In the course of his labors, as Colonization Agent for Ohio, the writer,
at an early day, found it necessary to examine the subject of African
Missions. It was zealously urged, by many, that the Colonies of the
Society, instead of being auxiliaries to the evangelization of the
natives, presented an almost insuperable barrier to the spread of the
Gospel in Africa. The facts ascertained, during the investigations, have
been used, from time to time, in the Lectures delivered in different
parts of the State, with general satisfaction to the friends of
Colonization. The events of the last year or two in Africa, however,
have been so marked, and the superiority of the missions in Liberia over
all the others, so fully demonstrated, that the publication of the
results has been urged as an act of justice to the American Colonization
Society and to the Missions in the Republic.
In the preparation of the Lecture, none but the best authorities have
been consulted, and the greatest care has been taken to avoid error.
References to the sources of information are given in a few instances.
Should any wish to verify the whole range of the facts stated, they will
find them, mostly, in the following works and periodicals: Choule’s
History of Missions, Reports of American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions, Missionary Herald, African Repository, and the works
occasionally quoted in foot notes in the Lecture.
[Expense of stereotyping paid by Dr. Alexander Guy, Cincinnati.]
STEREOTYPED BY C. F. O’DRISCOLL,
167 WALNUT STREET, CINCINNATI.
A LECTURE
ON
AFRICAN MISSIONS.
In temporal affairs, experience supplies the best rule for the guidance
of man. In spiritual concerns, the word of God is the law by which his
conduct must be governed. In relation to the spread of the Gospel, while
the Saviour has given a few general directions, as to the mode of its
propagation, he has left much to human wisdom, as to the measures by
which it is to be extended. Pagan countries differ so widely in their
civil relations, social customs, superstitions, and degrees of
intelligence, that corresponding variations must be made in the plans
for their evangelization. Africa, when first visited by the Missionary,
was one broad field of ignorance and barbarism. Its condition differed
so widely from that of any other country, where missions had been
established, that the efforts made for its redemption, could be little
else than experiments.
The time has arrived when we may safely proceed to contrast the results
of the several classes of missions in Africa, ascertain what experience
teaches, and determine the rule by which the greatest progress is to be
made, in the extension of Civilization and Christianity, in that land of
darkness and desolation. This task we now propose to execute, and shall
take up the several missions in the following order: