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| Title: | The Suppression of Mixed Marriage among the LMS (London Missionary Society) Missionaries in South Africa before 1820 |
| Author: | Wells, Julia C. |
| Year: | 2001 |
| Periodical: | South African Historical Journal |
| Issue: | 44 |
| Pages: | 1-20 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | South Africa |
| Subjects: | missionary history mixed marriage Religion and Witchcraft History and Exploration Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Women's Issues Historical/Biographical Cultural Roles Marital Relations and Nuptiality Ethnic and Race Relations |
| External link: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02582470108671386 |
| Abstract: | The first two decades of the nineteenth century witnessed high levels of turmoil within the London Missionary Society (LMS) over the nature of its calling in South Africa. At its inception, the principle of taking the gospel to the 'heathen' appeared straightforward. However, the missionaries soon ran up against a fundamental contradiction between this goal and the internal demands and dictates of a settler colonial economy and society. The inherent contradiction between the missionary imperative to transform Africans and the colonial need to exploit them came to a head in 1817, when deep divisions among missionaries themselves exploded into open conflict. This took the form of a so-called 'synod' convened by disgruntled LMS missionaries who called for the expulsion of fellow missionaries believed to fall short of meeting the demands of settler society. The issue of interracial marriages became the focus of the most direct criticism during the synod. This study explores how critics of such relationships framed their arguments and ultimately altered the LMS approach to mission activity. From the beginnning of LMS operations worldwide in 1796, it sent out mostly single men as missionaries, with only a few married couples. The implication was that these men were either expected to remain celibate, find European wives or marry into the indigenous societies in which they lived and worked. A marriage with an indigenous woman was seen as desirable because it would cement relationships between the mission society and local powers, as well as send a signal of full acceptance and appreciation to the host society. In the aftermath of the synod, the LMS adopted a middle-of-the-road course. It did not acquiesce to the demand that missionaries involved in marriages with African women should be expelled from the mission society. Instead, it chose to view those relationships as fully legitimate and the missionaries in question remained in LMS service for the rest of their lives. However, the LMS policies also underwent changes designed to conform with colonial demands. Most revealing was the decision to no longer send single men to the mission field, thus preventing recurrences of the 'problem'. Ref. |
