=Glad and Golden Days=
Spread the Light! Spread the Light!
Till earth’s remotest bounds have heard
The glory of the Living Word;
Till those that see not have their sight;
Till all the fringes of the night
Are lifted, and the long-closed doors
Are wide for ever to the Light.
Spread the Light!
* * * * *
O then shall dawn the golden days,
To which true hearts are pressing;
When earth’s discordant strains shall blend--
The one true God confessing;
When Christly thought and Christly deed
Shall bind each heart and nation,
In one Grand Brotherhood of Men,
And one high consecration.
JOHN OXENHAM.
After our return from Betsileo and our visitation of the Imerina
country stations, we spent three weeks in Tananarive to meet with the
missionaries in their District Committee, in order to consult together
as to the present position and future work. We also took part in a
Conference with the representatives of all the Protestant Missionary
Societies at work in the island, and attended the great half-yearly
meeting of the native Christians known as the Isan-Enim-Bolana. It
is not the purpose of this record of travel to discuss questions
of missionary politics, or to deal with matters considered at the
Joint Conference. Suffice it to say that the intercourse with the
missionaries of our own and other Societies during those closing weeks
of our stay was a time of happy fellowship. In the interludes between
more serious work delightful social receptions and garden parties were
organised by several of the Missions, and we enjoyed the hospitality of
the Bishop of Madagascar and of our French and Norwegian friends.
There was one gathering, however, of very special interest to us, as
representatives of the L. M. S. On September 30th it was our privilege
to take part in the celebration of the jubilee of the landing at
Tamatave of our honoured veteran missionary, Dr. James Sibree. Mr.
Sibree, as he was then, went out to Madagascar as architect of the
Memorial Churches to be erected in Tananarive in commemoration of the
martyrs “faithful unto death,” who lost their lives during the time
of persecution. These Churches remain until this day, not only as
memorials to the martyrs, but as monuments to the taste and skill of
Mr. Sibree as an architect. But his services in this direction have not
been confined to the Memorial Churches. In after years to the present
time he has prepared the plans of upwards of 40 Churches in different
parts of Madagascar.
But Dr. Sibree will leave behind him, when the time comes for him to
bid farewell to Madagascar, a more enduring memorial than churches
of brick and stone. When he had completed the task which originally
took him to the island he returned to England, and, after taking
his theological course at Spring Hill, went back to Madagascar as a
clerical missionary, and from that day to this, with ceaseless energy
and devotion, he has been engaged in building the Invisible Church, “a
house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
The epitaph upon the tomb of another architect, Sir Christopher Wren,
in St. Paul’s Cathedral, “Si monumentum requiris circumspice,” is
equally applicable to Dr. Sibree, for no missionary has left behind
him in Madagascar a more enduring memorial of his life and work than
will Dr. Sibree. His energies, too, have found an outlet in other
directions. His most conspicuous service to the Mission has been
rendered in connection with the training of preachers and pastors.
For upwards of thirty years he has been associated with the Society’s
Theological College in Tananarive, and during that period several
hundred students have received the benefit of his instruction and
influence. As a writer of books and articles he has given to the world
much information, not only with regard to Madagascar, but also with
regard to the Cathedrals of the Homeland. The articles on Madagascar
in the last two editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica have come from
his pen, and he is a recognised authority on all matters relating to
the island. He has rendered invaluable service as a translator, and
especially in the revision of the Malagasy Scriptures. He does not know
what it is to be idle. In his seventy-seventh year he is an example
and a rebuke to men of half his age; from early morning until late at
night he is always at work.
Dr. Sibree has, throughout his missionary life, been ably seconded
and supported in all his “works of faith and labours of love” by his
devoted wife, to whom the women and girls of Ambohimanga, and, in later
years, of Tananarive, owe so much. As I have already mentioned, Dr. and
Mrs. Sibree have given four children to missionary work. Two of their
daughters, Mrs. Milledge and Miss Elsie Sibree are to-day rendering
fine service to the kingdom in Madagascar.
On the Jubilee day a great gathering of missionaries was held
in Faravohitra Church in honour of Dr. and Mrs. Sibree. Several
presentations were made to them from the Directors of our Society, from
their fellow missionaries and from the missionaries of other Societies,
in recognition of the services they have rendered, and of the respect,
esteem and affection in which they are held. It is said that never
before in the history of Madagascar has such a large gathering of
missionaries taken place. Later in the same day a reception and garden
party were held, at which even a larger number of the missionary
community were present to celebrate the occasion. A few days afterwards
a great gathering of past and present students of the Theological
College met to offer their tribute of gratitude and esteem to the
missionary who had trained so many of the preachers, pastors, and
evangelists, now engaged in the evangelization of the island.
[Illustration: DR. AND MRS. SIBREE.]
Only a passing reference can be made to the meetings of the Joint
Conference. This gathering was unique, for it is believed that never
before in the history of the Christian Church have all the Protestant
Missionary Societies at work in a mission field appointed simultaneous
deputations to unite with the missionaries on the spot to study in
common the problems and needs of the field, and to plan together
for its evangelization. Many matters of common interest to all the
Societies were considered, and important discussions were held with
the Malagasy Christian leaders. The subjects of the evangelization of
the island, the work of delimitation, education, the social and moral
condition of the people, the recrudescence of heathenism, the growth
of atheism and agnosticism, and many other questions vitally affecting
the life of the people and the growth of the Church came up for
discussion. The meetings were held in the beautiful French Protestant
Church in Tananarive in the early days of October. The tone and spirit
which prevailed throughout the deliberations were of the highest. The
Conference owed much to its Chairman, M. le Pasteur Couve, who presided
throughout with wisdom, tact, patience and good humour. The holding
of such a Conference in which High Anglican, Lutheran, Quaker and
Congregationalist, British, French, Norwegian, and American took an
equal part, was a remarkable evidence of the growth of the spirit of
comity and co-operation in the mission field.
But amongst the many vivid experiences of those crowded closing days
in Tananarive, the most lasting impression was that made by the great
meetings of the Isan-Enim-Bolana. This institution is a federation
of the Imerina Churches of the L. M. S., F. F. M. A., and P. M. S.,
and it holds a warm place in the regard and affection of the Malagasy
Christians. Moreover, it is a Missionary Society and sends its own
native missionaries into the outlying districts in the North where,
but for its efforts, there would be no Christian work carried on. It
is the child of the London Missionary Society, and came into being in
the year 1868. Since then it has met every half-year in the Capital,
and its gatherings are always marked with a spirit of great earnestness
and enthusiasm. It met in October, and high as our expectations
were from what we had heard, the gatherings surpassed all that our
imagination had pictured. On Wednesday afternoon, October 8th, five
preaching services were held at the same hour in five of the largest
Churches in the Capital, and these were followed by two great meetings
in connection with the Christian Endeavour Societies. Perhaps a short
account of my own experiences at the Isan-Enim-Bolana, which were
similar to those of my fellow-delegates, will convey some impression
of the character of these Meetings. I was taking lunch with a party
of French Missionaries, when M. Pierre de Seynes came to tell me that
the French Church in which I was to speak was already crowded to its
utmost limits, although it was nearly two hours before the time for
the commencement of the service. On reaching the Church an hour and
a half later I had the greatest difficulty in effecting an entrance.
There was a dense crowd round the door of those who could not find
room. It required great care to walk up the aisle without treading
upon the women, who were sitting on the ground two abreast. The great
congregation occupied every foot of available space; the floor of the
chancel was packed, and men were sitting on the communion rails, on the
top of the harmonium, and on the pulpit steps. Moreover, there were
groups of people round the numerous open windows on the ground floor,
and the gallery and the steps leading to it were likewise crowded. The
scene from the pulpit can never be forgotten. The contrast between the
black hair, brown faces and white lambas of the worshippers formed a
striking picture. Pastor Rabary, the Chairman of the Isan-Enim-Bolana,
translated for me. The vigorous action and fine declamation of the
interpreter, combined with the inspiration which one receives from the
enthusiasm and devoutness of a great audience, had their effect upon
the quieter methods of the more phlegmatic Englishman, and I found
myself moved to speak with a force and earnestness rarely experienced
before. My address was followed by what I am told was an eloquent
sermon by one of the ablest of the younger Malagasy leaders, Pastor
Rakotonirainy, who is also a successful master in one of the F. F. M.
A. Schools. As soon as the service was over the congregation hurried
away to a great Christian Endeavour meeting at Ampamarinana, where
the Church was already packed. An overflow meeting was arranged to be
held in the Church which we had just left, and in a few moments that
building was again filled to overflowing, and I was called upon to give
another address, which was translated by Pastor Razafimahefa, who
interprets from both French or English into Malagasy with wonderful
force and fluency.
But the greatest gatherings took place on the following morning. At
6 o’clock seven of the most spacious Churches were thronged to their
utmost capacity, some having arrived at 4 a.m. to secure a seat for
the meetings, which were not to commence till four hours later. I
was appointed to speak at the great meeting for men in the spacious
Ampamarinana Church, which had for hours been filled to overflowing.
As soon as I had spoken I was hurried away in a chair to an overflow
meeting in a neighbouring Church, and, having spoken there, went on to
Faravohitra Church, which was crowded with women, where my address was
translated by Mrs. Milledge, who speaks Malagasy like a native. The
service at this Church was concluded by eleven o’clock. Then came one
of the characteristic features of the meetings of the Isan-Enim-Bolana.
It is the practice for the Mother Churches in the Capital to entertain
the delegates from the various Daughter Churches in the country. I
went to Analakely, where some 1,400 people sat down in five relays
to abundant meals of rice and meat prepared by their hosts. The same
gracious hospitality was shown in each of the Mother Churches of
Tananarive. After attending such gatherings one wonders whether there
is any place in the world, unless it is Korea, where such great crowds
gather for Christian worship.
The hearts of sympathetic visitors to Madagascar are often thrilled
at these manifest signs of the Divine blessing upon the work of the
Missionaries, but very little investigation shows that there is another
side to the picture, and that the young Malagasy Church needs all its
zeal and courage to face the difficulties and dangers with which it is
surrounded. Apart from the experience which unfortunately is common in
all Christian communities, that practice does not always correspond
with profession, the Malagasy Christians have special difficulties of
their own which confront the growing Church. They have to face the
temptations which beset a backward race living in the tropics, and the
struggle with sensualism and immorality is a severe one.
Moreover, in recent years materialism and agnosticism have come
into the land like a flood, and tax to the uttermost the wisdom and
consecration of the Christian workers in the island. Again, it must be
remembered that the activities of the Church are being carried on in
an unsympathetic environment, for apart from the deadening influence
of the native heathenism amidst which the Church is at work, the
unfriendly attitude towards religion of the French official class is
felt on every hand. Again, on the north-east and north-west coasts the
menace of the advance of Islam is increasingly felt, and already there
are at least 75,000 Moslems in the country, professing a degraded type
of Mohammedanism and introducing many vices, especially drunkenness
and immorality. It will be a surprise to many to know that during the
recent Balkan war a collection was made in Madagascar to help the
Turks to fight “the vile Christians.”
With these and other difficulties confronting the young Malagasy
Church, it will be readily understood that the battle is by no means
won. Moreover, much of the field has, up to the present, not been
occupied by the Christian army, and great is the work remaining to be
accomplished.
If one stands on the verandah of “the House of Sweet Breezes” at
Anjozorobe, the Society’s most northern station, and turn one’s eyes
to the north, there is a stretch of country extending well-nigh 500
miles to Diego Suarez. In this vast district, the area of which exceeds
that of England and Wales, there is at the present time but one white
missionary. It is true that some dozen native missionaries, sent out
by the Isan-Enim-Bolana of Imerina, are at work in this territory,
and many of these men are carrying on their missionary labours with
energy and devotion, but without any European supervision. The Native
Missionary organisation which sent them forth would welcome such
supervision, and would be prepared to send more labourers into the
vineyard, if well-trained men were available for service. In the near
future the main work of the European missionary must be the training
of the Native missionary. As the Church at the centre grows and
multiplies, and becomes stronger and more efficient, the need of the
presence of a large number of European missionaries will gradually
diminish. The test of the success of their work will be that they have
made themselves unnecessary. As the College in Tananarive attracts
and trains and sets to work Christian Natives of good education
and apostolic fervour, so the work now carried on by the European
missionaries will steadily pass into the hands of the Native Pastors,
and, under the blessing of God, the day will come in the not distant
future when the foreign worker will be able to withdraw, having
completed his task.
“And lo! already on the hills
The flags of dawn appear;
Gird up your loins, ye prophet souls,
Proclaim the day is near;
The day in whose clear-shining light
All wrong shall stand revealed,
When justice shall be clothed with might,
And every hurt be healed:
When knowledge, hand in hand with peace,
Shall walk the earth abroad,--
The day of perfect righteousness,
The promised day of God.”