Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-11-01
MISSIONARY BISHOP OF CAPE
PAIMAs, AFRICA.
Right Rev. Samuel o. Ferguson, o. D.
Sketch Of Distinguished Prelate, Who
Has Seat, Voice and Vote in Gen.
erai Conventions Of the Epis-
copal Church in the U. S.

In 1S4S, when the subject of this
sketch was in his sixth year, the Fer
guson family emigrated from South
Carolina to Liberia, West Coast Afri-
ca settling in Sinoe This was elev-
EN- years after the founding of the
first Episcopal mission in Liberia. At
| that time there were but five mission
aries working at five stations. The
life of Bishop Samuel D. Ferguson
cannot be separated from the develop
ment of the jurisdiction. He was an
eyewitness to the growth of this mis-
sionary jurisdiction from its earliest
years. He was part of it's growth,
seeing it pass out of the hands of for
eign supervision into the hands of a
native clergy and well he may be
called such native bishop.
From the time of his arrival until
1862 he was a student, thoroughly
imbibing the precepts and teachings
OF the church. In 1862 he became
principal Of Mt. Vaughn High School.
IN December, 1865, he was admitted
deacon. March 5, 1868 he was advanc.
ed to the priesthood by Bishop Payne
at Trinity church, Monrovia. Bishop
Payne, whose protege Bishop Fergu-
sou was, because Of his failing health
resigned the episcopate in 1871. Bish-
on Payne died at Oak Grove, Va, Oc-
tober %, 1874. His funeral was
preached by Rev. Samuel D. Ferguson
then priest. 1t was quite fitting that
this sermon should be preached by a
protege who had lovingly ministered
to the sainted Bishop when he was
greatly enfeebled by African fever,
Succeeding Bishop Payne was Bishop
Auer, who was welcomed by this
same priest Ferguson. Priest Fergu-
son it was who in February, 1874, wit
messed the death and closed the eyes
OF Bishop Auer, gently laying his
body away in the little graveyard at
Mount Vaughn. In turn he greeted
Bishop Penick when he arrived IN
1874, rendering him most loyal SER
vice.
Bishop Penick, under climatic af-
Fiction resigned in 1883. Priest fer- |
guson assumed the grave responsible
ity and oversight of the mission. until
the mantle of episcopal authority fell
II on his own shoulders, at his con-
.f Grafton in Grace Church in the CITY
of New York on the Gath of June, 1889.
Since his conservation as bishop he
has established a theological lnstltu-
tion Epiphany Hall, has ordained
q of the 25 clergymen, educated IN
the mission and graduated from Epl-
nhany Hall; has baptized 6,7ss per-
sons as against 1869 persons IN tne
fiftv wears preceding; confirmed 3,949
as against 1,035 during the fifty years
preceding his conservation and adoea
1872 communicates to the 4l9 "nlch
constituted the accumulated mehioer'
shin of fifty years. In the last three
vears the contributions from MS dlo'
cese have amounted to $2O,938.6S.
There are 2,246 Sunday school pu-
n,,a 1914 day pupils and 677 board
ing pupils in his missionary 'ufisu''
ticn. o.a tho
moral influence that has oeen con-
stantlv- exerted in Liberia, gradualiy
silently leavening the mass OF neatn-
enism preparing the soil, opening tne
,vov FOR the evangelization OF Africa
Rut for the fact the convention Jus,
,d iomrned provided for the triennlai
election of a presiding bishop, blsnop
Ferguson would most likely nave sue, .,
ceeded to that position by seniority OF
The bishop was opposed to the
scheme Of sYdragan bishops. agree a.,
inu with the vast MAJORITY on.,,,a
nbnrchmen ~ that no self-respectins
priest could accept II.