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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 5, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 45.

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West Africa

By T. M. French

T. M. FRENCH
Tuesday morning, August 11, we steamed into the harbor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, aboard the “Falaba.” The first view that greeted our sight was a beautiful mountainside rising to the south, covered with palm, mango, cotton, and other tropical trees, with their varied shades of green, giving the appearance of a beautiful park. It was a pleasing scene after a ten-day voyage from England. Our steamer soon anchored, and we were immediately surrounded by a large number of small boats manned by natives to take the passengers ashore.
After going ashore, we met Brother D. C. Babcock and some of our native believers, who gave us a hearty welcome. As soon as our luggage was passed through the custom-house, we made our way up through the grassy streets to our mission home, where a very neat, pleasant building has been erected on the mountainside. How different the conditions from what Brother and Sister Babcock faced when they began work here! Truly we have much for which to be thankful in the establishment of the work in these difficult fields by our pioneer missionaries.
The mission home is located at an elevation of two hundred sixty feet, in a very beautiful, healthful place overlooking the city and the sea on the west. A cool breeze, continually blowing, makes it very pleasant. Brother and Sister Babcock have labored hard in building the house and beautifying the grounds, but they are richly repaid with good health and with the respect of the citizens and officials of Freetown.
Wednesday we attended prayer-meeting at the church. On arriving I was much surprised to find such a beautiful church, and a large attendance of intelligent-looking natives who have accepted the third angel’s message. If the prayer-meeting is an index to the spirituality of the church, it shows an excellent spirit among our people here; and I am convinced that this is true as I becomemore intimately acquainted with them.
The Lord has signally blessed the efforts put forth in this place, and the light of this glorious gospel is penetrating the strongholds of heathenism. And yet fetish worship is carried on within a stone’s throw of our mission.
Several of the natives are developing into good workers, and a number are waiting to enter the school as soon as it opens, in order to prepare quickly for the work. There seems to be good talent among the young men, which will be invaluable in carrying on the work in a field like this. Some of these young men speak the language of tribes along the coast and in the interior, and I believe they will eventually prove efficient workers among their people. A building is soon to be erected for a training-school for these young men.
Freetown has a population of about sixty thousand, and has the best harbor on the West Coast. It is the capital of Sierra Leone. While the English language is spoken, natives from nearly all the leading tribes may be seen going to and from the markets. The city has an abundance of good, pure water piped from the mountains, and on the whole, is quite a healthful place. There is also an abundance of fruits and nuts to be had in the markets. Wild animals are still quite plentiful in the “bush,” and at times venture within the city limits. A very large leopard visited the mission home yesterday.
While a good beginning has been made on the West Coast, when we think of the millions of the interior who have never heard the glad news of a Saviour, it should inspire us to greater activity, and so much the more as we “see the day approaching.” It is a great problem to meet the many calls that are continually coming in. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest,” and that he may abundantly bless the efforts now being put forth.
Freetown, Sierra Leone.