Letter from Rev. J. J. Fitzgerald to Rev. A. M. Poindexter, November 7, 1860

GRAND CAPE MOUNT Letter of Rev. J. J. Fitzgerald ROBERTSPORT, GRAND CAPE MOUNT, November 7th, 1 860 REV. A. M. POINDEXTER: Dear Brother - It is with pleasure that I now acknowledge your favor of May 18th, and brother Taylor’s of June 27th, neither of which reached me till the 26th of September. The death of our little Edwin, on the previous day, and the illness of my wife, who has not been able to sit up more than three or four days at a time for the last two months, will be deemed, I hope, a sufficient excuse for my silence. BAPTISMS With regard to calling out the benevolence and self-reliance of the churches in Liberia, it has been a subject of much thought in my own mind, and will receive my sanction and aid. The Lord seems still to be gracious, and we are enjoying a sweet and heavenly time. In addition to twenty baptized some time ago, I shall baptize ten more next Sabbath, no preventing providence. The church seems to be in a living revival state, and her children are continually crying to be received into her arms. Pray that the Holy Spirit may still move on the hearts of poor sinners, and that many more may seek and find life eternal. RETROSPECT In retrospecting the last four months, I have the pleasure of feeling that I have not been idle and that my labours have not been devoid of interest. A church almost dismembered has been united. Confidence has been restored to the doubting and despairing, the energies of the church have been called out to erect a substantial place for worship, and more than thirty have been united with us. With a sick family on my hands, I have tried to neglect none of the duties of a pastor, in visiting and praying with and for my flock in sickness and health. There are many things concerning the condition of the people here that I have designed writing, but sickness and my labors have not permitted. It is unusual for us to have one day when all are out of bed. Neither have I time to enter into details now. But I must say that the people at this station are very poor. There is no money here, and many of the hardest working people do not handle five dollars in the course of a year. Labour is paid for in trade, pork, tobacco, fish, cloth &c.