THE LANGUAGE QUESTION

At Pentecost men of God spake in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance, but since that time missionaries have had to acquire the knowledge of other languages by laborious study, to enable them to make known "the wonderful works of God" to the people of other countries or nations.

Chinese, with its many-lettered alphabet, has always been a difficult language to acquire, and missionaries going to that country should be especially remembered in prayer.

Africa's language problem is its large number of tribal languages or dialects, and the difficulty of reducing them to writing. It is estimated on reliable authority that there are 514 languages and 314 dialects. To-day efforts are being made in the Belgian Congo to translate the Scriptures into one or two inter-tribal languages such as the Kikongo and Kingwana, which will greatly simplify the work of missionaries in that country.

Added to the difficulties of acquiring and translating native languages, is the need of a knowledge of French, in French and Belgian colonies, and of Portuguese in Angola and other Portuguese colonies.

In French West Africa a trade language called Bam-barra is now becoming widely known and used.

As far back as 1884, F. S. Arnot wrote concerning African languages:"The languages, though of course perplexing to a stranger, are undoubtedly easy, both in construction and pronunciation. Speaking as they do in fidelity to the natural law of euphony, they are wonderfully accurate. When reducing the languages to a written form, missionaries find that if they can but discover the grammatical rules the work is easy, as there are few exceptions.

"African languages are not to be learned at all correctly by direct conversation with the natives. They are more accurately acquired by constantly listening to their conversation with one another. Their manner of conversing with a European is absurd and very misleading. Not only do they distort their own language greatly, but they are constantly using outlandish sounds, which they think belong to the white man's tongue, and which they in their smartness have picked up.

"Again, if a European wishes to be intelligible to the raw native who has not been tutored to understand the sounds of strange tongues, he must remember that African languages are composed not only of sounds but of accentuated sounds. If he does not pay the closest attention to this, though he may be able to speak fluently to the native in a white man's store or town, he will require a person to interpret his words to a company of raw villagers. The Bushman's language goes to an extreme in this respect; certain sounds and clicks accented differently, pitched in a higher or lower key, shrill or deep-sounding, have all their different meanings; their language is consequently very musical."

Two years later Mr. Arnot wrote:"My progress in the languages has been, contrary to my expectations, slow and difficult."

At Ruwenzori a group of missionaries are translating the Scriptures into Kingwana, and in this work they are being assisted by Mr. Searle, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Deans and Ella Deans. Earnest prayer is requested that this work may be blessed of the Lord, and that the Scriptures so translated may bring light to many in heathen darkness. Prayer too should be made that funds may be forthcoming to pay for the cost of printing and distribution of the Scriptures when translated.

Concerning this work our Brother Wm. Deans writes as follows:

"During the week of June 14-23 we had a number of neighboring missionaries as guests, while we translated and revised the Gospels of Mark and Luke. The work which we are now doing is more along the lines of a revision of Mr. Lowder's excellent work than a new translation. We are most impoverished for Kingwana literature at the moment, hence haste is felt necessary that the translation may be printed and made available for distribution. As the work was not finished when our week was over, it was decided that one of us should go on to Ruwenzori and continue. Hence Brother Searle has gone for this month, and Dora and I expect to go to carry on next month if the revision is not finished."

We give below extracts from other letters received.

AFRICA

Nyangkundi, May 9.

There are now about twenty out-stations, or rural evangelistic schools, conducted from this station, besides about half-a-dozen along the Irumu-Stanleyville road being looked after from Lolwa, and conducted by native brethren from Nyangkundi, with one exception. We praise God for His grace thus in evidence, and for sending these His servants forth to labor in His harvest.

Then too there is the great need out here and the great gap in workers. When one sees the failure of the Church to evangelize, the burden of proof rests upon her to tell the reason why the utter and desperate need of the neglected areas has not been met before. Are not even now many, many "at home" who should be "out" to the ends of the earth with Christ's Gospel? And should we not encourage to the utmost the few that do volunteer, if it be at all possible for them to go in faith? Let us do our best by prayer, and any other means the Lord gives us, to help them forward on their way for this good work and thus be fellow-helpers in the truth!

–GORDON SEARLE.

Lolwa, Irumu, July IS.

Our hearts rejoice from day to day as we behold the goodness of our Lord in His long, lingering patience. What a wonderful Lord we serve! What a blessing to us all and the world likewise that this day of grace is in the Lord's hands! It is the goodness of God which leads to repentance.

Ella has gone to a place called Ruwenzori to help in the translation of the book of Mark, and to do the typing. A new hymn-book is also to be printed, of which we are greatly in need. Bob is doing well here and speaks the Kibila language quite well. It is a very difficult language, as the same sentence could be said two or three times and each time with a different meaning, brought about by the inflection of the voice. Mrs. Deans has not been so well, although now is on her feet again, for which we thank the Lord.-robert deans.

The following extract is from the Congo Mission News:

The death of Mr. Alec McTavish on Feb. 22 is a great loss to the Westcott Mission. Mr. McTavish was living at Mitombe, near Tshofa, among the Basongi tribe. He had prepared the New Testament in the language of the Basongi, and was hoping to have it printed this year when on furlough.

Mr. McTavish had taken one of their number down to the railway. It seems that his truck broke down, and he had to hire another to tow him home. After two strenuous days he reached home, and was at once taken ill with black-water fever, to which he succumbed.

Our deepest sympathy is extended to Mrs. McTavish, who has herself been in very poor health for some time, and to the little daughter, and also to the colleagues so suddenly deprived of a valued worker and friend.

CHINA

Taitowying, Hopei, July 2.

We were very glad to get the tent out at last, nearly two weeks ago. We have had very interesting meetings every evening, though on account of the rain on some evenings the tent has not been very full. The womenfolks especially are not able to come through the mud and water. We hope and pray the Lord will bless us in this village. Many are much interested in the Gospel.

-CHARLES O. KAUTTO.

INDIA

Bangalore, So. India, July 25.

We have had a visit from a great "guru," or spiritual leader of the people. He arrived three days ago in the city. He has a great retinue and is escorted by elephants and camels, and when he moves about the city he has an escort of mounted Indian police, by order of the Rajah, or king, of Mysore State. The guru himself reclines on satin cushions in a silver-mounted palanquin, which is carried on the shoulders of his disciples. It makes quite a parade when he moves abroad. He spent two days in a congested area not far from our house. Every Hindu house was levied two rupees for his entertainment and that of his retinue and animals. Two rupees represent almost a week's pay for working-men, and most of them had to borrow the amount to give to him. I asked the people what spiritual teaching the great guru gave them, and they said "None." He simply sat in state, and was admired or worshipped from a distance. The schools were closed so the children could share in the benefit of just being in the vicinity of one whose very presence was a benediction. He was worshipped as God. Giving to him or praying to him was just the same as doing it to God. Of course, it was humbug, and even many of the people submitted rather reluctantly instead of with religious enthusiasm. Yet they feared the great powers of such a holy man and did like the rest. After he left the neighborhood we told of the great Guru, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Kanarese Bible calls Him Guru, where the English calls Him Teacher. We contrasted the two gurus and shouted out to the glory of God that this Guru said He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.-Rowland Hill.

CHILE, SOUTH AMERICA

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Rigg report the birth of a daughter, Dorothy M'ae, born June 24. We rejoice with our brother and sister in this token of the Lord's goodness to them.