IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

THE attitude of the authorities of Wesleyan Church towards Native congregations and Ministers, as disclosed in the following extract from the proceedings of the recent meeting of the District Com- mittee at Queen's Town, in January, is most gratifying, and is calculated to strengthen the cause of that denomination in these parts, for a sense of responsibility is necessary to the efficient dischatge of any duty. This is what occurs in the report communicated that interesting publication, the South African Methodist: 'An important discussion took place on the subject of the appointment of Native Ministers as Superintendents of Circuits, which ultimately resulted in the following resolution being adopted, viz.: 'That with a view to the further efficiency of our Native Ministry, and the development of our work as a Missionary Church, this District Meeting considers it desirable, and accordingly re¬commends to Conference, that some of our most experienced and efficient Native Ministers should, as soon as possible, be appointed to superintend Native Circuits, wherever, in the judgment of the District Meeting or Conference, such responsibility may be wisely and safely entrusted to them.' As giving practical effect to this resolution, it was recommended that the East London (Native) Circuit to be united with King William s Town (Native) Circuit, and placed under the superintedence of the Rev. Charles Patola.' Hitherto wherever Native Ministers have been appointed to congregations they have been invariably and indiscriminately placed under a European superintendent, tied the effect was that both Native Ministers and Chinches, whose eyes have been opened by education, were beginning to chafe under the supererintendence, and were anxious to assume all the responsibilities that the polity lays upon them. We trust the Conference will consent that the experiment should be tried, as we think it will be doing a simple act of justice to the Native congregations. IT is reported that the Colonial Govern, meat has asked for and succeeded in getting an advance of £400,000 from the Imperial Government to carry on the railway from the Orange River Station to the Diamond Fields. It was trnly said by Mr. Upington that, it would be suicidal to stop construction at the Orange River, which he very appropriately characterised the desert; but when the Ministry, of which he is the head, decided not to continue the line, and thereby to attempt suicide most people owned to a certain amount of surprise and passed on. 'Better late than never' say we, as we learn that the work is to be commenced ' at once.' This employment will be found for a large number of our people whose condition we dwelt upon in our last. We hope the Government will make suitable arrangements to enable these people to earn something on the line. WHILE on the subject of arrangements being made for natives to work on the Railway, we may introduce the view taken by the General Manager of Railways regarding the men who work on the l ines. Ad- dressing the members of the local Chamber of Commerce Mr. Elliot said, 'the men were contractor's servants. It was averred that the natives on the line had suffered from the truck system. At present there were a lot of natives who were out of employment in the Transkei. The Magistrate would not give them a pass to go to Kimberley because of the small-pox, and the natives would not go to the Burghersdorp line to work because they were not treated properly.' Were ferred to the improper treatment of the Natives at Burghersdorp at the time, and now that we find it was known to the Gov- ernment as well, we are surprised at their inaction. It is an old theory that while it is undesirable that Government should be constantly fingering with the affairs of the public, it is its clear duty to take a parental interest in the affairs of its ignorant subjects. We complain that at Burghersdorp the Government handed over its ignorant subjects to the tender mercies of bullies. LET US hope it will convince unbelievers in the sincerity of the natives in their oft declared aversion to the sale of brandy to them on learning what nn aboriginal kingdom in Central Africa has done respecting ardent drinks. From an account given of Dr. A Schulz's expedition which has recently returned from exploring Central Africa we read that : ' Alcohol, in any shape, is not allowed in his dominions, no Kafir beer is brewed, any white trader selling liquor is fined up to £100. any subject brewing is expelled from the country. All from the Chief downward are staunch teetotalers.' Of the ruler of this people Dr. Schulz ' speaks very enthusiastically.' Kama (for that is the name of the King) is, according to Dr. Schulz, ' peculiarly fitted to be a ruler of men, has a, commanding presence, is courteous and affable; and withal, quiet, firm, and powerful. The wav in which he advances to meet you, shakes hand, offer a chair, and tenders hospitality would not disgrace the best blue blood of Europe.' This description does not far exceed the ideal we have of what the natives of this country would be should the sale of brandy and other intoxicants be absolutely prohi¬bited to natives ; for we grant that the King answering to the above, his people must be proportionately orderly. WE call the following from the P. E. Telegraph :—' The return match between the Cradocks town Club and a native team was played last Saturday, and again resulted in a victory for the latter. The Kafirs obtained 71 and 69, the principal scorers being: Swartboy 13 and 19, Makwena 25, April 14, and Martin 13. The Cradockstown eleven only put together 45. G. Carpenter, as before, headed the score with a total of 21, Robertson and F. Carpenter obtained 4 each, and D. and G. Devenish obtained only 2 each. It speaks well for the native bowling that Mayo, one of the shining bats of the Union Clubs, was dismissed by Foley for a single.' Bravo, Africans, Bravissimo ! THE following is the solution of one of the problems in connection with the native Question suggested by the Bishop of Graham's Town iu his Diocesan charge: ' Through consecrated and dignified labour more than by any other means, will the great chasm dividing the life and yearn- ings of the educated native from the customs and feeling of his untutored brethren be filled up, and a bridge laid down for the red Kafir to walk across on to the standing ground of his Christian fellow-countrymen.' And we go further and say along the same bridge will the educated native have to walk to the standing ground of the white races of this country.