Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-06-23
FAMOUS AFRICAN TEACHER
RETURNS To U. S. a. !
Reverend John H. Reed, d. D., Here
After Educational Service in
Liberia.

The Reverend John Hamilton Reed,
d. d., formerly Assistant Consul for
the United States In Liberia. and for
ten years President OF the College OF
west Africa. Monrovia, returned with
Mrs. Reed to this country after q resi-
dence OF eighteen years In the Negro
Republic. DR.. and Mrs. Reed went to
Liberia In 1905 as missionaries under
the Board OF Foreign Missions of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and have
continued their service in this coun-
try throughout their sojourn there.
AT different times DR.. Reed served as
District Superintendent Of the Mon.
rovia District Editor of the Liberian
Methodist, the mission publication.
president Of the college of West Afrl-
ca. Vice Consul-General for the Unit
ed States and has been ministerial
delegate to the General Conference
o: the Methodist Episcopal church.
meeting in this country every-fcur
years. DR.. Reed represented Liberian
Methodists In ,S.2, 1916 and 1920. In
his educational work in Liberia MIRO.
Reed assisted him by caring for the
ctacatfon Il female Students and the
general promotion of female eduoa-
ZION In the republic
The tribes Of native folk in the him
terland of Liberia are exceptionally
fine types both physically and mental
~. according TO DR.. Reed who has liv
ed among them. The Mandingo and
Val people Of the interior are magnt-
ficent types ofgmanhoOd and woman
hood and need only occidental educa.
ton to bring them to high level Of
civilization. size yais lave 'n,t an
alphabet and written language of
their own since before the coming OF
Arab or white man. They are mostly
Mohammedans. The Kru tribes on the
coast south OF Monrovia are also fine
specimens and are the most earnes.
seekers after education of any group.
owing to the long efforts OF the Rever
end Walter B. Williams, Liberals "Lit
tie Giant" who has built a large com
munity of Christians there. There
are more Kru students in the schools
of the country than of any other tribe.
The Gregg tribe above Cane Palmas
ale the most progressive and aggre.
sive people of any group in Liberia >,
according to DR.. Reed.
1T was from this tribe that Miss
Diana Mcneil sprung. Miss Mcneil
was adopted by Methodist mission
a-y bishop five years ago. Bishop Viii
Liam Taylor, the famous missionary
bishop OF the denomination, brought
her to this country at the age of four
and presented her to the General Con
ference OF 1896. declaring there are
no heather children save by environ
ment and circumstances" a saving
now classic in missionary circles
tie world over. Miss Mcneil became
a prodigy in this country. attending
hi"h school in st. Louis and Kansas
CITY, later graduating with highes,
honors from the University of South.
ern California. She joined the faculty
OF Philander Smith College, Arkansas
ard went ba k TO Liberia as a mem
Der or the Ia ,Ulty of the College o:
West Africa. But the climate of hee
native land was too much for her
health. and Sc returned to this coun
try where she = stu prominent IN
educational c!rc'eS.
The Reverend Dr Reed expects 10
retire firm ,c!ivc educational w)-k
ara will enter the pastorate IN some
section wher" Ha"nCdism is exertinx
Itself for the welfare Of the Negro
race.