Liberian Missions
In their second annual report, the Foreign Mission Board
say: “It is becoming a settled conviction of those who are familiar
with the history of Africa, that our chief reliance, for her
evangelization, must be upon colored men. After much inquiry,
the Board detennined to seek these laborers, for the present, from
the Liberian Colony. They accordingly appointed brother John
Day, who for several years, had been in the employ of the Boston
Board, to labor among the Bassa tribes, and A. L. Jones, a young
and talented minister residing at Cape Palmas, to be engaged
within the limits of the Maryland Colony.” They notice the fact,
however, that Mr. Jones had died before information of the
appointment had reached Africa. This was in 1847. In 1848 the
report five missionaries and one teacher, all colored men; and
stations at New Virginia and vicinity, Bexley, Bassa Cove, and
Edina; eighty-two conversions, and several promising schools,
with encouraging prospects for the future. 1849 - missionaries,
teachers, and interpreters, thirteen; stations, eight; general
indications of prosperity; some baptisms. 1850 - number of
missionaries, &c., sixteen; stations, ten; baptized, seventy-six;
most encouraging prospects. 1851 - missionaries, &c., eighteen;
stations, ten; baptisms reported, but numbers not given; schools
and other interests, encouraging. 1852 - missionaries, &c., fifteen;
stations, twelve; average number of pupils in schools, four hundred
and twenty; baptized, sixty-six; average attendance in Sabbath
schools, four hundred and forty; still encouraging. 1853
missionaries, &c., nineteen; stations, thirteen; eleven day schools,
with four hundred scholars. 1854 - the statistics are about the
same as the preceding year, and the prospects still promising.
1855 —missionaries, &c., twenty-one; stations, fourteen; baptisms,
one hundred and sixty-three; the prospects of the mission are such
as to excite our gratitude and encourage our hopes.
This brief recapitulation shows that the cause of our Liberia
Mission has been constantly onward. God has greatly blessed the
labors of the Board in this field. Nor is it easy to over-estimate the
importance of this Mission, whether considered in reference to its
influence upon the colonists, or the natives of Africa. We all know
that the colonists are not prepared, when they leave this country, to
sustain the Gospel, or to maintain that degree of civil and religious
elevation even, which they possess. Left to themselves, many of
them would sink into barbarism, and more still into the lowest
vices. They need the aid of the faithful missionary, civilly,
