WORSHIPPERS OF SNAKES

Shannon News, 13 May 1927, Page 2

WORSHIPPERS OF SNAKES

PAGANS O FDAREST AFRICA. EARLY SLAVE TRADING. “The people in the Sudan worship every conceivable thing, from men down to crocodiles and snakes, and offer human sacrifices. The British, of course, are suppressing this cruel t’orm of worship, but it is still carried on secretly, as also are other cruel practices. They quite commonly murder twin children.”. , Thus declared Mr. R. V. Benham. general' director of the Sudan Interior Mission, who arrived in Auckland by the Niagara ths mornng, and was one of the first missionaries to penetrate the darkest parts of Africa in order to teach its people the Gospel.

Continuing, he explained that Great «. Britain was carrying on in the Sudan with indirect rule, the people being controlled largely through the agency of kings and chiefs. Little bands of military men watched the interests of large areas, “and" said Mr. Benham, in an interview with a ■ “Star” representative, “you can judge what can happen.” Most of the natives look upon British government,as something better than they had before. The , country was devastated by Mohammedan slave traders when the white men entered the land, consequently, they were looked upon as deliverers from these conditions.” Mr. Benham said that the mission’s one grievance with the Government was that it was trying to keep the missionaries put of Mohammedan cities.

Speaking- of the mission work generally, he further pointed out that It was not confined to no denomination. The work was commenced 3A years ago— in 1893 —when it was considered impossible to succeed in the work. Two companions, who went into the Sudan? with#him, died within' twelve months but Mr. Benham came out triumphant five morfths later and organised the pi resent mission, which included 120 missionaries in the field and -50 self-supporting native churches. “We have as many savages as one can meet anywhere,” said Mr Benham. “We touch the large Moslem cities in the northern Sudan area so we get both sides of African life. Pagans predominated in the south and Mohammedans in the north. The purpose of my mission to New Zealand is to establish a consul to our mission to advise us regarding further missionaries, and to generally present our claims for assistance in the Sudan. I might mention that we have three New Zealand workers in the field at the present time.

In addition to being a public feacher and preacher, Mr. Benham is the editor of “Evangelical Christian and the Missionary Witness,"which circulates amongst religious denominations all over the world. •