The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-08-12
BY chas. W. Abingdon.

The many personal friends of Bishop
w. Sampson Brooks in particular and
the A. NJ. E. Church in general will
be interested to learn of the marvel
Gus success that is attending the
work on the West Coast under his
administration. The church began its
work on this part of the continent
more than three-quarters of a CEN
fury ago. In the course of years va
rious bishops, ministers, missionaries
and other consecrated workers have
struggled to keep the fire burning on
the altar of African Methodism. The
struggles that have constantly attend
ed their efforts would make Interest,"
world-in fact have heard not few
of the leaders say 1t would be the
part of wisdom to abandon the work
althogether. owing to the great coast
Of maintaining II and the equality
difficult task of keeping competent
workers on the filed. Great praise is
due all who have in any way con-
tributed to the meagre success of
this field and held the fort until the
dawn of brighter day. which has
now come.
Our bishops have not been anxious
for the work owing to the great dis
lance from the home base, the hard
ships incident to travel and the great
er test resulting from climatic con-
ditions-being constantly exposed to
the far famed African fever which
has sent thousands of our best and
most courageous men and women to
untimely graves. II was decided by
the general conference sitting in Nor
foik, Va, to change the policy of
episcopal supervision, which had been
to send various bishops resident In
America to hold these conferences, and
assign bishops for certain period
OF Years to reside on the work This
was the beginning of better things for
our work in Africa-it was especially
noticeable during the 8 years that
Bishop j.. Albert Johnson spent in
South Africa. am told that the field
there is much more inviting than in
these parts, but the point l make is
that, the work cannot prosper with
just an occasional visit from the bish
op. In many cases the bishops sent
there almost met themselves coming
away. If there is any work in the
church that needs close and careful
supervision tt Is the mission work in
Africa.
1t should greatly stimulate our faith
to note that Divine Providence has
the time to act and the man for the
task. that viii prove more han a
match for the most Encouraging con-
dltions that can confront the work
of the church. recent general con-
ference which elevated Ir W. Samp-
son Brooks to the bishrOpic and as
signed him to the work in West AZ
RIGA, acted more wisely than IL had
reason to suppose. 1t knew the record
of the man in America, but a man
that is a great success in one field
may be a complete failure when SUD
denly thrust into new and untried
monditions. The Bishop left a wonder
full record of achievement of more
than quarter of a century as a pas
tor; but 1 doubt seriously II O wiser
assignment was made in the general
conferences, than that made to West
Africa. That wonderful personality,
that swept everything before him and
marked him that prince Of pastors,
beams with liner eased lustre In this
higher office and today his name Is
the household word among men, worn-
en- and children ali along the West
Coast of Africa regardless OF race
creed or station. arrived In Free