Liberian Mission - Letter from Rev. J. H. Cheeseman
By letter from brother Cheeseman, dated June 1 5a\ we received a
report, from which the following is selected:
I seize the present opportunity to drop you a few lines to
acquaint you of the state of affairs in reference to the Liberian
mission. I have been anxious for some time to write, but as no
American vessel has left this part of the coast for some time, I have
not had an opportunity of doing so. I could have written by way of
England, but I regarded the postage on letters too extravagant to
warrant it.
1 have not only to say that reports received from the various
stations on the coast, are very favorable. Missionaries and teachers
are said to be engaged in the work heartily and much is expected. I
have only visited Monrovia, and there had been a conference with
brethren Richardson and Harden - urged the propriety of entire
devotedness to the work of the mission, and advised them to do
what they could for the church at Monrovia, in connection with
their other duties, as the church, in consequence of circumstances
connected with Mr. Peage’s death, had somewhat fallen into a low
condition, and is now destitute of a regular ministry.
I have been engaged in my labors, doing what I could to
advance the interest of the cause of God on these benighted shores,
but still I feel that I have done but little. The field is large, and so
few are the laborers, that scarcely any work is discemable. The
work of a missionary in a heathen land, is entirely a work of faith,
and to accomplish anything much, perseverance is required. The
natives are truly more enlightened and speak more rationally on
subjects of religion, but their conversions resemble angels visits,
few and far between. Occasionally one is brought to a knowledge
of the truth, and not unfrequently are we made to mourn the sad
fall of converted natives as soon as they return to their people, and
are exposed to the various temptations laid before them. Such has
been the case with several youths, who were connected with the
mission under the patronage of the Union Missionary Society.
There are some connected with both missions who do honor the
cause of God, and from whom we receive much encouragement.
1 hope the Board will not fail to do all possibly, to sustain
the missions and to give importance to it. A high school in this
country is desirable, and I hope will be established as soon as
