MISSION WORK IN CENTRAL AFRICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13287, 20 September 1906, Page 6

MISSION WORK IN CENTRAL AFRICA.

— —■—«» - The Rev. Harry Johnson, of the London Missionary Society, who is working in Central Africa, to the immediate south of Lake Tanganyika,. addressed a large congregation in Bcresford-street Congregational Church last evening. In a particularly clear and straightforward manner he replied to the criticisms so often made by insufficientlyinformed persons that the peoples of Central Africa wero not worthy, of the time, money, and labour spent upon them by missions; that the natives wore much better left to themselves; and that statistics showed how extremely small wero the results for the i stupendous efforts made to evangelise the ! peoples of' Mid-Africa. Mr. Johnson gave a most eloquent description of Livingstone's life and death. Those who said that the people were better left alone- could know nothing of the terrible practices which were matters of everyday occurrence, but which were now extremely raro, if followed at all. Massacres on the death of a chief were once very common too, but had now ceased in the London missionary district. The abolition of retaliation, trial by ordeal, and of human sacrifices were triumphs that could not be shown ' in statistics, and yet there was no manner of doubt about their accomplishment. " I want you to understand this," he said, " that those who object to missions to Central Africa on the grounds I have stated are simply shirking their responsibilities."