Newspaper Page Text
November 24, 1909. TH]
given special consideration by the company.
M. Vandervelde then stated that
when the company was formed they created
a monopoly and immediately reduced
the price paid for rubber. That when
they do not pay the natives they intimidate
them. He then produced a circular
letter drawn up by M. Lecourt, the director-general
of the Campagnte du Kassai in
Brussels, pointing out to the agents of
the company the habitual laziness of the
natives, and directing them that force
must be used to induce them to work,
and that the method would be of future
benefit to the natives themselves.
Regarding the question of the use of
armed sentries in the collection of rubber
l?v force in the KhrraI riiRtrirt M VnnHer.
velde stood ready to prove this fact in
several instances. He emphatically informed
the court that he had now at
Leopoldville twenty Bakuba and Baluba
native witnesses, who came from eleven
different villages, some of whom were until
very recently sentries in the employ
of the company, and that if he would be
allowed to produce these witnesses it
would be found that such was the case
throughout the Kassai district. These men
armed by the company, forced the natives
to make rubber. He also reminded the
judge that there were now over fifty legal
actions pending against the agcats of the
Campagnie du Kassai, nearly all for illtreatment
of the natives. Regarding Con
sul Thesiger's report, which was published
in the British White Book Africa, No.
1, 1909 (a summary of which will be
found in my No. 8, dated November 24
1908), M. Vendervelde declared that it
was not Mr. Sheppard's article that injured
the company, but Mr. Thesiger's
thorough exposure of the Campagnie du
Kassai. The American missionaries were
not aware of his coming until he arrived
at Luebo. That Mr. Sheppard accompanied
him as interpreter on his tour of the
Bakuba country because Sheppard is the
only foreigner in the country who speaks
thp Hplrnhfl lnnmiflirp Thnt pvpti thp rti
rector of the company and every company
agent in the Bakuba country go about
with native interpreters. The company
knew quite well that the abuses exposed'
in Mr. Thesiger's report were much greater
than Mr. Sheppard reported. The article
in the Kassai Herald was unknown
until Mr. Morrison's letters were published
in the White Book. M. Vandervelde
finished this part of his argument by
stating that the prosecution must accept
Mr. Thesiger's report as true or judge
him as a man who is imposing upon his
country.
It appears that the two main points for
the judge to decide is whether there was
malicious intent in writing the article,
and the right to prove the statements
made. M. Vandervelde openly challeng
luc piUDCUUUUU IU yoi 111 AI UlUi iu yi uvc
the statements by witnesses and an inquiry,
which he argued the court should
allow, but the prosecution would not consent.
In that case, M. Vandervelde rePlied,
you are morally condemned.
The decision will be rendered October
4. as I stated In my telegram dated September
20 and it is probable that an ap
E PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOU
peal will be made by the missionaries if
the decision is against them. It is M.
Vendervelde's intention to make a second
appeal if the decision is not satisfactory,
so that the case will eventually be
fought out in Brussels. A decision will,
of course, first be handed down hv tho
appeal court at Boma.
I have been promised a copy of M.
Vandervelde's speech, but I fear It will
not be ready in time to be sent by this
mail. It will, however, be forwarded by
the first opportunity, also a copy of the
judgment, when issued.
We expect to return to Boma on the
27th instant.
I have the honor to be, sir
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) Wm. W. Handley,
American Consul-General.
THE NEW ORLEANS MEETING.
Dr. Thacker, the secretary of the Assembly's
Committee of Evangelistic
Work and General Evangelist, closed a
two weeks' meeting in New Orleans on
Sunday night, November 7, The work
was under the auspices of the Presbyterian
Ministers' Association, on whose
unanimous invitation Dr. Thacker came.
All ? x 1- ?- * *
ah uib tuuiLuea iuuk pan, suspenaing
their evening services of Sundays and
week days. Beginning Sunday evening,
October 24, the meeting was held in the
Lafayette Church, and after a week there
was transferred, according to previous
arrangement, to the First Church, the
Lafayette Church was filled at the first
service and on two or three of the week
nights. At the First Church there were
great congregations, filling the lower part
of the spacious building, on the two Sunday
nights, and good congregations or
the other nights. A noon-day service
waa held In a business house on Camp
street, near Canal, nine or ten days. The
great Deep Water Way Convention and
the visit of President Taft came in, and in
the midst of the meeting, but affected it
very little.
From the beginning to the end the interest
was sustained and the people gave
good.heed to the messages. The preaching
was clear, earnest, and Scriptural,
and in perfect accord with all the confessional
principles and statements of
our Church. The conduct of the meeting
was simple and dignified. No clap-trap
methods were resorted to. The only features
beyond what one would regard as
outside of the usual every day service
of a Presbyterian church was a little
more singing, with the large, well con
ducted chorus choir and the congrega
tlon sometimes in responsive song, but
usually together, and the distribution and
gathering of cards on which those who
desired to express their faith or renewed
consecration might give in their
names. Mr. Geo. A. Fisher led the singing
moat efficiently, showing special skill
in quickly training the large chorus.
During the meetings one hundred and
fourteen names were handed in, on the
blank of the card which called for a confession
of Christ, eighty-eight of them
naming the Presbyterian as the church
* 4. *
TH. 15
of their preference, and twenty-six naming
Methodist, Baptist or other churches.
Twenty-two signed the blank stating that
they were members elsewhere and expressing
the determination to procure
their letters and place them in the local
churches. Seven hundred and eighty
eight signed the blank for church members
reconsecrating themselves to God's
service. The numerical results of the
effort will doubtless prove far less than
the spiritual. The direct, Scriptural
preaching, the earnest singing, the
hearty co-operation of the pastors and peu
pie of the thirteen churches working together,
and the fervent prayers and personal
activity of hundreds of Christians
will not be without the happiest fruitage.
After the union services of fifteen
days, having a few days at their disposal
before their next appointment, Dr.
Thacker and Mr. and Mrs. Fisher remained
in New Orleans and conducted
four evening services in the Napoleon
Avenue Church, in these services securing
nine more confession cards and sixty-four
more reconsecration cards. They
left on November 12 for Austin Texas.
DON'T FORGET.
This is simply a reminder. We shell
be glad to receive boxes of clothing, toys,
books, etc. for distribution among the
Alabama Indians at Christmas time. This
kind of help will do much good and be
greatly appreciated by them, and those of
us, who are laboring among them. Please
send at once, by freight or express, to
Livingston, Texas, or by mail to Kiam,
Texas, and oblige.
Yours in the Lord's work,
Rev. C. W. Chambers.
. LAFAYETTE PRESBYTERY.
Met at the call of the moderator during
the sessions of Synod at Columbia, Mo.,
October 21, 1909, at 11 a. m.
Rev. F. A. L. Reid, the last moderator,
present presided. Rev. G. W. Jurey, of
Springfleld, Mo., temporary clerk. Seven
ministers and two elders were present.
The installation of Rev. B. Andres, as
pastor at Pleasant Hill, Mo., was changed
till November 21, third Sabbath. Rev. S.
F. Shifller was appointed to All the place
on the commission on installation, left
vacant by the death of Rev. J. M. Chaney,
D. D.
Rev. F. O. Hellier, Ph. D., was received
by letter from the Presbytery of Highland,
U. S. A.
Day, C C ALL.ti * *
. r. nuuuu wtta excusea irom
serving on the commission to install Rev.
J. J. Squire, at Hughesville, Mo.; Rev.
G. F. Bell was appointed to fill his place.
Rev. E. C. Gordon, D. D., and Rev.
Xenophon Ryland, were appointed a committee
to prepare a memorial upon the
death of Rev. J. M. Chaney, D. D., to be
presented at the spring meeting.
Presbytery adjourned to meet at Pleas
ant hill, mo.. November 22. 1909, at 4
o'clock p. m. W. E. Beattie, S. C.
Often the fear of not accomplishing
what is before us, is the only thing in
our way.