Africa
Report of Brother Cheeseman
Edina, July 3d, 1850
I dare say you are expecting our second quarterly report,
and I regret much that it is not in our power to give it in full, as
reports from the different stations have not come to hand. I avail
myself, therefore, of this opportunity to inform you, in a very
summary manner of some of my labors during the last quarter.
1 have held two protracted meetings, preached twenty-five
times, attended ten prayer meetings, delivered one temperance
lecture, organized an evening school for adults, visited and
preached to all the churches in Messurado county, except one,
constituted a church at Caldwell, examined the schools, preached
in two native villages, and the ordinary duties of my station, such
as exercising a supervision over the day school and teaching the
senior class, teaching a Bible class and conducting the Sunday
school, &c., &c., as far as practicable. To the above allow me to
add, baptized four native Africans.
I am happy to report that the churches and schools are in a
healthy condition; laborers are however wanting, and I do not
know at present how we shall be able to get them, unless the Board
will arrange to have two or three young men instructed here for the
puipose. We cannot expect educated men, but we want men who
are elevated a little above the ordinary class of people. The school
at Virginia now numbers above one hundred scholars. Can the
Board afford to employ an assistant teacher for that place? One
teacher is not sufficient to do justice to the children.
Brother Murray, of Sinoe, in his last quarterly report, says:
“That they have had quite an accession to their numbers by
emigration, and have eight or ten candidates for baptism. The
school has increased to ninety-nine scholars, all of whom are doing
well, and the natives,” he adds, “are taking more interest in
religious exercises daily.” He complains (and the complaint is
general) that owing to the rainy season he can visit only such
villages as are adjacent to Greenville. This you are aware of from
previous information. I am happy to say, however, that every
missionary can find abundant work in the rains, if he will look for
it.
