West Africa by T. M. FRENCH

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 18, 1909

West Africa

By T. M. FRENCH

T. M. FRENCH

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” How fitly this parable represents the growth of God’s kingdom in these closing days of earth’s history. God is doing a great work in the earth, yet how silently, how stealthily, it is going forward! The truth that has been presented to the people is as leaven in their hearts. Hearts are yielding to the subduing influence of the Holy Spirit.

In our work here in Sierra Leone the past quarter, we have seen the working of these principles set forth in this parable of the Saviour. Sabbath, January 2, we held our quarterly meeting. Although several of our brethren belonging to the West Indian regiment of soldiers had returned home, still we had the largest attendance that we have ever had upon such an occasion in this field. It was indeed encouraging to see such a nice, intelligent, earnest company assemble to commemorate the great atoning sacrifice of our Saviour, and his return to reward his saints. While Elder D. C. Babcock conducted the services, God came very near, and hearts were encouraged and more closely united in this great advent movement.

Sunday morning a baptismal service was held at the church, where nine souls were buried with their Lord in baptism—six from Freetown, and three from Waterloo. It is a marvel to note the change in the lives of these individuals. They are indeed as brands plucked from the burning. Without coming in contact with the people, one can hardly imagine the darkness that prevails in this country. The moral condition is something deplorable. Immorality has invaded the home and corrupted society. It stalks openly through the land; it enters the homes of the so-called respectable; it finds its way into the very pulpits of the popular churches; and only those who are made new creatures in Christ Jesus escape it. But we have witnessed the marvelous work of the third angel’s message in making pure, happy homes out of houses of adultery.

Paganism—devil worship—in its most glaring form is sweeping back Christianity to the very border of the country, and is even gaining ground in Freetown and other enlightened cities along the coast. In this last baptism the third angel’s message has claimed the first two from the ranks of heathenism in this field—men who bear the marks on their bodies of initiation into the great Pori and Lokho societies. These, and other heathen societies, practise fetish (Spiritualism) in its worst forms; and they have in their grasp the majority of the vast population of the country. Before the young boy and girl have scarcely come to the years of accountability, they are initiated into these societies, and are brought within the grasp of these fearful influences. Heathenism is not, as many suppose, merely ignorance and superstition on the part of the people. It is true they are ignorant of God—many of them willingly ignorant. But they have a tangible foundation for their belief. You can not convince them that there is nothing to their manifestations, when by means of their medicine-men they recover lost articles, cause the sickness, and even the death in many instances, of their enemies, etc. It must be met, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.’ Where the truth is rejected, and the Spirit of God is grieved, heathenism has actually fastened itself upon the pastors of so-called Christian churches.

What has surprised us in this quarter’s growth is that while our time was so taken up in the erection of our school building, the Lord has given us such a harvest of souls. These individuals have accepted the truth through past efforts and our Sunday night meetings.

I can not refrain from giving you a very material evidence of the spirit of loyalty to this cause manifested by our brethren and sisters. At the business meeting of the Freetown church, the treasurer reported $227.43 received in tithes, and $79.71 Sabbath-school offerings, making a total of $307.14 received during the year. Besides this about thirty dollars has been pledged and paid on annual offerings. The people have also given freely to special donations. When we consider that this church is less than two years old, and that the laborers receive very small wages, this report shows a remarkable spirit of liberality. Ordinary laborers receive ninepence, or eighteen cents, a day for their work, while first-class mechanics, carpenters, etc., receive less than a dollar a day.

The health of the workers is good, for which we thank our Heavenly Father. Of course we have a light attack of the African fever now and then, but it has not hindered our work. We can not expect to escape all the inconveniences of such a field as this, but we remember that ‘if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.’

We trust that as we enter upon a new year, we may have the prayers, sympathy, and support of our dear brethren and sisters in the home land. There must be a mighty move toward the millions who are in midnight darkness ere our Saviour comes. Let us throw our whole lives, our all, into this cause; then when we have brought our few loaves and small fishes, the Lord will greatly bless the sacrifice by quickly finishing the work.

Freetown, Sierra Leone.