in
his slips from time to time, they were sorted into
alphabetical order, according to the Congo word on
each slip. Later corrections or additions were also
written on slips and sorted in, so that finally every
usage of a word, any corrections made, were found
together in its alphabetical order. In this way not only
the type was corrected, but the mistakes were elimina-
ted from the second section. These reversal slips,
eventually numbering 25,000, being kept in trays and
measuring between nine and ten feet in thickness.
As fast as the type was set up, the writing and sorting
of these slips progressed; and when the first section was
finished and the last slip written, the work of revising
them for the press began. All the slips containing
one particular Congo word were examined, and the
different translations grouped and written under one
heading."
Whilst this important and careful work was pro-
ceeding Mr. Bentley's eyesight for a time seriously
failed him, insomuch that it was impossible for him to
continue his labours ; but Mrs. Bentley, who had
been rendering him most valuable assistance, under-
stood the principles upon which the work was
conducted, and so was able, under his direction, to
carry on the undertaking. The picture we are able to
give shows Mr. and Mrs. Bentley with Nlemvo at
work, the girl upon the right being a native who had
been brought down from the upper Congo.
It should be mentioned here that Mr. Bentley and
his colleagues ever felt grateful that they were led in
the first instance to San Salvador, the Congo language
as spoken in that old capital being far superior to
dialects used elsewhere and being understood over a
wider area.
It must be especially remembered that in all this
arduous labour of collecting words, reducing them to
dictionary and grammar, Mr. Bentley had ever kept
LITERARY LABOURS. 6?
steadfastly before him the great object which all such
labour was intended to promote — viz., the translation
of the Scriptures. . He consequently felt that the
greatest care and thoroughness were required.
In the September of 1886, Mr. Bentley was again
in Africa, and in the following year, his most
valuable work, under the title of " Dictionary and
Grammar of the Congo Language " appeared, dedi-
cated by special permission to His Majesty, Leopold
II., King of the Belgians and Sovereign of the Congo
Free State, who, in acknowledging the presentation
copy, described the volume as "this noble contribution
to the progress and development of civilisation in
Central Africa and the material improvement and
uplifting of the Congo people."
In the introduction to the volume, consisting, it
may be stated, of over 700 pages, Dr. Cust, the
Honorary Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, thus
writes : — " It is for the purpose of advancing the
Kingdom of the Lord that this great work has been
commenced, continued, and completed. It is a solid
brick in the great edifice of the evangelisation of
Africa, for, how can they hear unless they are spoken
to ? How can they be spoken to unless the mission-
ary masters the vulgar tongue of the people to whom
he is sent ? Mr. Bentley has concentrated his great
talents to this noble work in the hope that it will
enable his colleagues, and those who come after him,
to spread the Gospel of Christ. This was his main
object, and for this purpose only, the funds of a
Missionary Society can be properly devoted to the
expense of such publications.
" But the scholars of Europe and North America
would indeed be dead to all feeling, did they not feel
gratitude to missionaries like Mr. Bentley, who have
revealed to them new worlds, and helped them to
enter in, and admire the beauties of hitherto sealed
gardens. The Congo language takes its place, by the
side of the Swahili, the Zulu, and the Pongwe, as one of
68 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
the typical languages of the Bantu family. Differing
from each other in many particulars, they still have
such ineffaceable affinities as indicate their common
stock. The mechanism of one often explains mis-
understood anomalies in the others. Mr. Bentley has
been able to get to the bottom of many knotty points,
which will, no doubt, throw a reflected light on un-
explained features in sister languages, of which the
study is only now commencing."
About two years ago this work was rendered still
more valuable by the addition of an appendix con-
taining about 3000 new words.
As to other literary productions, for use in the
schools in San Salvador and the lower river stations,
where the Congo language is spoken, Mrs. Bentley
has translated " The Congo Primer," a book of
Arithmetic, in three parts, " More about Jesus," and
a Bible History. Nlemvo has contributed a trans-
lation of "The Peep of Day," whilst Mr. Weeks
has translated several of the Psalms and some ele-
mentary school-books as well as issued a Congo
Hymn-Book.
But the great want of the Mission was ever kept in
view. To supply that want was the purpose for which
the dictionary and grammar had been prepared
— viz., the translation of the Scriptures into the
vernacular. The publication of Mr. Bentley's work
rapidly facilitated the issue of portions of the Bible ;
Mr. Weeks translating the Gospel of Matthew, Mr.
Cameron the Gospel of Mark, whilst Mr. Bentley
himself not only supplied in separate issues the
Gospels of Luke and John, but actually carried on
his translation work with such success that in March,
1893, he rendered into Congo all the rest of the
books of the New Testament ; and having completed
this second great achievement on behalf of the Congo
Mission, the sheets of the entire New Testament
were sent to the press, the British and Foreign Bible
Society defraying the expense of printing.
LITERARY LABOURS. 69
But these literary results to which we have so far
referred, concern only the stations at San Salvador,
and those on the Lower Congo, Underhill and
Wathen ; though it is doubtless true that the diction-
ary and grammar will be of real service in regions
where other languages than that of the Congo proper
are spoken.
But not a little progress has been made in the
other four languages prevailing in different parts of
the Congo mission field.
At Bolobo, the first station above the Pool, Messrs.
Darby and Glennie have collected considerable
material for a dictionary of the Bobangi language.
At Lukolela, Mr. Scrivener has rendered into the
same language the Gospel of Matthew, a book of
Bible stories, and the first part of "Line upon Line;"
whilst Mr. Clark has issued a short life of Abraham ;
and Lusala, the native assistant, " More about Jesus."
A hymn-book and a school-book by Mr. Whitehead
have also been published, and still more recently the
Gospel of Mark by Mr. Whitehead and Mr. Clark
conjointly.
At Monsembi, a knowledge of the language spoken
by the Bangala : the Ja-Bonsembi, is being mastered,
and a few hymns, some simple Gospel stories, and a
school primer have already been passed through the
press by Messrs. Weeks and Stapleton.
At Bopoto, the most distant station, thousands of
words of the spoken language, the Ja-Upoto, have
been collected, and a school reading book, some
Scripture lessons and several hymns have been
published.
It is cause for wonder and thankfulness that such
substantial progress should have been made in so
comparatively short a period, to supply the natives
with educational and sacred literature. And there is
every prospect that still further invaluable contribu-
tions will be made to this essentially important part
of the missionary enterprise.
70
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
It should be stated here that in these literary
labours the " Hannah Wade " Press, the gift of a
friend at Halifax, and which is under the superintend-
ence of Mr. Scrivener and Mr. Whitehead, and
which is located at Lukolela has been of the greatest
utility. By a recent additional present of plant, the
printing demands of the Congo Mission, and of other
missions on the Upper River can be fully met. It
may be mentioned in closing this chapter that at the
recent Exhibition in Antwerp, the specimens of the
Lukolela printing which were then on view called
forth general admiration.
CHAPTER VII.
THE SERVICES OF THE MISSION TO CIVILISATION
AND PHILANTHROPY.
THE presence of a Christian missionary amongst
a degraded, heathen people, necessarily makes
for the improvement of the conditions of life.
His influence is humanising and ameliorating.
As the Divine Father sent the Divine Son into the
world, even so hath the Son sent His servants into
the world to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the
broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,
recovery of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty
them that are bruised — and this not alone in the
higher, the spiritual sense, but to a large extent also
physically and materially. Testimonies from men
high in station and authority, well qualified to judge,
might be multiplied a hundred fold, who have borne
unsolicited witness to the temporal benefits resulting
from Christian missions.
The Congo, in this respect, is no exception to
other mission fields. The gathering together of the
children in Christian schools for instruction in the
elements of education is bound to have its good
effect upon the general community. Already, not a
71
J2 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
few of the boys, having entered upon manhood, have
come to realise that knowledge is power, and because
of the religious training they have received are using
their power for the advantage of others as well as of
themselves. •
The pioneer nature of the Mission, necessitating the
founding of stations, the building of houses and other
structures, the cultivation of the land, and general
station work, has given the missionaries abundant
opportunity to teach the natives many useful arts.
The Congo Mission is not entitled "An Industrial
Mission," but no mission bearing that name ever
rendered more real service in this direction. Most of
the missionaries, knowing well how to use their hands
themselves, have not been slow to teach the boys and
young men at their stations to do the same. And
just as many of the natives have shown remarkable
aptitude in book learning, so they have also become
expert in carpentry, in brick-making and building,
in printing and in agricultural pursuits.
It is interesting to note in this connection that
when a telegraphic apparatus — the gift of two friends
— was set up at Wathen station, one of the boys soon
mastered the working of the Morse code. Writing to
the kind donors, Mr. Bentley said: "The apparatus has
been set up, and is in full work. My two colleagues,
who are with me here, are both able to use it, having
been used to such work when in England. I am
making good progress myself, and some of the senior
boys are taking lessons." The governor-general of
the State, visiting Wathen, was much pleased to
inspect this the first telegraph line on the Congo.
He thought it a capital idea. When the Congo Rail-
way shall be completed, telegraph clerks, remarks Mr.
Bentley, will be needed, and some of the boys may
find good openings.
The medical knowledge possessed by the mission-
aries is a most important civilising and humanising
influence. Apart from the unique advantage it gives
SERVICES OF THE MISSION TO CIVILISATION. Jl
to the missionary as the minister of healing mercy,
thus winning the confidence of the natives, and dis-
posing them to listen to the Gospel message; in itself,
the practice of medical skill necessarily undermines
the power of the witch-doctor, whose terrible influence
over the people is as evil as it is widespread. Very
often in their journeyings have the missionaries come
into contact with the " medicine man," their hearts
being deeply saddened, and their righteous indigna-
tion aroused by the awful cruelties they have witnessed.
Mr. Stapleton, referring to the fact that the natives
never admit that sickness comes naturally, but is
always ascribed to the occult influence of witches,
tells of a chief who was brought home from a trading
expedition very sick, and carried into his hut to die.
Rumours having been spread about that he was being
bewitched, the missionaries went to see him. They
found a large group of men holding solemn debate,
the son of the chief presiding. As the result, it was
decided that five people must take the " Nkasa " (the
test poison). Two days after, a man and a woman
who had undergone the ordeal were said to be dying.
Instantly Mr. Stapleton took the bottle of sulphate of
zinc, while Mr. White took a jug of water, and
started off to the town, On arriving, they at once
heard the cry of mourning women, and hastening to
the hut whence the cries proceeded, they found it
full of howling women gathered round a dying man.
Entrance into the hut was refused them. In answer
to their reiterated cry, " Will you let us save him ? "
they got the heartless reply, " He is old and no more
good ; let him die." Mr. Grenfell, who had followed,
arriving on the scene, in stirring tones told the
villainous son that he was guilty of murder, that he
had rendered himself liable to death at the hands of
the State authorities, and that he must answer to God
for his crime. Mr. Grenfell's vigorous protest was
not without good effect. Though the woman, the old
man's sister, died of the poison, a further effort was
74 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
made to reach the old man himself, and with success.
He expressed a wish that the missionaries should do
their best for him. God blessed the means that were
used, and the man recovered. This successful treat-
ment dealt a heavy blow at the dreadful "Nkasa"
custom. The late Dr. S. R. Webb, the qualified medical
missionary of the Society, was hopeful that as the
people came to know more of the use of medicines as
administered by the Mission, they would lose their
faith in witchcraft and in magic.
Another horrible custom extensively prevailing is
that of burying the living with the dead. The greater
the position of the chief the larger the number of
attendants required to accompany him in the long
last journey. The sacrifice of human life caused by
this superstition is revolting in the extreme. Take
as a specimen the instance given of one of the wives
of a comparatively young man being made to sit in
the grave and support the corpse on her knees, then
being buried alive with it, and this after the heads of
four unfortunate individuals had been cut off, and all
to testify respect for the dead, and to gratify the
public taste for a spectacle.
Earnest efforts are continually being made by the
missionaries to bring this abomination to an end.
The picture given opposite illustrates a " palaver " of
Bolobo chiefs which took place in the yard of the
Mission Station, when the Commissiare of the District,
the Free State authority in that part, was also present,
to consider what could Le done to put a stop to this
cruel burial practice.
The late Mr. Michael Richard gives a graphic
account of a visit he paid to a town where a chief had
died and the obsequies were about to be observed in
the usual fiendish manner. Let the story be told in
his own words : —
" I went into the towns not knowing what had
taken place. Everybody was preparing for some-
thing great by either eating their full, decorating
SERVICES OF THE MISSION TO CIVILISATION. 75
their bodies, adjusting gaudy pieces of European
cloth, or ' trying on ' hats of feathers, etc. ' My friends,
why all this preparation ? ' I asked. ' The father of
Mbuma Njokup is dead, and to-day we dance and
cry.' I approached this chief's house with caution,
knowing the people think white men are witches.
" What a sight ! the like of which I had never
BOLOBO CHIEFS ASSEMBLED FOR PALAVER.
before seen. Women yelling, with only a few leaves
around their waist. Some rolling in the dirt, others
sitting around an artificial arm-chair. Many had put
charcoal on their faces and breasts, over which a little
water had been sprinkled, to represent tears. The
dead man was seated in the arm-chair — chalked all
over, and spotted with black, yellow, and blue ; on
his arms long brass bracelets, on either side of him a
76 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
flintlock gun, on his head a large cap of feathers —
leaning back a little, like a gentleman at ease before
his drawing-room fire. The women asked why I had
come. I speedily told them. They were pleased,
and invited me to a seat. Just what I was waiting
for, and I was soon on the piece of burned stick.
People asked if we white men could give medicine to
raise the dead. ' No ; but we can give medicine to
sick folk that may keep them from dying, and, if you
wish it, I will come in the morning.'
" The chief now came up, but he was too busy for
many words. But something said 'Speak to him.'
I waited my opportunity, then called him aside, and
asked if any heads were going to be cut off. We had
a short conversation, when he turned to the mourners(P),
repeating what I had said. Silently the people looked
at me, expecting further words ; and, for the first
time, I addressed the people of Lukolela, finishing
by asking them to bury the dead without heads being
cut off. The chief replied : ' No person shall be
killed. The white man's words are good.' I looked
at two women lying nearest the dead man. The
chief saw my eyes fixed upon them, and said : 'You
need not look at them, they are only crying. Have
I not said no one shall be killed ? Look at the
people, and come to-morrow ; you will then see if
I tell the truth or not.'
" Soon after this dancing began, drums were beaten,
and from every town came crowds of men, women,
and children, clothed with skulls, branches of trees,
old baskets, fetishes, etc., etc. They joined together
and raced about like mad folk, shaking rattles,
beating drums, waving fetishes, and twisting and
turning themselves into all manner of shapes. Every
now and then the five hundred got as close as possible
together, and sang a song lustily. The din I leave
you to imagine.
" I went to the towns the next morning and
doctored fifteen persons. The people kept their
SERVICES OF THE MISSION TO CIVILISATION. JJ
promise, and I have certain reason to know ' no per-
son accompanied the dead one on his long journey.' "
Instances might be multiplied of missionaries inter-
viewing chiefs on the occasion of a death, and by
their influence preventing these murders being com-
mitted. And as through their teaching a public
sentiment against this cruel superstition shall be
A SLAVE, BANGALA TRIBE.
created, it will become eventually as much a thing of
the past in Congo land, as child drowning or widow
burning is unknown in India to-day.
In this chapter it is fitting that some reference should
be made to slavery — Africa's open sore, as Livingstone
described it — the source of so much untold wrong and
woe. In any consideration of this great question the
distinction should ever be borne in mind between
78 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
the slave trade and domestic slavery ; and yet, though
the former is far more oppressive and inhuman than
the latter, in both alike there is the disregard of the
inalienable right of man, the right to enjoy personal
liberty. The slave is not permitted to look upon him-
self as in any sense his own property ; he has no
right of possession in his own wife, or children, or
goods. Now the interest of the Christian missionary
cannot but tell, and tell powerfully, against even the
domestic slavery. The example of his own home
life as well as the inculcation of the principles of the
Gospel, must necessarily tend to bring to an end this
ownership of human beings.
It is, however, the abominations of the slave trade,
the merchandise in human flesh, that provoke the
deepest indignation and command the most deter-
mined effort. No missionary can reside long in
Africa without being compelled to witness slav-
ery's dreadful ravages. " I have seen," says Mr.
Grenfell, " thousands of poor refugees afloat on the
river in their canoes, having been driven from their
homes by ruthless slave raiders, who have carried off
their wives and children. In one single day I counted
as many as twenty-seven burning villages destroyed
by the Arabs, and who can tell the sum of misery
and crime such a fact involves ? The mere thought
of it weighs our hearts down to the ground."
It is satisfactory to know that the article in the
General Act of the Berlin Conference, dealing with
the slave trade, is most emphatic on its prohibition.
It reads as follows : " In conformity with the principles
of the right of nations as recognised by the signatory
Powers, the slave trade being forbidden, and opera-
tions which on land or sea supply slaves for the trade
being equally held to be forbidden, the Powers which
exercise or will exercise rights of sovereignty or
influence in the territories forming the basin of the
Congo, declare that these territories shall serve neither
for the place of sale nor the way of transit for the traffic
SERVICES OF THE MISSION TO CIVILISATION. 79
in slaves of any race whatsoever. Each of the Powers
undertakes to employ every means that it can to put
an end to the trade, and to punish those who engage
in it."
It is very certain that the Congo Mission, as other
missions, will render all possible service to give effect
to this most important declaration.
In the early part of 1892, the Committee of the
Society received a very earnest request from His
Majesty, King Leopold, that Mr. Grenfell should be
permitted to undertake certain difficult duties in con-
nection with the delimitation of the Southern Frontier
of the Free State. The fact of this request being
made was in itself a high testimony to the value set
upon Mr. Grenfell's judgment and abilities,but in grant-
ing it the Committee took into their consideration
the bearing which the undertaking, if successful,
would have upon the slave trade. The commis-
sion was one of great delicacy, but the missionary
plenipotentiary was equal to the position. The satis-
factory terms upon which the delimitation of the
boundary was settled, secured immense benefit to a
population occupying some 20,000 square miles, who
hitherto have been subject to raids systematically
carried on for the levying of blackmail and for the
capture of slaves. The duties of the commission
extended over a period of more than a year, long dis-
tances having to be traversed. In all these journey-
ings Mr. Grenfell was accompanied by Mrs. Grenfell ;
over a thousand miles had to be accomplished in the
mode of travelling depicted in the illustrations given
on the next page. But whilst the commissioner
successfully fulfilled his difficult task, and had had
opportunities of making known the Gospel in regions
where no missionary had ever previously been, he was
thankful when his duties for the State were over, and
he found himself once more at his mission station,
able to devote all his time and energies to direct
missionary work.
So
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
_ It may be stated here that the King of the Belgians
signified his approbation of the manner in which Mr.
Grenfell had discharged the service in the most gra-
cious and commendatory terms. And it may be also
stated that the Mission was financially compensated
for the temporary absence of their missionary from
his work.
MRS. GRENFELL ON liULL-BACK.
A further most valuable service the Congo Mission
has rendered to the cause of civilisation, consists in
important geographical discoveries. When so excel-
lent a steamer as the Peace for navigating the Congo
river was provided, it was only to be expected that
new tributaries and new territories would be ex-
plored. The fact that in making the acquaintance cf
'"'"- :',|!
Ira
^
AJlJ
Mb Imp*
■Ml wAfflr
HE REV. GEORGE GRENFELL— A NEW MODE OF TRAVELLING ON THE CONGO.
81
82 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
the Upper Congo region and in prospecting for new
mission sites, Mr. Grenfell was in command of the
Peace, was certain to issue in results especially inter-
esting to members of geographical societies. As far
back as 1887 the Peace had made no less than seven
considerable journeys, traversing nearly the whole of
the 5000 miles at that time known to be navigable.
During these journeys some doubtful points of previ-
ous travellers were cleared up, whilst in two and three
cases new waterways were explored.
But the discovery which will ever place Mr. Gren-
fell amongst the great African explorers is that of
the Mobangi river.
When the fact of this discovery was announced in
England in July, 1885, the Times newspaper declared
that since the discovery of the course of the Congo
itself no more important addition had been made to
our knowledge of the hydrography of the region ;
that the details which had come to hand showed
what an admirable piece of exploring work Mr. Gren-
fell had done, as he had proved that the Mobangi,
which enters the right bank of the Congo, forming a
great delta between 26 and 42 S. latitude, nearly
opposite Equator Station, is probably its greatest
tributary ; that the river banks are far more populous
than any equal length of the Congo. The Times
further affirmed that the commercial importance of
Mr. Grenfell's discovery could not be exaggerated,
that whether the Mobangi be the Welle or not it
must form an important link between the basin of
the Congo and the basins of the Niger, the Shari, and
the Nile.
This contribution to geographical knowledge being
deemed so important, the account of the discovery
sent to the Mission House will be of sufficient interest
to reproduce in these pages. Having described the
previous part of his journey, Mr. Grenfell writes : —
" We now commenced to look out for the mouth of
the Mobangi river, but as we maintained a course of
SERVICES OF THE MISSION TO CIVILISATION. 83
N. by E. and N.N.E., which corresponded with that
of the Congo, we thought that ' Mai Mobangi ' was
just a name given, as in other places, to a particular
portion of the main stream, and that we were still on
the Congo itself. It was not till we had journeyed
nearly 130 miles up the Mobangi that we made sure
of its independence. Its islands were so numerous,
and the points of the mainland (as they afterwards
proved themselves to be) appeared, as we caught
glimpses of them here and there between the islands,
so much like the heads of other islands, and the
course was so nearly identical with the Congo, that
I did not determine the question till I was farther
north than the point (i° io' N.L.) where my know-
ledge of the right bank beyond the equator com-
menced. On the 4th November the sun's meridian
altitude put us in i° 6' N., and we then knew that if
we were on the Congo we should reach Lobengo that
afternoon ; but, as no Lobengo came in sight, we
anchored that evening, certain of being on the
Mobangi.
" The next morning, soon after we started, we saw
towns to the eastward, and were then sure we saw
the opposite bank, and determined to go across,
hoping to get on better in returning on that side
than we had succeeded in doing on the one by which
we had ascended, for it was only at one or two places
that we had been able to open communications with
the people. Our approach was generally the signal
for a stampede. Cooking-pots were left simmering
on the fire, houses all open, and household gear all
scattered about ; and, together with the astonished
goats and fowls, at our mercy. In several places
little children were left behind to face the fate the
older folk all feared. In other places, again, the
bolder spirits set about putting their stockades in a
proper state of defence (all the towns hereabouts are
fortified), while others stood behind holding their own
and their comrades' weapons and shields. At one
84 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
town the medicine- man began to make his charms to
ward off the expected evil by tying the long grass
into peculiar knots ; and as we steamed slowly on,
trying to get him to speak (he was the only man we
saw in a large town), he kept just ahead of us,
dodging behind the bushes till he had completed his
'bonganga' (medicine) defences covering the whole
river frontage of the town, and then he darted off to
join his people, and, I 've no doubt, to make a big
dance and sing his own praises for having, single-
handed, warded off the attack of the white men and
his big fiery monster whose breath was as the beating
of war-drums.
" At one town we were greeted from behind the
stockade with shouts of ' Bedimo ! bedimo ! ' (spirits).
But although one of their countrymen whom we
found at Lukolela, and brought with us, assured them
that we were not spirits, and that we went to bed and
slept like ordinary people (of course, spirits never
sleep), we could not overcome their prejudice, and,
short of food as we were, had to go empty away. It
now remained to see if the people on the left bank
were more tractable ; but on our crossing the river
and approaching the first town the people all fled.
We could see plenty of food about, and as it was
imperative that we should get something to eat, we
were not prepared to give up our quest at the first
rebuff. Three of our people volunteered to go ashore,
and try to talk to the people, who evidently had not
gone far. We, therefore, put the steamer close into
the beach and landed our ambassadors, who took a
good supply of cloth, beads, and brass wire, wherewith
to open negotiations. But we had not to wait long
before they came running back, retreating before an
angry crowd, that received the spokesman with a
spear thrust which he marvellously escaped. This
was serious for hungry folk, but we were not yet
willing to give up, so steamed off a short distance
beyond spear throw, and waited awhile, thinking
SERVICES OE THE MISSION TO CIVILISATION. 85
perhaps when the people returned and found their
cooking pots still on the fire, and their corn and
plantain still standing, that they would be convinced
of our good intentions. As we steamed off they
came slowly to the beach, and we took the oppor-
tunity of displaying our bells and looking-glasses, and
the trinkets the natives delight in, all with the hope
of subduing them into friendliness. After awhile,
thinking we might venture again to make overtures,
we turned round and came in a little closer ; but the
warriors all began to get into their awkward, sleeve-
less jackets of elephant and buffalo skin, to get
behind their shields, and make ready their bundles of
spears, and as we came still closer they got up a war
dance, and, with a terrible yell, made a charge as
though they intended to come through the water to
get at us. It was evident we must wait yet a little
longer, and in another hour or so we tried again ; but,
though they were not so demonstrative (they only
stood ready, and did not dance this time), we felt we
could not do more than just steam slowly by, that
they might the better see what manner of people we
were.
" They seemed specially impressed by the presence
of my wife and the children, and seemed to say
among themselves : ' Not only are there no signs of
war about, but there is a woman, and there are
children, and nobody takes them when they go to
fight' A little more waiting, and another slow
approach, and we managed to get the principal man
to accept a fathom of cloth from the end of a long
stick, and soon afterwards to make the steamer fast
to one of the bushes on the bank. It was not long
before they were quite assured of our harmlessness,
and we were able to buy plantain and food in
abundance, as well as a few of the curious jackets,
shields, knives, and spears, as mementoes of the four
hours' siege we maintained and the capitulation that
followed. The people in this part of the river, we
86 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
learnt, were Baloi', and quite distinct in appearance
and language from both the Bakke and Bayansi, who
monopolise so much of the middle Congo.
" Having replenished our food supplies, we were
soon away down river again, and looking out for
firewood. So much of the other bank had been
under water that we had been in great straits for fuel,
and had had lots of tree climbing to get it ; happily,
here we found good wood, and firm ground to cut it
on, and were soon able to lay in a good stock.
Unfortunately, when we came to get up anchor we
found it had caught in a snag, and, after a couple
of hours' hard work in trying to get it clear, we had
at last to cut the chain and leave six fathoms of it
together with the anchor in the bed of the river.
This was a serious loss, and liable to recur, and
though we had spare anchors and chain on board, we
were sorry to lose even a portion of such valuable
gear. The next day, after passing some suspicious
people, we came to friendly towns, and were able to
lay in a stock of fresh meat and fish in addition to
the plantain, which had cost us so much trouble to
get the day before."
Before re-entering the Congo the Peace one night
came into contact with a large floating island. Mr.
Grenfell, awaking his crew, gave orders to get up
steam, and endeavoured, but without success, to push
on one side the thousand square yards of grass and
herbage. The situation was critical. The men landed
on the island with their hatchets to try and chop
through it, but in vain ; the floating mass carried the
little steamer ever onward. The hand-saws were
next tried, and in ten minutes, the tough roots and
stems being run through, the Peace was set free,
having been dragged along some two miles. After
anchoring in a sheltered spot, the Congo was reached
the next morning without further anxiety.
Though Mr. Grenfell knew very well the important
bearing of his discovery upon the great work of the
SERVICES OF THE MISSION TO CIVILISATION. 87
Mission, he was concerned lest the supporters of the
Society at home should think that " too much fuss
was being made about geography, and that he did
not write enough about the Gospel." He comforted
himself by the remembrance of David Livingstone's
memorable words : " The end of the geographical feat
is the commencement of the missionary enterprise,"
adding, "we shall soon have intelligent knowledge of
what is really before us, and where best to concen-
trate our main efforts ; with our present incomplete
knowledge only of the vast central waterways and
the populations accessible thereby, we might make
great mistakes as to procedure, and spend much
money and treasure in attacking outposts only, while
we might with just as much ease operate against
important and strategic centres."
CHAPTER VIII.
THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
THAT religious communities, consisting of indi-
viduals, once degraded, lawless savages, but
now endeavouring to walk according to the
pure and gentle principles of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, should have been brought into existence
in Congo-land, is a strong argument for the super-
natural origin and power of the Christian faith. And
that such communities do exist, and are becoming
stronger in numbers and in influence, is a fact full of
encouragement and promise.
In this and the following chapters we propose to
give some particulars as to the converts of whom
these churches are composed, and as to their church
life and work.
The first church connected with the Congo Mission
was formed at
San Salvador,
in December, 1887. Five young men having been
baptised, the missionaries who were then at the
station — viz., Messrs. Lewis, Phillips, and Graham,
had the joy of communing at the Lord's Table for
THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. 89
the first time with native Christians in Congo. After
one of their number had explained the principles
upon which a Christian Church should be founded,
the right hand of fellowship was duly given, and
then European white men, together with their black
African brothers, commemorated the dying love of
their common Lord and Saviour. The following
Sabbath a Sunday school was started ; a day school
for boys, and Mrs. Lewis's school for girls being
already in existence. Two months later Mr. Lewis
reported three more baptisms, and that the work was
growing more and more interesting and encouraging.
No excitement or extraordinary conversions, but a
quiet, deep and increasing interest in spiritual matters.
Knowing the tendency of Africans to act together
in numbers, being influenced very much by one
another, the missionaries felt the necessity of exer-
cising great care to test the genuineness of their
professions before admitting them into membership.
And so, from time to time, down to the present, the
little San Salvador Church has been increasing — slowly
it may be thought, but this owing to unwillingness to
baptise before full proof of change of heart has been
given — until exclusive of those who have removed or
have died, some sixty-eight converts are now in actual
fellowship.
During the residence of Mr. Weeks at the station,
and just previous to the formation of the Church, a
chapel capable of holding between four and five
hundred people was erected, the walls being made of
bamboo palm ribs nailed perpendicularly on a wooden
frame, the roof being also of bamboos and thatched
with grass. The picture on page 90 shows the chapel
with a group in front representing some of the boys
and girls belonging to the San Salvador schools. For
a view of the interior of the chapel see illustration,
page 45.
The Bible-class held during the week is an import-
ant institution, the simple teaching given in the
ao
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
Scripture being specially required. What with ser-
vices, prayer meetings, and teaching, the time of the
missionaries and that of their native Christian helpers
is fully occupied.
In a further chapter reference will be made to the
evangelistic efforts of the San Salvador Christians in
their surrounding districts.
Amongst the members of the Church at this station
SOME BOYS AND GIRLS OF THE SAN SALVADOR SCHOOLS.
particular mention may be made of Don Miguel, a
blacksmith, the ring of whose hammer, as he worked
in his forge, might be heard all day long, his trade
being mainly in agricultural hoes. This man was
amongst the earliest to welcome the white men to
San Salvador, and was always friendly disposed. His
knowledge of Portuguese, in which language he would
come and chat in the evenings, was of great service.
THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. 9 1
Miguel's simple and earnest faith in Christ was a
great joy to the missionaries, and a fine example to
his fellow-townsmen. Some five years ago he fell a
victim to the " sleep sickness " so terribly common in
Western Africa. The Church deeply mourned his
loss, for by his real, earnest piety he was indeed a
power for good.
Matoka, whom Mr. Comber engaged as his Portu-
guese interpreter on his first visit to San Salvador,
and who proved particularly helpful because of the
willingness of his disposition, may also be named.
He, as well as Don Miguel, was one of the first five
converts of whom the Church was formed. Much
satisfaction has been and is still felt in the consistency
of Matoka's Christian character. And so with respect
to others the same kind of testimony might be borne.
The Gospel as preached by the messengers of the
Cross has indeed proved itself to be the power of God
unto salvation.
What cause for thankfulness exists may be seen in
the following report of the death of one of the San
Salvador native converts. " We have recently," writes
Mr. Phillips, " lost one of our members by death.
Her last hours were exceedingly peaceful, and she
left a very decided testimony behind her.
"I baptised Nzumba in May, 1888. At the time
of her baptism we noticed how quiet and unobtrusive
she was, rather a contrast to the self-assertion of many
of the women. These characteristics have marked
her life ever since. About three weeks ago she was
taken ill, and, during her illness, suffered a great deal
with severe ulceration of the throat. At the beg-in-
ning of last week it became evident that she was
passing away, and the women of the town gathered
round to show their sympathy. Mrs. Graham and
Mrs. Phillips went in to see her day after day, and she
was able to converse with them intelligently. Two
days before she died she told those around her that
she knew she was dying, and then divided her little
92 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
possessions among her various friends ; after she had
done this she turned to all the women who were
sitting around, and said : — ' Now I have done with all
these things, everything is settled, and I am just ready
and waiting to die. I am not afraid, because Jesus is
my Saviour and my only hope, and He is soon com-
ing to take me to be with Him in Heaven.' This
little incident happened when none of us were there,
and what she said was quite spontaneous on her
part ; we did not hear of it until the next day.
" The day before she died Mrs. Graham and Mrs.
Phillips saw her, and again, at their request, she told
those round her how she was not afraid, to die, and
urged them to prepare for the time when they would
have to leave this world. When she had finished, she
turned to Nlekai, who was standing by, and said,
' Pray for me and for all these ; ' and there, in the
native hut, kneeling round the dying one, earnest
prayer was offered that she might be strengthened,
and her words might be blessed to those around. It
was such a touching scene that all present were
unable to refrain from weeping. Again is it true,
1 she being dead yet speaketh,' for in two instances, at
any rate, concern was aroused by these things. A
definite and clear testimony like this is all the more
important when we remember how the natives dread
death, and never think or speak of it, however bad
they may be, but always persuade themselves they
will get better. Our Congo Mission a failure? Do
our beloved brethren, Comber and Hartland, our
noble pioneers, think so as they welcome these first-
fruits in the better land ? Verily, no, but there is
rejoicing as these sheaves are gathered in."
Coming now to the stations on the river, and taking
them in their geographical order, we shall first refer to
UNDERHILL OR TUNDUWA
(see frontispiece). This is the base station for the
whole Mission. Here the supplies for up country are
THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. 93
received and duly despatched, this transport business
being very arduous and responsible. Mr. J. Lawson
Forfeitt, who has been ably assisted by Mr. Pinnock
and Mr. Pople, is the missionary in charge, and acts as
local secretary. Whilst the site of this particular
station had of course to be determined by its suita-
bility as a base of operations, and the time of the
missionaries located there must necessarily be given to
the business duties of the Mission, yet not a little real
spiritual work has been effected. The resident popula-
tion being sparse, the services on the Sunday and week
days are largely for the sake of carriers engaged in
transport work, and for workmen belonging to trading
factories. The preaching of the Gospel at Underhill
has not been in vain ; occasional baptisms have
gladdened the hearts of the missionaries, and a small
Christian community is now in existence. A night
school has also for some time been doing good service.
The " Edwin Wade " Printing Press has recently been
transferred to San Salvador, and is now placed under
the care of Mr. Phillips. We must not forget here to
state that at Underhill opportunities are frequently
occurring for showing kindness and hospitality to
missionaries generally, as well as to others en route up
river or returning to the coast from the interior.
About one hundred and fifty miles higher up the
Congo than Underhill is
Wathen or Ngombi.
In the early period of the Mission this second station
was fixed at Manyanga, but in 1884 was transferred to
Ngombi. The illustration on page 95 shows the
ground plan of the station. The mission house was
erected in 1888, and was a great improvement upon
the earlier house, which consisted of clay walls and
thatched roof. The new house was, for sanitary
reasons, built of bricks, made by the natives them-
selves. It affords considerable accommodation, and is
well protected from the winds by a verandah and a belt
94 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
of trees. In addition there are various out-buildings,
and the Wathen School-house, described on page 58.
On New Year's Day, 1889, seven native converts
formed themselves into a Christian Church. The
population immediately around the station is scanty.
The hope for the future lies mainly in the large
number of boys who come to the station from the
district around, many of whom show signs of a change
of heart. An early service is held every day for the
workmen who may be about, and for traders and
others who may be passing through the place.
It was at Wathen that Nlemvo, Mr. Bentley's boy,
professed his faith in Christ. Much interest attaches
to the conversion, Christian character, and usefulness
of this Congo native. In the first instance he was
brought by an uncle to be taught in the San Salvador
School ; afterwards he became Mr. Bentley's attend-
ant. He was, as we have seen, of great use in the
completion of the dictionary and grammar, and sub-
sequently in the translation of the New Testament
In the early part of 1888, Nlemvo was married to
Kalombo, an event of considerable interest, inasmuch
as it was the first marriage between Congo Christians.
According to the report of the incident, the place
where the ceremony was celebrated was decorated
with flags and palm branches ; two gentlemen from
the State were present, and a crowd of other people.
Kalombo wore a white dress, and Nlemvo a singlet
and a handsome cloth with a leopard cat's skin as a
kilt, in the finest Congo style. Great wonder was
excited as to what a Christian wedding would be like.
It seemed strange to many that the man should vow
to love and care for the woman. " Why that," they
said, " is what the wife should do for the husband."
It was felt that the example of two young native con-
verts living together in holy wedlock, loving each
other, and seeking to be fellow heirs of the grace of
life would prove a powerful influence upon the heathen
mind. And as other weddings were to follow, much
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importance naturally attached to this first Congo
marriage.
In less than a year after this event, Nlemvo heard
of the death of his uncle, in consequence of which he
was entitled to become the chief of his town. But
the young Christian knew very well that if he were to
accept the position, the observance of various customs
would be expected of him. These he could not
conscientiously observe, and rather than do so, he
would forego the chieftainship. And this he bravely
and nobly did. For years now he has maintained a
truly consistent character, and hereafter we shall refer
to his earnest endeavours to make known the Gospel
he has himself received, and according to which he is
prayerfully seeking to live.
Of several others who have been baptised upon a
profession of their repentance towards God and faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ, we might give interesting
particulars. Mr. Davies and Mr. Cameron with Mr.
Bentley find no little cause for encouragement. A
recent report from one of the missionaries says : —
" I feel very hopeful as to a large number of people,
of a good many of our scholars and some of our work
people and town people, but am afraid of saying what
might perhaps produce an exaggerated impression at
home. We have abundant reason to thank God and
take courage." Thirty-three are now in the member-
ship of this Church.
The next station is
Arthington or Nshasha,
about eighty miles beyond Wathen, and near to the
Pool above the cataracts, the point where the river
enters upon its long reach of navigable waterway.
As at Underhill so here, much time is necessarily
occupied with the up-river transport, forwarding by
the steamers the supplies which have come up by the
land journeys. It was toward the end of 1886 that
this station was established, having been removed
98 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
from a less convenient site. Just, however, before the
removal, a heavy loss was inflicted upon the Mission
by the outbreak of a terrible fire, consuming most of
the buildings, which contained very valuable stores
for the new up-river stations. The loss was estimated
at no less than ^4000, but such was the splendid and
spontaneous generosity of the friends of the Mission,
that in a short time the whole of this sum was contri-
buted to repair as far as was possible this very serious
disaster.
On the removal of the station to Nshasha, much
time had to be given to the erection of the new build-
ings, and the transport of stores, but the missionaries
had many Gospel talks with the natives, and were
enabled to begin daily services, as well as regular
teaching in the school. The work was, however,
unfortunately hindered by the migration of the people
away from Nshasha to the north bank of the river, in
consequence of some State troubles that arose. In
time they returned, and in 1892 Mr. Gordon reported
a good work of grace amongst the boys. Still the
progress was slow, but at length Mr. Roger was able
to write as under : —
" It is a great joy to me to report to you our first
baptism here at Stanley Pool for the last five years ;
it has cheered our hearts in the work, and we are
hoping that more will soon follow. It was on the
third Sunday in April that we all gathered to the
water's edge, and, in the presence of all our boys and
workpeople, Mr. Gordon baptised two of our school
boys. It was a most impressive service, and we all
felt it to be a very solemn time ; the boys spoke out
so boldly to the others of their love to Christ and the
longing desire they have had to follow Him. We
know there are several others who have lately given
their hearts to Jesus, and trust soon to have the joy of
welcoming them into the Church. On the Sunday
evening, we all gathered around the Lord's Table, and
after I had given the right hand of fellowship to the
THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
99
two who had been baptised, Nkendi and Zikubaka,
they for the first time joined us in partaking of that
sacred ordinance. I am sure we all felt refreshed after
this most sacred service." Four other boys have
recently been baptised, and a Christian Church has
been formed.
This station has recently been visited by the
governor of the Congo Free State, who seemed very
pleased at the work which was being done, and was
greatly astonished that the buildings should have
been put up by the native boys. He was kind
enough to examine the school children, and when
one of them read to him out of Lusansu Lu Nkand
'A Nzambi, the highest class-book in use, he patted
him on the head, saying, "Well done; as good as a
white boy."
CHAPTER IX.
THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES — {continued).
IN accordance with the original purpose of the
Society, stations have been founded on the
upper reaches of the Congo — as far as oppor-
tunity and means have allowed.
The first station above the Pool, some two hundred
miles beyond is
BOLOBO.
Though prospected earlier, it was founded in 1888. In
the course of a few weeks a small grass house and a
mat-covered building, serving as a school-house, were
constructed. At the very first service that was held,
besides the workpeople and the crew of the Peace,
some eighty natives were present. This station is
planted in the midst of a large population. For five
miles there is a continuous series of houses, whilst
with intervals for more than twenty miles there
are towns densely inhabited, affording a splendid
sphere for missionary labour. Feeling the great
importance, for health reasons, that proper accommo-
dation should be provided for those resident at the
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102 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
station, Mr. Grenfell, with the help of a young man
from the coast, set himself to build a suitable dwell-
ing-house, a fire-proof iron store, and a further house
for Miss Silvey's use.
In 1890 Mr. Grenfell was able to report a small band
of eight consistent believers. The accommodation
proving too limited to hold those who came to hear
the Gospel, a larger building had to be erected. The
little church was in time gladdened by the addition
of several converts, as many as twenty-seven young
people, three of them the sons of a chief, being
received into fellowship. Well might Mr. Glennie
write, " From the enthusiasm manifested by these
converts we have formed a happy augury of the
future of the work."
On the 4th of September, 1893, Mr. Kirkland, a
new missionary, reached Bolobo. Giving an account
of his first Sunday, he wrote : — " In the forenoon we
had a service in the school, and in the afternoon Mr.
Darby had a Bible-class in his house, and a number
of the English-speaking boys came together to study
the second chapter of Luke's Gospel. Evening we
had a splendid open-air service in one of the towns
close by the station. Mr. Darby was preacher, and
had an audience of over two hundred people, who
gave wonderful attention to his message, and we hope
the seed thus sown will spring up and bear fruit."
Later intelligence reports further baptisms and more
inquirers seeking religious instruction.
It should be here mentioned that Bolobo has been
selected as the most convenient spot for a dockyard
to the Mission, where needful repairs can be effected.
Workshops have consequently been erected, in which
is used the lathe supplied by friends in Birmingham,
the working of which greatly astonishes the natives.
The new steamer Goodwill, referred to in the follow-
ing chapter, has been reconstructed and duly launched
at this station.
About one hundred miles beyond Bolobo is
the native christian churches. i03
Liverpool or Lukolela
station, which came into actual existence in Novem-
ber, 1886, being called Liverpool on account of
contributions raised in that city. The up-river
extension having been long delayed, owing to
many difficulties and trials, it was, therefore, with
much satisfaction and keen zest the missionaries at
length entered this new district. Messrs. Biggs,
Richards, and Whitley, who had come up by the
Peace, interviewed the chief, who showed a most
cordial spirit, inviting them to settle in his town and
promising to help all he could. He willingly sold
two native huts, which were re-erected upon a cleared
plot of ground. The people were very friendly dis-
posed. In a few days the Peace left with Mr. Whitley
and Mr. Charters, who had charge of the steamer, on
board ; Mr. Biggs and Mr. Richards remaining to
occupy the station. Before separating, the four
brethren held a prayer meeting in the cabin of the
little steamer, when a blessing was earnestly sought
upon the new undertaking, Mr. Biggs adding the
following postscript to a letter he had written giving
the above particulars : — "Peace going early to-morrow
morning ; Richards and I comfortably housed in a
native hut, rather crowded, but happy in spite of the
hardship. We are both in excellent health, and are
working hard with shovel, axe, and saw."
Mr. Bentley visiting the station some months after-
wards reported as under : — " It was a great pleasure
to find things progressing well. The buildings were
as forward as could be expected, for only a few work-
men were available, and they had not enough barter
stuff to feed or pay native labourers until we arrived.
A dense forest surrounds the station, and the felling
and clearing away of a sufficient number of trees to
render it safe to live in the house has taken much
time and energy ; and even now some twenty tall
trees must come down before they can be sure that
104 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
nothing could fall on them during the wild tornadoes
which are so common. A second and larger house
was nearly finished ; but most satisfactory of all were
the relations with the people. The medical work,
and the intimacy due to frequent visits to the towns,
have won the esteem of the people. They begin to
understand our work better. Good progress has been
made in the language, and already our brethren
learn, talk, and understand with fair ease. With
such progress as this, and well-filled stores, we can
now reckon Liverpool Station to be fairly established."
In the autumn of 1889, Mr. Clark and Mr. Scrivener
became the resident missionaries. Some six months
afterwards the latter wrote : — " I wish I could send
you statistics of church membership, but we have no
converts yet. Now is the time for ploughing and
sowing — by-and-by the harvest and the time of
reaping. O, that we may be privileged to help to
bring in the sheaves ! God will give the increase."
God honoured the confidence of His servants and
rewarded their prayerful toil ; for on the first Sunday
in 1892 a Christian Church was planted, six converts
being baptised. A crowd of natives gathered to
witness the observance of the rite. The Lord's Supper
followed, " when again," says Mr. Scrivener, " we real-
ised God's blessing and presence." All through the
day they were wondrously helped. Nothing occurred
to mar any of the proceedings, some of which were so
strange to the poor benighted folk there. One of
the boys baptised was Mr. Richard's boy ; another, a
lad ransomed from slavery, having changed owners
some ten or twelve times ; whilst others were slaves
of men in a town close by. The work has since been
slowly but surely progressing, several having become
thoughtful, and Mr. Whitehead speaks of the school
as doing well, and anticipates great things from the
attention that is paid to the instruction given upon
spiritual subjects.
Before proceeding, it may be noted that a small
106 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
paper, entitled " Fraternal Notes," has been published
at Lukolela, which is circulated amongst the missi&n-
aries of the different societies especially with a view
to promote unity in method.
MONSEMBI
station is two hundred miles farther up the river
than Lukolela. It was prospected in July, 1890,
by Mr. Weeks and Mr. Stapleton. The account
given by the former of their journey brings so
graphically before the mind what searching for a site
may mean that we quote at some length. " The first
place we stopped at the people ran away and left us
an empty town. We went ashore, and called to the
natives to sell us some fowls, but they would not
come near. They said if the white men stay behind
they would sell fowls to the boys. We did so, and
after a few minutes, hearing who we were and what
we came for, they were very friendly and wanted us
to settle in their town, and were quite rejoiced to find
we had not come to fight, as they did not want to.
We had no trouble in getting two men from there to
go to see other places, so that we might have less
trouble with the people. We quietly entered and
walked through several other towns, and were much
amused at the reception we had from the people, and
partly fixed upon a site in the Bundundu district ;
but we are going to see if we can find a better. We
came upon one large town and wanted to go ashore,
but directly we stopped the women scouted and the
men put themselves in fighting posture, and gave us
distinctly to understand that we should not land
without a spear or two at us. We sent the two men
from a neighbouring town ashore to ask them to let
us land, but they threatened to kill them. So we
thought it best to get away. We went to another set
of towns and then on to Bangala State Station for a
permit to build. After leaving Bangala we thought
THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
107
it better to go on, so we went as far as the river Luika,
which is about 900 miles from the Pool.
"We started on the 8th of August on our return
journey down river. I have not yet seen signs of
the vast population of the Upper River. I believe
there are millions of people, but all you can see of
4W-
iWmmm
mtwmm
FIRST MISSION HOUSE AT MONSEMBI STATION, UPPER CONGO RIVER.
them are the towns indicating their presence along the
river banks. What we shall have to do is to get as
large a sphere as we can for work on the river, and
in years to come work back to the people in the
interior where the vast population is. The river
scenery up here is much more beautiful and tropical
IOS THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
than it is below. The banks are alive with the notes
of a thousand birds and insects, and the river is full
of fish and reptiles. In every town we landed we
caused a considerable amount of excitement. The
people were not sure whether we had come to fight or
not, so they always got ready for us. We landed
with our walking sticks only, chatted with the people,
bought fowls with empty bottles, brass wire, and tin
plates ; and, in a very little time we were all friends.
In these towns no women or children were to be
seen, only men with ugly-looking knives, long spears,
bows and arrows ready ; in some places they all ran
away with the exception of a few men, perhaps too
old or too sick to run. It was amusing to hear these
braves (?) laugh and jeer those who had gone. We
have decided to settle in the Monsembi district, at
a town called Boguidu ; it is sixty miles above
Lulanga on the north side of the Congo river. It is
the centre of a populous set of towns at the mouth of
a large creek that runs into the Mobangi. The creek
is lined with towns. The people are Bangalas, one of
the most energetic and progressive tribes on the river,
and in learning their language we shall have a great
area opened up to us. In a year or two we shall need
a boat, but for the present we can do all we shall
have time to do in a canoe."
The missionaries soon found they had settled down
amongst veritable cannibals. They had abundant
and most horrible evidence that it was common
custom for the Bangala to feast upon the flesh of
those whom they might capture in their petty wars.
When impelled by the lust of blood they found that
there was no cruelty too shocking for them to perpe-
trate ; and yet they estimated them to be the finest
people on the river — athletic, intelligent, manly, ener-
getic and fearless to a degree — inspiring the hope that
when subdued and conquered by the power of Divine
grace the Bangala converts would become fit instru-
ments for the evangelisation of their numerous tribes.
I i 'A
HO THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
The school started by Mr. Weeks and Mr. Stapleton
soon became popular, the boys around readily respond-
ing to the call of the bell. The first two years were
mainly occupied with the inevitable building, with
cultivating a plot of ground on which to raise necessary
produce, school teaching, reducing the language to
writing, and with establishing relations of friendship
with the people. Mrs. Weeks, too, had succeeded in
getting together a large school of girls.
Early in 1893, Mr. Stapleton wrote home to the
following effect:— "As yet we claim no Bangala
converts, but regard our work as being in a very hope-
ful condition. We count it a joy to work amongst a
tribe savage to a degree, but largely open to the
influence of new ideas, and of a native independence
of character which, transformed by grace, shall develop
into a noble, sturdy African manhood in Christ Jesus.
Monsembi is the only Protestant mission station
amongst this growing tribe. The greatness of the
work at times appals us ; but the Almighty Father is
with us, and by the help of the Divine Spirit we will
work on until Christ shall bless this tribe with peace,
and reign King over all."
According to recent intelligence strong hopes are
entertained of some of the senior boys because of the
marked change in their characters. Several have
expressed eager desires to be baptised, but it is
thought wise to defer their baptism for a while, clearly
to prove the genuineness of their profession.
BOPOTO
is the station last founded, being 200 miles still farther
into the interior, and 1000 miles distant from the
coast. In 1890, Mr. Grenfell fixed the site, the cost
of establishing the station being generously met by
two Bristol friends, Mr. W. L. Forfeitt and Mr. Oram
being appointed as the resident missionaries. Soon
after their settlement they were able to testify to the
THE NATIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. Ill
kindliness of the Bopoto folk, and to the curious
interest taken by them in everything they possessed,
and in everything they did. After six weeks, when
their knowledge of the language spoken was of course
very limited, they were able on Sundays to gather large
congregations, who listened to the hymns they sang,
mostly in English, and looked with eagerness to the
pictures they exhibited. The medical work at this
early stage was found of immense value. Great
progress was made in acquiring the language, as in
seven months' time the missionaries could conduct the
services entirely in the Bopoto tongue. Mr. White,
who had gone up to the station, met with encouraging
success in school work, and was most helpful in build-
ing operations. The garden, too, sown with the various
seeds given to the Mission by Messrs. Sutton of
Reading, was being well cultivated.
At the end of the second year the missionaries
were full of thankfulness, feeling assured that they
were really gaining the confidence of the people,
and thereby laying a good foundation upon which
they or others in days to come might build up a
Church for Christ. Mr. Forfeitt then returning for
furlough to England, and Mr. White having removed
to another station, Mr. Balfern went out to join
Mr. Oram.
Early in 1894, tidings came of a largely increased
school, no less than 125 boys being in attendance,
a girls' class being also started by Mrs. Forfeitt. The
new chapel was a great success, the congregations
being considerable. At the beginning of the present
year, 1895, Mr. Brown, who had recently returned to
the Congo after a visit home, wrote : — " Yesterday
being Sunday, the usual service was held on the
station, and not only was the building itself full, but
numbers peered in through the apertures that serve
as windows, listening and gazing intently at our
worship of God. Here then," he adds, " is our oppor-
tunity for preaching the Gospel, and in Bopoto this
112
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST
is done to-day, but what of the hundreds of towns
that surround us on every hand ? Who shall carry
the Gospel to these ? " Later intelligence conveys the
glad news of the first triumphs of the cross in Bopoto.
After Mr. Forfeitt had been speaking in the chapel,
two lads came to him manifesting great concern
as to their spiritual condition. In the evening, " their
troubled hearts found peace in trusting the Saviour."
The next evening the boys came for conversation and
prayer, bringing others with them. Each evening the
numbers increased, and meetings became frequent for
testimony, prayer, and praise.
Thus, at five out of the eight stations, Christian
churches have already been founded. Of the remain-
ing three, two are those most recently opened — viz.,
Monsembi and Bopoto, where the spiritual conditions
as we have seen are full of promise ; whilst at Under-
bill, where the population is very sparse, the station
being mainly for the transport of goods, baptisms
have lately been reported.
CHAPTER X.
THE EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS OF THE NATIVE
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
AS in other mission fields, so in this of the Congo,
the great hope of winning the heathen for
Christ lies in the propagation of the Gospel by
its own peoples. The foreign missionary can
never do what can be done by an indigenous ministry,
by native converts commending by example and pro-
clamation the faith they have themselves received.
Hence the foremost place given in the missionary
enterprise to training a native ministry, and the
encouragement afforded to those who become disciples
of Jesus, to go and tell their kindred, their neigh-
bours, their fellow-countrymen generally, what great
things God hath done for their souls.
The aggressive zeal of the Congo Christians is full
of promise for the religious future of their country.
It is, of course, at San Salvador, where most
time has been allowed for spiritual development,
that we naturally look for evidence of the self-pro-
pagating power of the Gospel, and we do not look
in vain. So far back as 1888, Mr. Lewis was able
to report the zealous devotion of the male members
113 H
114 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
of the little church, in visiting the neighbouring towns
on Sunday mornings, to tell their fellow-countrymen
of the love of God and of the way of salvation in
Christ Jesus, and how that they were well received,
the people listening gladly to them. From the very
formation of the Church the converts had been taught
the duty and privilege of contributing to the work of
Christ ; and when it was suggested that their offer-
ings might be applied to the support of one of their
number, who should be set apart as an evangelist,
they heartily approved the suggestion, their choice
falling upon Kivitidi, a Christian young man of about
twenty years of age, well qualified by the training he
had received from the missionaries.
This step being taken, a preliminary journey was
made by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, the elected evangelist,
and one or two others, into the district around, to deter-
mine upon a good centre where Kivitidi might be loca-
ted. The place selected was Etoto, where there were
about ninety houses, and some four hundred inhabitants.
" The next thing," wrote Mr. Lewis, " was to ascertain
the feelings of the chief and people on the matter. It
took the chief some time to believe that I was in
earnest. It was too good for him to believe it, he
said. In the evening he spoke to his people about it,
and next morning they came to say how delighted
they were to hear th; t we would start a station in
their town. I took good care to explain that they
were not to expect us to give them any cloth or
beads ; that we only came for the sake of teaching
them about God. I am very anxious to make them
understand this from the beginning, for I do not
believe in giving away presents for the sake of mak-
ing friends, much less for being allowed to come
among the people to build a station. The natives
ought to be taught that it is for their benefit alone
we come to them, and not to bring presents. This
having been properly explained, we came to the ques-
tion of a site for our sub-station. There was no
Il6 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
difficulty about this. The whole of the hill at one
end of the town was free for us. We could appro-
priate as much as we wished for houses and farms.
We then went over the ground and fixed a place to
build a house." Kivitidi being well taught in car-
pentry soon erected such buildings as were required.
The work was so prospered that nearly every man
and woman in the town came to the services on the
Sundays. The Church at San Salvador was greatly
encouraged, and they arranged for some of their
number to go in turn to reside for a while at Etoto to
assist the evangelist, and help in visiting the district
around. But the work begun so hopefully, was after-
wards hindered by an unfortunate palaver. The dis-
appointment was great. For a time it was thought
well to suspend the services, but at the earnest re-
quest of the Etoto people they were resumed, several
of the San Salvador members volunteering their
assistance.
At Mbanza Mputu another member of the San
Salvador Church, Nlekai, has been much blessed in
his visits to preach the Gospel. Among those who
have accepted the Saviour is the chief, Mbumba,
whom Mr. Lewis describes as having been a very
cruel man, and the terror of his people and the
neighbouring chiefs, a man who would punish slight
offences with death, whose town was consequently
the scene of most horrible sights. The depth of the
conviction of sin expressed by Mbumba was felt to
be most satisfactory. " What about the sins of the
past ? Will God pardon the wicked things I have
been guilty of? " were his inquiries, asked with the
deep undertone of one in great spiritual anxiety. On
the occasion of his baptism, with four other converts,
everyone in the town was present, rejoicing over the
marked change that had come over their chief. As
Mbumba has been placed by the Portuguese Govern-
ment next in power to the present King of Congo, he
may be of still greater influence for good in days to
EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS OF NATIVE CHURCHES. 117
come. Several of the converts at Mbanza Mputu are
in fellowship with the Church at San Salvador.
Mawunze is another out-station being entirely
worked by native Christians, where large congrega-
tions come together at the Sunday services.
A fourth sub-station, Kimpesi, has, at the earnest
CHIEF OF MBANZA MPUTU.
request of the people living there, been started, a grass
house having been built, which is used for worship.
These three last-mentioned towns are placed under
the care of two Christian young men, Elembe and
Vita. And besides these fully planted stations, there
are several other places regularly visited every Sunday
by native workers, at some of which the inhabitants
have themselves built houses where the services can
Il8 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
be held, and are asking for a teacher to settle down
amongst them.
It is most satisfactory to know that the entire cost
of working these various sub-stations is borne by the
Church at San Salvador.
From Wathen station a large amount of evangelis-
tic itinerant work has been effected, and in some of
these journeys Nlemvo has rendered good service.
As far as he could be spared by Mr. Bentley from
literary and translation duties, he has gone into the
district around preaching the Gospel, and his influ-
ence over his fellow-countrymen has been very marked.
The little Church at Wathen has been enabled to
start two regular sub-stations, one at Kinsuka, where
they have appointed Lo, and for whose support they
have voted 100 brass rods per month, an allowance
considerably less than he was able to earn, but which
he was quite willing to receive for the sake of being
regularly engaged in preaching and teaching ; the
other at Tungwa, which is in charge of Nkaku. Both
of these native evangelists meet with encouraging
signs of God's presence and blessing as they labour,
not only in the towns where they reside, but as they
also itinerate in the surrounding districts.
Though at the up-river stations the little churches
are not yet sufficiently developed to maintain out-
posts, yet the native converts accompany the mission-
aries on their preaching tours, bearing testimony to
their own conversion, and commending the Gospel to
their fellow-countrymen ; and it is anticipated that as
at San Salvador and Wathen, so before long at other
stations, some of the converts will be set apart to do
the work of an evangelist.
Mention may here be made of the interest shown
by the Congo Christians in missionary operations in
other lands than their own. When they were informed
of the celebration of the Centenary of the Baptist
Missionary Society, they became desirous to unite in
the commemoration. Contribution lists were opened.
EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS OF NATIVE CHURCHES. 119
From San Salvador no less a sum than £33, 14s. 3d.
was forwarded to the Secretary at the Mission House
in London, accompanied by the following letter
written by one of the deacons : —
" Dear Sir, — As a Church here we feel very thankful
that the Gospel has come to our country. Since it
came to us it has done us much good and made us
very happy, so we thought we would like very much
to give something to help you to send out more mis-
sionaries to take the light of the Gospel to those that
are in benighted lands like ours. Therefore we
heartily made a collection, and collected a sum of
£33, 14s. 3d.
" Kivitidi and I send it, on behalf of the Church.
Do accept it as our thank-offering to your Centenary
Fund of the Baptist Missionary Society.
" We are, on behalf of the Church,
" Kivitidi, } n
"NLEKAl, '^Diaams.
The list of contributions is in itself so remarkable
and so suggestive, as to call for reproduction in this
volume : —
No.
Men.
Name.
Matoko
Kalandenda
Kivitidi
Nlekai
Ndonzwau .
6 Elembe
7 Vita .
8 Diakensra .
9 Mpondo
10 Senulembwa
1 1 Mauwele .
12 Diongwa .
13 Matata
14 Suvusu
Description of Goods paid.
1 pig and 1 piece of cloth
2 pieces cloth .
100 large ferret bells
1 piece Turkey red twill
1 „ trade handkerchiefs
1 „ red baft
1 >» »
100 strings beads and 1
piece handkerchiefs
1 piece white drill .
1 „ „
1 flannel shirt .
1 piece handkerchiefs
1 » )>
150 strings beads
Native
Value.
Dollars.
16
8
5
4
4
3
3
4
12
o
16
16
12
12
\z
12
12
IO
8
8
6
Carry forward,
60 12
120
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
No.
Men.
Name.
15 Elembe
16 Mpombolo
17 Dika .
18 Mingedi .
19 Etalanga .
Women.
20 Nembamba
21 Wavatidi .
22 Mpuna
23 Lau .
24 Fotelvva
25 Ponta
26 Umba
27 Mianza
28 Mansanga .
29 Nengudi .
30 Mbaujikisa
31 Nkidiaka .
32 Mansonso .
33 Menga
34 Ntadila
35 Soloka
36 Luvuma
yj Nkiamindele
38 Ntinu a Nximba
39 Tonba
40 Dima
41 Mona
42 Mbwaku .
43 Mbwanji .
44 Kinsukulu .
45 Mayeto
46 Mr. and
Phillips
47 Mr. and
Lewis
Small sums
Mrs.
Mrs.
Native
Description of Goods paid.
Value.
Dollars
£
s.
</.
Brought forward,
60
[2
Fowls .
I*
O
6
1 piece prints .
I
O
4
1 „ red baft
I
O
4
1 » >f * •
I
O
4
1 piece scarves
I
O
4
1 keg gunpowder
6
I
4
2 pieces red baft
6
I
4
1 piece red baft, 200 beads
6
I
4
1 basket ground nuts and
two fowls
4*
O
18
1 piece Oxford check
4
O
16
1 11 11 11
4
O
16
i piece prints .
4
O
16
1 „ trade cloth .
4
O
16
90 large ferret bells .
4lf
O
18
3 baskets ground nuts
3
O
12
300 strings beads
3
O
12
1 piece red baft
3
O
12
1 „ ,, •
3
O
12
10 yards red baft
2 i
O
10
10 „ .
4
O
10
1 basket nuts, 200 beads .
3
O
12
150 beads, 1 piece cloth .
2-
O
10
1 piece blue baft
2
O
8
1 „ scarf
2
O
8
2 baskets nuts .
2
O
8
Fowls
. 1
1 2
O
6
1 piece red baft
.
O
4
1 „ » •
O
4
1 » ■>■> •
O
4
100 strings beads
O
4
100 „ „
O
4
Cash
IO
2
Cash
IO
2
Various .
o3
0-i
O
15
3
Dollars
■ i67i
.ctedby Nlekai (No. 44,194
)
*
O
5
j33
14
3
EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS OF NATIVE CHURCHES. 121
From Underhill, Wathen, Lukolela, and Bolobo
stations, similar gifts were also remitted, with the
prayerful wish expressed that " God would send
missionaries out to all people."
Another instance may be mentioned, showing the
earnest desire of these Congo Christians to make
known the glad tidings to those who are in ignorance
of them. It was on the occasion of some Chinamen
employed on the Congo Railway, now in course of
THE NEW CONGO MISSION STEAMER, "GOODWILL."
construction, going to San Salvador. Being much
interested in these Chinese visitors, they were told
how missionaries were sent to their country, and that
Mr. Dixon, who was once in Congo, was now one of
those missionaries. So greatly was their interest ex-
cited that they proposed to send Mr. Dixon a contri-
bution for his work, and no less than .£30 was raised,
being the gifts of as many as two hundred and eighty
persons.
When it is remembered that these offerings for the
122
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
spread of the Gospel were contributed by those, who,
but a very few years ago, were selfish, hardened
heathen, the radical change in their disposition is
strikingly apparent.
In this chapter it is fitting that reference should be
made to the evangelistic facilities afforded by means
of the two mission steamers Peace and Goodzvill.
Whilst these vessels are of incalculable value for the
transport of stores to the up-river stations, and for
general purposes of communication, they are of such
great service in strictly spiritual work that they may
be regarded as equal, if not more than equal to two
additional stations. In the journeys taken by the
missionaries, they are frequently accompanied by
native Christians, who take their part in publishing
the good news of salvation. As the first steamer,
Peace, has already been described in these pages, it
may here be stated, with respect to the Goodwill, that
it is of larger dimensions than the former, being 84
feet long by 1 3 feet beam, having 8 berths instead of
4, and twice the carrying capacity. In the early part
of last year, this excellent vessel was duly recon-
structed and successfully launched.
CHAPTER XL
THE DEATH ROLL, AND HOW TO REGARD IT.
IN the foregoing chapters little or no reference has
been made to the many and sad losses which,
in the course of founding and developing the
Mission, have been sustained through death.
These losses require separate and special attention.
In their pathetic personal interest, and in their
serious bearing upon future policy, they constitute an
important part of the story of this Congo Mission.
No one possessing any knowledge of the climatic
conditions of Western Central Africa could have
expected that the pioneer work necessary to the
founding of stations would be accomplished without
risk to life. The early history of all previous missions
in tropical and malarial regions forbade such an
expectation. The missionaries were very well aware
that as they went forth they were " hazarding their
lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," and that
the possibility, and even the probability of such
losses was a contingency never absent from the
minds of the promoters of the enterprise at home.
But the losses, great as they are. have been far less
in proportion than those sustained by the Free State
124 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
in founding an earthly kingdom, or by traders bent
on material gains, or than even the losses which have
befallen some other Christian missions. And further,
before attributing these losses to the necessarily
baneful influence of the climate, it would be desirable,
if it were possible, to determine to what extent they
were preventible — preventible by the adoption of
different methods, or by the exercise of a zeal
under the control of a greater knowledge. It is also
a question how many of these deaths would have
occurred as certainly in this country as in Africa.
But weigh as we justly may these and other
considerations it is only when we rise to the height of
the spiritual plane that those reasons can be applied
which are calculated not only to mitigate but effect-
ually and completely to reconcile our minds and
hearts to these great trials. To these reasons,
however, we will turn our attention presently.
That the losses simply regarded in and by them-
selves have been severe and are even appalling, no one
can question who is acquainted with the death roll.
The first name on the roll is that of the bride-wife of
the pioneer missionary, Thomas J. Comber. Then
follow, at varying intervals of dates, these names : —
W. H. Doke, J. S. Hartland, H. W. Butcher, J. W.
Hartley, S. A. Comber, M.B., D. M'Millan, A. H.
Cruickshank, A. Cowe, W. F. Cottingham, J. Maynard,
J. H. Shindler, F. C. Darling, T. J. Comber, Miss
Spearing, H. G. Whitley, J. E. Biggs, M. Richards,
A. D. Slade, S. Silvey, J. G. Brown, W. F. Wilkinson,
Mrs. P. E. Comber, P. E. Comber, Mrs. Cameron, F.
R. Oram, W. P. Balfern, and S. R. Webb, M.D., of
whose death we sorrowfully hear as we go to press ;
and to these lists may be added three engineers who
went from this country to assist in the reconstruction
of the steamer Peace, whilst nine other missionaries
from one cause or other have resigned their connection
with the Congo Mission — viz., H. Dixon, W. Ross,
H. E. Crudgington, W. Hughes, W. Seright, M.B.,
THE DEATH ROLL, AND HOW TO REGARD IT. 125
D. Charters, H. K. Moolenaar, F. A. Jeffard and
R. D. Darby, two of whom are now labouring in other
parts of the mission field : Mr. Dixon in China and
Mr. Crudgington in India.
However sad and painful the enumeration of these
names of the sainted and heroic dead, yet it is fitting
they should severally find record in this volume. We
refrain, however, from biographical sketches or
obituary notices but as indicating the sublime devo-
tion and Christ-like consecration of spirit by which
these martyrs of the Cross were characterised ;
and as showing how they themselves regarded
their own death, it were well to quote some of their
personal utterances. Said one at his valedictory
meeting: " He might come home again; if so, good-
bye till then. It might be that death's bright angel
might call him to higher work, and perhaps they
might never meet again till before the throne ; yes,
good-bye till then." Wrote another to Mr. Baynes :
" In this enterprise of winning Africa for Christ there
must be, I know, my dear Mr. Baynes, much of what
the world calls loss and sacrifice, and it may be that
many will fall in the blessed work of foundation
building only ; but what of this ? To have any share
in this noblest of all toil, however humble or obscure,
be it only hewing wood or drawing water, is, surely,
honour and privilege any servant of Christ must court
and long for. I desire to go to this work feeling yet
more intensely day by day, as the days pass on, that
to live is Christ, and to die, gain ; and if He should
ordain for me early death, after a few years of humble,
obscure, pioneering work only — well, it must all be
right; for it means early and complete satisfaction.
' Then shall I be satisfied, when I awake in Thy
likeness.'"
On New Year's Day another made this entry in his
journal: "How is this year to be spent? In useful
service in the vineyard of my Lord or called home to
see Him as He is and behold His Glory and Majesty
126 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
for ever ! Lord, Thou knowest best. In all things
make known Thy blessed will and give me grace to do
it." Said another : " I know not what may be in store
for me, but I pray you remember, if I should be early
called away, with my last breath I hope to pray for
more men, deeper devotion, and more thorough
surrender of all for Christ.
" To die in such a cause is lofty privilege, while to
live and work is solemn responsibility.
" Oh ! the joy and peace of feeling FULLY that all
is committed to His wise and loving keeping.
" Father, I know that ALL my life is portioned out
by Thee."
"Are you sorry," asked the watchers by one of
these servants of God when passing away, "■ are you
sorry you came to the Congo ? " " Oh no," he replied,
" very thankful." " My work 's soon done, isn't it ?
There are many more of our men (his fellow-students)
who will soon come." "For Jesus' sake." " I '11 soon
be home ! I '11 soon be home ! " " Work on, brethren ;
don't let the loss of your men hinder you. Never
give up — hope always. O Jesus ! soon be at home.
This is the valley ; I will fear no evil, for Thou art
with me. 'Twill soon be over. Tell all our boys
(the boys at the Stockwell Orphanage) to seek the
Saviour. Good-bye ! I '11 look for you ; I '11 wait for
you. Faith can firmly trust Him, come what may.
Brethren, brethren, be of good cheer. Rock of Ages
cleft for me ! "
Whilst others expressed themselves in the following
strains : — " Work for Christ in Africa must be my
life work. I desire this work more than all else, and
be my life long or short, I pray it may be faithful
unto the end. And who knows how soon the end
may come ? Life is not always to be measured by
years." " As I think of the dear ones now with the
Saviour, I seem to feel in a very solemn way bound
to Africa. Their graves seem to be speechful, and to
bid me gird up my loins and work while it is day.
THE DEATH ROLL, AND HOW TO REGARD IT. \2J
What a sublime privilege it is to be allowed to carry-
on this Congo Mission Work ! Words can never tell
how greatly I rejoice in it." " Remember," to quote
one other when writing to his parents, " remember, I
am just as safe as if our dear brothers had not died.
You committed me to God, did you not ? And He
is ever the same. Nothing can or shall harm me
until He sees fit. A gloom is cast over us ; but God's
grace is equal to the emergency, and is being propor-
tioned to our need. I go forward in His strength ;
that was my New Year's motto, you know. And
pestilence, however rampant, shall not come near me
unless there is a 'needs be.' And if so, who shall
murmur ? " Such then was the spirit of these Christ-
ian missionaries, who by laying down their lives for
Christ's sake have for ever made sacred this Congo
Mission.
Upon the heart-sorrow such early deaths must have
caused to relatives and friends we do not dwell.
Better were it to recall the Christian fortitude and
heroic faith which, by God's grace, have been so
wonderfully displayed. One knows not which the
more gratefully to admire and revere, the brave devo-
tion of those who have fallen on the field, or the
trustful acquiescence of those who surrendered their
sons or their daughters for the sake of Africa's
redemption. Said one of the bereaved, and she a
widowed mother : — " This Congo Mission is, I am
confident, dearer to me to-day than ever ; instead of
being discouraged by our losses, let us rejoice that
our loved ones have been counted worthy, let us seek
a baptism for the dead, and let us all remember that
now we are specially encompassed with a great cloud
of witnesses — our Congo missionaries included."
" We shall indeed miss our dear son very, very
much," wrote another, " but we do not regret having
given him up, 'even to die,' in such a glorious cause.
" The Lord must know best, and He cannot have
made a mistake. '
128 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
" This surely must be part of His divine plan for
the up-raising of poor down-trodden Africa ; and
although the sowing time is bitter and sorrowful, and
the sacrifice, humanly speaking, enormous, yet surely
the reaping time is not far off. Ere long doubtless
we shall witness a rich and abundant harvest, where
so many of our loved ones have had the high honour
of laying down their lives for the Christ they so dearly
loved."
" Sorrowing as we do for the loss of our dear son,"
said yet another, " we propose to erect no monument to
him in far-distant Lukungu — he lives in our hearts for
ever ; but we do propose to endeavour to forward the
grand objects which he had so much at heart, and as
we cheerfully gave up our son to the work, so now,
parents, brother, and sister unite to equip some other
soldier of the Cross, who, stepping into the gap, may
carry on the warfare against heathenism ; and we
pray earnestly that our Heavenly Father may grant
His blessing in large measure to him who will take
our son's place. For this purpose I have great pleas-
ure in enclosing a cheque to cover outfit and passage
expenses of a new Congo missionary."
In view of the nature of the motives actuating those
who laid down their lives for Christ in Congo, and as
well of the fine spirit of surrender characterising the
friends from whom they parted, does not the serious
question arise whether any interposition intended to
restrain and hinder might not have resulted in viola-
tion of solemn duty, in the resistance of a Divine call,
yea, in the denial of a privileged ministry which
angels might have coveted ?
And further, for the purpose of regarding aright
the losses on the Congo, it needs to be said that these
young missionaries were by no means under the spell
of a maudlin fanaticism ; their pious aspirations did
not come of a sentimental religiousness ; on the other
hand, their piety was robust, and their views of things
were practical ; they went forth hoping and intending
THE DEATH ROLL, AND HOW TO REGARD IT. 1 33
to live and to live long in the service of their Divine
Master. Those responsible for sending them to
Africa have done all in their power to inculcate
this healthy Christian spirit and proper estimate of
the preciousness of life.
And again, before referring to the higher con-
siderations which we are aware alone can reconcile
to these losses, it is of great importance to point out
that, of late years, the deaths have been much less
frequent than in the earlier period of the history of
this Mission. Taking the six years, beginning with
1883, the year when the first death occurred after that
of Mrs. T. J. Comber, during that period there were
eighteen losses, whereas in the subsequent six years
there were eight, less than half, in four of which years
there were only three, two of the three being ladies.
It is believed that the greater immunity from loss is
the result of the more settled state of the Mission, the
improved sanitary condition of the stations, and the
ability to treat with better medical skill the fever of
the country. And so, as experience further increases,
it is reasonable to hope that the lives of the mission-
aries will be, to a still larger extent, preserved.
But great as is the relief afforded by the remarkable
decrease in the mortality of late years, and hopeful as
such a fact unquestionably is with respect to the
future, there can be no doubt that, in a malarial coun-
try like the Congo, mission work must be under-
taken at some peril to life. This being so, it is only
when the high spiritual results produced by these losses
by death are considered, that the right position is found
from which to meet the inquiry — not always put in a
calculating, much less cynical spirit — to what purpose
is this waste ? Many sincere Christians, staggered by
the repeated tidings of disaster, have questioned the
wisdom of sending young men out to Africa, as they
say, to die, feeling that brave lives are being need-
lessly sacrificed, and sorrow to the bereaved unneces-
sarily occasioned.
K
134 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
But what if, through the self-sacrificing love and
devotion of these young missionaries, the foundation
of the kingdom of God could only be effectively laid ?
What if, in this connection, the great principle of
Christ's teaching applies — viz., the necessity of the
death of the wheat corn for the sake of the much
fruitfulness of the golden harvest? Is it not signifi-
cant that hard heathen hearts should be moved to
tenderness and pity by the very fact of suffering and
death ? " These white men must love us much, or
they would never leave their beautiful country, so far
away, to come here and get fever and die," was the
potent conclusion to which, in the early history of the
Mission, the natives were compelled to come. And
as progress was made, these were the sentiments, as
expressed by one of themselves, which widely prevailed :
" How very very sorry I am for Mr. Comber's death and
for Mr. Percy's sake. The people, too, at San Salva-
dor and Ngombiare very very sorry to lose a very
kind friend like Mr. Comber ; they say that he was
not only a kind friend, but that he was a chief, settling
palavers in their towns better than chiefs do, and tell-
ing us good messages from God ; and the people ask
why has God taken Mr. Comber so quickly, and other
white men who have died lately, and even I, I often
wonder how it is God is doing this ; perhaps God is
teaching us something which we do not know yet, but
God knows everything and what is the best for His
work."
And when fever claimed the last of the Comber
family one wrote thus : —
"From our side, the side of the blank, and the
silence, and the cold grave, this loss is very sad.
But if 'we have not followed cunningly devised
fables' there is another side, bright with the light
of God's face, musical with Heaven's harmonies, glad
with the energy of perfect service, and the peace of
an Eternal Home. Nor on this side is it all loss.
When the alabaster box was broken the house was
THE DEATH ROLL, AND HOW TO REGARD IT. 1 35
filled with the odour of the ointment ; and though
the last of the Combers has fallen, the stimulating
fragrance of their sacrifice will steal all round the
world."
Not so very long ago a missionary addressing an
audience in this country said, in words something to
this effect : — As an illustration of Christ's love for
sinners, he had sometimes ventured when speaking to
the natives to refer to the love of dear fellow-mission-
aries in coming out to Congo even to die for their
sake, and then as he had spoken of the Saviour's love
in coming down from Heaven, and had told the story
of the Cross, light seemed to dawn upon their under-
standings, and tears of mingled sorrow and joy started
from their eyes.
And if after this manner God is working out His own
redeeming purposes, and the blood of these martyr-
spirit missionaries is thus, as heretofore, becoming the
very seed of the Church in Congo ; so also the influence
of the Christian heroism displayed in that distant
land has without question been reacting for good upon
the Churches at home. No one can tell how the
spiritual life of individual believers, and the godly zeal
of Christian communities, have been quickened afresh
by the inspiration flowing from the examples of dis-
interested, unselfish devotion the Congo Mission has
furnished. And is it not further certain that the
missionary interest in other parts of the mission field,
and this, not with regard only to the Baptist Mission-
ary Society, has gained a new stimulus through the
holy valour of these young lives so early but so
triumphantly closed in Christ's service in Africa ?
OUR HEROES.
We talk sometimes of the days long past,
Of our ancient chivalry.
We praise the deeds of the knights of old,
Their courage and courtesy.
136 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
They faced the foe on the battle-field ;
They crossed o'er the deep sea wave ;
They travelled far into Eastern lands,
To save from Islam's cruel hands
Their Lord and Saviour's grave.
In many a ballad quaint and old,
In many a poet's rhyme,
The names and the famous deeds are told
Of the knights of " ye olden tyme."
Say ye that men's hearts are colder grown
Than in days of long ago —
That this age knows nought of chivalry —
That only for wealth, or station high,
Great deeds are attempted now ?
But the deeds I tell and the men I praise
Belong not to days of yore ;
Brief is the time, and the months but few,
Since these heroes left our shore.
Yet never Crusader among them all
Had courage more brave and high,
Nor among King Arthur's Table Round
Could knights with nobler aims be found,
Or more perfect courtesy.
They went not to rescue the sepulchre
Where once the dear Lord had lain ;
But to raise a land from age-long sleep
Into life and light again.
For long over Afric's streams and plains
A dense, dark veil was spread.
That veil had in part been lifted now,
They saw that ignorance, sin, and woe,
Were hidden beneath its shade.
'Twas not for the sake of a " ladye fayre,"
'Twas not for an earthly home,
That they bade farewell to their native land
And crossed o'er the ocean foam ;
THE DEATH ROLL, AND HOW TO REGARD IT. 1 37
But a tender pity rilled their hearts,
For their brethren across the sea ;
They heard a wail from those far-off lands,
They saw, in fancy, those " stretched-out hands " —
Stretched out in their misery.
They went by command of no earthly king,
They followed no captain here ;
Yet an order, clear as a trumpet call,
Fell on each listening ear.
" Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?" they. prayed,
And swiftly the answer came,
" Go seek thy brothers on Afric's shore,
They perish in darkness, their need is sore ;
Go, tell them of Jesu's name."
Go, tell of the Father's wondrous love,
How He gave His only Son ;
How the Saviour left His home above
To ransom them every one.
Tell of His wondrous life on earth,
Of the tender words He spake ;
Tell that He died for the black man's sin,
That He rose from the dead and the fight did win,
And their sleeping souls will wake.
O ! gladly they followed their King's behest,
Fearlessly crossed the sea.
Yet they little dreamed that in Afric's land
So brief would their labour be.
But the summons came from the King they loved,
And they knew His will was best.
They laid down the task they had just begun ;
They put off the armour so late put on ;
And peacefully sank to rest.
Calmly they sleep by the Congo's stream,
'Mid those that they yearned to save ;
Yet a voice still speaks to the black man's heart,
As he stands by the white man's grave,
M8
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
Telling of patient toil and care,
And of tender sympathy ;
Leading their thoughts, through the human love,
To the Father of black and white, above,
To the Saviour of bond and free.
Were they not heroes ? These men I sing,
So tender, so true, and brave.
O ! who will finish the task they left
To rest in the peaceful grave ?
Ah ! we know the heroes will never fail,
Till the heathen are gathered home,
Till the Afric joins in the glorious song,
Till the whole wide earth shall to Christ belong,
Till the Kingdom of God is come.
U.S.
'■i J? '
CHAPTER XII.
THE FUTURE OF THE CONGO MISSION.
IN the foregoing chapters the story of the difficulties,
the trials, and the achievements of this remark-
able Mission, with such detail as space would
allow, has been told. But what about the future?
The narrative extends over some seventeen years.
What will be the record of another similar period of
time? Or what will be the condition of this Mission
when its jubilee shall be commemorated ? The
initiatory stage may now be said to be past. Will
the progress be equal to the expectation and the
possibilities ? The foundations are now it is believed
well and surely laid. Will the superstructure be
reared without needless delay ? The future of this
Congo Mission lies with God, yes, but with God, as
He shall answer the prayers, and accept and use the
gifts in means and in men His own people shall
supply ! Thus, in a very true and real, if subordinate
sense, the progress and triumphs of this missionary
enterprise rest with the Churches at home. If the
honour of being permitted to begin so important a
work for God is great, the responsibility of its con-
tinuance and its growth is surely greater.
1 39
140 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
Let it be here stated, that as far back as 1885 it was
solemnly and deliberately resolved to establish at least
ten stations on the uninterrupted waterway of the
Upper Congo, between Stanley Pool and Stanley
Falls, at about an average distance of a hundred miles
apart. Of these stations, including the one at the
Pool, only, as we have seen, half have been founded.
The sites, however, of two others have been secured,
but wait occupation, one being near the Lubi Falls on
the Loika river, which, in the future, as the country in
that region shall become better known, may be a
most important station, being possibly on the high
road to the Eastern Soudan ; and the other at Mojembo,
on the great Mobangi river, where an eligible plot of
land was obtained two years ago, the necessary
material for founding it being in hand, but which, at
the present moment, continues unoccupied.
Let Mr. Grenfell, the discoverer of this mighty
waterway, speak for himself as to the importance of
the Mobangi. After referring to the possibility of the
Aruwimi and the Loika affluents being barred for the
present, and thinking perhaps that the contemplated
plan for extension might be better carried out on the
Mobangi, Mr. Grenfell has said : —
" The more we hear of the Mobangi as a route to
the interior, the more are we impressed with the
advantages it offers for the carrying out of our plans.
On the farther affluents of the Mobangi we hear of
large towns, and such a measure of civilisation as we
have not elsewhere encountered in the whole of the
Congo basin. Captain Van Gele tells us that at
Bangasso, between six and seven hundred miles from
the confluence of the Mobangi with the Congo, he was
received by the chief in great state, accompanied by
some two thousand trained soldiers, and a bodyguard
of thirty men in Soudanese uniforms, and armed with
weapons evidently secured through the trade routes of
the Soudan. The language here belonged to quite a
different stock from those spoken over the greater
THE FUTURE OF THE CONGO MISSION. 141
portion of the Congo basin, being Negroid, and not
Bantu, and communication was maintained through
the medium of Arabic. This place, Bangasso, is only
one of several important districts the Belgian explor-
ers tell us of, and with which they have been able to
enter upon satisfactory relationship ; and the accounts
just recently to hand make us very desirous indeed
to include them within the range of our forward
policy."
And Mr. Darby, visiting Mojembo some eighteen
months after the above utterance, was able to report
of the projected site as follows : —
"There are six or seven towns within touch by
canoe on either side of the place ; there is an inland
population not far away. The people there are the
most industrious I have yet seen in the whole of
Africa ; every art practised on the Congo we found
carried on in this place in the most business-like
fashion — iron smelting, smith's work of all kinds,
brass necklets, anklets, bracelet making, copper manu-
facture, cloth making, oil-extracting from the kernels;
plenty of food, good houses, friendly people, clean,
and plenty of them — surely such a site could not be
excelled ! . . . During the remainder of our explora-
tion, we saw many eligible sites, but none that seemed
so suitable as Mojembo. I wish I had space to write
you all we saw at Mojembo, that instinctively drew us
to it as a fitting spot. The language is strange, it is
true; I got about 150 words of it. They are very
peculiar in form ; some, I think, induce me to suppose
that it belongs to the Bantu family — in fact, so far
as the list I have secured goes, I may say I am certain
it belongs to that family ; its nearest relation, is,
I think, in the Bopoto language. For this and
many other most cogent reasons, we think that this
spot is singularly suitable and hopeful for the new
station."
But two years have passed away, and owing to cir-
cumstances, no station has as yet been established on
142 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
this very eligible spot, though, happily, there is good
reason to believe it will shortly be occupied. In the
very near future it is earnestly hoped Mojembi will
become the centre of important missionary activity.
Should the planting of the rest of the proposed
stations be delayed, it has to be borne in mind that
an immense amount of most promising evangelistic
itineration will be possible now that two steamers and
other boats are at the service of the Mission. The
recent addition of so splendid a vessel as the Goodwill
will enable the missionaries to avail themselves as
never heretofore of the Congo riverine system, afford-
ing as it does such wonderful facilities of communica-
tion with the vast populations of the country.
It has further to be borne in mind, as an induce-
ment to persevering endeavour, that every year the
native evangelistic resources are becoming greater,
and consequently the fresh needs caused by extend-
ing operations may, by converts trained for service,
be more readily supplied.
But if, contemplating the millions of people who
wait for the proclamation of the Gospel, remembering
the perfect natural facilities for reaching them which
so wonderfully obtain in the Upper Congo region, and
if in view of the blessed results already achieved, the
prospects may be truly described as most promising
and most inspiring ; then the main question appears
to be : will the Christian Churches, by whose prayerful
sympathy and consecrated gifts this Congo Mission
was begun and has so far been maintained, be prepared
for a forward policy ? Will the funds be forthcoming,
without which new stations cannot be founded and
manned ?
That the Congo Mission is costly, owing to the
conditions in which it has to be conducted, cannot be
gainsaid, inasmuch as about one-half of the total
expenditure is absorbed in freight, transport, and
other charges incidental to the exceptional nature of
the enterprise. To what extent the present rate of
THE FUTURE OF THE CONGO MISSION. I43
outlay may be relieved when the railway, in the Lower
Congo from Matadi to Stanley Pool, now in course of
construction, shall be completed, it is impossible to
tell, but that in time some relief may be obtained it is
reasonable to expect. The greater carrying capacity
of the new steamer, the Goodzvill, for supplying the
up-river stations with the needful stores, will doubtless
too effect some pecuniary advantage. And further,
the possibility, as the conditions of life improve, of
the missionaries remaining for longer periods at their
post without the necessity of such frequent changes,
will also help to reduce expenditure. And as the
country becomes more civilised and developed, other
methods of procedure less costly may be devised.
Giving, however, all these and other points their
due consideration, there is little prospect of this
Congo Mission being conducted without considerable
outlay, if its operations are to proceed upon the lines,
which, after most careful consideration and long
experience, have been adopted as those alone likely in
the main to lead to permanent success.
Will then the Churches which are interested in this
Mission be ready with the requisite support? Do
they so realise the responsibility and blessedness of
this service for Christ in dark Africa that as the
demands grow their gifts will increase? May the
great Head of the Church bestow abundantly His
grace upon His servants, so that having been intrusted
with the Gospel, they may worthily and faithfully
discharge the solemn but glorious trust !
But perhaps it will be asked, Instead of attempting
any further extension, would it not be wiser and every
way more desirable to concentrate effort upon the
stations already founded ? Better to have a few
stations efficiently worked rather than a larger number
feebly maintained. There must, it will be affirmed,
be a limit to the sphere of labour. Much may be
said in favour of a policy of concentration, provided
always that the points of concentration are as numer-
144 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
ous as earnest and self-denying efforts will permit.
It is possible to become content to settle down, not-
withstanding the great commission reads : Go and
preach the Gospel to every creature.
As this phase of the missionary enterprise is most
important in its bearing upon future policy, it will be
appropriate and useful to quote in this connection
the opinion of Mr. Grenfell : "It has been urged," he
said on a certain occasion, " by some that we are
scattering our energies over too wide an area. They
ask : ' Why not concentrate your efforts upon a
narrower field, as business men would do ? ' They
say — and they have been successful business men who
have said it, as well as enthusiastic missionary helpers
— ' It has been far better in our experience to
thoroughly work a small district than to spend the
same amount of work over a larger one.' It is an
argument that falls with great weight upon the ears
of practical people, and, so far as business in this
country is concerned, I have no doubt that it indic-
ates the right policy ; but in Africa we are dealing
with quite a different set of circumstances, and are at
work under quite different conditions. There was a
time when the traders on the Congo maintained
the policy our friends now urge upon ourselves.
In those days the missionaries led the van towards
the interior, but they are bygone days, for business
men have pushed ahead of us, and left us far behind ;
and, as a consequence of their spreading out, the
short dividends of the policy of concentration have
given place to as much profit in one year as they used
to make in ten. So, you see, the advice of our
friends, though apparently so sound, and backed up
as it is with such great experience, and also with such
very practical sympathy for our work, does not hold
good under all conditions, and much less does it hold
good in the distinctly different sphere of the Christian
propaganda. We missionaries on the Congo have
been greatly impressed by the effectual working of
THE FUTURE OF THE CONGO MISSION. 145
the ' leaven of the Kingdom,' and we maintain we
are pursuing the wisest policy, and the policy most in
accord with our Divine Master's will, when we carry
the ' leaven ' to the greatest number of separate
centres, and in His name set it working there. And
we also feel, considering the needs of the case, and
the commission we have received, that we ought to
march boldly and attempt great things in our
Master's name. We never hear of Paul being afraid
of getting too far away from Jerusalem. Our past
experience affords us every encouragement for push-
ing forward, for God has very markedly blessed
and kept our foremost ranks, and He has greatly
impressed us all with the very manifest power of the
Spirit in its gracious operations on the hearts of the
people."
The opinion thus decidedly expressed by one,
whose length of service and of experience is beyond
that of any other Congo missionary, and whose leader-
ship, on the ground of his acknowledged abilities and
particularly his wise judgment, is gladly recognised
by those of other societies as well as those of his own,
deserves most careful consideration.
Much by God's help has been accomplished in the
past ; by the same help more may be accomplished in
days to come.
We conclude this chapter with a table showing
the present stations and the missionaries located at
them.
LOWER CONGO.
Stations. Missionaries.
San Salvador, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. Graham,
arid Mr. and Mrs. Phillips.
Under hill, . Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Forfeitt, Mr. Pinnock,
Mr. Pople, Mr. Stephens, and Mr.
Beedham.
Wathen, . Mr. and Mrs. Bentley, Mr. Cameron, Mr.
Bell, and Mr. W. B. Frame.
146
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
UPPER CONGO.
Stations. Missionaries.
Arthington, . Mr. and Mrs. Roger, and Mr. and Mrs.
Gordon.
BoZobo, . . Mr. and Mrs. Grenfell, Mr. and Mrs.
Scrivener, Mr. and Mrs. Glennie, Mr.
Clark, and Miss de Hailes.
Ltikolela, . Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead.
Monsembi, . Mr. and Mrs. Weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Staple-
ton, Mr. Stonelake, and Mr. Dodds.
Bopoto, . . Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Forfeitt, Mr. Kirkland,
and Mr. K. Smith.
Yakusu, . Mr. and Mrs. White.
s.s. " Peace " and " Goodwill," . Mr. Field, and Mr.
Howell.
CHAPTER XIII.
OTHER MISSIONS IN CONGO.
CONTEMPLATING the vast myriads upon
whose ears the sound of the glorious Gospel
J of the Blessed God has not yet fallen, it is
indeed a satisfaction and a relief to know that
there are other missions in Congo than the one whose
work has been recorded in the foregoing pages. It
is also most pleasant to be assured — though the fact
is only what might have been expected — that the
relations between the agents of these various socie-
ties are of the most cordial and brotherly nature.
Indeed, in the case of the two Missions, the Living-
stone Inland and the Congo, the policy pursued is
avowedly intended to be mutually beneficial, their
stations being so planted as to permit of the heartiest
co-operation.
When, now more than ten years ago, the Hon.
J. W. Merrill of Boston, the then President ot
the American Baptist Missionary Union, with which
Union the Livingstone Mission was then about to
become identified, was visiting London, he was
warmly welcomed to the Committee of the English
Society by the late Treasurer, Mr. Joseph Tritton,
M7
148 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
who expressed the earnest hope that by mutual
confidence and wise arrangements the great object of
both Societies might be the more efficiently secured ;
a sentiment most emphatically endorsed by Mr.
Merrill. And so also on subsequent occasions of a
similar nature these feelings of fellowship have been
freely expressed and confirmed.
And abroad the opportunities for showing kindly
hospitality are continually occurring. In the matter
too of forwarding stores, most invaluable help is
rendered by each Mission respectively. The import-
ance, moreover, of a common understanding as to
methods of working so as to secure greater efficiency
is increasingly recognised and desired. And as to the
sympathy shown in times of sorrow, the ungrudging
and unwearied attention given in seasons of sickness
— all such brotherly ministries have been as readily
rendered as, alas ! the occasion for them has been
frequent. Particular mention may be made here of
the important services so often given by Dr. Sims, the
qualified Medical Missionary now stationed at Leopold-
ville, and whose missionary life has extended over
some fourteen or fifteen years.
The Livingstone Inland Mission.
of which we first write, was originated by certain
individuals who were deeply interested in the
evangelisation of Western Central Africa. For more
than two years it was under the direction of a
Committee, of which Mr. and Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness
were members, Rev. A. Tilley acting as Secretary, and
Mr. John Cory as Treasurer. The pioneer Mission-
aries, Mr. Strom and Mr. Craven arrived at the mouth
of the Congo at the end of February, 1878, some few
weeks after the landing of Mr. Grenfell and Mr.
Comber, Messrs. Telfourd and Johnstone joining them
about the end of June.
The first station was founded at a place about five
OTHER MISSIONS IN CONGO. I49
miles from the Yellala Falls. In Mr. Strom's journal,
under date the 9th of June, Whitsunday, there is the
following entry : " We held to-day our first public
service. I gave each of our workmen a body-cloth ;
then at 8 a.m. called them together, explained as
well as we could that we should worship God. Then
I gave out a hymn, read Acts ii., had another hymn,
and prayed, then Mr. Craven and I partook of the
Lord's Supper. The Spirit of the Most High was in
us, on us, and with us. May this be the little stone
cut out without hands which shall roll on until it
becomes a great mountain."
In December of the same year, 1878, Mr. Peterson
and Miss Bosson, to be married to Mr. Craven, started
for Africa. Soon after this contingent had embarked,
the sad news arrived of the death of Mr. Telfourd, the
first of the missionaries to lay down his life for Christ
in Congo.
It is interesting to record that in the s.s. Volta, by
which vessel Mr. Comber returned with his reinforce-
ments, Mr. and Mrs. Vickers and Mr. Richards,
additions to the Livingstone staff, were amongst the
passengers. As time passed on others were sent out ;
of these may be mentioned an important contingent
consisting of Messrs. M'Call, Clarke, Harvey, Lanceley,
and Mrs. Richards, sailing in March, 1880. The
Mission had now become identified with the Harley
House Institute, being indeed a branch of it, the
original Committee acting as the Council.
On hearing of a further loss occurring about this
time, Mrs. Guinness wrote : — " We must not sorrow
because a costly gift gladly and willingly offered to
the blessed Lord Jesus has been accepted by Him.
We must not sorrow that a wearied servant has been
welcomed Home with exceeding joy and greeted with
a cordial ' well done.' Nor must the friends of the
Mission be discouraged because it is experiencing
trials which were expected. We knew that to evan-
gelise Central Africa would prove a costly project,
L
150 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
demanding large sacrifices both of life and means.
But knowing this, we felt, did we not ? that we had
no choice in the matter. Our path was to obey, and
the command to go into all the world was plain ! "
Notwithstanding these difficulties and trials the
work on the field was making good progress, three
stations having been planted — viz., Matadi, Palabala,
and Banza Manteke. With the next expedition the
little Livingstone steamer launch was despatched.
And in July, 1881, the Directors at home expressed
their hopeful feelings in the following terms : " There
is much that is encouraging. The Mission is gradu-
ally taking root and securing the respect and confid-
ence of the natives themselves. Our brethren have
so far acquired the language as to be able to com-
municate pretty freely with the people, and to instruct
them and their children."
We have thus dwelt somewhat in detail upon the
first stages of this important Mission, but limited space
forbids our following its progress step by step. Pass-
ing over the next two or three years, we come to
an event of great moment — viz., the transference of
the Mission to the American Baptist Missionary
Union. Though for some months negotiations with a
view to this transference had been proceeding, it was
not until November, 1884, that the American Society
took over the Mission formally into their manage-
ment. Mr. and Mrs. Guinness were in Boston on the
occasion. It was felt to be a red letter day in the
history of the Missionary Union. The story of the
opening of Central Africa as told by these English
visitors, and "of the heroic struggle of their dear
pioneer missionaries to introduce the Gospel in that
great new world seemed," they said, " to create deep
interest wherever they went, and to elicit warm sym-
pathy and Christian zeal."
At the date when the Livingstone Inland Mission
was thus handed over to the American Baptists it
consisted of six well-established stations, twenty-five
OTHER MISSIONS IN CONGO.
151
missionaries (men and women), with a steamer just
being launched at Stanley Pool, the Henry Reed,
generously provided by Mrs. Henry Reed, of Tasmania,
but which was unfortunately completely wrecked a
short time ago ; the only condition imposed being
//^§C-
-c.
THE "HENRY REED."
that the work should be vigorously maintained, Harley
House continuing to act as a British Auxiliary.
On the very same month as this transference was
effected Mr. Craven was removed by death, the loss
of whose services, as one of the founders and a
I5 2 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
devoted leader of the Mission, was deeply felt. But
whilst these repeated losses tried the faith of the
workers abroad, and saddened the spirits of friends
and supporters at home, experience of another kind,
such as well might thrill all hearts with thankful joy,
was in store. Hitherto, the spiritual results had been
few, the past had been a time of sowing ; but a
Pentecostal blessing was about to be outpoured.
The station to realise this wonderful manifestation of
Divine grace and power was Banza Manteke. Mr.
Henry Richard, the missionary in charge, writing
under date of the 6th of August, said : "The bones
that had been shaking for some time past began to
stand up and show very evident signs of life. Truly
the Pentecostal power came as I have never seen
before ; for the people began to bring out their
fetishes for us to burn, and to cry, ' What must we do
to be saved ? ' There was much opposition and
persecution, which only seemed to increase the spirit-
ual power ; for the bitterest enemies and the greatest
sinners were brought under conviction of sin. The
interest increased, and the people came up in large
numbers to the station. The house became too strait,
and we were obliged to hold the services in the open
air, and have continued to do so up to the present
time, and we have more than 700 converts. The
glorious fact is this, that Banza Manteke is no longer
a heathen country, but more Christian than any I am
acquainted with."
It must, however, be said that in many of these
cases time proved the conversions to be nominal
rather than real, discipline having to be freely exer-
cised. Yet, taking this fact into consideration, there
can be no question but that a great work of God was
effected. So much so that when Mr. Grenfell was in
this country in 1891 he was able to refer to it with
great confidence. Touching upon the encouragement
afforded by past experience for pushing forward with
the work, and then ascribing the results produced to
OTHER MISSIONS IN CONGO. 1 53
the gracious operations of the Spirit of God upon the
hearts of the people, he said, " What else was it that
produced that wonderful result to the labour of our
brother, Richards, of the A.B.M.U. ? He went to the
Congo almost at the very outset of the missionary
enterprise there, and laboured for seven long years in
one place without a single sign to encourage him ;
and the people were so bound up in their cruel
customs and superstitions, and their hearts seemed so
hard, that he was on the point of giving up and going
elsewhere ; but at this very time, when he was talking
to me of his disappointment and sorrow, the ' leaven :
was at work in the heart of the man who had been
his strongest opponent, and shortly after he renounced
his fetishism, and became the first of a distinguished
band of earnest Christians. The work, having com-
menced, grew apace ; and very largely, humanly
speaking, as the results of the labours of the native
Christians themselves, there is to-day round our
brother at Banza Manteke a Church of some three
hundred members."
And Banza Manteke is not the only station where
large results have been ingathered, the labours at
Lukunga being as encouraging. At other stations,
Matadi for example, the work is largely of a business
nature, as at Underhill, of the Congo Mission. And
some stations, which, when planted, were full of
promise, have become much restricted in the scope
they afford, owing to the removal of the population
to other towns.
As to general operations, it may be said, school-
teaching, evangelistic efforts, literary and medical
work — all these various labours have been and are
still being zealously pursued.
Whilst the Livingstone Inland Mission has suffered
perhaps more severely than the sister Mission — whose
course has been followed in the preceding pages —
through loss by death and enforced return of mission-
aries, there have never been wanting devoted volun-
154 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
teers ready to take vacant places, so that the work
has not only been maintained but extended. The
report for July, 1894, in its statistical tables, shows
ten stations, being enumerated in their order of founda-
tion : — Palabala, Banza Manteke, Matadi, Lukunka,
Mukimvika, Leopoldville, Bolengi, Bwemba, Kinjila,
and Irebu ; forty-six missionaries, including wives of
missionaries and single women, with a church-mem-
bership of twelve hundred and seventeen — the last
figures, however, it is believed, through the great
mortality occasioned by the fatal sleeping sickness,
and other circumstances, having undergone consider-
able revision.
Balolo Mission.
When Mr. and Mrs. Guinness transferred the Living-
stone Inland Mission to the American Union, there
was no intention to cease missionary effort on behalf
of Central Africa. An opportunity, therefore, arising
in the Providence of God to enter Balolo-land, it was
prayerfully and eagerly embraced. The circum-
stances in which the new enterprise was begun can
be simply described. In 1888, Mr. M'Kittrick, who
had been located at the then Equator station of the
Livingstone Mission, visited England. The sphere
of his labours had been within a few miles of the
Balolo country. Mr. M'Kittrick, who brought with
him a native lad, gave glowing accounts of the
people, representing them to be more advanced in
civilisation, more intelligent, and more friendly than
most of the tribes nearer the coast, but a people,
estimated at some ten millions, altogether unevange-
lised, that it was felt the moment had arrived when a
special mission to the Balolo should be attempted ; and
Dr. Harry Guinness undertook the secretarial duties.
To prevent misunderstanding with the American
Society, a conference was sought with Dr. Murdoch,
its secretary, and as the result, it was cordially decided
that the Harley House Auxiliary should henceforth
156 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
concentrate its energies upon the effort to send the
Gospel to Balolo-land.
The first party set sail in April, 1889, consisting of
Mr. and Mrs. M'Kittrick, Miss De Hailes, Messrs.
Todd, Blake, Whytock, Howell, Haupt, and the Balolo
lad, Bompole ; and after calling at the various stations
en route, arrived safely at their destination, the mouth
of the Lulongo, one of the great tributaries of the
Congo, some 750 miles from the coast, or about 400
miles beyond Stanley Pool, in the month of August,
being conveyed along the reaches of the upper river
in the Henry Reed, under the direction of Mr.
Billington.
Steering some thirty-five miles up the Lulongo, the
party cast anchor and ventured to land, notwithstand-
ing the fact that some hundreds of men, armed with
spears, had been attracted by the sight of the vessel.
Their welcome, however, was not unfriendly when the
object of their visit was known. After some pala-
vering, a piece of ground for a station, now called
Bonzinda, was secured, and as soon as possible the
required houses were erected.
Very interesting is Mrs. M'Kittrick's account of a
preaching service in a palaver house on the second
Sunday after their arrival : —
" In the cool of the evening, John (Mr. M'Kittrick),
Mr. Whytock, and myself went out in a canoe to visit
some of the neighbouring towns. We first crossed
over to the island which lies a few hundred yards
from us. A great crowd gathered on the beach to
receive us, and we marched through the town at the
head of nearly a thousand people. They were not at
all shy, and the children, particularly the boys, were
very bold, shouting and laughing all round us. The
houses were poorly built, and close together. There
were some exceptions, however, to the bad buildings.
The public palaver-houses, consisting of large roofs,
lofty in the centre and sloping gradually downwards
until within two feet of the ground, were the finest
OTHER MISSIONS IN CONGO. 1 57
erections we have seen in Africa. We entered one
capable of holding 500 people. The inside was dark
and very smoky, ten or twelve fires being kindled in
different parts of the room, and it was with some
difficulty we were able to make out where we were.
When our eyes had become accustomed to the gloom
and the smoke, we saw a large high chamber, decently
clean, except where culinary operations were being
carried on. Some charms, fetishes, etc., were hanging
from the roof, and running round each side were large
pieces of canoe boards, with backs to them, making
capital seats. These filled rapidly on our entrance,
and in a few moments the place was full, men, women,
and children crowding eagerly in to look at the white
man and hear his words. Truly an open door is before
us ! John stood up in the middle and told them the
reason of our coming amongst them, and the message
of God's love in Jesus Christ His Son. I mean-
while sat and looked at the bright faces, with their
black, shining eyes, and gleaming, white teeth, and
I must confess my first feeling was one of something
very much like despair as I thought, What are we, a
handful of feeble, unarmed men, amongst these
thousands of heathen savages, and what hope is there
of their ever being converted and civilised ? It seems,
humanly speaking, so improbable, so impossible.
Nothing but a miracle can ever change them, and
yet, this we have a right to expect from our wonder-
working God, in whose hands are the hearts of all
men.
" We walked away to the end of the island, and
whilst waiting there for the boat, John had another
opportunity of delivering his message. We then
paddled across to another large town on the main-
land, and there found the same thing, hundreds of
curious, expectant people. After speaking in the
palaver house, we were walking back to the canoe,
when a man ran up, saying : ' Give us a little bit of
Inzakomba' (God). We willingly consented, and
158 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
standing still sang the first verse of 'Jesus loves me'
in Lunkundu. The words were very simple, and as
we made the people repeat them several times, they
soon picked them up, and tried to join in as we sang
the verse over and over again. It was quite encourag-
ing after one's dismal thoughts to perceive the
readiness with which they listened to what was said
to them, and their appreciation of it.
" We have certainly been guided as to settling in
this place, by far the most populous district we have
seen, and utterly untouched by the Gospel. To-day,
for the first time in their lives, many of them have
heard the good news. The words which seemed to
make the most impression on them were'Jisu a to
Somb iso ukingo' — 'Jesus bought for us a neck.'
This idiom conveys to them the idea of substitution,
and each time John repeated them a low murmur of
surprise or approval, I could not tell which, passed
through the crowd. The numbers are overwhelming,
but in time we shall reach them, by the help of God."
In November of the same year, 1889, a second
station at Ikau, a point on the Lunongo at the con-
fluence of the Lopori and Maringa rivers, was planted,
Mr. Whytock and Mr. Haupt being the missionaries
left in charge. The next station was opened at
Lulalga at the mouth of the Lunongo, where it flows
into the Congo ; and soon after a fourth at Bondon-
danga on Lopori, 250 miles from the spot where the
Lulongo enters the Congo, the reinforcements which
had followed the first contingent permitting of this
extension. It should also be stated here that by this
time the little steamer Piojteer, the need of which
was so deeply felt, had safely arrived.
As in the initial stages of the Congo Mission, so in
those of the Balolo Mission, much of the time of the
missionaries had necessarily to be occupied with all
kinds of operations involving hard manual labour, or
persevering attempts to acquire the language or
tedious palavers with chiefs.
OTHER MISSIONS IN CONGO. 1 59
The following description given by Miss De Hailes
o( the way in which she spent her life at Bonzinda is
instructive and interesting.
" This is the way my day is generally employed.
I rise at six, so as to get a quiet hour for Bible-
reading and prayer before breakfast, at half-past
seven. After that we have prayers, and I attend to
household duties before service, which is from half-
past eight till nine. Then I have Bompole for an
hour's study. After that I can never be sure of my
time ; patients come in, and I am often unable to get
a quiet moment till dinner, at twelve o'clock. After
dinner I rest for an hour ; and if no one comes for
medicine, I get a little study or reading. At two
o'clock, I have a sewing class for native girls ; and
then, after a cup of tea, I walk to the town, to teach
my school, and often go to visit some of the people
on the way back, as I have time and opportunity.
They run after me and ask me to go into their houses
and tell them of God, and I never like to refuse,
though want of time sometimes compels me to do so.
It is not wise to stay out after sundown, at least not
far away from home. In the evening, after supper,
I have a night-school, then attend our evening
worship, and afterwards get my writing done.
" Our new houses have boarded floors, and the
rooms are beautifully cool and convenient. I like our
houses better than any on the Congo, though others
are more beautiful ; but I prefer ours, made of native
material and therefore less expensive. I wish I could
get on faster with the language, for I find it very
trying to the patience. On Sundays, after service in
the chapel in the morning, we visit the towns, each
taking a different direction. The darkness and sin in
which these poor natives live is awful."
In January, 1891, it was decided that Dr. Harry
Guinness should pay a visit to Congo, and in March
of that year he started upon his journey, his visit
occupying twelve months.
1 60
THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
Arriving at St. Thomas on his way home, it was
his painful duty to despatch the following telegram,
conveying the terrible news of the death of two of the
Balolo band, "John M'Kittrick died, November 22nd;
Luff died, December 19th." This was, indeed, heart-
JOHN M'KITTRICK.
(Leader of the Congo Balolo Mission.)
rending news. But the very next mail that arrived
brought intelligence of the ingathering of the first
fruits. And so with blended sorrow and joy the sup-
porters of the Mission gave themselves anew to prayer.
As soon as possible a " welcome home " meeting
to receive Dr. Guinness and Mrs. M'Kittrick was
OTHER MISSIONS IN CONGO. l6l
arranged, which was also a " God speed " meeting to
bid farewell to five Balolo missionaries, four of them
being reinforcements.
Notwithstanding great difficulties and many trials
through sickness and death, the Mission has continued
to prosper ; and so recently as March of the present
year, the Directors were able to report fresh indica-
tions of the Divine blessing.
The Swedish Missionary Alliance
sent its first missionary to the Congo in 1881, at
which date it was in connection with the Livingstone
Inland Mission, two other representatives going forth
the following year. On the transference of the Living-
stone Mission to the American Baptist Missionary-
Union the Alliance became independent, establishing
itself at Mukimbungu, where already its agents had
been labouring. Three other stations have since been
founded — viz., those at Kibunzi, Diadia, and Nganda,
besides a transport station at Londe, all three places
being in the neighbourhood of Mukimbungu, on the
Lower Congo. Since the commencement of this
Mission, forty missionaries, male and female, have
been sent out, twelve of whom have succumbed to
fever; the missionary, Nils Westlind, who had laboured
for the longest period (since 1882) having died as
recently as March of the present year. Mr. Westlind
was enabled to complete a free translation of the
entire New Testament into the language spoken in
the district, which was printed at the Kibunzi Mission
Press. Other literary work has also been accom-
plished. The present membership is about 150, and
several of the converts are labouring as evangelists.
There is much cause for thankfulness on account of
the good work done by this Society.
Bishop Taylor's Mission.
The leader of this Mission is a Bishop of the
l62 THE CONGO FOR CHRIST.
Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States.
In the year 1886, with the object of founding stations
on the Kasai, an important affluent of the Congo, he
set sail from America with a large missionary band
of no less than twenty-four in number. Though the
bishop is a man of singular devotion, the principle of
self-support upon which he founded, and has since
conducted his Mission, judged by results, has proved
anything but encouraging. Whatever may be the
suitability of such a principle to other mission fields,
its application to the Congo has proved most dis-
astrous. The bishop has found no lack of men and
women ready to labour for Christ in Africa, and he
has spent large sums of money in the preliminary
steps of establishing stations.
The great loss of life and treasure, issuing in little
or no spiritual results, has been cause for sincere
lamentation and regret. Many missionaries, owing
to want of the means of subsistence, have died, or
have been compelled to return to America, whilst
those who have attempted to support themselves by
agricultural and other pursuits have found, for the
most part, the conditions of the Congo anything but
favourable.
A traction engine and a vessel sent out, have
proved, from lack of adaptation, absolutely useless, so
far as the Mission has been concerned.
Stations at Vivi, Isangila, and Kimpoko have been
attempted, but the most satisfactory work is that
done, on a small scale, at Banana.
Whether the experience of Bishop Taylor's Mission
may be regarded as conclusive we do not decide, but
so far as the experiment has gone, it is certainly most
unfavourable to the policy of self-support.
The other missions at work in Congoland are the
American Presbyterian Mission on the Kasai, the
Evangelical Missionary Presbyterian Alliance, some-
times called "Simpson's Mission," located near Matadi,
and several Roman Catholic Missions working at
OTHER MISSIONS IN CONGO. 163
various points, both on the Lower and Upper
Congo.
It does not come within the scope of this volume
to record the operations of societies, other than those
whose representatives are labouring in the Congo
country. It is fitting, however, it should conclude
with the devout and earnest prayer, that whether the
messengers of the Cross enter the Dark Continent
from the North or the South, from the East or from
the West, they may, one and all, as the Divine
blessing rests upon their several labours, be instru-
mental in hastening the happy day, when, from
the lands bordering on the Mediterranean to Cape
Colony, from the Zambesi to the Congo, the people
shall everywhere see the great Light, and rejoice
under His healinsr beams.
THE END.
INDEX.
Arlington's, Mr., Communi
cations,
Arthington Station,
Balolo Mission,
Bishop Taylor's Mission
Bolobo Station,
Bopoto Station,
Burial of Living Persons,
Centenary Contributions,
Contributions to China Mis
sion, ....
Congo Dictionary and Gram
mar, ....
Congo New Testament, .
Deaths of Missionaries, .
Evangelistic Efforts by Natives,
First Journey to Stanley Pool,
Folk Lore
Grenfell's, Mr., Delimitation
Commission,
Livingstone Inland Mission, .
18
96
154
161
100
110
74
119
121
67
68
124
"3
3°
53
79
1 48
Lo, his Conversion,
Lukolela Station, .
Mbanza Mputu, Chief of,
Mantu, Baptism of,
Medical Work,
Mobangi River, Discovery of,
Monsembi Station,
Nlemvo, Baptism of,
Our Heroes, .
Present Missionaries,
Printing Press,
San Salvador Station, .
School, First, Opened, .
Slavery, ....
Stanley Pool first reached,
Steamer Goodwill, .
Steamer Peace,
Swedish Missionary Alliance
Underhill Station, .
Wathen Schoolhouse,
Wathen Station,
ILLUSTRATIONS.
A Suspension Bridge, . . 32
Bangala Slave, . . -77
Bentley, Mr. and Mrs., Proof-
Reading, . . . -65
Boma, Congo River, . 15
Bopoto, View from, . .109
Cathedral Ruins, . . 19
Chief of Mbanza Mputu, . 117
Discharge of Peace Sections, . 39
Etoto, Native Town of, . . 115
Goodwill, . . . .121
Grenfell, Mr. and Mrs., Travel-
ling, . . . . 80, 81
Groups of Deceased Mission-
aries, . . . 130, 131
Henry Reed Steamer, . -151
Lukolela Station, . . .105
M'Kittrick, John, . . . 160
Missionary Expedition, .
Monsembi Mission- House
Nshasha Village, .
Palaver of Bolobo Chiefs,
Peace on Slip,
San Salvador Chapel,
San Salvador Scholars, .
Schoolboys' Treat,
Silvey's, Mr., Three Boys,
Two Lukolela Boys,
View from Underhill, Frontis
piece.
Wathen Station, .
Yellala Cataracts, .
Map of Balolo Country,
Map of Lower Congo,
Map of Stanley Pool,
Map of Upper Congo,
LOKIMEl; AND GILLIES, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
111 men »m lcs
I
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