Extracts of letters from Brother R. E. Murray, Brother J. H. Cheeseman, and Brother John Day, circa 1853, Brother Teage, January 21, 1853, and Brother Harden, January 31, 1853

AFRICA Sinou Mission Brother R. E. Murray, one of our missionaries at this station, refers to an interesting state of things within the limits of his field. He remarks: “Since my last letter to you, I have had great cause for rejoicing; the Lord has blessed us with refreshing showers, dissipating the spiritual drought that threatened to consume us. In looking at the state of the church before this revival, it bore a striking resemblance to the valley of dry bones, and the question addressed to the prophet, ‘can these dry bones live?’ would apply forcibly to our church. When the Spirit began to work, we had a protracted meeting of several weeks. I have baptized six, one quite an intellectual young man; he was, as usual, strongly opposed to our views on the subject of baptism; but reading the word of God with the true Berean spirit, and perusing carefully brother Fuller’s work on baptism, &c., he embraced the truth in the love of it, and is now rejoicing in the answer of a good conscience toward God. “I have made repeated visits up the river to King George’s, to preach the word; a friendly reception is always granted me, and the message of salvation is attentively listened to; at Kroo Town our services are regular, and the natives there are beginning to observe the day. “There is one thing perceptible among the natives at Kroo Town, that is the readiness with which they part with their children to live with settlers. There are now three little girls living in Baptist families; another is promised to one of our sisters when old enough to be separated from the mother. Two of the girls are motherless; the father, to secure good treatment for them, gave them to brethren Ceasar Fraser and William Lark. The little creatures, I trust, will have no cause to regret it. Two boys are to be given me when old enough; one at Kroo Town, brother to the little girls mentioned above, by the fatherside, besides, one at King George’s; if my means would admit of it, I could easily increase the number to nine or ten. Our heavenly Father is opening a door for us. The natives have long opposed their girls living in our families; this opposition is gradually declining.