vfolume' 87.'
MAY 11; 1892.
Number 40.
The Biblical Recorders
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Uj Trip to Hatua Farm and Eetura,
After some hasty preparations for my trip,
as pac&iug pruvisiuuo tuiu aicuiuiuws m a
4asa. binding some bed-elothincr on tOD of
the case,' I mount my pony and leave for
.Hausa Farm at :80 o'clock. 1 "
The lagoon one-half mile wide has to be
crossed in a canoe. It takes four men to
put my horse in the canoe. They put him
in one foot at a time, or rather, by the foot.
Of course, when they had gotten four feet
of him in, he was all in, being a rather short
horse. The canoemen, thinking that I do
- . . - .1-11- a 1 . -1 .
not near uiir itiuguagi-, wu itccijr iuuu
ular. We are a bad set in their estimation,.
but they never refuse our money. When
they had said quite as much as I wanted to
hear, I entered into conversation with them
in their own tongue. They were soon put
to silonco """ ' - - (i 1
. .. We land at Ebute Meta where we have
some members. ' One half hour with them
shows that all do not think of us as the ca
noemen. a uese snow my master, ; x uo -noemen
do not ' J- '"
We set out I on horse-back, and my car
rier on foot. He has my supplies on his
VaaJ .nil liMila 1 1 A P1kA ivn A i a 41
uvau auu uaua un naj. iuo .a .u
good order. I had better say. foot path.
There are no roads here, but only narrow
foot-paths through the great forests and
fields. Every now and then a village or
market place is passed by the way.' Many
things might be said of these markets and
villages, but it makes a letter too long and
you won't read it. ;J;' 1 'x ?
Here is Yaba, for instance, in the midst
of a community of villages surrounded by a
fine farming section. There is a Wesleyan
Mission house and chapel hero with a church
and school. Timothy is located here. He,
is not Paul's son, for he is a Wesleyan. He
salutes as warmly, for be was truly glad to
see us. It is lonely away out here where
one rarely looks- a christian iu the face,
Though only two hours from Lagos, there
is not the least sign that the. soil was ever
trodden by the foot of civilization."" ' The na
tives farm, yes, and they cannot be beaten
on their kind, but alas for the kind.- No
horse, or plow, or hoe, or axe, or spaderis
used in their farming. They use something,
oko, which we translate live. They farm
for all that. The corn is growing finely,
The soil is fertile. It has clay subsoil They
grow corn, peanuts, sugar-cane, rice, cocoa,
coffee. &o.:i&cl". '.T,.,. ,,',. " s
- . We meet many coming towards' Lagos.
They are bringing their produce to the mar
kets. Some were carrying valuable loads
while the greater part of them were not car
rying ten cents worth; u How will they pay
board and carry anything home! Many goats
and sheep are being carried. Borne are
led with a string while others are carried on
the head. One is dragging his goat which
' is so fagged oat that he can't walk. : This
r goat's hide won't be worth much whatever
may be said of its flesh. , The bleating of
sheep, cackling of fowls and gibberish of
natives produces quite a confusion of sounds.
We water and feed at Idiroko. ; This yiK
oge derives us nams ntvui mo iiujiv.hiu.
fact that the founder 'built his house near
an Irokos tree. It is a very large tree and
deserves the honor of having a city named
after it, if great size .would entitle any of
these foreBt giants to i. i There Is a toarket
here under the shade of : this great tre
They sell the usual variety of an- Africatt
market . her! palm, kernels.tpalm oil, palm
wine, eko (made TfroffiiJorofrdani boy (madfi
from yams), &c, &c -About 100 women
are sitting here and there flat on the ground
by their calabashes selling ; anything ayon
wish. , ; We buy nothing but eat our owp
chop and go on. I may add that there is a
mission teacher here.1 He has a school of
four scholars, while there are a hundred
children playing around, - They want more
of his teaching. , Tie says more come to hear
me preach- than attend my school, AU of
these teachers of whatever denomination Ate
glad td see us. He salutes toe very warmly,
but we must go on. : "V" ; v L
, tr ' I. nnlvbnhft fRfiliever). &
small town on our right. It has a significant
name. Twenty-one years agowben the
.christians were persecuted and driven from
wnvmp, . . Bn,.,.,,.,.,,.., I.i..i,M.i ,.,,i-i.j,,,'M' ''
Abeoktita, some of them settled here and
gave this name to their town. It is to be
regretted that they do jib furnish to the
towns around them a better evidence of the
power of the Christianity they professed by
living up to their very excellent name. A
lifeless Christianity that does not lead to the
forsaking of sin and living up to christian
obligations furnishes a good field for the
spread of Mohammedanism. These people
were driven out of a city for their Christian
ity, adopt a decidedly christian name, but
are utterly lacking in power to withstand
the deadening Influences of Mohammedan
ism that are sweeping over this country. Is
this to be wondered at in 'Africa when we
remember what befell the churches Of Asia
Minor, which were planted by the great
Apostle to the Gentiles! ? ; v
We reach Hansa Farm at four p. in. Bro,
Eli and the brethren are expecting us, and
they have' made abotir all the preparation
that natives make for us. They had rubbed
the mud floor and walls of the room with a
fresh wash of clay. Their; hospitality usur
ally consists in furnishing a room for us.
This however, is our own property, I am
at home.' We have a riot of one acre with
several houses on it. The dwellings are in
very fair order, but the house of the Lord
has fallen down at one corner. A storm,
doubtless, proved too strong for it. ' It only
requires a few poles' be cut, a few bundles
of thatched roofing to be gathered, and the
members come together a day to put all In
order. Jr. Alas, how often it requires more
energy than a whole town can produce to
repair a small breach in the house of the
Lord, f They can build a Mohammedan
mosque. ' They can spend - any amount on
an idol feast, but thejiouse of him whose
are the silver and the gold are left in ruins.
Can Africans ever be induced to do anything
for themselves in a religious way ! This
house was built for them by a good brother.
It has fallen down. They have not put it
up, but are now holding their services in the
dwelling house. Bro. Eli and I enter the
fallen church house. He goes into one cor
ner and takes down a gin box full of idols
and cowries (shells used as money). The
idols are soon given up by our converts, but
the cowries are the contributions of the
members. We sat down with this box of
idols on the piazza. ,. A group of interested
natives gather about us. We talk with them
about these idols to learn something of what
their superstition , leads them to suppose
that these images can do for them. I take
them out one at a time and we talk about
each.
First comes out I so re. It is a dumpling
made of mud, cowries and certaia kinds of
leaves worked up together and baked in the
sun. It is as hard as a rock. This was
Akpata's god. He put it under his pillow
when he slept. It was supposed to protect
him and supply all his needs. He has seen
the error of his way, believed in Jesus, ani I
baptized him in Lagos. v ; ;
Vhe second was Ide Osun, god of brass.
It consists of two brass rings worn as brace
lets on the arms for security against all the
ills of life. These belonged to Akpata's wife.
She holds on to these, and lets her husband
go when he becomes a christian? St) some,
claim that Christianity is doing more harm
than good. It is bringing trouble into some
homes. .
The third is Ifa. It is 83 palm nuts in a
plate. The priests shake the nuts up in
their hands; The falling of a certain num
ber of nuts from the bands of the priests in
dicates certain results which are to transpire
in the near future. Ifa is one of the great
gods of the Yoruba people and has many
images in addition to the palm nuts, -,;
But there are so many that I must not
pursue them further. The principal godsof
this town are Ifa, Shango, Egun, &c. We
greatly enjoyed this talk with them about
their gods. They get off good jokes on their
own superstitions. They care nothing for
their gods only in time of great need or dan
ger. The heathen worship is very expen
sive. One man in this town a few days ago
spent ninety dollars in being initiated into
the mysteries and privileges of Ifa. The
money was used in offerings and feasts.
He received for his money and trouble an
insignificant idol about three inches long,
which he is to worship the remainder of his
life. - : But this is by no means the last offers
ing. Every trouble that rises sends him to
the priest, and the priest must have a sacri
fice. A small village will spend from $600
to $1,000 a year on idol worship. ? :" f t j
We christians are onering tnem cnrisiian
ity without money and without price, and
yet they prefer to spend their money for
that which satisfieth not. f i;:i:
: ; It is not all the cheapness of a religion
that commends it to Africans. They will
pay for a thing that appeals to their super
stitions. 'They are superstitious to the bot
tom of their souls. They do not take read
ily to Christianity because sin is to be given
npnithxeroisedJba.Aholy JBavionr, and a
proper life required.
We have ten members in" this town. A
congregation of twenty five or thirty meets
regularly every Sunday morning and even
ing, i Despise not the day of small thingi
These villages in the simplicity of their life
and manner present one of the most hope-'
fnl fields for African evangelization. 4
. jjeiore ine sun new w go mruugn
town saluting-th Bale Qovernor), u&aio
gum (General), Elders, &c?Most of these
dignitaries meet as at the door with warm
salutations, ! They neither invite us in nor
introduces us to their families, but this
doesn't prevent our saluting many of their
families. We come across aV newly built
mosque. Thereware no streets in an African
town. The houses are all built alike, ri One
could never find his way back home without
a guide, - . i' ;,-
We have along pleasant evening's conver
sation with Bro. Eli's family about various
things connected with the work and an hour
of worship until 10 o'clock has come. ' He ha
not eaten his supper at that late hour. ; He
retires to another room and I hear him gob-;
bling up his slop. ? Natives all eat with their
fingers out of callabashes. They do not eat
our kind of food, nor can we eat theirs,
hence we never eat together. -They do not
Sather as a family at the table and eat as we
o, but each goes and eats when he is ready,
or rather hnngry, for there is not much get
ting ready no table to set, no knives and
forks, spoons, plates, or cups and saucers to
be set in order. Their principal articles of
food are palm oil chops and eko (made from
corn).' ; An' American hog wouldn't eat it,
because the pepper in it is too strong for him
and the palm oil too rich.: - r
I went out about. 10:30 o'clock and looked
aboutno, I tried to look, but the darkness
was impenetrable. t mast not have been
darker in Egypt, No light is visible except
a few stars that seem to be trying in vain to
light up this dark town.? I shudder out in
this darkness alone to think of the deeper
spiritual darkness in which the people are
groping. Those dimly shining stars are a
figure of the few christians who are shed
ding, though it be but dimly, their light on
this town cursed with darkness. I prayed
for the town. Thank God, we can meet
Christ here, and our soula fill with joy over
the prospect of what he will do for Africa.
On retaining to the house, I opened my
Bible and lead Acts 10th chapter Corne
lius and Peter's vision. May I not be sent
here to night to some soul that, like Corne
lius, is praying! May the time "speedily
come when the prejudices of Africans and
Anglo-Saxons shall be so overcome by the
fullness of God's Spirit that the one will
send, and the other will come, and the Holy
Spirit's power fall upon them and this poor
lost people he saved. Even so come quicaly,
Lord Jesus. There is comfort in his prom
ise, ' I am with you," even in Africa.
But to bed I pjust go. ; :My bedstead is too
short by fourteen inches. A clock and watch
about three feet from my head and mos
quitoes do not help to tired nature's sweet
restorer, balmy sleep. n. . The .everlasting
ticking of the watch, occasional striking of
the clock and whirrmgr os inpsotoe3 .are
good promoters of wakefulness. A pillow
three feet long by two wide, ornamented
with patchwork (crazy work) as hard as
Jacobs pillow at Bethel contributed no lit
tie to my discomfort It costs $2 23, but
no man who would be " a big man" in this
town can afford to be without one of said
gillows. Mine . host is a big man. The
balogun and other officials have them.
They are fashionable, and that is quite
enough People coming to civilization get
so many wrong ideas. They get bo many
things in the wrong place for any comfort.
Where the right place for such a pillow as
this is I do not know, but I do not think it
would add to one's comfort anywhere. Any
wav I landed it on the floor. This being the
only article Of bed clothing mine host fur
nished, tnere is no luriner oiame w oe nu
on him for my discomfort unless it be for
not findine softer bamboo poles to floor his
bedstead with. In spite of all, I am sooaH
slumbering sweetly.
The congregation began to assemble for
preaching before I have risen from my bed.
After a bath, cup of tea and some bread, I
am ready for work.
All the dignitaries of. the town call on me.
They are ready seated when I come out of
the house, t After expressing my gratifica
tion atf having them come and salute me, I
preach to them. I told them of our common
origin, the sin of our first parents, and so
our sinful state, my own experience of a
work of grace from its rise on to salvation
through, Christ; after that, of my sense of
duty to come to them and tell them of the
Christ who had brought such joy and hope
to my own soul. I turned, then, to their
own idols which I had by me, and told them
in their order about these idols, as to what
they can do and what they can not do, and
drew them to the only true God and his
wonderful love which had led him to give
Jesus to save closing , with the reading of
John 8 16, with comments. They listened
attentively to the close of what I bad to say.
Then we nave some general talk all keep
ing their seats still. &: '-f
i One of them said,' "It has been the cus
tom of our fathers to worship these god as
it has been the custom of yours to worship
Christ We follow our fathers as yon follow
yours. M I answered that our fathers had
been idolaters as well as theirs. . They wor
shipped goda of silver and gold made with
men s, hands even aa these you see here.
They, too, Were idolaters, knowing no better
than yours now, but in these latter days the
gospel was preached to us to which we have
given heed, and having seen the folly ojt
worshiping gods of silver and gold, have for
saken the way of oar fathers and turned
unto Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God
We now wish you to do the same, and hence
we declare unto you the word of the Lord
that all should repent and believe, on him
who is able to ur.''.Y.'l'
One of them said, 'You sav that you
jpreach the word of the Lord and Christ the
only Saviour -what about the Koran and
Mohammed !" 4 1 answered that Mohammed
was a great man and. his book had some ex
cellencies ; but he was only a man, and of
coarse his book was the writing of a man,
Mohammed 'could not even save . himself.;
Christ was not only man and the best man,:
but he was more than man. He was and is
God. He can save. He has given his word
that we may through it come to the knowl
edge of him and be saved. - His wad is
clothed with his authority, accompanied by;
his Spirit, and when he calls on us to repent
and believe in Christ, we should obey, and
we most, if we would be saved. .1 ; ' r t
One woman said, as I raised up before her
eyes the god that she is accustomed to wor
ship. I do confess that I worship this Mol,!
but I have found nothing better." I said,
" Burl offer you the Christ of the. Scrip
tures. Will you bow down and worship
him!' She could not decide to turrkfrom
her little god to Christ' . I asked her if she
would go by her little native lamp after the
nw Koi) inani film nnlnlrlv onairariu) "S.v
Then,'? I said, when yon knew only these
dumb idols, you could not be so much blamed
for following the best light you have, but
.now you have a better, Christ, who Is the
light of the world, has risen before you, and'
yon should turn to him and walk by his
lischt in all of this darkness.-. If you were to
fall into the ocean, would you catch hold of
this little stick Idol, when a great boat was
lying by you and men were ready to pull on
board !" They all , answered, No. K We
should take hold of the life-boat". ".Then,
here is Christ, the Captain of our Salvation,
who is mighty to save. Will you hold on to
this little atick, or willyou accept Christ Vi
All of these said, We will go away and
think : about these things. Many of us;
doubtless, wiH gradually embrace your
teachings, and many will go on in the old
way." I said, V What J go on that way and
be lost forever?" . i
That congregation breaks up. I , have
sowed the seed, but see no fruit yet ;.God
only knows what will be in the future.
The church assembled on the porch of the
mission house. We preached again from
Matt 11 1 28 u Come unto me," &c.
We examine and receive seven candidates
for baptism. We then proceed to the water
side. The members and a few' others aci
company us to the baptism. The members
stand on the shore making pleasant remarks
as each candidate is dipped. African nature
has a way of its own of dealing with very
solemn subjects. ' An African laughs where
others would weep. ' It was difficult for me
to keep from laughing at some of the re
marks made and at the behaviour of some
LoL-thfl. &?djdatea.-I had aconslderable
tussJe witn one man oeiore i couia put mm
all over under the water. : I may as well say
that Ibaptized this man (while with his own
consent),, simply because I was somewhat
the stronger of the two.
This was a happy season. We could real
ize fully the pretence of Jesus with ns. Af
ter the baptism, we talked to the candidates
of their duty now in their new relation to
Christ and the world. They must live close
to Jesus and bring their friendsto Jesus. .
After some talk with one and another of
the members about various things as build
ing up the house of the Lord at, their own
expense and undertaking more special work
for the Lord, I return to Lagos. S ; v j
Excuse the length of this. I will add that
word comes to me., that they have repaired
the Lord's house, are using it, and wishing
me to opme back. i .
We are all well and the Lord is bussing
our work. Pray for ns and our work. ' r
All the family join me in love to you and
to all the brethren. . ' .
Yours in Christ, , ,
C, C. Newton.'
The Presence' of Jesus. '. v;
'It is I: be not afraid," Mark 6: 50. '
These were the words Jesus spoke to his
disciples, when, in terror they, beheld him
walking out on the stormy lake of Gennesa
ret towards their little fishing boat ! More
literally the words of our Lord were, M I
am L" iThey were words of ptwer, words
of assurance and words of promise. When
ever the Lord Jesus assumes the title "I
Am," he gives virtually a guarantee of his
divine assistance to the full extent of our
need. Thus, as Moses entered upon his
trying career of law giver and., deader to
Israel, he was. to stand before the. nation
and proclaim, 'I Am hath sent me to you.T
Ex. 8: 14. In that name was included every
resource of power for the people, and every
equipment of grace for their leader. For it
is a title which suggests the abundant full
ness, rather than the existence of God.
The Scriptures furnish many beautiful in
stances. of the blessings which always accom
pany the presence of the Lord among bis
people : , . .- ;
L IT IS SALVATION. "I
, ' i Why art thou cast down,' O ray soul t
and why art thou disquieted in me ! Hope
thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, for
his presence Is salvation. i Marg. Ps. 42:-6,
iThe Lord is my light and my salvation
whom shall I fear t" Ps. 27: 1, To Peter,
sinking beneath the waves, the presence of
Jesas on the water was salvation. r
, il rr is power,
i- Peter aain knew that the presence of the
Lord was mighty, when the chains fell from
his hands at the stroke of the angel, and the
prison doors were opened for his liberty.
Acts 12: 7, 8. Israel knew it when the
power of God snlote 'the Egyptians, but
touch them not; They knew it for forty
years in the wilderness, as that promised
presence went before and made a way fof
them. Tremble, thou earth, at the pres
of Jacob;: which turned the rock into a
stflndiTKywAt.Pi. tb a flint into a fnnntain nf
waters.", -Ps. 114; 7.
, .. , , , UT, IT IS LIGHT. , , ; ,
; The Cloud of Glory was the visible token .
of God's presence, By day it was shelter
by night "a pillar' of fire, to give them
light." Ex. 13: 21; 14: 19. "Jesus is the
true light, .which lighteth every man that
cometb into the world." John 1: 9. -
- ' ' " IV., IT IS COtJBAGB. 1 ;
Thia was Joshua's experience. Have T
not commanded thee! Be strong and of a
good courage; be not afraid, neither be thotr.
dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest." Josh. ,1: 9;
"When thou passest through the waters, I
will be with thee; and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow- thee." Isai. 43: 2:
It was Ellsha's strength when he assured'
his timid servant " Fear not: for they that
be with us are more than they that be with
them." ; 2 Kings 6: 16" That presence went
with Shadrach and his friends Into the fur
nace, with Daniel into the lions' den, and
with Esther before the awful king. .
v. rr is OOMPANTONfiHIP. .
Sometimes there are those about ns whose
presence annoys. They" neither aid nor
comfort us. Job felt this of. his friends:
M Miserable comforters are ye alL" But
the presence of Jesus is joyful, Ps. 16: 2;
restful,1 Ex. 83: 14; sympathetic, Isa. C3: 9;
and sheltering, Ps. 31: 20. - " Lo, I am with
you al way, even unto the end of the world,"
in all days dark days, bright days, joyful,
days, sad days, calm days; busy days. AH
men may forsake- you, and flee, but I will
stand by you to the end.' The brethrenshlp
began In his life,, and confirmed after bis
resurrection, is to abide till it be consum
mated in glory; Matt 25: 40.
VI. IT IS SUCCESS IN 8EBVICB.
This Gideon learned when it was said to
him, "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty
man of valor.": Judges 6: 12. This Samson
sadly learned when he said, " I will go out
as at other times before, and shake myself.
And he wist not that the Lord was departed
from him.' Judges 18: 20; 1 Samuel 16:
14. This was the power by which Peter
and John confounded the council at Jerusa
lem, who marvelled at the boldness and
fluency with which such uncultured laymen,
never bred to oratory, could discourse on
the Scriptures; and they took knowledge of
them that their companionship' had been
with Jesus. Acts 4: 13.
VII. IT IS FEAR. .
: ThA nrsKPinm nf the Lord is absolute holi
ness. It . discovers sin, and turns man's
pride Into loathing. It is abhorrent to every
transgressor, Cain went out from the pres-v
ence of Jthe Lord a despairing fugitive.
"Behold, thou hast driven me out this day
; ; . from thy face I shall be hid . ;'.' and
every one that findeth me shall slay me."'
Job was troubled at the Lord's presence
when be measured his own insignificant;
merit with God's righteousness. Job 23: 15.
And Jonah, the deserter,, was fleeing from,
this same : awful: presence when disaster
overtook him. Jonah 1: 10. ! ' '
- Unto even such , blameless characters as
Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and John, the pres
ence ot the Lord turned their comeliness to
corruption, and made them fall as dead at
his feet- Rev. V. 17.' But oh, what, shall
the presence of the Lord be in the final day
to. those who have never, "appeased his
presence" with the token. of acceptance
his own precious blood! Genesis 82: 20.
Whither shall they flee from his presence!
"They shall tremble at his ; presence."
Theyi shall be punished with, everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord,
and the glory of his power," when his re
deemed and waiting saints shall "be pre
sented faultless before the presence of his
. ... A Til . . , 4 . . rt .
5 lory witn exceeamg joy." , ines. j; ;
ude 24.jRw. Geo. C. tfetdham's tlBihU
Briefs." , .''.'.,
,' ""'"., Kodak Life Work,' ,
1 Modern advertising has become a profes
sion and a fine art Probably no expression
is more widely known and quoted than the
happy thought which introduces the little
camera, Vou press the button-rwe do. the
rest" . This , invention marks a' great ad-
vance in photography; but there is an ide
similar to this in regard to life work which
is false, and injurious, and is especially
prevalent among young people; ,
Many young men think there must be
some quick and easy way to fame and for
tune, if they could only find it This is the
secret of the eagerness with which they gc
into enterprises that promise quick anJj
large returns, and I believe it is one of t he
reasons which lead so many into7 lott r:
and other gambling schemes. 1 Sow, ! i
there is a secret spring, : If they coulJ i r ?
it, luck, chance, fortune somettinTv, ' 1 1
do the rest ' But the successful, sib 1 ' '
men of business tell a diHerent t,. cry. a '
say; "Young man, success comc3 1 ; i ...
5 ears of earnest patient work." . .
L ffuU in-Tha Watchman, !
After a great sorrow-, :
Won? are neeessary bcth f r
Only the most intinata f : :
Die, oeiuj; uut nuui.u n. . i
and therefore bencCct-r t. J