Letter of Rev. W. C. Burke
CLAY ASHLAND, August 24th, 1 859
REV. A. M. POINDEXTER:
My Dear Brother — Your favors of 25th January and 27th of
April, came safely to hand; both of which I should have replied to
before this, if I could have known when vessels were going to the
United States. I live fifteen miles up the St. Paul’s river, and
vessels often come up from down the coast, and touch at Monrovia
on their way to the United States, and I do not hear of it until they
are gone. I shall now write by the regular ship, M. C. Stevens, and
endeavor to answer both of your letters in one. You requested me
to give you a detailed account of my missionary labors, and the
condition of the field in which I labor. Perhaps it may be more
intelligible for me to go back to the first establishment of the
Baptist church in this place.
CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH
Five years ago the Baptist church was organized in this
place, with a membership of eighteen. I was among the first that
settled this place. The members having no house of worship, built
a small church, and have worshipped in it until our number has
increased from eighteen to eighty-one; besides a very large
Sabbath school, which, with the members and the Sabbath school
children, the house is found to be too small to accommodate.
NEW HOUSE OF WORSHIP
Therefore we determined to enlarge our place of worship.
We thought it best to try and build a brick church, instead of
adding to the old frame house, as wood houses are so perishable in
this country. We therefore determined, God being our helper, to
build a brick church; and I feel thankful to God that after a united
effort by the church, and with the assistance of the S200, kindly
given us by the Board, and SI 27, given us by our tried and
indefatigable friend brother William Crane of Baltimore, we have
enabled to erect a brick office 38 by 28, walls 15 feet high, plank
floor, with a full set of benches and pulpit, and are now
worshipping in it. We feel proud and thankful for our new house,
particularly when we know, that up to its present state of
completion it is entirely out of debt. And as the Lord has blessed
