The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-13


them, when one of the latter asked,
What does this fellow want hereY
This fellow" replied the soldier, lis a
captain of the guards" He said it"
answered the newly made captain, as
he proudly pointed to the emperor still
in sight, So, we should take the Lord
Of Lords at His word and believe.
Would it do to trust God to the extent
that we would be justified in undertaking
His work, relying upon His promises to
sustain MS? Bear with me just little
while | relate am experience which came
under my immediate observation. There
came into my office one morning, a fine
specimen Of a negro, possibly % years OF
age, who had been in my service 10 years
or more a young man of fine character,
but without education except such as he
had picked up at the coored schools of
the community, and at night school
which we ran for the benefit of such as
he Good morning Boss" he said.
said, Good morning, Jim, come and tell
me what | can do for you" Boss" he
said, Il have it III my mind, that i want
to go as missionary to Africa,to preach
the Gospel to the negro" Jim was Il boy
of fine character and fine presence, with
| one OF the nest voices | almost ever
heard. He was regarded by every one
with whom he was brought in contact
| as frst-class young man, quiet, indus
| trious, and well behaved at all times, and
| out of the 400 or 500 men. women and
! children engaged in and about the fac
| tory-though Jim was black of skin
none rated higher. said to him, this inn
! pulse is very creditable to your head and
heart, but have you counted fully the
cost of such step? Do you realize what
ii means?" Well he said, Il have given
| the matter considerable thought, but be-
/ fore going further. | wanted to ask your
| advice and consult with you about it,
We had quite an interview which result
/ ed in my telling Jim to go back to his
work, and we would think and pray over
1 the matter for a week, when he could
call again, and we would see what we
thought best for him to do. At the expir-
alton of the week, Jim promptly reported
! again. / said to him, "Well Jim. how
I do you feel about the matter now?" He
replied, Boss, feel more strongly than
ever that | must CO." / said to him, you
realize do you, that you have no church
organization or missionary society behind
you in the movement; and Africa, is
thousands Of miles away? YES" said
he, "but none Of these things move me- y
He said with a little preparation and as
sistance he could get to New York, and
there he would join a band of young
white men going TO Africa, trusting
in God to care for them there and to
sustain them. 4 small purse was sub
scribed and Jim took his leave Of home
and friends with no assets save a few
dollars and firm faith in God, with no
association nor organization to support
him, and with a resolve to labor in that
portion of Africa where no missionary
work. had been done.
4 When we next heard from him, he was
q sure enough missionary in Africa where
God owned and crowned his work with
great success. After an absence oftwo
years Jim wrote me that he felt he could
do his Masters work to a much better
advantage if he had a wife; and if /
thought well of it he would return to the
United States and marry. / encoura ged it.
and at the end Of the 3rd year Jim return
ed, and went into the same department
Of the factory, where for 10 years he
had earned his support, and married a
bright good girl that / had schooled for
a year or two at Kittrells, n. c., never
| dreaming for once that / was assisting
in making a wife for foreign mission.
airy. After their marriage, Jim, under the
auspices of the international Missionary
Alliance put his wife in training school
| in Massachusetts for a few months
where he himself also entered and al
the end of six months returned to Africa
where he and his wife are doing great
things for God. Not very long ago he
wrote me, that he found his work grow
ing so that larger and more commodious
quarters were necessary-he having es
tablished "home" and a school at re
Bethel, 30 miles from Magbele, and &c
miles in the interior from Free Town
in connection with his work He wrote
me that he had carried the matter t.
God in earnest prayer. He said that the
work required $1,000, and one day the
mails brought him an anonymous remit
lance Of $1,000, and he had no idea from
whence it came, nor have /.
/ have at my home, a very neat reada-
BILE copy Of the Soudan Pioneer, printed
in the interest of the Soudan Mission
1t is a 16 page paper-and on the first
page is the personal" Mr. and Mrs
Trice, with their own little Naomi, ter
other girls and boy now live in the
mission house, but they are already sc
crowded for room, and the prospects are
so bright, that we expect to build this
season an addition or 81" to the present
mission house, 40x22 feet, to be used as o
home and school room for the girls.
''Mr. Jas. A. l.. Trice is young color
ed man from Durham, N. @ He was
one OF the original party of nine, and in
June, 1896 completed his sixth year in
Africa, with the exception Of six months
at home.
Sagacious, full Of life, with heart set
on the eyangelization OF these people and
the speedy coming OF the Lord.
Mrs. Jas. A. l.. Trice has finished two
years in Africa. She fell in love with
her new home, and is taking large place
in the work IN full sympathy with her
husband. She is a noble woman and a
true missionary"
Writing in the Pioneer" of his sta
ton Ro Bethel, Jim says:
| zone year ago the place now known as