CHILEMBWE
An early convert was John Chilembwe (born c. 1860).
He was baptized in July1893, became Booth’s trusted servant, interpreter
and travel companion, nursed Emily when she had malaria, and tended
the dying Edward while Booth was in Britain (early 1894) raising
funds. Influenced by Booth Chilembwe believed
that the servitude of “Ham” to “Japheth” would shortly
cease.
Booth and Chilembwe formed an organization “Christian
Union of Nyasaland” which sought:
“equal rights, political, social, and economic, for Africans
as well as Europeans independent African activity in all economic
fields…”
(Quoted in Rotberg 1935 p. 62)
In l897 Booth took Chilembwe to America. Chilembwe studied
for three years at a Negro Baptist Seminary. Then, back in Africa,
Chilembwe established the “Providential Industrial Mission”
run by Africans. He built independent African schools
and planted cotton tea and coffee. The mission was outwardly
Western and the people clean, hard-working, anti alcohol and
anti European
RUSSELL
In 1905 Booth tried to establish missions
in East Africa and Uganda but was thrown out by the British. He
wandered around South Africa and Britain seeking new support.
A native rebellion in Natal in 1906 brought the
Seventh Day Adventists under suspicion. To allay suspicion they
excommunicated Booth. Then in Britain he sought sponsorship from
the Churches of Christ. They turned him down. Their Cape Town
branch however gave him temporary work of opening a mission for
them.
Booth was depressed and discouraged. Everyone opposed
industrial missions. Yet without such missions he felt that few
Africa’s would find Christ. In Scotland in 1906, Booth discovered
Russellism.
Charles Taze Russell (1852-l9l6) was the founder
of the Jehovah’s Witness sect. His gospel included the elements:
1 Jesus returned in 1874 and the Kingdom of God began in
1878.
2 The Biblical Time of the End was 1799-1914 and the Biblical
“time of trouble” 1874-1914.
3 European war c.1907 would merge into Armageddon around 1912-1914.
4 Worldwide peace under resurrected Jewish patriarchs ruling
from Jerusalem to occur by 1915.
5 Russell himself was God’s “faithful and wise servant”
dispensing “meat in due season”.
Booth, fired with new enthusiasm, visited America
to confer with Russell.
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