Of the white missionaries who entered the field in Liberia, during the first thirty years of its existence, but two or three remained at the close of that period—all the others having died or been disabled by the loss of health. Take, as an example, the Episcopal Mission. Twenty white laborers, male and female, entered that mission, up to 1849, of whom only the Rev. Mr. Payne and his wife, and Dr. Perkins remained. All the others had fallen at their posts or been forced to retreat. Take that of the Presbyterian Board also: Of nineteen white missionaries, male and female, sent out, up to May, 1851, nine had died, seven returned, and three remained; while of fourteen colored missionaries, male and female, employed, but four have died, and one returned on account of ill health. Take the Methodists likewise: Of the thirteen white missionaries sent out, six had died, six returned, and one remained, in 1848; while of thirty-one colored missionaries employed by this church, only seven had died natural deaths, and fourteen remained in active service. The extent of this mortality among the white missionaries will be comprehended, when it is stated, that their average period of life, up to nearly the last named date, has been only two years.[[21]] The mission work in Liberia, therefore, has necessarily fallen into the hands of colored men; and, thus, the Providence of God has afforded to that race an opportunity to display their powers, and to show to the world what, under favorable circumstances, they are capable of achieving.
In relation to the influence exerted by Liberia, on the cause of African Missions, Bishop Scott testifies as follows:
“In my judgment, the bearing of African Colonization on the cause of Christian Missions, in that vast peninsula of darkness and sin, ought to be sufficient, in the absence of every other consideration, to secure for that great enterprise, the warm and steady support of every lover of Christ.”[[22]]
If, then, a Colony of colored men, beginning with less than 100, and gradually increasing to 9,000, has, in 30 years, established an Independent Republic amidst a savage people; destroyed the slave trade on 600 miles of the African coast; put down the heathen temples in one of its largest counties; afforded security to all the missions within its limits; and now casts its shield over 300,000 native inhabitants; what may not be done in the next 30 years, by Colonization and Missions combined, were sufficient means supplied to call forth all their energies?
II. The Missions in the English Colonies of Recaptured Africans.
These Missions are next in importance, and have been next in success, to those of Liberia. The term, recaptured, has reference to the natives rescued from the slave-ships, on the coast of Africa, by the English squadron. The principal Colony of this class, is at Sierra Leone. It was first established as a private enterprise, through the exertions of Granville Sharp, afterwards placed under the control of a chartered company, and, finally, taken under the care of the British government. It had for its object, chiefly, the suppression of the slave trade and the civilization of Africa.
The origin of this Colony has such an intimate connection with the rise of the Anti-Slavery sentiment in England, and the adoption of the measures which have done so much toward the redemption of Africa, that the principal facts of its history must be stated.
On the 22d of May, 1772, Lord Mansfield decided the memorable Somerset case, and pronounced it unlawful to hold a slave in Great Britain.[[23]] Previous to this date, many slaves had been introduced into English families, and, on running away, the fugitives had been delivered up to their masters, by order of the Court of King’s Bench, under Lord Mansfield; but now the poor African, no longer hunted as a beast of prey, in the streets of London, slept under his roof, miserable as it might be, in perfect security.[[24]]
To Granville Sharp belonged the honor of this achievement. By the decision, about 400 negroes were thrown upon their own resources. They flocked to Mr. Sharp as their patron; but considering their numbers, and his limited means, it was impossible for him to afford them adequate relief. To those thus emancipated, others, discharged from the army and navy, were afterwards added, who, by their improvidence, were reduced to extreme distress. After much reflection, Mr. Sharp determined to colonize them in Africa.
Here, then, was first conceived the idea of African colonization; but this benevolent scheme could not be executed at once, and the blacks—indigent, unemployed, despised, forlorn, vicious—became such nuisances, as to make it necessary they should be sent somewhere, and no longer suffered to infest the streets of London.[[25]] Private benevolence could not be sufficiently enlisted in their behalf, and fifteen years passed away, when Government, anxious to remove what it regarded as injurious, at last came to the aid of Mr. Sharp, and supplied the means of their transportation and support.[[26]]