Letter from S. S. Page
The following from one of our teachers at Junk, contains
references to the last journey by Brother John Kingdon from the
association at Edina to Monrovia, where he died. The letter is dated
Marshall, March 22:
Brother Kingdon was with us during the meeting of the
association, from first to last. He told me that he wished to visit
Marshall, and accordingly after we had got through with the
business that called us together, brother Joseph Clay, Kingdon and
myself left Edina about half past 2 o’clock, P.M., December 22d.
Brother Cheeseman accompanied us a short distance. Bear in
mind, that in consequence of an inability of Brother Kingdon to
walk much, and at any considerable distance, he was supplied with
a hammock and bearers. We did not reach Brother Lewis H.
Crocker’s (where we intended to lodge that night) until late that
night, and as a consequence which followed, we were exposed for
three or four hours to a heavy, damp evening or night air. The day
had been quite warm, and the air sultry, one of the reasons why we
did not leave Edina until afternoon. But the next day morning at
Brother Crocker’s, I asked him of his health, and his reply was, I
am tolerably well. I feel much refreshed, though I have a slight
headache, to remedy which he took a cup of very weak tea. After
6 o’clock in the morning we took our leave of Brother Crocker,
and resumed our journey.
Little salt towns are strewed all along on the ocean shore.
Those are inhabited by people who come down from the back
country to boil salt, from salt or sea ocean water; it was at one of
these that we stopped to take breakfast. After breakfast the little
town being full of natives, who stood gazing. Brother Kingdon told
me he wished to say something to them. An interpreter being
called, and the people assembled, he explained to them the nature
of the body and soul, of the dissolution of the body, and of its
returning to dust, and of the immortality of the soul, of its going up
to God who gave it, &c. He asked them if they wanted a school
among them, to which they replied, yes. He advised them to go
down to Brother Crocker’s (which is not far from here) to hear
God’s word on Sabbath days, when they could make it convenient.
This being done, we took our leave of them. We again resumed
our journey up the sands, Brother Kingdon in his hammock, and
we on foot; the day not being at all as disagreeable as the
preceding one. The aerial regions looked a little cloudy, and now
