THE SUDAN MISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 174, 31 December 1914, Page 5

THE SUDAN MISSION.

AN INTERESTING LECTURE.

BY MR. D. N. MACDIARMID.

There was a very good attendance at the Good Templar Hall last night, when Mr. D. X. MacDiarmid, of the Sudan United Mission, gave a most interesting and instructive lecture on the work of the mission field in South Africa, the pleasure of the audience being considerably enhanced by a number of excellent lantern pictures, depicting places of interest, specimens of the various tribes, their manners and customs, together with views of temples, river scenerv, and other objects of interest to be found in ,a trip covering 4000 miles. The lecturer infused considerable enthusiasm into the audience by his graphic and at times humorous comments, while he lost no opportunity of emphasising the great work of the mission, and the greater need for its extension. He pointed out how actively the Mohammedans were getting hold of the natives, operating from the northern portion of the vast continent, and working in the great central area. In a map which was shown on the screen, he pointed to a line of some. 1400 miles across between the Moslem and the Pagan territory, and eloquently advocated the establishment of a complete chain of mission block stations being established along that ' line, so as to counteract the efforts of the Moslems, and to push forward Christianity. Commencing his narrative at the starting point of Cairo, the lecturer alluded to the presence of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the vicinity of the Pyramids. From thence to Khartoum was the next step, and naturally General Gordon was the chief attraction, his photograph evoking loud applause. In connection with this grand hero-martyr, the lecturer, by way of illustrating the great reverence in which Gordon is held by the natives, mentioned that the missionaries, when introducing Christianity to them, did not refer to it as a new religion, but as the religion which Gordon held, and that quite satisfied the natives. In connection with the manners and customs of the natives, Mr. MacDiarmid pointed out that their two chief occupations were fighting and dancing. The missionaries were striving hard to put down tho fighting, but the dancing was almost as great an evil, and when the natives were not fighting they took to dancing. It was, therefore, necessary to provide them wifti sorno other occupation, and therein lay the difficulty. One of the pictures that attracted the sympathies of the audience was that of a number of children rescued from slavery. These are taken to a Home, and trained; so that they may be fitted for missionary work among their own people, and to further that important part of the mission he pleaded for practical aid in educating these useful workers, 75,000 of whom had passed through tho hands of the Missionary Society. In concluding a inpst enjoyable address, Mr. MacDiarmid pointed out that the natives of Africa understood tho blessing that Christianity was to them. They wero eager teachers to br sent, and sages were often received but more the be pagation Gol^^^^^^^^^H Africa. (Applause.) On t°e of tl^^^^^^^^H Rev. A. B, Chanpell, &^^^^^^^^| thanks was accorded to and convin^^^^^^^^H Mr. N. K. retary, thanked thoße attendance, and expresseoVßVßVßl the satisfactflHVßVßl realised by the coUcctioIHHVHVH been taken up. VHVBVJ After a vote of thanks toHBVBV man, the singing of the NationHßVßV brought the meeting to a tfosaHHVHl