MONROVIA - LIBERIA
Extract of a Letter from Rev. John Day
The whole school at what we called Day’s Hope, is quite
interesting. There are now fewer boarders than I expected. The
young preacher, brother Richardson, proselyted from Methodism,
proved bad material, or got out of the church. The young preacher
from Sierra Leone has not yet come. The Congo preacher whom
we supported last year, is so dull and stupid, that it seems like
throwing away money to support him. I have arranged for a few
more colonists, and as soon as the farm will help support them, I
intend to take in 15 or 20 natives whose heads indicate a soul; and
try to take them through a full course. I have seen several well
educated natives who were quite gentlemanly, and of a truly
missionary spirit. They were educated in England.
The boarders now are Mr. Burke, Mr. Wilson, Mr.
Stansbury (Preachers) T. J. Day, W. H. Mathews, Robert Herndon,
James Lewis, John W. Bassa, besides a young woman whom we
are qualifying to take charge of the female school. She does not
board with me, but is poor, and I am waiting to see her need, and
help her. She is an extraordinary girl. She works out her sums in
algebra as readily, and gets as high a mark, in all her studies as any
in the class. We are trying to bring Thomas forward as teacher of
the male department. He, Mr. Blydon, thinks has an excellent
mind. Mr. Burke is only calculating on the advantages of this year.
I expect Miss Stewart to take charge next year of the girls, and
Thomas can continue to bring the rest along who are more than a
year behind him, and take lessons of Mr. Blydon who lives close
by the seminary. Thus we shall have Baptist teachers in our
seminary, a very desirable thing. I was near the point of death
when the books arrived, but rejoiced to see them. We have now
the means of knowing much, but still we need some more
theological books, but the board has been so very liberal that I will
not now name them. I should be very glad of a good work on
church polity and a little book very well gotten up, call Bible
Companion. I won’t name any more.
The Mission. There are a few up at Louisiana to baptize,
and if reports are correct, things up the river are quite prosperous
although quiet. At Monrovia, we are putting out as many as others
take in. We take in some too. I can’t say we have a cold time, but
