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The Protestant Mission and Youth Movements

2011; Routledge; Volume: 28; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/09523367.2011.592756

1743-9035

Évelyne Combeau-Mari,

Colonialism, slavery, and trade

Abstract The Protestant missions, established in Madagascar from the early nineteenth century, played a founding role in setting up a network of educational charities and in reflecting upon how young people should be looked after. This historical heritage, linked to the English incursion into Madagascar, still holds an essential place in the subcontinent's spiritual, social, cultural and political life today.Footnote1 Our starting-point is the systematic study of the Protestant youth associations that emerged in Madagascar at the turn of the twentieth century (the Young People's Christian Union, the Young Women's Christian Union, the Unionist Scouts and Guides) and structures set up in order to bring young people together, such as Antananarivo's Christian Youth Club. We intend to demonstrate the special place of this network of associations in the modern-day forming of the Malagasy elites and its impact on the growth of awareness of national identity paving the way to the independence movement. Prior to this, we will consider the significant issue of the power of the Christian missions on the island and the historical stages of their presence. Keywords: Protestant Missionthe Young People’s Christian Unionthe Young Women’s Christian Unionthe Unionist Scouts and Guidesnetwork of associationsMalagasy elitesnational identity Notes 1. See Issue 86 of Politique africaine Raison-Jourde, and Raison, Madagascar, les urnes et la rue, which emphasises the determining role played by the Protestant churches in bringing former President of the Republic Marc Ravalomanana to power. 2. Belrose-Huygues, ’Fondation des premières communautés congrégationnalistes 1818–1835’, 185–204. 3. English Governor of Mauritius, which was the point of departure for the various envoys relaying the implementing of the English crown’s policies. A treaty was signed between Radama I and Governor Farquhar on October 11, 1820, making provision for the intervention of the LMS. The English governor wished to regulate relations between the islands by putting a stop to the slave trade, which was a source of piracy. In exchange, he offered to use religious instruction and education to teach the Malagasy population the work and techniques of Europeans. 4. At the time of Radama's death in 1828, there were 37 primary schools and 44 Malagasy primary teachers for 2,309 pupils. 5. Translation and printing of the Bible was completed in 1835, as was the publication of a Malagasy–English and English–Malagasy dictionary. 6. Queen Ranavaolona I outlawed the practising of Christianity from 1832 onwards, pushing the missionaries to leave the country and persecuting the Christians. 7. The Malagasy people worship their ancestors whilst believing in an all-powerful God and creator of the universe, Zanahary. 8. For these issues, see Raison-Jourde, ’Dérives constantiniennes et querelles religieuses (1869–1883)’, 277–98. 9. See Combeau-Mari, ’The Catholic Mission, Sport and Renewal of Elites St Michel de Tananarive Jesuit College (1906–1975)’, in this issue, for further study of these issues. 10. Of Norwegian origin. 11. See the maps on pp. 336 and 340 for the distribution of Catholic and Protestant missions in Madagascar in the 1830s, in Hübsch, Madagascar et le christianisme. 12. Pastor Paul Minault was assassinated by the fahavalo (bandits and looters) in the region of Betafo during the uprising linked to General Gallieni's French occupation. Jean-Brice, ’L’œuvre des missions protestantes à Madagascar’, 315. 13. In collaboration with the other Protestant missions. 14. Esoavelomandroso, ’Aînés et cadets: le foyer chrétien de jeunes gens d’Antananarivo (1924–1960)’, 401. 15. Grouping the Andriana families of the royal caste. 16. In France, the Young People's Christian Union was founded in 1852. 17. Dumons and Pollet ’Eglises chrétiennes et sport international dans la première moitié du XXème siècle’, 206. 18. Terret, ’Le rôle des Young Men's Christian Associations (YMCA) dans la diffusion du sport en France pendant la première guerre mondiale’, 30. 19. Governor Augagneur, a former mayor of Lyon and a Freemason, succeeded General Gallieni at the head of the colony at the end of 1905, remaining until 1910. 20. All three members of the Catholic clergy, Father Venance Manifatra, a Jesuit, and Brothers Raphaël and Julien from the Christian schools, worked in St Michel College. See Combeau-Mari, ’The Catholic Mission, Sport and Renewal of Elites St Michel de Tananarive Jesuit College (1906–1975)’ in this issue. 21. No arms were discovered when searches were carried out. More remarkably, the affair gave rise to no acts of violence. Ralaimihoatra, Histoire de Madagascar, 254. 22. The trial in which 46 people appeared was held in the present Presidential Palace. The accused admitted to the movement's secret mechanism, but owing to confessions and contradictions, a confused idea of VVS was conveyed. 23. Ralaimihoatra, Histoire de Madagascar, 256. 24. Rajaonah, ’Les élites malgaches d’Antananarivo et l’émergence d’un nationalisme’, 319–46. 25. Beigbeder, ’Le foyer chrétien jugé de dedans: Rapport moral sur l’exercice 1926 présenté à la troisième assemblée générale annuelle des membres du foyer (6 mars 1927)’. 26. In Evangile et Liberté, news items from Bordeaux taken up by Fanilon’ ny Tanora, 1, November 1926. 27. Speech by Archbishop Gennadios quoted in Fanilon’ ny Tanora, 1, November 1926. 28. Terret, ’Le rôle des Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) dans la diffusion du sport en France pendant la première guerre mondiale’, 56. 29. Fanilon’ ny Tanora, 1, November 1926. 30. Ibid. 31. Fanilon’ ny Tanora, 6, April 1927. 32. Text by Beigbeder, J. in Jobily, foyer chrétien de jeunes gens, 1926 Amparibe/UCJG – 1951 Antsahamanitra, Imprimerie luthérienne, Antananarivo: 1951. National Library of Madagascar, shelf mark 267 3 (691) JOB. 33. Esoavelomandroso, F., ’Aînés et cadets: le foyer chrétien de jeunes gens d’Antananarivo (1924–1960)’, 401. 34. Ibid. 35. Author of Récits de voyage de l'oncle Henri. 36. From an interview with Reddy Ramalinga, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Andhra in southern India, published in Fanilon' ny Tanora, 5, March 1927. 37. Esoavelomandroso, F., 'Aînés et cadets: le foyer chrétien de jeunes gens d'Antananarivo [1924–1960]’, 404. 38. See photograph of the Christian Youth Centre in Antananarivo in 1927 in Jobily, foyer chrétien de jeunes gens, 6. 39. See Combeau-Mari, ‘The Catholic Mission, Sport and Renewal of Elites St Michel de Tananarive Jesuit College [1906–1975]’ in this issue. 40. See photograph in Jobily, foyer chrétien de jeunes gens, 8. 41. Beigbeder, ‘Le foyer chrétien jugé de dedans, rapport moral sur l’exercice 1926 présenté à la troisième Assemblée générale annuelle des membres du foyer [6 mars 1927]’. 42. The terms used by Gabriel F. Jonah, a teacher at the Youth Centre, quoted by Esoavelomandroso, ‘Aînés et cadets: le foyer chrétien de jeunes gens d'Antananarivo [1924–1960]’, 406. 43. Jobily, foyer chrétien de jeunes gens. 44. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 7, January 1927 [in Malagasy]. 45. Ibid. 46. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 15, January 1928 [in Malagasy]. 47. Created at Springfield on an American university campus, this ‘superbly educational’ game was invented by William Morgan in 1895. It offered an alternative to the violent team games of association football and rugby. 48. Also created on the American university campus of Springfield, basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1892. See Bosc, Une histoire du basket-ball français, tome 1, 1893–1966. 49. Jobily, foyer chrétien de jeunes gens. 50. Dated 27 November 1926, Journal officiel de Madagascar et dépendances [Official Gazette]. 51. Ibid. 52. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 6, April 1927. 53. Arriving from mainland France, Labourgade briefly replaced Jean Beigbeder, who had to return to France in early 1927. He had been a missionary in Madagascar 23 years before [1900–1904], and had to go back to France owing to his wife's state of health. This pastor became head of the Student Centre in Nancy after the war. When he accepted the post at the Christian Youth Centre in Madagascar, he left three children behind in France. E. Kruger, his successor at the head of the Youth Centre in Antananarivo, took up his functions in May 1928. He left the island in September 1931, most distraught at the death of his 4-month-old baby daughter. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 9, January 1927 and 60, October 1931. 54. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 9, January 1927. Translated from the Malagasy. 55. The Christian Youth Centre was only declared officially in the Official Gazette on 2 September 1944. The Christian Youth Centre of Miarinarivo was declared on 22 June 1929, that of Tulear on 27 March 1937 and that of Soavinadriana on 15 July 1944. 56. The first issue came out in November 1926 and the last in December 1931. The Review ceased publication with the departure of the Youth Centre's director, E. Kruger. 57. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 6, April 1927. 58. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 1, November 1926. 59. Ibid. 60. The YMCA World Alliance has had its headquarters in Geneva since 1878. 61. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 19, May 1928. 62. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 6, April 1927. 63. See the minutes of the association's Ordinary General Meeting, 11 January 1937, Christian Youth Centre of Antananarivo [FKTL], File 6 [7] D67, CAOM. 64. Charles Bonzon was recalled to France in the mid-1950s to become director of the Society of Evangelical Missions in Paris. 65. Ledoux, Pasteur en mission avec les éclaireurs unionistes de Madagascar [1947–1954], 71. 66. A basement wall collapsed owing to infiltration by underground water. Most of the Centre's archives were lost in this accident. 67. Interview with Benjamina Ramanantsoa on 7 April 2004 in Antananarivo. A lecturer in history at the Ecole Normale [Teacher Training College], B. Ramanantsoa holds a doctorate on secret societies in Madagascar during the colonial period. Ramanantsoa, B. ‘Les sociétés secrètes nationalistes à Madagascar dans la première moitié du XXème, Vy, Vato, Sakelika [1913–1915], Panama [Parti National Socialiste Malgache 1941–1947], Jiny [Jeunesse nationaliste 1943–1945]’. Doctoral Thesis, U. of Paris VII, 1985–1986. 68. See note on the activity of the Christian Youth Centre of Antananarivo, 1944, CAOM, File: Affaires religieuses [Religious affairs] 1941–1944, 6/D/4/53. 69. Gathering every year on Whit Monday. 70. Photograph, 19: Inauguration of the Youth Centre of Antsahamanitra on 16 April 1950 with the various personalities sitting in the stands: ‘Fitokanana ny foyer. Hita eto Lucien Peyrot. M. Gautier, General Secretary, Mrs Bonzon, Mr Robert Bargues, High Commissioner, and Mrs Bargues. Eo am-pihainoana ny lahatenin’ Ingahy Bonzon ny olona’, Jobily, foyer chrétien de jeunes gens. 71. Jobily, foyer chrétien de jeunes gens. 72. Esoavelomandroso, ‘Aînés et cadets : le foyer chrétien de jeunes gens d’Antananarivo [1924–1960]’, 413. 73. The movement was created in France by Samuel Williamson in 1911. 74. Protestants and Catholics. The Catholic Scout movement was created in 1925. 75. See the photograph of Jean Beigbeder in Jobily, foyer chrétien de jeunes gens. 76. Baden-Powell, Scouting for Boys. 77. Mondain, A. ‘Ce que sont les éclaireurs unionistes [suite et fin]’, in Fanilon' ny Tanora, 19, May 1928. 78. Mondain, A. ‘Ce que sont les éclaireurs unionistes’, in Fanilon' ny Tanora, 18, April 1928. 79. Bertrand Rajaofera represented the Malagasy Scouts at the Birkenhead meeting in England, from 31 July to 15 August 1929. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 34, August 1929. 80. Delval, ‘Les débuts du mouvement scout et notamment du guidisme à Madagascar’, 293. 81. See note on the activity of the Christian Youth Centre of Antananarivo, 1944. CAOM, File: Affaires religieuses 1941–1944, 6/D/4/53. 82. Governor Annet, posted in Madagascar from 1941 to 1942, was extremely zealous in applying the directives of the Vichy regime. He was most solicitous towards the Catholics. See Combeau-Mari and Maestri, Le régime de Vichy dans l'océan Indien, Madagascar-Réunion, 1940–1942. 83. Several Unionist Scout leaders were arrested by the police force in Tamatave and Diego Suarez. 84. Jean-Brice, ‘L'œuvre des missions protestantes à Madagascar’, 323. 85. Ledoux, Pasteur en mission avec les éclaireurs unionistes de Madagascar, 13. 86. He was a troop leader under the supervision of Pastor Costil. 87. He headed the French delegation to an international meeting in Sweden in July 1946. 88. Maurice Costil had assured him he could open up in full confidence. 89. Ledoux, Pasteur en mission avec les éclaireurs unionistes de Madagascar, 32. 90. The European missionaries felt bitter about the decline of their prerogatives. The autonomy of the Evangelical Church of Madagascar was only effective from 1957. 91. This Malagasy word means ‘mild’ or ‘kind’, and with doux sharing this meaning in French, is a play on the Pastor's name, Ledoux. 92. Ledoux, Pasteur en mission avec les éclaireurs unionistes de Madagascar, 100. 93. Delval, ‘Les débuts du mouvement scout et notamment du guidisme à Madagascar’, 293. 94. Ledoux, Pasteur en mission avec les éclaireurs unionistes de Madagascar, 48. 95. Marc-André Ledoux was replaced by Alain Martin. 96. It was only in 1953 that the secular Scouts of France movement was founded. 97. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 13, January 1927. All the texts are in Malagasy, translated into French. 98. Berthe Raharijaona wrote the reports of the Young Women's Christian Union in Malagasy. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 13, January 1927. 99. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 13, January 1927. 100. Perrot, ‘Histoire des femmes et pluriculturalité’, in Staudacher-Valliamé, 31. 101. In capitals in the original. 102. Fanilon' ny Tanora, 1, November 1926. 103. There are very few articles, all written in Malagasy, on the activities of the Young Women's Christian Union. 104. In the Journal officiel de Madagascar et dependences [Official Gazette]. 105. Delval, ‘Les débuts du mouvement scout et notamment du guidisme à Madagascar’, 296. 106. The women's branch of Unionist Scouts totalled 29 units in 1954. Goguel, Aux origines du mai malgache, Désir d'école et compétition sociale 1951–1972, 79. 107. Foyer de jeunes-filles de Behoririka, 1951–1978, National Library of Madagascar, shelf mark 362–8 [691] PRO. 108. Interview with Aurélie Raharimbola, sister of Paul Rakotovololona, on 9 April 2005 at her home in Antananarivo. Born on 2 December 1932 in Antananarivo, she held a position of responsibility in the Christian Women's Youth Centre in the 1950s. 109. Jean-Brice, ‘L'œuvre des missions protestantes à Madagascar’, 324. 110. Commander Jean-Brice de Bary belonged to the staff of High Commissioner and personal friend Charles Bonzon. He was a Protestant. Ledoux, Pasteur en mission avec les éclaireurs unionistes de Madagascar, 60. 111. All of whom were between 27 and 30 years of age.