The Religion Of The Boers.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9296, 25 July 1901, Page 5

The Religion Of The Boers.

Canon Wirgman contributes to the Nineteenth Century a curious essay upon the religion of the Boers. It is Calvinism of an iron type. Indeed, when during the forties the Netherlands Dutch began to relax the seventy of their doctrines the Boers raised the cry, "No more ministers from Holland, " and set about importing Scotch Presbyterians instead. It is the deep-rooted superstition, as well as fanaticism of the Boer, which makes the future difficult. Canon Wirgman tells how when Paul Kruger preached a holy war two years ago a young man in the Transvaal, and after him a. religiously-inspired young woman, dreamed of a great burgher vi?tory at a place called Verkeerde Vlei. The vision topk strong liold on the Boers, and on May 1 last year, when the British were surrounded at Wepener, anticipation ran high on it becoming known that the farm intervening between the Boers and the relieving force was named Verkeerde Vlei. But as no protecting angels appeared, and the shells began falling in old style, the Verkeerde Vlei superstition vanished. The writer also declares on authority that many Boers firmly believe, that two angelgenerals foughtfor them at Talana Hill, and that on the Tugela the British, turned their fire on an empty ridge, under the illusion that it was crowded by Boer regiments dressed iv pure white—a diversion which caused the rooineks to be shot down like sheep. Dr Wirgman augurs ill from all this, becauee a broken Calvinist is a desperate and illogical man. " I was told," he says, "on excellent authority that a Boer farmer near Rosmead had said that if the Boers did not win he would burn ln.« Bible, and have no more to do with God.

. . . The end of the war will find the mass of the ignorant Boers in a condition of religious despair. Allthat they have been taught to believe about themselves as the elect people, ail the promises of God-giving victory which Paul Kruger and their ministers of religion have perpetually set before them, wilbbe to them as the baseless fabrics of a vision. They will merit the compassion and pity of every God-fearing man in our Empire."