Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-28
Letter from Bishop. Penick.

sailing craft to Cape Mount.
An extract from your columns received to-
day tells me of the death Of my old loved
c.assmate, "Steptoe." He was a true man.
and fell as true men should fall-at their posts
| I can see him now as be appeared to me when
We first met at the Seminary in 1866. Soon
after coming be was taken sick and stayed
in his room with him. When our friendship
began, it deepened to the end. l thank dod
for that companionship, and ask in my hesrt'
Who next shall be called 1t matters lttle'
80 We are all ready. I have now been IN
Africa, over two months, and every day provost
to me more conclusively the vastness OF the
work here and the difficulty about it. One
must look more to heaven than to Africa tor
encouragement here. 1t is enough to know
we are where God orders, and are striving to
establish His Kingdom. But there are en-
couragements even in Africa and from Atrl-
cans, especially from those educated by our
schools. By far the majority of young men
on whom the future of Liberia hangs are our
old scholars. Mr.. Crusoe, the greatest mer-
chant on her coast, is Mt. Vaughan boy,
and many others in prominent positions owe
those positions to the help We gave them. Ii
the advance of this people towards Christianity
and civilization has not been as rapid as We
wish, God, and God only, knows how much
going back to degradation and heathenlsm We
have prevented. This little colony Is far from
being safe yet, but to-day she has more SONS
bending their might and barring their boSomS
for her than ever before. To-day she has
more young men who are working and pray
ing for her truer elevation than ever before.
Iptemperance and many other vices are raging
here, but Gods grace will save in Africa as
we'll as America.
The people of Bassa received me very
heartily and did what they could to win my
friendship. The Baptists gave US the use OF
their church on Sunday, in which preached,
confirmed three and celebrated Holy Com
munion.
I have been to see all the leading men here,
merchants members of the legislature, and
senator, also an ex.vice president, and we
have talked freely of the future course and
our present duty. Liberals greatest lawyer
also lives here. AS said to him and Mr.
Crusoe. the merchant king, "You need an
African education, for at present you have
none; what you teach your children Is what
Americans and Englishmen have thought out
for their children, adapted to the circumstances,
duties, difficulties, and works Of America and
ENGLAND, but not here for Africa" The
LAWYER started and said: "Bishop, you have
given my thoughts their missing link" and
Mr, Crusoe exclaimed "You have hit the
nail on the head" And 80 God has thus
ioined confederate with me some of the men OF
the future, may it be to the glory of dis
name. I may mention here that Mr. Crusoe
said: eff I would have used gin We could have
controlled all the trade OF this coast, but
could not thus curse my people, We will have
nothing to do with it," l mention this to
show that there are some men here who nave
the principle and nerve to stand out for right
at the cost Of. thousands.
Last night an old "Methodist brother" came
to call and gave the following new idea:
"Bishop, Jim sed TO me as how dat was good
discourse we had Sunday" l sod to him:
"Brother has you watered dat word DE
minister preach on Sunday as if his heart was
brim full of clarifying God Now is you been
all de week sitting still and not stirring up
sinners wid dat word God sent you Sunday
Brother take the words God sends Sunday and
rouse de community wid dem til next Sunday.
Don't 80 home and sit down as it de Lord had
sent YOU in dis world to say nothing and do
nothing for Him, but had left all dat to de
minister. You break up de ground IN de
weak and den de minister can sow IN hope dc
next Sunday" These are the words OF an
old negro but they are rich with wisdom; here
is the lay pulpit, and mighty opening Tor
God it is.
Our brethren at Monrovia have had Bishop
Crowther to confirm and ordain for them.
do not know upon what basis or authority, but
will hear, l suppose, when reach there.
Bishop Crowther is still with them and nope
to meet him.
Last week lot of fifty emigrants came from
America to Monrovia. Reports here say THIS
is the vanguard of 100000. A Methodist
missionary also came out for Bapora, seventy
miles interior, back of Cape Mount, so you see
| work goes ahead.
What will result from such an influx OF
emigration no man can tell, but We will stand
| at our posts and try to do our duty, leaving
| the fest to God. l am very anxious to have
a largo central station on the beautiful blue
mountains sixteen miles back Of Bassa. We
| are arranging to send native teacher into
some ofthe tribes, and if God shall send us men
and means hope to press in from hore. There
is already trading station called Peter Her.
rings, fifty miles Interior and traders 60 six and
seven DAYS walk back in the country. Truly the
field is white. I read of great activity In
raising amounts and paying church debts, one
s16O, 600 just as much as the entire Ameri-
can Church spends on Africa in eight years.
God grant that when debts are paid that du'
i e kls IL