Documenti di Didattica
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that had happened unto them. Two inquirers took alarm, and In the following year the converts were doubled, and the num
withdrew, though we believe they afterwards returned; but not ber rose to fifty, and this, be it observed, not by the half-hearted
one baptized member wavered. And what was the general adherence of whole villages or families coming in en masse, but
result 2 Not only did Mr. Wolfe, on his return, succeed in by the subjugation of individual souls, one by one, to the
getting full compensation for damage done, so that he was able obedience of Christ. This year was also marked by decided
at once to rebuild the wrecked mission premises, but the riots tokens of spiritual growth in the little Church—“increased
did a real service to the work by bringing Christianity promi prayerfulness, more zeal for the conversion of others, a deeper
nently before people of all classes. Men who had hitherto not acquaintance with the truth, greater boldness for Christ, and less
known, or not noticed, what was going on, began to inquire shrinking from the shame of the Cross.” Severe discipline was
what this new doctrine really was. Crowds flocked to the rebuilt exercised in one or two cases of inconsistency by excluding the
chapels; false and gross reports which had been circulated were offenders from the Lord's Table. This had a wholesome effect
discredited; the notion that Christians could only be abhorred generally, and the backsliders themselves came back in deep
by all right-thinking folk for their vile and wicked lives was penitence to be readmitted. Persecution, more or less trying,
corrected; an anonymous book appeared, evidently the produc continued, and the hostility of the literary classes was un
tion of a heathen little acquainted with Christianity, but defend diminished—a regular association being formed by them to
ing the missionaries; and one of the converts said, “It is much oppose the missionaries, and particularly to prevent Chinamen
easier to be a Christian now than it was twelve months ago, from selling or renting premises to them. But the common
before the riots.” people gladly heard the message of salvation; a weekly dis
Yet domestic persecution continued, and the Master's words cussion class was successfully carried on, and proved very useful
were fulfilled, “A man's foes shall be them of his own house for the exposition of Christian principles; the Scriptures were
hold.” Mr. Wolfe wrote, “Our two catechists and the school widely distributed; and one man was converted, without instruc
master have to bear a great deal for the sake of Christ, even tion by the missionaries, by reading a copy of St. Matthew's
from their own families. They do indeed suffer shame for the Gospel. No wonder Mr. Wolfe could write, “The year 1866
name of the Lord Jesus. I am persuaded it does them good, has closed in hope, and the year 1867 has opened with brighter
but it is not pleasant to the flesh.” The zeal also of these prospects than ever.”
Chinese brethren was exemplary, and it was not fruitless. Of The Mission was not now left to a single missionary. The
some of the converts, who came in one by one at this time, it is Rev. A. W. Cribb had arrived in November, 1864, and having
mentioned, that they were brought to Christ by the instrumen passed through the usual weary period of hard study of the
tality of Wong Kiu Taik, who thus proved himself worthy of his language, was actively engaged in useful labours. Nor were its
baptismal name (Kiu Taik means “Seeker of souls”). operations confined to the city of Fuh-Chow. The remarkable
One of these new converts was a very interesting case. He work in the provincial towns and villages, which has created so
was a most bitter opponent of the Mission, and used to come to deep an interest during the last ten years, had already begun.
the chapel on purpose to interrupt the service and abuse the To these “regions beyond” we must pay a visit in the next
catechist. One day he was so violent that he had to be turned chapter.
out, after which he did not appear again for some months, and
was quite lost sight of. But one Sunday Mr. Wolfe, noticing a
stranger listening attentively, went and spoke to him. “Sing WHAT I SAW IN AFRICA.
sang ” (i.e., Sir), said the stranger, “don’t you know me?” It Sketches of Missionary Life in the Yoruba Country.
was the very man, but Mr. Wolfe had not recognised him. He By THE REV. E. ROPER.
had not come under any other human Christian influence during
his absence, but the Spirit of God had been his teacher; he had IV.—ABOUT IFA, AND THE BABALAwos.
given up idolatry, and now wished to “be a Christian and #FA is on my table while I write about him for the GLEANER.
worship Jesus.” He placed himself under regular instruction, I wish my readers could see the idol itself. The picture,
and at length his baptism was fixed for Christmas Day, 1864. however, represents a person who is consulting Ifa, led by
At this he hesitated, saying, “I am not worthy to be baptized a “Babalawo”. The idol itself is represented by sixteen
on the day my Saviour was born into the world”; but the palm-nuts; bits of pot, small stones, and pieces of kola
appropriateness of the day for an event which was to be the lawo uses in hisnuts are mixed with the palm-nuts. All these the Baba
divinations. The Ifa which is by my side is contained
sign and seal of his “new birth unto righteousness” having in a coarse cloth bag. Sometimes, however, Ifa is put into a covered
been pointed out, he not only came forward himself to the font, wooden dish. ... Rich idolaters who can afford the money frequently have
but brought his little daughter in his arms to consecrate her this wooden dish supported on the back of a couple of birds, and the
also to the service of Christ. He received the name of Timothy, whole idol is cleverly carved out of a solid piece of wood. No African
and soon became Mr. Wolfe's right hand in the Mission. He idolMen is more interesting than Ifa.
and boys alone (almost without an exception) worship Ifa. I
had carried on a lucrative business in connection with the idol understand that a leading woman here and there has an Ifa, but I never
temples. This he now gave up, which brought upon him much knew one of them. The hold which this idol has on the men, and the
persecution, and he was often followed in the streets by a crowd extent to which Ifa worship enters into their daily affairs, is nearly
of people blaspheming that holy Name by which he was now unbounded. Business affairs, domestic affairs, social affairs, all require
Ifa. If a man is to be married, Ifa must fix the time; if a man builds
called. Another of the new converts brought a storm upon his a house, Ifa must approve of the place; if a man is making an agree
head by resigning his situation as foreman in a mercantile estament or a bargain in business, Ifa I' his approval. Kings and
blishment, because he would neither work on the Lord's Day nor chiefs bring national affairs to Ifa. He fixes the time for going to war
be a party to the deceit and fraud practised in the trade. and for making peace; and if a friendly message is sent by one chief to
another, Ifa must be consulted as to whether or not the sender is sincere.
October 8th in the following year, 1865, was a memorable day Nothing is done, great or small, by king or chief, by friend or foe, by
in the history of the Fuh-Chow Mission. On that day the new freeman or slave, without consulting Ifa.
church, built in the heart of the city by the liberality of the From this it will easily be seen that to be a Babalawo (priest of Ifa)
English residents, was opened for Divine service, and ten is to occupy a most important position.
persons were baptized, one of whom was Lo Ling, of whom we The Babalawo, is usually a man of wide experience, founded upon
extensive knowledge. He is to the African what the Augur was to the
shall hear again. The Chinese thronged to see the “great Roman in olden times, and what the Confessor is to the Romanist in
English Hall of Worship,” and many became inquirers. modern times. IIis knowledge of personal and public affairs is most
70 THE CHURCH MISSIONARY GLEAN.E.R.