The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-02-21

quence, and high character. The Pres
byterian, 81. H. Browne, was a light
mulatto with such advanced ideas about
mixed schools as did his people no good,
and gave serious offence to the white
citizens. Still it was admitted that he
had the best interests of his congregation
much at heart, and made earnest efforts
to reform their lives and characters
After a pastorate OF several years, these
men left; Stewart, for church in New
York Browne, for further study in
German university. They had passed
out of my mind entirely, when 1 saw the
announcement in our town paper that
McCants Stewart, having accepted the
professorship of Bellies Letters, and H.
FL. Browne that of Mental and Moral
Philosophy in the College of Liberia were,
accompanied by twenty four young men,
to sail for Monrovia early in February
but before going they would visit their
old churches here. A fortnight ago they
came, and by sermons and lectures stirred
up their people not little. On Sunday
last February 4th, } they were invited to
occupy the pulpit of the First Presbyte-
rian church. 1 was inspired to go, and
found the large building well filled. DIR.
John Maclean, the honored ex-President
of the College and for near go years mem
ber and Vice-President of the Ameri-
can Colonization Society, was present,
presiding over the meeting. DIR. Mac
lean, bending somewhat under the
weight of 83 years, but looking very
troduced the men and their mission, and
in short address gave some interesting
facts in regard to colonization. He claim
ed for Jersey the honor of having origi-
mated the scheme. The small church,
which years ago had made way for the
handsome one in which we have gathered
was its birthplace. In it, in the autumn
of 1916, Rev. Robert Finlay, native of
Princeton, had collected meeting of dis
tinguished citizens and submitted to it
the first project of returning the free
blacks of the United States and recap
tured African captives on slave ships, to
Africa. Encouraged by the endorsement
of that meeting, Mr.. Finlay proceeded to
Washington City where, December 21st;
he succeeded in bringing together an as
sembly of such men as John Randolph of
Roanoke, Elias Caldwell, Robert Wright
Clay, presiding. The result of this effort
was, January 1st, 1917 the formation of
the American Colonization Society
Passing along, the Doctor asserted that
to the personal courage of another Prince
tonian, Commodore Robert F. Stockton,
was due the possession of the territory Of
Liberia. The Doctor had not time to tell
the story. But | will pause to give that
Scrap of Unwritten History.
In 1920 the National Government sent
DR.. Ayres to make a purchase of land for
the Colonization Society on the coast of
Africa. He was taken out in war ves-
sci of which Robert F. Stockton was COM
mander, and landed, in what is now the
harbor of Monrovia. The negro chief
with whom he was to negotiate for the
land, met him on the shore and per-
fectly harmonious verbal agreement was
made, and DR.. Ayres was to reduce it to
writing and bring the document the next
day to be signed. That night a storm
arose, and the coast being dangerous the
man-of-war put out to sea. Some days
OF bad weather intervened before Commo-
dore Stockton could safely take his guest
ashore in a row-boat. When he did land
him the chief was gone And worse than
that the captain of SLAYER had visited
him and SO poisoned his mind as to de-
termine him not to fulfil his contract.
With this purpose he had retired to a
secluded valley The American party,
consisting of. DR.. Ayres, Stockton, and
FIVE or six of his crew, followed and found
him in hut, having roof but open all
round, with some raised seats of turf on
the outside. Withdrawing from the con-
tracing parties, Stockton, wiry little
man, had thrown himself on one of these
seats. By and by the voice of the chief,
as he talked through an inter prefer, grew
loud and angry, and, at a sudden raising
of his hand, number of savages, armed
with clubs, sprang from the long grass
near the hut. In an instant Stockton,
pistol in hand, was at the side Of the in
terpreter, gesticulating and threatening
death if the men were not Immediately
sent back The chief ordered them off
when the young Commander following
up his advantages, held the pistol to his
breast and quickly made him aware that
unless he signed the contract on the spot
be would be dead man. The chief
covered and obeyed and the other par
ty, seizing the papers, did not give the
grass time to grow under their feet as
they made for the shore and rowed back
to the ship now idly rocking on the waves
unconscious of the danger Of her gallant
captain, or OF the great part in the world z
Al