The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1929, Page 182

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182

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

son is a Christian; he prays with the Christians
and protects them. We are lost if you do not stop
Prince Rakatond from walking in this strange way.”
“But he is my son,” said the queen, “my only son,
my dearly beloved son! Let him do what he pleases.
If he wishes to become a Christian, let him. He is
my son!” The love of the mother was stronger than
the bigotry of the pagan queen.

The prince now openly confessed his faith and
used all his influence in putting a stop to the per-
secutions. Because the queen so dearly loved her
son, his efforts in behalf of the Christians were suc-
cessful. By the year 1851, fourteen years after the
persecutions had begun, they were practically at an
end. At that time there were about 5,000 Chris-
tians on the island, while in 1837, when the mission-
aries were forced to leave the island, there were
hardly a hundred or two.

In 1857 a new persecution broke out, which was
very severe while it lasted and was directed against
the most prominent Christians. However, it lasted
for only a very short time.

The Coming of the Dawn.

Queen Ranavalona died in 1860, having reigned
for thirty-two years. Her son Rakatond succeeded
her as Radama II. During his short reign of only
two years complete religious liberty was introduced.
Religious exiles were called back home. Those who
had lost their rank were restored. Among these lat-
ter was Prince Ramonja, the king’s cousin, who for
Christ’s sake had been reduced to the rank of a com-
mon soldier.

The missionaries who had been banished were
welcomed back; chapels were reopened, pastors put
in charge, and regular Sunday service instituted.
In every way the work of Christianizing the island
was encouraged.

_ Naturally, the old heathen party strongly re-
sented the young king’s actions. A conspiracy was
formed, and the king was assassinated. His widow,
: Queen Rabodo, was put on the throne; for it was
_ thought that she was a patroness of the idols. But
* the new queen sadly disappointed those who had
| placed her on the throne, for she guaranteed full

"Protection to all Christians and liberty of conscience
to all her subjects. Missionaries were permitted to
rect chapels throughout the island and teach the
istian religion wherever they lived. The prime
ister himself laid the corner-stone of a Christian
ital in 1864. Soon thousands of pupils attended
tian schools.

The Light of Day.

In April, 1868, Queen Rabodo died after a pro-
tracted period of ill health. After her death her
younger sister, Romono, ascended the throne as
Ranavalona II. It was known that she favored
Christianity, and she plainly showed it at her coro-
nation. The 300,000 people who gathered at the
capital to witness her enthronement saw the queen
sitting under a great canopy on whose four sides
were inscribed, in shining letters, the four mottoes:

Execution of Madagasy Martyrs.

“Glory to God,” “On Earth Pace,” “Good Will
among Men,” and “God Shall Be with Us.” On one
side of the queen stood a small table with the crown,
and on the other, a table bearing a handsome Bible,
sent by the British and Foreign Bible Society to her
deceased queen sister. Her address was spiced with
many Scriptural allusions. She promised religious
liberty to all with the words: “Prayer is not en-
forced, and it is not forbidden; for God made you.”
No idols and no pagan priests were present at the
coronation. i :

In the year of Ranavalona’s coronation a church
was dedicated on the spot where the first Christian