Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-08-09
men brought up in the Southern section OF our |

riduals, who can be certainly expected to become
! efficient laborers in Africa. This remark
should be accompanied with one or two au-
| tions.
| 1st. Southern men should not anticipate
entire exemption from the fever Of the country
on their arrival A few from the most south
erly section have had the fever very slightly,
but in general, it is my opinion that you must
pass through the terer ordeal before entering
efficiently upon your labors.
I'd. My second caution is, that northern
men are not to consider themselves free from
all obligations to this people; for some from
the extreme northern parts of our country
have lived in Africa, and been bright orna.
ments to the cause of humanity and chris
tianity. l do not wish to convey more or
less by my remark, than this, that southern
persons more readily adapt themselves to this
climate, and will generally live longer, and
accomplish greater amount Of good, than
men from any other section of the world; and
if am correct in this, dear brethren, your du-
| ty towards this people becomes very serious
and solemn matter, and it becomes you to
make it matter of heart searching prayer
! and inquiry If God has, in His Providence,
allotted this portion ofthe Pagan world to the
Southern church, as the sphere other enter
prize and labors, how can we neglect it with
out incurring the deepest guilt? If her claims
| and her wants are overlooked by us, whom
may we expect to heed them! l pray you,
dear brethren, to think of this matter serious
ly and prayrtully. Think Of this people as
the purchaced of the Saviour's blood. Con-
template them in the light IN which they are
regarded by the inhabitants of Heaven
think of them as you will in the great day of
judgment, and determine in view of those
solemn scenes, if they shall 60 down to their
graves, unenlightened and untaught in the
way of salvation.
But, would not, dear brethren, conceal from
you the trials you must necessarily undergo in
becoming missionaries to Africa; on the other
hand feel very desirous that you should full
ly understand them, that you may be the
better prepared to defend them. Among
these trials, that will be peculiar in the case
of an African missionary, sickness is one of
the most prominent And in this your pa
tience and fortitude will perhaps be tried
more seriously, than they have been in any
previous part of your life; still do not hesitate
to say, ifyou are actuated by sincere love
for souls, and desire TO honor your Master,
you will never regret the determination that
brought you to Africa. I apprehend that no
future missionaries to this section of the coun-
try, will have to endure such trials and afflic-
tions as have fallen to the lot of my beloved
partner and myself; and yet, am bold to
say, that there has never been moment
during our residence here, in which we indul-
ged the regret, that we made this the land Of
our adoption. And, although we do not now
enjoy the best health, nor are enabled to ac-
complish so great an amount of labor, as we
might in more heaIthlul regions, still, we would
not, with our present views and feelings, ex-
change our post Of labor for any other on the
face of the earth.
Do you ask, what are our prospects of sue
cess! would reply, that if there were no.
thing at all encouraging to the human eye,
there is ample ground for encouragement in
the Bible. Who could ask for better guar
antee than that which the word of God offers!
But thanks be to our Heavenly Father, He
has not made this entirely matter Of faith,
but has given sensible tokens Of his determina-
ton to visit, and We believe soon, this people,
with great mercy. The Sabbath, which a
little more than three years ago was scarcely
known, is now respected, and believe am
strictly within bounds, when l say, that more
than one half Of the native population OF Cape
Palmas, habitually suspend their labors and
amusements on that day. For more than a
month past, the audience which I have had,
in preaching, has amounted to more than five
hundred, and to say the least, their attention
has been serious and fixed. One youngster
whom we have had in our family for some
time past, gives us satisfactory evidence that
his heart has been changed, and he will be ad-
mitted to church membership soon. Others,
we believe, in our schools, are secretly inquir-
ing what they shall do to be saved.
Our schools, five in number, are well atten-
ded, and if teachers could be had, we might
loate twenty of them advantageousiy, in this
immediate vicinity. The influence of white
men, and every thing they say, has great
weight. The natives Of this country look up
on him as superior being, and they receive
every thing that falls from his lips, with i'm
IL L l.