Article titled "Liberia Methodist Mission" published in The Commission, January 1861

LIBERIA METHODIST MISSION This mission was organized in 1832. It has now nineteen effective traveling preachers; 27 local preachers; 1,241 members, besides 317 probationers; 3 seminaries, one at Monrovia, one at Cape Palmas, and one at White Plains; besides the common schools, which are taught at the expense of the Missionary Society; and to this must be added the system of education introduced by Bishop Scott, which provides that each member of the Annual Conference shall take into his family a number of native children, not exceeding five, to be educated and trained up in Christian and civilized habits, the preacher to be assisted in this by the Missionary Society. Last year their increase of members was 184. They have large corps of colored teachers and helpers, and 862 Sunday scholars. The Methodist Episcopal Church in Liberia is now completely organized. In 1856 the General Conference passed a law providing for the election of Missionary Bishops, and in pursuance of this act, the Rev. Francis Bums, (colored man), was elected, and in 1858 ordained Bishop, his jurisdiction being limited to the Mission Conference in Africa. Bishop Bums is a respectably educated man, a man of much more than common natural abilities, an excellent preacher, and a sedate, devout and zealous Christian. Under this regime, the Liberia Conference has all the appliances for enterprise and prosperity, and when it shall reach a point in wealth, numbers and intelligence that it may take care of itself, the Missionary Board, and the M. E. Church in America, may do as the English Methodists did to their Australia missionary, give them their blessing and let them set up for themselves. The mission at present is in a state of sound internal prosperity. The Commission January 1861 Page 222