THE "BLACK ELIJAH"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 136, 5 December 1929, Page 30

THE "BLACK ELIJAH"

AN AFRICAN PROPHET

DEATH IN POVERTY

STORY OF. HIS LIFE

Tlio "prophet Harris" has passed away in the same simple poverty in which ho had lived at his villiigo of Graway, Cape Palnias, Liberia. The news, which has been rumoured for somo time, is confirmed by tho Eov. W. J. Platt, tho young Bolton missionary who first made known in 1925 tho remaikablo story of tho great Christian muss movement on the Ivory Coast of West Africa for which Harris, or tho "Black Elijah," as ho was often culled, has boen responsible. Mr. Plait states that ho has now received the dcfinito news of Harris's dcnth from an English trader frienu oC his at C.-iyc Palmas, who employs ono of Hie prophet's grandsons.

The age of William Wmb (or W.-.d-dy) Harris is uncertain, but lie must have been about 80, writes a correspondent in the "Manchester Guardian." All that is known of his earlier years is that he worked as a kroo boy on West African boats, and that ho visited Lagos, where for n time lie worked as a labourer and also attended the Tinabu Wesleyan Church. Ho w;is enrolled as* a catechumen, and began to learn to read. AVith the posHiblo exception of futther instruction from an an American misßionory, this scorns tn havo been his only direct couUict witli Western life and religion. His devotion to the cause of Christian evangelism is variously attributed to a vow he made after being saved from a leopard and to a vision he experienced while in prison. Certainly it was after a period in a Libcrian gaol for the offence, it is said, of having flown a British flag over his hut when he heard a rumour that his country had become British territory that Harris started on his preaching tours. These began in 1914 on the Gold Coast but it is for his work in the French territory of the Ivory Coast that the old man will be remembered. SCANTY THEOLOGICAL MESSAGE. Turbanned and white-robed, with a broad red band round his shoulders and carying a bamboo walking staff with a small cross-piece at the top, he went preaching from village to village like the prophets of old. His theological knowledge was scanty, and his message resolved itself into telling his hearers that there was one God and that Christ died on the cross to save men. He told them to. abandon fetish worship, build churches, for their new God, "et Bibles, and wait patiently till the day the white man should come and teach them. The only piece of organisation he set up was the appointment of a preacher and "twelve apostles" to manage church affairs. For himself he would reeeiye no reward except his food and lodging, and he resisted all the temptations thrust upon Mm to grow rich. During the period he remained on the Ivory Coast it is estimated that 50,000 people renounced their old way of life and became what were known as "Harris Christians." The remarkable thing is that when the prophet's influence was withdrawn (for he was requested by the French Governor to return to Liberia, as it was feared that the mass movement might lead to disorders) the little uninstrueted church continued. Substantial buildings were erected and Bibles in English were procured, although none could read them. THE DISCOVERY OF 1924. Owing to the dislocation of affairs during the war years, it was not until 1924 that news of a vast number of unshepherded Christians on the Ivory Coast reached the ears of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. When Mr. Platt visited the territory he found that the stones had not boen exaggerated. Although some people had fallen away, there was a definite Christian community of 20,000 people. How firm, even if elementary, had been Harris's teaching, is shown by the fact that, as the result of the subsequent work of Mr. Platt and six other missionaries, there is now a Christian community numbering some 40,000 souls, all of whom, before the coming of the prophet Harris, had been fetish-wor-shippers. All trace of the' prophet himself., however, seemed to be lost, but he was discovered living quietly in the village of Graway by Pasteur Benoit three years ago. He was living in a halfruined building there, and although he was physically strong his mind was obviously growing weaker. M. Benoit, in describing him, said: "One sees in him a strong and wellpreserved body, his broad shoulders carrying a head proud and expressive. His muscular arms and strong legs are those of an athlete. He always speaks vehemently. He is not gifted of words —nothing but the great conviction. As I listen to him I feel that this man has got something of the accents of the great prophets; their convictions their uncompromising spirit, their divine enthusiasm are found a<>-ain in him." Another white man who saw him about the same time is Dr. Robert E. Campbell, of the American Episcopal Church, Bishop of Liberia, and his report confirms that'of M. Beuoit. This strange figure was what may be called an Old Testament Christian for he never fully appreciated the significance of the New Testament. Yet in a very remarkable manner, and independently of any organised Christian society, he was the means of putting before his fellow-Africans new spiritual truths upon which a deep and real Christianity-is being built. This simple man of the Grebo tribe in Liberia was indeed ia the line of the prophets.