Pater Rohmer

The mission received two large tracts of land. Father August was made superior. Another Father, Martin Rohmer was sent to help him. Together these two men worked for two years, learning both language and country. The poor reception in other sections of the moun- tainsides did not prevent these two from making attempts to gain entrance. Father August, sly and artful in actions as in words, left out the words, performed the actions of settling elsewhere. He slipped into a nice level spot of land called Singa Chini (Singachini or Msingachini) meaning lower Singa, i. e., he was in the low mountain level. He sent word back to Kilema (about 38 miles away). Father Rohmer came on the run after his Mass the next day. He found Father August toying around with some sticks and mud, completing his hut. He looked disgustedly at him and said, "August, what arc you doing in this hell-hole? Get up out of here." He took him up the hill above the level of the chief's house across the river. They came upon wide open land, no trees, no grass, not even dirt, only rocks. Father Rohmer said, "August, this is the place for health." They looked around a bit and built a hut just above the rocks. Evening came and Father Rohmer refused to trot seven hours over the hills to Kilema. Father August re- turned to Kilema, then or the next day. Two days later a large band of natives planned the death of Father Rohmer. Evening came with its dusk and darkness. Father Rohmer lit his candle and then inspected his lamp. He filled it com- pletely. It surely ought to burn for eleven hours (it is dark almost that long in Africa). He lit it, blew out the candle,/' and settled down to a little business. Outside the natives^ made very little noise other than by breathing. Any minute now he would go off to sleep. The signal was "when the light is out!" But the light went out only when the sun came up the next day. While it was lit, Father Rohmer had travelled four hours to Moshi for provisions and am- munition and returned. He took two hours sleep and awak- ened with the sun. Seeintj him blow out the light they made ready for the day's battle. The Chief arrived and proclaimed himself as chief. Father met him in the center of the surrounding people, and drove his fist to the chief's left jaw, sending him down in a lump. Father Rohmer then proclaimed himself chief. As a result the chief gave Father Rohmer land, nof so much to he nice as to palm off useless land, for very little grew on it and it was full of lava-rock.

The whole section of Singa was a prison for the way- ward Kihosho Wachaga, but now of this prison and the real prison-land nothing remains hut the name, for Msinga in Wachaga is "prison." The land has been enriched with soil and built into a veritable paradise and fruitful mission, in a religious and agricultural sense, but not without perspira- tion on the part of Father Rohmer. Another section of land was given to the Mission two miles below, distinguishing in name, therefore, Singa Chini from the present site, Singa Juu (upper) . All this happened 40 years ago. Then began the work of spreading the missions. Father Rohmer worked East and West. Father August at Kilema worked North to a greater extent because of an immense ridge to the south.

The great pioneer, Father Rohmer was sent to Rombo, bringing with him new life and today Mengwe shows promise of some Misson development.

The two pioneers in Kilimanjaro - father August and Father Rohmer - are very fit, although one is 75 and the other is 73. What do you think of that record?

God has called to Himsef twelve Fathers and two Brothers most of them when they were still in full vigor for missionary work. Here are their names, and age at the time of their death:

Father Nicholas Walta 48 1937

Father Martin Rohmer 76 1938

Brother Cere Spiekermann 77 1939

Im letzten Höhenbiwak sah Meyer noch einmal Pater Rohmer von der Missionsstation Kibosho, der ihn einige Strecken begleitet hatte. Sie wärmten sich am offenen Feuer und labten sich an einer "eben vollendeten wundervollen Kartoffelsuppe". während ihres letzten gemeinsamen Abends sprachen sie, wie es Meyer schildert, "über den Kilimandscharo und Ostafrika, über Gott und die Welt. Es ist seltsam, wie schnell sich in solcher Situation, dem Treiben der Menschen entrückt wie auf einem anderen Planeten und einander genähert durch gemeinsame Errungenschaften harter Anstrengungen, verwandte Seelen finden und die herzen öffnen trotz größter Verschiedenheit der Persönlichkeiten.

Da saßen nun ein in strenger Zucht herangebildeter Katholischer Glaubensbote und ein in evangelischer Freiheit aufgewachsener Naturforscher, die sich vor einer Woche zum erstenmal in ihrem leben gesehen hatten, und waren doch einander in aufrichtiger Freundschaft zugetan, als kennten sie sich seit Jahrzehnten. dazu mischte sich in meine Stimmung ein elegischer Ton bei dem Gedanken, daß der Abschied vom Kilimandscharo, "meinem" Berg und "meinen" Gletschern nahe bevorstehe. So wurde mir der Abend besonders eindrucksvoll. Die Stunden, die ich dort oben unter den Südgletschern mit dem charaktervollen, aller frömmelnden und politischen Art abgeneigten, Gemütstiefen und frohsinnigen Pater Rohmer am Biwakfeuer verbrachten, leben in meiner Erinnerung fort als einige der schönsten während der ganzen Reise"