Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1909-03-19
Earl, Missionaries Of wiadhsm County
RtKlN D. LAKxg1.
PApss 20 III

Windham county missionaries sent by
The Baptist Union, yet il was not 70
much in hebslf Of benighled natives as
for tie black men Of free America that
the effort was made. melted by what
was called n turbulent element Of .
free negroes. a movement for their col +
onization in their native land, received /
The encouragement Of such typical +.
A. Ran dolph, Of Roanoke, |
and Henry clay, and a society was or
ganized in 1916. This movement was /
greatly strengthened by the abolish !
ment Of the slave trade in is30 BY which |
negroes struggled into the country were |
subjected to aihe most inhumsn treat |
meni. 4 small sum Of money granted
by the tniied States government upon
the recommendation Of President Mon
roe. in behalf Of these unfortunates, en-.
nbled the Colonization society to gain
foothold upon the western coast Of
Africa. and send out a cargo OF these
eaptiYes in what has been called the
"Mayfiowet Of LiSeHa.a But, from
the treaehefy and opposition Of natives
and slave traders, and the unheaithfui-
ness Of The climate they met greater
difficulties than those encountered by
our Plymouth Pilgrims. Baptist and
Methodist societies came To their aid,
establish hing small missions in 1921. II
Is impossible 10 conceive conditions Of
greater trial and difficulty than existed
for several years. II was only through
the heroic efforts Of Jehudi Ashman and
his associates that the colonists main.
tained existence. But IN 1888 affairs
had 81 improved that the Baptist
Union could institute a forward move
ment, and selected for its agent resi-
dent 81 Nindham county, Ashford, a
recent graduate Of Hamilton Theolog
teal seminary Benjamin Rush skin
ner
lie was tire son OF Df. Ezekiel skin
net, -phs sieian, minister and states
man, who removed from stafford q
Ashford, in is30, and was installed pas-
tor Of is First Baptist church. His
son Benjamin, born In 1909, was con
serted al the age OF fifteen. His dia-
fies indicate the type OF pietv 50 prev
alent In that generation, deep inward
feaehings and sense Of responsibility
for the conversion of others, lie united
with the Baptist church and while
teaching school engaged In evapgeii.
cal labor. Among his pupils and con
vefts was Miss Anne Eliza Read whose
| wealth OF fair hair led 10 this missiona-
~ review The lady was deeply inte-
rested In mission work and ready to
share Ill with him. While pursuing
his studies at Hamilton, Mr.. skinner
had prepared 10 join the Burmese mis-
sion, but the urgent appeal from the
Union ia behalf Of the strugK ling colo
ny AT ldheria decided his career. Two
years after graduation were spent in
presenting the claims Of this cause IN
many States and pulptts During this
lHieF al lee married Miss Read, main
tanning hume in Ashford.
August 3 isn. Mr.. Skinner, with
wife anal daughter, left their home and
sailed iof Norfolk va, 10 make >aeei-
iie preparation fat mission work Early
IA October b. aas tofmails sci apart
aud cousectaied 10 missionary service
IN lattefia. Ia ehe famous African Ban-
list church Of Richmond. under the
auspices OF the baptist mis- Sionary so
| eiely 81 Caioted People FORMED IN that
city in isla, Interesting farewell meet
ings We're held IN other churches before
their departure from Norfolk in the
ship Carolina.
The tiftA days passage was described
n pheasant but lonesome. No Chris
lians ON board. held services with The
crew
Arriving al MonroVia, December :,
they found small cheer and comfort.
The pastor of the Baptist church had
been killed; the school on Mount Hope
suspended. About loo eotoni>ts and
released SLAVES had been gathered into
church fellowship, scattered through
some four 81 i've malarious aud barely
civilized settlements. The deadly eli
mate claimed the new victims. Fever
soon set In. The sacrifice of MIS-. skin
nefs beautiful hair, eat ell befeie ieav
tng homc. lest from its length she
could nai care FER Il properly on ship
board, typilied bu. loo closely the fate
Of the whole family. only twice the
young missionary was attic . preach,
once With the Raptists, enee NTH the
Metheilsts Held a bush meeting NJ
Caldwell>. . and his work WAS ended.
Neang romance. years Of faithful pre-.
partition, whole hearted conservation
all swallowed up in that tatetui Africa.
that has engulied 50 many mobile lives.
The lit,le daughter, Anna Elizabeth.
died of fever. Jan. :, ISL, aud week
later, Mrs. skinner, With infant son,
followed. Air. skinner, overwhelmed
with grief. and stricken with fever, took
passage home ward and died ulsn The
voyage.
A neat stone in MonroSia marks The
resting placc OF mother and ehisdsen'
husband and father, sleep IN The wide
Atlantic.
Again We ask the old-time query.