Off for Africa.
BY REV. HENRY M. LADD.
It does not seem possible that anyone could ever have crossed the Atlantic, followed by more prayers and good wishes, than attended and do, we believe, still attend us.
Our good steamer, the “City of Berlin,” though advertised to sail from New York on the twelfth of February, did not leave till the thirteenth. We met on board, quite unexpectedly, some old college friends, who were bound for a trip in Europe, and we were therefore soon at home, surrounded by the most congenial society.
On the twenty-first we sighted the bold headlands of Cape Clear, and in the evening we were reading the latest news from London. Having arrived safely in Liverpool, and Mr. and Mrs. Kemp, colored missionaries for the Mendi Mission, reaching the same place a few days later, we were obliged to wait there a week for an African steamer; but the time was well employed in some preliminary business in London and elsewhere, with reference to the proposed new mission in the Nile basin. We had the pleasure of a short but interesting visit with Rev. O. H. White, D.D., the earnest and efficient secretary of the Freedman’s Missions Aid Society, who has done so much to interest our English and Scotch friends in the work of the American Missionary Association. We also called on Robert Arthington, Esq., of Leeds, whose munificent generosity has made possible the opening of the new mission near the head-waters of the Nile, which is to be distinguished by his name. He received us very kindly, and with outspread map before us, we spent a pleasant afternoon together, discussing plans and hopes for the opening of the work next fall, which now seems to promise so well. On Saturday, March 5th, we embarked on board the steamship “Mayumba,” for Africa, and our voyage has been a delightful one ever since. The same steamer had on board two hundred tons of gunpowder for the slaughter of the natives. Like the vessel that carried out rum and missionaries to Turkey, this was carrying powder to kill the Africans, while we were going for their peace and healing. Yet we would rather a thousand times go with the powder than with the rum; for the former, horrid as is the art of war, has in the hands of the English made a way in the wilderness for the heralds of the Cross, while the latter has been and always will be an unmitigated curse.
But the cloud is beginning to lift. We believe that there is a bright and cheering history of African missions yet to be written. The five millions of reserve force, now drilling in America for the final victory, are yet to be called out, and they will come to the rescue. They are already on the move. These educated freemen have developed already many of the proper qualifications for the work. We must expect failures and disappointments at first from those so recently in the degradation of slavery, but we believe theirs is the work, and they will yet do it, and do it grandly, too. With a holy enthusiasm they are coming by degrees more fully to appreciate the fact that Africa is their true field of labor—even as this excellent colored brother and his wife, who are going out with me, say they would rather die for their degraded brethren in Africa, than live in Christian America. As, therefore, we approach the shores of Africa, to enlarge and carry forward this work, I feel that we are now moving in the line of God’s appointment, and that success must ultimately crown our efforts. In this very steamer are those going out in Her Majesty’s service to conquer the rebellious tribes along this same west coast. Shall we, who are the soldiers of the Lord of Hosts, the King of kings, have less enthusiasm and courage in conquering these same tribes with the sword of the Spirit and in the bonds of peace?
Teneriffe, March 15th.
I am happy to report our safe arrival at this point on our journey. We have had a very pleasant voyage thus far, and have been remarkably well. Mr. and Mrs. Kemp are in excellent health and spirits. I think we may hope much from them. I have learned to esteem them very highly. Last Sabbath we touched at Madeira, and were met on board by Mr. Smart, agent for the “Missions to Seamen Society,” who very kindly invited us to his house to breakfast and dinner. There we met Mrs. Godman, of the Wesleyan Mission at Sierra Leone, who was much broken down in health. These kind friends showed us every attention possible, and we came away feeling that we had had a day of great spiritual as well as physical refreshing. I was much pleased with what little I saw of the place. I have had many pleasant talks with the Kemps regarding their work, and only wish we had a dozen such men to send out to Africa.