Since our last report, we have taken our tent down, and moved it to the mission farm, and continue our meetings there four times each week.
School Work
It was expected, two weeks before we took our tent down, that we would pitch it on the other side of the city, and hold another series of meetings before the rainy season set in, but our school work developed so fast that we were compelled to pitch the tent and use it for our school work, until we could arrange a temporary school building. Before we pitched the tent for the school, we had to hold our school in the mission house. Our veranda is six by forty-four feet, and on it we seated seventy-five children. Our parlor is also filled with the larger students, so that we hardly have living-room. If this interest continues during the rainy season, we shall be compelled to put up a larger school building.
Brother Kwamina, who sailed from America in January, arrived here on Thursday, February 21. On the following Monday, he took charge of the school, and thus gave relief to Mrs. Babcock, whose health was failing fast on account of overwork. We hope that this school may develop into a real training-school, in which laborers may be prepared for the West African field. The urgent demand for such a school as this, in this field, can be realized when we consider the large amount of money that has been spent by the General Conference in starting the work in this unhealthful climate. Several laborers have been sent to this field from America, and some have been compelled to return on account of failing health; others have laid down their lives for the cause.
The necessity of raising up native laborers can be clearly seen. Experience has taught us that it is far better to train workers in the field than it is to send them to some other land to be trained; and the cost is far less.
For this work we need a teacher who has had a thorough training in the principles of this message and the presentation of the same, as well as a proper fitting up as a thorough teacher. Anything less than this will not meet our urgent needs. We do pray earnestly that one of our schools shall favorably consider this question at once, and send us such help under the direction of the Mission Board. [This call is already answered in the person of L. W. Browne, of Emmanuel Missionary College, who has gone to assist in the work in West Africa.—Ed.]
The Tent Effort
As announced in a former article, our tent was pitched in this city on the eighth of January, and the first meeting was held on the evening of the tenth, with fully six hundred in attendance. For six weeks the congregation was never less than this number. On Sunday nights there were from ten hundred to fifteen hundred present. The best of order prevailed from first to last. At no meeting was there the least disturbance. The book sales by our workers during the meetings amounted to more than one hundred and fifty dollars. We distributed among the people many thousand pages of leaflets. On each Sunday night from ten hundred to fifteen hundred leaflets were distributed.
It is difficult to tell just what the result may be. Our present attendance at the Sabbath meetings is about thirty-five. These meetings are held at the mission farm, fully one mile and a half from the center of the city. The meeting last Sabbath will long be remembered by those present. It was a refreshing from the Lord. The general testimony was, “How the truth reached me.”
It is wonderful to witness the decided transformations that take place in the lives of men and women. One brother said, “I went into the tent the first night through curiosity, and came out a changed man.” The whole city is greatly stirred over the truth, the majority in its favor, but some in opposition.
Last Sunday a minister in one of the large churches, in a special meeting, was15warning his congregation against attending our meetings, and advising them not even to refer to them, nor to speak my name, when a voice cried out, “Why don’t you preach the truth to us as we hear it at the tent? We will go to hear that man.” Then all the congregation cried out against the minister, and it seemed for a time that the people would do him violence. One of his class leaders and another gentleman came at once to our mission, and purchased “Bible Readings” and “The Desire of Ages.”
Urgent calls are made from every quarter for us to come and hold meetings, but we lack the men and means to fill them. We are preparing workers as fast as we can.
THE TENT WHICH IS SERVING TEMPORARILY FOR A SCHOOL BUILDING AT FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA
A bright young man and his wife have accepted the truth, and he is studying faithfully while he is out canvassing for our books. He was formerly a minister in one of the denominations here, and has had charge of a mission in the interior. He took thirty dollars’ worth of books and went to Conakry, a French port north of Sierra Leone. Word has reached us through his wife, that he has sold nearly all his books and wants more. His wife has had experience as a teacher, and will help us in our school work.
A Church Building
Before we had held meetings in the tent a week, there was a call for a church building. At first it seemed to me out of the question for us to do anything in that line at this season of the year, as the rains will soon be upon us. But while I was out visiting one day, I met the city inspector of buildings, and he said we must not let the rains come on us until we had a temporary building so the meetings could be continued. He said he would be responsible for the roof, and for me to see what else could be done. I went to another gentleman who believes and obeys the truth,—a dentist,—and he told me to buy a suitable lot, and he would pay seventy-five dollars on it. I soon found a good lot, just where we wanted it, at the price of $112.29. We purchased it, and last Wednesday the money was all raised, and the lot paid for. Some materials are now on the ground, and we hope to begin work next Wednesday. While we have a good start, and have some money on hand to push the work, yet it is very expensive building in this place, and any help will be greatly appreciated. We hope to get the roof on the building within the next thirty days.
Baptism
Our first baptismal service took place on Thursday, February 28, when seven precious souls were buried with their Lord by baptism. We were freely granted the use of the baptistery by the Church of God before a large congregation. The service was opened with a hymn, after which the pastor of the Baptist church offered prayer. Brother Kwamina then gave a short discourse on the importance of the ordinance, after which the baptism took place. A deep impression was made upon the entire congregation. Many remarked that it was the most solemn experience in their lives. Others will go forward later.
To our dear people who have so liberally assisted in sounding the message in this part of dark Africa, we send the cheering word that light is breaking. The truth has a sure foothold here. Pray that the fire kindled, may burn brighter and brighter.
