PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS SECTION E. '99 



education, since mathematical studies tend to form habits of 

 accuracy in thouf^ht and judgment. 



3. Moral Training. — 1 have ah-eady tried to show that these 

 people are ca])able of the highest moral development. On the 

 other hand, it is as well to point out a danger which is not 

 always seen by people who are not well acquainted with the 

 Native character. The real character is often hidden under a 

 heavy veneer of superficiality. In a very large number of cases 

 the real ideal that is aimed at is not " to be sinless," but '' not to 

 be knozvn to sin." This, of course, is a failing common to all 

 races, but it is especially true of the people we arc discussing. 

 The object we have to aim at, therefore, above all things, is to 

 secure purity of motive in all actions. 



This high c|uality of character can only be attained, except 

 in rare cases, bv bringing good influences to bear during early 

 childhood, and by jealously guarding the character so formed 

 during the dangerous period of adolescence. 



There is something particularly winsome in a Native child 

 who has been well brought u]j, and teachers in Native schools 

 are often amazed at the intelligence and *' promise " of boys and 

 girls of ten or twelve. This " promise," however, is rarely iful- 

 filled, and the time when progress is checked usually coincides 

 with the period of sexual adolescence. During this time the 

 wave of intellectual progress and development ebbs, and it is 

 followed by an overwhelming wave of sexualism which, in many 

 cases, takes entire po'ssession of their natures to the exclusion 

 of every other desire. This, then, is the time of life on which 

 we should concentrate our greatest efforts in our endeavour to 

 stem the tide of debasing influences, and use our utmost en- 

 deavour to strengthen the moral fibre of the character of each 

 individual. 



How this can be done may be gathered from the cumidative 

 evidence of the history of nations, and the known effect of 

 Christianity upon the Bantu in our own time. In Christian 

 missions we have an instrument ready at hand by means of 

 which the moral character of the Biantu can be uplifted and 

 strengthened. F2very encouragement, therefore, should be given 

 to the Churches to enable them to carry on the work they are 

 doing in this direction wisely and well. If they have ifailed at 

 all during the past, it must be borne in mind that most of their 

 efforts have been made in the face of indifference, if not of 

 direct opposition on the part of the white people; and if they 

 have met with any success at all. it is rather to be wondered at 

 considering the difficulties they have had to overcome. 



At the same time, it is well to remember that, had it not 

 been for the work of Christian missions, practically nothing 

 would have been done in the way of providing direct education 

 for the Natives by means of schools. Even now, according to 

 the Statistical Year Book for 1914-15, there is only one Govern- 

 ment " school for Native children " in the Transvaal, as com- 

 pared with 260 " aided schools," the greater number of which 



