The native American., 1838-12-08
AFRICAN sKET CHEs.
Missions IN Liberia.

49, ..s . IN
i sa Missions IN Liberia. aa sIt
| The first m ission established in Liberia, afie
the occupat;on Of Cape Messurado BY the settle
ment Of Monro via, was the Swiss Mission, con
sistinp Of five D, ,rsons, viz: the Rev. r. G. s
Hand. II. F, 'essng, G.. G. Hezele, H. Fl
wolf. and s. Xissiing, sent out BY the Rev
|Dr. Blumharlt Ii venerable president Of III.
Basle Missionary Society. All Of these n,issiona
ries showed an ear,y attachment for Liberia, and
i Africa, with dey; liz N that ought never to be
forgotten. They srriy ed in the Colony in the
wear 1927. and commen ced their labors by teach.
ling considerable numl mlaer Of young men, and
such natives as they coulu find in the settlement
They do not al pear to h; we succeeded in open
ing station among the natl, 'es themselves. After
remaining some years in the Colony, undergoing
suferings and privaons incl ent TO the state The
Colony at that early period, ne OF their number
died, and another, from the e. 1ects OF coup dc
i lsolel, was Obliged to return ! Europe. The
mission was transferred to Sic IRA Leone. Yet
in the Cole ny. The young me. who had the
advantage of their teaching, are nong the most
Intelligent honorable, enterprsing .;tizens there.
1t is gratifying to know that they speak in the
most grateful and affectionate terms Of the bene-
\ fits they derived from the assistance. Of these
amiable men. The Rev. Mr.. Sessing in one Of
his letters, written with some expectation of being
Ioblged to give up the mission, writes as follows:
I"To the natives the door is not yet opeLsed, and
many obstacles are in the way, which mi lst first
be removed. And to work among the Col onists,
we never had calling, nor did we receiv any
authority, without which you can do little" This
is the more to be regretted as the Colonists re-
Igarded their talents and piety with confde nee
land affection Their labors and sufferings ha We
Rnot, however, gone unblest.
I There are at present four missions in LIBERIA
lthe Methodist Episcopal. the Baptist, Presby-
Eterian, and the Protestant Episcopal, missions
from the United States. """
\ Methodist Mission.-'The commencement of
fthe Methodist Episcopal Mission has been con-
Nsecrated by the labors and death Of the ardent,
Rdevoted Cox. Since then, it has gone on,
steadily increasing in strength and importance,
under the superintendent and nntiring zeal Of
1.-THE Rev. Mr.. Seys. The greater number Of the
lColonists are of that denomination, and its influ-
Ience among the natives has teen considerable,
Ialthough, as yet, no station has been placed for
the separate and exclusive use Of the natives.
It appears from Mr.. Seys's report for the year
1887, that there are 57s members of the M. E.
Church in Liberia. Seven day schools with 22l
pupils, and six Sabbath schools with 3O3 pupils.
So far to all these children tolerably good ele-
mentary education is secured. The necessity Of
an institution to teach the higher branches to
Iyoung men and females, SO as to equip them
thoroughly to become teachers and enlightened
preachers, is urgently stated by Mr. Seys About
20 native children, living in pious families have,
Mr.. Seys thinks, been converted. The number
may be expected to Increase, in proportion as
religion becomes, among the Colonists, more
&c l. ~ = &
mind. For further details would beg to refer to
the Report itself.
Baptist Mission. The principal station Of the
Baptist mission is at Edna, in the Colony Of
Bassa Cove. 1t was commenced by the Rev.
Messrs. Mylne and Croker, nearly three years
ago. They have devoted themselves to its ad-
vancement with untiring assiduity. The School
in the Mission station at Edna, is for native
boys chiefly, although limited number Of Colo
nists are admitted. 1t has hitherto been conduct
ed chiefly by Mr.. Mylne, assisted by Mr.. Day, al
very worthy Colonist and Baptist preacher. Mr..
M. remained most of the time at Edna, while
/ Mr.. Crocker took up his residence among the
natives about 80 miles up the N. branch Of the
5St Johns river, in order to acquire more cor
rect knowledge Of the language and habits Of the
Bassa tribe. In the former he has succeeded very
Satisfactorily, although he found it work Of no
small pathological difficulty TO reduce it to any sort
of system. Their last Report states that the
number of native boys were small, owing to the
scarcity of rice to be obtained for their support;
being II in number, with l2 Of the Colonists.
l"They are taught reading, writing, arithmetic,
grammar, and geography. The progress Of the
natives thus far has been quite gratifying" To-
this | can gladly testify, having frequently ad-
mired their progress in writing and arithmetic.
They read in Bassa and English very fluently,
and could write in either with equal ease I'm
portant results may be expected to flow from Mr..
Crocker's labors. He and his colleague have
gained the esteem and affection Of both natives
and Colonists. A|.1.
The Baptist Church does not number SO many
members as the Methodist The piety and in
telligence of its members equal TO that Of the
other. tits to be hoped that they will both 60 on,
merging all sectarian feelings, in the studied
effort to avoid doctrinal discussion, and preach
alone the great truths of the Gospel in which all
agree. The baptisms Of converts, which fire.
lquently take place in the quiet waters of the
Measurable and ST. Johns rivers, are among the
most interesting spectacles have seen there. II
is gratifying to reflect that this Christian ceremo
ny is now performed, amid the singing Of hymns,