AFRICAN MISSION
It is known to our readers that the question of transferring
the African mission from the Boston to the Southern Board, has
been for sometime past under serious consideration. It is not
probable that any such transfer will be made. If our brethren at the
north shall deem it best, with due regard to their other important
missions, to continue their operations on the coast of Africa, we
shall pray for and rejoice in their success. At the same time, the
Southern Board are contemplating the vigorous prosecution of
the work in that field, as soon as suitable men can be obtained.
By the following interesting communication from brother I. Clark,
now on the coast, it will be seen, that while he urges the Northern
Board to retain the station, if possible, he has no personal
objection to laboring with the Southern Board.
We insert the extract below, because the arguments are
cogent, are scriptural, and adapted to a southern as well as a
northern latitude, and because many of the facts it contains will
tend to excite an increased interest in the welfare of benighted
Africa: --
British Akrah, April 3, 1846
Of late, our attention has been several times directed to the
subject of transferring the African Mission to the Southern Board,
and at last to that of abandoning the mission. We have consented
to the transfer, provided it be found best for the cause of missions
on the whole. But to abandon it, we think, would be wicked in the
extreme. It would argue that the church had attempted too much,
or that her efforts as to the mission had proved abortive. The
church is bound to do all she can do, for evangelizing the world.
Properly speaking, she is a Missionary Society, organized for her
own good, that is, the edification of her members and the
conversion of the world. When the Saviour commissioned his
disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature, he devolved this duty on the whole church in all
succeeding ages.
Our blessed Saviour came from heaven to save the world.
To this he applied his resources and devoted his power. For this he
emptied himself of his glory, and devoted himself to a life of
poverty, toil, reproach, and suffering. Jesus is not our Saviour
only, but also our example. He bestows on Christians a portion of
