Thursday, March 19, 2009

Congo (35) Luebo, Congo 7/6/1921 [BMS]

[The following contained in the collection of letters to Dr. and Mrs. Chambers.

At the end of the letter, Dad explains its original purpose. Max Schlotter, ca. 2000]

Luebo, CONGO BELGE, Africa

July 6, 1921

Dear Friends:

There are numbers of things we might write about, but it is not always easy to determine just what would be of most interest to those at home. After having been out one term we don't see our surroundings in the light of the unusual.

Our mission has just had the pleasure and profit of a visit from a member of the Phelps-Stokes Fund Commission, and we had the privilege of entertaining him in our home during his stay of ten days, Dr. H. S. Hollenbeck.

The Phelps-Stokes Fund was established by a lady in New York for the purpose of helping the poor of New York, and for the education of negroes in Africa and the united States. At the request of the American Board of Foreign Missions with stations in West and Equatorial Africa the trustees of the fund agreed to send out this commission for the purpose of making a complete study of the fields and to assist the Mission Boards in formulating plans to meet the education needs of the native races. They have just about completed their study of the missions and are on their way back to Europe to get out their report. Dr. Hollenbeck, who visited us, came up from Capetown through Rhodesia and as far as the railroad comes, and then overland by porters to Luebo. He gave us many valuable suggestions, and also much light as to how the various missions are propagating their work. One of the greatest impressions that the Commissions had received up to this time regarding the needs of the natives is that of industrial education-including agricultural and industrial. We shall no doubt hear more from this Committee in connecting with our Foreign Mission Boards.

At present all of our so-called native churches, that is the buildings, have been nothing more than sheds; our large church here at Luebo, and the same is true of our other stations, are only sheds. A few months ago our church shed here was blown down by a strong wind, leaving us with no place sufficiently large to accommodate the Luebo Sabbath congregation so we had to use one of our smaller school buildings as a temporary house of worship until a new shed could be built. We have now planned to build a brick church as soon as brick and the tile for roofing could be made and burned. We have had our hearts and hopes set for a long time on a suitable church building, but one thing after another has prevented us from realizing our plans. It seems now, though, that necessity is going to force us to build a real church to replace these substitutes. We sometimes wonder if the Lord is ashamed of the church we had, when we might do better. We are working and praying for a better one in the near future.

And along with this, the native church here at Luebo is going to keep up with us, for one section of our village already has the funds in hand for putting up a brick church; they have already purchased a brick and tile machine and are at work under Mr. Hillhouse’s direction making brick for this church. If these plans are carried out, and they are certainly well on the way, it will mean quite a new departure for the natives in two different very important lines. First, they are supplying the means for building this church entirely among themselves and without any aid from the missionaries. Second, the building will be erected by the natives, for they are supplying the labor. But this does not mean that there will be little expense in its erection, what it does mean is that the natives are giving liberally.

On the evening of the Fourth of July, we had a "tacky party'" or rather as it turned out to be, a "character imitation" party. We had quite a good time ourselves, but the natives certainly enjoyed it immensely. One missionary represented Queen Elizabeth in her costume, another Charlie Chaplin, another farmer Cy Brown, another Uncle Sam (and it is needless to say this was fine), and so on, but when Mr. Martin came in dressed and made up as a colored valet, black face and kinky wig, the uproar was tremendous.

It was like vaccination, it certainly took. However, we all agreed that Farmer Brown took the cake.

There are no doubt many questions in your mind about the work and surrounds here, and all we need is your question to start us. So let us hear from you with plenty of them.

With best wishes. Yours in the Master's service.

(And a note penned in Dad's handwriting:

Dear Mother and Daddy:

This is a copy of letter we are sending to several people. I have also written an article for one of the church papers, which I'll send next mail. I haven't time to write you more this time. Love, B. M.)

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