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Conditions in South Africa—The Work Must Be Done

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 11, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 41.

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Conditions in South Africa—The Work Must Be Done

By HERBERT J. EDMED

HERBERT J. EDMED
FROM every evidence the Word of God demands, I am inclined to believe that the South African colonies, and especially Natal and the Transvaal, are fully developed for the closing scenes of earth's history.
Sunday legislation is a very strong factor in the program of every ruling body in the land; while the hold which the ministers of the united denominations have upon the people makes it easy for them to force the governments into the enactment of oppressive measures. Already the cordon has been drawn very tightly around the liberties God has given his people.
The Militia bill recently passed by the Natal Legislature—“militia” being simply a cloak-name for “conscription”—makes every man eligible for compulsory service on the battle-field; compels every man, at the discretion of the government, to attend so many field practises per annum; and turns the government schools into military training-schools. Saluting the flag begins the program of the school day, and the text of all history and of most geography is empire building.
Our schools might take a lesson from Natal education, and study history and geography on the basis of Matt. 24:14. If our youth could have as much ambition for the empire of Prince Immanuel weaved into their studies as Natal children have of “our empire,” the Lord would soon come. Lord Roberts was in Natal a short while ago, and when he saw the wonderfully precise drill of a thousand boys from the school, he exclaimed with emotion, “Upon such skill and training as I have witnessed to-day, depends the future greatness of our noble empire. Natal has taken the lead, and when all the dependencies of the king's vast domains follow her example, there will be no limit to England's power.” So it must be with our own youth. The building of the empire of Christ calls for trained and courageous young people, in whose hearts the Spirit of the rule of grace has been planted, and who are anxious to see the scepter of Christ prevail.
The outlook among the natives is dark indeed. Conditions now exist which indicate the fulfilment of Joel 3:12. As I read this morning the letter of Brother J. J. Westrup, showing the state of unrest in China, I could not help thinking it is much the same in this country. Most of the white people hate the native beyond expression. It is only the strong prevailing sympathy of the people in England for the natives that keeps the government from permitting a condition equal to slavery. They are gradually being deprived of their territory. Their educational ambitions are constantly thwarted and discouraged, and they are being forced to work at lowest wages, by taxation—the natives do not like to work—until they feel that death is more acceptable than submission; and so they are fighting, not with the hope of gaining anything, but simply for revenge. If statements which I have heard from reliable sources are correct, we are on the threshold of a more bloody combat than any that has ever stained the soil of this Dark Continent. May the good angels hold, hold, and avert such a calamity!
NEW CHURCH-SCHOOL AND OFFICE BUILDING AT MARITZBURG
NEW CHURCH-SCHOOL AND OFFICE BUILDING AT MARITZBURG
In the Transvaal, where I am now staying, the rebellion of the natives, added to the crimes and wickedness of the fifty thousand Chinese that have been imported to annoy the people, has greatly embittered the anti-native feeling. How it will end, I can not say. As in China, so here we know not what a day may bring forth. We are not safe anywhere. But that is nothing to us. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” So that phase of the question does not trouble us.
The question of the hour is, however, Here we are with a little handful of workers; many more are ready to enter the work when called upon, but where are the means? How is this great work to be done? When I look at the vastness of our responsibility, I feel thankful for the words of Zech. 4:6, 7. They comfort me. In this field, each year's delay is making the work harder. Various religious bodies are urging their way upon the people, binding them in companies secure to keep out the message of present truth. The motto of some of these has been such as to incite rebellion against the governments, until they begin to treat with suspicion any new religion that may be brought to light. They already blame the “last-day religions” for the disloyalty of the natives. If Satan succeeds in strengthening this sentiment, we may be sure that when we make a start, we shall feel it more than any other denomination. It will be represented that we are teaching disloyalty; and the Sabbath question will cause them to feel like Pharaoh, when he charged Moses with making the people lazy. Ex. 5:5. O my brother, how important it is that this people shall rise en masse, and press in now! Surely the King's business, at this late hour of the last generation, demands haste.
Among the white people the work is very hard and disappointing. Some laborers who have found this so have left the field, discouraged; but others remain, and are loyally lifting the banner of our Prince, expecting that we shall soon see triumph ahead. John saw the victory; it was an accomplished fact. The scene is portrayed by the pen of unerring inspiration. We look through the sad trail of the late Boer war, which has left ruin, bankruptcy, and sorrow everywhere, and we see the silver lining of the day that shall dawn; and notwithstanding the cry of distress around us, we seem to hear the music of ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, as they sing, “Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty: just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”