DR KARL KUMM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10299, 2 November 1911, Page 2

DR KARL KUMM.

HIS VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH. RECEIVED BY THE MAYOR, Dr Karl Kumm, the missionary e*. plorcr, was received, by the Mayor (Mr J. J. Dougall) in the City Council Chambers at noon to-day. There was 3 representative gathering of citizens, a number of institutions being reprof seated. The Mayor said that it gave Inn} great pleasure to introduce Dr Kiuam, who was celebrated in many parts oB tlio world on account of his work._ F9IP the past fifty years Africa bad a oountry of absorbing interest to tfm white man. Fifty years ago it vraJf practically a "no man'slStfld." Manj? people still alive remembered the stil created by Livingstone when he re* turned from the heart of Africa with his wonderful tales of what he had} hoard. People also remembered the meeting between Livingstone and Stan* ley* and the strangely curt address, " ik- Livingstone, 1 presume?" Stan* ley really opened up Africa to the world, and Dr Kunvm was the successor of such men as Stanley and Livingstone. He had carried the Christianising influence that would help in tli<J development of tho black man as well as of the whito man. Africa was tha black man's land, and' probably always would be. Few white men had ft practical knowledge of it, and some of that knowledge Dr Kumm would impart during his visit to Christchurch, Ho offered him a very hearty welcome. (Applause.) . , „ The Rev W. J. L. Closs, on behalf of the Ministers' Association, also wel-> coined Dr Kumm. The people of Christchurch. he said, would be delighted to hear what Dr Kumm had ta say iu regard to tho great problem of Mohammedanism, or Christianity la Africa. ■ Mr J. Mitchell, ori behalf of tilt laymen's missionary movement, Sftid that Dr Kumm was fresh from labour in. Africa, and no doubt Would hav« much of intefest to say to people in Christchurch who were interested itt i missionary work. | Mr C. M. Stracbey,.on behalf of tha j Church of England Men's Society, said that lie also wished to extend a heartj] I welcome.

Mrf S. Parr, on behalf of the Stu-> dents' Christian Union, said that new* had been received in Christchurch o£ Dr Kumm'iS capabilities &S a and. a missionary.' He believed thai Dr Kuinm's visit would be very, helpful to students. < ( ill' 11. M. Laing spoko oil behalf of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute, Ho said that the missionary was often the forerunner of scientifio work, an<i all members of the' Institute vera pleased that Dr Kumm had come to Christchurch.

Dr Kumm, who was loudly applauded, said that he thoroughly appreciated the kind expressions made by thai speakers. He regarded it as a very great privilege to be allowed to visit these dominions of the south. Tho British Empire was, like a mighty chain that girded the earth, and thesa garden colonies, these beautiful islands of New Zealand, for many years had ' had a great attraction for Km. He had longed for the day when he would visit them, and he hoped that ihe would be able to_ see a good deal of them during his visit. He had found that tha dominions of the British Empire wero taking considerable interest in the pro. blems that confronted the people of th« colonies of Central Africa, Africa was a most interesting continent in many ways. Asia was old, Europe was in the full strength of her manhood, America and Australia were grown men, bui Africa was a hobble-de-hoy. Africa, perhaps, had greater possibilities thaq had any other continent. Of all tho most valuable products of Mother Earth Africa had a superabundance. That was especially the case in regai'd to precious stones and gold mines. There was gold in many places in Africa. He had seen gold mines of tlia Pharaohs in the Libian and Arabian deserts. Afterwards ho met two Australians, who told him that in a few weeks they had extracted £40,009 worth of gold from those old mines* There were immense deposits of tin i« the plateaux of Northern Nigeria, When he travelled through the region! about three years ago, they were un* touched. Then London heard, of themi and now fifty tin companies were a$ work there. Thero wero also vast uin touched deposits of coal in different) of the continent. There! much rubber in Brazil, but much inowl in Central Africa. The great arteries of trade and civilisation were bein§) sent in many directions. Atone time, when a man was told to go to Timbuctoo it was thought that he had been told td go to the remotest place in the world. Today Timbuctoo was reached by rail, The negroes of the coastal districts, from which the American Negro hacp been taken, were mostly of a lower typo than those that lived on the plateaus. Tlio' " Fuzssy-wuzzy " of Oen* tral Africa certainly was a first-clasS fighting man. Negroes increased in numbers more rapidly than any otheij race, and showed extraordinary vital* ity. In spite of the wars ' and other! evils, the negroes of Africa numbered between 150,000j000 and 200,000,000. The question was whether those peopla should be allowed to go over to Mohammedanism or should'bo claimed by Christianity. Steps had been taken tq study the question of the advance o? Mohammedanism. The negro was a child' to-day, and he was imitating) those with whom he cam© into contact. Unless the advance of Mohammedanism was stopped there would be serious trouble. The teaching of the Koran wag to light against tho infidel. The next great war might bo a. war in Africa! between tho Crescent and the Cross, mid if it were allowed to come about there would 1)0 rivera of blood, 11l might not be right to Europeanise tho negroes, but they should be Christian* ised and should be allowed to live their own lives. The Cross surmounting tho Crescent must be the emblem for th<| future in Africa, (Applause.) _ On tho motion of th© Rev J. Mac* kenzie a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Mayor for giving tho citk zens an opportunity to meet Dr Kumm,.