Africa
BEXLEY STATION
Letter from Brother John Day
Brother Day in his last communication pleads for an enlargement of his school of native
boys. This plea the Board have not been able to resist. The school will now consist of not less
than fifty. Referring to this subject, he thus writes: -
When I first wrote you, I was in a low state of health, -did not expect to live but a short
time; and, on whatever object I looked, everything so converged to a point, I could only see,
could only anticipate small things. A school of fifteen native boys was all my vision could
grasp; now fifty is the smallest number which can satisfy my desires. This change I do not wish
you to attribute to mere fickleness of mind, for I know there has been some calculation and
reasoning about the matter. From what I have seen published, I infer you intend to conduct your
affairs here, through the agency of colored men. A well educated, talented white man, would
possess none too much ability for your purposes here. The colored man, to answer, must have
the same dimensions of soul. The moral soundness, the mental ability, he must have. I could not
tell where you could get such a man; and felt, to incur much expense under the circumstances
would be unjustifiable. Now, the improved state of my health, the onward march of everything
connected with your affairs here, the anxiety of the natives for the word of God, the high
estimation in which your missionaries are held by them, all seem to encourage to greater effort.
Supporting fifty boys here, instead of fifteen, will be found good economy, when all the
circumstances are considered. An assistant must be employed, or I would be constantly in
school, and the expenses would be too great for the smallness of the operation.
I am preparing for a tour of one or two hundred miles into the interior, that I may see the
extent and prospects of the great work you have to accomplish. The work I call yours, as I feel it
should be the glory of the south to be able to prove themselves the greatest benefactors of the
negro race. This work is indeed left for you. It is a great work, and many discouragements may
be expected; but, for Jesus’ sake, never abandon this field. You have not here a field ripe or
white to harvest; but a people to prepare, -to raise from the depths of ruin. The work, the glory,
the reward, will all be great.
Southern Baptist Missionary Journal
May 1 848
p. 278-279
