Africa the promoters of a neutr first cotton see ever vi i te produced on the Money mu

and the first plough ma

y in Kafraria was brouge en me ld of the com. It has been sand begin at the wrong end by yng LL he introduction of the Gope. D Inning at the wrong end, which we he charge is not trie, for msättra to teach the industrial arts as so a all practicable, and, on most of me uth Africa, teaching these as tianity go on together.

some reluctance that I again refer but the peculiarity of his view, i e produced by them both on the ad the native inhabitants of Natal render few remarks. On his first visit to Neil posed to live in charity and ion with n in Christ,' though he could not agree on all points and some of them important faith and doctrine; and he remarks, "I opportus of observing the faithfulness of the V yan ministers at Maritzburg, mas (both it appeared of my of my own birthplace, in cely of Durban.'* But at a ks in Natal,' p. 269.

ances out of the L.5000, native reserve, in support of institutions having for their object the industrial training of native youth, and the encouragement of the production of articles of export by the native population generally, and he has requested me to ascertain from you whether there is any probability of such an institution being undertaken by the Wesleyan Society in this colony, and to invite any further communication on the subject you may think it desirable to make for His Excellency's consideration.-I am yours, etc., T. SHEPSTONE,

Secretary for Native Affairs.

The information asked was given, and Mr Pearse, writing to the Rev. J. Gaskin, who had joined him in the mission, says: You will be glad to learn that the Lieut.-Governor (B. C. C. Pine, Esq.) has decided to give L.200 per annum for an industrial establishment at Indaleni, and the same amount for one at Verulam. I mentioned the question of land, but he thought they had none to give in the immediate vicinity of Verulam; but that subject will again be under his consideration. With management I induced him to make the grant retrospective from June last in each case, so that you will obtain an extra L.100 for your important objects. Cotton seeds and ploughs you can have also; the ploughs on the conditions stated to us by Mr Shepstone.'

Cotton seeds and ploughs! Are not Christian missionaries who introduce such things among

aborigines of South Africa the promoters of a healthy civilisation? The first cotton seed ever sown in the Natal colony was produced on the Morley mission station in Kafraria; and the first plough that ever turned up a furrow in Kafraria was brought into the country by a herald of the cross. It has been said that missionaries begin at the wrong end by trying to civilise through the introduction of the Gospel; but if this were beginning at the wrong end, which we greatly doubt, the charge is not true, for missionaries generally begin to teach the industrial arts as soon as they find it at all practicable, and, on most of the stations in South Africa, teaching these arts and teaching Christianity go on together.

On his first visit to Natal

It is with some reluctance that I again refer to Dr Colenso; but the peculiarity of his views, and the influence produced by them both upon the European and the native inhabitants of Natal render necessary a few remarks. he was disposed to live in charity and union with his brethren in Christ,' though he could not agree with them on all points and some of them important points of faith and doctrine;' and he remarks, 'I had many opportunities of observing the faithfulness and zeal of the Wesleyan ministers at Maritzburg, Messrs Pearse and Thomas (both it appeared of my own country and one of my own birthplace, in England) and Mr Spencely of Durban.'* But at a

*Ten Weeks in Natal,' p. 269.

later period he came into frequent collision with the missionaries on several important and vital questions. A Board of Education was formed by the Governor to prepare a scheme for the establishment and conducting of schools for the children of the colonists of which Dr Colenso was of course a member, as also was Mr Pearse. The question arose whether, as a rule, the Scriptures should be introduced into the schools aided by the Government. The Bishop strongly opposed any such rule being formed, and wished to leave it to every local committee to introduce the Scriptures or not as the majority might determine. Yesterday,' says Mr Pearse, writing to Mr Gaskin, Oct. 27, 1858, 'the Board of Education met-Bishop Colenso in the chair. It was decided, 1st, That the reading of the Scriptures shall not be compulsory in those schools which receive Government aid; and, 2d, That the religious instruction, where local committees desire it, shall consist of the reading of Scriptures, but shall not interfere with the hours devoted to secular education.' Against these resolutions Mr Pearse and others firmly, but in vain, protested, thinking that a question of such importance should not be left to local committees, which might, in some instances at least, be formed of worldly men ; and public meetings were held in the colony, which, to the credit of the colonists be it said, pronounced emphatically in favour of scriptural education. The result was, first the resignation by Dr Faure, of the

Dutch Church, of his seat at the Board, and ultimately the dissolution of the Board itself, when the educational department of colonial affairs was placed under the management of Dr Mann.

Another subject of controversy arose at this time of a far more serious character. The evils of polygamy, which is universally practised by the Kafir tribes, are so enormous, that the missionaries of all societies had done everything in their power to put it down, and had ever maintained that, on New Testament principles, no polygamist could be admitted into the Church by the rite of baptism. If a man who had more wives than one became an inquirer after truth, he was received as a catechumen, but, ere he was baptized, he was required to make his choice of one wife, to be married to her, and to put the rest away. Dr Colenso maintained that in making this requirement the missionaries were wrong. I must confess,' he observes, that I feel very strongly on this point, that the usual practice of enforcing the separation of wives from their husbands, upon their conversion to Christianity, is quite unwarrantable, and opposed to the plain teaching of our Lord. It is putting new wine into old bottles, and placing a stumblingblock, which He has not set directly in the way of their receiving the Gospel.'* These and similar remarks, some of them not a little offensive, caused considerable

* 'Ten Weeks in Natal,' p. 140. See also his letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Macmillan.