CHAPTER XV 



A PLEA FOR THE NATIVE EAST AFRICAN 

 AND HIS MISSIONARY 



THE native in East Africa is untold thousands of 

 years younger than Abraham, untold thousands 

 nearer the monkey, than were Abraham's Phoenician 

 kinsfolk. Yet Christian missions have too often in the 

 Negroes' case, as in that of other far more enlightened 

 peoples, set themselves the hopeless and impossible task 

 of offering this neglected laggard of our race the complex 

 and contradictory theological conclusions that matured 

 mankind has only accepted after years of discussion and 

 conflict, and which reverent and thoughtful men to-day 

 are everywhere modifying or casting aside. 



If Christian missions are not succeeding in East Africa 

 it is not because the missionaries themselves are lacking in 

 ability or self-sacrifice. No braver or more consecrated 

 men and women ever went forth to the doing of a thank- 

 less task than they. These men and women who have 

 left home and friends in order to bring life and hope and 

 freedom to the oppressed and exploited people of the earth, 

 have especially here, in this continent of death and lone- 

 liness, "not counted their lives dear unto themselves.'* 

 None ever faced a more dangerous task than they. Few 

 ever faced any task more bravely. But they have not 

 succeeded as they should, and they will not succeed as they 

 might, because to take what they bring, to do what they 

 demand, to believe what they exact, is beyond the present 

 power of the undeveloped East African's intelligence. He 

 can love and follow his missionary bwana and he does. 



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