West Coast, Africa by J. M. HYATT

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 2, 1903

West Coast, Africa

By J. M. HYATT

CAPE COAST CASTLE, GOLD COAST.—After a slight delay in perfecting arrangements for our journey, we left Minnesota for New York. We stopped in Cleveland for a week's visit with friends and relatives. While there, we visited among the colored people, and had some interesting experiences, especially on Sunday at the largest Baptist church, where we were offered financial aid. Surely, a consecrated colored laborer could do much good among the thousands of intelligent negroes of Cleveland.

After riding a night and a day, we were in New York, where we were met by Brother Calvert, of the Bible Training School, who took us to that institution, where we spent the night. It truly is a haven of rest. The spiritual atmosphere is invigorating. Here we met Elder Luther Warren, whom we had not seen for years. We were glad to hear of the good interest that was manifested among the colored people, under his labors, and would have been glad, as was suggested, to spend some time in the school, and at the same time assist with interests that had been awakened.

After a trip of eight days we disembarked at Liverpool, where we found Elder Hale and his family ready to sail that day. In England we met some good friends, one a wholesale grocer, not of our people.

After ten or twelve days more of sailing, we sighted the coast of Africa for the first time—Free Town, Sierra Leone. We had the privilege of going ashore here, and were much surprised to find that all the natives are not illiterate, as has been said, but some are well educated. All government offices are filled by natives, except that of the governor-general. Some of our American colored brethren could do much good by settling here and living the truth, especially such as have trades. Among the trades that may be mentioned are dentistry, carpentry, blacksmithing, and farming. To such there are inducements offered in the matter of passage.

After dinner with the harbor master, we were soon on our way to our final stopping place. We reached Cape Coast Castle in four days. We were warmly greeted by the natives generally. There are less than five on the Gold Coast who make any pretense of keeping the Sabbath. We are very glad, indeed, to get here, and like it very much. We hope that it will not be long before we will have more of our American brethren on the Coast at different points; for it is true, as stated by others, that there is an affinity between the natives and other negroes that is not known by some at least.

While talking with the passengers as I came down from Free Town, I made the acquaintance of a man from the West Indies. He was going to one of the towns on the coast below us. In conversation with him, I learned that his sole mission was to carry the Sabbath to his people. He is a native. We were glad to see the direct working of the Lord in this manner. We are sure that he will use many agencies that are unknown to us to reach the millions of natives here. We are of good courage, and hope to see the work make fast progress. J. M. HYATT.