NATIVE PREACHERS—AN ADVANCE CALLED—TEN NEW COMMUNICANTS—SUNDAY-SCHOOL NEEDS—THE FARM AND MILL.
REV. A. E. JACKSON, AVERY STATION.
We are all enjoying a moderate degree of health, which, of course, is quite encouraging to one laboring in this country, and helps him to enter upon the year’s work with renewed vigor. Finding that I was unable to reach a very great number of country men who live too far from my station to attend services, I have in such localities established preaching stations conducted by the hands employed in the Mission. They meet me each Saturday afternoon, so that I may explain to them the passages of Scripture that they are to use on Sunday at their respective stations. Great good is thus being accomplished. One station, in a very beautiful little town of about twelve hundred inhabitants, is conducted by my interpreter. The meetings are full of interest, and doubtless great good will be accomplished by its thus being established. The chief himself is learning to take a very great interest in the meetings, and, of course, if he expresses an interest in the meetings, the subjects will always attend very largely. I hope to see the chief converted before a very great while. Another station is maintained in a smaller village, where I trust to see greater interest soon manifested.
Avery is the most interior station held by the American Missionary Association in Africa. This one step has been taken, and a sufficient time has elapsed since to teach us that it is all important to push our work farther into the country. There lies on either side of us a vast territory, densely populated by an anxious and thirsty people who are dying for want of the truths of the Gospel.
In regard to the work at Avery, the new year has opened up quite favorably to us in all our departments. The church I am glad to say, is progressing far beyond all expectation. Sunday, Feb. 9, was our communion day, and it did seem as if the presence of the Lord was with each one in spirit and in power. There were added to the church ten souls, who were that day with us permitted to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Another feature connected with the church work is full of interest, and that is the prayer meetings. They are, as a general thing, largely attended by the country men, and great interest is manifested among them. We hope that many will be brought to the Lord during this year; but this will depend very greatly upon earnest prayer on the part of the Christians at home.
One thing is discouraging, and that is the condition of the Sabbath-school. We have no papers, no Bibles, and scarcely any singing-books, with which to carry it on. All who know anything of Sunday-school work are perfectly aware that much depends upon the interest that one is enabled to keep up among the children and adults by such means; it is so with you in civilized countries, much more so in a heathen country, where one is required to teach them everything. Now I am sure that some Sunday-school or some lover of the Christian cause will respond to this, my most humble appeal in the name of Christ, and send such books, papers, etc., to Avery Station as he can afford.
The agricultural department is progressing nicely. Our coffee farm is in a flourishing condition. Many of the trees are in bloom, and some have on them many berries of coffee. I think by another year a greater part of the trees will be bearing well. Our mill is now undergoing repair, and we hope to have it in perfect running order by April 1st.