To-day the Muhlenberg mission has fifteen men and women at work. It counts its native Christians at three hundred. A valuable and interesting expansion of the work is the employing of Doctor Westerman, a distinguished German philologist, to prepare grammars and dictionaries of the native languages, which, to prepare for greater growth, the missionaries must learn. Like all of Africa this mission begs for more workers, more money, more interest, more prayers.
Here closes the record of our work in Africa. It has given many examples of faith and courage to missionary history, it has added many names, John Ludwig Krapf, Rosina Krapf, Schreuder, Day, to the roster of Africa’s apostles. But in the words of Frederic Perry Noble, Africa’s chief missionary historian, “Lutheranism is yet in its attitude toward missions a sleeping giant.” Since Mr. Noble gave expression to this opinion, Lutheranism has made a beginning in African mission work. Still, however, she is not yet aroused. As in India, so in Africa, German missions and missionaries have suffered cruelly in the present war. May the true spirit of Christ so influence His Church henceforth that missionary and not military warfare may fill the pages of history.
CHAPTER V.
The Lutheran Church in China, Japan and Elsewhere
China.
The Land
The People
Religion
Character
History