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100 years ago: Indians in South Africa

by
20 February 2026

From our archive: February 19th, 1926.

The growing confidence of the native races throughout the British Commonwealth in the bishops and priests of the English Church is shown by the fact that the Metropolitan of India has been asked to go to South Africa to consult with the bishops there, and to inquire into the grievances of the Indians who have settled in the Dominion. The considerable Indian population in Natal has added a complication to the already sufficiently difficult colour problem in Africa, and both the native and the immigrant Asiatic have genuine grievances. We realize that it is difficult for the representatives of a dominant race voluntarily to exchange equality for domination. But it is surely evident that domination, with the evils it entails, cannot be permanently maintained, and, whatever may be the cost, the Church must necessarily insist, if not on immediate equality, on justice and fair treatment for all men, whatever may be their colour, since they are all the sons of God. In an article which we publish this week, the Archdeacon of Bombay says that the membership of the Church in India is now predominantly Indian. It is admitted that if Africa is to be won for Christ, the work must be largely carried out by native priests. In the providence of God the English Church is becoming something far greater than English, and the enlarging of its influence makes it imperative that it shall neither recognize nor tolerate the narrowness of racial prejudice.

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