Our African Coast Missions
It is pleasant to us, in many respects, to refer to the history
of our endeavours to send out the healing influence of the Gospel
among the tribes of Western Africa. Very soon after the formation
of the Southern Baptist Convention, its Board determined that it
was wise, mainly to depend upon coloured men, in the
appointment of missionaries to this field. From time to time the
number of men have been increased, until we now have more than
twenty, who are employed in preaching and teaching. Nor have
their labours been in vain. Every year, more or less, has success
crowned their exertions. About five hundred are in our day
schools. The Sunday schools, also, are well attended. Several
hundreds have been baptized and added to churches.
Now, when it is remembered that these brethren thus
employed, have been favoured of the Lord in the conversion of
souls, and we contemplate also the fact that the early educational
advantages of our missionaries were limited, we have reason to
recognize the Divine hand on our behalf. The brethren employed,
for the most part, are men of good, sound practical judgment, very
similar in their qualifications to those who, in our earlier history as
a denomination in this country, went forth as pioneers in the
ministry. These brethren, too, have been compelled to grapple
with many difficulties. They have spread over a large extent of
territory. From Sierra Leone down Cape Palmas, a line of coast
country is found of more than six hundred miles. Flow altogether
inadequate has been the supply! How almost overpowering has
been the conviction of these labourers, that most of the harvest
must remain unreaped. And yet, they have gone on, God being
with them, and prospering their work. He has done great things for
us and them, whereof we are glad.
The work accomplished, though enough to create unfeigned
thankfulness, and to encourage us in its prosecution, is as nothing
compared with what remains to be done. Scores of tribes,
contiguous to our mission stations are accessible. Our missionaries
are pointing out to us on all sides most important openings, and
beseeching us to enter them.
The question forces itself upon us: What shall be done?
God in his providence has furnished us one of the most interesting
fields on the earth's surface. Shall we occupy it? To say nothing
of the vast opportunity which is being given us in Central Africa,
