AFRICA.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16816, 7 June 1926, Page 4

AFRICA.

ITS NEEDS AND PROBLEMS. an inspiring address. An eloquent and inspiring address j,vas delivered in St. Andrew’s Church, yesterday morning by Mr D. Mac Diarmid, M.A., who for tlie last 13 years has been associated with the Sudaa United Mission. Mr Mac Diarmid said that his object was to seek to deepen interest in the many problems and the great needs of the land of the Sudan in the heart of Africa. On the banks of the Blue Nile at Khartoum were two great statues erected to two great men. General Gordon and Earl Kitchener. It seemed to him that these statues stood for the ideals of self-sacrifice and efficiency which had marked the lives, character and work of those responsible for the administration of the Sudan. There was reason to be proud that Great Britain had sent the finest of her statesmen to Govern Egyptian Sudan, and under their inlluenoe the country had made very great strides.

Railways had been constructed, reaching right to the very interior, great steamers now travelled up and down the Nile, and the native tracks hail been converted into roads fit for motor transport. Cotton-growing had become a great industry, and tribal warfare had been largely abolished. The country was rapidly becoming civilised, but this was not sufficient. Christianity rightly given was the only impetus to proper civilisation, and it was the duty of the Christian church to carry to the people the Gospel of Christ, which was the basis for proper development. Despite great advance the inhabitants of the central and southern portions were most primitive, many being behind the Stone Age in their ways. They knew nothing of other countries, some having never heard of Egypt. Missionaries were often asked why they tried to change the customs of the natives, and he would reply that trade was ttie great factor in disturbing and changing the manners and ideas of the people. Every time a reel or cotton or a stamp wps _ bought, trade was being established in cotton and pun arabic and civilisation was being forced into Africa. l'he natives could not span the live, six or ten centuries in one decade. They required to lie lilted for the great changes, and to he taught not only In lie eiii/.ens of llio Kingdom of Heaven, but lo lie citizens of Africa. Though there were line men among (lie Mohammedans, lie could say. wiitU no lack of knowledge, that their teaching was causing great harm. Tito speaker wished that his bearers could sec some of the sights common in Hie tribes of I’agan-.Moliammedans—ttioso wtio were neither one tiling nor Iho oibcr. .Mohammedanism was a curse to mankind, and a double curse to womankind. Tim reason for Hie great advance in tiie teaching of .Mohammed was Hint every Mohammedan was more or less a missionary, and where liie Christian chili-ell was negleel ing lo send out teachers, the .Moslems were sending them all over Ihe country, but when Hie dospei of Jesus Christ and Iho leaching of .Mohammed were both presented the unlives invariably chose Christianity. The Government had made liie roads, irad-'s were using I Mem for material advancement, and Hie Moslems were using them to carry I heir teaching lo Hie people, and why was lmi the Christian church making more use of those highways of Africa?, lie appealed to bis hearers to consecrate themselves to God's service in Hie great, work.