AND
LECTURE
Delivered at the
West
EDWARD
2,
1891,
W. BLYDEN, LL.D.
West
Africa to Palestine,"
"
London
^l^fFNGHAM &
"From
Co., 91,
lyoi.
1-
h p. Wp.
Afr
r^
c.
h ii r ch
?:
-m
LECTURE
West
Africa, January
2,
1891,
ill
EDWARD
athor ot
West
W. BLYDEN, LL.D.,
Africa to Palestine,'"
" Liberia's
London
W.
B.
Whittingham &
Co., 91,
Offering,"
"From
&c., &c.
1891.
following Resolution,
M.A.,
iicni
'OUai
LECTURE.
great pleasure to stand before you tolight, to greet for the first time a Lagos audience and,
f your Excellency will permit me to say so, I feel it a
It affords
me
nterprise
elieve
upon which
that
the
alone,
rapid
among many
and
regeneration
agencies, I
permanent
who
snder
efficient
co-operation in
all
do everything to
statesmanlike
the
themes for the good of the country and the people which
ou are endeavouring to carry out.
as
:
America which
visited
year
ago,
especially
See Appendix.
4
though the advantage seemed to
me
far
and away
in
West
And
Africa."
The
cities of
Charleston
Africa.
But
brethren
While
the
across
it is
sea
in nothing
American
is
may
be said to be most
still,
there
them
a sullen
acquiescence
Wordsworth
My
I question things
One that
And
all
will
On
in
We
hfe.
see
and
of
fertility of
its
material resources
ancestors
the
lives
the
of kings
whom
noble names
among
their
blood, of
heroes have
and
of freedom.
6
another element of joy, of safety, and of
In their rehgious gatherings, in their secular
meetings, the use of their mother-tongue must give, for
vating,
is
strength.
the majority,
clearness,
precision
and vigour to
mind
their
of the hearer,
Lagos.
Less than
fifty
years
ago
the
place
now
all
ever
The nations
nicia,
Greece,
of antiquity
Carthage,
all
tried their
Eome.
hands
Phoe-
The Mediterranean
of
antiquity found
failures.
out
after
repeated
and disastrous
derful
celebrating,
left
lately
is
8
not under the British flag is a country which may be, and
probably will be, closed to England by a hostile tariff."
If this had been thought of thirty years ago, Sierra Leone
would not now be hampered on the north in its comand considering how much England has
done to open up that region, the whole of the territory
between the Niger and the Atlantic, with the exception
of small strips, would now be under British rule.
The ancients, who were at the beginning of things, saw
mercial growth
many
men
summits
of
It is
Homer knew
now
of those
certain that,
mountain kings
his
10
climate nor the circumstances of the people will admit of
the introduction of Christianity into this 'country by
members of
a foreign race.
first
and
from Professor Drummond's book on
then from Mr. Stanley's recent book, In Darkest Africa,
Two missionary regions were visited by Mr. Drummond.
Tropical Africa,
The
first
he thus describes
truly this is a
to pay another homage
region at another white man's grave. A few years ago Bishop
Mackenzie and some other missionaries were sent to Africa by the
'*
tragic
himself the
Among
site
made
brave bishops
who have
missionaries.
11
" I spent a day or two in the solemn
It
is
must
is
face.
him
well for
if
is left
"
behind.
The
Europeans
is
all
those
who
human
known
life.
12
what is plainly a barrier of Nature. And science has a duty in pointing
out that no devotion or enthusiasm can give any man a charmed life,
and that those who work for the highest ends will best attain them in
humble obedience to the common laws. Transcendentally, this may be
the warning finger may be despised as the hand of the coward
and the profane. But the fact remains the fact of an awful chain of
denied
On
up with
fierce attacks.
"
*'
At Boma, 80
about 250
feet
is
at sea level,
ague
is
ague
is
common.
only too
more common
still.
station
was
higher than
" While ascending the Congo with the wind astern we were unusually
exempted from ague but descending the Upper Congo, facing the wind,
we were smitten with most severe forms of it."
;
his
reference to the
Central
*' Therefore it is proved that from 0 to 5,000 feet above the sea there
no immunity from fever and ague that over forty miles of lake water
between a camp and the other shore are no positive protection that a
thousand miles of river course may serve as a flue te convey malaria in a
concentrated form that if there is a thick screen of primeval forest, or a
grove of plantains between the dwelling place and a large clearing or
open country, there is only danger of the local malaria around the
dwelling, which might be rendered harmless by the slightest attention to
the system but in the open country neither a house nor a tent is a
sufficient protection, since the air enters by the doors of the house and
under the flaps, and through the ventilators, to poison the inmates."
is
13
With
in this country,
theoretically presented
Wherever
it
is
it is
also considered
;
and, as "the
missionary
is
14
neglected.
''
to consider the
Since the
commencement
of this Mission, I
the National
Company
When
intel-
15
is
Sierra
with
is
Leone
its
unknown
it
would appear,
of civilisa-
Chris-
In the
efforts to
if,
African
But
*
very
One
of
few
free
and independent
men
in
Africa
is
16
submit to the religion brought to them from Europe.
Canon Taylor says it is too high for them. Perhaps this
is true.
It has been lifted above Christ by the complications of Europe, from Gospel freeness and universality
to theological dogmas and metaphysics
and, as I have
;
progress of European
The
commerce
is
problem of introducing
is
impossible of solution.
Well,
now
Christ
all
Him
that
''He
will
the
uttermost parts of the earth for his possession." This
promise it is His purpose to carry out but, so far at least as
Africa is concerned, not by the methods now cherished by
the great missionary bodies in Europe and America.
give to
We
work
in
17
and "have not counted their lives dear unto
I hope that the African will never say a
word or think a thought incompatible with the deepest
gratitude and admiration for all the sacrifices and expenditures, all the sufferings and trials endured, all the good
work accomplished by the band of self-denying men of all
Christian denominations who have come and are still
coming from Europe and America to evangelize Africa.
But I repeat, that all the experience of the past, and all
the experience of the present, assures us that no widespread or permanent work can be done by these means.
Nor is it any better with the secular agencies which are
attempting to deal with the African problem. About two
years ago we heard of the extensive commercial enterprise
in East Africa, carried on by Germans but the difficulties
in the way of success seemed too great to be overcome
We now hear
by the money or men at command.
nothing of that great effort.
We have just witnessed the downfall of the " Province
of Equatoria," over which for thirteen years Emin Pasha
presided, which cost so much money, and of which such
large expectations were entertained pulled down by
European hands. "Though I pitied Emin deeply," says
Mr. Jephson, "for the disappointment he experienced at
seeing his work of thirteen years tumbling in ruins, I
could never regret the downfall of the last of the Soudan
provinces, with its corrupt Egyptian rule."
like water,
themselves."
Mouuteney-Jephson.
London, 1890.
By
A. J.
18
its
expenditure exceeding its
income, after allowing for the subsidies of the King, by
25,000 a-year.
The
most
Company do
brilliant promise.
The
number
of the Nine-
and eloquent
of Europeans
difficulties
in Central Africa,
in a recent
recommends
regard to Africa.
Sir
19
several years commander of a slave ship, and who made
more than one Guinea voyage after his conversion.
An
Providential control.
away
for a two-fold
purpose
Commons
for leave
to
which
led
up
West
Indies.
After
years of conflict,
throughout the
British dominions.
God
knowing
how He
how
and introduce
their improvements, and how strong the antagonism of
impossible
race
it is
provided
of large
numbers
of
they might be
intense in
for three
Now
its
home.
now
hundred years.
come
and they are the only agency which, whether for religious
or secular work, can effect any w^idespread changes for
20
demands
Providence
good.
activity
restoration.
Masterly
in-
impossible.
is
Her
to be comforted because they are not."
" Give me back
The world at
children "
and refuses
cry
my
is,
home, and
beyond the
sea. They have poured out thousands for the rescue from
Africa of two individuals only who did not wish to be
rescued
work in which
The twenty thousand pounds spent
Emin Pasha
trious
Negro
agriculturists
both English.
Sir
inauguration of the
evil.
Who
come be
name
of
Moloney /\,\ill
He
is
in years to
announced
He
is
it
may
of
be
who has
who has
as yet practically
and the
21
In the annals of the future,
Hawkins, Wilberforce, Moloney, will stand for the three
country the
ioiig-lost exiles.
work
of African develop-
I feel
With
regard to Lagos
itself,
and
it
now
is
fitting
memorial
West
of Sir Alfred
22
Colonisation Society has been for more than two generations pointing out the Repatriation of the Exiles as the
only Providential
sending
plan
for
Africa's
to time
regeneration,
and
Repatriates in small
But
work
to
the expression of
my
And
not only
is
exiles.
work
in the hearts
influence in
to
me
23
Kev. Francis P. Flemynge, LL.D., F.E.G.S., on the
subject, to G. W. Neville, Esq., who has taken so active
a part in bringing
in Brazil.
follows
The
letter is dated
"
'
for the
'
to
and
tiavana to Africa.
" I have already written to several friends who I hope will assist
me, and I have laid the matter before Lord Salisbury and other
authorities.
" I propose to
sands
who
to
Between
this
and
then I shall hope to have all afloat, and then I would undertake a
Crusade, holding meetings in all the large towns and manufacturing
centres."
It is
24
we not
should
We
But
viz.
to
among
own
profitably intermeddle.
25
complicated foreign system in which they have no extraneous assistance?
the
How
it
How
!
it
is,
we
shall
with
its
Many
that fate
but
we
commander, has
if
we
suffered
are careful to
Him into the ship with us, whose power can calm
the boisterous sea, and say to the raging waves,
Peace,
be still."
take
the walls
may
go to sleep
sleeping vigilance
when
we
should be learning
26
by
trial,
by
suffering,
we can transmit
by
self-denial, a possession
which
We
should
our children.
also be able to recognise those who may be to blame for
our misfortunes, and be able to deal with them as we
have not the power to do now with delinquents and those
as our
own
to
mean
we do not wish
that we do not wish
give
it
any
mean
to say
We
want
to hold
to
to
up
of our country
who
in,
The
27
hear
my
voice
shepherd."
flock,
one
who, even
"
I perceive
Of a truth," he then exclaimed,
no respecter of persons, but in every nation
he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is
accepted of Him." The best and most enlightened men
in the Christian world to-day have caught something of
the light which suddenly streamed upon Peter, and
words.
that
God
is
believe
that in
all
ages
We
must seek
them the
to bring into
men
of influence.
Do
not expect of
28
The
pagan
^neas was
Kome, which
said to
we
find,
months
preaching
sermons
dogmas with
to
his bishops
his
;
and
courtiers,
and discussing
he was issuing
at the next,
we knew more
of the
history of the
Church
in
Lightfoot's Sermons.
29
on the
coast, has
effort to
ignore the
to make a history
The endeavour
for the people, and get them to enact
has been to introduce social forces from abroad to allow
pecuharities here of race and chmate
it.
and traditional
bias, or to
Europe
were a growth, requiring time, and not a sudden inspiranot the work of a year or a generation. The consequence is just what ought to have been expected, viz.,
tion
made
No
antagonists
celestial
as
is
history in Africa
to
The
to be
is
You cannot
teacher
reduce
application, as
all
form they
among
other
the people.
To pursue any
will take
method
is
What
is
essential
is
to
on
growth, not
organisation.
animadverting
upon
the
crude
and
unphilosophical
all
30
under the deeper teachings of science, that if they
could succeed in their enterprise they would destroy
out,
what we
are,
A man may
31
Beyond
my
highest joy
men
Africa,
no
aggrandisement.
If
in
schemes
there
of
or
social
any material
are
political
fruits
of
mission work looked forward to they are mainly commercial and industrial.
The life, then, of the two
races
must ever be
apart.
with
when
feathers
its
a bird
all
flies
gracefully
it
flies
this
When
exhorts
it
to sail aloft.
it flies
Each
sit,
go.
32
God
has given to
means
should
strength,"
war, and
be
my
of
creature,
of defence
" Blessed
war.
"
David,
says
from the
and attack,
the Creator was that
every living
fingers to
who
fight"
(Ps.
my
the Lord,
be
teacheth
my
cxliv.,
hands to
No
10).
own
The
struggles.
inevitable.
struggle in order
The theory
or system, then,
to
success
its
is
by which one
battles, is far
from
wholesome.
Therefore,
what
to
It is
The
Yearning to mix
itself
come
with
life
33
APPENDIX.
Dr. Blyden arrived at Lagos December 20th, 1890, and on
was waited on with an address by the Committee of
gentlemen who had invited him to visit the Colony, viz.:
the 24:th
of St. Paul's
Church, and
Member
Leigh, Merchant,
E. B. Blaize, Merchant.
N. H. Williams, Barrister-at-Law.
J. A.
Otomba Payne,
CM.
Savage, Merchant.
J. A.
T. A. King, Druggist.
J. O. George, Agent, Radcliffe and Durrant.
Member
C. J. George, J. P.,
B. Williauis, Merchant.
H. W. George, Importer.
J.
Z. A. Williams, Merchant.
J.
W.
Cole,
Merchant.
vitation to visit
come
We
in-
of the
Law, Medicine,
to our shores.
common
of
our
to impress the
Negro
race
in exile in
34
individuality, his close connection with
and relations
to the
of Christianity
and
and
settle
themselves in
We
35
We
object lesson to
own measure
and
to
diligent, appreciative
their wish.
EEPLY.
36
Take
Sierra Leone,
which
is
affording to the
century, for
the purpose of
his persecutors in
independent grov^th.
But
vs^hat
The
normal development.
The civilized element which laid the foundation of the settlement were from America from Nova- Scotia, with views and
feelings perverted in the house of bondage.
Though of African
extraction they had lost complete sympathy with their people
at
sitive.
in the Colony
complications
for,
37
But
still it is
interesting to
know
who have
men
38
from beyond the sea, you can fly, not to strangers, but to your
This is an element of strength and a guarantee
people.
of independence which no other Christian Negro community
own
possesses.
I
am glad,
therefore, to
I feel grateful to
you
of visiting
me
me to do
you, and
so.
This
is
one
of
work of the race which will disprove the asserwhich our enemies are fond of indulging, that the
African has no self-respect no pride of race no interest in
interest in the
tions, in
of vast
attention
is
being directed to
its
is
before.
in inviting
me
to visit
you
is
The events
providential.
39
not only of supporting the Gospel
extending
it
among
themselves, but of
support
it
growth, as
and
is
Niger.
W.
B.
Whittingham
&
C.
BW9331 .B66
The return of the
exiles