We were saddened early in the summer by the unexpected death of Rev. Mr. Kemp, which was followed soon after by the death of his wife, just as they were settling down to the life work they had chosen. Both of these dear missionaries were unavoidably exposed in open boats to the bad influences of the climate. By their death they illustrate our need of more speed and better shelter in transporting missionaries from station to station.
We have appointed Rev. J. M. Williams, a native of South America and an experienced worker in Africa, to carry on the work at Kaw Mendi, the first station occupied on the return of the Amistad captives.
Rev. J. M. Hall, a graduate of Maryville College and of the Theological Department of Howard University, has consented to fill the place vacated by the death of Mr. Kemp, and he, with Mr. St. John, left America in October for the mission.
Three lads from the Mendi country are at school in America, one at Fisk University, and the others at Hampton Institute.
Early in December, Mr. Robt. Arthington, of Leeds, Eng., signified his readiness to pay over the £3,000 he had pledged as a nucleus, provided we would plant a mission on the Upper Nile. Already Dr. O. H. White, Secretary of the Freedmen’s Missions Aid Society of London, had made good progress in securing £3,000 additional to Mr. Arthington’s pledge for the same purpose. It was evident to us that the $30,000 asked for from Great Britain toward the $50,000 fund for this mission would be speedily made up. As we had pledged ourselves to furnish $20,000 on condition that we received in all from Great Britain $30,000, the question of the establishment of the mission directly was thrown upon us. We felt that the call to us was to go forward, and Mr. Ladd’s services were secured at the earliest day possible with a view to this necessity. As the plan of sending forward two men to look over the mission field, select a site for the station, and to determine what supplies and facilities would be needful for the mission, fully met Mr. Arthington’s view, we determined to send forward Mr. Ladd early in the autumn for the purpose mentioned. We were happy, also, in securing the services of a former parishioner of Mr. Ladd, Dr. E. E. Snow, a physician of much experience, to accompany him on his journey. These two brethren left New York in September. They had provided themselves with a valuable letter from Secretary Blaine, instructing the Consul General of the United States at Cairo to further their object as much as he might be able. On their way they purposed to procure letters of introduction from the English Government, hoping thereby to be assisted in making favorable arrangements with the Khedive of Egypt for transportation to the field of their destination, and also for the privilege of using a steamboat on the waters of the Upper Nile. Their plan of route will be to visit Cairo, and proceed from thence to Souakim, on the Red Sea; from this point they will pursue a camel route a distance of 240 miles to Berber, where they hope to find steamboat facilities for the remainder of their journey. The point which they seek to reach is about 1,500 miles in a direct line south of the Mediterranean and near the mouth of the Sobat, where the people are in the depth of barbarism. It is the hope of your Committee that Brothers Ladd and Snow will be able to return in early summer, at which time Dr. Snow will devote himself to procuring a suitable steamer for mission purposes on the Nile, and other supplies and facilities needful for the comfort and success of the enterprise. Supt. Ladd will devote himself to organizing a suitable corps of missionaries for the Arthington mission, two of whom are already under appointment, with a view of proceeding up the Nile next autumn to their field of labor. Our African work is not without its hazards, its embarrassments and inevitable discouragements. We believe, however, that the good tidings of great joy must be preached to the millions of newly-discovered peoples in Central Africa, and that the negro race with which we have so much to do has an urgent and imperative call in this direction. We accept, therefore, cheerfully and prayerfully, our part of the burden, trusting that the many friends of the long despised and forgotten Africans will sustain us by their prayers and by their contributions, while we go forward as the Lord opens the way, performing our tasks as best we are able until the day shall dawn.
THE INDIANS.
We believe that the Peace Policy of General Grant, which was continued by President Hayes, has been productive of great and lasting good to the Indians. Some infelicities have occurred between the Government representatives and those of the religious bodies having nominations intrusted to them, and these, together with other reasons, have served to diminish the interest once taken by the officials at Washington in the co-operation of the religious bodies. We have no wish to discuss the subject, nor to press upon the Administration the question of the continuance of the Peace Policy. We content ourselves, therefore, with giving a few statements relative to the Indian work under our care.
The general improvement of the Indians at the S’Kokomish Agency is indicated from the fact that the white employés, with the exception of the clerks, physicians, and those connected with the schools, have been discharged and their places filled by Indians. At this Agency, the long desired titles to their land have at last been granted to the Indians by the Government, and they have, therefore, additional inducements to become thrifty and make themselves homes. At Dunginess Station, where a few members of the S’Kokomish church reside, there is a church building, the only one in the county. This has been furnished recently with a bell and melodeon. An average attendance of forty on divine services at this point and of eighty at S’Kokomish is of much encouragement. Their gifts, also, to benevolent objects for the year, amounting to $614.67, indicate that the Indian may be counted upon to help on the world’s conversion. Good work has been done for Indians at Hampton and Carlisle, and we have the question under serious consideration of providing suitable accommodations for Indian youth in connection with other institutions.