October, 1935
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Questions Concerning Ethiopia Today [Continued from page 369]
it is practically the only part o f Africa not under foreign domination already. Perhaps one or two points may have bearing on the present situation. “ Rome never forgets,” and the expulsion of the Jesuits years ago has never been avenged. Then it is evident from Mussolini’s remarks that he considers the defeat o f Adowa as a blot on the Italian escutcheon, and is prepared to wipe it off at any cost. What does Italy intend to do with Abyssinia if she acquires it? Italy is most likely to send thousands o f her own people there, and to employ modern methods in opening up and developing the country. Abyssinia being more than three times the size o f Italy, there will be plenty o f scope for colonization. What prospect is there of Italy’s conquest? Assuming that no assistance is forthcoming to Ethiopia from other nations, Italy, of course, has several advantages — chiefly her limitless financial and military resources. But on the other hand, the contour of the country is greatly in favor o f Ethiopia. The region is really a natural fortress, being practically a high plateau some six thousand feet above sea level, and having mountain ranges ascending still higher to twelve thousand and thirteen thousand feet. In the lowlands near the coast, where Italian troops are now concentrated, tropical disease is a formidable enemy, some thousands o f Italians already having had to be sent back to Europe. Addis Ababa is practically the only city in the country, and there is therefore little to bomb. In old-time warfare the Abyssinians would probably stand every chance o f victory, but they do not have the resources or organization to endure a long-drawn-out campaign. They would probably avoid pitched battles and carry on guerilla warfare. It will certainly be an expedition costly to Italy, both in lives and money, for Ethiopians realize they are fighting for their lives, and they believe their independence has been divinely secured to them through centuries. What and where is Lake Tsana? W h y is it so important in present negotiations? Lake Tsana is in the northwest o f Abyssinia, and is the source of the Blue Nile, whose waters are so essential to the crops o f Egypt. Should its waters be diverted, say to the irrigation o f Abyssinia, it would seriously injure the prosperity o f Egypt. What type of Christianity is practiced in Ethiopia? The real Ethiopians belong to the Coptic Church of Egypt, which was established after the Council of Chalce- don, a . d . 451, because o f disagreement concerning the human nature o f Christ. The Coptic doctrine is Mono- physite. T o the greater portion of the people, however, fasting, feasting, and the observance o f the ritual prescribed by the priests is about all that it means. There are some true believers in the church, and it has at least been the means o f keeping out the Moslem faith to a great extent. What is the attitude of the local Abyssinian church toward outside mission influence? At the beginning o f our work, some opposition was ex perienced, and while in some quarters this condition still exists in some degree, yet both the Emperor and the gov ernors o f the various provinces have given us access to most parts of the country, and have shown themselves
friendly to our work. I think it is true to say that nearly all our work there has been undertaken at the request o f some ruler, so that we have not had to force a way into the country. It does seem that the Lord has opened the doors at this time. What is the relation between the Ethiopian state church and the Coptic Church in Egypt? The Ethiopian church is affiliated with the Coptic Church o f Egypt. The Archbishop o f the Ethiopian church is always an Egyptian, appointed from Alexandria, and without him the Ethiopian bishops cannot be consecrated. What missions besides your own, the Sudan Interior Mission, operate in Ethiopia? The United Presbyterian Mission, two Swedish Mis sions, the German Lutheran Mission, the Bible Church man’s Missionary Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, London Society for Propagation o f the Gospel to Jews, Seventh Day Adventists, and also the French and Italian Catholics. There are about 170 evangelical workers all together, for a population of about ten million. Can you give an estimate of the number of converts? W e have no figures from the other societies, and in our work, which is yet young, while there are doubtless hun dreds who have been influenced by the gospel, we are not able to give statistics. In several o f our stations now, how ever, there are small native churches, with a nucleus o f baptized believers. It is to these that we look, in the next decade, for the greater spread o f the gospel. What would be the prospect for evangelical missions if Italy should conquer Abyssinia? From the missionary viewpoint, one regrets to know that in Eritrea the Italians have passed a law that if a Protestant missionary goes out on furlough, he cannot return, and that whereas there were about forty workers there, today only five or six have been able to remain. This circumstance would not augur very well for missions in Abyssinia as an Italian colony. What position does Ethiopia occupy in prophecy? Ethiopia’s place in prophecy is not particularly clear. She was evidently not part o f the old Roman Empire. In the future, however, it seems clear that she will be con quered by the head of the revived Roman Empire, and will be “ at his steps” (Dan. 11:36-45), though probably un willingly. From the missionary standpoint, there is en couragement in two Old Testament Scriptures. In Isaiah 18, which begins with a reference to Ethiopia, we read that “ in that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts o f a people scattered and peeled.” And in Psalm 6 8 :31 the words occur: “ Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” O f what significance would it be from a prophetic point of view for Italy to conquer Ethiopia? If it be true that the head o f the revived Roman Em pire will conquer Ethiopia, a present victory would at least seem to foreshadow the time o f the end. Whether Mus solini is the Antichrist is o f course a matter open to ques tion. The concentration of national forces around the Mediterranean, God’s geographical center, is very signifi cant. How are other graduates of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles being affected by the present conditions?
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