MOUNT HOPE
Letter from Rev. L. K. Crocker
MOUNT HOPE, L. BASSA
October 1, 1860
Rev. A. M. Poindexter:
Your kind and animating letter, dated April 15th, 1860, was received with
pleasure, and we, the members of the Mission at this station, tender our sincerest
thanks to the Board, that the Lord has put it into their hearts still so to pity the poor
Africans, as to send them the word of God. May He who has said that, “he that hath
pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord,” reward you with the best of His blessings.
NO REASON FOR DISCOURAGEMENT
We sometimes hear that our brethren in America complain of the little fruit
that has resulted from our Missionary labors. This is true, but if our brethren were to
come out here in our midst, and see what changes are taking place among the natives
by degrees, through the preachings of the word, really they would, instead of being
disheartened, rather be more fervent in their prayers, that the Lord would hasten the
time when the heathen shall be given to His Son for His inheritance and the
uttermost parts of the earth for His possession. Christians, pray for this. As I said
before in some of my letters, so I say now concerning the people of this country, or
at least this part of the country; they need to be taught - yes, to be nourished and
brought up with the sincere milk of the word. The general or national customs and
deportment of this people is contrary to the Gospel of Christ, and though there are
many of them who are trying to overcome these long-standing customs and habits,
but how can they of themselves except the Spirit helps their infirmities? However,
we have abundant reasons to adore the name of Jehovah, that notwithstanding these
customs, &c., have been imbibed by the people for times immemorial; yet the
Gospel is able to dispel this mental darkness from their minds. The Gospel has done
it in some and it is effecting it in others now. We are the living witnesses to the
facts.* You will notice in our reports the number of sermons we preached during the
quarters in a year. This is not even a quarter of our labor during those periods of
time.
PREACHING AMONG THE NATIVES
As regards preachings among the heathen by Missionaries, I mean true
servants of Christ, they cannot, and ought not to confine themselves to formal
preachings only. Formal preachings are good at times, but not necessary on all
occasions, among the heathen. As our blessed Lord called Peter, and made him a
fisher of men, so every true disciple of Christ should regard himself. Now, to be a
