Meeting the Cowboy Turned Renegade Missionary: William Cullen Wilcox
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Authors
Kumalo, Simangaliso
Issue Date
2013-08
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
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Abstract
The Rev. William Cullen Wilcox is a relatively unknown missionary
of the American Board Mission. He left an indelible
legacy in South Africa as an initiator of mission stations, a land
activist, and mentor to John Langalibalele Dube, the first
president of the African National Congress. He lived and
worked in South Africa for over 40 years after which he
returned home to California with nothing to show for his work
among the poor black people of South Africa whom he had
served. It was only seventy years later that his story was
brought to the attention of the South African church and
government, which led to President Zuma bestowing on him
the order of the Companions of Oliver Tambo. This article
offers a brief profile of Rev Wilcox as a progressive political
missionary and highlights his contribution to the struggle of the
African people for self-determination.
In recognition for such support, the new democratic
government of South Africa regularly bestows the
highest honor; the government of KwaZulu-Natal has
nominated Reverend Wilcox for the Grand Order of
Oliver Tambo, as a mark of respect upon a worthy
individual. I have now been informed that President
Zuma has assented to bestowing this honor on Reverend
William Wilcox, and the Chancery of National Orders
has today delivered me a notice that invites the Wilcox
family to receive the National Order posthumously on
11 December 2009, in Pretoria, South Africa. I now
formally inform you of this by handing the letter to the
eldest and youngest generations of the Wilcox family.
1 This article was first published as a chapter in my book titled Pastor and politician: essays
on the legacy of John L Dube, first president of the African National Congress
(Pietermaritzburg: Cluster Publications, 2012).
Simangaliso Kumalo
This further cements the relationship of the American
people with those of South Africa. Our prayers as the
people of South Africa, the beneficiaries of William and
Ida Belle Wilcox’s ministry, are that their spirit and that
of JL Dube will live long and continue to guide us
(Premier Zwelini Mkhize 2009).
Description
Peer reviewed
Citation
Studia Historiae Ecclesiastica, vol 39, Supplement, pp 337-352
Publisher
Church History Society of Southern Africa
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PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
1017-0499