IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

The Rev. Mr. Makiwane's address which the lmvo lately published has been read in these parts with great interest. It is generally regarded as a most able paper and that it emanated from the pen of a Kafir, educated entirely at Lovedale added not a little to the interest with which it has been received, more especially by those who have glanced at Dr. Stewart's pamphl.t on Na- tive Education. As for the criticism of the Isigidimi it savours so much of ill nature and jealousy, that it is passed by with a smile, or an expression of surprise that such contemptuous language as that, in which it indulges was permited to be printed at a Missionary Station in reference to the most talented and the most promising Native Missionary, this country has yet produced since the late Tiyo Soga's time. There was no occasion to have announced in the Love- dale press that there was a screw loose there, or that Christian love and harmony were on the wane at that place which was, until about six years ago, the most interesting and the most thriving Institution of its kind in all South Africa Dr. Stewart's pamphlet, which was distributed by thousands at the late Exhibition, has not been long in bearing fruit, as you will gather from the following incident. There was an annual Missionary Meeting held at Rondebosch a few days ago at which the Bishops of Cape Town and Pretoria were present. This latter Bishop has been anything but a success in the Mis¬sion field himself, and in his speech he struck the key note, which was at once taken up by a clergyman who knows nothing about the couutry, and very little about missions, and who said words to this effect:—'Native 'education is quite a mistake, it does more ' harm than good, this has been admitted 'after years of trial by the Lovedale Insti 'tution in ptoof of which I point to Dr. 'Stewart's pamplet called 'The Experi¬ment of Native Education.' ' Mr. R. M. Ross said in reply that he thought Dr. Stewart had been quite misunderstood, he meant to convey that higher education was not suited to the people, that Greek and Latin were superfluous and that industrial habits, to which they did not appear to take kindly, were what was really required to advance the colonial Natives in civilization. Mr. Ross did his best, but something more will have to be done to remove the impression caused by Dr. Stewart's pamphlet, to which I shall make reference again, as it seems to many people well acquainted with missionaries and the natives, to be misleading and calcu¬lated to do mere harm than good. The Imvo does well to hammer away at the drink question. The necessity for pro- hibiting the sale of Liquor to Natives, has so 8trougiy manifested itself to the British Government in the case of New Guinea, that no Liquor is allowed to be sold to any abori- ginal native in any portion of the Sonthern part of that large and beautiful Island, which was annexed to the British Empire in November last. This was proclaimed to chiefs and people, who were assembled, when the British flag was hoisted for the first time. It is also worthy of remark that Genetai Warren will not permit a drop of liquor to be brought into his camp in Be- chuanalnnd. The Natives should strengthen the hands of your Licensing Court by pro. testing against all canteens in or near Locations.