Freetown, Oct. 14th, 1858, The Rev. J. Trotter writes,— board my faithful old friend the Selina, and started for home. The wind was contrary, and the men had to row all the way. Glory be to God for journeying mercies. Since my last letter we have moved into a larger house for the accommodation of the students under my care; it is very suitable for the purpose, and the most healthy house in the town. The students occupy the lower part of it, and we live in the upper part. I am going to Waterloo to-morrow morning, which will account for the early date of my letter; our District Meeting will be held there on Thursday; I shall (D.V.) remain there for two Sabbaths. Rev. J. Trotter. East, Street, Freetown, Yesterday was our Anniversary as Africans. It was on the morning of the 13th October, 1857, when we first landed on the shores of Sierra Leone. How swiftly has the year passed away-it is like a dream. I thank God I am as well to-day as I was on the day of our arrival. Mrs. Trotter has been ill again, but she is now nearly well. I received the enclosed kind and cheering letter yesterday, written by Mr. J. B. Elliott; in the evening he had a Church Meeting at which he reviewed the past year. Our wet season is passing away with sudden and fearful tornadoes. I will now refer to my journal. Sunday, Sept. 26th, left town early in the Selina for Gooderich, which place we reached about ten o'clock, after a wet passage. At half-past ten I read prayers, baptized some children, and preached from 1 Sam. x. 26. I then Allow me to congratulate you administered the Lord's Supper to about upon the Anniversary this day of your 100 communicants. In the afternoon I residence in Sierra Leone, and first examined a man for baptism who has just year's labour as Pastor and General escaped from heathenism. In the even- Superintendent over our Churches here. ing I preached a Missionary Sermon, and made a collection; although a wet, dark, stormy night, yet the chapel was crowded with attentive hearers, text, Acts xvi. 17. During the service I baptized the man already mentioned. God was with us in an especial manner, the divine influence was almost overpowering; these poor simple-minded people seem to enjoy much of God. Monday, Sept. 27th, I preached in the morning at five o'clock from the words "I am thine, save me." More than 100 were present; some of the people were in the chapel as early as three o'clock, praying for me, whom they call the "Daddy." After service I met the managers and consulted about building a new chapel which is much needed; after breakfast I stepped on I can look back with joy upon this day twelvemonth, when you and your amiable partner did set foot upon our shores for the first time, and remember afresh the morning when I did for the first time in my life set eyes upon you; to me this day is held sacred; and you cannot but unite with me in offering up praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God for His special mercies and favour towards you, both in preserving and keeping you from falling victims to our climate diseases which have been fatal to many of your countrymen and women, who arrived before and after you, and who are now lying silent beneath an African soil, whilst you have been spared to labour night and day in God's service. The respect and high esteem which you have fairly won throughout the Colony, both in and out of the Churches, cannot but convince you that it has been entirely the Lord's gracious dealings with you as being your chief support and strength. My mind is filled with humble gratitude to the Father of mercies in your case and for His special blessings over the churches in which you are now labouring; may His blessings be still given to you and Mrs. Trotter as you are now become one with us in heart and effort in spreading the gospel among our perishing brethren. Words cannot convey to you the expression and feelings of my heart, which is now filled to overflowing, not an individual in the churches, to my knowledge, but what can unite with me in saying that we have been benefited by your preaching and teaching. As a private Christian you have manifested to all your true discipleship to the Saviour. As a minister you have laboured faithfully and perseveringly in your ous work. ardu As a friend and counsellor you have not in the least failed to impart to all who have come in your way that which they needed. Your trials undoubtedly you have had, but there has been grace and strength given to sustain you in the midst of all; on the whole you can truly say goodness and mercy hath followed you all the days of your life. My aged mother, wife, brother and family heartily unite with me in this congratulation, and would encourage you to "go forward," for you shall surely reap if you faint not. May God's blessing ever attend you. The church members and office bearers all heartily unite in saying. Amen. I remain, my dear Sir, JOHN B. ELLIOTT.. Masam Mission Station, Post Lokkoh River, 16th May to 31st July, 1858. Rev. Sir, In presenting my second report of this station, I beg to inform you, that during the month, divine service and school have been regularly attended, and that I am trying, through God's assistance, to go from one place to another to declare to the natives the glad tidings of the way of salvation, as may be seen under date of 16th May. In the afternoon, after morning service at Masam, I and Mr. B. visited Ma Corry for the purpose of holding divine service there. The king received us gladly sent and called his people together for service. We then commenced by singing and prayer, after which I read a part of the holy Scripture and preached to them in their own language from Isaiah lv. 6. The place appointed was unable to contain the congregation, so the king proposed to build a chapel of his own at this place in the coming dry season, in order that we might have a place sufficient to hold a large congregation, and said that the Mahomedan religion has no effect among the natives of the lower part of the river as in the upper. Saturday evening, 6th June. I visited another town in the Magbele River, named Rotook, took with me some of the school children; we had to walk, and the place being a good distance we started from Masam at three o'clock and never reached there until half-past six o'clock same evening; we lodged with one Mr. Joaquee, a trader, who gave us a very favourable reception. I held service the next morning, and had a good attendance, both of British subjects and natives, some of whom came from the other side of the river to hear me; after reading the lessons, I preached to them from 1 Tim. ii. 8. Previous to service this morning I went to a neighbouring town called Mayarn to invite the natives to service, I met there a woman who has been a long time among the natives, but who is a British subject; she said to me in her own words, "Daddy I will come to meeting to-day, for long time I no hear God word;" after service those from the other side of the river gave me a hearty welcome. In the evening I despatched the school children for Masam, but I was forced to stay until next morning, they asked me to return again when the weather permits. Saturday, 10th July. I visited a poor man on an island called Tombo Island, who was very sick. On speaking to him the word of God he asked me to give him a book, I then enquired whether he could read, he replied, "I know book, and been taught to read in Sierra Leone by one Mr. Carr, who sent me to school." I promised to visit him the next Saturday, and to fetch him the book, but was prevented by not having a canoe to convey me, he sent for the book three days after. Sunday, 11th July. After morning service at Masam the whole of us, both men, women, and children, visited Ma Corry, and had an evening service there; the natives of this place always pay great attention to my preaching, they would now and then clap their hands, and say in their own language, "Yah, Oh," while preaching to them, which means "Yes, true," the subject was Genesis xix. 17. I also beg to state, according to previous note sent about the past uproar, that the country is in an unsettled state, which gives much discouragemet to my movements; and that of late some of the school children have been very irregular in attending through sickness of the cow pox and sore legs. Thursday, 29th July. I had an occasion of burying an infant, daughter to Mr. B., who died here the day previous. In closing this report I would earnestly beg your prayers on the behalf of this Station, for the prayers of the righteous availeth much. It is no small matter of joy and source of encouragement, to be able to report, that in the midst of all our troubles of war we are enabled, by divine providence, to hold on our ways; the past and present months have been marked by numerous tokens of divine favour; the attendance on the means of grace throughout has been very good. I visited Ma Corry twice; held service once. On the 8th instant, I visited a poor afflicted woman. On speaking and pointing to her the way of salvation, she said, "Daddy, I wish to pray, but my present situation of life prevents me." I asked her meaning. In reply she said, "I not been married to the man I am now living with, and have four children for him, two of which are now in your school." I then encouraged her by saying, "Hear the words of love: 'Be careful for nothing, &c.'" 1 Phil. iv. 6. 46 On the 17th ultimo, I and Mr. Bentick accompanied the king to visit one Alimariry Sirdoo, at a town called 'Makirba." This is the great warrior of the Small Scarcies on behalf of King Bey Ingar of the said river. I enquired about the war. In reply, he said, “I have regained Mangay residence of King Bey Ingar-together with Robonta, and several other towns, and I am trying to reconcile Bey Ingar and Sattan Luhia. Some time since, a British subject was murdered in the Magbele River, by name of John James, an elder of the African Methodists, but the murderer, a native, was not found out until the 7th of this month. He confessed that he killed the man in a canoe while going in search of Palm Wine, and that he did it by chopping off his head, and afterwards laid him by the side of the river and covered him with Bamboo leaves. He went and showed the place after he was caught, but only the bones of the deceased were found. He was brought to Ma Corry in charge of the king, but on Sunday, 12th instant, at night, he made an escape, and was caught here on the night of the 13th. He was turned over to the king after paying the person who caught him twenty bars, and was carried on the 14th instant to Phorodoogu, a town in the Magbele River, to be killed. On the 17th instant he was choked to death by putting a rope round his neck, and four men, two at each end of the rope, drew it together, which brake his neck. None of us can tell what is before us in this changeable world, or where we we may be called to lay our bones. Our comfort is that the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, and that the angels of God can conduct our souls when we die, as easily from one place as from another. If we are Christians, whether we live or whether we die, we live and die unto the Lord, and shall be with Him for ever. O pray for the heathen that God may open their dark understanding, that they may know and learn to fear the Lord. The school-house is finished covering, but the carpenters' work is put back until we see whether the country will be in peace; if possible we shall commence the work in November. Wishing that the Lord may bless our efforts, I remain, Rev. Sir, Your humble servant, THE NEGRO'S HYMN. Our Master, Jesus, reigned above, My sins and sorrows bore; And while He liv'd, like me on earth, Our Master, Jesus, oh how kind Was all He did and said! Clifton, June 8th, 1858. He heal'd the sick, the lame, the blind, Our Master, Jesus, crucified Pray'd for his murd'rers; then He died- Our Master, Jesus, suffer'd this Oh! Master, Jesus, who didst give Paetry. A SWARM OF BEES WORTH HIVING; OR, BEES WITHOUT STINGS. B patient, B prayerful, B humble, B mild, B cheerful, B grateful, B hopeful, B firm, B penitent, circumspect, sound in the faith, B honest, B holy, transparent and pure: Contributions In aid of the Countess of Huntingdon's Missionary Society during the month Further Contributions for the Missionary Society or for the Education Society to be made to Mr. F. W. Willcocks, 8, Claremont Square, London. N. NOTICE TO OUR READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. All Letters to be addressed to the Editor, the Rev. A. H. NEW, Wigan, Lancashire, not later than the 20th of the Month. |