AN EXCEPTIONAL MISSIONARY COMMITMENT
The Anti-slavery Campaign
of Cardinal Charles
Lavigerie (1888-1890)
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| Charles Lavigerie |
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| Slaves |
In
1888, a new opportunity arose for him to make another intervention. Brazil
announced that it would abolish slavery definitively in its territory. Pope Leo XIII decided to publish
an encyclical to approve this decision. Immediately, Cardinal Lavigerie
asked him to mention the drama in Africa that was still taking place and the
Pope agreed to this. At the same time in May of that year, great celebrations
were being prepared to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Priesthood of Leo XIII.
Lavigerie again brings up the problem when he came to congratulate the Holy Father,
accompanied by a group of
young black Christians. He pleads once again, publicly and in a private
audience, for the victims of slavery on the African continent. Leo XIII was
very much impressed and decided to become more openly involved. He told him: "We
count on you M. Le Cardinal, for the success of this undertaking." For
Lavigerie, this reply of the Pope was the go ahead for the execution of this
mission. Therefore, he
took it upon himself to organise and develop his massive anti Slavery campaign.
Immediately,
Lavigerie thought up a
plan on three fronts. A large geographical coverage across Europe, interventions
that would touch the general public by way of conferences, articles in the
press, and other methods and finally he planned to found a network of national
and local associations with the aim of maintaining the interest of benefactors
and to support other specific activities. It was precisely in the area of
practical action that Lavigerie took up again an idea that he had considered a
number of years previously. He thought, at first, of forming a militia of armed
lay people who would protect the refugee centres for escaped or ransomed slaves
and who could intervene in other areas according to the circumstances. It must be
said, straightaway, that this project never got off the ground principally
because of the marked reluctance of the colonial powers, now, established in
Africa.
The
first event of this wide ranging programme took place in Paris on the 1st
July in the Church of St. Sulpice. After giving a long description of the
sufferings endured by the slaves, Lavigerie appealed to the generosity of the
people not only in soliciting gifts but also appealing to young people to have
the courage to enlist in order to go to defend and protect the victims.
Lavigerie was a great orator and of imposing height and this first conference
was a great success not only in the press but also with French public opinion.
In the following weeks he made similar appearances in Great Britain, in Italy
and in Belgium where he gave an impressive lecture in the Church of St. Gudule
on the 15th August. One of the last public speeches was given in
Rome in the Church of the Gesù on the 23rd December 1888.
Everywhere, Public opinion was outraged by the revelations about the extent of the slave trade in Central Africa. The political authorities were also concerned and Lavigerie did his best to entice them to take a public stand and to act eventually through diplomatic channels or even by military means in order to end the slave trade, especially on the Indian Ocean coast and in the Red Sea. However reaction was mixed and generally followed national interests. In England there was great support because the country was well aware of the problem for some time. In Belgium, King Leopold feared interference in his territory of the Congo and Lavigerie had to take this into account in his different lectures. Nevertheless, public opinion everywhere approved and supported his campaign and in this sense, it could be considered a great success.
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| Church of Saint Gudule, Brussels |
Everywhere, Public opinion was outraged by the revelations about the extent of the slave trade in Central Africa. The political authorities were also concerned and Lavigerie did his best to entice them to take a public stand and to act eventually through diplomatic channels or even by military means in order to end the slave trade, especially on the Indian Ocean coast and in the Red Sea. However reaction was mixed and generally followed national interests. In England there was great support because the country was well aware of the problem for some time. In Belgium, King Leopold feared interference in his territory of the Congo and Lavigerie had to take this into account in his different lectures. Nevertheless, public opinion everywhere approved and supported his campaign and in this sense, it could be considered a great success.
In this programme, the Cardinal had foreseen the creation of solidarity committees on a national and local basis. Several committees were founded in the countries where he visited. In other countries, where he was not able to go, he made contacts, sent letters and supported the creation of groups of benefactors. In this way, he had contacts in Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Austria, Spain and Portugal. He wanted to take the matter further, by calling for an international congress, where Governments would commit themselves to wipe out the slave trade in Africa. After many unsuccessful attempts, this proposal was finally achieved by the meeting of an International congress in Brussels in November 1889.
Sixteen powers were represented and the work continued over many months. It was not until July 1890 that it officially ended. Lavigerie was not present, but his name was frequently quoted and he pronounced himself happy with the results, especially with the decision to put in place maritime patrols along the eastern coasts of the continent. However he also wanted to organise under, his own personal supervision, a new convention comprising all the representatives of the Anti Slavery Committees. This Congress took place in Paris in September 1890 and this time, one saw the organisational talent and strong personality of the Cardinal which played a great part in consolidating the initiatives already taken and in ensuring a better coordination between the projects.
After
a visit to Rome where he gave an account of the campaign to the Pope, Lavigerie,
after months of intense efforts, returned to his diocese of Algiers in the
autumn of 1890. The scale of his campaign and its remarkable organisation,
without doubt, moved things forward in looking for a solution to the problem of
slavery. As Lavigerie said in his first public conference, a great cry has been
heard, a cry of indignation made by an old Cardinal, both in the name of humanity and in
the name of the Gospel.
Jean-Claude Ceillier, M. Afr.
Historian of the Society
Extracts from the Cardinal's Conferences
against Slave Trade
in Africa
1. Conference given at Saint Sulpice, Paris, 1st July 1888
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| St. Sulpice Church, Paris |
Recently, our great Pontiff, Leo XIII,
borrowed these words of St. Paul in his Encyclical to the Bishops of Brazil.
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| Pontiff Leo XIII |
...But I repeat, my dear brethren, that
charity, however great it may be, will not suffice to save Africa. A more
prompt, more efficacious and more decisive remedy is needed. When our Holy
Father, the Pope, had finished appealing for charity, he then appealed for
force - a peaceful force which would be used not for attack but for defence.
For that, he addressed himself to Christian nations. These can do a lot through
their moral strength with the Muslim princes, on whom these African slavers
depend, in making them feel responsible for the continuation of their
infamies....
... We read in the Acts of the Apostles that,
while St. Paul preached in Asia Minor, he had a vision: a Macedonian appeared
and appealed to him in these words, “Come across to Macedonia and help us”.
Through my voice, it is this same prayer that the African slaves address to you,
today! Christians of Europe come across the sea which separates us and come to
our help! St. Paul lost no time in replying to the Macedonian’s prayer. In
Macedonia, he rescued those held prisoners under the yoke of evil. Come across
to the country of the black population. Come there, some with your kindness,
others by the strength of your arms and rescue these peoples, seated in the
shadow of death, and those even more miserable from slavery.
Amen!"
***
2. Conference given at Prince’s Hall, London, 31 July 1888
Therefore, I come to bring you my testimony
for the portion of Africa that evangelization has entrusted to me.
This undertaking is, without doubt, the very
undertaking of the Antislavery Association which gathers us here today, of the
eminent men who preside over it and direct it, under the patronage itself of
the heir to the throne. Nevertheless, an association of men, no matter how
powerful, cannot do everything, and, if I dared to address myself to you,
Ladies, I would say that in a very real sense, an undertaking “of mercy and
pity” is yours, above all. You know better than a man how to find the way to
the heart for you feel more deeply than he does. That is not the sole reason when
it comes to African slavery. The victims of slavery are, especially, children
and women. That is what my missionaries never cease to repeat. Scarcely two
days ago, I received in London a letter from our Tanganyika Mission, in which
the Superior repeated the same message: “Here, now, only children and women are
sold; the men are killed.” I do not hesitate to say, in this talk, that the
women are more to be pitied than the men.
Death delivers the men with one single blow; slavery means a thousand
deaths for the women and children. They are placed without defence in the hands
of their masters for the most base debauchery and for acts of horrible cruelty.
***
3. Conference given at Rome
in the Church of the Gesù, 23
December 1888
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| Church of the Gesu. Rome |
Slavery
makes a man a goods item, from then on he is subject to the law of supply and
demand.
However,
this law states that all goods offered for sale at a reasonable price will meet
the demand. As long as the demand persists, the supply will also continue. One
can try to turn back a river on its course before one can succeed in preventing
it from happening. Self-interest and avarice are used to their advantage to overcome
all obstacles, by suffocating even the most sacred beliefs in nature. They use,
in turn, trickery, threats, money, and despicable acts until they have overcome
or got around all the barriers that opposed them
However,
in the crowd, that has gathered from all parts, to fill this church, there are
perhaps people who do not believe as we do, and I want to address myself to
them nonetheless, in a cause which concerns the whole of humanity. Slavery, as
it is practised in Africa, is not only, in fact, opposed to the Gospel, it is
contrary to the natural law. That is what our great Leo XIII affirms, with a
freedom and a vigour that has never been surpassed, in his Encyclical on
slavery: “Contra quod est, dit-il, a Deo et a natura institutum.”
Now
the laws of nature apply not just to Christians but to all men. That
is why I appeal to all, without distinction of nationality, or party, or
religious confession. I do not appeal just to faith, but to reason, to justice,
to respect, to the love of freedom that supreme good of man, as our Pontiff has
likewise said. No doubt I am pleading this cause today in a church, and before
altars, but I am ready to plead it everywhere. I have pleaded in Prince's Hall, before English protestants, in salons, before philosophers,
before non-believers, and always I have found in people’s hearts the echo of
the sentiment expressed by the ancient poet: Homo sum, et nihil humani a me alienum puto (Quote from Terence: Heautontimoroumenos, v. 77) 'I am a man
and nothing of what is human is foreign to me.' It is a cry that came out from
Rome and which, also, has its echo through the whole universe. I am a man;
injustice towards other men revolts my heart. I am a man; oppression fills my
nature with indignation. I am a man; cruelty against so many of my fellows
inspires nothing but horror in me. I am a man, and what I would want done to
give me freedom, honour, the sacred bonds of family, I want to do to restore
family, honour, freedom to the sons and daughters of this unfortunate race."
***
4. Address
given on Good Friday, the 19th April 1889 in the Cathedral of
Algiers before the Solemn Prayers
for the abolition of Slavery, on the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and that
of Africa
Without
doubt, sacrifice and alms have, in themselves, a virtue. When they are offered
with pure intentions, they attract blessings from on high. However if I have
begged from all without distinction of nationality, race, or religion, it is
that I have appealed only to normal feelings of humanity, such as pity and justice
which are found in all men. Prayer, my dear brothers, I can only ask from
yourselves because it presupposes a strong faith, and a religious obedience.
The Church teaches that it is God himself who, supernaturally, imposes this
duty. He demands that we ask him, in the humility of our powerlessness, even
for the goods that he has decided to grant us himself, only wishing that we
recognise his sovereign power in the goodness and freedom of his
providence. So it is to you Catholics, that, today, I come to beg not only for the renewal of that prayer that
we have already made in the secret of our hearts, but that of public prayer
which is done with more fervour in the temples of God on the most solemn
occasions. It is not just a question of
a private misfortune but of the welfare and honour of our continent and of all humanity.
Nobody can be indifferent to it and we ought to unite so as to storm heaven
with our prayers.
While
some have enlisted under the flag of piety and fraternal solidarity, and have
taken up arms and are ready to leave for battle, we who are staying behind ought to
invoke the name of the Lord (Hi in
curribus et hi in equis, nos autem in nomine Domini Dei nostri invocabimus)
and climb the mountain to lift up our arms toward heaven.
Have
confidence therefore in public prayer which has often guaranteed, in similar
circumstances, the victory to the Church against catastrophes, scourges and
bloody persecutions..........
If
the use of force is not yet possible for us or if political jealousies oppose
our action, prayer remains for us. It does not know obstacles. It is free, like
our faith, and finds the way everywhere to reach the very heart of the God of
Calvary. Let us all together, then, make it resound beneath the vaults of this
temple. They are draped in black to remind
us not just of the Passion of the Saviour, but also of the death that hangs
over Africa and of the destructions that threatens it….
***
