The first workers’ meeting ever held in West Africa convened October 10–18. The need of such a gathering has often been considered by those in charge of this mission field, but financial pressure has caused delay.
KIRIMA FALLS, FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA
Our mission stations on the Gold Coast being nearly one thousand miles from Sierra Leone, we could expect only a few of our workers from that field. There were, however, representatives from two of the largest stations. We had most of our workers from other parts of the field; Mrs. Hyatt, representing Liberia, arrived one day after the close of the meeting. Including our brethren and sisters here, there were about one hundred in attendance.
At the opening meeting, Elder D. C. Babcock placed before us its object, giving an outline of papers to be read and questions to be considered.
Each day began with a social and prayer-meeting at 6 A. M. These were especially profitable seasons. The young people met at the mission house, and the older brethren and sisters in the chapel of the school building.
Brother C. E. F. Thompson reported the work at Axim. He said that at times it seemed as if nothing could be accomplished; but they prayed and labored on, and at last victory came. There is now at that place a good company, who are taking hold of the work earnestly.
One day’s walk north from Axim is Appatem, a new station on the Aucobra River. The chief here had erected a mission house and a school building, and is urging us to open our work at an early date. This people know no worship day but the seventh. Brother Thompson also gave an interesting account of his visit to Salt Pond, where there is a family keeping the Sabbath. An urgent call comes from that place for laborers.
Brother C. A. Ackah gave an account of the work in Apollonia. There are now about one hundred Sabbath-keepers among this people, and the natives of several villages are calling for our work to be opened among them. We greatly need more workers on the Gold Coast.
Brethren Randall and I. W. Harding gave an account of the opening of the work at Sherbro. They spoke of the many difficulties to encounter in such a field, and of what can be accomplished if earnest, faithful effort is made. Sister Marke, who has lived the past three years among the Mendi people in the Sherbro district, made an earnest appeal to meet the call for help in that field.
During the progress of the meeting, four men who had just been released from prison for cannibalism, called on Elder Babcock, urging that a teacher be sent to their village. On another river in the same district, another plea is made for help. These are not circumstances simply which make the calls, but earnest appeals from those in heathen darkness, personally calling to us for help.
Prof. T. M. French gave a stirring account of the work at Waterloo. The Lord has greatly blessed in opening the school work there. The new school farm affords employment for the students, and is now giving some returns financially. The new church building provides room in its basement for the school. We now have in training for10our mission field, including the boys at the factory in Freetown, about thirty young men and boys.
An interesting review of the work in Freetown was given by Brother R. P. Dauphin. Although the enemy seeks to undermine the work at the headquarters, yet there is a steady increase in the church-membership. Many of the Freetown church are now engaged in mission work in the colony and on the Gold Coast.
The reports of these laborers from different parts of the field were very encouraging to all present, and awakened new zeal for the cause of God.
The third and fourth days of the meeting were devoted to the educational work. Different features of school work suitable to our mission field were presented by the chairman and Brother French. Papers were also presented by the writer, Mrs. T. M. French, and Mrs. W. H. Lewis. A free discussion followed, bringing out many helpful features in mission school work.
The committee on plans formulated a resolution for the opening of a girls’ training-school. After a short discussion, over three hundred dollars was pledged to be paid by April, 1911, for this commendable undertaking. Who would like to help us in this good work?
Friday, October 14, was Sabbath-school day, and it was a day profitably spent. A paper was presented on Sabbath-school work by the field Sabbath-school secretary. Plans were adopted for carrying on the Sabbath-school work in the field from the standpoint of training laborers for the Master’s use.
Papers were presented Sunday, October 16, on church missionary work and missions in the hinterland. These were well received, and many excellent thoughts were brought out.
Services were held each evening for the public. Education, temperance, and the coming of the Lord were the general themes.
On Monday, October 17, the committee on plans presented its final report, and all questions discussed during the entire meeting received the unanimous support of all present. It could truly be said, ‘They shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion,’ Isa. 52:8.
The meeting closed Tuesday morning, when twelve young men and boys went forward in baptism. Joy filled the hearts of God’s people as they returned to their homes.
