AFRICA
NEW VIRGINIA
Letter From brother John Day
The reference in the subjoined letter to the schools, and the
necessity of increased attention to this department of labor, cannot
but affect every Christian heart. We are thankful that so much has
already been done by our Board, but much, very much remains to
be done.
Monrovia, Liberia, Dec. 8, 1 848
Since my arrival here I have been twice up the river, and
rejoice to find that bro. James, our late missionary at New Virginia,
in every particular, more than came up to my expectation. Last
Sunday I preached for the church he had raised. They appear alive
to God. They are the happiest, most loving band I know. The
spirit of their pastor is observed in a high degree. I do not know
when I felt such conscious assurance that I was with the children of
my heavenly Father.
I have just returned from a visit to the several settlements,
examining the schools. Monday and Tuesday remained in
Monrovia; Wednesday I started for Millsburg, stopped at New
Georgia, and examined the school, found the children had made
good progress in spelling, reading, &c.
I then went to the school at New Virginia, and found the school
had made good improvement, and that their instruction had been
thorough; they are the best catechized set of children I have seen;
even the little ones of whom I expected nothing, could read well,
and the smallest child in that school in the knowledge of those
things relative to the soul and to God, is remarkable. I then left for
Millsburg, where it was expected I would preach at night; but the
school of sixty-eight were so broken up into small classes and I
had consumed so much time, that when I arrived at Louisiana, I
found it hopeless to be in time at Millsburg to preach. I stopped in
that settlement all night, and in the morning visited sundry
members of the church; found brother James’ stamp of meekness
and love, or rather the image of our heavenly Father, deeply
engraved on every mind. They were desponding, but I assured
them they should be remembered. I was informed they had among
