The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-03-28
For the Hillsborough Recorder
THE BLIND MISSIONARY,
Chapel Hill. March. 1855

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Chapel Hill, March, 1855.
The Rev. William w. Henning la
bored for six years as a missionary OF
the Western coast Of Africa, where hC
lost his wife, five children and his eve
sight by the acclimating fever. Being
on a visit to our village, he preached
in the college chapel on the subject o
African missions, and a more interest,
ing and eloquent missionary sermon
have never heard.
/ His text was Psi. xviii. 81. "Ethio-
pia shall soon stretch out her hands IN.
to God" After stating that he had
been an eyewitness OF the facts he was
going to relate, he proceeded to show
that Africa is the most promising field
for missionary enterprise throughout
the whole heather world. In the first
place, the African worships one Great
Spirit, the great first cause Of all things,
and the giyer Of all good. When
"grisgris" or amulets, in which the ma
tive Africans have great confidence, are
given to any one, the givcr says to the
receiver, !" If God so will it this girls.
girls will protect you from all evil but
if God will it not, the grisgris Of itself
is Of no value" When in a case Of
supposed crime deadly decoction 81
sassy wood is administered, the Great
Spirit is solemnly invoked, with the
belief that if the accused be innocent
he will Immediately eject the poison
from his stomach but that if he be
guilty, he will suffer the punishment
due 10 his crimes BY speedy death.
Not long before leaving Africa, Mr..
Waller was c0nyersing with a native
on the subject of future state of re-
wards and punishments, and argued
from the fact that the wicked are punish
ed even in this life. Yes" said the
negro, "those who dOnot die by the poi
sonous sassy wood are often decoyed
into thickets and murdered (; but the
murderers are always observed either
to die within the year, or to meet with
some terrible calamity as punishment
for their wickedness. The Great Spi-
rit will not allow the wicked to 90 un.
punished" This religious system, i'm
perfect as il is, shows that the untu-
tored mind Of the African is feeling az
ter God; it is the faint twilight Of
truth that precedes the rising Of the
Sun Of Righteousness.
The African is always a respectful
nearer Of the truth. He listens with
earnestness to the story Of him who
came into the wurld to save sinners.
A missionary TO India writing home to
his friends, tells them that he is sta
TONED IN province containing ten
millions Of inhabitants. That in the
morning aud evening he goes out into
a crowded thoroughlare TO preach. AZ
ter waiting an hour or two he collects
an audience Of two or three, sometimes
five or six, and these are generally
Bramins who come only to scoIf aud
ridicule. How different i the scene
in Western Africa, when on Sabbath
morning, at the tolling of the church
bell, the missionary wends his way to
the nearest native village! a. soon i
he is seen approaching, il is announced
that "the Goldman comes" On ar
irving at the church he finds respect
ful audience Of fifty or sixty persons,
eager to receive the bread Of life which
he comes 10 break unto them. After
sermon he goes 10 the mission school,
where number Of native children are
assembled TO gain such knowledge as
will enable them to enlightcn their be,
nighted brethren.
The missionary in Africa can teach
and preach without fear Of mulesta-
ton. Such is not the case in any
other pagan land. In China he Is
jealously watched by the civil autho.
.rity. In India the native convert is
expelled from his caste, and his near
est relations do not dare 10 give him
even cup Of water. No one will give
him employment, and he must there.
fore either be permitted TO starye OF
be supported from Tie missionary fund
The same is the case in great mca.
sure among the Mahomctan nations
10 Madagascar the strong arm Of the
law is stretched out against the mes
scngcr Of the gospel, aud trihulation'
aud prosecutions await him. But ii
Africa the fullest liberty Of cunsciens,
is enjoyed.
The negro, moreover, is wholly I'LL,
terate. lie has no philosophic sophis
tries TO unlearn. His faith is purely
traditiOnary. Tic has no priesthood {,