Kusukela Ngo-1915 Kuya Ku-1947 Izinsuku Zokuqala (Ingxenye 1)

Ukukhanya Kweqiniso Kuyakhanya

Izindaba ezinhle zafika eSierra Leone ngo-1915 ngesikhathi izakhamuzi zakhona zibuya eNgilandi ziphethe izincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Ngo-July wangalowo nyaka, kwafika inceku kaJehova yokuqala ebhapathiziwe eFreetown. Igama layo kwakungu-Alfred Joseph. Wayeneminyaka engu-31, ezalwa eGuyana, eNingizimu Melika. Wayebhapathizwe ekuqaleni kwalowo nyaka eBarbados, eWest Indies, futhi ethole umsebenzi wokushayela isitimela eFreetown. Wahlala enkompolo yakwaloliwe eCline Town, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-3,2 kuyiCotton Tree yaseFreetown. Ngokushesha waqala ukuhlanganyela umyalezo weBhayibheli nayesebenza nabo.

Ngonyaka olandelayo, kwafika uLeonard Blackman owayevela eBarbados, owayekade esebenza no-Alfred. Umama kaLeonard Blackman, u-Elvira Hewitt, uyena owaqala ukutshela u-Alfred ngeqiniso. ULeonard waba umakhelwane ka-Alfred, futhi babehlangana njalo baxoxe ngeBhayibheli. Babebuye basakaze izincwadi zeBhayibheli kubangane nakubantu abathakazelayo.

U-Alfred noLeonard bathola ukuthi amasimu aseFreetown ‘ayesemhlophe elungele ukuvunwa.’ (Joh. 4:35) Ngo-1923, u-Alfred wabhalela indlunkulu yomhlaba wonke eNew York, wathi: “Abantu abaningi lapha banesithakazelo eBhayibhelini. Sicela nithumele umuntu ozobanakekela futhi asize ekuthuthukiseni umsebenzi wokushumayela la eSierra Leone.” Wathola impendulo ethi: “Sizomthumela!”

“Ngobunye ubusuku ngoMgqibelo, ngemva kwezinyanga eziningana, ngathola ucingo engingalulindele,” kusho u-Alfred.

“‘Uwena lo owabhalela i-Watch Tower Society ucela abantu abazoshumayela?’ kubuza osocingweni.

“Ngaphendula: ‘Yebo, yimina.’

“‘Bathumele mina,’ ephendula ngezwi elikhulu.

“Owayekhuluma kwakunguWilliam R. Brown. Yena nomkakhe u-Antonia nendodakazi yabo encane babefike ngalo lolo suku futhi behlala eGainford Hotel.

“Ngakusasa ekuseni, mina noLeonard sasiqhuba isifundo seBhayibheli samasonto onke lapho kuqhamuka umdondoshiya wendoda. KwakunguWilliam R. Brown. Wayeshisekela iqiniso kangangokuthi wayefuna ukunikeza inkulumo yeningi ngakusasa lokhu okusayo. Ngokushesha saqasha ihholo elikhulu kunawo wonke eFreetown​—iWilberforce Memorial Hall​—sahlela ukuba kunikezwe inkulumo yeningi yokuqala kwezine ngoLwesine olulandelayo kusihlwa.

“Iqembu lethu elincane laba matasa likhangisa lezi zinkulumo emaphephandabeni, ngezimemo nangomlomo. Sasizibuza ukuthi kazi izakhamuzi zizosabela kanjani, kodwa kwakungadingeki sikhathazeke. Abantu abangaba ngu-500 bagcwala mfi ehholo, kuhlanganise nabefundisi abaningi balapha. Sasichichima injabulo!”

Njengoba kuqhubeka le nkulumo eyathatha ihora lonke, uMfoweth’ uBrown wacaphuna imiBhalo eminingi futhi wasebenzisa i-projector ukuze abantu babone imiBhalo. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, wayelokhu ethi, “Akusho uBrown, kusho iBhayibheli.” Izilaleli zazimangele futhi zazishaya izandla ngemva kwephuzu ngalinye. Kwakungebona ubugagu bukaMfoweth’ uBrown obabubahlaba umxhwele, kodwa ubufakazi ayebuveza ngemiBhalo. Njengoba kwababaza umfundi owayelapho owayefundela ubufundisi: “UMnumzan’ uBrown uyalazi iBhayibheli lakhe!”

Izinkulumo zikaMfoweth’ uBrown zanyakazisa idolobha, abantu bathutheleka beyozilalela. NgeSonto elilandelayo, abantu baphinde bagcwala ehholo bezolalela inkulumo ethi “Ukuya Nokubuya Esihogweni​—Obani Abalapho?” Amaqiniso anamandla uMfoweth’ uBrown awaveza ngalobo busuku ashukumisa ngisho namalungu esonto avelele ukuba esule emasontweni.

Inkulumo yokugcina kulolu chungechunge lwezinkulumo, ethi “Izigidi Eziphilayo Manje Azisoze Zafa,” yadonsa isixuku esikhulu kangangokuthi isakhamuzi saseFreetown sathi: “Kuye kwadingeka ukuba amasonto ayeke izinkonzo zawo zakusihlwa ngoba wonke amalungu awo abesenkulumweni kaMfoweth’ uBrown.”

Ngenxa yokuthi uMfoweth’ uBrown wayelokhu ecaphuna eBhayibhelini, ebhekisela kulo njengegunya elikhulu, abantu baqala ukumbiza ngokuthi “Bible” Brown. Lesi sidlaliso samnamathela futhi saduma kulo lonke elaseNtshonalanga Afrika. Waphila ngokuvumelana naleso sidlaliso kwaze kwaba yilapho eqeda inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni.