The Age of Evangelism

The early nineteenth century marked a revival of evangelism in England. Earnest missionaries who often had been simple artisans before entering the church (like Robert Moffat of Kuruman and David Livingstone fame who had been a gardener) flocked to the new colonies to uplift the locals.

Convinced of their mission in life, it was not long before these men came up against the trek Boers. Had these men been more widely educated, had more experience of the life of the Afrikaners and were more diplomatic in their approach to their ministries, the friction would certainly not have been as great.

The revival in liberalism was also apparent in the English Government where anti slavery, child apprenticeship and pass laws were abolished, resulting, according to the Boers, in aggravating increases in stock theft. Further, Hottentots were enrolled as soldiers to enforce the Cape laws.

The Afrikaners were even more distressed when, in matters of dispute between master and servant, the side of the servant was almost invariably taken, the servant often being abetted by the local missionary.

When Boers were summoned to a magistracy as a result of an allegation of mistreatment by a servant or former servant it meant that he had to leave his wife and family unprotected often for several weeks.

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