General Conference Bulletin, vol. 7
From Former Sessions
W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, C. C. Crisler, T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers, J. N. Anderson
THE REPORT OF OUR WORK IN BRITISH EAST AFRICA
Read by Elder Carscallen during seventeenth meeting of Conference session, May 25, 10 A. M. GCB May 27, 1913, page 158.1
I started from England to British East Africa, by way of Germany, Oct. 22, 1906. There accompanied me a native African boy named Peter Nyambo. We went directly to Tanga, German East Africa, to visit our missions in the Pare Mountains, where our work had been started some three years before. On returning from there Brother A. C. Enns accompanied us to British East Africa. After spending a few days looking over the country and inquiring about the natives, from those who had spent some years there, we decided to go to the southern Kavirondo district, and proceeded up the Uganda Railway to Kisumu, where we made further inquiry concerning the country. In Kisumu we chartered a small steam launch, with which we crossed the gulf, and pitched our tent in South Kavirondo on Nov. 27, 1906. We immediately began to look about for a favorable site on which to build our mission, and after a few days time we chose a site on the top of a hill, about a mile and one half from the lake. GCB May 27, 1913, page 158.2
PHOTO-KIDZU STATION, BRITISH EAST CENTRAL AFRICA
Our first house in this part of the Dark Continent was of poles, grass, and papyrus reeds, but we did not occupy this very long, as we commenced work on a good stone house almost at once. GCB May 27, 1913, page 158.3
In May, 1907, Brother Enns left me, and I was alone from that time until the end of July. July 27, Brother and Sister Baker and Mrs. Carscallen arrived in the country, and we all lived for some time in the one station. During this time we worked to get the buildings completed, and also studied the language. A little more than a year later, Elder Conradi visited us, in November, 1908. At that time we marched with him over a good deal of our territory there, and it was decided that we should start another mission at once. As a result of this decision, an application was sent to the government for a site some eleven miles southeast of Gendia. After very little delay, the site was granted. Work was commenced immediately, and before the heavy rains of March we had a very good house built, and brother and Sister Baker went to conduct the work there. This is our Wire Hill Mission. Thus, after two and one-half years’ work, we had two mission stations running, and four workers in the field. A few weeks later Brother Morse arrived to help with the work at Gendia, and in November of that year, 1909, Brother and Sister Brooks and Sister Morse joined us, raising our number of workers to eight. GCB May 27, 1913, page 158.4
We then wanted more stations, but because of impressions that had been made some years ago, the government was not in favor of granting us sites, and in the matter of securing new stations we were at a standstill. We tried to purchase from the government their old abandoned station at Karungu, but they refused at that time to sell, as they thought of using it again themselves. We, however, worked up good schools in the two stations we had, and did all we could to strengthen the native boys we had under instruction. We traveled about the country visiting the natives, and tried in every way to win their favor and friendship. We got boys for many miles around to come in to our schools, and they in turn begged us to go to their districts and start schools. GCB May 27, 1913, page 158.5
In the spring of 1911 we were weakened, because Brethren Baker and Brooks were both taken ill at the same time. Brother Brooks had to return home several months later on account of his illness, but Brother Baker recovered, and is still at work in the field. GCB May 27, 1913, page 158.6
In the spring of 1912, Brother H. Sparks came to British East Africa, and a few months later Brother L. Lane followed, and in October last Brother E. Phillips arrived. The total number of workers who have gone to that field is eleven. Brother and Sister Brooks returned, and my wife and I are now home on furlough, leaving seven in the field at present. On the sixteenth of this month Brother Evenson, from Dakota, and Brother Watson, of Ireland, sailed from Southampton to join our little band on the shores of the great Victoria Nyanza. Plans are being made for several other young people to go to that needy field before the end of 1913. We are very grateful to God for his mercy, shown in sparing all our workers. During the six and one-half years of our work in that field, we have not lost a worker through death. GCB May 27, 1913, page 158.7
During the last few months our work in British Africa has been wonderfully blessed of God. The government officials have become most friendly to us, and are now trying to help us. They also decided to sell their old station at Karungu, and gave us the first chance; consequently, it is now a Seventh-day Adventist mission station. We have been granted two new sites, and two others have passed the local officials, and we expect to hear at any time that they have been granted. This gives us five sites secured and two others that we expect have been granted by this time. GCB May 27, 1913, page 158.8
PHOTO-A RAILWAY STATION ON THE UGANDA RAILWAY
One of the new stations already granted is in the Kisii country, among a different people, and now our workers will have to learn a new language. GCB May 27, 1913, page 158.9
The Language
When we went to the Kavirondo six and a half years ago, their language was not yet reduced to writing, and the natives knew nothing about what reading and writing are. They had seen Europeans write, but thought it was only some witchery that helped them to remember things. We had to start with the alphabet, and teach them their letters. We adapted the English alphabet to the language, and used the Arabic numerals, in order that they might write down the numbers. We had no books whatever, not even a vocabulary of the language. We had no hymn-books, no Bible, no primer, nor any helps in that line at all. In our Sabbath services we, at first, had no hymns to sing, so we read from the English Bible, and then explained it. Later, when we got one hymn, we were very proud of it indeed, and used to sing it at the opening of the service, then sing it after the prayer, then sing it over again to close with. GCB May 27, 1913, page 158.10
Now we have a fine little hymn-book, containing seventy-nine hymns, the Lord’s Prayer, and the ten commandments. This is the first book that we have written and had printed in this language, and we are now as proud of it as we were of the one hymn we had a few years ago. The Gospels of Mark, Luke, and John are now in print. The other day in London I took the translation of Matthew down to the Bible house, and it will be printed as soon as possible. We have written a nice primer, which is now being printed in Watford, England. A copy-book is also in the hands of our printers there, and a small arithmetic will be ready for the press soon. We have good English-Kavirondo and Kavirondo-English dictionaries, and a very good grammar. Thus we are not only prepared with helps for teaching the natives, but we are able to put into the hands of our new workers a good supply of information that will help them in learning the language. GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.1
PHOTO-OUR MISSIONARY BOAT, “KAVIRONDO,” ON THE VICTORIA NYANZA
Permit me to add that nearly all of the above books were written, once at least, on the little typewriter that the students and teachers of our school and sanitarium here so kindly donated to us. It was a most useful gift. GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.2
The other day we heard of the Bible or parts of it being printed in eight new languages during the last year. Three of the languages were named, and one is a British East African language. The Nilotic Kavirondo is another that came out last year. It was taken in hand by the Bible House the year before. We now hope that it will not be long before the Kisii language will be counted as a new language at the Bible House. We have not done all the translation of these four Gospels, but all the other books that I have mentioned are ours, and every Seventh-day Adventist should rejoice with us over these books; for they are marks of the progress of the third angel’s message. GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.3
Our School Work
At first the school work went very slowly, for three reasons: First, we did not know the language; second, we had no text-books to put into the hands of the boys; third, the young saw no value in learning, as they did not understand it. These things are reversed today, however. We know the language; our books are about ready; and the natives are becoming interested in learning. GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.4
We now have, in British East Africa, three stations built and thirteen out-schools, with over six hundred boys and girls as students. We have about twenty-six native teachers, including both boys and girls, who have had some experience, and have shown themselves capable of teaching the primary lessons. Many more are now being prepared for that work. Several of the advanced boys and girls at Gendia can sit down and write a good letter on the typewriter. In our schools the students are taught reading, writing, singing, spelling, arithmetic, geography, grammar, and Bible. GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.5
To illustrate how the natives are taking an interest in school work, I might say that it is nothing for a native to come thirty, forty, sixty, or one hundred miles to one of our missions, and beg us to go to his district and start a school. If we do not go at once, he will come back that one hundred miles to see us again, and urge us to go. They come to us from all parts, as we are becoming known as the people who teach the Word of God. GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.6
Our Converts
For some time we found it difficult to persuade the boys to give up their customs and accept the Word of God. They are taught to believe that they will die if they leave the native customs and superstitions. Secondly, we were in no hurry to baptize the boys, and worked for nearly five years before we received any natives whatever into church fellowship. In May, 1911, we baptized sixteen boys, the first-fruits of our work among the Kavirondo people. In May, 1912, we held another baptismal service, when twenty-four were buried with their Lord in the watery grave. At our last quarterly meeting, at the end of 1912, sixteen more followed in baptism, making in all fifty-six boys, girls, and women, baptized among this tribe, in the heart of Africa, who but a few years ago were running wild and naked, without hope and without God in the world. Of these, fifty-six only one has apostatized and one died of sleeping-sickness. We have organized two churches, with a total native membership of fifty-four, many of whom are now scattered throughout the district teaching, or helping to teach. These young men and women are full of courage and enthusiasm, and when I left them the other day, they requested me to bring their greetings to our people in Europe and America. Their message was: “Greet our brethren and sisters in Europe and America for us, and thank them for sending the missionaries down here. Tell them that we are their brethren and sisters in this message, and that we love the same truth, accept the same Jesus, and live in the same hope that they do. Also tell them to send us more workers to help take the Word of God to others.” GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.7
PHOTO-WHERE FLOWS THE ZAMBEZI—ABOVE VICTORIA FALLS, AFRICA
Though our Kavirondo members number less than one twentieth of one per cent of our world’s membership, we are glad to report that they help to make the grand total what it is; they help to swell the large increase reported for the last four years; and may God grant that they may help to sing the song of victory when Jesus comes. GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.8
Brethren and sisters, our motto down there is, “This message to Africa’s teeming millions in this generation.” I believe we can do it; yea, we must do it. GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.9
His name shall endure forever; his name shall be continued as long as the sun; and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things; and blessed be his glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and amen. GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.10
WOMAN’S WORK IN CHINA
May 26
At the 4:30 hour in the big tent a large audience gathered to hear Sisters W. C. Hankins and J. P. Anderson tell of experiences in working among the women and children of southern China. Incidents were related showing how hearts in Chinese homes respond to kindly attentions and efforts. GCB May 27, 1913, page 159.11
The school work is one of unbounded interest. The Chinese child has a remarkable power of memory. Some of the girls in our schools can begin at the first word of Mark’s gospel, and repeat the whole book by memory, with very few errors indeed. The descriptions of these hearts and homes in China make us long more than ever to send help to our sisters over the Pacific. GCB May 27, 1913, page 160.1
WORDS FROM FAR FIELDS
The thoughts of all the mission workers, we know, turn much toward the General Conference these days. Here are words from some who have had occasion to be writing the Mission Board office:— GCB May 27, 1913, page 160.2
Elder W. H. Meredith (North England): “While I cannot be there myself, I am continually remembering you all at the throne of grace.” GCB May 27, 1913, page 160.3
Elder W. M. Adams (Philippines): “I pray that the Lord will give his Spirit in large measure as the brethren meet in General Conference. We want more help over here. Now is the time to work these islands.” GCB May 27, 1913, page 160.4
Elder H. H. Votaw (Burma): “You must remember that we who stay in the field are the ‘India delegation’ no less than those who are with you in person; for from every family altar, and every secret place of individual prayer those petitions will ascend that cause us to forget the miles between us, and in our hearts we will be with you every day of the Conference. Bear the message to the delegates that Burma gives evidence that the Lord’s return is near.” GCB May 27, 1913, page 160.5
Elder F. A. Stahl (Bolivia): “Dear brethren at the Conference, greetings from us workers in Bolivia, and blessings from the Lord to you.” GCB May 27, 1913, page 160.6
Elder Geo. F. Enoch (India): “Somehow it seems to me that the brethren at this Conference will face the problems of the finishing of the work more definitely than at any time in our history. May the Lord give the greatest outpouring of his Spirit that we have ever received.” GCB May 27, 1913, page 160.7
Elder W. C. Walston (Rhodesia, Africa): “I hope the blessing of God may rest upon this important meeting.” GCB May 27, 1913, page 160.8