SUDAN UNITED MISSION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 51, 1 March 1930, Page 29

SUDAN UNITED MISSION

'An appeal for sympathetic interest in the work of the Sudan United Mis-

sion was made to the Methodist Conference yesterday by Mr. J. Priestly (Wellington), Dominion secretary to the mission. The Sudan, he stated, comprised about 2,000,000 square miles, being as largo as the Continent of Europe, minus Russia. It was under tho control of Great Britain and France, the British sphere of influence including Nigeria and the Anglo-Egyp-tian Sudan. The population was estimated at from 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 of many different tribes, : lauguages, and creeds—Mohammedan and pagan; and the question at issue was,- "Is Christ or Mohammed to win the Sudan?" Twenty-five years ago most of the Sudan.had been closed to missionary effort, but to-day practically the whole-of it was open. In former years the Mohammedans had raided the pagan tribes for slaves, and the resistance offered to sluve-raiders had help up the advance of Mohammedanism. But, now that slave-raiding had been stopped, the Mohammedan traders and teachers were rapidly penetrating amongst the pagan peoples and winning ;them to their faith. If the pagan' tribes could not be quickly reached with'-'the Gospel they would embrace' Mohammedanism and- become almost inaccessible: -to' the Christian missionary. .''.". .' ."'■■•'•

The Sudan United Mission was engaged in pioneerl work on virgin soil, and there was no overlapping. It was preparing to extend its work.Jn Nigeria and to advance'into the Central Sudan amongst tribes as yet untouched by missionary effort.( There was : .still a vast gap of iOOO mile's between the eastern and the Tveste'rii'•'fields of the mission, with only a .'few witnesses to Christ:.' .?'"' - ' ' l- ''■"••' *'