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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 23.

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West Africa

By D. C. BABCOCK

D. C. BABCOCK
ON the morning of Oct. 14, 1907, my wife and I arrived at our home in Sierra Leone, after an absence down the coast of more than two months. The trip proved quite a help to us healthwise, and we were thus prepared to go forward with renewed vigor in the Master’s work. Although Brother L. W. Browne’s health has been somewhat impaired during our absence, yet we could see good results from the efforts put forth by the workers in this part of the field.
On the Sabbath after our arrival our little schoolroom was well filled by our brethren and sisters. Among them were some new faces; this brought joy to us.
Our third baptism in this field occurred on the morning of November 3, at Freetown, when twelve precious souls went down into the watery grave. The morning was bright and clear, and all seemed happy as one after another walked down into the crystal stream, to arise to walk in newness of life. The presence of God’s Holy Spirit was decidedly manifest. A large crowd of natives were gathered on the shore, and appeared to be deeply impressed by the occasion. These additions to our little company increased our membership to thirty-one.
On the morning of October 16, Brother Browne and the writer boarded the train for Waterloo. A limited amount of our literature had been sold among the people of this town; but aside from that,nothing had ever been done to advance the message in this town of more than three thousand souls. On our arrival we at once began looking for an opening for our work. We visited several churchmen, who gave us good promises, but these all came to naught.
The following week Brother Browne returned, and through the kindness of Mr. Faulkner, the district commissioner, he secured the town market, a spacious room not now used, in which to hold a series of meetings. The first of November, Brother and Sister R. P. Dauphin and Brother E. F. Thompson accompanied Elder Browne to Waterloo, and in a short time an excellent interest was manifest.
THE CHURCH BUILDING DEDICATED AT SIERRA LEONE
THE CHURCH BUILDING DEDICATED AT SIERRA LEONE
The meetings continued to grow in interest; and when the writer first visited them, the house was full to overflowing, with many unable to get in. A bitter opposition soon arose, and the minister of the leading church disfellowshipped several of his members for attending the meetings at the market.
On Sunday, March 14, our first baptism took place. There was quite a strong antipathy shown by some church people and a company of natives who gathered on the shore. While the first two or three were baptized, good order was maintained; by that time some commotion was seen, and while in the water with a candidate, I turned to those causing the disturbance, and said, ‘You may laugh now, but when the judgments of God begin to fall upon you, your laughter will be turned to weeping.’ From that moment everything was quiet, and we continued our work until twelve earnest souls were buried with their Lord in baptism. Others besides those baptized are obeying the truth.
On Wednesday evening, April 1, a meeting was called to consider the building of a church. A lively interest was taken, and plans were laid to begin work very soon.
Our first church building in West Africa was completed in February, but owing to some circumstances the dedication was postponed until March 29. Much interest was shown in this event, not only by our own people, but by many not obeying the message, and everything possible was done to make the occasion a success.
For weeks before the dedication our dear people met from time to time, earnestly pleading to God for his Holy Spirit, and its directing care in all preparations. Long before the hour appointed for the doors to be opened, the people began to come; and by the time the services began, every inch of seating room was occupied. We had borrowed one hundred chairs from the city hall, and twenty-five were brought from dwelling-houses near by; yet the aisles were filled to overflowing. Outside there were hundreds who could not get in.
On the platform were prominent lawyers and city councilmen. The speaker had only a space one by two feet. For more than an hour in that packed condition the people listened to an answer to the question, ‘Why are we here?’ comprehending the rise and advancement of this message in all parts of the world. The people were much surprised to hear of the magnitude of our work.
Feeling that we should not be selfish in our services, I visited a leading minister in the city, and gave him an invitation to occupy the chair on the occasion, to which he heartily consented. He has charge of several churches in the city, and when our bills were posted, and the minister’s name appeared, such a storm of opposition came down upon him that he declined the position accepted. The Honorable T. J. Thompson, B. L., was invited to fill the vacancy, and his earnest, appealing address will long be remembered by the people, especially by Seventh-day Adventists. Among the many statements made, he said, holding the Bible high in one hand, ‘Sunday is not found in this book.’ He eulogized Seventh-day Adventists as missionaries, and said, ‘If other missionaries had been as earnest and faithful as Seventh-day Adventists, we would see a different state of things in Africa.’
The singing by the choir, comprised of our schoolboys and girls, was highly appreciated by the people, and marks another advance step in our school work, bringing it prominently before the public.
Let me appeal here again for help for our school work. Our burdens are increasing, and we must have help. While we have not in the least pushed ourselves to the front on the question of education, the public expect everything from us from an educational standpoint, and why should they not?
Nearly thirty dollars was received on our balance of indebtedness, but there yet remains a little over two hundred fifty dollars to be met. If our dear people can assist us, even in small amounts, to liquidate this balance, it will be much appreciated by the brethren and sisters in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The dedication of this new, neat building, the first Seventh-day Adventist church in all West Africa, marks an advanced step. While we have no haughty pride in the edifice, we do praise the Lord that we have a place of worship to which we can invite the public.
Sierra Leone.