The Report of Committee on Agricultural Work.
Your committee on agricultural work beg leave to say that at Good Hope, according to records left at this station, there are four hundred acres of land under the control of the Mendi Mission, some of which we think might be very profitably put under cultivation. But we regret to say that we have no means other than hoes and cutlasses to begin such a work.
It was our purpose on entering the field to do something in this direction. Therefore we began to clear the land, turning over some with hoes; but as the premises were not enclosed, and cattle were roaming over them, it was impossible for us to plant to any advantage. Therefore the first part of our work had to be abandoned, and we are giving our attention to the fencing of the premises, with a view to doing something in the agricultural work at the opening of the next season.
The records show that a hundred and sixty acres of land are under control of our mission, at Avery. About eight of these are cleared off, including yard. Three hundred and six coffee-trees are growing on said land. The trees are not in a very promising condition, and we are unable to say as yet what the result will be. The land is very hilly, yet a small portion of it might be utilized to some profit, but must first be cleared. All such work will necessitate an additional expense, the returns of which we need not expect to realize very soon, yet will tend to advance civilization.
Report of Committee on Church Work.
Your committee on church work beg leave to submit to you the following report. We regret to say that on entering the work at Good Hope Station, we found the church abandoned, the doors having been closed for months, since the death of the Rev. Barnabas Root. Many of the members had united with the Church Mission Society.
We re-organized with as much of the old element as willingly returned, and set to persuading others who knew not Christ to come into the fold, and we rejoice to say that our efforts have been blessed. Twenty-two new converts have been added, mostly from among the pupils of the mission, and some who serve as laborers; nearly all from the native element, whose eyes have been opened to the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and have learned to love Him.
Now our number of regular members is forty-four. In addition to these we have baptized ten children. Our church is in a healthy condition, and attended mostly by a native element, preached to through an interpreter. The attendance is good, and at times our accommodations are not sufficient. We hope soon to see many others coming into the kingdom.
We have also organized a Literary Society, which adds greatly to the interest of our work. This meets the first and second Fridays in each month, in our chapel. But like all other departments of our work, this is greatly retarded by continued rains. We hope to redeem the time when the dry season sets in again.
Our hours of conducting services at Good Hope Station are, on the Sabbath, preaching at 11 A. M., Sunday-school at 3 P. M., and prayer-meeting or preaching at 7 P. M. We have also a prayer-meeting Wednesday evening, and one every morning, very early, for the benefit of laborers and natives generally.