South and South Central Africa: A record of fifteen years' missionary labors among primitive peoplesDavidson, Hannah Frances
History
South and South Central Africa: A record of fifteen years' missionary labors among primitive peoples
Davidson, Hannah Frances
Brethren in Christ Church -- Missions; Missions -- Rhodesia; Ndebele (African people); Tsonga (African people)
In school one is obliged to use the English word for such articles as
slate, pencil, and paper, since there is no word in the language for
these things. When Steigerwalds came, there were also a number of boxes
of goods sent out; and in unpacking these a pencil fell out. Sister
Steigerwald picked it up, and handing it to Masikwa, said, "Here is a
pencil." He was most delighted, and came and said, "The Inkosikazi
[Mrs.] can speak our language already. She said 'Pencil.'" Sister
Steigerwald, together with the other sisters, had their own experiences
in teaching natives in the kitchen and housework, as well as in sewing.
She proved most capable and patient in training various ones to be
cleanly and to do their work properly.
The services at the mission were well attended at this time, and
sometimes we were obliged to have an overflow meeting. Natives would
come fifteen miles to be present at the Sunday services. "Our little
church is too small," said some. "We need a new one."
Our congregations were gradually emerging from barbarism, and their
appearance on Sunday was often quite striking. Some of the boys and
young men would come, clean and neatly dressed in European clothes,
including hat and shoes, and exhibit good taste in the selection of
their clothing. Some again came well dressed but without shoes; others
would appear partly dressed, but anxious to display all the clothing
they had. Perhaps on a sweltering, hot day some would don a heavy winter
overcoat reaching below the knees, or a heavy suit of bright red
flannel. Another would have on a coat turned wrong side out to show all
the colors, and a vest outside of this, while a number continued to wear
the purely native garb of skins. A few of the girls were neatly clothed
in dresses; others in short skirts with or without a cloth thrown over
their shoulders. Some of the women's clothing was very modest and
picturesque.
Natives, especially at this stage of their advancement, do not as a rule
dress according to the weather, for to them clothing is more or less a
matter of ornamentation and they don it accordingly. One must be very
careful about placing special emphasis upon clothing, as the native is
naturally vain, and when he is able to be better clothed his vanity
often increases. He soon thinks that if he is clothed he is a Christian,
or if he goes to school and learns he is a Christian. He is quite ready
to put on these outward semblances of civilization without yielding
himself to God. If the missionary is willing to accept the outward form
of Christianity, whether of clothing or ceremonials, he may soon have a
large membership. He must continually guard against these things, and
seek to know the inner life of those about him, and their daily walk;
nor is it always easy to ascertain what is beneath the surface.
Hypocrisy is not at all unusual.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account