£>7 
 
 The Congo News Letter 
 
 THE VISIT OF THE CONGO-SUDAN COMMIS¬ 
 SION, MAY 26 TO JULY 20, 1910—REPORTS FROM 
 MISSIONARIES OF THE STATIONS VISITED— 
 ENCOURAGING EFFECTS OF THE VISITATION 
 
 T our Conference at 
 Matadi it was thought 
 that something should 
 be done to commem¬ 
 orate the notable visit 
 of the Congo-Sudan 
 Commission. A cir¬ 
 cular letter contain¬ 
 ing accounts of their visit at the different 
 mission stations seemed to be the best 
 available means. A committee was ap¬ 
 pointed consisting of VIessrs. Geil and 
 Metzger and Mrs. Frederickson to con¬ 
 sider plans for this letter, and also to 
 study the problem of a mission periodical 
 such as is published on some of our other 
 mission fields. The committee decided 
 for the circular letter and asked Mr. 
 Moon to copy the same. 
 
 THE CONFERENCE AT MATADI 
 
 Rumors of many sorts and from many 
 sources filled the Congo air, but one sure 
 sign was the faces of the members of the 
 Commission—Rev. Drs. F. L. Ferguson, 
 Johnston Myers, and J. H. Franklin, 
 who arrived at Matadi by the steamer 
 Briixellesville May 26, 1910. They 
 had not been able to call at Vlukimvika 
 on their way up the Congo River, so here 
 at Matadi they had their first sight of 
 our great mission work. They saw the 
 important business interests of our mis¬ 
 sion done with system and dispatch un¬ 
 excelled, and at the same time the edu¬ 
 cational and evangelistic work was not 
 neglected, in fact, being done well 
 enough to furnish a splendid opportunity 
 for the right kind of a man and his wife 
 to assist in this most important phase of 
 the work. On Sunday a splendid con¬ 
 
 gregation of men attended the services. 
 They saw the boatmen building a fine 
 new stone wall around the mission 
 grounds when not engaged in carrying 
 loads or passengers’ baggage. Here is a 
 fine stone chapel, store-room for trans¬ 
 port loads, and new book-room built un¬ 
 der Dr. Sims’ supervision. In addition 
 to the fine old mission house which is 
 doing good service there is a visitor’s 
 house, which the Commission appreciated 
 so well that they gave evident approval 
 of Dr. Sims’ plans for a new and com¬ 
 modious eight-room structure. The dis¬ 
 pensary is the busiest corner of the com¬ 
 pound, for here often the work on the 
 accounts begins at half-past four in the 
 morning and by sunrise the natives are 
 on hand for treatment and medicine, and 
 on throughout the day, with the excep¬ 
 tion of the noonday siesta, business, ac¬ 
 counts, and dispensing medicine fill up 
 all ordinary days until steamers are in, 
 when receiving guests, taking care of 
 their baggage, making out their various 
 State, postoffice, and customs papers, and 
 getting them off, bag and baggage, chop- 
 box and all, on the morning train at half¬ 
 past six, fill them to overflowing. 
 
 One of the things which Dr. Sims 
 mentions concerning the visit of the 
 Commission at Matadi was the sudden 
 revelation to him that the critical mo¬ 
 ment in the life of our A. B. F. M. S. 
 Congo mission had come. On the Sun¬ 
 day, as he was explaining to the native 
 congregation in the chapel the reason for 
 the coming of the Commission, he broke 
 down, for, as he says, it struck him that 
 these men’s reports at home would de¬ 
 termine the future of our mission for 
 
good or ill. But happily they were men 
 whom we learned to love and trust and 
 they made us all feel that our work 
 should be better supported than ever. 
 
 THE ITINERARY OF THE COMMISSION 
 
 From Matadi the Commission trav¬ 
 eled by train to Leopoldville, stopping 
 off twenty-four hours at Kimpese, where 
 they inspected the work of the Union 
 Training School while the students were 
 in session. From Leopoldville they took 
 mission steamers for a trip on the Upper 
 River, visiting our stations at Tschum- 
 biri and Ikoko, and also Bolengi, the sta¬ 
 tion which we had to abandon at the 
 time of retrenchment years ago. They 
 also visited in passing the intervening 
 missions of the Baptist iMissionary So¬ 
 ciety (English). Returning to Leopold¬ 
 ville, they took train again, visiting Sona 
 Bata. At Thysville they left the rail¬ 
 way for a long caravan trip in order to 
 visit Lukunga and Banza Manteke. En 
 route they saw the large mission station 
 and school center of the Baptist Mission¬ 
 ary Society at Wathen and the Swedish 
 Missionary Society’s station of Mukim- 
 bungu. After a tramp of eight hours 
 from Banza Manteke they reached the 
 railway again at the Lufu station and 
 went on down to Palabala Gare, from 
 where they climbed the great Palabala 
 hill and spent a night at that historic sta¬ 
 tion, and the following day went down 
 to Matadi, where they spent several days 
 in conference with the members of our 
 mission. By arrangement with the Dutch 
 House at Banana they were able to en¬ 
 gage their steamer to take them to Mu- 
 kimvika, and then across to Banana to 
 catch the French steamer, July 20. 
 
 This remarkable tour was made as 
 planned, schedule time was kept, and not 
 one of the party was ill throughout. 
 Great credit is due to Mr. Clark for the 
 care and wisdom which he showed in 
 conducting the party, three of whom 
 were unused to tropical travel. 
 
 KIMPESE 
 
 Things move fast sometimes in Congo- 
 land, at least, they did on Monday, the 
 30th of May, when we received a two- 
 hours’ notice that the Commission were 
 on the train en route for Kimpese. All 
 hands put to work and when the train 
 arrived we were at the station with the 
 
 students to welcome our long hoped-for 
 visitors. We were disappointed that the 
 visit was to be so short, but we lost no 
 time in showing them about and discuss¬ 
 ing the plans of the school, its prospects 
 and needs, and its relation to the work 
 of our mission stations. 
 
 Unfortunately our colleagues were 
 away attending a committee meeting at 
 Leopoldville, but as far as possible the 
 regular program of the school was car¬ 
 ried out. The Commission saw the stu¬ 
 dents in their homes, at their studies, and 
 at their work. As it happened, they had 
 just begun brick-making and were very 
 anxious to put on sackcloth and demon¬ 
 strate what good bricks could be made 
 without straw. At the regular prayer 
 hour in the evening each of the members 
 of the Commission and Mr. Clark gave 
 the students a message which was inter¬ 
 preted by one of the students. 
 
 It was very impressive to note how 
 these men, many of whom were super¬ 
 stitious heathen just a few years ago, evi¬ 
 dently appreciated the importance of the 
 event. They seemed to feel that these 
 distinguished visitors indeed represented 
 the people who were sending them their 
 teachers to enlighten them and their 
 needy people. They seemed to have a 
 new sense of gratitude to God for the 
 light which they had received, and a new 
 desire to carry that light to their breth¬ 
 ren who still sit in darkness and under 
 the shadow of death. 
 
 This visit was all too brief, but it was 
 lasting in its influence upon the students 
 who never failed to pray for the Com¬ 
 mission as they were making their jour¬ 
 ney through this strange land where per¬ 
 ils to life are so great, and that they 
 might be able to return to their own 
 land with a message to the people who 
 sent them. S. E. Moon. 
 
 A COMMISSION TO THE CONCO MISSION 
 FROM AMERICA ! 
 
 We have often longed for this, but 
 some of us began to think we were get¬ 
 ting too old to live until it reached us. 
 Again we were a little nervous when it 
 was proposed that the Commission 
 should go to the Sudan first; then ru¬ 
 mors reached us that Congo might have 
 first innings and our hopes ran high, and 
 suddenly, before we could receive any 
 definite news, the steamer Endeavor, of 
 
 [ 2 ] 
 
the British Baptist Mission, was putting 
 to our beach with the long looked-for 
 Commission on board. We had no op¬ 
 portunity to get up a demonstration, not 
 even to put up a flag, but perhaps it was 
 just as well or better that the Commis¬ 
 sioners should see things in their every¬ 
 day dress. In our own way we mission¬ 
 aries and the natives gave the brethren a 
 hearty welcome and we believe they were 
 content to take us as we were. It was 
 Saturday noon (July 20), and the ladles 
 had to move around to get all In shape 
 before sunset; meanwhile, the Commis¬ 
 sion visited some of the villages and 
 climbed the hill at the back of the sta¬ 
 tion (some four hundred feet) to get a 
 general view of the district. In the eve¬ 
 ning they joined us at a church meeting, 
 part of which was devoted to an ac¬ 
 count by Mr. Metzger of a recent jour¬ 
 ney In the Henry Reed made by himself 
 and Mr. Hartsock, up the Kasai, Mfini, 
 and Lukenie rivers and Lake Leopold II, 
 prospecting for a move forward, and 
 again we were made to hear the Mace¬ 
 donian cry, “Come over and help us.” 
 
 Sunday was, as usual, a busy day. At 
 7 A. M., prayer meeting; 10 A. M., 
 service; 11.30, baptismal service; 3.15 
 P. M., Sunday school; 4.30 P.M., com¬ 
 munion service; 7.30 P. M., service. In 
 the morning Dr. Myers spoke, a*^d in the 
 evening Dr. Franklin and Dr. Ferguson, 
 and we believe It was a holy, happy day 
 to most of those present. 
 
 Monday the Commission packed up, 
 and at 10 A. M. steamed away on board 
 the Henry Reed for Bolobo, where they 
 would rejoin the steamer Endeavor. We 
 knew about the date of their return, and 
 so invited the evangelists, teachers and 
 church members from the outposts, and 
 they came in good numbers. The sun 
 had set before the steamer Livingstone, 
 of the Congo Bolobo Mission, arrived at 
 our beach, but there was a large crowd 
 anxious to get a sight of the Ba?npomba 
 (Seniors) who had come to visit us. 
 When we gathered In the evening the 
 chapel was too small to receive all who 
 came. Dr. Myers again spoke and the 
 missionary translated Into Bobangi, the 
 general language spoken in the district, 
 but as there were present many women 
 from the Baboma tribe, one of their own 
 people interpreted part for their special 
 benefit. It was an evening long to be 
 
 remembered. In the morning the day 
 school gathered, and our friends had an 
 opportunity of seeing something of the 
 eagerness to learn and the need of further 
 help. 
 
 Then we stood or sat for a photograph 
 and soon after many hands and handker¬ 
 chiefs were waving good-bye to our dis¬ 
 tinguished visitors. 
 
 Thank God for the visit of the Com¬ 
 mission, for whom we and the natives 
 had been praying for months. They 
 brought a present blessing, and we feel 
 sure the future blessing will also come. 
 The friends who pray for us and support 
 us are, we fear, sometimes very shadowy, 
 being so far away, but our people will 
 now have a much better idea when we 
 tell them of the love and of the kindness 
 of the brothers and sisters who live across 
 the water; the existence of these is now 
 more real to them, and we seem to have 
 been brought much closer together. 
 
 The Missionaries, Tschurnbiri. 
 
 GREETING AT IKOKO 
 
 It was a day of rejoicing and great 
 pleasure when the steamer Endeavor was 
 sighted on Lake Tumba, July 25. We 
 had informed our Christians that It was 
 bearing our Commission, accompanied 
 by Mr. Haines and their former teacher. 
 Rev. Joseph Clark. IMost all of the peo¬ 
 ple of Ikoko, both Christian and heathen, 
 and a number from small towns nearby, 
 were gathered on the beach singing 
 hymns as the steamer approached the 
 beach. A great demonstration was made 
 when Mr. Clark set foot on shore. The 
 people gathered around him and carried 
 him over the heads of the crowd, making 
 an effort to tie him so that he would not 
 leave them again. Mr. Clark, however, 
 persuaded them to go and greet the Com¬ 
 mission, which they did. 
 
 Our Sunday services were very well 
 attended,- the temporary chapel being 
 filled and about as many more seated on 
 the ground outside. Through the kind¬ 
 ness of Mr. and Airs. Stonelake, who 
 gave the use of the Endeavor, we were 
 able to go to Ntondo, one of our out¬ 
 posts across the lake. From there we 
 made a short trip inland to give our 
 Commission an Idea of the people and 
 country. 
 
 The Commission left on Tuesday, but 
 made us rejoice in the fact that we would 
 
have them back again for the following 
 Sunday. With the steamer Henry Reed 
 I went to Bolenge to bring the Commis¬ 
 sion back to Ikoko. When we returned 
 here we were met by a large and enthusi¬ 
 astic crowd. The evangelists and their 
 wives, Christians, and inquirers from our 
 twelve outposts (some of them three or 
 , four days’ journey away), came to meet 
 these men from America and to greet 
 Mr, Clark. Again there was another 
 demonstration of love and respect. Mr. 
 Clark and Dr, Myers were lifted and 
 carried through the crowd to the house. 
 
 On Sunday we baptized thirty-nine 
 candidates. Dr. Myers assisting. The 
 Sunday school roll books on that after¬ 
 noon showed an attendance of 593 pu¬ 
 pils. In the evening each of the mem¬ 
 bers of the Commission, also Mr. Haines, 
 gave a short talk, Vinda doing the in¬ 
 terpreting. 
 
 The visit of the Commission to Ikoko 
 will ever be remembered by the Ikoko 
 people. To show the importance they 
 attached to this visit, it will suffice to 
 record the action of the Ikoko church in 
 appointing a committee to request the 
 Commission to send Mr. and Airs. Clark 
 back at once and to send ten more white 
 teachers to help in this great work of 
 evangelizing the great numbers of 
 heathen about Ikoko. They brought 
 firewood for the steamer freely, and 
 when, for the great abundance of fire¬ 
 wood they brought, a present was sug¬ 
 gested, they refused, saying the only pres¬ 
 ent they wanted was men to teach them 
 and help them in the work of saving 
 their brothers and sisters who do not 
 know Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that 
 this appeal will sound so loudly to all of 
 the Northern Baptists that they will send 
 laborers into this work at once. The 
 present situation is really demanding 
 much more help and none is at hand. 
 
 iS*. IV. Hartsock. 
 
 The following letter was written by 
 one of the members of the Ikoko church: 
 
 D ear Friends: We cannot find suit¬ 
 able words to express our thanks to you 
 for sending this excellent Commission to 
 us. In time past when we saw how 
 other societies carry on their work in 
 their various stations, having plenty mis¬ 
 sionaries, we began to think that our 
 spiritual fathers in America were neglect¬ 
 
 ing us. But now by the visit of these 
 good men and their conductor we know 
 that you still love us and think of us. 
 Our hearts have been lightened and we 
 pray that God will help us to do more 
 to assist our beloved missionaries in 
 spreading the good news to our neigh¬ 
 bors. We pray, too, that God may lead 
 the Commission. 
 
 SONA BATA 
 
 Saturday, the 25th of June, the Com¬ 
 mission visited Sona Bata. The evening 
 prayer meeting was well attended. Dr. 
 Frankfin spoke and won the hearts of 
 the people at once. Sunday Dr. Fergu¬ 
 son and Dr. Franklin spoke to the Sun¬ 
 day school. The house was nearly full 
 of children and visitors. They heard of 
 children in India and their customs, and 
 often the men could not refrain from ex¬ 
 claiming, “Just as we do.” At service 
 Dr. Franklin spoke to a full-packed 
 house. When he had finished, one of 
 our evangelists stood up and thanked him 
 on behalf of the Christians and said that 
 he would pray God that he might be¬ 
 come such a good man as Dr. Franklin. 
 
 At the young people’s meeting in the 
 evening Dr. Ferguson spoke of the peo¬ 
 ple among whom he has worked so long. 
 The house was full and the people lis¬ 
 tened eagerly. The superstitions in India 
 seem to be the same as those in Congo. 
 The Christians were cheered to go for¬ 
 ward as they heard of the triumph of 
 the gospel out there. They feel much 
 encouraged by their visit and are now 
 hoping that our mission will be kept up 
 in Congo, for rumors had reached them 
 that all their missionaries would be taken 
 away. 
 
 The orphans had begged to see the 
 Commission off. At the little railway 
 halt, quite to our surprise they started, 
 of their own accord, a verse of the hymn 
 “God be with you till we meet again,” 
 in Kikongo. 
 
 The Commission has come and gone. 
 Such men, we thank God for. God bless 
 them. We cannot praise them too much 
 for coming. What a sacrifice their 
 churches and their wives have made in 
 sending them to us. How thankful we 
 feel. The natives count them theirs, 
 and we all would enjoy a visit like this 
 again and again. 
 
 M. and P. Frederickson. 
 
 [ 4 ] 
 
LUKUNGA 
 
 The Commission arrived at Lukunga 
 from their overland trip on Saturday, 
 July 2. Arrangements for their coming 
 had been made by Mr. Hill, who had 
 gone up from Matadi to get carriers to 
 go to Wathen and take the Commission 
 for the remainder of the trip. 
 
 On Sunday there was a good crowd of 
 people, especially a good number from 
 the north bank. The people listened to 
 talks from the different members of the 
 Commission, and must have been greatly 
 delighted, either with the talks or what 
 Budimba said in interpreting them, for 
 they gathered about the visitors and 
 asked them to stay two days and talk to 
 them. During the afternoon the people 
 talked with the Commission and present¬ 
 ed them with a letter requesting that 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hill be sent to them at 
 Lukunga. 
 
 Monday morning, the glorious Fourth, 
 the Commission celebrated early by ring¬ 
 ing the bells of the station, and started 
 off for the long tramp to Mukimbungu 
 and Banza Kanteke, where they arrived 
 on Friday. 
 
 BANZA MANTEKE 
 
 There was nothing sentimental or 
 emotional about the visit of the Commis¬ 
 sion to Banza Manteke. They came, 
 they saw, they went their way. As far 
 as we can ascertain, the most exciting 
 event in connection with their visit oc¬ 
 curred a short time before their arrival, 
 when Mr. Clark’s hammock carriers, 
 without form, ceremony or warning, 
 brought him suddenly in too close prox¬ 
 imity to the penetrating dampness of a 
 stream of water. We have not learned 
 all the details, but we understand why 
 IVIr. Clark insisted upon wearing his 
 raincoat until the arrival of his baggage 
 an hour and a half later. 
 
 We purposed that the Commission 
 should see things as they were and are. 
 No attempt was made to cover up any¬ 
 thing or produce abnormal conditions. 
 Prior to Sunday the Commission looked 
 over the grounds and buildings and vis¬ 
 ited the day schools. They also conferred 
 with the staff in regard to matters per¬ 
 taining to the work. On Sunday about 
 700 persons assembled for worship. The 
 coming of the Commission had been pre¬ 
 viously announced, consequently there 
 
 was a larger attendance than usual. The 
 main service was in charge of one of the 
 native pastors—a man who was among 
 the first to accept Christ on this field. 
 H is life is a beautiful testimony of the 
 power of the gospel to keep and to save. 
 Mr. Clark spoke briefly of the early his¬ 
 tory of the work, its present condition 
 and needs and future prospects. Dr. 
 Ferguson spoke on behalf of the Com¬ 
 mission. He contrasted the work here 
 with that of India and other fields and 
 urged the people to be firm and steadfast 
 in their loyalty to Jesus Christ and His 
 work. While there was no outward 
 demonstration, there was plenty of evi¬ 
 dence of serious reflection and careful 
 self-examination on the part of the 
 church. 
 
 Dr. Ferguson’s address was followed 
 by a very fitting prayer offered by one of 
 the native pastors, in which he poured 
 out his soul in thanksgiving to God for 
 bringing the Commission safely to us, 
 for the help which has come and is still 
 coming from the churches at home, for 
 the knowledge of God and of His son 
 Jesus Christ, and Invoking the divine 
 help and blessing upon the Commission 
 during the remainder of their journey, 
 and also upon their families, friends, rel¬ 
 atives and churches at home. The con¬ 
 gregation then stood and sang very heart¬ 
 ily “God be with you till we meet 
 again.” The service closed with a bene¬ 
 dictory prayer by the native pastor. 
 
 I knew that the congregation would 
 want to welcome their visitors with a 
 handshake. I knew, too, that the Com¬ 
 mission would want to leave in a very 
 short time. So it was suggested that the 
 entire congregation should show their 
 welcome according to native fashion, 
 which consists in clapping the hands 
 slightly closed. The suggestion was spon¬ 
 taneously complied with. However, many 
 insisted upon the customary handshake. 
 It was a matter for deep regret that the 
 visit had to terminate so abruptly. With 
 sad hearts and moist eyes many lingered 
 to see those whom they had come to re¬ 
 gard as their friends and benefactors take 
 their departure. I myself followed for 
 some distance, and as I returned I passed 
 a group of men in the nearby village who 
 said to me, “Our joy is finished.” I 
 asked why. They said, “Because the 
 white men have gone.” I replied, “No, 
 
 [ 5 ] 
 
j'our Joy IS not finished, but only begun.” 
 You can remember their visit and give 
 earnest heed to their words. Besides, 
 they bear you upon their hearts, and al¬ 
 though they cannot stay, or come again, 
 they may be the means in the hands of 
 God of helping others to come who will 
 be a great blessing to you and to j^our 
 work.” They replied, “We are very 
 thankful.” Both missionaries and natives 
 regard the visit of the Commission as a 
 godsend, and, like Paul of old, we have 
 been made to thank God and take cour¬ 
 age, J. E. Geil. 
 
 PALABALA 
 
 July 11 was a day of rejoicing among 
 our Palabala people in general. We had 
 fixed the 10th for communion in order 
 that our people from our out-stations 
 should see the Commission. From Sat¬ 
 urday evening church members began to 
 arrive, mothers carrying their infants as 
 well as food and clothing for the occa¬ 
 sion. 
 
 After our early service on Alonday, 
 175 other members arrived, hence after 
 worship at 11 A. M. we sat with these 
 at the Lord’s table. At the close of this 
 service, long before the arrival of the 
 train, a number of our people were at 
 the Halt waiting. At 3.30 when I start¬ 
 ed out, to my surprise there were scores 
 of people ahead. As the train stopped at 
 the Halt, up went a shout of welcome 
 which the hills and vales re-echoed. All 
 the way to the compound men, women 
 and children were on tip-toe with expec¬ 
 tation and eagerly waiting to see the 
 faces of these new friends. On the com¬ 
 pound crowds were gathered in front of 
 our little chapel with Mrs. Hall, and 
 as the Commission arrived, again was 
 heard shout after shout of welcome, such 
 as Congos alone can give. We pressed 
 through the crowd to our new dwelling, 
 so that we might give at least a cup of 
 tea to the travelers, weary from the 
 rough journey and rougher climb from 
 the railway station, before meeting the 
 waiting congregation. But from the ver¬ 
 anda Dr. Myers thanked the people for 
 their happy welcome. As soon as possi¬ 
 ble we repaired to the chapel, for dark¬ 
 ness had fallen. Dr. Ferguson, Dr. 
 Franklin, Dr. Myers, and also Mr. 
 Haines, whose presence we welcomed, 
 gave to us messages of inspiration and 
 
 clieer; yes, and also Mr. Clark, whom 
 they knew from his early labors among 
 the people here. 
 
 The spirit of oneness, of a common 
 purpose, was apparent as we met in our 
 little mission home for the evening meal. 
 Then letters from their loved ones in the 
 dear homeland were eagerly read. What 
 a share those loved ones have in this ser¬ 
 vice, giving their best where they them¬ 
 selves could not come. 
 
 July 12, after morning prayer meet¬ 
 ing a deacon, on behalf of the church, 
 thanked the Commission for their visit 
 and asked them to convey the gratitude 
 of the Palabala church to the “Aku- 
 luntu” in America for sending to them 
 the word of life and light. He con¬ 
 cluded thus: “You are our parents, we 
 are your children, trying to walk, but 
 we are not strong, therefore we ask you 
 to continue to pray for us, to help us.” 
 The same day at 7.30 P. M. we were in 
 session at Matadi for our special confer¬ 
 ence with the Commission. 
 
 May the Master of the vineyard bless 
 their coming in and their going out and 
 favor us with the blessing of another 
 such visit in the not far distant future. 
 
 Elizabeth G. and IV. A. Hall. 
 
 NOTES ON THE CONFERENCE AT MATADI 
 
 On the evening of July 12 all but two 
 of our Congo missionaries on the field 
 were gathered at Matadi for conference 
 with the Commission. We had a most 
 blessed week discussing the various prob¬ 
 lems of our work plans and prospects for 
 the future, with the result that we were 
 all Inspired with fresh courage and hope. 
 
 Through the hospitality of our Swed¬ 
 ish missionary friends, our Conference 
 spent one pleasant afternoon at Londe. 
 
 One important event which the edi¬ 
 tor could not forget to mention was the 
 birth of Franklin Ferguson Myers Aloon 
 on the morning of July 13. This was no 
 time for a baby to put in appearance, 
 monopolizing the time of doctors and 
 others, but he did, and for his impudence 
 he received his great name and a little 
 bank account, presented to him by the 
 Conference friends to help him in the 
 years to come to live up to it. 
 
 It seemed like being in church at home 
 on Sunday morning as we, together with 
 our friends of the Swedish Missionary 
 Society and the Baptist Missionary So- 
 
 [ 6 ]- 
 
ciety, about thirty white people in all, 
 listened to Dr. Myers’ inspiring sermon. 
 
 In the afternoon a most impressive 
 dedicatory service was held in Dr. Sims’ 
 dining room for the “Commission Baby.” 
 All hearts were unitedly lifted to God 
 as Dr. Ferguson led in the prayer for 
 this young life and for the children of 
 'Other missionaries. 
 
 The Sunday evening service was the 
 climax of all when the Commission led 
 us in a real heart to heart experience 
 meeting. 
 
 After all, whether the Northern Bap¬ 
 tist Convention, the Board of Managers, 
 the Commission, or we as Congo mission¬ 
 aries shall prove to be vital forces in 
 building up the kingdom of God will 
 depend ultimately upon how nearly our 
 hearts ring true. 
 
 Monday morning we bade the Com¬ 
 mission good-bye. Never did men de¬ 
 serve better the good will that went with 
 every farewell word. 
 
 Good-bye, Dr. Ferguson. They say 
 you poked your cane into every place 
 where the white ants had been working 
 —-but jmu know from experience—and 
 you can explain everything when you get 
 home. 
 
 Good-bye, Dr. Franklin. You did 
 take notes on all of us, and of how much 
 everything cost—but you put a whole- 
 souled sympathy down with every item. 
 
 Good-bye, Dr. Myers. You saw every¬ 
 thing, but you didn’t go to South Africa. 
 You left us all better than when you 
 came—you told us what we needed and 
 how to get it. God speed you all! 
 
 Good-bye, Mr. Clark. When you 
 come back for good we’ll give you the 
 bigeest welcome you ever got in your life. 
 
 Good-bve, Mr. Haines. Always wel¬ 
 come again. 
 
 MU KIM VIKA 
 
 The trim Andrea was in readiness for 
 the arrival of the mission boat with the 
 Commission on Monday morning, the 
 18th of July—then with every one and 
 everything on board—a genial sunlight 
 and smiling faces, with waving farewells, 
 the little steamer directed its course 
 down the surging river. The faces turned 
 thoughtfully and tenderly backward to¬ 
 ward the vanishing port and the land of 
 so many adventures, with memories of 
 the large fields, the various stations and 
 
 the eager workers and the welcome of 
 the ways. The abrupt turn of the river 
 shut off iVIatadi and then the faces 
 turned toward the end of the journey. 
 Boma was a port of call and the Ameri¬ 
 can Consulate a point of visitation; then 
 again, we were in touch with Matadi 
 in the timely luncheon, which had been 
 so carefully and amply provided by the 
 thoughtfulness of our Conference women 
 —everything in fine form, from soup to 
 coffee; and the little souvenirs were a 
 pleasant surprise and happily received. 
 Mr. Krist came down to meet the Com¬ 
 mission and Vice-Consul Broy came on 
 board for a farewell word; then the An¬ 
 drea steamed down the river toward 
 Mukimvika. 
 
 It was toward sunset when the pier 
 was reached, then the long walk up the 
 hill until the arrival at the heights, just 
 before the twilight, allowing a glimpse of 
 the station and the wide, sweeping view 
 of river and sea and the land-held hori¬ 
 zon. The arrival was a most unexpect¬ 
 ed event for the station staff; and there 
 was a general rush to meet the demands 
 of the occasion—rooms in readiness and a 
 dinner to the call of the hour. Every 
 one of the hospital patients who could 
 walk, limp or toddle came forth with 
 keen curiosity and wide-eyed wonder at 
 the sudden appearance of so many white 
 men; but the characteristic courtesy of 
 the country did not fail them as they ex¬ 
 tended the soft-voiced salutation, “Ko- 
 leli.” The night was cool, with a bit of 
 brine in the air; there was a serene still¬ 
 ness on the heights, as the Commission 
 blew out the lights for retirement and 
 sleep—“God rest them, Christian gen¬ 
 tlemen.” 
 
 Tuesday was a speeding day of Inter¬ 
 est. There were thirty-one cases in the 
 hospital; the station was Inspected and 
 some of the towns visited. The superb 
 location of Mukimvika was manifest and 
 readily won the praise of the Commis¬ 
 sion ; and there was a marked interest in 
 the hospital, the patients, and the dem¬ 
 onstration of the care of the cases. Un¬ 
 fortunately, the school had not been 
 maintained in the absence of administra¬ 
 tion, so nothing could be seen of that 
 phase of the work. 
 
 Through the courtesy of Mr. Kruse, 
 the chief agent of the Dutch House, the 
 Andrea waited at Mukimvika to convey 
 
 m 
 
the Commission to Banana on Weclnes- 
 da}^ morning. The Commission made 
 the last packing of the Congo journeys, 
 and then speeded away to the last port 
 of call, Banana by the sea. The coming 
 of the Commission was a great event in 
 “Koleli” land. It will mean a more in¬ 
 telligent appreciation of opportunity, a 
 larger interest and an adequate support 
 of the long neglected field. The native 
 salutations of parting, “li^enda kiabiza. 
 Sola kiabiza,”' are all timely and sugges¬ 
 tive phrases: “You go on to the work, we 
 remain to the work”; “All service ranks 
 the same with God—there is no last or 
 first.” The mutual and inspiring bonds 
 of service in the commonwealth of God 
 and the welfare of His world. 
 
 Mr, Kruse v/as waiting at the pier to 
 welcome the Commission to Banana and 
 the hospitality of the Dutch House. 
 Luncheon was served and Air. and Airs. 
 Kruse made the few hours at Banana a 
 most enjoyable event. Then the French 
 steamer came into port and the Com¬ 
 mission left the last of the land of visi¬ 
 tation, speeding onward to the Sudan 
 and the waiting hearts in the homeland. 
 The members of the Commission have 
 left a fragrant memory for good cheer 
 
 a|d inspiration. The coming was most 
 timely—the selection most providential 
 —the fellowship congenial for very 
 sweetness and light. They have en¬ 
 larged the horizons and lifted the vision 
 to an unfailing outlook for the extension 
 of the kingdom in the Congo. At last, 
 after long and patient waiting, the hour 
 has come for our American advance. 
 May the members of the Commission 
 find the memory of the Congo days an 
 abiding benediction of remembrance! 
 
 An unusual and delightful feature of 
 the social hours of the Conference was 
 the genial presence of Air. Robert B. 
 Haines, Jr., a Philadelphian of the So¬ 
 ciety of Friends. Air. Haines has a deep 
 interest in African missions and so 
 availed himself of the opportunity of per¬ 
 sonal observation through the visit with 
 the Commission. Air, Haines is the first 
 layman whom the Conference has the 
 privilege to entertain; it is hoped that 
 others will find the Congo an interesting 
 field for travel with the opportunity of 
 seeing Congo missions. From Alay un¬ 
 til October journeys can be made com¬ 
 fortably by the inexperienced in tropical 
 travel. 
 
 iS. jE. Moon, 
 
 [ 8 ] 
 
 THE WOLFER PRESS, NEW YORK