Rhenish Missionary Society
- Rhenish Missionary Society
The Rhenish Missionary Society ("Rhenish" - of the river "Rhine") was one of the largest missionary societies in Germany. Formed from smaller missions founded as far back as 1799, the Society was amalgamated on 23 September 1828, and its first missionaries were ordained and sent off to South Africa by the end of the year.
The London Missionary Society was already active in the area, and a closer working relationship was formed with them. The Society established its first mission station in the Cederberg in 1829, named Wupperthal, and predated the naming of the German city by 100 years.
Very soon, the missionaries started migrating north through the barren and inhospitable south-western Africa. Here they encountered various local tribes such as the Herero, Nama and Damara, and were frequently in the middle of wars between them. The missionaries tried to broker peace deals between the tribes, and for this reason was later seen as political assets by the tribes.
Around the same time, debate started in Germany regarding its colonial empire, with the activities of the RMS in distant Africa fanning imaginations. The unclaimed area to the north of the Cape Colony was proclaimed German South West Africa in 1880, but they quickly ran into numerous problems, since Germany was inexperienced at colonization. The Herero and Namaqua Genocide during 1904-1907 proved to be the nadir of their rule, and combined with the effects of World War I, Germany was unable to maintain a foothold so far from home. South Africa annexed the area in 1915, renaming it South West Africa. During this time, missionaries' reactions ranged from compassion and help for the local tribes, to patriotism and support of colonial interests.
During the 20th century, the Society focused on its work in southern Africa. The Society ultimately amalgamated all of its mission stations in South Africa into the Dutch Reformed Church, except for Wupperthal which chose to join the Moravian Church. The mission stations in Namibia became part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church there.
In 1971, the Rhenish Mission and the Bethel Mission were combined into the Vereinigten Evangelischen Mission.
References
*
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Rhenish Mission — The Rhenish Mission, the popular name of the German based United Rhenish Missionary Society (Rheinische Missions Gesellschaft), has been one of the most important Protestant missionary agencies since 1828. The society traces its origin to 1799 … Encyclopedia of Protestantism
List of Protestant missionary societies — The following List of Protestant missionary societies below were the most noteworthy Protestant Christian missionary organizations that began between 1691 1900 [Encyclopædia Britannica (1911)] .Missionary societies in the United Kingdom* 1691… … Wikipedia
List of Protestant missionary societies in China 1807-1953 — Main article: List of Protestant missionary societies Protestant missionary societies in China 1807 1953NameDate work begun in ChinaAllgemeiner Evangelical Protestant Missionsverein1885Alliance China MissionAmerican Advent Christian… … Wikipedia
Dan Crawford (missionary) — Part of a series on Protestant missions to Africa Robert Moffat Background Christianity Protestantism Missions timeline Christianity in Africa Peop … Wikipedia
Timeline of Christian missions — This timeline of Christian missions chronicles the global expansion of Christianity through a sampling of missionary outreach events. A more general timeline of Christianity and History of Christianity is also available. Apostolic Age Earliest… … Wikipedia
Lutheran Church of China — [ right|thumb|The seal of Martin Luther. Also used as the logo for the LCC] The Lutheran Church of China or LCC (Traditional Chinese: 中華信義會; Pinyin: Zhonghua Xinyi Hui) was a Lutheran church body in China from 1920 to 1951. It was established as… … Wikipedia
Christianity in Indonesia — Christianity by Country Africa … Wikipedia
Christianity in the 19th century — Part of a series on Christianity … Wikipedia
Worcester, Western Cape — Worcester Town Top: Dutch Reformed Church. Center left: Slave bell. Center right: Old house on Russell Street built in 1836. Bottom: View of Worcester looking north east … Wikipedia
List of Protestant missionaries in China — Beginning in 1807, with the arrival of Robert Morrison of the London Missionary Society and ending in 1953 with the departure of Arthur and Wilda Mathews of the China Inland Mission, foreign Protestant missionaries lived and worked in China. The… … Wikipedia
