The property of the mission here is on all sides acknowledged to be the finest on the island. It consists of a large tract of land, part of it well wooded, about a quarter of a mile wide and a mile long, running back from the Sherbro’ River or Sound, and commanding a fine view of its many beautiful islands, stretching across to the native town of Bendoo on the opposite side. The mission house, large and well built, the church and school-house, besides a large number of “fakis,” or groups of native huts, are on this land. The grounds in front of the mission house are neatly laid out with gravel walks and shrubbery, and extend to the river road skirting the bank, where lies the mission boat moored to its wharf. It may be truly said of this place, in the words of the grand old hymn, that
“Every prospect pleases
And only man is vile.”
The property was well enough, and there was work enough to be done among the dense native population settled upon or near it; but an ordained minister to be the pastor of the church, a married man, a man fully qualified for the great and responsible work, one after God’s own heart, earnest, energetic, efficient, spiritually minded, with a paramount love for the lost souls of his own people, was wanting. The good seed had been sown, but there was needed some one to harrow it in, nurture the growth and reap the harvest. In this extremity God raised up one who seems to be the right man for the place. Mr. Kemp is a graduate of Lincoln University, and ably represents the thorough and practical training of that institution. With his coming and installation as pastor, the struggling church took heart, and determined, forgetting those things which were behind, to press forward toward those better things which they believed were in store. The examination took place on Saturday evening, April 9th, and was well attended, and although Mr. Kemp was feeling somewhat unwell at the time he stood the long and searching fire of questions, theological, wise and otherwise, with credit to himself and with great satisfaction to the council, which, besides the “my-doxy” members, was composed of representatives of various shades of theological opinion. This fact indeed formed one of the pleasantest features of the council. Here in the midst of a heathenism rendered fouler and more corrupt by contact with an immoral civilization, and in a common work for a common Master and a common people, party names were wholly forgotten. One of the best and most earnest prayers that I have ever heard was offered on this occasion by an excellent brother of the Church Missionary Society, and he had no book before him or gown on his back. The ordination exercises on Sabbath morning were attended by a full house, while a deep sense of the solemnity of the hour seemed to pervade every heart. The Holy Spirit was manifestly present to sanctify the new relationship with the outpouring of His grace. As appropriate to the occasion, the third chapter of the First Epistle to Timothy was read. The sermon, full of earnestness and spiritual power, was preached by Brother Evans of the Shengay Mission. The charge to the people by Brother Jowett was partially historical, reviewing the course of the church in times past, and counseling sound wisdom for the future. Brother Nurse, who knew something of the wants of the field, gave the charge to the pastor; and Brother Jackson, of whose growing work at Avery Station a fuller account will be given at another time, as his co-worker in the mission, very feelingly gave his brother missionary the right hand of fellowship; while it was my privilege to offer the ordaining prayer. After the benediction, pronounced by their new pastor, the people, with tears of gladness in their eyes, flocked around him and his good wife, whom they had already learned to love, for a hearty hand-shaking, which, as some one has truly said, is also one of the means of grace. Can it be necessary, after this little glimpse, so hurriedly taken, of the hopeful relation just entered into, to ask the sympathy and prayers of all the friends of missions for the blessings of God to rest upon the new missionary and his work at Sherbro’ Island? He will have many trying hours in that dark land, where there are worse things to be feared and harder to be contended against than physical death. But the promises are his as well as ours, and unitedly we can plead them at the throne of grace. The promises of God include Africa.
FOOTNOTE:
[A] The location of Mr. Kemp was a matter of such importance, considering the fewness of the workers and the demands of the work, that it called for and received the most careful thought and attention. After considering the subject in its various bearings, and after duly consulting with all the persons concerned, it was finally decided to station Mr. Kemp and his wife at Good Hope.