Edward John Baxter

Edward John Baxter

Edward John Baxter (22 June 1853 – 5 Nov 1939) was an English medical missionary doctor in the late 1800s who practiced in East Africa, Uganda, Mochi, Chaga, Mengo, and Mpwapwa. As a member of the Church

Edward John Baxter
Born	June 22, 1853 Norwood Green, Middlesex, England
Died	November 5, 1939 Hove, Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority, East Sussex, England
Citizenship	English
Education	Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Known for	His work as a CMS Medical Missionary in areas of East Africa
Spouse	Clara Elizabeth Worsley
Children	Beatrice Mary (Nash)
Medical career
Profession	Preacher, Doctor, Surgeon, Medical Missionary

Mission Society (CMS), he began a medical station in Mpwapwa. He was also known for supporting the Belgian Expedition and received notable marks from King Leopold.

Baxter went as a pioneer evangelist for the CMS and as a medical missionary to East Africa. He stayed in Mpwapwa for six years just before taking a leave of absence. During his time in Mpwapwa, Baxter had many encounters with animals, witch doctors, and slave traders. He made a strong connection with the Maasai chief who wanted him to remain with him and his people. Overall, the relationships he made with the natives were very good and allowed him to be supported in his mission.

On a route known as “Dr. Baxter’s Road,” he would escort parties of missionaries form Mombasa (current-day Kenya) to their inland destinations. He earned the name “Bwana Doktari,” meaning “the Master Doctor," during his time in the Ukaguru and Ugogo countries in German East Africa. After his mission to Kongwa in 1902, he returned to the United Kingdom in 1912 where he accepted his resignation in 1913. His legacy continues through the work of the hospital and medical systems he implemented, which has been providing care to patients to this day.

Early Life

Education and Personal Life

In 1877, Edward Baxter attended Edinburgh University and School of Medicine (Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons). This was just before his first mission to Mpwapwa. Edward Baxter was born on June 22nd, 1853 in Norwood Green, Middlesex. Baxter was the Son of Dr. Henry Phelps Baxter of Middlesex England and the Brother in law of Reverand Henry Cole, author and missionary. He married Clara Elizabeth Worsley in Ealing on January 9th, 1884, who was born on Sep 26th, 1853 in Easton, Bristol, England. Worsley helped Baxter with his settlement in Mpwapwa and supported him in his missions. She died on Oct 2, 1935 in Coronado, California. Edward Baxter lost an infant child to disease in Africa in 1885. On May 2, 1888, Baxter and Worsley had had a daughter by the name of Beatrice Mary (Nash).

Mission

Religion

Aside from medical work, Baxter aimed to spread Christianity to the people he encountered on his missions. In 1892, Baxter - who was based in the Gogo area at the time - visited Moshi, where Chief Mandara professed that he believed in Christ.

“When I last saw Mandara, during conversation I urged upon him the necessity of at once deciding for Christ. He replied that he had already received Jesus as his Saviour, and prayed to Him daily... and added that if he had not decided for Christ he would not have sent several lads to live with Mr. Steggall and be taught.”

- Dr. Edward John Baxter

On Saturday March 23, 1880, Baxter met the headsman of Tubungwe, who was interested in Baxter's thoughts and accomplishments. As a token of friendship, the village headsman gave Baxter a goat. Baxter stated, “after some persuasion they came and sat under a tree in front of my tentdoor. I then spoke to them, through my interpreter AH, of creation, the distinction between a man and a beast, the fall, the remedy in Christ; His life, death and resurrection; the home in glory, the judgement; and then of God's preserving care over His people." He then said, "they listened very attentively for about two hours or more, and I then suggested that they had heard enough for tonight. They said it would do, if I told them more next time I came, to which I agreed.”

Rachel Watt, the first female missionary to the British East African Interior, settled at a station fifty miles from Baxter's station at Mpwapwa. When her and her husband met baxter, she stated that they have "never met in Africa a more Christlike man than Dr. Baxter—a most devoted follower of the Savior, a faithful doctor, an indefatigable nurse and a fine cook."

Station in Mpwapwa

Baxter travelled to many different locations in East Africa, including Mochi, Chaga, and Mengo, to provide care to people. His first settlement was located in Mpwapwa, a town in Tanzania. According to the London Missionary Society’s pamphlet, Baxter’s settlement was in a “beautiful district” and looked like a “roadside inn” with “farmstead and out-houses,” which was very welcoming to travelers.

Mpwapwa, Tanzania

In February 1879, Baxter planned to form a station in Ugogo. With the help of his men, he found a habitable area, however, water could only be accessed via spring. Additionally, due to an infestation of the Tsetse fly, sheep and oxen were not able to survive, preventing the men from accessing necessary supplies. Baxter faced the serious issue of loss of animals from predators. Approximately 80 sheep were dead or missing and four out of the seven oxen had died. As a result, the supply issues worsened. Therefore, Baxter proposed that a station be formed at Mausassa instead, as it was much more suitable.

Baxter and his people continued to assimilate to the community. They interacted with natives and learned about tribes, such as the Wagogo, in the surrounding areas. Baxter provided the natives with blue stone (copper (II) sulfate), a material which can be used to kill viruses and bacteria and cure various disorders.

Baxter's colleague, Joseph Thomas Last, brought approximately fifty freed slaves from Mombasa to perform paid work on the settlement. The wet season made it difficult to travel, since many loads of products, including oil, fell to the ground as a result of the slippery roads. As the month progressed, the natives began to recognize Baxter as “more and more as a great medicine-man.” Similar to the previous months, predators, such as hyenas and foxes, were killing their animals. Baxter went on many hunting excursions in hopes of protecting the prosperity of the animals.

Throughout Baxter's time at Mpwapwa, escaped slaves continued to join his station. He provided them with an opportunity to work on the farm for housing and food. Baxter's rationale for allowing this practice was that the slaves "represent a number of tribes, I trust that from this centre, the Word of Life may be carried far, and widely scattered in this dark continent.” This highlights Baxter's willingness to accept the culture and learn from diverse perspectives.

Role in the Belgian Expedition

On Friday, March 21st, a letter from Major-General Gardiner expressing the gratitude of the King of the Belgiums–Leopold II of Belgium–during the Belgian Expedition. Baxter nursed back to health one of the member of the Belgian Expedition who had fallen very ill. King Leopold provided his thanks at the Marlborough House and expressed much interest in the society’s plans for the Mpwapwa station. This recognition and support was very important for Baxter and his team, as they would have to rely on help during times of hardship.

Legacy

Baxter’s station in Mpwapwa eventually gave rise to St Luke’s Clinic, which was initially a maternity clinic established as early as 1878. This hospital was closed in the 1950s due to the abundance of resources provided to the Diocese of Central Tanganyika. In 1993, Dr. Rachel Tarling was asked by the Diocese to reopen the hospital in the Old Bishop's Rest House within the Cathedral Multi-purpose Complex. She accepted, forming a full-functioning practice, which was sees approximately 5,000 patients a year. This hospital works alongside the Government District Hospital after seeing patients in 1997. Today, St. Luke's Clinic has expanded its facilities to diagnostic and curative services, preventive health services, HIV work, and has a Pharmacy and a Laboratory. On November 5th, 1939, Edward John Baxter died in Hove, England. He was appreciated for his gratitude and was fully respected by all that he worked with and for.