Letter from R. E. Murray
Greenville, Sinou, Mareh 1st, 1850
Dear Brother - My visit to Monrovia as a delegate to the
Association, was truly a pleasing one. I was particularly struck
with the work of the Lord among the Congoes, several of whom I
had the pleasure of seeing baptized and added to the different
churches in Monsurado county, where some of the churches have
increased, notwithstanding their destitute condition. I trust they
will soon be better supplied with preachers. In my former letter to
you, I mentioned the unsettled state of things among the natives,
which I feared would greatly interfere with our operations, in
consequence of which I did not extend my visit above eight miles
in the country. However, I was not idle, but endeavored to sow the
good seed, by conversing with the people.
On the 15lh October, I began to preach regularly to the
fishermen in the vicinity of this place, on the Sabbath. It
frequently happens, that persons belonging to tribes seventy or
eighty miles in the interior, attend my preaching. These hear the
gospel, and I hope through them to exert an influence for good,
over a wide extent of country.
Owing to the bad state of the roads, I have not traveled
much into the country. My last visit to King George’s town was
well received. The people on the Sinou river appeared glad to see
me, and expressed a willingness to hear the gospel. I addressed
them on the creation and fall of man, and the entrance of sin into
the world. All these things were new to them.
Our meetings at Fishtown are held under a large India
rubber tree. Large numbers attend. Such is the structure of the
dialect, that it is very difficult to make the people understand me;
but, thank God, they do comprehend my message, and the result is
beginning to be seen.
The population of Greenville is about 400. It contains three
churches, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian. The Baptists
number 56 members, 57 scholars in the day school and 28 in the
Sabbath school. The Methodists have I preacher and I assistant;
two day schools of 85 scholars; 3 Sabbath schools of 130 scholars;
and 1 12 church members. The Presbyterians have one preacher
