The Work in West Africa by D. C. BABCOCK

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 17, 1912

The Work in West Africa

By D. C. BABCOCK

D. C. BABCOCK

It has been some time since a general report has appeared in the REVIEW from this field. The return of Prof. and Mrs. T. M. French to the field, and the addition of Dr. and Mrs. E. W. Myers to our staff, give us the largest number of foreign laborers we have yet had.

Brother and Sister French arrived on Sunday morning, March 3, and Brother and Sister W. H. Lewis, with their children, sailed the next morning for the Canaries, to rest and build up their physical strength in those delightful and health-restoring islands.

Shortly after their arrival, Brother and Sister French went to Waterloo, to build up the work in the school, which had been waning on account of the severe illness of those in charge.

The health of Brother F. S. Bolton was so much impaired by continual fever that he felt forced to give up his effort on this coast, lest he be called to lay down his life. Acting on the advice of a prominent physician, he and his wife sailed for home February 21.

Although severe trials have attended our school work the last year, yet some advancement has been made, and several young men are preparing to enter the work in the near future. Five who have been trained in the school are now actively engaged in the Lord's work. While some upon whom time and money are spent make a failure, yet our efforts are all bent toward preparing those who attend the school for the Master's service.

Treatment-Rooms

The arrival of Dr. Myers and wife, and the fitting up of treatment-rooms, have given courage to our workers. We now have a place where we can properly care for our sick, and facilities for giving rational treatments. We have long felt the need of such help, and although our furnishings are quite limited, yet we greatly appreciate the donation of five hundred dollars, with which we purchased our equipment and laid our water-pipes.

We also appreciate what has been done in providing a rest home in the Canaries for our worn-out workers. Here they can go aside and rest awhile from the hot tropical sun of the malarial districts, and thus build up physically. Brother B. B. Aldrich is doing all he can to make it pleasant and profitable for our workers.

Church Dedication

Our new church building at Waterloo was dedicated on Sunday, July 21. The occasion was one of interest to all present. The public had often expressed a desire for the opening of the church; and although showers of rain fell often during the day, the building was filled to its utmost capacity when the hour arrived for the service to begin. The opening prayer and Scripture reading were conducted by a resident minister not of our faith. All entered heartily into the service, and deep impressions for good were made upon the hearts of those present. “That was a good meeting,” could be heard on all sides.

Two new mission stations have been opened since the beginning of the present year, one among the Timnies and one among the Mendi. The opening of these stations is our first effort in the hinterland. Matotoka is situated about one hundred fifty miles to the northeast of Freetown, among the Timnies. The forms of worship among the Timnies are a mixture of heathenism, Mohammedanism, and spiritism. Brother R. P. Dauphin, who is in charge of this station, and who has spent several years in mission work, says he never before met what he is meeting at this place. The message, however, is winning its way. Some are yielding to its claims. One man came to Brother Dauphin and gave him his kreti, a medium of divination. I now have it in my possession. I spoke to the people while I was there, and the paramount chief and his head men were present. It was an interesting occasion to me. On the evening of my arrival in the village, I presented the chief with a copy of “Coming King.” When he saw the picture of Jesus on the frontispiece, he said, “Is that the man who died for us?”

They were in the midst of a great feast when I arrived, and had sacrificed fourteen oxen and many sheep and goats. The heavy rains had just begun, and the chief informed Brother Dauphin that the kreti had divined to them that there would be no more rain for ten days. That afternoon the chief came over to spend some time with me. Soon the rain began falling, and it seemed as if the heavens were opened and torrents of water were rushing everywhere. The chief looked rather sad, and I remarked: “Chief, our God knows that we need rain so we can sow rice. He is the great God, and he provides for our needs.” He seemed much concerned over the matter. The next day there was another heavy shower, and his faith in the kreti was evidently shaken. That which moves the heathen to give up his worship of wood and stone is to witness the

power of the true God, which prevails against his god. Here is the work of the true missionary: first, to be personally acquainted with God, and then to point out to the heathen his mighty power revealed. On the Sabbath during the feast, the chief would not permit the people to beat their drums.

We know the Lord is going before us. We are confident that his Holy Spirit is directing the work he has placed in our hands, and our confidence increases as the work advances.

Freetown, Sierra Leone.