USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > One hundred years of Mount Vernon Church, 1842-1942 > Part 16
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Both Reverend and Mrs. Neipp were naturalized American citizens, although born in Europe. Mrs. Louise Frédérique Neipp was born in the lower Rhine region, educated in Alsace, and resided for many years in Paris before coming to America. Mr. Henri Alfred Neipp is a native of Neuchatel, Switzerland, where he received his education. He arrived in New York City in 1894 and, because of his lack of knowledge of the English language, was obliged to work on a farm in New Jersey. Soon after this, he became one of the directors of the Jackson architectural firm in New York, in which capacity he came to Boston in 1897 to superintend the erection of the beautiful iron stair railings in the State House Exten- sion.
Having heard and answered the missionary call, Mr. Neipp completed his preparation by attending the Gordon Bible and Missionary Training School, Boston, also by taking a post-graduate course at Moody Bible In- stitute, Chicago, during one of his furloughs in America. He was greatly impressed by Dwight L. Moody's messages at one of his revival cam- paigns in New York City, when Mr. Neipp sang in the Moody and Sankey choir at Carnegie Hall, during these meetings.
Mr. Neipp went alone to Africa in 1898 under the Philafrican Anti- slavery League of New York. In 1899, he and Mrs. Neipp were united in marriage in the city of Benguella, Africa. This League set up a plan of self-support for the missionaries, also another chimerical scheme for rescuing slaves. The slaves were to be settled in a chain of cities of refuge to be built across the continent. The project was blocked by the govern- ment of that colony, which maintained the right to allow a very dubious system of so-called "voluntary contracted recruitment" of native laborers. Mr. and Mrs. Neipp, who were first of all missionary evangelists, at once began preaching the Gospel of Christ to the natives, thus freeing many of them from the slavery of sin and death. During their long term of service, they were able to give succor and refuge to many scores of run- away slaves, and later on to even more when the Government finally dis-
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continued the evil contract labor system. In the meantime, the plan of self-support was continued, resulting in untold privations and sufferings for the missionaries.
With the dissolution of the Philafrican Liberator League, Mr. and Mrs. Neipp, who had become acquainted with missionaries of the American Board in Africa, were invited by them to join that well established mis- sion 200 miles north. They arrived at the Sakanjimba Station just previous to the organization of the new native church. When this station was moved to the far better site of Chilesso with Mr. and Mrs. Neipp in charge of the work, it became, in 1910, "The Mount Vernon Church in Chilesso." Mr. Neipp was ordained in 1904 at the Central Church, Bos- ton. This means that these missionaries had a part in the organization of that great African Church, attending the baptism ceremony of the twelve charter members-six native couples-who had the courage to leave their pagan customs and accept Christ as their Saviour and Master. It was decided to move to Chilesso because of the poor soil conditions at Sakan- jimba, and also because of the coming of many white traders, who were slave holders, and who established their shops and stores near the Christian center for protection and also to secure the Christian's trade. Meanwhile, their underfed and unruly native slaves lived by plundering the fields of the Christians.
The moving of hundreds of native Christians to the new and beautiful site of Chilesso was an event never to be forgotten, their personal be- longings carried on their heads and shoulders, and chickens, goats, pigs, and cattle driven through the forests. A number of camping places were built along the way, and children born at these camps, were, according to the native custom of commemorating the event, christened where they were born with the names of the camps, or were sometimes given the name "Onjila," or "Path," as a first name.
The Chilesso country, 4,000 feet above sea level, is a comparatively healthful region, inhabited by very friendly people of the Bantu race, called Ovimbundu. The language spoken there is Umbundu. Besides its fertile soil, its natural resources such as timber, clay, limestone, and iron, Chilesso also has hundreds of hot water springs (110º F.). These springs and the beautiful mountains surrounding Chilesso suggest the possibility of a prehistoric volcano, which caved in and formed the basin, five miles in diameter, at the edge of which Chilesso is located.
What an opportunity the missionaries had to lay the foundation of a Christian civilization in the wilds of Africa, establishing the Church of Christ in the hearts of these natives who had been in constant fear of evil spirits, of witch doctors, of ill-intentioned white men, and of the
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consequence of sin and death! The great problem at that time was where to begin to lay a solid foundation and to plan for the enlargement and ex- tension of Christ's Kingdom in Angola.
By first of all manifesting the love of God in their daily lives, they were able to win the natives' trust and to persuade them to leave their heathen villages and to come and live at the Mission Station. Besides needing in- struction in Christian living, the new converts had to be taught to read in their own language, which had just been put in written form by the American Board missionaries. The Book of Books, but especially the Gospel of John, was used in teaching these natives to read the "leaves which speak." These were the early beginnings of their now well-organ- ized and up-to-date educational work with its staff of specially trained missionaries. However, even today, literacy is one of the requirements for Church membership.
They also found that there was a great need for skilled labor. The African, as a rule, has very primitive tools with which to work and his needs are very few. One of the results of Christianity wherever it goes is the development of higher standards of living. At first, the missionaries lived in native huts made of mud and grass, dirty hovels without light or ventilation, the breeding place of vermin and disease. When better liv- ing quarters were erected for the missionaries, the natives, too, came to appreciate the comfort and attraction of these homes and to improve their own houses. They were eager to learn the various trades and handicrafts. The population of Chilesso soon grew to 500, with approximately 200 houses. As an architect and builder-besides helping the natives to build hundreds of their own houses-Mr. Neipp planned and built, not only at Chilesso but also at other mission stations, over forty mission buildings, residences for missionaries, school houses, boarding houses, and churches. Apprentices and workmen trained by him have become renowned for their skill and have been employed outside of the station in the building of houses, sawing of boards, in the building of roads and bridges, and in the construction of the railroad line running from the coast to Cape Cairo in the interior,
The missionaries were also able to bring out the natural abilities of the natives by giving them proper tools, opening up new fields of work! and developing new industries and trades. A native blacksmith of Chilesso has opened a shop in his village, where he has native iron workers under him doing all sorts of repairs-on wagons, forging and fitting door hinges and selling these at wholesale price to the white traders.
The Chilesso missionaries also did much towards the healing of the body. Besides being a true homemaker, Mrs. Neipp was naturally gifted
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in the diagnosis of sickness and in prescribing the proper medicine. As there was no doctor at the Mission Station when it first opened up, she equipped herself by reading medical books, through actual experience in treating those who came to her for help, and also by prayer to God and faith in the help of the Great Physician. The Chilesso dispensary became well known-a letter just received refers to Mrs. Neipp's curing one of the natives suffering from a serious ailment, who is now an ordained pastor and in good health. Today, Chilesso has an up-to-date, modern hospital, with an able missionary doctor and trained native assistants, ministering to the many thousands of sufferers, natives and white alike.
Although statistics and reports of the work may be interesting, they utterly fail to picture adequately the actual results in the improvement of general living conditions. The influence of the work of the mission field is indeed far-reaching. The Chilesso Church has brought about wonder- ful changes in social conditions, in agriculture, industry, and economics. The missionaries at Chilesso also introduced the use of modern currency, in place of the crude and clumsy system of native barter. At first cloth, salt, powder, beads and other articles were used as mediums of ex- change-one yard of cloth would buy a certain amount of potatoes. Workers were also paid in a similar manner. Think of the task it was each Saturday to pay fifty or one hundred laborers in this way.
While there is much reason to rejoice in the material and intellectual uplift of these primitive people, the spirit of enlightenment of the indi- vidual souls and of whole tribes is even more worthwhile, for now regen- eration and the priceless fruits of the Spirit are possessed by those who had no hope, but who now have the promise of eternal life.
Through the efforts of the lady missionaries at Chilesso, work among the women and children has grown and native homes and society have been greatly influenced. From photographs one can see what a great difference there is even in the outward appearance of a native woman who has turned from paganism to Christ and can better understand the influence of a Christian native woman in an African community. At Chi- lesso the native women are organized into Women's Associations, Mis- sionary Bands, etc. and their financial help in the missionary work is substantial. The preaching of the Gospel has indeed uplifted the woman and placed her in her rightful position of importance in the family and social life, as set forth in Christ's teaching. Among some of the native Christian women, who have helped in building up the Church at Chilesso are Nachipempe, Nakuenda, Esenge, Kutala, and Kosito.
Perhaps the change which has been wrought in the lives of these people may best be illustrated by the following incident. When a neighboring
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tribe were stricken by drought and a great famine prevailed, the Christians of Chilesso gave of their substance to feed the members of this once de- spised tribe. Mrs. Neipp, who helped organize this and other relief work, was rightly called "feeder of the country."
From none in 1900, the membership of the Chilesso Church has in- creased to 4,000, and at the Bailundo Station to over 10,000-the largest Congregational Church in the world today. These, together with many converts on probation and receiving instruction for admission to the Church, are living witnesses for Christ. There have been many instances when the native leaders have courageously taken their stand on the side of the missionaries and have given valuable information and helpful warning for the direction of the work as a whole-have truly become co- workers and counselors. In the beginning they had to formulate, as best they could, a code of Church discipline, but now, with the Bible as their guide, these leaders show great discernment and wisdom in dealing with native cases and embarrassing native problems, which often the mission- aries fail to understand or grasp clearly.
As to their unity and devotion, the coming together of these native believers on the mission station and outstations, leaving all their wordly relations in the heathen villages to accept and follow the leading of their native teacher evangelist and pastor, is a proof of the fact that they are all one in Christ. Before the coming of the missionary, the action of the natives when Kesongo, the native evangelist, was unjustly taken to prison by the officials, would have been unheard of. Instead of running away, the Christians of that outstation followed their leader to the fort, giving themselves to the authorities, saying, "we will go wherever our leader is sent. We wish to share with him his hardship or even exile."
Another example of Christian heroism was that of Enoke Salapula, now senior pastor of Chilesso, when years ago he was tied up, with 126 other Christians, to be drafted for eight years of military service. The Neipps tried their best to obtain special consideration from the authori- ties for these recruits, but in spite of their efforts, at the various military stations and camps along the way these men were stripped of their extra clothing and blankets. Their Bibles and books were taken away from them, they being told that as soldiers they would not need these. While locked up in jail, they heard of the Neipps' efforts in their behalf and of their prayers for them. This led Salapula to send them a letter, thanking them for their great love and concern, and closing his letter with these striking words: "We are ready to serve the government with our bodies and God with our souls."
Now by looks, work, and words, the followers of Christ may be singled out from the midst of others. They are greatly in demand to fill positions
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of trust by the white people, Portuguese and English settlers, because they have found the native Christians to be reliable and faithful as servants, accountants, and in government service, such as railroad employees, telegraphers, etc. When Mr .. Neipp asked one of their men why he has kept a position of prominence and long standing as caretaker of official government banquets, superintending the work in the kitchen and dining room, he said that "besides appreciating our every day work we Protestant cooks and waiters keep our jobs because we do not smoke or drink, nor do we eat the food entrusted to our care unless it is definitely given to us."
At present they have orderly Sunday morning services, conducted very much like those we have here in Boston. At first, every Saturday they had to go on foot, or riding an ox or a mule, to the native villages to tell the people that the next day was Sunday and to invite them to come to church. When they came, the old men sat on the front bench, with their tricolored night-caps on their heads, loudly assenting by word of mouth or by clapping of hands to the missionary's preaching. Every Sunday morning the Church bell was rung for twenty minutes, and when at last the crowd had arrived and the missionaries were ready to begin the morning service, perhaps there would be a great shout and all the people would rush out to look at two monkeys which had broken loose from their cage. These monkeys ran along the garden walls and around the premises, much to the amusement of the people. The missionaries tried to catch them by offering them bread and peanuts, but finally gave up and suggested to the people that they go in to the church and have their meeting. But the mon- keys could not be kept outside-they came in, running among the people, sitting on the pulpit or organ, until at last they were caught and locked up again. The missionaries felt that evil forces were at work to allow these monkeys to escape on Sunday and bring confusion to their meetings. Many years afterwards, when they had grown to manhood, some of the Christians confessed that they as boys had opened the monkeys' cage every Sunday to see the fun. "Boys are boys the world over."
The new church building at Chilesso was dedicated in 1930, at the time of the Jubilee of the Missions. On this occasion, a great crowd of natives and whites, missionaries and friends from abroad were present, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Chalmers, then assistant pastor of Mount Vernon Church in Boston. Mrs. Chalmers and Mrs. Neipp opened the doors of this beautiful building-100 feet by 35 feet, which can seat over one thousand natives. The key used by them had been forged by a native blacksmith from a piece of iron ore from the Chilesso mountains. Later on, this key was presented to the mother church in Boston and placed in a small box which is now at the foot of the pulpit in that church. At this Jubilee celebration, the Ford touring car given to the
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missionaries by Mount Vernon Church was used and was on display. The money for this car had been raised at a Boston Mount Vernon Church Missionary supper, every part being put up for auction and "sold" to the highest bidder. In twenty minutes, the full amount was secured. One party, who was too late for the bidding, purchased the grease and the squeak. This car was a great improvement on the earlier methods of transportation, such as traveling on foot, being carried in hammocks, or riding on oxen or mules. Now automobile dirt roads connect all cities, missions and schools. A railroad now runs 1200 miles from the coast to the interior.
Sometime after the station had been established, the added burdens and responsibilities had become too heavy for the missionaries. It was then felt that some of these native Christians should be sent back to their villages and tribes, just as Christ sent his disciples out into all the world. This was a testing time for the Chilesso Church. To leave their comfort- able homes and the missionaries upon whom they had come to depend for help was not easy; nevertheless they heeded the call of Christ. Now the Chilesso Church has two hundred outstations and schools, established through the missionary zeal of these native evangelists. On Sunday after- noons everywhere men and women went to the villages nearby, carrying the Gospel message to the people. This led to the opening of sub-out- stations, proudly called "our outstation children." Unusual names were given to these outstations. Some of the older members, who were unable to leave the station, showed their missionary zeal by giving of their means to help carry on the work at these outstations. One man gave a school- house door. All the buildings at these two hundred outstations are built by the people-only the nails, locks, and hinges are supplied by the church fund.
These two hundred outstation schools and boarding schools are en- tirely supported by the native Chilesso Church, with the exception of an annual gift of $2.50 from a friend in America toward the support of the evangelist in charge of the work.
The generosity of the native Christians would put some of us to shame. While they earn very little-an unskilled worker receiving 3¢ a day and a skilled worker from 10¢ to 15¢ a day-last year they gave $1,060.00, which represents at least fifteen days' work a year for each church mem- ber.
At the mother station, the evangelist work is also self-supporting, while the educational and industrial program and the general upkeep of the station is maintained by a fund from the American Board. While the native church is selfsupporting and autonomous, the missionary spirit and growth has been phenomenal. At Chilesso the membership has grown
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to 4,000 in these forty years, with as many converts under instruction, and with about 2,500 adherents.
The casual observer of foreign mission work might wish to know the reason for the wonderful progress made by the West Central African Mission and the Chilesso Church. One answer to this question would be that the missionaries, with the blessing of God upon their work, taught the old doctrinal truths of the Bible as the basis of all their missionary undertaking.
With a debt of gratitude to the American Board for the help which they furnished, along with that from Mount Vernon Church of Boston, mention should be made of other members of the American Board who have labored together with Mr. and Mrs. Neipp at Chilesso: Mr. and Mrs. Woodside, Dr. G. Bower, Mr. and Mrs. F. Read, Miss E. Redick, Dr. Y. Cushman, Miss F. Malcolm, and Mr. and Mrs. A. Salvadore, and others who helped during short periods.
After Mrs. Neipp was called home to her reward, on November 23, 1937, Mr. Neipp returned to Africa until May, 1940, when he came home because of illness. During this last term he was located at Lobito, on the coast, where he was able to see a great harvest and development of the work, with many obstacles in the way but also with untold opportunities. In addition to his work with the natives, Mr. Neipp was the director of the missionary home at Lobito, caring for and helping the missionaries pas- sing through Lobito. When the Lord opens the way he hopes to return for another and last term of active missionary service.
THE REVEREND AND MRS. HENRI A. NEIPP Missionaries of Mount Vernon Church to Angola, Portuguese West Africa
MISS MARGARET FOSTER HERRICK Photo by Pach Brothers, Cambridge, 1893
MRS. SOPHIA WOODHULL (FOSTER) HERRICK Wife of the Reverend Samuel Edward Herrick
J
REMINISCENCES OF MOUNT VERNON CHURCH BEFORE 1880
by
MISS MARGARET F. HERRICK
M Y EARLIEST MEMORIES of Mount Vernon Church are neces- sarily such as would strike a very little child. When we came in April, 1871, I had just passed my third birthday, and I have no recollec- tion of going to church until the following fall. Then it was not my mother who took me, but a dear little old lady who had followed my father from her Chelsea church, and came all that tiresome journey every Sunday as long as she lived . . . Mount Vernon Church has always been to me a friendly place full of kind, loving, generous people. I was so little, they began by loving me.
As we entered the door, in the very back pew sat a Christmas-y, bearded, elderly gentleman with his wife and three children,-the Hawes family. Next in front were the Hoopers, father and mother and two little girls. I remember on that aisle saintly Deacon Kimball, and his wife, and young daughter; just across, the Roberts family: big, wiskered, ruddy Mr. Milton Roberts, his beautiful wife, two sons and a daughter; the Leland pew: Mr. Leland, afterwards Deacon, motherly Mrs. Leland, two sons, three daughters-and at home there were two little girls, one just my age, and a year-old toddler, her head covered with red-gold curls -a big family. There was the Palmer pew, Deacon Palmer and his tiny fairy godmother of a wife and a large family, already grown up. The Deacon died almost immediately, and I cannot remember just how he looked-but the family were near and dear neighbors on Chestnut Street for many years. There were Mr. and Mrs. Means and two grown daugh- ters and two sons. There were the Strongs, Mr. and Mrs. Strong and a boy and girl. There were "Auntie Porter" and her widowed sister Mrs. Maxwell and her children, a boy and a little girl about my age.
There were Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Brown and Susie and the twins, Bess and Belle-Mrs. Brown, another sister of "Auntie Porter." There were Mrs. Annie K. Brown and her two little girls, my dear playmates the "Brownies." There is only one Brownie left now-still my dear play- mate whenever circumstances permit. There were Mr. and Mrs. Tobey and sometimes Grandma Sprague, and sometimes the young married daughter, Mrs. Ware, with her husband; Miss Lizzie and Miss Hannah;
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and Phin and Ned and Sid and Arthur and Miriam. There were dear Deacon Tyler and Mrs. Tyler, two grown sons and a daughter. There were the Colbys-Mr. Colby staid and portly, Mrs. Colby stout and motherly, and two boys; Mr. and Mrs. Harris and a little girl, and later a little boy. There was Deacon Ward and his two motherless children, a boy and a girl; and just behind my right shoulder Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Flood, and Will and Fred and Charlie and Ella and Maggie, later called Lena; the B. F. Browns with two sons and a daughter; and many, many more. There were the Bradfords, dear and faithful friends of Mount Ver- non Church, and fairy godparents to the minister and his family; and later on Mr. and Mrs. Hodges, a charming couple.
I have never seen a lovelier sight than Deacon Tyler on the train com- ing home from a Sunday School picnic. He was known down town as "tall Tyler" and as "Honest Tyler"-both adjectives equally appropriate -for his honesty was as essential a part of him as his height. The children at first may have been a little shy; but coming home the car-seat was lit- erally spilling over with them, swarming all over him, and the happiest of all happy faces, his own, bright and beaming-I shall never forget it.
There was dear Deacon Pinkerton, large and dignified and deliberate -a rather reticent and lonely bachelor on whose wise counsel and legal acumen his minister greatly relied. He was most lovable when you came to know him. Often in the morning he would step inside our front door and call upstairs: "Mrs. Herrick, if you'll have waffles tonight, I'll come to supper." And waffles it was. Mother's recipe called for sour milk, and the dear man never knew-bless his heart !- what gymnastics Mother went through to get the sweet milk to just the right point of acidity.
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