MONROVIA
Letter from Rev. John Day
MONROVIA, Jan. 5th, 1857
REV. JAMES B. TAYLOR:
Very Dear Sir — In deep affliction of mind and some
affliction of body, (a pain in my hip, called sciatic, which makes
me quite lame) and much debility from bilious fever, I take my pen
in hand to write. You will, before this reaches you, have read of
the death of our worthy brother Murray. I need say nothing for
Murray. The hold he had on the confidence of the virtuous is,
speaks for him. I regarded him indispensable as a missionary; and
although not a jurist, his integrity rendered him indispensable as a
judge. The same integrity made him superintendent of Public
Affairs, and agent of the Colonization Society. I asked him to
resign some of those offices. He resigned the judgeship, but he
could not be dispensed with. The Society’s affairs he had attended
to by others, and merely gave an occasional eye to them. The
superintendent of Public Affairs required but little time, and the
nature of his business (in part that which I could not object to), the
settlement of native difficulties, was a work so missionary in its
nature, that I felt rather glad he acted in that capacity? He is gone,
and his place, who can fill?
Today I take in school only 39 boys, 28 girls and 7 of the
higher department. I asked the male teacher why there were so
few. He said some of the Methodist parents had taken their
children out of school. Some thought next Monday was the day
taken in. I asked the female teacher, she said part of her school
were in attendance on a funeral. I think 40 children as many as
Mr. Steward can manage to advantage, and propose an English
department in the upper school. Told the boys today that I should
shortly take all of the best readers and best behaved boys into the
upper school. Last Friday night, before the sad affair of the deacon
and chorister*, we received one young man as a candidate for
baptism. I heard of one woman wishing to join, lately converted.
All day yesterday our church was full, at night to overflowing.
Tears plenty; no shouting.
I have been long going forth weeping, bearing precious
seed, and shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing sheaves
