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Photographed from an Oil Painting in the possession of Mrs. Weeks
THE
FINISHED COURSE:
BRIEF NOTICES
OF DEPARTED CHURCH MISSIONARIES.
WITH A PREFACE
BY THE REV. ©. F. CHILDE, M.A. |
RECTOR OF HOLBROOK, SUFFOLK.
“T count not my life dear unto myself so that I might finish my course
' with joy.”— Acts xx. 24.
‘“‘T have finished my course.”—2 Tim. iii. 7.
SEELEY, JACKSON, AND HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET.
LONDON, MDCCCLXY.
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PREFACE.
To the friends of the Church Missionary Society much
that is contained in the following pages will be per-
fectly familiar.
And yet these, if I mistake not, will be the class, and
especially its readers in Africa, for whom the volume
will have the deepest interest.
My own perusal of it has led me to realize, more
than ever before, the high honour which God has put
upon the Society, in’ providing it with agents of such
a truly Apostolic spirit.
Well do I remember the time when the Gaiacntehtae
were severely censured for sanctioning such a lavish
sacrifice of valuable life as was then involved in a
Mission to Sierra Leone. Again and again, did one
hear the old inquiry revived,—in spirit, if not in terms,
—“ To what purpose is this waste ?”
But was this the tone of the Missionaries themselves ?
6942
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vi PREFACE.
Did they begrudge the sacrifice they made? How truly
heroic the reply which we gather from the lips of each
and all!
Hear, for example, the sainted Johnson :—
“Ah, who would not be a Missionary to Africa?
- Had I ten thousand lives, I would willingly
offer them up for the sake of one poor negro.” And
again, when about to re-embark, after a short visit to
England :—“ The climate, it is true, is still very un-
healthy ; and some of my dearest friends and brethren
in the Lord have fallen victims to it, since my depar-
ture. But, by the grace of God, ‘none of these things
move me. Iam ready to go to’ Sierra Leone, and ‘die
for the name of the Lord Jesus,’”
So, when the veteran Nylander had lost a fellow-
helper, taken from him after one short fortnight :—
“Be not discouraged,” he writes to the Committee,
“neither be ye dismayed, for it is the Lord’s battle
we are fighting, and we are conquering, even when
falling.”
At another time, under similar circumstances <—
‘Let us not be discouraged. Africa must be gained
for the Lord Jesus Christ. He will see of the travail of
His soul yet, though ever so many of His servants die.”
Not a whit behind, in the intrepidity of their faith,
or the devotedness of their love, are “those holy
women also,” whose names so deservedly occupy a
prominent place in these sketches.
‘‘ After all,” writes the widowed Mrs. Palmer,
i See pee oper pe ne A te eigenen Be a ip HONORA Tre tae ae ~ cee ; pee = ree eee - PINE Caer ONT OR ANT OTERO a a I anette cera ah i AOR a a et rete
- | | PREFACE. vii
| 7 ‘though this (Sierra Leone) may be styled the land
| ( of death, it is a land of blessedness.”
i Another mourner, Mrs. Schemel, breathes a kindred
spirit of constancy. “I have now lived one year in
| _ Africa ; eight months of which I have been a widow.
My friends have expected me home for some time
Hf past ; but I cannot resolve to leave until I find it
impossible to remain.”
Mrs. Smith, whose “course” was “finished” in twenty-
two short days, said to her husband on her death-bed,
“ Never once think I repent of coming here with you.
Far, far from it; my desire is still as strong as ever
to spend and be spent in bringing the heathen to the
knowledge of their Saviour.” Her only fear seemed
to be lest her death should discourage others, or damp
her husband’s zeal.
And was not the spectacle a grand one, when Mrs.
Schon, just. before speech failed, summoned all her
remaining strength to say to her husband and to the
other Missionaries gathered around her bed, “Go on
preaching ; go on preaching ” ?
Surely we may exclaim, as we read of instances such
as these—‘“‘ The age of chivalry is’ not ‘gone.’ The
Church has her own consecrated chivalry,—her own
true Legion of Honour !”
Bare admiration, however, should not be the only
effect produced on the minds of those who, though
‘“tarrying at home,” are permitted to “divide the
spoil.’ |
a i gc ei a a
ttt
Vill PREFACE.
If the holy Bishop Vidal felt constrained to exclaim,
with his last breath, “I am ashamed to die when I
have done so little for my Saviour,” surely we ought
to be prompted to great searchings of heart, to deep
humiliation, and to earnest, yet self-renouncing resolve,
as those who believe that, with reference, emphatically,
to the work of Missions, the witness is true which says,
“Up to its utmost limits, power means duty. Whatever
we can do, we ought to do.” Coe
Hotprook ReEcrory,
March, 1865.
Should this simple attempt to set forth the grace of
God, as exhibited in the lives and deaths of some
modern Missionaries, find acceptance with Christian
readers, the compiler would feel encouraged to offer
another series, the materials for which are already
collected.
val ~ 7 —— FRE RS cE I EIT CO BA BF MBAR SAD OLE SE DTN AIO sir aA as so
ow A TTS eR ce HT Orme hp SS TO Te ea SS ies Nei am wa
g% i a A a TS TE AED SNS SS i Na A AST AE NE PTT ih
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| /
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i
fl CONTENTS.
WESTERN AFRICA.—PART I.
PAGE
Ten ev. Faroe anp Mans Vaerwie) . 6 oo 1
Ruy. Gustavus R. NvLANpEr 6 SOM enin aPC eN Ty’
Rev. Witu1am GAaRNoNn (Freetown, Sierra Leone) . . +44
Rev. Witttam AvcusTINE BERNARD Jonyson (Regent,
er E Cmaa yO okt ai dae cadclinura sa core ei DD te ia
Rev. Henry Dirine (Gloucester, Sierra Leone) . . . 84
Rev. Henry Brooks anp Rev. Cuarites Knicut (Re-
gent and Gloucester, Sierra Leone) . . . . . . 108
| Rev. HENRY AND Mrs. PALMER (Freetown, Sierra Leone) 119
. Mr. AND Mrs. VaucHAN. Mr. AND Mrs. Bunver i
| CP recioeray Siege Detail eg og OL Ok a Niele |
| ; MALTA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN. |
i i
| } Hay. 1) CO. Damen (2a he Ce Ce a hie
Mrs. Jowett (Malia) . SAN Ss CURIOUS Ge
Rev. C. Kieier (Abyssinia) . eee aa hal ta ue grite aot a
Fs OI te IN RE CaS a oN, Sn
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EAST AFRICA.
Mrs. Krapr (Mombas)
Rev. CurisTIAN PFErrere (Rabbai Mpia)
WESTERN AFRICA.—PART II.
Mr. anp Mrs. Van Cooren (Badagry) .
Rev. R. C. anp Mrs. Patry (Abbeokuta)
Rev. G. F. Grersr (Lagos)
Rev.d. 7. Kuper (loadin).
THE CHURCHYARD OF KissEy (Sverra Leone) .
THE BrisHors GF SIERRA LEONE .
PAGE
213.
231
WESTERN AFRICA.—PART L | L
I. REV, PETER AND MRS. HARTWIG.
II. REV. GUSTAVUS REINHOLD NYLANDER.
Ill. REV. WILLIAM GARNON. 7 \
IV. REV. W. AUGUSTINE B, JOHNSON. |
V. REV. HENRY DURING.
VI. REV. HENRY BROOKS.
REV. CHARLES KNIGHT. |
VII. REV. WILLIAM AND MRS. PALMER. |
i 4 VIII. MR. AND MRS. PHILIP VAUGHAN. |
it MR. AND MRS. JAMES BUNYER.
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THE
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THE REV. PETER AND MRS, HARTWIG.
Mr. Hartwig sailed March 8th, 1804. Died March 1st, 1815.
Mrs. Hartwig sailed March 8th, 1804. Died April 30th, 1815.
‘* He restoreth my soul.”—Psalm xxiii. 3.
*“She hath done what she could.”—St. Mark xiv. 8.
Society! Who were they? Their names are
gett! known to few. ‘They are seldom, if ever
mentioned now. Yet “their record ison high.”
But who were they? The best and noblest of the
Church’s sons? The most eminent and attractive of
her home ministers? Well, indeed, might these have
coveted the high distinction of being pioneers to “ the
noble army” of Missionaries who have since entered the
field to do battle for their Lord against the kingdom
of the prince of this world. But it was not so. Not
one English clergyman could be found to obey the
Saviour’s last charge, to “preach His Gospel to the
B.
2 THE FINISHED COURSE,
end of the earth. Nay, more, not one Hnglishman, fit
to be trained for the work, would offer himself to the
newly formed Church Missionary Society.!
Under these circumstances the Church of England
turned her eyes to Germany, and there she found that
the God of Missions had provided the men who were to
supply her “lack of service.” An Institution had been
_ established at Berlin for the express purpose of training
young men for foreign Missionary work. Candidates
were there, ready and willing to go forth, but the poor
Church of Germany lacked the money to send them.
The richer Church of England (richer in money, not in
zeal) had the means but not the men.
Such being the case, the Church Missionary Society
at once entered into correspondence with that at Berlin ;
and the venerable Mr. Jeenické, the Inspector of the
Missionary Institution, thus beautifully replied to the
Committee :—
“The respected Missionary Society may, according
to the favour bestowed upon us by the Lord, hove
to be provided in future with candidates from our
_ Seminary. |
“ Oh, my most respected and beloved brother! we | |
adore our Saviour, who has dealt so graciously with us.
We have often thought, How shall we, poor, impotent j
children, contrive to send our brethren to Africa, or to \
Asia? If we had three or four fit to be sent from :
the Seminary, their outfit and passage might perhaps |
cost us two thousand rix-dollars, and where should
_ (1) The Church Missionary Society was formed in 1799. Its first Mis-
sionaries sailed, five years afterwards, in 1804.
7
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tas Sa eigen Sa rene SE SS
THE REV. PETER AND MRS. HARTWIG. 3
that money come from? But now, O merciful Saviour,
Thou givest us an opening and answerest our doubts
about the expenses. Thou appointest us to be Thy
poor day-labourers, assistants to other of the chosen
ones. We are to deliver up to them the youths whom
Thou wilt send into Thy vineyard, and they will,
according to Thy direction, provide the rest. O! how
unsearchable are Thy ways!”
At the close of 1802, the two first candidates chosen
by the Berlin Society arrived in England. The elder
of these, Melchior Renner, was about thirty years of
age. He was a native of Wiirtemburg, and proved
himself (as so many of his successors from that zealous
little kingdom have also done) an earnest, devoted,
untiring labourer, seldom elated by success, and as
seldom cast down amidst the many disappointments
and discouragements which marked his course. The
younger, Peter Hartwig, was a Prussian, very different
in character, and far more lively, active, and energetic.
The whole of the year 1803 was spent by the Mis-
sionary candidates in this country. It was employed
in learning English, and in becoming acquainted with
the institutions of the land of their adoption, but more
especially in laying the foundation of a knowledge of
the language of the Soosoo district, the part of Africa in
which their labours were to commence.
During this year, the young and ardent Prussian
succeeded in winning the affections of a devoted
Christian Englishwoman, who was willing to go with
him, and to share for the Lord’s sake the dangers and
hardships of the first African Mission. At the close of
Ba
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4 THE FINISHED COURSE.
the year, Mr. Renner and Mr. Hartwig paid a visit of a
few weeks to Germany, where they received ordination
in the Lutheran Church, and took a last farewell ot
friends whom they were never to see again. On their
return to England, Mr. Hartwig claimed his bride, and
the three departing Missionaries were solemnly com-
mended to the grace of God in a meeting of the
Committee and friends of Missions.
That first “Dismissal Meeting” of the Church
Missionary Society ! What a memorable season it must
have been! A day of mingled thankfulness and humi-
liation, of hope and of fear. Its date was January
31st, 1804. How it must have recalled that first dis-
missal meeting of the Christian Church, nearly 1800
years before, at Antioch, when the first foreign Mis-
sionaries from a Gentile Church were “set apart unto
the work to which the Holy Ghost had called them.”
Then the Missionaries were the “pillars” of the
Church, the most loved and eminent of her pastors ;
but now, of the three sent forth, two were unproved
_ foreigners, and the third a weak woman. Still, the
venerable founders of the Society knew that it is just
the weak and feeble instruments that the Almighty
God most often chooses, and, accordingly, they dis-
missed them in prayerful hope. We gather from his
journal that the sainted Martyn was present in that
assembly, and deeply affected by its proceedings. He
was on the point of departing for the East,—they for
the West ; how soon to meet again !
The “Instructions of the Committee ” were delivered
by the beloved and honoured Secretary, the Rey. Josiah
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THE REV. PETER AND MRS. HARTWIG. 5)
Pratt. They are to be found printed, in full, in the
early records of the Society, but are too long to be
copied here. The concluding words are these :—
“ “Finally, brethren, farewell; be perfect, be of good
comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God
of love and peace shall be with you.’ Let it both
encourage and stimulate you, that many fervent prayers
will follow you to the place of your destination, and
accompany you in your labours. May our God grant
you this ‘grace that you may preach among the Gentiles
the unsearchable riches of Christ! May we hear of
your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one
mind striving together for the hope of the Gospel!’
May the Almighty arm of your Saviour defend you,
and may His Spirit sanctify, guide, and comfort you ;
and, although we never more should, meet in this
world, may we meet you, accompanied by many fruits
of your ministry, at the right hand of our Heavenly
Father, and unite together in returning praise to Him
who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in His
own blood!”
One extract from the reply of the Missionaries will
be sufficient to show the spirit in which they were
entering on their labours :—
“ We are conscious of our utter insufficiency for the
great work which lies before us, but we desire to look
to our Divine Master for health and guidance. Should
it please God in His wisdom to thwart, in any degree,
our sanguine hopes and expectations, yet still we trust
that we shall not be discouraged, but rely upon the
unchangeable promise of Him who cannot lie, and
6 THE FINISHED COURSE.
believe that bread cast upon the waters shall be found
after many days. We earnestly commend ourselves to
the prayers of the Society, that God may grant us
health, may open to us a suitable station among the
heathen, and enable us to speak boldly the truths of
His Gospel to perishing sinners, and to persevere even
unto the end.” |
The Missionaries were “ accompanied unto the ship”
by the Assistant Secretary. For some days the wind
was unfavourable, and they were detained at Ports-
mouth ; but at length it changed, and on March 8th,
1804, they sailed for the pestilential coast of Western
| Africa, “not counting their lives dear unto them, so
! that they might jinish their course with joy.”
On their voyage they had a narrow escape of being
captured by a French privateer, but God preserved
them, and they landed safely at Freetown, the capital
of Sierra Leone, after a pleasant voyage of only thirty-
seven days.! |
The life of the faithful, diligent, devoted Renner is
At
(1) Though Sierra Leone is a ‘‘ household word”’ in the lips of the friends
of Missions, a name dear to many a Christian heart, and breathed in many
a fervent prayer, its situation and peculiarities may not be known to all.
It is a British colony on the western coast of Africa, where the negroes,
liberated by English cruisers from slave-ships, are landed. The peninsula
is about twenty-six miles long by twelve broad; on it are gathered about
70,000 people, from nearly one hundred different tribes in the interior of |
i Africa. Though each tribe preserves its own native language, English is
i the general medium of communication with each other, and with the
missionaries.
Freetown is the eapital ; there are besides several clusters of villages,
some of them quickly rising into towns. On the River are Kissey, Wel-
lington, Hastings, and Waterloo. Among the beautiful Mountains of the
interior, are the well-known Regent, and Gloucester, Bathurst, and Char-
lotte. In the Sea district are Kent and York.
A ORO ES I ELIE
|
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_ “enim! a ees. : z
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THE REV. PETER AND MRS. HARTWIG. 7
imperishably written in the records of the West African
Mission. For more than seventeen years he laboured un-
remittingly. When driven from one station, he formed
another. War, fever, fire, discouragement, disappoint-
ment, the death of brethren all around, daunted not
his calm courage, nor checked his quiet yet heroic —
toil. At length, quite worn out, he entered into rest,
September 9th, 1821.
We will now trace the shorter courses of his young
companions.
On their arrival, they remained for some time at
Freetown, employing their time in becoming better
acquainted with the language and customs of the
people, and hoping to become inured to the climate
while waiting for an opening to commence a Mission
in the Soosoo country. But fever came, that dreaded
country fever, of which they had been forewarned in
their ‘ Instructions.” For more than six months, they
languished under repeated attacks, at one time being
brought to the very brink of the grave. Weary
months they were of weakness, pain, and depression,
and yet brightened with the presence of their Lord.
Mr. Hartwig suffered most. In September, 1804, he
writes: “I am hardly able to hold the pen with my
exhausted hand .... Fever has weakened me so much
that I can hardly walk, but I desire to bless God my
Salvation for it; for when the fever was over, and I
had presence of mind enough, I spent many a blessed
hour with Him in conversing upon my sinful heart, my
circumstances, and my poor mortal frame; and thus
the Holy Spirit taught me some useful lessons, which
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8 THE FINISHED COURSE.
I humbly trust will not only be profitable to my own
soul, but to others also, if I live and put them into
practice by divine mercy.”
It was not until early in the year 1805 that Mr.
Hartwig was well enough to start for the Rio Pongas, a
river about 100 miles north of the colony of Sierra
Leone, to look out for a suitable place in which to com-
mence a Mission among the Soosoos living on its banks.
He returned in May, having collected much valuable in-
formation, which eventually led to the establishment of
the first missionary settlement there. But scarcely had
he rejoined his wife at Freetown, full of bright plans
for the future, when both were again laid low by fever.
The rainy season of that year (1805) was unusually
severe, and the health of the Missionaries suffered -
in proportion. Month after month they struggled
against repeated attacks of illness. When the year
closed, Mr. Hartwig was better, but his wife was so
utterly prostrate, that an immediate return to England
seemed the only means of preserving her life. Her
husband was on the point of starting on another ex-
ploring expedition, and as the noble woman would not
hinder him in the work in which she had come to help
him, she determined to take the voyage alone.
She left him, doubtful whether she should ever
_ reach England alive, yet more doubtful whether, if
spared to return, she should find him living. It must
have cost her far more than to have remained and died
with him ; but she believed it to be her duty, and she
did not shrink from it. As we follow the history, we
shall be tempted to wish that she had decided other-
i,
THE REV. PETER AND MRS. HARTWIG. a
wise, for then the sad sequel might have been very
different. But we must remember that God over-rules
the mistakes and even the sins of His servants, and
so, perhaps, the dark page we are about to record has
proved, and may yet prove, a useful warning to others,
who “think they stand.”
Mrs. Hartwig sailed for England, and her husband -
proceeded on his tour, of which he forwarded a full and
deeply interesting account to the Committee at home.
So passed the year 1806. The Missionaries mean-
while, were cheered by the arrival of brethren from
England. The way seemed opening for the establish-
ment of a definite Missionary station outside the colony.
Mrs. Hartwig’s health was rapidly recovering, and she
was eagerly looking forward to rejoin her husband, and
assist In more direct work than had hitherto been per-
mitted to her. There seemed at last some openings in
the dark clouds, through which bright gleams of hope
shone forth.
But the clouds gathered again, and more heavily than
before. A blow, the hardest that could have fallen,
descended on the devoted wife. Just as she was about
to start for Africa, tidings reached her that her husband’s
conduct was such as to compel the Society to disown
him, and to render it impossible for her to return.!
A crushing blow indeed it was! News of his death
(1) We cannot here enter into particulars. Suffice it tosay, that in conse-
quence of a dispute, trifling in itself, as to seniority, the impetuous Prussian
left his brethren. Pride hindered his return, even when he saw himself to
be in the wrong: then, feeling himself an outcast, in that foreign land, the
enemy of souls and of Missions led him on, step by step, to engage in
almost the only work that Europeans then attempted in Africa. The poor
fallen Missionary himself took a part in the slave-trade.
SS Se
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10 THE FINISHED COURSE.
would have been far less painful. But this noble
Christian woman did not sink under it, as so many
would have done. She procured a situation, in which
she was able to maintain herself without being a
burden on the slender income of the Missionary Society.
There she waited (actively and usefully employed, but
still warteng), in faith and hope, till she should hear of
her husband’s return to his forsaken Lord, to his work,
and to her. |
Seven long years she waited, but still her faith and
hope and love failed not. She seems never to have
lost the firm confidence that her prayers would be heard.
There is no record of those years of patient waiting and
lowly service, but the eye of the Master in Heaven was
on her, to own and to bless.
His eye, too, was on the backslider, never for a
moment (as he afterwards confessed) allowing him to
be given up to a seared conscience. Seven wretched
years they were, spent in wandering from place to place,
from tribe to tribe; often very ill and weak in body,
but far more miserable in mind, and exposed to name-
less hardships, privations, and sufferings.
At length he was utterly bowed down, and, in humble.
penitence, returned to the God who is “ready to par-
don.” Next, he begged to be allowed once more to
engage in the work he had so hindered. He implored
forgiveness of the Committee, and an opportunity of
proving the sincerity of his repentance in any depart-
ment of the work, however humble. The Committee
wisely declined to receive him as Missionary, till, by
a course of consistent conduct, he should have re-
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THE REV. PETER AND MRS. HARTWIG. EE
established his character in Africa, and removed the
reproach which his past life had reflected on the
cause of God.
Still, they kindly gave him some employment, at
once useful and honourable. In his wanderings he
had acquired a fair knowledge of the Soosoo language ;
he was, therefore, stationed at Gambia, to be occupied
in the translation of the Scriptures.
As soon as his heroic wife heard these long-looked-
for tidings, she at once gave up the situation in which
she was. living in ease and comfort, beloved and
valued by all around her, and prepared once more to
encounter the perils of that deadly climate, that she
might be able to confirm her husband’s new resolutions,
strengthen his faith, nurse him in sickness, and comfort
him in shame and remorse.
Just before she started, a letter reached England
from her old friend, Mr. Renner, who had just visited
his former fellow-worker, and thus feelingly and
touchingly describes his state :—
‘Mr. Hartwig showed me five chapters of St. John’s
Gospel translated into Soosoo. He is to go on with
the work; and if new love to Christ constrain him,
he will preach or teach the unsearchable riches of
Christ, and the abundant mercy of God ; which sparing
mercy, and, we trust, saving grace followed him, even
in the rough and crooked ways of the last years, and
have wounded and scourged his conscience so severely,
that it seems there is no soundness from the sole of
the foot even to the head, but wounds, and bruises,
and putrifying sores, which have not, as yet, finally
i ae 7 ¥ <
12 THE FINISHED COURSE.
been closed, neither bound up, so as to leave no pangs
behind ; neither mollified with the holy ointment of
the comforting Spirit. He labours under spiritual and
bodily infirmities. But we know that Christ can cure
him, and we will believe that He will cure him of
both.”
A little band of Missionaries was to sail for Africa |
at the close of the year (1814) and Mrs. Hartwig gladly
embraced the opportunity of travelling in their company.
Again she was present at a dismissal meeting:
again commended by the Church to the grace of God.
With what different feelings, under what changed cir-
cumstances ! ,
The departing Missionaries were addressed by the
Rev. Daniel Wilson,! in the church of St. Bride’s ; and
in the afternoon of the same day (Nov. 10th, 1814), the
instructions of the Committee were delivered to them
at the Society’s house.
It is impossible to forego the pleasure of extracting,
both from the sermon and the instructions, those pas-
sages more immediately referring to Mrs. Hartwig.
Mr. Wilson thus addresses her :—
“You, my respected sister, who are now returning,
under peculiar circumstances, to the country from which
your state of health required you to retire, be assured
you share our tenderest sympathy, and shall have the
benefit of our most fervent prayers. We enter into all
your feelings. We commend you to the grace and
compassion of that Saviour who raised the weeping
Mary from His feet. We implore God to endue you
(1) Late Bishop of Calcutta
THE REV. PETER AND MRS. HARTWIG. Le
with the peculiar consolations of His Spirit. May you
adorn your Christian profession with the meekness and
quietness of spirit which, in the sight of God, is of great
price. May those tender virtues which are the orna-
‘ment of the female character make you an example to
the unhappy women whom you will behold—ignorant,
degraded, and oppressed—on every side of you. May
you look back with pleasure throughout your future
life on the transaction of this day, when, like the holy
women of old, you have come forward to minister to
the necessities of the Church, and to present, with a
trembling hand, under discouragement and _ sorrow,
your tribute of service at the footstool of that Redeemer
who will not fail to smile on your efforts, and accept
your offering of love. . ...
“Finally, my Christian brethren, we commend you to
God, and to the word of His grace. Under all removes,
all dangers, all distresses, there is an Hye before which
there is no difference of place, but all lies in boundless
incomprehensible prospect. There is an Arm by which
all nature is held together, and to which everything is
equally easy. To that Eye, to that Arm, we commend
you. ‘To the Omnipotent Jehovah we confidently en-
trust you. To that Almghty Father, who spared not
His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all; to that
Adorable Saviour, who hath purchased His Church with
His own blood ; to that Eternal Spirit, the Comforter,
who sanctifieth us, and all the elect people of God ; we
solemnly devote you, in your bodies and in your souls,
fervently praying that in every future moment of emer-
gency, While separate one from each other, the last
14 THE FINISHED COURSE.
consoling accents of the Lord Jesus Christ may animate
and revive your hearts, ‘Zo, J am with you always,
even unto the end of the world.”
The animating words of the Committee were :—
“We address you, Mrs. Hartwig, with sincere sym-
pathy in your past trials, and in those feelings which
cannot. but be awakened by your present undertaking.
Be assured of our unfailing regard, and of our earnest
prayer that your faith and hope may receive a full
reward. Your husband invites your return: he pro-
fesses contrition for the past, and he declares his
anxiety to labour, during his remaining days, under
that Society whose service he had forsaken: he invites
you to render him your aid. We could not venture to
advise you; all we could do was to assure you of our
utmost readiness to further your wishes, if you should
determine to sacrifice your present comforts in order to
make yourself an offering on the altar of faith. You
have determined in the spirit of the holy women of old
time! Go forth, then, leaning upon the Omnipotent
Arm of your Heavenly Master. Good is designed for
Africa. May you largely contribute to it by becoming
the instrument of fixing your husband as an humble
and patient labourer in the work of the Lord !”
Mrs. Hartwig acknowledged the instruction in the
following beautiful letter :—
‘“‘ GENTLEMEN,—Having just arrived from York, in
this morning’s mail, time will not permit me to say
much on the subject of my return to Africa.
“T desire to express my unfeigned and heartfelt
eratitude to Almighty God, who, in His mercy and
THE REY. PETER AND MRS. HARTWIG. 15
long-suffering, hath been pleased to reclaim Mr. Hart-
wig and bring him back to the service of the Mission.
As a wife, I am bound to hasten to his assistance in
the glorious work ; and though I seem to be going out
more from a sense of duty to him than from fervour and
zeal for the cause of the Africans, yet I hope and trust
that this spirit will be kindled in my breast, and that
I shall not count my life dear so that I may be the
honoured instrument of leading them to the Lamb of
God which taketh away the sins of the world. Should
sickness, pining sickness, overtake me, as it has formerly
done on the coast of Africa, it would probably be right
that I should again return to this country. ... . I go,
or desire to go, leaning only on the Arm of Omnipotence,
knowing that the Lord is my refuge, and that He will
never leave nor forsake me. If I am enabled to assist
Mr. Hartwig in the noble work in which we at first
embarked, all will be well; and while I would humble
myself in the sight of my Divine Master for His
having chosen me to be the feeble instrument of
diffusing good among the poor, dear Africans, I would
desire to give Him all the glory.” |
The missionary party embarked at Deal on November
30th, on board the Wilding. They had scarcely reached
Plymouth, when unfavourable winds sprang up, which
detained them three weeks. We can imagine how
long the delay would seem to the eager wife. How-
ever, after they had fairly started, they had a pleasant
voyage, though once in great danger. When passing
the Canary Isles (January 17th) a violent gale was
blowing, and they narrowly escaped being run down
16 THE FINISHED COURSE.
by another vessel. But the “Hye of their God was
over” them, and they arrived in safety at Sierra Leone,
February 13th, 1815.
Very gladly were they welcomed by the Missionaries
there. Mrs. Hartwig was pressed at once to open a
school for the neglected children of the settlers. But
her first duty was to her afflicted husband. The tidings
of his health which met her on landing were even
more alarming than she had feared, and be was daily
expected to return to the colony from Gambia. How
anxiously she watched for his arrival! At length the
vessel came in, about a week after her own. landing ;
and just after sunset on Wednesday evening, Feb-
ruary 22d, the poor sick man was borne ashore, utterly
weak and helpless, in the last stage of dropsy. What
a meeting it was! We can imagine it; it is impos-
sible to describe it. |
Tenderly his wife welcomed him, and patiently she
nursed him, but she soon saw that she had arrived only
in time to stand by his deathbed, and to close his eyes.
For a little while he seemed much revived by the
joy of seeing her again; and, though so weak (his
bones cutting through his skin), was hopeful and
cheerful. His poor wife touchingly dwells on the
delight with which he took food from her hand when
too ill to feed himself, and on the humble, loving
conversations he had with her. He was most anxious
to recover, that he might show forth in is life his
gratitude for God’s forgiving love, by giving himself
up entirely to His service. But, on Friday, the doctor
plainly told Mrs. Hartwig that he could only alleviate,
Sa Ee eae
ee ey 2
Sg a a aS
eSse= 5
THE REV. PETER AND MRS. HARTWIG. 17
he could not cure, the disease ; it was beyond remedy.
On Sunday, they received the Lord’s Supper together.
It was a solemn time. A little company of six gathered
in the chamber of death. There were the three who
had sailed together, so full of hope and zeal, just
eleven years before. Here they met once more. How
changed! The youngest and brightest and strongest
lay dying. His wife was worn by sickness and sorrow.
The faithful, patient Renner was the least altered,
though eleven years of toil in that fearful climate had
set their mark even on him. Two younger Missionaries
were there, and a pious old black woman, one of the
first-fruits of Africa to Christ; and so, around that
dying bed, they partook together of the memorials of
their Lord’s redeeming love.
The dying man was overcome, and wept aloud. He
spoke of his past departure from the faith, and_ yet
gratefully acknowledged the love which had never given
him up to a hardened heart, but had followed him
through all his wanderings. He asked his wife to read
Psalm exlii. which he said exaetly described his case.
Strikingly applicable indeed it was. ‘ When my spirit
was overwhelmed within me, Thou knewest my path....
Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low.”...
The next two days of failing and sinking were yet
days of rest and peace. He could, notwithstanding
all the past, humbly look to God as his Father, his
reconciled Father, in Christ Jesus; and, whenever
tempted to doubt, would dwell on those precious
words, “The Lamb of God which taketh away the
sins of the world.”
C
18 THE FINISHED COURSE.
He died on Wednesday morning, March Ist, 1815,
worn out at the age of thirty-four. It was less than a
week after his arrival, but that week more than repaid
his devoted wife for all she had given up and all she
had risked in returning to Africa. Her letter to the Com-
mittee, announcing his death, breathed more of thank-
fulness than of sorrow—thankfulness that she had been
permitted to see him once more on earth, and to hear,
from those loved lips, of the sure hope which cheered
his dying bed.
Yes ; though a mourning widow in a strange ieee she
was ee a widow in heart than for many a long year past!
And now no thought of a return to her comfortable
home in England entered her mind. At once ghe
began to do what she could for poor Africa. In a very
short time she had gathered around her thirty poor
ignorant little ones, and earnestly and diligently began
to teach them. She soon won their warm love, and
already. her patient instruction and influence was
telling on her wild little scholars. That little school
was beginning to be one of the brightest, most hopeful
spots in the Mission.
But her course was finished. The Master seemed
just to have allowed her to begin this work for Him,
to prove that it was “in her heart,” and then go
graciously called His long-tried servant home. In two
months after she had rejoined her husband in that
land of death, she was called to follow him to the
land of endless life.
A short illness of four days, from yellow fever, was
the messenger to summon her home.
EL LIDAR IE EE A TY =
THE REV. PETER AND MRS, HARTWIG. 19
On the Monday evening previous to her death, she
took tea with Mr. and Mrs. Butscher, two dear Mis-
sionary friends. It was a pleasant gathering, for her
fellow-passengers in the Wilding, Mr. Sperrhaken and
his young wife, were also there. They had come over
from their solitary station on the Bullom shore, to
spend a few days in the colony. Mrs. Hartwig was then
quite well, and continued so through the next day.
On Wednesday morning she was, as usual, actively
employed in her school till eleven o’clock. Then she
felt unwell, and dismissed the children,
She had given them her last lesson.
Soon she sent for Mr. Butscher. He was much
occupied, and could not come at once, but sent his
wife. Mrs. Butscher found her friend a little feverish,
but apparently with no symptoms to excite alarm, and
seems to have tried to cheer and rouse her. But
Mrs. Hartwig had a strong presentiment that her sick-
hess was unto death, and said to Mrs. Butscher that
she wished immediately to settle all her temporal
affairs, as she knew, by experience, that the mind
might become clouded after an hour or two of fever.
And she was right. When Mr. Butscher visited her in
the afternoon, the fever had gained such height that she
could speak but little. Look to J esus,” was his ex-
hortation to his suffering sister. “You have enjoyed
His goodness, His mercy, His gracious consolations so
many years—trust Him still. “My headache ig go
violent,” was her touching reply, “T can hardly think of
anything, but I trust the Lord will not depart from me,
even though I cannot hold to Him.”. These were among
C2
— = en
20 THE FINISHED COURSE.
her last conscious words; delirium set in, and continued,
with scarcely any intermission, the next three days.
Mrs. Butscher could not herself nurse her dying
sister ; for her own two little babes needed her at home ;
but Mr. Butscher happily found a woman who had
tended her, when ill with fever ten years before, and
who gladly and faithfully nursed her to the last.
We know but little of her last hours ; her Missionary
brother and sister visited her frequently, but she was
unable to speak, being, as she herself had expected, con-
stantly delirious. Still, we need not know how she
died ; we know how she lived, and we know that the
Lord, whom she had served, would stand very near
His servant in her hour of mortal agony.
On Sunday morning, either she or the nurse sent for
Mr. Butscher ; he could not then come, for he was in
the church, just commencing the morning service. That
day it was lengthened by three baptisms, so that more
than two hours passed before he could obey the sum-
mons. Directly the congregation was dismissed, he
hastened to her bedside, but the hand of death was
already upon her. He knelt, and commended the de-
parting spirit to God, and, almost as he concluded, she
fell asleep, at ten minutes before one o clock, April 30th,
1815.
On the next day, a aroup of weeping children followed
her remains to the grave; their tearful eyes telling how
completely, in those short weeks, she had won their
affection.
And so she rests from her a and. sorrows !
“ She has finished her course with joy.”
AR ea
REV. GUSTAVUS R. NYLANDER1
Sailed Feb. 12th, 1806. Died May 23d, 1825.
‘“‘ That both he that soweth, and he that reapeth may rejoice together. ’”"—
St. John iv. 37,
Ba MONG the earliest Missionaries of the Church
Wakayn| Missionary Society, was the Rev. G. Nylander.
Sars His name stands first among the second little
oa of labourers sent out to Western Africa, then
their only station ; and he proved himself well worthy
of the distinction.
A complete sketch of the life of this devoted, inde-
fatigable Missionary, would involve the whole history
of the Mission to the Bullom Shore, which he com-
menced, and carried on, almost single-handed, until it
was given up. Nothing more than a mere outline of
his course can be attempted.
He was a native of Poland. We know nothing of
his early life ; it would seem that he had reached the
age of twenty-five before devoting himself to foreign
missionary work, or, at any rate, before entering upon
direct preparation for it in the Institution at Berlin.
(1) Bullom Shore, Kissey, W. Africa.
oo THE FINISHED COURSE.
But even when this first step was taken, there re-
mained one great difficulty in his path. The Missionary
Society of his own country was unable, through want of
funds, to send him forth, and it was doubtful whether
he would not be obliged to give up the hope of going.
However, the Master, who was beckoning him forward,
made his way clear before him. It was just at this time
that the Berlin Society received the offer from that of
the Church of England, to adopt as their agents, and to
send out to their first Mission in West Africa, any
young men who were ready and fitted for the work.
We have seen how thankfully this offer was accepted
by the heads of the Seminary at Berlin. It was as
gladly hailed by the waiting students. They thus
refer to it in after years :—
“We stood idle in the market-place, looking up to
our Divine Master that he would open to us a door ;
and, blessed be His holy name, through the benevolence
of British Christians, He has done so.”
The next three years Mr. Nylander spent in the
Seminary at Berlin, studying under the auspices of
the Church Missionary Society, along with his friends
Mr. Butscher and Mr. Prasse. At the end of that time,
the three fellow-students received ordination in the
Lutheran Church, and at once proceeded to England,
where they arrived August 19th, 1805. The re-
mainder of that year was spent in study in England,
under the direction of the Committee, and in perfect-
ing themselves in English. Very dear were the friend-
ships formed between these simple-minded, devoted
young German brethren, and the venerable fathers of
REV. GUSTAVUS REINHOLD NYLANDER. 23
the Missionary Society, but at length the time for
parting came. 7
On January 13th, 1806, the friends of Missions once
more collected to “commend to the grace of God,” the
; second band of Missionaries. It was an occasion on
which their faith was, if possible, more sorely tested
| than at the former Dismissal meeting. Two years had
| | passed since the first labourers had gone forth, and
hitherto they had seen but little fruit. The Missionaries
had suffered from repeated and severe sickness, and
[ though they had sent home tidings of a hopeful
opening in the Soosoo country, they had, as yet, been
unable to occupy it. But neither the Committee’ nor
the departing Missionaries were daunted; they knew
they were on the “ Lord’s side,” and that “more was He
that was with them than all that could be against them.”
As before, it is almost impossible to resist the plea-
sure of copying from the wise and beautiful “In-
structions ” delivered to the Missionaries by the
Secretary, the Rev. John Venn ; but one short extract
must suffice. It contains thoughts which cannot but
be very useful and comforting to all who are seeking
to work for God in any sphere.
“It is very possible, that, for a considerable time,
you may meet with no apparent success. This circum-
stance ought not to discourage you. ‘Those Missionaries
who have afterwards been blessed with the most remark-
able success, have frequently seemed for a considerable
time to have laboured entirely in vain... . May I not
say that God often thinks it meet to try the faith and
patience of His servants, before He crowns their
1
i
4
ih
e.
ieee
24 THE FINISHED COURSE.
endeavours with His blessing? The time is not lost which
is thus spent upon the Missionaries themselves, and it
must ever be remembered that God measures not by
success, but by dispositions.... Your immediate duty
lies not with the success of your labours, but with the
state of your own minds, and it is your chief duty to
see that you maintain your hearts in an humble, re-
signed, patient form, persevering notwithstanding great
difficulties, and fully approving yourselves in diligence,
in love, in faith, in hope, in purity. There is perhaps
no point in which we are so apt to be deceived, as in
that of judging by events, which depend entirely on
God, and often are very different from what we might
have expected. There is a glitter in success which 1s
apt to dazzle our eyes; but perhaps in the sight of
God, whose approbation alone we ought to seek, the
unwearied pious exertions of an humble, laborious
Missionary, under great discouragement, may be far
more pleasing than the splendid triumphs of one on
whose eloquent discourses multitudes hang with flatter-
ing rapture. Vanity is gratified by success, and it may
require some long-continued discipline to purge our
hearts from go corrupt a motive, and to teach us to
know ourselves, and to humble ourselves sufficiently in
the sight of God. God may be preparing a man for
success, just when he is ready to despair of ever meet-
ing with any.... And now, honoured brethren, I
have only to commend you to God and to the word of
His grace. . . . Endure hardness, as good soldiers of |
Jesus Christ. Rise above the world, and the things of
it. Count not life dear, so that you may finish your
REV. GUSTAVUS REINHOLD NYLANDER. 95
course with joy, and comfort yourselves with looking
forward to the time when the Chief Shepherd shall
appear, and you shall receive a crown of glory which
fadeth not away.” |
The Missionaries replied to the instructions in a few
simple, characteristic words.
“We give thanks to the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that by your true and unfeigned
love and holy zeal for the cause of our blessed Lord,
the German brethren have, by the grace of God, put
their hands to the Gospel plough, and are working
together with you for the honour and glory of Him
who is worthy of all praise in time and eternity, even
Jesus Christ.
“Encouraged by the love of Jesus, ‘who laid down
His life for us hell-deserving sinners, and enabled by
His Holy Spirit, we desire to devote our souls and
bodies in the service of Jesus Christ... . Though we
by the grace of God acknowledge our insufficiency for
the great work before us, yet we venture upon it in the
power. of our Almighty King Jesus Christ. Being
persuaded that He has called us, we are ready to go
wherever He will send us, to proclaim that Christ came
into the world to save sinners.” ,
On February 12th, 1806, the Missionaries embarked
at Liverpool, on board the Margery and Mary, but the
winds were both violent and contrary, and after tossing
about for nearly a fortnight, the vessel was stranded on
a sand-bank off the coast of Ireland. They were
roused from sleep at four o’clock on a dark February
morning by a cry, “ We are lost! we are lost! the ship
5
.
:
‘
4
" ss Wee “Wise
26 THE FINISHED COURSE.
is aground !” When they had groped their way, half
dressed, upon deck, they could see nothing, but only
hear the cries of the sailors for mercy, mingled with
oaths and curses. “I could do nothing more,’ writes
Mr. Nylander, “than continually cry ‘ Lord Jesus have
mercy upon us, deal not with us according to our sins,
and punish not our transgressions!’ till the Lord
brought to my mind the consoling words which re-
freshed my soul, ‘Fear not, for I am thy God. I
will strengthen thee, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness.’ Now I felt completely
comforted, and had no more fear of death, but on the
contrary rejoiced that I should see Jesus, who had
hitherto led me in so wonderful, so gracious a manner.”
After some hours of darkness and danger, spent in
the expectation of instant death, the day dawned,
assistance was procured from the shore, and they were
“all brought safe to land.”
Their ship, however, was:so injured, that it was im-
possible to proceed in her: the Missionaries, therefore,
took their passage in another vessel, the Rover, bound
direct from Bristol to Sierra Leone. Their second em-
barkation took place April 22d. On the 25th they
arrived at Falmouth, but were detained there some
days, waiting for a convoy, the war between England and
France having made it unsafe for vessels to leave harbour —
alone, on account of the numerous French privateers. It
arrived May 5th, but their own ship’s crew being found
insufficient for the voyage, the opportunity was lost.
On the 15th, another convoy made signal for sailing,
and the Rover, without waiting for the Missionaries,
REV. GUSTAVUS REINHOLD NYLANDER. oT
who were on shore, weighed anchor. They followed in
an open boat, full of alarm lest they should again be
delayed. Every effort was made to overtake the ship,
but in vain: they were obliged to put back, and after
being tossed about for several hours in a violent
gale, at the peril of their lives, they returned to Fal-
mouth in great distress. Most providentially, however,
the wind changed, and they had scarcely entered the
harbour when, to their great joy, they saw the whole
fleet put back and come to anchor.
On the 15th, the wind became favourable, and the
fleet once more set. sail, the Missionaries taking good
care not to be left behind again. But their difficulties
were not yet over. ‘The captain proved an intemperate
man, and before long, either through his carelessness or
mismanagement, one dark night the Rover lost her
convoy. ‘They were in imminent danger of being taken
by a French privateer, but escaped, and reached Madeira
in safety on June 2d. Here they landed, and found
that a much-loved fellow-student at Berlin had breathed
his last, but a few days before, in the very chamber
they were to occupy. How they longed to have been
permitted to cheer his last hours! but they heard how
their Master Himself had stood by that solitary bed-
side, and that the young Missionary had died in peace
and hope, often repeating “I know certainly that the
Lord hath mercy on me.” Before they could re-embark,
the captain of the Rover died of apoplexy, brought on
by his intemperate habits, and in consequence, the
Missionaries were detained in the island for nearly
four months. It was not lost time ; they employed it
28 THE FINISHED COURSE.
diligently in the study of the Scriptures, and in im-
proving themselves in the Soosoo language.
At length they set sail, September 17th, and in less
than a week landed at Sierra Leone. Mr. Nylander
was appointed to act for a time as chaplain to the
Colony, and became much valued and beloved by the
inhabitants. He opened a school for native children
in, Freetown, which was well attended, and gave him
much encouragement. His brethren, the Rev. Leopold
Butscher, and the Rev. Johann Prasse, proceeded with
Mr. Renner (the senior Missionary), to the Soosoo
country, where they established two Missionary settle-
ments.
So passed the next two years, when death, for the first
time, entered the mission band, and carried off the
youngest and strongest. Mr. Prasse was a simple-
hearted earnest Christian, and a man of unusually robust
and vigorous constitution ; he seemed in every way to
promise great usefulness ; but his work was over, his
Master called him. ‘The first eight days of his short
sickness he languished alone in his solitary station,
till Mr. Renner, surprised at hearing nothing of him,
went over to see him, and found him so utterly prostrate
from fever as to be unable to speak. For a few days
more he lingered, tenderly nursed by his anxious brother,
but he hardly spoke again.
For six years Nylander laboured on in the Colony,
discharging the office of English chaplain, ina tongue in
which he could not yet speak freely ; taking charge of
schools, and visiting the prison. God blessed his la-
bours, especially among the poor prisoners, and gave him
REV. GUSTAVUS REINHOLD NYLANDER. 29
favour in the eyes of the Governor, who assisted him
in every way in his power. But still he panted for
more direct mission work. ‘My desire” he writes,
“is to go among the Soosoos, and offer up my life and
health among them in the service of Jesus.”
An active and devoted wife was given to him; but
in less than eight months, the same God who gave her
took back the gift, after an illness of only eight days.
Her death was a great loss to her husband and to the
Mission, for Mr. Nylander, besides the schools which
he had opened previous to his marriage, had com-
menced one in the evenings, attended by twenty-five
women, which he was now obliged to give up.
In about a year, he married again, and soon after-
wards, on the first of October, 1812, his long-cherished
desire was eranted,—the chaplaincy of Sierra Leone
was vacated, and he was permitted to commence direct
missionary work outside the Colony.
The Mission which he founded was that to the
Bulloms, living on the opposite side of the Sierra Leone
River, the most degraded and superstitious of all the
West African tribes, “worshipping the devil, and led
captive by him at his will.” Diligently and faithfully
did he labour, amidst many difficulties and discourage-
ments, in his solitary station, and God left him not
without some fruit to his ministry, though very, very
little. In February, 1815, he was joined by a devoted
fellow-helper in the Lord, the Rev. J. Christopher
Sperrhaken, and his young wife. A brighter day
seemed dawning on the Bullom Shore, at least on the
little missionary family there. The voices of children
eR,» PI,
pie aa in eS Ree
30 THE FINISHED COURSE.
were heard in their dwelling, and the four labourers
cheered and encouraged each other, and took sweet
counsel together. But the outward sunshine did not
last long. First, came the tidings of Mrs. Hartwig’s
death,—a great shock to her fellow-voyagers, Mr. and
Mrs. Sperrhaken ; next, Mr. Nylander was called upon
to share the grief of his early friend and fellow-student,
Mr. Butscher, whose invaluable wife was taken from
him after three days’ illness. We can well think how
his brother’s touching lament would go to his heart.
“Oh, my dear wife, what shall I do without thee! [
have about forty-five children under my immediate care,
now without a mother. Some are laid up with measles,
another is crying and pining away. ‘There is little
Rose, a girl about six years old, whom Mrs. Butscher
took last year from a slave-vessel to bring her up ; poor
little thing, she knows her letters, and can sew very |
neatly, but is sick, fretting so after my wife, that I
expect her to die to-day.”
Sickness next entered his own dwelling. He himself
had a serious illness, and, soon after his recovery, his
little son died. This was at the end of June, in the
rainy season. In burying his child, the poor father was
soaked to the skin, and the consequence was another
severe illness, which confined him to-his bed for nearly
a fortnight. Again, from the opposite shore, came
tidings of death. The Rev. J. H. Schulze had been
Mr. Sperrhaken’s fellow-student, and would have been
his fellow-passenger but for an accidental delay. He
arrived, however, with his bride, in August of this
year, but in less than a month she was struck down
Se
REV. GUSTAVUS REINHOLD NYLANDER. 31
by country fever. Her husband sickened with it soon
after. At the end of eleven days she died, rejoicing that
she was the first to go. The next day her infant son
followed her, and was buried in his mother’s arms, on
September 22d. Her poor husband, already enfeebled
by fever, sank under the bereavement, and, after a
fortnight’s struggle with disease and sorrow, was re-
united with those who had gone before, on October Sth.
Scarcely had the labourers on the dark Bullom Shore
recovered from the grief these tidings caused, when
the summons came for one of them. Mr. Sperrhaken,
who had so faithfully and diligently assisted Mr. Ny-
lander since his arrival in February, was the next to
lay down his life in the cause of Africa. Before the
end of October he entered into rest; his little infant
was laid by his side in a few days, and his bereaved
widow was obliged to return home. Thus poor Ny-
lander was again left alone! “ News like these,” says
Mr. Butscher, in sending home the tidings, “may rather
seem discouraging to the well-wishers of Christ’s cause,
yet, did we but understand the gracious designs which
our Divine Master has in view, we should probably call
them good news.”
Still, Nylander bravely kept at his post. His school
increased to forty-five, and he writes, as a matter of
great encouragement, that “some of the Bulloms always
attend Divine Service.” Yet little impression seemed
made on the adults, who appeared utterly brutalized
by their gross superstition. With great wisdom he
laboured at translations, and in a very short time had
sent home for publication the Gospels of Matthew and
b
4
:
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ea a
as
a
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832 THE FINISHED COURSE,
Mark, the Epistles of St. John, and the Morning and
Evening Prayers, in the Bullom language.
In the year 1816 his heart, as well as those of all
the West African Missionaries, was cheered by a visit
from the beloved and revered Secretary of the Society,
the Rev. Edward Bickersteth, whom he accompanied
on his visit to the different stations, partly for the
benefit of his own health, and partly that Mr. Bicker-
steth might have the assistance of his knowledge of
the language, manners, and customs of the people.
One of the four schoolmasters who arrived in April
of this year, Christopher Jost, was appointed by Mr.
Bickersteth to assist in the work among the Bulloms ;
but even before his course was begun in his appointed
station, the young Missionary teacher was called to
enter into his rest. After this fresh disappointment,
Nylinder writes in the spirit of a hero :—
“T rejoiced to hear that a schoolmaster was to assist
me at Bullom, and that Mr. Jost was to be my com-
panion. But it pleased the Lord, who has life and
death at his disposal, to remove him to a better
country than that of the Bullom. And what shall we
say? The Lord’s ways are mysterious. We can do
nothing but stand still, wonder, and adore. However,
let us not be discouraged. Africa must be gained for the
Lord Jesus Christ. He will see of the travail of His
soul yet, though ever so many of his servants die.
Oh that those who survive may labour with double
zeal as long as it is day! The night cometh, and we
know not at what time the Master may call us. May
we only be found faithfully employed in His work !”
REV. GUSTAVUS REINHOLD NYLANDER. 33
And he did “labour on with double zeal” amid
bereavement, disappointment, and sickness, until, partly
im consequence of the want of success, but chiefly on
account of the dangers from the hostile slave-taking
tribes, all the out-stations of the Society were aban-
doned, and the Missionaries concentrated in Sierra
Leone.
Once more, he was fcalled to mourn over’ another
death, and this time the trial came very close. His
early friend and comrade, the Rev. Leopold Butscher,
sank under the country fever in July, 1817. Just
before his death he said, “I have committed: my soul
and body, with my dear child, into the hands of Jesus,
in whom is all my hope. JZ know that the work here is
quite unfinished, but I believe that God is able from the
dust to raise up some one to finish tt.”
Nylander was now the last left of that little band,
and his health seemed failing. It was in 1818 that he
was removed from his beloved station on the Bullom
Shore, the scene of many a sorrow and many a prayer,
of many a missionary hope and disappointment, and
where the graves he left behind would silently preach,
though the Missionaries themselves were gone, ‘and
remind the dark Bulloms,” as Nylander himself writes,
“that there had been people among them to tell of
redemption through Jesus Christ.”
The following extract from a letter written shortly |
before he left, touchingly describes the discouragements
under which he had laboured :—
“T am now repairing my old house again. God
only knows whether I shall much longer stand in need
D
iH
4
34 THE FINISHED COURSE.
of houses in this world ; may I only be permitted to
enter the courts above where Jesus is! My complaint
begins to be rather serious—walking and speaking are
very difficult for me. However, as long as I can stir,
I do not wish to stand idle, and all the rest I commit
to Him who careth for me. Remember me at the
throne of grace, who stand much in need of the
effectual fervent prayers of the children of God, having
been now more than ten years in this barren land of
heathens. If you ask me of the fruit of my labours,
what shall I say? I was six years in Sierra Leone,
of the fruit of which I can show you nothing ; and
now four years among the Bulloms, where I can pro-
duce very little. And now it appears as if my day
was almost spent, and how shall I expect my ‘ penny?’
Unless the Lord Jesus be on my side, I must expect
the contrary. But blessed be God, ‘ faithful is He that
hath promised, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’ .
Though, in the humility of his heart, he writes that
he can produce very little result of his labour among
the Bulloms, the translation of the four Gospels and
other parts of the Bible, which he had now completed,
was, of itself, worth living for—a permanent result of
his diligence, which will abide until the Mission shall
be recommenced, and the blessing of which will not be
known till then—ah! and not even then—not till
many an unknown, unheard-of convert,—who, from the
Word of Life in his own tongue, and unaided by any
other teacher, has found the way of salvation,—shall
with him stand before the throne.
Nyliinder now became the Missionary Pastor of
REV. GUSTAVUS REINHOLD NYLANDER. 35
Kissey, which the death of Mr. Wenzel had left vacant.
Iwenty out of twenty-five of his Bullom pupils ac-
companied him to his new charge, and he cherished
the hope that the day might yet come when, as evan-
gelists to their dark countrymen, these lads might be
permitted to accomplish the work which had been
denied to him.
A little band of missionary schoolmasters arrived in
March, 1819, and one was appointed to assist Mr.
Nylinder in his arduous duties at Kassey. But he
was a third time to be disappointed. Mr. Henry
Barrett, the young and devoted companion who was
thus given for a while to him, was taken from him
in one short fortnight after his settlement in his new
station !
“Be not discouraged,” writes the veteran N ylander,
when informing the Committee of the early death of
his comrade; “be not discouraged, neither be ye dis-
mayed, for it is the Lord’s battle we are fighting, and
we are conquering even when falling. Whether dead
or alive, we are working together, and the time will
surely come when they that sow and they that reap
shall rejoice together.”
But it would take far too long to recount the par-
ticulars of this indefatigable Missionary’s course. With
steady industry, and not altogether without success, he
laboured on at Kissey. Many and varied were his
duties. Besides his own flock, which in time amounted
to 700 attendants on public worship, 880 scholars, and
30 communicants, he frequently had to take charge
of the stations of his disabled or departed brethren.
D2
Neen ee ee aa Fa Ce
=~ ~~ —— ————— ee ere
6 THE FINISHED COURSE,
Many a Missionary deathbed was he called to attend.
Another of his own little ones, and then his wife, was
taken from him. But he was still preserved. Kissey,
Gloucester, Regent, and Wellington, all enjoyed his
solicitude and claimed his occasional services. Indeed,
he seemed, like Paul, to “have the care of all the
Churches.” But his “course,” though long, was at
length “finished,” and his Master called him to enter
into rest.
In the summer of 1824 he had a long and severe
illness, which brought him to the brink of the grave.
For thirteen weeks he was confined to the house, and
during a great part of the time was unable to rise from
his bed without assistance. His missionary brethren
despaired of his life, but it pleased God to spare him
yet a little longer.
While recovering, he writes: “One says I should
go to France, another to Spain, another advises I
should go to England; but as I am so far recovered,
and am gaining strength daily, I feel no inclination to
embark, though I intended to do so when upon a sick
bed, and was told that my only hope of recovering
was to go to Europe by the first ship; but as I find
the same Jehovah reigns in Africa as rules in England,
I will wait His command.”
For nearly a year more he laboured on in much
weakness, while the healthy and strong fell around
him; but the “time of his departure was now at
hand.” He writes, under date of May 5th, 1825:
“T received your letter yesterday, and as we know
not at what hour we may be summoned from the field
———
REV. GUSTAVUS REINHOLD NYLANDER. 37
of labour, I thought it best to send you a few lines
immediately. I have been severely afflicted with great
debility, and am still so weak that I am unable to
attend to my duty. I just manage to walk about my
room. However, I live in hopes of getting round
again. But how astonishing and mysterious are the
dealings of God with our Mission in respect of
others! Mr. Knight died a few weeks after his
arrival ; Mrs. Coney a short time after him; and in
a day or two, to the surprise of all, Mr. Brooks was
conveyed to the grave !”
And he was to be the next! In his previous sick-
ness, he had been spared a little longer for his work’s
sake, but now he was “to depart and to be with Christ,
which was far better.”
All preparations for death and arrangements about
his children had been made long ago, parting words had
all been spoken; he was quietly waiting from day to
day, till his Master should call him to enter once more
upon work, in renewed strength, or to “enter the
courts above where Jesus is.” The summons came.
“He was not, for God took him.” His translation was
. very sudden at the last ; for he had been sitting on the
¥ sofa, cheerfully conversing with those around him, but a
very short time before he fell gently asleep. What a
blessed change—what a glorious awakening !
Thus departed, May 23d, 1825, the Rev. Gustavus
Reinhold Nylander, for nearly nineteen years a faithful,
steadfast “‘lightbearer” on the dark shores of Africa,
Few have equalled, scarcely any exceeded, the period of
uninterrupted labour which was permitted to him ; and
ERE ee eee Ee eS VEY Po COUN e Pee eee ee EE eae,” Oe Se Tee "= let ete oe aha Pe ee ee re hee ee ee — a a pate fe tee oS ae eee eee
ee ee
38 THE FINISHED COURSE.
though, at the time of his death, but little fruit of that
labour appeared outwardly, his works did follow him,
and his successors reaped the harvest of the seed he so
patiently sowed. He had only entered on his fiftieth
year at the time of his death, but the climate, sickness,
sorrow and labour had so told upon him, that he was a
worn-out old man.
The poor, wasted, feeble body was laid to rest in the
churchyard at Kissey, in a spot which he had chosen.
‘““Sown in weakness” it shall be “raised in power.” “He
has fought the good fight, he has fineshed his course, he
has kept the faith; henceforth is laid up for him a
crown of righteousness.”
* f a * *
Since the above sketch was written, the Mission to
the Bulloms has been recommenced, under happier
auspices. In 1861 two Native Catechists were sent
thither, and are labouring with much success; and
when, in May, 1863, an European Missionary visited the
station, he was able to write—‘“‘The work wm Bullom is
full of encouragement.” Who shall say that the holy
Nylinder lived and laboured and prayed in vain?
ANNE ELIZABETH & HANNAH NYLANDER.
In the Rev. Edward Bickersteth’s Journal of his visit
to the Missionary Nylander, at his solitary station on
the Bullom Shore, we find the following entry :—
“© May 5th, 1816.—In the afternoon I preached from
Matt. xxviii. 19, ‘ Baptizing them,’ &c. and afterwards
ANNE ELIZABETH AND HANNAH NYLANDER. 39
I had the pleasure of baptizing Mr. Nylinder’s two
children—Catherine and Anne Elizabeth. The school
children seemed much interested, and I was glad of the
opportunity of talking to them upon the ordinance.”
Those who remember that loving face, and how it
would always beam with special tenderness on the little
ones, can best realize the scene that day—can almost
hear the tones of the fervent prayers breathed for those
little babes.
The first baptism on the Bullom Shore! Gathered
round the font were a little party of four Europeans,
and behind were the black faces of the African children.
There stood the toil-worn Missionary-father, and there
the mother of the infants; and there, too, was the
holy Johnson, newly landed in Africa, who had been
at first appointed to assist Mr. Nylander as school-
master, though he was quickly transferred to the
colony.
Yes, there was earnest, believing prayer offered for
those children that day, and it was heard. They
followed their father’s steps on earth, and have since
followed him to glory.
Two months after their father’s death, the little |
orphans were sent to England for their education ; the
elder was then 13, her little’ sister 11 years old.
The Committee placed them at the school for the
daughters of the Clergy, at Kirkby Lonsdale, under
the watchful care of the Rev. Carus Wilson. Six
happy years they spent there, which in after life they
looked back upon: with deep thankfulness : they made
good progress in secular, and it was hoped also in
a
or ee
40 THE FINISHED COURSE.
spiritual knowledge, and then they’ returned to the
land of their birth as Missionary Teachers.
On Oct. 27th, 1831, they received the farewell instruc-
tions from the Committee, after which the Rev. Edward
Bickersteth addressed to them a few‘ wise and loving
words of counsel, and then commended them to the
care and keeping of their covenant God.
We may well fancy with what pleasure he would
then look back on the day when in that dark heathen
land he had signed their infant brows “with the sign
of the cross, in token that they were to be Christ’s
faithful soldiers and servants unto their lives’ end,”
and how earnestly he would pray that that vow might
now be fulfilled.
Nor were the hopes entertained of them disappointed.
First, as school teachers, and then as Missionaries’ wives,
they laboured actively and usefully. In May, 1835,
Anne Elizabeth was married to the Rev. James. Schén,
a Church Missionary ; and Hannah was shortly after-
wards united to the Rev. Edward Jones, a minister of the
American Episcopal Church, labouring in the colony.
Anne was the first called to enter into rest. She
- was timid, diffident, and retiring. None but those who
knew her intimately, knew her real worth, but by
these she was loved and valued.
She was in failing health for some months, and
seems to have had a presentiment that her end was
drawing near. She frequently lamented to her husband,
with bitter grief, that she had done so little for God,
and had not laboured more diligently and zealously
while in health. Never was a soul brought under a
ANNE ELIZABETH AND HANNAH NYLANDER.’ Al
deeper sense of sin, and yet there was no despondency ;
she was able to trust fully to her Saviour’s righteousness,
and to realize the blessedness of those whose sins are
forgiven.
About a year after her marriage, a little daughter had
been given her. On Nov. 5th, 1837, her infant son was
born. Very shortly after, it was seen that the mother’s
life, already enfeebled by long illness, was fast ebbing
away. The doctor told her husband his fears, and they
both went in together to prepare her for a sudden sum-
mons ; but there was no need. She met them with the
words, “I am going to die.” The poor husband knelt
and prayed for her, while she held his hand, and joined
in every word. Then he said, “Jesus said, I am the
Resurrection and the Life. . . Believest thow this?”
“Yes,” she replied, “I believe it.” They were her last
words. An hour more, and Anne Nylinder had joined
her earthly father, in her Heavenly Father's home,
whither, a few days after, her little son followed.
“‘ Massa,” said one of the African Christians to the
bereaved husband and father, “the time trouble catch
me, me go to you: you speak to us of Jesus and the
Resurrection, and that can make our hearts glad,
Massa, can this no comfort you? ‘Your wife no lost,
your child no lost. They that believe in Jesus never
die.”
* * % % *
In less than two years Mr. Nylinder’s only remain-
ing daughter, Hannah (Mrs. Jones) followed her sister
to “the courts above where Jesus is.” She, like Anne,
was timid and retiring. A casual observer would have
Ce ee ee
SB it gi SNE I 6gns
=emaess
SS a se a
Co rn ee ee
oes
Pee
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42 THE FINISHED COURSE,
noticed nothing of interest in her character ; it was in
in her own home that her real worth appeared, and
there she shone very brightly as an humble, consistent
Christian.
The illness was long and lingering ; for many months
it was evident that her constitution was giving way ;
but it was not till five or six weeks before her death
that those around her could believe that the end was
so near. arly in September, 1839, she was removed
from her home in the Banana Isles (the scene of good
John Newton’s slavery) to Freetown for medical advice.
But it was too late. Rapid decline had already so
weakened her that she could scarcely walk across the
room, and in a few weeks she sank to rest.
For a time, the great Enemy of souls was permitted
to take advantage of her physical weakness, to harass
her with doubts and fears as to her acceptance with
God. But it was only for a time; out of weakness
she was made strong to triumph over him, and not
only to trust, but to rejoice in Christ, His people's
hope and strong salvation.
And now, every moment of her failing life was spent
in trying to lead all who came to see her, to go to the
same Saviour,—to share the same peace and joy. She
was devotedly fond of her children, and yet could look
with perfect calmness on the two little girls who she
felt would so soon be motherless. She had trusted
them entirely to God, and knew that He would take
better care of them than she could.
The last days were very bright ones. While her
whole soul was absorbed in the glad thought of being
eae
Se aon
ANNE ELIZABETH AND HANNAH NYLANDER. 43
for ever with God her Saviour, she spoke with much
joy of seeing again her dear and honoured father, and
others of her family already with the Lord.
Very soon she joined them. On Oct. 8th, 1839, she
gently fell asleep.
* # * % *
“The children of Thy servants shall continue, and
their seed shall be established before Thee,” is the
promise inscribed as a motto over the English “‘ Home”
for the children of Missionaries, where the little
daughters of Mrs. Schon and Mrs. Jones, their only
surviving children, were educated.
God has fulfilled His promise. The child of the
former is now labouring in Ceylon as the wife of a
Missionary there; the young daughter of the latter
was just permitted to begin to work for God in Africa,
when she was called away to join those who have gone
before.
Yes; God has fulfilled His promise; for He is
the “farthful God, which keepeth covenant and
mercy with them that love Him... to a thousand
generations.” ~
= ~ ger
agg a NTN a ee Te -
RRA SS a ape
NO OS gee fe sg
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mies “meee a ei ihe
shpetin nih erin SS. tintin tase rege fae, Makt mene the Sn las oe teeta ah ph ons h
ts Leer vine
-REVY. WILLIAM GARNON:,!
Sailed Sept. 1816. Died July 29th, 1818.
** A good soldier of Jesus Christ.”—2 Tim. ii. 3.
eae ILOUGH not a Missionary by office, the Rev.
ets 4% William Garnon, the first chaplain of Sierra
Veps® Leone, was eminently a Missionary in spirit,
and very closely connected in work with the Church
Missionary Society. His name is entwined with those
of their own labourers whose “‘lack of service” in sickness
he supplied, and whose dying beds he tended with all
a brother’s love, and with almost a sister’s gentleness.
We cannot, then, forego the pleasure of mingling the
records of his short but shining course with those of
the Missionaries who trod the same path with him.
William Garnon was born into a house of sorrow, for
the day of his birth was that of his mother’s death.
No brother or sister cheered his motherless infancy, and
when a child of only seven years old, he was sent to a
preparatory school at Oxford. He seems never to have
returned home again, for the next year his father died.
(1) Freetown, Sierra Leone.
REV, WILLIAM GARNON, 45
He was soon moved to a higher school, and there \
remained till he was about thirteen. |
In boyhood, as in manhood, he was frank, generous, :
and light-hearted ; his cheerful and sunny disposition |
made him a favourite with all around, while his thought- :
lessness and love of fun rendered him too liable to be
drawn into any scheme of mischief that might be afloat.
One day, he and two of his schoolfellows played
truant, and wandered to the river-side. Soon they spied
an empty barge neara mill. Boy-like, they at once got
in, intending to have a row; but the current was too
strong for them, and drew the barge on to a rock,
Young William tried to push her off, but in doing so
lost his balance, and fell into the water. He sank, and
his companions could not help hin, yet, foolishly, did
not like to leave him, until they thought he must be
drowned, and then they ran to get assistance from the
mill. Happily, the boys were mistaken ; he was not dead,
though utterly exhausted ; a man jumped in and brought
him to shore, and the life which God designed to use
for His glory was thus preserved from an untimely end.
At another time he was scalded so severely that it
was doubtful whether he would recover. Again, how-
ever, “his life was redeemed from destruction.”
On January 7th, 1804, he finally left school. Though
his parents were both dead, the young orphan found a
second home with his uncle, Captain James Garnon.
The next six months were avery happy time. His uncle
had served in many an Indian battle-field, under Lord
Cornwallis, during the war with Hyder Ali, and Tippoo
Sahib; and in Egypt under General Abercrombie, His
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OF IE AE AEE ie LOE LES I
5
46 THE FINISHED COURSS.
spirited young nephew seon won the old soldier’s heart,
who gave him a father’s love and care, and devoted all
his leisure to his instruction.
But this happiness did not last long. In the July
foliowing, Captain Garnon was suddenly carried off by a
sun-stroke, and young William was again left fatherless.
But not motherless ; his aunt was still spared to him,
and she proved a true mother to the boy.
Even before his uncle’s death, there had been many
consultations as to what his future destination should
be, His father’s profession, that of an attorney, was
peculiarly distasteful to the bright, frank boy, and the
uncle seems to have been in no hurry to part with his
pleasant little companion ; so nothing had been finally
settled. Now, however, it was necessary that some
decision should be made.
William had no hesitation. Apart from his own
natural inclination, it was impossible to have lived
with his brave old uncle, to have listened to his stories
of the battles he had fought, and in his company to
have mingled (as the boy had constantly done) with
the military in Buckingham, where Captain Garnon was
stationed on recruiting service, without imbibing a
strong desire to be a soldier too.
As soon as the Marquis of Buckingham, who had
been well known to his uncle, heard of the lad’s wish,
he presented him with a commission in the Buckingham-.
shire Militia, till he should be old enough to enter
the line. Nothing could exceed the kindness of this
generous nobleman to the orphan boy ;, he even invited
him to spend two months with him at his seat at Stowe,
REV. WILLIAM GARNON, AT
till the time arrived for joining his regiment. His last
words to him at parting were, “Take care, my dear
boy ; behave well, and God will be your father.”
It was on January Ist, 1805, that William Garnon
went to Maidstone, where his regiment was stationed ;
thus entering upon the world and all the temptations of
a military life when barely fourteen years old! He
seems to have been remarkably shielded from much
that was evil, and young though he was, gained the
esteem and protection of his superior officers. He
moved about with his regiment, from place to place, till
September, 1807, when his long-cherished desire
was realized. He obtained a commission in the 14th
Regiment of Foot, to which he became entitled by
volunteering with fifty men.
It was no idle service upon which the young officer
entered. Before he was twenty, he had accompanied
his regiment to Ireland; to Spain, where he served in
the harassing campaign under Sir John Moore; to
Walcheren, in the disastrous expedition under Lord
Chatham ; to Gibraltar, on garrison duty ; and lastly to
Malta, where he was seized with the Walcheren fever,
then fearfully prevalent among the troops.
_ That seems to have been the first time the gay, light-
hearted boy had ever been brought to think. Fora while
he was very near to death, and filled with fear and
dismay at the thought of the awful change which seemed
so close at hand. Those solemn words of Dr. Young’s
kept ringing in his ears,—
“Time how short! Eternity how long!”
But these impressions, which arose chiefly from fear
iE ee
48 THE FINISHED COURSE.
of future punishment, wore off as he began to recover.
He continued, however, very weak, and obtained leave
to return to England, feeling at that time a strong
desire to die in his native land.
He reached England so utterly prostrate as to be
hardly able to move, and, as he afterwards said, “ with
no more sense of religion than a brute.” His mother-
aunt was then at Brighton, and to her he went for
nursing and care. And right tenderly she nursed him,
caring not alone for his body, but for his soul.
He remained for a long time in a most delicate state,
but gradually, very gradually, health and strength
returned.
And now, at length, came the wonderful change which
transformed the young soldier from a servant of Satan
into a subject of the Prince of Peace, and “translated him
from the kingdom of darkness, to that of God’s dear
Son.” That change, too, was very gradual. The first dim
dawning of the light had appeared at Malta, in con-
victions, stifled indeed, but never forgotten, and now
revived under the influence of his pious aunt. The
Christian society in which he mingled at Brighton, so
different from that to which he had been accustomed, led
him to contrast the lives of those who lived for this world,
and of those who sought another. He regularly attended
ehurch, though, at first, not in order to profit, but hoping
to disprove the truths he heard. It was the great Enemy’s.
last despairing effort to keep his captive, but it was a
mistaken one. The earnestness of the preacher con-
vinced the candid young soldier of the importance
he attached to his message, and the very attempt to
I AIL SRL I ALA EL IE AE ~ “2s
3 : PS pean BES ai ee nc ER I II a es ae ae we
59 THE FINISHED COURSE.
children in his own house for instruction, each Sabbath
evening.
His great delight was to go among the villages of
liberated slaves, on the mountains; for he enjoyed
nothing more than teaching the poor simple negroes
the way to become free indeed ; while their bright faces,
as they gathered round him, chewed how they loved to
listen to his cheerful, earnest, happy words. Nor was it
to the people alone that these visits were welcome. His
genial, joyous spirit was like sunshine in the homes of
the toiling and often discouraged Missionaries. Though
he was younger than most of them, all looked up to
him with affection and confidence.
Only once were his active, zealous labours interrupted
by sickness. A severe attack of cholera brought him
very low ; both he and those around him thought that
it might be the summons to call him home ; but he was
restored, and in a very few days resumed his duties
with increased earnestness and solemnity, preaching the
next Sunday from the text, ‘Give an account of thy
stewardship.”
In July, 1817, another and most important charge
devolved upon him. Upon the death of the devoted
Missionary Butscher, he took the superintendence
of the Christian Institution on Leicester Mountain,
and soon endeared himself to the young African
students.
“What,” he writes, “are my feelings when sur-
rounded by this group of black lambs? When I hear the |
names of ‘ Wilberforce,’ ‘Buchanan,’ and many more
such worthies, my heart is full; I pray that they may
f a “a ver aia sity
\
mn oe
&
REV. WILLIAM GARNON. 53
become like those whose names. they bear, in all holy
conversation and godliness.”
But amidst his‘accumulated, and almost overwhelming
duties, of Chaplain, Pastor, and Teacher, his health
remained unbroken; and, though his official duties
subjected him to the greatest exposure, he seemed to
fear nothing.
“When a soldier of the King,” he writes, “I have
seen men fall on my right hand and on my left, but
death never came nigh me, and so I can say now.
Though exposed to frequent rains, and to Afric’s hot
suns, yet I am spared ; and why? ‘ Because the Lord
hath been my Helper, therefore under the shadow of
His wings will I trust.’ Has he not said, ‘The sun
shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night ?’
and have not I been exposed to both these dangers ?
Blessed be His name, He that keepeth Israel shall
neither slumber nor sleep.”
Yes, the Missionary was “immortal,” but only “ till
his work was done;” and soon—very soon—it was
done. arly in July, 1818, he visited the different
mission stations, comforted, encouraged, and cheered
the lonely Missionaries, and returned to Freetown,
promising to repeat his visit at the close of the rains,
which were then coming on. Alas! little did his
friends think that this was his last visit to them, that
his “course” was so nearly “ finished.”
The rains, on the following Sunday, were so heavy
that he was prevented from performing the usual service
in the Court-room. The sermon which he had prepared
was upon the healing of the blind man, recorded
54 THE FINISHED COURSE.
in St. John’s Gospel. After exhorting those whose |
spiritual sight had been restored, to confess Christ
before men, he would have closed his ministry there,
with that animating exhortation, unconscious how
strikingly applicable to his own case, —“ Be thou
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of
life.”
Although prevented from taking the service at the ~
Court-house, he preached to the troops in the afternoon,
visited the Military Hospital, and again, in the evening,
preached at Soldiers’ Town. He was unusually fatigued
with the exertions of this day, and had scarcely retired
to rest when he was suddenly called up by a messenger
from a dear Missionary brother, Mr. Wenzel, who felt
that his death was drawing near, and longed for the
help of Mr. Garnon’s words of faith and hope and
prayer as he passed through the dark valley. Shortly
afterwards, a second messenger arrived, with a renewed
entreaty. His affectionate wife, dreading the effect
the exposure might have upon him, earnestly remon-
strated with him on the danger, and entreated him to
defer his visit till the following morning. But feeling
it uncertain whether Mr. Wenzel might live till the
morning, and considering that his visit might be of
importance to the aged sufferer, or to the Society with
which he was connected, he resolved to comply with
the request. To allay Mrs. Garnon’s fears, he said,
“My dear, do not be anxious about me. I believe it
is my duty to go, and therefore I am not at all afraid ;”
adding “ the doctor is sent for, and if he is not afraid to
go on his business, surely I ought not to be on mine.”
REV. WILLIAM GARNON. 5D
About two o’clock he set off, but had scarcely mounted
his horse before the rain descended very heavily, and
- continued to do so for some hours, so that in riding only
three or four miles he was completely wet through. No
symptoms of illness immediately appearing, his friends
fondly hoped that he had escaped serious harm, though
he seemed depressed, and to lack his usual energy.
On the Wednesday, two of the Missionaries, Mr.
Johnson and Mr. Wilhelm, called at the Chaplain’s
dwelling: they found a sick household indeed. The
Assistant Chaplain, the Rev. John Collier, who had
only arrived a few months before, was very ill with
fever ; his young wife was even worse, and Mr. Garnon
very poorly. The next day he was yet more unwell,
and, on the Friday, became so ill that medical advice
was called in. The doctor pronounced his illness an
inflammatory attack, the result of his exposure on the
Sunday night, rather than the country fever. The next
two days he grew worse, suffering greatly, but cheerful,
happy, and patient. On the Sunday, warm baths
gave him great relief. His poor wife was full of
grateful joy: he, too, was humbly thankful. “My
dear Mary,” he said, “this is a trial to us both;
but it is needful, and I trust will be for our benefit.
Our happiness hitherto has been uninterrupted ; we
have indeed had many mercies.”
He had many loving nurses, who counted it a privilege
to be able to return some of his kind care for them.
When Mr. Johnson came over from Regent, to sit up
with him, he asked very affectionately after all the
other Missionaries, praying, ‘God bless them all!”
RS OSE eS
SL Ee
ee ae aa
apse ae Se, SS
a ——__—-—F ee
ae es
Sapna SN ae ee o>
eee ema
|
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RR
56 THE FINISHED COURSE.
It was during this night that he wished for additional
medical advice, for his wife’s sake, and his work’s sake,
saying he thought it right to use every proper means,
and then leave the event to God.
- But every means proved of no avail; his suffering
increased. When in pain and great weakness, he would
often exclaim—‘ I need patience!” and would always
add, with firm confidence, “ J¢ shall be gwen me. Itisa
part of the ‘need which shall be supplied.’ ”
Mr. Cates succeeded Mr. Johnson in his attendance
at the sick-bed, and remained there night and day till
the end came : an unspeakable comfort to the dying Mis-
sionary and to his poor young wife, who, though daily
expecting her first child, shared the nursing, till within
a few hours of her husband’s departure.
On Tuesday morning death entered the house. Mrs.
Collier gently fell asleep soon after two o'clock : her
poor husband was unable to close her eyes, for he was
lying, in much danger, in the next room. Mr. Garnon
was then better, and for a few hours much hope was
entertained that he would even yet be spared; but, in
the afternoon, a sudden and alarming change took
place.
The Missionaries had all gathered. at his house to
follow Mrs. Collier to the grave. Before they started,
they knelt around the coffin of their departed sister,
to pray that God might yet in mercy restore His young
servant to his family and to the Church ; but, if not,
that the Good Shepherd might be with him, to hold
his hand and guide his feet as he passed through the
river of Death. It was a prayer-meeting, the solemn
ria nn pommel. = —
Sere nniaic
REV. WILLIAM GARNON. 57
circumstances of which may be better imagined than
described.
Poor Mrs. Garnon could now keep up no longer, but
was obliged to force herself away from the dying room.
She had been wonderfully supported as long as there
had been any hope of her husband’s recovery, and now
that that hope was cut off, God still further showed His
love and power, in enabling her calmly and resignedly
to take her last look upon him in this world, and part
from him until their reunion above.
But though his beloved wife was not able to watch
till the last by his side, his three Missionary brethren,
Mr. Johnson, Mr. Diiring, and Mr. Cates gathered
round him. He was insensible the greater part of the
night, murmuring at times passages of Scripture, con-
cluding with the Apostolic Benediction, “The grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with me ;” and after
a short pause, he added, “ Yes, they are with me.” These
were almost his last words; early on Wednesday morn- |
ing, July 29th, this devoted servant, this faithful
soldier, entered into his Master’s joy, just two days
after his twenty-seventh birthday.
His remains were interred, in the evening of the
same day, in the churchyard at Freetown, where, just
before, the bodies of two young Missionary sisters had
- been laid; and where, only three days later, another
grave was opened for the aged Missionary, in visiting
whom he had caught his fatal sickness. ‘The Governor,
most of the European inhabitants, the boys from his
own school on Leicester Mountain, and representatives
58 THE FINISHED COURSE.
from Regent and Gloucester Town, joined the band of
mourning Missionaries around the grave.
They wept a loss that never could be replaced : but
all was well with him. “He had fought a good fight,
he had finished his course, he had kept the faith,” and
had gone to receive “a crown of glory that fadeth not
away.”
Mrs. Garnon, whose little son was born the day after
its father’s death, was also attacked by fever, and for
some time continued in great danger, but, through God’s
mercy, eventually recovered, and was able to return to
England ; but the babe, though apparently strong and
healthy, was soon taken from his sorrowing mother on
earth, to join his father in glory.
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD
JOHNSON:
Sailed Feb. 1816. Died May 3d, 1823.
“‘ His working, which worketh in me mightily.” —COL. i. 29.
[This short sketch, not originally written for publication, would be
omitted here, but for its close connexion with those which follow it.
May its very imperfection create the wish, - in those who read it, to know
more of this holy man !
The ‘‘ Memoir of the Rev. W. A. B. Johnson,” and that most interesting
work ‘‘ Africa’s Mountain Valley,” will more than repay the prayerful
study of any Christian reader. |
Va name is dearer to the friends of Christian
%| Missions than that of the Rev. William
he Te: Augustine Johnson, the first Missionary of
fhe Church Missionary Society, to whom it pleased the
Lord to give marked and lasting success. That name
is ever spoken with grateful affection by the native
African Christians, and will be taught, with loving
reverence, to generations yet unborn. English Christians,
too, will not be behind their brethren in Africa in
thanking Him, who for a time lent such a bright
(1) Regent, Sierra Leone.
60 THE FINISHED COURSE,
ornament to the Church, and through his example has
taught them such beautiful lessons-of personal holiness,
of prayerful labour, and of triumphant faith.
We cannot but be struck with the sovereignty of
God, in choosing to so high an honour, not the educated
or the talented, not the wise or the prudent, but a
poor unknown German mechanic, from the streets of
Londen. And yet, when we read his own touching
_ history of the way in which God called him to the
work, we cannot be surprised ; for we shall find he had
been deeply taught in the school of oe and “none
teacheth like Him.”
Yes, God—not man—had fashioned the instrument ;
and He used it “mightily.”
It is matter for much thankfulness that this holy
man was led to record the circumstances by which the
Lord drew him to Himself, and then called him to work
for Him. The simple narrative cannot be read without
interest and instruction. He says :—
“In 1812, it pleased the Lord to make me willing
to accept the salvation of Jesus. The following means
were used. I was brought very low in temporal
circumstances. One evening, having nothing to eat,
and being almost naked, and my dear wife lying in.
bed, weeping for hunger, I threw myself also on the
bed, turning myself from one side to the other, think-
ing what I should do. No friend to go to—what to do,
I did not know.
“When I was about eight years of age, my school-
master used the method, that every child had something
to repeat on Monday of the sermon preached on Sunday.
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. 61
Accordingly, I remembered the following passage : ‘Call
upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee,
and thou shalt glorify Me.’ When the schoolmaster
came to me, I repeated this passage ; he was dissatisfied,
and replied that it was merely a passage out of the
Bible, and that he never had thought that sufficient,
and so on, which grieved me very much, so that I
never forgot it afterwards.
“ Now, when I was lying in bed, and did not know
what to do, this passage struck my mind all at once.
‘Call upon Him !’—‘ But,’ thought I, ‘ will God deliver
me? Me call upon God! Have not I committed such
sins ? and now call upon God to deliver me!’ In short,
it was as if a book had been opened, and I had read all
the sins I had ever been guilty of. ... Oh! whata
dismal night was that!”
God delivered ‘poor Johnson in a remarkable way
from his worldly perplexities, but his spiritual troubles
grew heavier. “My sins, my sins,” he writes, “laid
very heavy on me. I tried to pray, but I did not
know how, or what to say, lest I should add sin ¢
i Aa ae )
“Having heard that Divine service was held at
the German Chapel, in the Savoy, every Monday and
Friday evening, I purposed to go on the following
Friday.
“When the day came, I went thither, almost in despair
on account of my sins. Mr. Lehman, a Missionary of ’
the United Brethren, gave an exhortation that evening.
He explained the love of Jesus in dying for sinners,
and stood with open arms, exclaiming, ‘Is there a
62 THE FINISHED COURSE.
sinner here, full of sin and ready to sink under it? I
bid such an one, in the name of Jesus, to come to Him ;
for He has said, “ Come unto me all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”’ This gra-
cious invitation was what I stood in need of. I was
enabled to cast my burden before the Lord, and I found
peace, I trust, through His precious blood; I went
home quite another man. Many passages of Scripture
occurred to my mind, and I felt surprised that I should
have learnt them by heart when young, and many -
times repeated them, and yet never considered what
they contained... . And then I began to see how won-
derfully God had led me, and protected me in so many
dangers, and even when in rebellion against Him, had
loved me, and called me out of darkness into His
marvellous light. Oh! why me—the chief of sinners
—the vilest of the vile? Oh, why me? why me ?
“¢ After I was thus called out of darkness into the
marvellous light of God, I felt a great desire to convert ~
those who were about me, which I believe is the case
with every young Christian. Accordingly, the first
thing I undertook was to tell my wife all that had
happened unto me, which she knew very well herself,
and to persuade her to come to Jesus; but I was dis-
appointed, and soon found that it belongs to the Lord
to bring men out of darkness into light.”
But what the servant could not do, the Lord Him-
self did. Not many months passed before William
Johnson’s wife was given to his earnest prayer, and
then, indeed, as he simply says, “his heart did sing
for joy.”
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. 63
Before this, however, the first notes of the Master’s
call had sounded in the ears of the future Missionary.
He tells us :— 7
“I began to attend missionary and Bible meetings.
In November, 1813, I attended a meeting held on the
occasion of the dismissal of three Missionaries to their
labours. When one of them opened the feelings of
his mind, I was greatly struck to find that his were
like mine ; and on his stating what induced him to go
abroad as a Missionary, I felt strongly what the Saviour
had done for me, and how great was the misery of the
heathen. I was greatly overcome, and gave free course
to the feelings of my heart, saying at the same time,
“Here am I, Lord; send me, uf it be Thy holy will... .
‘‘ These were my feelings that night. I was drowned
in tears: I turned myself to the wall, and gave free
course to the feelings of my heart. In this state was
my mind for some time, ‘Oh, if I could but go! here
am I, O Lord; send me!’ But I took it into close
consideration, and I thought that it never could be, for
the Society never would send a married man ; and many
other difficulties came into my mind, therefore I tried
to quench the desire. But this brought me into great
darkness, and I became quite prayerless and careless,
“Soon after, Mr. Stodhart used in the pulpit the
following words : ¢ Are any of you in darkness ? examine
yourselves, for something is the reason that God hides
His face.’ This brought me to a close examination,
and I found that, ever since I had quenched the desire
about the missionary work, I had been in darkness,
and I was constrained to call out, ‘That is it! that ig
64. THE FINISHED COURSE.
it! Lord, to Thee nothing 1s impossible ; here am I,
send me, if itis Thy will.’”
Still the way seemed so hedged up, that again he
resisted the impulse ; at length a heaven-sent message
from the pulpit once more aroused him, and he spoke
about it to his wife. She was much opposed to the
thought of leaving her now comfortable home, and
refused to think of going, though she said she would
not hinder him.
“ However, I made it a matter of prayer,’ writes
Johnson, “and soon found that my prayers were heard
and answered ; for a few days after, my wife had as
great a desire as I had.” :
He had made application through a friend to the
Church Missionary Committee, but, while waiting to
hear the result of it, he says, “One day Mr. During
called upon me. He told me that he was engaged in
the work of the Church Missionary Society, and that
they wished to send another with him to Africa. I
told him that I had a great desire to go out as a
Missionary, and he replied, that if I thought proper,
he would mention it to Mr. Pratt.”
The result is well known. The wise fathers of the
Church Missionary Society saw, in the poor warehouse-
man from the sugar factory, a workman of God’s own
preparing. He was accepted for the work to which the
Holy Ghost had already called him ; and, after a year’s
training as a schoolmaster, was sent forth to Sierra
Leone.
“ When the time of our departure came,” he writes,
“T was much distressed on account of the place of our
?
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON, 65
destination. Sierra Leone appeared always a very dark
spot to me; I had continually read the Missionary
Register, but saw as yet no fruit from that place.
Nothing but death and misery appeared before me.
However, when this was the case, I was mercifully
supported by that promise, ‘I will bring the blind by
a way which they know not.’ This promise, and that
other, ‘ My grace is sufficient for thee,’ comforted me,
and caused me to proceed cheerfully to Sierra Leone.
. . . Thus I have briefly declared the dealings of the
Lord towards me so far... . Oh the depth, both of the
wisdom and knowledge of God ; how unsearchable are
His judgments, and His. ways past finding out! Why
has the Lord bestowed so much mercy on me, who am
so vile and wretched? Oh, why me? why me ?”
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson landed in Sierra Leone, April
30th, 1816. After more than three years of labour there,
they returned for a few months to England. When on
the point of departing a second time for Africa, Mr. John-
son gave so beautiful and striking an account of what
“God had done by him,” that we cannot but transcribe
it here. It embodies the spirit of those wonderful
journals published in his memoir. He says :— |
“It is now four years since I left this country for
Sierra Leone. When I arrived, I found Mr. Bicker-
steth there. He appointed me to a place then called
Hog-brook, now Regent’s-town. I confess, that when
I arrived, though I had heard much of the misery of
the heathen, I never could have imagined that they
were so wretched, and so cruelly treated by the slave-
dealers, as I found the poor creatures liberated from
F
>
66 THE FINISHED COURSE.
the slave vessels had been. Many were very ill from
having been packed so close in those vessels. Six or
{ eight died daily ; others bore the marks of the slave-
trader’s whip ; so that the whole was a most distressing
sight. I felt, indeed, so discouraged, that had it been
1 possible to withdraw, I believe I should have done so. i
This sight at once brought me very low. I had been |
much depressed at sea, on account of the many dear
Christian friends whom I had left behind ; but it now
appeared as if I were cast out of the world, with
misery all around me, and no Christian communion.
Even now, when I reflect on the situation I was then
in, and the goodness of my merciful Redeemer in sus-
taining me in the hour of trial, I cannot help wondering
and admiring. I was enabled to carry all my troubles
to the throne of grace, and through reading and medi-
tation, I found my mind encouraged to ‘persevere. I
was upheld by the Word of God. He enabled me to
goon. Those passages, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee,
and ‘My strength is made perfect in weakness,’ still
upheld me in that trying hour.
“ When I first went among the negroes, af ter T had
| armed myself with the Bible, I told them why I came.
Twas not come to use them cruelly as they had before
been used, but I was come to tell them how they might: ‘
be saved and enjoy eternal happiness through the death
of Jesus Christ. They gave little heed to me, though
I visited them from day to day, and to my great morti-
fication, on Sunday only nine hearers came, and those
almost naked! I was much discouraged. However,
I went the next week, and told them why I came, and
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. 67
tried again to persuade them to come and hear God’s
Word ; and that if they desired to learn to read God’s
book, the Bible, I would instruct them. The following
Sunday, more came than my cottage would hold ; and
afterwards, we were obliged to leave the house for a
shed. The next morning I opened school, as I had
told them on Sunday. At nine o’clock in the morning,
to my surprise—but it was a very pleasant surprise—
I was so happy as to see ninety boys, fifty girls, and
thirty-six adults. I was at a loss how to begin with so
many. ‘hey had never seen a book, and having such
a large number, I knew not what to do. However,
I selected twelve of the most promising-looking boys,
and taught them the first four letters, according to
Bell’s system. When they knew these, I divided the
whole into twelve classes, and made one teach each
class. When they had taught their respective classes,
I taught these boys four other letters, till they had
surmounted the whole alphabet; and in a twelve-
month, some could read a little in the Testament and
| Bible.
| “Many times, when I had warned the people to flee
from the wrath to come, and take refuge in a crucified
Saviour, I had, after service, the great mortification of
visits from my hearers, either to be paid for attending,
or to receive something on some other account. Against
this I set my face, and constantly spoke against such
sort of requests.
| “My labours increased as more negroes arrived from
| the slave vessel. I had now to provide for 1,000 indi-
viduals, to whom I issued rations twice a week ; and
F2
68 THE FINISHED COURSE.
thus I was so much tired, that many times I was on
the point of giving up all ; but the prospect of bringing
some to the knowledge of Christ, enabled me to endure.
I continued speaking to as many as came, both morning
and evening, and three times on Sundays ; but saw no
signs of real conversion to God. I thought again, that
all would be in vain. ‘The rains were now very severe.
This increased my troubles; but in that weary time,
I received some letters from the Society, and from
other friends, which greatly comforted me. Meanwhile,
the people improved much in outward things, and be-
came industrious. Such as had lived in forests and
bushes, came, and begged alotin the town. ‘The streets
were regularly laid out, and houses built. They had
then few clothes, but began to work hard in order to
procure them, to appear in on Sundays. On the whole,
they made in twelve months a progress which astonished
many who visited us. A church had been building,
which, when finished, contained 500 persons. It was
filled as soon as opened. It was then enlarged for 700,
and was again filled as soon as opened. One Sunday,
the Governor, seeing no room in the Church, said,
‘We must take one end of the church down, and make
it as large again.’ This was done, and it now contains
1,300 ; and for two years it has been crowded every
Sunday three times a day.
“A creat progress was undoubtedly made, which was
very satisfactory ; but still there was no clear evidence
of conversion to God, and I was tempted to think my
labour was in vain. I made it a subject of earnest
prayer, that God would give me, if but one soul, I
Paani NM 5 alee Bie on | is he he
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. 69
would then say, with Simeon of old, ‘ Lord ! now lettest
thou thy servant depart in ib for mine eyes have
seen thy salvation.’
“One evening, when I had eae praying, and was
much cast down, a young man followed me, and said,
‘Massa, me want speak about my heart.’ I asked him
what he had to say about his heart. ‘For some time,
massa—three weeks—my heart bad too much. When
I lie down, or get up, or eat, or drink, I think of sins
committed in my own country, and sins since me came
Regent’s-town, and me don’t know what to do.’ I found
what his wants were, and thanked God that I was
enabled to point him to the ‘Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sins of the world.’ He rejoiced and
wept very much, and has continued unto this day, so
far as I know, to show forth a conduct and conversation
to the glory and praise of God. I went home, and
thanked God that He had heard my prayer. In the
following week, several more came. One woman was
much distressed, and said she had two hearts, which
troubled her so much, she did not know what to do.
One was the new heart, that told all things she had ever
been doing. The same heart told her that she must go
to Jesus Christ, and tell him all her sins, as she had
heard at church; but her old heart told her, ‘Not
now—never mind. God no save black man, but white
man. How know he died for black man? Her new
heart said, ‘Go, cry to him, and ask. Old heart tell
me, do my work first—fetch water, make fire, and then
go and pray. When work done, then me forget to
pray. lI read to her Romans vii. and showed her that
70 THE FINISHED COURSE.
the Apostle Paul felt just the same things. When I
came to the verse, ‘O wretched man that Iam! who
shall deliver me from the body of this death?’ she
said, ‘Oh, massa, that me—me not know what to do.’
I added the words of St. Paul, ‘I thank God through
Jesus Christ,’ and explained to her the love of Christ—
how he died for poor sinners like her. She burst into
tears, and has continued ever since, so far as I know,
to follow her Saviour. I might mention many more
such instances, did time permit. Soon after, on a Sun-—
day, twenty-one adults, one boy, and three infants,
were baptized. From that time, many were my encou-
ragements, though not without trials from frequent
illness—deaths on every side, and disappointments
from some that set out well, and then turned back again
to their former courses. All these trials have been the
means of humbling me; and I have now reason to
thank God for every cross he has been pleased to lay
upon me.
“From that time, I admitted such to Baptism and
to the Lord’s Supper, as showed in their life and con-
versation that divine grace had begun to work in their
hearts. When I left, April 23d, there were 263
communicants ; and on Easter Sunday I baptized 110
adults and 6 infants, and administered the Lord’s Supper
to 253 blacks and 4 whites, including myself. As soon
as the people felt the power of religion in their own
hearts, they desired that their countrymen should know
thesame. Some would go into the woods on the week-
days, and read to them passages in the Bible; and early
on Sunday mornings they would also tell their country-
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. fee
men what the Lord had done for their souls. They
were thus the instruments of bringing many to the
knowledge of the Saviour.
“The Lord’s Day is spent among us in this manner.
At six o'clock, we meet for family prayer. Then the
twelve older communicants go and visit the sick, and
if they know any place where the people do not attend,
they go and invite them to public worship. At ten,
the bell rings, but it is often of no use, the Church
being filled by half-past nine. At half-past ten, the
bell rings again, when we begin the service by singing
‘a hymn, after which I read the Morning Prayers. All
are present when I read the Exhortation. I have
never, or very seldom, observed one individual come in
after it. Then another hymn, and then, after a short
prayer, the sermon. At three o’clock, and again at
seven, all attend public worship. I rarely miss any
of them: all are in the habit of attending—husband,
wife and children—leaving their houses locked up.
Between the services, the families—sometimes by them-
selves, and at others, several families together-—are
employed in singing and prayer; and this, in every
quarter of the town. After evening service, they
retire to their houses, and I have several times heard
singing in the town till after midnight. On week-
days, we have morning and evening family-prayer in
the Church ; and never less than 500 attend, and some
times 900, or it is full.
“My feelings, in resuming my duties, differ, in some
respects, from those with which I went out to Africa
first. I have not to go to a people altogether in
2 THE FINISHED COURSE.
heathen darkness ; but my business is now not only to
‘turn men from darkness to light,’ but to ‘build up
the people of God on their most holy faith ;’—and
“Who ws sufficient for these things?’ ‘All our sufficiency
us of God.’ Iam going out, I trust, in the same spirit
in which I went out four years ago—leaning entirely
on the strength of the Lord. The climate, it is true,
is still very unhealthy ; and some of my dearest friends
and brethren in the Lord have fallen victims to it, since
my departure; but, by the grace of God, ‘ none of
these things move me.’ I am ready to go to Sierra
Leone, and ‘die there for the name of the Lord Jesus,”
and, while I am thus speaking, I doubt not but I
speak the language of the friends who are about to
accompany me. Who, indeed, can read the animating
accounts of the departures of our dear brethren and
sisters in the faith, without being encouraged, instead of
‘being cast down? We go, then, in the name of the
Lord, determined by His grace, to ‘know nothing among
men but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.’ ”
So simple, yet so grand, was this good man’s account
of his first years of missionary work, that it was im-
possible not to give it, word for word, as he related it
on that solemn occasion, when, with a party of eighteen
others, he was “commended by the Church (for the
second time) to the grace of God,” on departing to his
mission-station.
It now needs only to be added, in explanation of some
things, not noticed in his recital, that when he arrived in
Sierra Leone, he was, at first, appointed only as School-
master to Regent’s-town, or, rather, Hog-brook. But the
ee et
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. 13
want of a clergyman being much felt, he, together
with his beloved brother, Mr. Diiring, whose name
will ever be associated with his, was ordained, according
to the rites of the Lutheran Church, by the Lutheran
clergymen in the colony. He thus became emphatically,
the Pastor of Regent’s-town, which has long had the
pre-eminence among the African churches.
After three years of faithful labour, he was obliged
to accompany Mrs. Johnson to England, for the resto-
ration of her health, which was so weakened that she
was unable to take the voyage alone. His conflicting
emotions at the time, are thus touchingly described in
his journal :— |
“To leave my people seemed insupportable ; to leave
my wife equally so. Tears and sleepless nights have
been my portion. I saw my duty as a husband, on the
one hand, to accompany my dear wife in her affliction ;.
and, on the other, I feared to become a careless shep-
herd; and as trials of this kind seldom come alone, |
doubts and fears began to prevail, and I hardly knew
whether I was a Christian.”
But, “as his afflictions abounded, his consolations
much more abounded ;” and the Christian affection and
tender attachment of his beloved people’ were indeed
a comfort in the hour of separation.
The grievous parting between the Missionary and his
flock, is described in the language of one of the simple
native Christians: “The day when Mr. Johnson went
from Regent’s-town, was Monday, April 19th, and the
same day much people were in the house in the morning ;
and when he was going, much people shake hands with
74 THE FINISHED COURSE.
shim, till he tired ; and he was obliged to take two or
three people’s hands in his hand, at once. And then
we all go as far as to the bridge, and he go on on horse-
back ; and then he bid the people ‘good-bye,’ and all
say ‘good-bye ;’ and then some begin to weep, and some
follow as far as Freetown.”
A sad day, indeed, it was to the loving people of
Regent’s-town ; and a scene that can hardly be ima-
gined, far less described. The fact that Mr. Johnson
lost some of his finger-nails in consequence of that
day’s work, will give some idea of the warmth of the
farewell “shakes.” Hundreds, old and young, accom-
panied him to Freetown, a distance of five miles, along a
difficult road, and parted not with their faithful shep-
herd till they reached the shore, and then, pointing to
the sea, exclaimed, “‘ Massa, suppose no water live here
—me go with you all de way—till feet no more!”
In six months after his return to England, we once
more find Mr. Johnson on his way back to Africa—
accompanied by Mrs. Johnson, though her health was far
from being re-established, and by his sister, who seems
to have shared her brother’s missionary ardour. ‘The
spirit in which he returned to his work we have already
seen ; and the joyous welcome from his children in the
Lord, may be imagined from their sorrow at losing him.
A man at Freetown saw him landing, and immediately
ran with the tidings to Regent’s-town. The excitement
which the news caused, is graphically described in a
journal of one of the native teachers.
“January 31st, 1820.—In the evening Mr. Wilhelm
keep service . . . and when he had done preaching,
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. 75
we did sing, and concluded with prayer ; and when he
done praying, and the people begin to go out, one man
came into the church, and said, ‘ All people hear! Mr.
Johnson send me to come and tell you—he come/ he
live in town!’ And the people began to make a_noise.
Some could not get out through the door, but jumped
out through the window—they so full of joy. Some
went to Freetown the same night; and some sing
all the night through. I went down to Freetown at five
o'clock the next morning, and I was very glad to see
Mr. Johnson again in this country.”
Regent’s-town had passed through many trials during
her pastor’s absence. One faithful young labourer who
had been left in charge, had been called away to his
rest." Another had hindered the work through mis-—
management ; but all their trouble was more than for-
gotten when their own loved minister stood once more
among them ; and his affectionate testimony to them
was, that he “did not find the least difference in
them.”
It is impossible even to glance at the numberless
instances of encouragement which God vouchsafed to
him; they will be gathered from a reference to his
journals, and those of his African helpers in the work.
They are full of deep interest and instruction to every
Christian heart. ;
(1) We cannot omit a touching anecdote with reference to this devoted
young Missionary, Mr. Cates. When his poor old mother was trying, with-
out a ticket, to gain admission to one of the crowded annual meetings
then held in Freemasons’ Hall, the door-keeper asked her if she was a
subscriber. ‘‘ No,” washer answer, and she was turning sadly away, when,
suddenly recollecting herself, she exclaimed, ‘‘Yes, lam! I have given an
only son!” A noble subscription indeed !
Ly Se ee ee eT Ee nee scene eee eer
males tiemmentieentindie tte ante
naan spe
ean Age | ett
76 THE FINISHED COURSE.
But his joys were not unmingled with sorrow.
Many a Missionary death-bed he was called to attend.
He was himself laid low with fever, and his wife and
sister suffered severely from the climate.
At length, Mrs. Johnson’s health obliged her once
more to leave for England. It was a bitter trial for her
husband, who thus speaks of it in his journal :-—
“ May 4th, 1822.—I took leave this morning of my
dear wife: what I felt on the occasion I cannot express.
Were there any prospect of my again seeing her in the
flesh, my grief would not be so great; but under the
circumstances of her again being obliged to return to
Kingland, I cannot help deeply feeling for her. She
will have to spend the remainder of her days in
the greatest misery. May the Lord give her patience,
and afford her support in the hour of death ; which, I
think, cannot be far off. I cannot be sufficiently thank-
ful for the mercy of the Lord, under this severe trial.
I have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, the smiles of His
countenance. I can say, with resignation, ‘the will of
the Lord be done.’ One passage of Scripture is con-
tinually on my mind—‘ What I do thou knowest not
now, but thou shalt know hereafter.’ I know that this
trial ‘shall work together for my good,’ and that God
will give me strength according to my day. When I
came home, the people looked at me with tears in their
eyes ; 1b appeared as though they wished to speak to
me, but were too full of sorrow to say anything. One
man came at last, and said he could not help weeping
when he sawme. ‘Mammy, he said, ‘has now been
with us six years, and she stands the same to us, like
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. arg
our own mother; God take her away, and who know
how soon he take you away; and what will then
become of Regent’s-town? Again, when I think about
mammy’s sickness, my heart feel I never see any person
suffer so; and when she go, she say she will never
see us again till we meet at the right hand of God ;—
them words go through my heart.’ He wept much,
and wounded my heart afresh.”
For a year longer, he laboured on alone: sorrowing,
yet rejoicing with a joy that none but a spiritual parent
can feel. “Ah, who would not be a Missionary to
Africa?” he writes, in the fulness of his joy, at seeing
one and another turn to the Lord. “Had I ten thou-
sand lives, I would willingly offer them up for the sake
of one poor negro.” |
But the Missionary’s work was nearly done ; the time
had come when he was to lay down for Africa the one
life that God had given him. Ophthalmia had broken
out in the colony, and he suffered severely from it.
Cough, too, and frequent hoarseness reminded him that
he needed rest; the doctors urged it upon him, and
tidings from Europe seemed to point out that now was
the time to take it. His presence was needed in Ger-
many, to arrange for the settlement of a young brother,
whom his mother’s death had just left an orphan:
besides, he heard that, to the surprise of all, Mrs.
Johnson was recovering, and the longing that he had
felt a short time before, to see her once more before she
died, was changed to an eager desire to bring her back
with him to labour again in Africa.
Mr. and Mrs. Diiring, under whose care Mrs. Johnson
ae ee
78 THE FINISHED COURSE.
had gone to England, returned to Sierra Leone in January,
1823, with their two children, and a little band of addi-
tional labourers. It was settled that Mr. Johnson should
return in the same ship that had brought them out.
Ere he embarked, three of those who had come out
in her were no more! Mr. Bunyer fell asleep on April
19th; Mr. Diiring’s little son on the 23d; and the
Rev. W. Schemel on the 25th.
Very bitter was the grief of the Regent people at
what they thought was only a temporary separation
from their dear father in Christ. What would it have
been, had they known that they would see his face no
more ! |
It was a time of sickness and death. Fever of a
peculiar malignity was raging : the poor Dirings, there-
fore, determined to send back their little girl, now their
only remaining child, under Mr. Johnson’s care. He
took with him, in consequence, one of his dear Regent’s-
town communicants, as nurse to the child. It is from
the simple narrative of this young negress that we
learn all that is known of the Missionary’s last hours.
Though, to all appearance, the fever had not attacked
him when he went on board, he must have carried the
infection with him.
Before the ship left the harbour, he wrote the follow-
ing message to his flock. Surely the depression which
it indicates was a token of the fatal disease which was
even then upon him. “Tell them that their poor
minister is very low and much distressed in mind, and
wants their prayers very much. He does not enjoy that
communion which brings the child of God into the real
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. 79
enjoyment of Christian liberty. O Holy Ghost, dispel
these distressing thoughts from the wandering mind
of thy unworthy creature !”
It was not until the third day after he had left Africa
that signs of fever appeared. Day by day it grew more
violent; and on Saturday, May 3d, that most fatal
symptom appeared which, in the country fever, was
then always the precursor of death.
“I think I cannot live,” he said to his weeping
attendant. Then delirium came on; yet, in his wan-
derings, his heart was with his’ people. He called
repeatedly for David Noah, his faithful African helper,
and for his brother Diiring, wanting “ to tell them all
he had to say before he died.”
After a time, he became calmer, and spoke of his —
wife, and how he could have wished to see her before
his death ; then, with unselfish thoughtfulness, he tried
to comfort his poor sorrowing child in the faith, and
gave her full directions what to do when she should
land alone and a stranger in England ; telling her too,
to take good care of her little charge.
Afterwards, he asked her to read to him the 23d
Psalm. “ When I had read it,” she relates, “he said to
me, ‘Lam going to die—pray for me!’ Then I prayed the
Lord Jesus take him the right way.” There is some-
thing very touching in this scene : the dying Missionary
in his berth in the little cabin, and the poor black girl,
with her little white baby, kneeling by him, praying in
her simple words that the Lord Jesus would take him
the right way. After sending a letter to the Missionary
Society, begging them to “ find a good minister” for his
80 THE FINISHED COURSE.
“dear Regent,” he left a dying charge for David Noah.
“Tell him to do his duty—for if he say, ‘ Because
massa dead, I can do nothing ;’ he must pray, and God
will help him, and so we shall meet in Heaven.”
The last words poor Sarah Bickersteth could catch
were, ‘‘I cannot live. God calls me—-I shall go to him
this night.” It was even so. ‘That night William
Johnson went to be “for ever with the Lord.”
No pen could describe the mourning at Regent, when
the news that their minister was dead reached the loving
flock. ‘The information,” writes the Missionary who had
temporary charge of the station, ‘ soon spread through
the town, and in a few minutes our house was thronged
with weeping inquirers. I endeavoured to comfort
them, telling them that God had certainly carried him
away for his and their good—that he had finished his
work, and was now gone to receive his reward ; that
God would not, even now, forsake them, but would still
be gracious unto them. JI toid them to go home, and
ask of God grace to bear the trial as became them, and
promised to read the letters at the church in the
evening. In the evening the church was crowded.
Before I began the service I spoke to them, and asked
them not to make any noise, as I knewit was an
African custom to cry aloud when they have lost a
friend. They then sang the following hymn :—
* Dear refuge of my weary soul.’
The passage that came in course of our consideration
this evening was John viii. 12—19. I dwelt more
particularly on v. 12. I then read the letters. All
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. 81
were remarkably quiet and attentive. We then
sang,
‘In every trouble sharp and strong.’
Knowing the strength of African feeling, and their
affection for the departed, I was much astonished at
the manner of the people. Nota word or a sob was
heard in church, after service. All was silent grief.”
“‘ My dear brethren,” said one of the African converts
to his fellow-mourners, at this season of sorrow, “I
think God took him away because we looked more to
Mr. Johnson than we did to the Lord Jesus. I hope
that this trial will make us look more to the Lord
Jesus, for He alone can save us. He alone is the light
of the world. Let us go to Him, and beg Him to
sanctify this trial to us, and then let us show our love
to our dear minister by doing what he told us.”
Many years have passed since the body of the holy
Johnson was committed to the waves of the Atlantic.
No monument could be raised on its restless waters to
mark his last resting-place. But a monument, far more
lasting than of brass or marble, is to be seen at Regent ;
not alone in the church and school-house, which he
built, but in the numerous band of converts—the
spiritual temple which he reared to his Saviour’s
glory.
It is true that for long years there was a time of
declension at Regent, when, one after another, her
teachers were removed, and many of the nominal Chris-
tians were written as “backsliders ;” but, as we are
taken thither, from time to time, in tracing the lives of
its Missionaries, we shall see that it was only the out--
G
Bt PERT tit Lea,
82 THE FINISHED COURSE.
ward professors who went back. God’s own true people
there have been “ kept,” and are so tothisday. Month
by month, many a grey-headed communicant, Johnson’s
holy, humble, consistent child in the Lord, kneels at
the table of his Redeemer on earth; and many, many
more have joined their Missionary in the glorious pre-
sence of their King above.
The name of Regent’s Town no longer stands on the
list of the Church Missionary ‘Society’s stations—but
why? She needs no more a Missionary ! She has her
own earnest, diligent, native Pastor, supported by her-
self; and not only so, but she has four representatives,
tried men from among the communicants, labouring as
Missionaries in their father-lands—one at Ibadan, and
three far away on the banks of the Niger!
Most of the people of Regent belong to the Ibo
tribe, who dwell on that high road to the centre of
Africa. The Rev. George Nicol, their pastor, lately
took advantage of the presence of Mr. Taylor, another
native brother in the ministry, who had just returned
from a mission-journey thither, to have an Lbo service
in his church, and, the next day, a missionary meeting.
Mr. Taylor gave them an account of what he had seen
in the land of their fathers, and told them of Onitsha,
a large town on the very banks of the Niger, where
God had granted him the honour of commencing a
missionary station, and where he is now faithfully
labouring. Mr. Nicol says of this Trinity Surder—
“Nearly 400 communicants presented themselves
before the Holy table. Mr. Taylor, in a very impres-
sive manner, delivered the bread and cup in Ibo, and
A in 8 SAECO 1 Nl dell Lapel lads lab sin tus
" neler tl i AAs ice wi ic tito ?
REV. WILLIAM AUGUSTINE BERNARD JOHNSON. ~ 83
I followed in English. It was a solemn season, and
was made a blessing to many a soul. The afternoon
service was conducted entirely in Ibo. Many were
melted to tears, and, at the close of the service, one and
another said to me, “ We are without excuse : we have
heard the Word of God read, and preached in our own
language. Johnson told us we should see this day.”
Are we not almost tempted to wish that the believing
Missionary had lived to behold with his own eyes, what
his holy faith foresaw! And yet, who would really
desire to have him back, even for an hour of-such pure
and holy joy as the sight would have caused? Human
tongue will not tell of the unspeakable bliss he has
entered upon, but it is summed up in that wonderful
word which God the Holy Ghost has dictated—he is
“ satosfied.”
iis ee eee et agate Fu SSeS eae pL EE ctr aa Sse a
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REV. HENRY DURING.1
Sailed Feb. 1816. Died Nov. 1823.
—
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S34 Z=
MRS. KRUSE.
Satled Feb. 1826. Died Feb. 19th, 1842.
‘* A mother in Israel.”—Judges v. 7.
Aretea| 4 must not pass by Hyypt, without pausing,
78 Vi YR for a time, at the name of one who, during
blades) sixteen years, humbly and faithfully laboured
there for her Lord and Saviour,
Well nigh the first possession of the Missionaries in
ligypt, was a grave at Alexandria, where they had laid
their young sister, Mrs. Miiller, whose short stay in
that land was almost entirely aie on a bed of weak-
ness and pain.
The next grave was at Cairo. _ It was that of a de-
voted young Missionary, sent out in 1836, to join the
Abyssinian Mission.
In consequence of the urgent appeals for help, from
Mr. Gobat, after the death of his friend and comrade
Kiigler, three German brethren were set apart for this
mission—Mr. Volz, the Rev. J. Henry Knoth, and the
Rev. Ch. Blumhardt.
Of these three, only one entered upon work. The
Lord of the harvest called the others to enter into rest.
(1) Egypt.
MRS. KRUSE. | 203
Mr. Volz died in his fatherland, even before em-
barking. Mr. Knoth reached Egypt; but, while
waiting there, with eager expectation, for an oppor-
tunity of proceeding to Abyssinia, he, too, was called
home.
In a letter from Mr. Blumhardt, the only survivor
of the three, we find some touching particulars of his
brother Knoth’s last days on earth.
He had been unwell, for many weeks; but it was
not until five or six days before his death, when low
typhus fever had set in, that he was considered to be
in any danger. He himself does not seem to have
thought that his sickness was unto death, until the very
day before his departure. In the afternoon of that day,
August 14th, he called Mr. Blumhardt to him, and
said, very tenderly,—‘“ My dear brother, has it come
into your mind, that perhaps it may please God to
separate me from you, and to take me home to His
kingdom?” The poor friend could scarcely reply.
“ Be of good cheer, my brother,” Mr. Knoth continued,
“T believe that I shall go home. I must say I should
have liked to remain here a little longer, to serve the
Lord, but His will be done.”
As the hour of death drew nigh, he suffered much
from difficulty of breathing. Some of the Mahom-
medan servants in the room were wringing their hands
over their heads, in sympathy for his pain. The dying
Missionary tried to speak to them, but was unable.
He could only point to his breast, and then raise his
finger with a smile to heaven. |
‘Later in the night,” writes Mr. Blumhardt, “he
904 THE FINISHED COURSE.
suddenly began to pray in a loud voice, piercing our
inmost souls; half in English, and half in German.
“Oh Lord Jesus Christ, thou my Deliverer and Re-
deemer, have mercy on me! Forgive me all my sins,
for the sake of thy blood, which was.shed for me! Oh,
wash and cleanse me therein! Take my soul into thy
hands, O Jesus. Receive me into thy Kingdom pre-
pared forme. Help me, Oh help me, in the hour of
death, Oh thou Conqueror of death! Thine I am,
O Jesus.”
The prayer was heard. A few hours more of mortal
conflict, and he was with Jesus, ‘“‘ whose he was, and
whom he served.”
* * * *% %
But we must not linger any longer away from her,
whose name is at the head of this paper.
In the same year that the Missionaries Gobat and
Kiigler sailed for Abyssinia, two other German brethren
went forth, to commence a mission in Hgypt—the
Rev. J. Rudolph Leider, and the Rev. William Krusé.
The former has been spared to labour in Egypt
for nearly forty years, and the latter continued at his
post not far short of thirty, when he was transferred to
Palestine. |
The mission in Egypt, which these two faithful,
patient Missionaries sustained, almost single-handed,
for so many years, has been one of much discourage-
ment, though not entirely without fruit.
The religion of the country is far more difficult to
attack than actual Paganism, the mass of the people
being either Mahommedans, or nominal Christians of
MRS. KRUSH. 205
the Coptic Church, who, though professing belief in
Christ, are nearly as destitute of a saving knowledge of
the truth as the heathen themselves, and far more
bigoted.
The Missionaries, during their residence in Egypt,
have sold and distributed copies of the Bible in all di-
rections, and in every language—in Arabic, Turkish,
Greek, Coptic, Armenian, Hebrew, Syriac, English,
Spanish, Ethiopic, and Amharic. With almost every
book have been spoken a few earnest words, acconi-
panied by heart-prayer to God for a blessing on it.
Schools have been established in different parts of
Cairo, where, during those years, hundreds of children
have been taught to read the Word of God. In 1833,
a seminary, or boarding school, for from ten to twenty
boys, was commenced under the care of Mr. and Mrs.
Krusé, in which promising young men received a
thorough education, based upon Christian principles.
Mr. Leider’s special work was “‘itinerating,” at certain
seasons of the year. Many a missionary journey has
been taken through the country, when Bibles and tracts
have been sown, broad-cast, over the land, and the
way of salvation plainly declared, not peeracenthy, to
attentive listeners.
On the Sabbath, services have been regularly held,
in English, for the benefit of the residents and tra-
vellers ; and in Arabic, for the natives.
The houses of both Missionaries have always been
open to inquirers of all classes ; and, wherever it was
possible, the people have been visited in their own
dwellings.
|
{
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_
206 THE FINISHED COURSE.
In 1862, the mission to Egypt was closed for the
present. But those thirty years of witness for God,—
have they been in vain? Will not “that day” reveal
many bright, though now unknown gems, that will then
shine in the Missionaries’ crown of rejoicing? Surely,
we should always try thus to cherish hopeful trust in
the faithfulness of our God.
It was in these varied labours, that, for more than
sixteen years, Mrs. Krusé cheered her husband’s spirit,
encouraged him in trial, and nursed him in sickness,
“unceasingly watching over his welfare,” as he says,
“ with more than a mother’s care.”
From the time of her arrival, in 1826, she began
herself to “do what she could,” in the work of the
Lord. The first step was to learn Arabic ; and this
she did so diligently, that, though much hindered by
sickness, and by the care of her own two little children,
she was able, in 1829, to commence a school for native
girls. At first, but few came; and some of these
would bring messages from their mothers, that they
‘‘need not learn to read.’ However, she was firm in
her determination not to teach sewing, without reading ;
and soon both acquirements were valued.
In time, this little school much increased ; and it
was with the greatest reluctance, that Mrs. Krusé
closed it, when obliged to return, for a time, to Europe,
on account of her health. It was afterwards re-opened,
under the care of a native mistress.
The Lord gave, and took away from this loving
mother, many dear little children. ‘The first blow was
a very heavy one. In 1831, the plague, that scourge
=. Ae
MRS. KRUSE. 207
of Egypt, raged fearfully in Cairo. Hundreds died
daily. For a time, Mr. Krusé dispensed medicines,
from morning till night. At length, he became very
ill, and was confined for some days to his bed. Scarcely
had he recovered, when, at three o’clock, one never-
forgotten morning, came the sudden alarm that their
little William, the darling first-born boy, who had just
reached the engaging age of five years, was attacked
by the plague. The agonized parents used every means
to check the terrible disease ; butin vain. The Good
Shepherd was calling their little lamb. In five hours,
he was in the fold above.
When the seminary was established, Mrs. Krusé took
charge of the boarding-pupils in her own house, and
was indeed a mother, a loving Christian mother, to
them. She not only provided for their temporal wants,
but gently and tenderly warned or encouraged them, as
she saw they needed it 3 “watching for their souls, as
one that must give account.” “She devoted herself to
this work of the Lord, her husband could say, “in all
sungleness of heart.”
Though “ always intent on heavenly things,” the
last two years of failing health were also a time of
much spiritual growth, and of rapid ripening for her
sudden call. She “knew in whom she had believed,”
and loved increasingly to speak of Him, and of the
glorious home with Him, to which she felt she was soon
going.
For several years, she had had, at times, great suffer-
ing. In 1841, it was evident that her Streneth was
breaking ; and she felt in herself that her time of de-
;
7
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;
\
h
h}
|
208 THE FINISHED COURSE.
parture was drawing near. Very earnest were her
prayers that, if God removed her, He would prolong
her husband’s life, for the sake of her remaining
children. When change of air was proposed, she
declined it, fearing that she might die when away from
home, and leave her children among strangers.
But the summons, so long expected, came very
suddenly at last. On Saturday morning, Feb. 19, she
seemed unusually well, stronger, and brighter than for
some months past. About noon, she went out to take
leave of a friend, who was just starting for India.
When she came home, she stood by her husband’s side,
talking cheerfully to him, while he was finishing his
packet of letters for the mail ; and afterwards was busy,
for a short time, attending to some household arrange-
ments.
About two o’clock, she was taken with violent head-
ache and faintness. Her husband sent immediately for
the doctor. Before he came, and while Mr. Krusé had
been called away for a few minutes, to make arrange-
ments for the services of the next day, she was taken
worse. He hastily returned to her, and found her
already unconscious. It was not until half-past three,
that the doctor arrived. As soon as he saw her, he
said that he could do nothing for her, as she was
already fast sinking under an attack of apoplexy. It
was even so. Before four o’clock, she had quietly, and
without the least struggle, breathed her last.
It was a merciful ending to her life of labour. Instead
of the weeks of pain and weariness she had expected,
she just “fell asleep,” to waken with the Lord.
&
MRS. KRUSE, | 209
On Monday evening she was laid to rest, in the Greek
churchyard of Cairo, A long procession of sorrowing
friends, both native and European, followed her to ‘the
grave. Just as they reached the churchyard, to the
surprise of all, a party of young men, now clerks in
Government service, but formerly “Seminary boys,”
here stepped forward, and taking the coffin from the
bearers, carried it into the church, and afterwards to
the grave. It was a tribute of grateful love to the
memory of her.who had been as a mother to them.
Some of them were weeping most bitterly.
Her memory was indeed “blessed.” Even .the
Coptic Patriarch sent three bishops to Mr. Krusé, to
express his sympathy with him, saying that, “she had
been universally beloved, and that every one spoke of
her piety.”
And there they lie, in the land of Egypt,—that young
sister and brother, scarcely permitted to enter upon
work,—and that Missionary matron, with her babes
around her !
Egypt holds some precious dust of the Lord’s saints.
Many of His own ancient servants there “died in
faith, not having received the promises.” Many, too,
to whom, in the early days of Ghristianity, it “was
given, not only to believe on the name of the Lord
Jesus, but also to suffer for His sake,” there rest in
hope, and, with their brethren of later days, are there
waiting for the resurrection morning.
La
210 THE FINISHED COURSE.
When the Lord shall come, then will these “ bond-
slaves of corruption” arise, and Egypt will again
send forth a rejoicing host, to enter upon a better
Canaan, | :
EAST AFRICA. —
BEER, EAR ag nt ai Nee Ae
REV. CHRISTIAN PFEFFERLE. . .. . RABBAI MPIA.
P2
ome
B
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MRS. KRAPF,4
Sailed August, 1842, Died July 13th, 1844.
““My strength is made perfect in weakness.” —2 Cor. xii. 9.
¢ EELS. HE course of another Missionary sister— but
AGE Peal very different from the last. Instead of the
eS) sixteen years of patient, almost unvarying toil,
perniitted to Mrs. Krusé, this young labourer was never
allowed to engage in direct Missionary work. The two
years of her short career, were almost entirely spent in
hovering around the countries which her husband was
endeavouring to penetrate, As soon as entrance had
been found, and she was settled in her East African
home, full of bright plans of usefulness, her heavenly
Master called her to the better home above.
Her chief work, during her short Missionary life, was
to share her husband’s dangerous journeys, and cheer
his spirit, amidst his many discouragements and diffi-
culties. It is by her noble death, however, and by her
lonely grave, that she chiefly speaks, not only to the
pagan Wonicas, but to every Missionary sister who may
follow after her,
Before we begin to tell of her soon “ finished course,’
(1) Mombas, East Africa.
O14 THE FINISHED COURSE.
it will be necessary to trace the steps by which she
was led to that land of darkness, else it would almost
seem that her bright young life had been needlessly
thrown away. Assuredly, it was not. God had guided
her husband to those shores, by very marked leadings
of His Providence, and she felt that she was in the path
of duty in going with him.
Many years ago, a German father brought home a
present to his little sons It seemed a small thing—
nothing but a few maps. But great events hinged
thereupon. The boy, a bright intelligent little fellow
of thirteen, pondered deeply over those maps, especially
that of Africa. ‘ Why,” he thought to himself, ‘are
those countries, on the eastern side, so bare and blank,
so thinly marked with names? Can it be that there
are no inhabitants? or are the people so wild and
savage that no traveller has ventured to go thither?”
From that hour, arose in his mind the ardent desire
himself to explore those unknown regions, particularly
Abyssinia and Zanzibar.
The boy’s heart had not yet been given to God. This
wish was then only the natural longing of an enthu-
siastic and enterprising spirit. But a few years after,
when the Lord, in great mercy, had brought the youth
to Himself, there happened another circumstance, which
once more directed his thoughtsto Abyssinia
‘Entering a shop, to buy a book of travels, his eye,
by accident, as it appeared, fell on “ Bruce’s Travels in
Abyssinia.” He bought the volume, and devoured it,
eagerly. All his old interest was now revived; but,
—
MRS. KRAPF, 215
this time, with a different object in view. He longed,
not, as before, merely to explore those countries as a
traveller and a discoverer, but to go thither as a herald
of salvation, and tell of the Redeemer whom he had
learned to love,
Years passed on, At last, his way was “made plain
to offer himself as a candidate to the Basle Missionary
Society. He was accepted: but what would be his
station ? Would the Committee send him to the land
of his boyish dreams—of his later hopes and. prayers ?
He is ready to go anywhere, in the name of his Lord,
though his heart is strangely drawn to Abyssinia. No,
it is not to be, That Mission has just been reinforced,
and he is not needed there. He is appointed to Smyrna.
Well, it matters not; it is the same work everywhere—
his Master’s pete aad he counts it all honour to take
any part in it.
But God was only trying him. Just as he was
starting for Asia Minor, came the tidings that Mr.
Gobat was returning, in broken health, from the scene
of his labours; and that Mr. Volz and Mr. Knoth,
two of the three young brethren, appointed to join the
Mission, had died before arriving.
The destination of Dr. Krapf, whom many of our
readers will recognise as the subject of this sketch, was
now changed; he was appointed to Abyssinia, and,
leaving Europe early in 1837, arrived safely in the
province of Tigré. We may imagine the feelings with
which he, at last, stood on the shores of East Africa,
and looked back on. the way by e the Lord had
led him thither.
216 THE FINISHED COURSE.
But Tigré was not to be his rest. Before he had
been three months in that province, the Mission-
arles were all expelled, through the influence of the
Jesuits.
Still, neither the Missionaries, nor the Missionary
Society, could desert Abyssinia, but fondly clung to the
hope that her Church might be revived by the pure
Word of God, and even yet become a “ praise in the
earth.”
They resolved, therefore, to make another attempt
upon the southern province, the kingdom of Shoa.
They were the rather induced to this, by the hope that
the Missionaries might thence make inroads upon the
Galla tribes, to the south.
Accordingly, in the spring of 1839, Dr. Krapf and
Mr. Isenberg entered the kingdom of Shoa. Mr. Isen-
berg was soon obliged to return home ; but, for three
years, Dr. Krapf remained, a solitary but faithful wit-
ness for God in that dark land.
He had many opportunities of intercourse with the
Gallas, and accompanied the King of Shoa on three
military expeditions among them. He prepared, too,
translations of the Scriptures into their language, and
was full of hope as to future openings for Evangelists
among them. |
His position in Abyssinia seemed to be fully esta-
blished, for, when an embassy was sent by the East
India Company to Shoa, Dr. Krapf was appointed In-
terpreter, and a treaty was made with the King for
the protection of British subjects. | .
But, even then, there were vague warnings from the
MRS. KRAPF, 217
ecclesiastics, that Protestant Missionaries would not
long be allowed to continue in Abyssinia. They said
that “heretics were tolerated for three years, and then,
if they did not conform, they were to be put away,
either by banishment or death.” |
Two young Missionaries, sent out to reinforce the
Mission, were violently expelled from the coast, their
servants were murdered, and their own lives put in
great danger.
Still, Dr. Krapf thought that his footing, at least,
was secure ; both on account of his influence with the
King, and his long residence in the country. Believing,
therefore, that all was safe, and weary with his years of
lonely labour, he went to Cairo to fetch his bride,
whom Mr. Isenberg, on his return from Europe, had
brought with him thither.
He was married to Rosine Diettrich, in September,
1842 ; and, shortly after, they both started on their
journey southward.
Thus it was, that this Christian heroine entered upon
her wild and almost romantic Missionary course.
Her prospect, at first, seemed a very bright one. Her
husband had a footing in that most interesting country,
which others could barely penetrate. Would not his
be the glory of evangelizing Shoa, and of being the
pioneer of future evangelists among the dark Galla
tribes? And would not hers be the joy of brighten-
ing his home, of cheering him in loneliness, and en-
couraging him in disappointment? Perhaps, too, she
might herself have the privilege of telling some of her
poor East African sisters, the way to heaven !
918 THE FINISHED COURSE,
Yes, it was indeed a bright prospect. How different
from the reality! And yet, would she now tell us
that she had been disappointed? Would she not
rather say that the fair land of rest, upon which she
so soon entered, was better far, and brighter far,
than the happiest home, and the pleasantest work, in
Abyssinia ?
When they arrived on the borders of Shoa, they
found the door closed against them. An edict had
been issued by the King, forbidding Europeans to enter
the country. Every attempt to prevail on the chiefs of
the intervening tribes to allow them to pass, was in
vain ; and sadly they retraced their steps.
The other Missionaries made one more attempt to
enter Tigré, on the north; while Dr. and Mrs. Krapf
went to Aden, hoping thence to reach the heathen
Galla tribes of South-eastern Africa. :
* T could not,’ writes the noble-hearted Missionary,
“answer for it at the Day of Judgment, if I should
part with this quarter of Africa; before, at least, some
real attempt had been made for the propagation of our
holy faith, in this part of the continent.”
All the information that Dr. Krapf could gather,
both as to climate, and the disposition of the people,
was most favourable, and he writes: ‘There are many
circumstances which may lead us firmly to believe that
the good tidings of our Redeemer’s kingdom may soon
be proclaimed in these hitherto closed countries.”
Surely the long-cherished desire of his heart was
now to be realized, and he was to become the Apostle
of South-eastern Africa,
MRS, KRAPF, 219
But six months must elapse, before he could receive
the reply of the Committee, authorizing him to make
the attempt, and before the season of the year would
be suitable for it. The Missionary could not, mean-
while, be idle; he, therefore, determined, for the present,
to join his brethren in Tigré. He left Aden, with Mrs.
Krapf, at the end of April, 1843; but, when they
arrived on the frontiers of the province, they found
that their friends had been exposed to both difficulty
and danger in the interior. They remained, therefore,
on the borders, waiting for a safe opportunity of entering
the country ; but, meantime, not unemployed.
While here, a sore trial overtook them. The young
wife was looking forward, with hope, to the prospect of
soon being a mother; but it was expected that, long
before that time, they would have reached “some cer-
tain dwelling-place.” This, however, was not to be.
Their path lay over a large, sandy plain, dotted here
and there with trees. This gradually contracted, till
they entered the bed of a river, running between steep
hills of hard rock, The roughness of the way, and
the exceeding heat, proved too much for Mrs. Krapf.
There, in the narrow and dry bed of a torrent sur-
rounded by hills infested by all sorts of wild beasts—
particularly hyenas and lions, which had to be kept
away at night by large fires,—her first little babe was
born. It was a wilderness indeed ; no covering but
their nightly-pitched tent, no physician, no nurse, no
outward comfort of any kind! But they had a mighty,
never-failing Friend, and He did not desert them in
their hour of need.
220 THE FINISHED COURSE.
The father shall tell the story, in his own touching
words :—
“In the helpless situation in which we were, we
lifted our hearts to Him, from whom alone we may
expect true support, under all the afflictions and anxieties
of life ; and He graciously heard our sighs and prayers.
We believed firmly, that whatever, through our igno-
rance and want of skill, we should do wrong, our in-
visible and almighty Friend could make right, and lead
the whole matter to a safe and happy conclusion. About
four o’clock in the morning, the patient was delivered
of a little daughter ; who, however, as she was given too
early, so she was taken from our hands too soon, ac-
cording to the mysterious dispensation of God. The
beloved child breathed only an hour, and then the
Heavenly Gardener transplanted her to a better world, —
till we shall see her again before the throne of glory.
She lived just long enough to receive the sacrament of
baptism, which I administered under the tears of my
dear wife and myself; wherefore, we called the child’s
name “ Hneba,” which means in Amharic, “a tear,”
and which shall, in general; remind us of our whole
tearful course since we left Egypt. With heartfelt
pain, we buried the child, in the evening, under a tree
in the vicinity of our tent. He, the all-wise and
gracious God, gave, and He has taken again; to His
name be glory for ever and ever. As there were
several Amharic people with our caffila, I used the
Amharic Prayer-book, in performing the funeral service.
“ Rest and tranquillity would now have benefited my
dear wife; but such a thing was sought for in vain
MRS, KRAPF. — oi
among the noisy and annoying Shoho people. After
my wife's confinement, their perpetual outcry was, to
move on to the next station. It was only by giving
them a cow for food, and a dollar per day, that I could
persuade them to stay three days, till Mrs. Krapf should
have got some strength to leave the station.
‘On the 29th, we left Mashen, which place will ever
be an Ebenezer to us.
“Truly, the Lord is a faithful God, who will never
leave nor forsake us, if we trust in Him!”
Thus, three days after the birth of her babe, the
poor young mother was dragged along on her toilsome
journey. They were soon rejoined by the other two
Missionaries, who had been imperatively ordered to
leave the country. It was now useless to attempt to
remain longer ; and they all returned together, to Aden.
But, though disappointed in regaining a footing in
Abyssinia, they felt that this last expedition had not
been in vain. Upwards of two thousand copies of the
Bible had been sown, broad-cast, among a willing
people ; precious seed, which must, sooner or later, bear
blessed fruit.
All but one of the Missionary party were transferred
to other Missions. Dr. Krapf, however, as soon as he
received the sanction of the Committee, started, with
his wife, on his long-desired expedition to the Gallas,
But danger seemed to attend it from the very com-
mencement. They left Aden, in November, 1843. After
tossing about for four days, in very rough weather, and
making little or no progress, their boat sprang a leak.
The kitchen utensils, which Mrs. Krapf was carrying
bd THE FINISHED COURSE,
with her, were used in baling out the water, but in
vain ; it increased rapidly upon them. Atlength, they
realized that they were in imminent danger. ‘“ My
dear wife and myself retired to our cabin,” writes
Dr. Krapf, “ to unite ourselves in prayer. We recom-
mended our bodies and souls, our dear friends at home,
the whole Mission cause, and especially our Galla
Mission, to the protection of the Lord. Sometimes, we
felt great readiness to follow the Lord, whether He
would call us to death, or permit us still longer to
remain in the land of the living ; but sometimes, also, .
we felt great aversion to the idea of dying at this
time. Upon the whole, this disastrous occurrence gave
us a true estimate of our inward position, and was to
teach us with what increased earnestness we should
seek for the all-overcoming faith in Jesus Christ, if He
should be pleased to spare us from death.”
Many hours were passed in the utmost peril. At
last, “when all hope that they should be saved was
taken away,” another boat came in sight. They were
received on board, and, a few minutes after, saw their
own vessel floating on her side, with the mast lying
along the water.
Once more they landed in Aden; but very soon
started again, ina native boat. This time, their voyage,
though tedious, was a safe one; and, after touching at
several places along the coast, they reached Zanzibar,
January 7th, 1844. Christmas Day was spent at sea,
just off the coast. The Missionary and his wife rose
at midnight, to pray for God’s blessing on the holy
day. “We besought him,” they write, “to make
MRS. KRAPF, 925
Christmas Day dawn ye those benighted regions we
were then about to pass.”
Those prayers of God’s faithifal servants, can they
have been in vain ?
Dr. Krapf’s chief object, in going to Zanzibar, was,
to seek an interview with the Imaum of Muscat, who
rules that coast, in order to obtain the requisite per-.
mission for commencing a Mission there. It was freely
granted, and the following: safe-conduct given to the
Missionary :—
“This comes from Said Sultan, to all our subjects,
friends, and governors,—our greeting. This note is
given in favour of Dr. Krapf, the German, a good man,
who desires to convert the world to God. Behave ye
well towards him, and render him services everywhere.”
Before long, Dr. Krapf found an opportunity of
making a journey of exploration on the mainland ;
and, after much careful and prayerful deliberation, foced
upon the little island of Mombas, as the first Church
Missionary settlement on the Eastern coast of Africa.
Returning to Zanzibar, in March, he remained there
for a few weeks with the American Consul, who offered
the Missionaries his house, and treated them with the
greatest kindness. It was a time of rest, but not of
idleness. Every moment was faithfully spent in the
study of the Suaheli and Wonica languages, two of
the principal Galla tongues, neither of which had as
yet been reduced to writing.
This short season of repose was soon over. Dr. and
Mrs. Krapf left Zanzibar on May 4th, and, before long,
were happily settled in their new home at Mombas,
994 THE FINISHED COURSE.
| They were obliged to repair the house which the Imaum
had set apart for them, before it was rendered habitable.
But they succeeded. Dr. Krapf commenced the trans-
lation of the Bible in Suaheli, and held constant inter-
course, not only with the islanders, but with the people
on the opposite shore.
Now, indeed, the sun seemed, at last, shining out
upon them. The Missionary writes :—“ June 10, 1844.
Everything is going on very well, and we find many
causes for praise and thanksgiving to our heavenly
Father, who has brought us so far, who upholds and
strengthens us daily, and who makes our way clear
before us.”
Things also seemed full of promise for the young
wife. Now, for the first time, they had a home of
their own. And how she brightened it with her
presence! ‘They were looking forward, too, to an in-
crease of joy. There was a hope that the dear little
babe whom they had laid in her lonely grave, by the
roadside in Abyssinia, would soon be replaced.
On July 6th, 1844, the long looked-for child, a
daughter, was given. She seemed healthy and likely
to live, and both father and mother were filled with
thankful joy.
But soon came a change. After three glad days of
“tasting a new-made mother’s bliss,” Mrs. Krapf was
attacked by fever. She rapidly grew worse, and soon
felt that she was about to be called away.
From her poor husband’s letter to their kind friend
and host, the consul at Zanzibar, we learn the particu-
lars of her last hours. He writes :—
MRS. KRAPF, 7 925
“It was on the night of July 10th, that my dear
partner made me the melancholy announcement of her
approaching dissolution, which, by the will of God,
would compel her soon to take leave of me for this
world.
“‘Her mind was greatly excited, and she freely vented
her feelings and sentiments. into the bosom of her
husband, who stood weeping at her side. She said
that her whole life, in thought, word, and deed, had
been spent in selfishness ; and, that ever since con-
verting grace had laid hold on her, many years ago, she
had been so remiss in keeping up a constant communion
with her Lord, that she could hardly believe He would
receive her into the abodes of holiness and glory.
“ Having permitted her, for awhile, to give free ex-
pression to her inward feelings, I found that Satan was,
in good earnest, at work to eclipse, and confuse her
constant view of the Lamb of God; and I endea-
voured, with hearty sighings for the direction of God’s
Spirit, to bring home to her mind, the climax of Gospel
doctrine, which is the privilege of God’s true children.
The passages in John iii. 16, and 1 John ii. 1, recurred
forcibly to my mind; and I was enabled, by the grace
of God, to explain them to her with cheerfulness ;
telling her that she should look to Calvary, where
stands the document, written with the Saviour’s blood,
that He will not condemn a poor miserable sinner,
writhing like a worm at His feet ; that He had long ago
procured our salvation by His atonement; so that we
~ need not fear our enemies, the flesh and the devil, nor
even reason with them,—but leave them alone with
Q
226 THE FINISHED COURSE.
Him, who has pledged his mercy for all our emergencies
of life and death.
‘‘ While I was dwelling on the free, perfect, and all-
sufficient grace and merit of Christ, as held out in the
Scripture, to contrite and almost despairing sinners, the
aridity, darkness, and confusion of her mind gradually
disappeared, and heavenly light shone forth in its full
radiancy. With tears of joy, she exclaimed, ‘Now I
can believe that the Lord has pardoned me; that He
will not enter into judgment with me; now I feel His
presence, which is so sweet, that I have no expression
for it.’ She shook me by the hand, and thanked ‘me
cordially for the timely advice given to her. Now she
had got round the dangerous Rocks of Doubt, and the
Cape of Peace and of Good Hope of eternity was clear
in her sight. She then prayed for herself ; for her friends
at home; for the Mission cause—especially for this
Mission ; and for the Imaum, that God might incline
his heart to further the eternal welfare of his subjects.
‘Then she called for the servants, and addressed them
with decision and force. She told them, that she was
soon to leave them, but that, from love to their souls,
she was constrained to tell them plainly, that there was
no other Saviour but Jesus Christ, who could support
them in the hour of death ; and that Mahomed could
never help them, but would leave them to perish ; that
therefore they should, in time, give up their error, and
seek for God’s mercy in Jesus Christ.
“Having finished this address to the servants, she
gave some directions to myself, telling me that I should
never forbear speaking to the people about Christ, and
MRS. KRAPF. 2OT
His being the only and true Mediator between God and
man. ‘Though my words might be forgotten, yet they
might, at the hour of death, recur to the mind, and be
then a blessing to the hearer ; Christ, of His mercy,
being able to pardon a trembling, contrite, and believing
Mahomedan, as well and easily as he had pardoned
herself. Furthermore, she said I should not.spend my
time in mourning for her having left me, but should
strive in good earnest to fulfil my duty as a Christian
minister, and to work while it is day-time. As to her-
self, she was happy, and was going home to the upper
Canaan, where we should soon meet again. Lastly,
she begged me to give her friends a true account of her
last moments, and not to describe her in a light incom-
patible with strict truth.
“She charged me, especially, to tell all her friends
that they should be true and sincere in their Christian
profession, as there was so much untruth in one’s
mind, which the scrutiny of dying moments would
bring to light. As to herself, I should tell her friends
that the Saviour had looked mercifully upon her, a poor
miserable sinner. |
‘‘ Having conversed with her, for several midnight
hours, being myself harassed with fever, and thinking
she required rest, I left her alone ; but she would not
endeavour to rest, saying that her Saviour might come
and find her asleep; besides, she found it so sweet to
converse with Him, in her present happy frame of
mind.
‘In the afternoon of the 10th, the fever resumed its
former force with increasing vigour, and her brain got
og
228 THE FINISHED COURSE.
so confused, that she arose to leave the house, saying
that she must go to some place in the country. |
“From that period, she spoke little, and that which
she uttered was unconnected. On the 12th she con-
tinued in the same state. In the course of the evening
of that day, I was attacked by fever, so severely, that
I was compelled to place her attendance entirely in the
care of servants.
“The morning of the 13th found me still confined to
my bed; when she, after a severe bodily struggle, was
carried off by her Saviour to the better world, where all
is bliss and happiness. I heard her frequently call the
name of her beloved mother, whom I then believed to be
still alive, but who had fallen asleep in Jesus in Novem-
ber, 1843, as I learnt from letters which arrived three
days after my dear wife's death. At the same time, I
received the funeral sermon which was preached at her
mother’s grave, and which now arrived at the moment
best suited to comfort myself. On the 14th of July,
the mortal remains of my dear partner were deposited
on the mainland, at her own express wish ; as she desired,
by this arrangement, to remind the pagan Wonicas,
who frequently pass the road by her tomb, of the
object which brought her and myself to this country.
Thus she wished to be preaching to them by the lonely spot
which encloses her earthly remains. The beloved child
followed her mother on the night of the 14th, and was
buried by her side on the 15th—both now waiting for
the glorious day of resurrection, on this distant shore.
Well! both are gone to their real home. Be it so:
the Lord gave them to me fora time. He has taken
MRS. KRAPF, ieag
them again. His name be glorified for ever and ever !
My heart and body wept for many days ; and even now,
though the first ebullitions of weeping have passed
away, I cannot look back to those days of trial and
affliction without weeping. But I have experienced
what St. Paul writes to the Corinthians :—‘ For as the
sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation
also aboundeth by Christ.’ I would not that the Lord
had. otherwise dealt with me and my departed family,
than he has dealt with us ; for his stroke isa blessing,
and his chastisement is glory throughout.”
“Tell the Committee,” writes Dr. Krapf, in another
letter, addressed to the Missionary Society, “that there
is, on the East African coast, a lonely grave of a member
of the Mission cause, connected with your Society.
This is a sign that you have commenced the struggle
with this part of the world; and, as the victories of
the Church are stepping over the graves and death of
many of her members, you may be the more convinced
that the hour is at hand, when you are summoned to
work for the conversion of Africa, from the east... .
Never mind the victims which may fall or suffer in
this glorious combat ; only carry it forward, till the
east and west of Africa be united in the bonds of
Christ. Although we may not live so long, yet we
shall rejoice in heaven, when reports shall reach us
there, that the successors of the present Committee,
and their Missionary labourers, have expelled Satan
from Africa, by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word
of their testimony.”
Has she then died in vain—this noble young sister ?
ott ae tal Sate ce tation ft
EE I 7S rman MRT Ee
230 THE FINISHED COURSE.
Was it not almost worth living for, to have been the
occasion of such spirit-stirrmg words reaching the
Church at home, as those which echoed from her grave,
rousing and shaming many to believing prayer, and
earnest effort, such as they had never known before ?
And then, though “her course is finished,” her work is
not. Who knows but that that lone grave, on that
distant shore, may speak as effectually, and thrillingly,
as her devoted husband’s words and labours — not
only to the heathen, in whose land she sleeps, but to
Christians at home, to follow her, “as she followed
Christ ?”
a
REV. CHRISTIAN PFEFFERLE.!
Sailed Jan. 1851. Died May, 1851..
*‘A man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.”—Acts vi. 5.
Bo eaNOTHER “course finished” on the eastern
BRN coast of Africa! But so short it is, so quickly
29s) run—indeed, so barely commenced—that we
eae almost have passed it over here, but for the
grand words with which the heroic Dr. Krapf announces
the early death of his fellow-soldier.
And yet, it was a beautiful /ife ; for there was some-
thing unusually attractive about that holy, humble,
simple-hearted young man. “ Full of faith and of the
Holy Ghost,” was a description often applied to Christian
Pfefferle, even before it was known that he would be
like the holy Stephen, in other respects also,—in his
quickly-ended course, and in being the first ordained
Missionary who gave his life as a “ witness” for his
Lord, on the eastern coast of Africa.
A few sentences will fill up the gap of seven years,
between the death of Dr. Krapf’s noble wife, and that
of this young comrade and fellow-helper ; to whom, in
(1) Rabbai Mpia, (pronounced “‘ Empia,”) East Africa.
232 THE FINISHED COURSE.
the few short months of their intercourse, he became
attached, with all the warmth of his loving spirit.
Seven years they had been of incessant labour. In
translating and preaching, in exploring and journeying,
in working and praying, they had passed away.
And what had been the result? Foremost, was that
which was reward enough for a lifetime of toil. From
amongst many that were inquiring, many that were
hopeful, the Missionary could point to three real con-
verts ; men of whom he could say, without doubt, that
they “had passed from death unto life.” Then, nearly
the whole of the New Testament had been translated
into Suaheli, and portions of the Gospels into two
other languages. A grammar of Suaheli, and a copious
vocabulary of six other, hitherto unwritten, languages
were printed.
These were known and permanent results. Who
shall tell the unknown ?
Take one sentence from a letter of Dr. Krapf, in
1846. “TI labour to preach Christ at home and abroad,
in the boat or on the shore, in the lonely plantation or
the crowded Wonica village, and wherever a door may
be opened,” | :
Can all that precious seed have been sown in vain ?
Will not the “ day of account” tell of glorious results ?
For four long months the Missionary suffered from
fever ; but he writes: ‘The Lord had something to
speak with me alone, and therefore He led me into the
dreary wilderness of sickness ;” and, from his sick-
bed, he rose to more earnest, humble effort than ever.
In June, 1846, a fellow-labourer, the Rev. John
REV. CHRISTIAN PFEFFERLE. 250
Rebmann, arrived to help and cheer him. Dr. Krapf
had only been awaiting his coming to move the Mission
station from Mombas, to a place on the mainland,
named Rabbai Mpia; a situation, in every respect,
better fitted for intercourse with surrounding tribes.
The chiefs and people eagerly invited them, promising
them everything they could want. “Our sons and
daughters,” said they, ‘“ our cows and trees, our fruits
and lands, are yours.”
But the Missionaries were both laid low with fever ;
and it was not until August, 1846, that they entered -
upon the new station. Even then, both were so weak
and feeble with sickness, that they could hardly climb
the hill on which Rabbai stands.
They write: ‘‘ Scarcely any Mission can have been
commenced in greater weakness. But it should be so
in our case, in order that we should not glory in our-
selves, and that our successors might remember under
what circumstances this Mission was begun. The Lord
pleased to try us, whether we would love our own com-
forts and lives more than His cause and glory.”
- Their next work was to build their house, or rather
to repair, complete, plaster and add to, a cottage given
to them by the Wonicas, as the tribe of Rabbai are
named. ‘They had many little hindrances and diffi-
culties, but almost gloried in them ; “for, if we, poor,
feeble workmen,” they write, “with such defective
instruments, have built a cottage for the Lord’s cause,
we may humbly, yet confidently, hope that He, the
wise and Almighty Master-builder, will prepare to
Himself a spiritual dwelling among this people, even
234 THE FINISHED COURSE.
by us, who are poor and feeble instruments in His
hand.” 3
A little later, Dr. Krapf adds the noble sentiment :—
“ Certainly, if every cross and difficulty were removed
from us, I would be the first to say, ‘Let us leave
this place ; for there is nothing to be done, as long as
everything is smooth, and according to our wishes.’
No! a Missionary and a cross are closely connected.
Without a cross, the Missionary is sure to become a
fine gentleman, losing his unction from on high, and
seeking for external comforts. May the Lord preserve
us, and all Missionaries, from such a miserable lot,
which is the surest way to nominal Christianity and
spiritual apostasy! Rather let there be a rain of
sickness, of starvation, of prisons, and all sorts of
sufferings, than lose my spiritual life in the Missionary
career!” 7
In June, 1849, another labourer, the Rev. J. Erhardt,
joined the Mission, accompanied by a German mechanic.
But he was in high fever when he arrived, and, for the
first fortnight, lay hovering between life and death.
Through God’s mercy, he passed the crisis favourably,
and was spared. Scarcely had he recovered, when
John Wagner, the mechanic, was taken ill and died.
“ But he has not come to this country in vain,” writes
Dr. Krapf, “the Wanika have now witnessed a
Christian’s death and burial, which has proclaimed
to them a fearless hope in Him who is the Resur-
rection. . . . As the Hast Africans are as yet so indif-
ferent to the way of salvation, I fear one reason is
that they have not seen enough of Missionaries’ graves,
REV. CHRISTIAN PFEFFERLE, 235
and those deep afflictions which the West Africans
have witnessed from time to time.”
A very important part of the Missionaries’ work was,
itinerating and exploring. Many, and most valuable,
were the geographical discoveries which they made ;
but they cared little for these, in comparison with
their immediate and glorious object. Dr. Krapf con-
ceived the grand idea of forming a chain of Mission
stations from the east to the west of Africa. “If,
annually, one or two stations were advanced into
the interior,” he says, “the Mission line from east to
west might be completed in eight or ten years. Our
Mission in Rabbai has laid open, to a certain degree,
all the country 300 miles west and south. A station
at Jagga, or wherever it may be established, will, in
like manner, make known its advance-ground, and pro-
pose the formation of a further station. And thus it
would go on, till, in Central Africa, a line coming from
the west, could join that coming from the east, and
thus complete the chain.” He adds, when just about
to start on an expedition to discover a place for an
advanced station :—
“‘ By the time that you receive this letter, I hope to
be on the banks of the Dana, if the Lord will permit
me; there to bow my knees before Him, and, in the
name of the whole Church of Christ, to take possession
of those countries for Him... . Should, however,
these be my last lines from Africa, then farewell in
the Lord, until our eternal reunion on the banks of
the River of Life, where also the Galla will, in His
time, join us, in drinking from its crystal streams.”
936 THE FINISHED COURSE.
But the Missionary’s work was not yet done. The
next year, 1850, found him in England, carrying his
translations through the press, and entreating, nay,
almost compelling, the Church at home to give him
additional help to achieve his grand scheme, and to
occupy, at least, one advanced station.
His visit will long be remembered, and his simple,
yet grand—his humble, yet heroic words. Not alone
in the Church Missionary Committee, and in Missionary
meetings, but even in the palace, deep and hitherto
unknown interest was excited in East Africa. But, if
one impression more than another, was left on the
minds of those who saw and heard him, it was this :—
‘We know now the secret of his success, and can
never wonder at anything he may accomplish, for he
lives in prayer—znstant in prayer.” :
Three ordained Missionaries were appointed to return
with him. But when, on January 2d, 1851, he received
the parting instructions of the Committee, only two
were present, and one of these left him on the journey.
Mr. Pfefferle, whose soon-finished course we are now
going to trace, was the only additional Missionary
whom he took back with him.
Mr. Pfefferle went forth to his deeply-interesting
Mission with less of the enthusiasm and ardour that
many another young man would have shown, under
similar circumstances. But none the less real, and,
perhaps, all the more deep, was his devotion to his
Saviour, and his love for souls.
The following was his simple, humble reply to the
instructions of the Committee on his dismissal-day :—
REV. CHRISTIAN PFEFFERLE. 937.
“‘T thank the Committee for all the advice they have
given tome. I am truly glad to go out, and specially
to East Africa. JI pray the Lord will give me grace
that I may seek nothing, but only the salvation of
poor souls ; that I may announce and declare that in
Jesus Christ only is the salvation of God, and know
nothing but the Saviour. I pray also that God may
give me grace that, in an humble spirit, I may rejoice
to suffer something for His name’s sake. We need to
be prayed for, for we are in much danger, lest we
should fall. We shall be tempted in many things ;
and if we had not the assurance that a great body was
behind us, engaged in prayer on our behalf, we could
not stand before our enemies. But, in this assurance, —
we can go forward cheerfully, and believe that God will
prosper our work.” ,
Almost the last words he wrote in England were
these :— :
‘For the salvation of the heathen and of myself, I
desire to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and Him
crucified.”
On January 4th, 1851, the little party embarked at
Dover, taking their way, across the Continent, to
Trieste. At Berlin, Dr. Krapf had an interview with
the King of Prussia, who showed great interest in his
work, and wished him the blessing of God on his
labours. |
_ At Trieste they were joined by three mechanics ; and
embarking thence, on January 16th, they proceeded,
by Cairo, to Aden. There their companion “ departed
from them, and went not with them to the work,”
238 THE FINISHED COURSE.
On February 20th they re-embarked in a clumsy
Arab boat; and, after some few alarms, arrived safely
at Mombas, on April 3d.
Mr. Pfefferle sent home an interesting journal of the
voyage ; but it is too long to insert here. After his
first sight of heathen misery, he writes triumphantly,
in the full assurance of faith: “ But it shall come to
pass that Ethiopia and Arabia shall stretch out their
hands unto Christ, and be made free.” One Sabbath,
after an anxious day, through their captain having
completely lost his way, and not knowing in what
direction to steer, the young Missionary calmly writes :
“Though we were this Sunday outwardly troubled,
yet we were inwardly in close communion with our
God, who saved us out of all trials.”
At Mombas, to their great delight, they met Mr.
Rebmann, who had gone thither to buy food to lay up
in their store-house. It was a glad and thankful
meeting. How much they had to tell each other of
all God’s care and love during their year of separation !
Dr. Krapf writes on April 10th, two days after his
arrival at Rabbai, that the people had welcomed him
back most warmly and affectionately, and that he was
full of hope at what he saw of the progress of the
Mission during his absence.
The mechanics commenced work, in their different
spheres, most faithfully and diligently. The gardener
planted apple- and pear-trees, and vines, the latter of
which quickly began to thrive ; the principal seeds, too,
of Germany and Egypt were sown around the Mission
cottage.
REV. CHRISTIAN PFEFFERLE. 239
But Dr. Krapf would not think of settling down at
Rabbai. He regarded that as only the first step in the
land, and he was burning to take another. Accordingly,
as soon as everything was arranged at Rabbai, he de-
termined to start with Mr. Pfefferle, to found a new
station in Usambara, and thus redeem the pledge which
he had given, some years before, to the king of that
country, that, as soon as possible, a Mission should be
planted in his land.
He thought to commence that station, for which
there seemed a wonderful opening, and then, as soon
as Mr. Pfefferle could speak the language, and was
firmly established, to leave him there with one of the
mechanics, and himself go on to Ukambani with an-
other mechanic, to labour there until another brother
could come to replace him, when he would again go
onward.
It was a bright and noble plan. But man proposes,
God disposes.
Just one month after their arrival, Mr. Pfefferle died,
and the three mechanics were. so utterly broken down
by fever, that they were waiting for the first oppor-
tunity of returning to Europe.
Dr. Krapf writes :—
“Immediately after I had despatched my letter and
Mr. Pfefferle’s journal, in April last, the dear brother
was attacked by country fever, together with our three
mechanics, who were taken ill at the same time.
During the first period of his illness, Mr. Pfefferle
constantly complained of severe pains. When these,
by degrees, gave way, the country fever changed into a
na oO mene eet ea
240 THE FINISHED COURSE.
nervous fever, which ran its course, in spite of the
medical exertions of Mr. Erhardt. The suffering brother
was, for a long time, unaware of his dangerous con-
dition; hence, he frequently spoke of his recovery,
trusting that he would be spared, through the goodness
of the Lord, to carry on the work of God, and to preach
to the poor ignorant Africans in Usambara. He con-
tinued calm, and enjoying peace in his Saviour, without
any discontent or impatience coming over his spirit,
which was instructive to our whole Mission. During
the latter stage of his sickness, he, in his wanderings
spoke constantly of some struggle or fight in which ie
was engaged, and in which he wished to press onward.
At last, the Lord released him from his affliction, taking
him to Himself, on the 10th of May. On the following
day we buried his remains at Kisuludini, which is the
name of the site which the Rabbai chiefs, during my
absence in Europe, had given to the Missionaries, for
agricultural purposes, and for building a Mission-house.
«“ When the chiefs had carried the corpse to the
grave, I read the Funeral service, and spoke a few
words suited to the occasion.
“Thus, the first resident of the new Miadocomant
is a dead person, of the Missionary circle ; showing us
this lesson, that the resurrection of Hast Africa must
be effected by our destruction.
— “Ag to our deceased brother, I trust he will long live
in the remembrance of myself and of those who came
out with him from Europe. He has often edified and re-
freshed us by his prayers, and his words, full of wnction,
which frequently struck my mind, I now clearly see
REV. CHRISTIAN PFEFFERLE. 241
that the Lord was maturing him for a better world than,
had he remained with us, would have fallen to his
lot. There, he is freed from all the dangers and pri-
vations of a Missionary’s career, which he was about to
enter upon... . We must go forward with patience
and faith in the Divine promise. . . . Napoleon, at
the battle of Marengo, placed four thousand men at a
certain point, whom he was prepared to sacrifice, in
order to win the victory. Should not as many thousand
Missionaries be sacrificed, if it were necessary, for the
salvation of Africa? . .. If He, who is the ‘ Leader
and Commander,’ the great ‘ Captain of our Salvation,’
Jesus Christ in heaven, from His superior knowledge,
requires such a sacrifice, shall the Missionary army be
found so timid, yea, so cowardly, as to refuse submis-
sion and obedience? . . . Africa must be conquered
by Missions. A chain of Missions must be effected
between the East and the West, though a thousand
should fall on the left, and ten thousand on the right.
. And though I also should fall, it does not matter,
for the Lord is still King, and will carry on and com-
plete His cause, in His own good time. The Mission-
chain between East and West Africa will be taken up,
and carried out by succeeding generations ; for an idea
is always conceived tens of years before the deed comes
to pass. This idea I bequeath to every ey
coming to East Africa.”
And that idea shall be carried out, whether we live
to see it or not. The time shall come, when not only a
girdle of light shall span Africa, from east to west, but
R
gy uti tC AMT PLA
942 THE FINISHED COURSE.
when she shall be flooded with light—“the light of
the arabes cE of the glory of God—as the waters cover
the sea.’
This, meanwhile, is the day of patient waiting, as
well as of prayerful working, ss East Africa is still
waiting.
Dr. Krapf has been obliged to return to Europe.
Even his iron constitution failed at last. The other
Missionaries have been transferred to India, and, for
several years, Mr. Rebmann, who was married soon after
Dr. Krapf’s departure, has nobly laboured on alone.
‘The incursion of a hostile tribe scattered the Wonicas,
among whom his station was fixed, and laid the Mission
in ruins. Still, the Missionary would not desert Hast
Africa; he only removed to the island of Mombas,
where he spent two years in diligently preparing trans-
lations of the Word of God, waiting till his Master
should call him once more to return. At length the
summons came. He was invited to revisit the ruined
station on the mainland, and received so warm a wel-
come that he felt the time had come to re-occupy the
Mission. Though the Missionary had been absent,
God Himself had been working. Four new converts
came forward to “enter the Book,” as they called it ;
a.e. to learn more about the Christian faith. Once more,
Rabbai Mpia is on the list of the Church Missionary
Society’s stations, and God is granting success to the
labours of His servants ; not the briltiont prospects which
dazzled our eyes ten years ago, but the far more solid
and. blessed result of souls deci one by one, to God
their Saviour.
REV. CHRISTIAN PFEFFERLE. GAS
One interesting circumstance that may, in God’s good
providence, have a most important bearing on the
future of East Africa, has lately happened. It is the
vigorous attempt, by the British cruisers, to put down
slavery on that coast. The new consul at Zanzibar
has lately freed five thousand slaves. Several ships
have been captured, and their liberated prisoners landed
at Mauritius. There they are under Christian instruc-
tion, and one of the brightest hopes of the Missionary-
Bishop of that island is, that one day, they may go
back, as the emancipated negroes of the West have
done, to their own countries, as heralds of liberty, and
bearing the glad tidings of freedom through Jesus,
to their brethren who are held in cruel bondage by the
Prince of Darkness.
Meanwhile, Rosine Krapf and Christian Pfefferle
sleep sweetly on that distant shore, waiting for the day
when those to whom the God of Missions shall give to
reap the harvest which they died to sow, in East Africa,
shall rejoice together with them.
‘They have fought a good fight ; they have finished
ther course; they have kept the faith, henceforth
is laid up for them a crown of glory.”
R 2
WESTERN AFRICA.
MR. AND MRS. VAN COOTEN . . . BADAGRY.
Bt. AND MiGs. PAT i) yo ABBEOKUTA.
REV. G. F. GERST COM en NMDA PF G8
Bue ds TE a gE a rae
THE CHURCHYARD OF KISSEY . . SIERRA LEONE.
THE BISHOPS OF SIERRA LEONE.
Re |
See ROME CNTY TENN DS TOLLS PNET oe cee Rae
Depers
Sie ces
:
\
i
\
MR. AND MRS. VAN COOTEN.
Mr. Van Cooten sailed Jan. 1850. Died March, 1851.
Mrs. Van Cooten sailed Jan. 1850. Died May, 1850.
“*T press toward the mark.”—Philip. iii. 14,
“Onward! Upward!”
use Ag| far advanced towards the interior, that may
ee prove links in Dr. Krapf’s “ chain of light” across
that comparatively unknown continent.
Five-and-twenty years have passed since we stood
with our readers, by the graves of Mr. Brooks and Mr.
Knight, the young Pastors of Regent and Gloucester
Many changes have taken place since then. Many
Missionary brethren and sisters have, during those years,
gone forth, with their lives in their hands, and cheer-
fully laid them down in the cause of their Lord, and
tor the sake of Africa.
“ But the time would fail-to tell” of Wilhelm, and
Scholding, and Rhodes ; of Murphy, and Reynolds, and
White ; of Peyton, and Milward, and Beale, and many,
many another, who, “through faith,” obeyed their
(1) Badagry. Western Africa.
248 THE FINISHED COURSE.
Saviour’s command, and went forth to that land of
death. There, “out of weakness they were made
strong” to labour and to die for Him; and there they
he, where they fell, on the field of battle, “looking for
a better resurrection.” Yet here, as in countless other
instances, the “blood of the martyrs has proved the
seed of the Church.” Many a Christian village—each
with its church-going population, and in some instances
with its native pastor—has sprung up around the
Missionaries’ graves. And though, as in more favoured
lands, nominal Christians are mingled with the true,
and there are both the openly ungodly and the false
professors among the dia yet Sierra Leone is a
Christian Church.
And she is a Missionary Church.
From time to time, tidings of their fatherlands, still
lying in heathen darkness, reached the Christian
liberated slaves in the colony. The Yorubas, in par-
ticular, heard of a vast town in the interior, which their
tribe had built as a stronghold against the slave-traders,
and earnestly they longed to send messengers of salva-
tion thither. | }
In the year 1843, one of the English Missionaries
went to the Yoruba county to explore ; the people of
Hastings, a native village, deputing one of their own
community, at their own expense, to accompany him ;
while the native owner of a little scihia beet gave
the two pioneers a free passage.
They brought back most favourable reports, and as
soon as it was possible, in the year 1845, a party of
Missionaries was sent to Abbeokuta, as the new city
MR. AND MRS. VAN COOTEN. 249
was named. One of these was a native ordained
Minister, who had himself once been a slave-boy.
When the missionary party reached Badagry, the
sea-port nearest to Abbeokuta, they found that a war
had broken out, which would render the road to the
interior utterly impassable for the present.
Nothing discouraged, they at once commenced work
there. A spreading tree was chosen fora church, which
was soon replaced by a suitable building, with a school-
house near it, and there the way of salvation was pro-
claimed to large, and often attentive, congregations.
At length, after eighteen months of patient waiting,
and yet of active labour, the road to Abbeokuta was
opened ; and, on July 27th, 1846, the Missionaries gladly
started onward, leaving one of their number, the Rev.
C. Gollmer, whose young wife lay buried in the church-
yard at Badagry, in charge of the mission there.
Thus was the mission to Badagry commenced, not
by any will of man, but by the direct leading of God’s
providence. As yet, it has been full of discourage-
ment, especially when compared with the cheering work
in the Yoruba country. The people are debased and
degraded ; their thoughts and energies being so entirely
taken up with the slave-trade, that they are utterly in-
different to all higher concerns. But the God who led
His servants to commence the work, shall prosper it,
though after many days.
We will now turn to the brief but bright career of
those dear young servants of God, whose names are at
the head of this paper, and who there laid down their
lives for the testimony of Jesus.
250 THE FINISHED COURSE.
Mr. Van Cooten had received a medical education in
this country. His early life was a very eventful one,
though but few incidents have been recorded. After
some years spent in Demerara, which was his birthplace,
he returned to England, and entered the family of a
surgeon in Suffolk, as assistant.
Till then, though blessed with a pious mother, he
had lived “without God in the world.” But the time
had now come when the Lord drew him to Himself.
The particulars cannot be entered into here. It is
enough to say that she, who afterwards became his
loving wife, was the one who first led him to the
Saviour. He thus speaks of her :—
“In 1840 I became acquainted with her. Grace had
then done much for her, and she grew mightily in the
knowledge of God. I well remember thinking, at that
time, that I had never seen any one so holy. I felt she
was too good for earth, too holy for man. During the
long illness which she had when I first knew her, she
made great attainments in grace, cultivated her mind,
and disciplined her heart. She possessed astrong will,
great decision of character, much singleness of purpose,
and deep and intense love for souls. She was, too, of
a meek and humble spirit, esteeming others better than
herself.”
While, at the sick couch of the one sister, the young
doctor was learning lessons of holiness and devotion, it
was another sister who first directed his thoughts into
the channel of Missionary enterprise. Many difficulties
were to be overcome, before his path to go abroad was
made plain. One after another, however, all were
MR. AND MRS. VAN COOTEN. 251
removed ; and, in 1847, he entered upon a course of
preparation for his future work, in the Missionary
College at Islington.
Seldom has so holy and prayerful a student dwelt
within that college. He was indeed, “a burning and
a shining light.” The little gatherings in his room, for
prayer and reading the Scriptures,—his cheerful, joyous,
yet serious and holy conversation, in walks and at meals,
—the earnest, ardent, loving spirit he ever breathed,—
were blessed to the growth in grace of not a few of his
fellow-students. Some, now far away in the mission-
field, acknowledge, with gratitude, how much they owe
to his society and example.
In the summer of 1849, it was decided that Mr. Van
Cooten should go out, in the autumn, as catechist and
medical Missionary to Abbeokuta, without waiting for
ordination in England. Though at first disappointed,
he cheerfully acquiesced in the decision of the Com-
mittee; counting it, as he said, “ an unspeakable honour
to be a hewer of wood, or a drawer of waiter, in so blessed
a service.”
Shortly before his dismissal, he was married to her
whom he had so long loved. Her health, during the
last three years, had been gradually improving, and all
her friends agreed that a residence in a tropical climate
might, by God’s blessing, restore her to her natural
strength. |
“When first the work of missions was put before
her,’ writes her husband, ‘‘she shrank from it, for she
felt she was unworthy to labour in so hallowed a cause.
But after much prayer, and waiting upon God, she felt
>
an Rat 5p it gg Poh St AE RSI at PN te EN LO ACC DO I AI
252, THE FINISHED COURSE
it was the path of duty ; and, from that time, to the
hour of her death, she continued steadfast ; trials and
privations did not move her.”
It was on October 5th, 1849, that Mr. and Mrs. Van
Cooten, with eighteen others, received the farewell in-
structions of the Committee. It wasaday of no common
interest ; for among that little band of twenty, were
representatives of ten different nations, of almost every
hue, from the fair English bride, and the olive-coloured
Chinese, to the dark African. All had there met
together, as brethren and sisters in Jesus Christ, and as
fellow-workers with Him, and for Him, and in Him.
All were, in a few weeks, to be scattered throughout
the world, as messengers of the Lord’s salvation.
The Church at home had just received Dr. Krapf’s
thrilling letter, referred to in the preceding sketch,
bidding them “go up and take possession of Africa in
the name of their Lord ;” and, as the first step towards
this result, to establish a chain of mission stations
across the land. The Committee, as they told this
grand idea to their departing West African Mission-
aries, urged upon them also to ‘branch out,” and thus
to meet, half-way, those coming up from the east.
The watchword given to Mr. Van Cooten was
“Onward!” and in acknowledging the “ instructions,”
he expressed the earnest hope that he should be enabled
to “ press onward, looking upward.”
At the time of their dismissal, Mr. and Mrs. Van
Cooten were expecting to sail very shortly ; but their
vessel was delayed. Week after week rolled speedily on ;
and each hour passed among loved, and loving friends—
MR. AND MRS. VAN COOTEN. 253
rendered even dearer by the prospect of separation,—
made the pang of parting yet more acute, when the
last moment arrived. But the final summons, though
long delayed, came at length. Mrs. Van Cooten thus
announces it, to some friends who had engaged to pray
for them at that trying hour. The little extract reveals
something of the struggle she had to go through, and also
the spirit in which she welcomed it, for her Saviour’s
sake,
“We are to be at Plymouth on Tuesday, to join the
vessel; so that we leave our dear friends and happy
home, at half-past one on Monday afternoon. I feel
great pleasure in telling you the exact hour, for I know
you will specially remember us, before our Father. Oh,
how comforting to know that He heareth always, and
is ever ready to listen to the cry of His children, in
their hour of need! Pray for us, that now ‘the
strength of the Lord may be made perfect in our weak-
ness. I do not shrink from what lies before me, or
wish to draw back; but I now feel very, very sad at
parting with those who are so dear to me. May we
feel Jesus very near, and remember His love,—so
strong, so constant,—that we may rejoice in being
called to labour and suffer for His sake.”
Many a prayer was breathed for her, and those
prayers were heard. The “strength” of the Lord was
indeed “made perfect” in her “weakness.” Amidst a
circle of weeping friends, hers was the calmest,
brightest countenance. It was evident to all who saw
her, that she was indeed supported from on high.
They sailed from Plymouth, January 9th, 1850, and
pra enc A ei
eS a Se Soest
254 THE FINISHED COURSE.
landed in safety at Badagry on the 8th of March, after
a wretched voyage. The vessel, which was a merchant-
man, and therefore had little, if any, accommodation
for passengers, received on board the missionary party
of eleven, with no additional hand to wait upon them.
The little eabin-boy being their only attendant, Mr. Van
Cooten was obliged to be cook, as well as doctor and
nurse, to the invalids of the party. Three-fourths of
the live-stock put on board, died, through neglect, or
‘rough weather ; and their vessel shipped water during
most of their voyage. But the greatest trial of all was
the gross immorality, and awful profanity of the crew,
which the Missionaries endeavoured in vain to check.
At length, however, those long, weary months were
over, and, with thankful hearts, they anchored off
Badagry. The first few days were spent in landing
their things, then unpacking, drying and repacking
them, as there was no room for anything but the chests
themselves in the crowded little Mission-house at
Badagry. When this was finished, they at once, with
earnest zeal, commenced their work for Africa. Mr. Van
Cooten went out on preaching expeditions, whenever
he could procure an interpreter ; and began to turn his
knowledge of medicine and surgery to missionary
account, while his wife laboured diligently at the
language.
But soon both were laid low by fever. Mr. Van
Cooten suffered from five attacks during the first two
months of his stay in Africa. His letter announcing
their arrival, dated May 8th, was written while still
very weak and ill; and with his young wife lying by
MR. AND MRS. VAN COOTEN. 255
his side, also very unwell, and in much pain. “Still,”
_he adds, after speaking of her illness, “ I apprehend no
danger.” No, there was no need for apprehension for
her. She was safe in her Saviour’s keeping for life, or
for death. But little did that loving husband dream
how near “danger,” in the sense he meant it, was! and
little did friends at home, as they read that letter,
anticipate the startling, touching postscript,—written
incoherently, and as if with tear-dimmed eyes :—
“ May 15th. My beloved wife is no more. She
fell: asleep—on the night of the 13th—after eight days
of suffering.
““T can say no more. ‘Her memory is blessed.’
Iam almost dead. Pray forme. She was beginning
to make progress in the language.
“Your broken-hearted
‘¢HuGENE Van Cooren.”
Anxiously were the next tidings looked for; as the
ship which brought these, brought also the news that,
before the missionary-station at Badagry had dis-
appeared from view, the flag was again seen floating
half-mast high. Another Missionary labourer had
‘finished his course!” Although, for his own sake,
friends at home could almost have wished it might
prove the earnest and devoted Mr. Van Cooten, yet
for the work’s sake, they ardently hoped, and fervently
prayed, he might yet be spared a little longer.
And prayer was heard. The next letter told that he
was not only living, but in health, and zealously, nay
even cheerfully, pursuing the work in which his beloved
a RR a Ne oi ede Oe i
256 THE FINISHED COURSE.
one fell. We will copy extracts from that letter, since
it tells all that is known of the “ closing scene.” -
‘¢ My last letter was closed in deep affliction. My
soul was harrowed up ; life was a burden to me. Sick-
ness came to my relief—nor did I think I had long to |
live. But ‘God’s thoughts are not as our thoughts.’
IT am still alive, and am now getting strong again.
. [ am almost afraid to trust myself to speak
chGae my beloved Emilie, and yet I must tell you, how
she left me. I told you how very ill she was, on the
voyage. I am afraid she never recovered from that
long-continued sickness. We arrived here, March 8th. |
She continued pretty well, till May 6th, when she com-
plained of much pain and sickness. Still, she went
for her early morning walk, at half-past five, for she
possessed much energy.
‘When she returned, she was obliged to lie down,
and she never rose again! Fever increased, and did
not yield to the means used. Unhappily, I was very ill
at the time, and could do but little for her. Still, I
attended her, night and day, till the 12th, when some
one was had to sit up all night ; and she was removed
from her own little room, six feet by seven, to Mr.
Smith’s. At midday, I thought her a little better,
for she had some sleep.
“On the morning of the 13th, I saw no more un-
favourable symptoms. At noon, Mrs. Gollmer was taken
very ill: Iwas carried to her, and was obliged to re-
main by her for some hours, till all the danger was
past. I then saw my dear wife, who seemed much
the same, with the exception of an unfavourable appear-
MR. AND MRS. VAN COOTEN. aw
ance of the tongue. I was so exhausted that I threw
myself on a sofa. She fell asleep, and continued so
for hours, until I became uneasy, and tried to rouse
her, but could not obtain one word. She remained in
this state for some time longer, and, at half-past twelve,
she sighed her gentle spirit away. Oh, the agony of
that hour! No tears,—though now they flow freely.
The next evening, at five o’clock, she was laid in the
grave. I followed, supported by men... . She told
me, Just before she was taken ill, ‘I am not afraid to
die.’ . . . She sought not death, but had laid herself
out for a life of active usefulness, Though often in
tears, when alone, for those she loved more than her
own life, she breathed no regret at leaving a happy
home, and fond parents and sisters, She determined
that no day should pass without making some progress
in the language, which she was enabled to do, till
taken ill. « ..
“Her room was very small, her bed not much more
than two feet wide. ‘The walls were like a cullender,
letting in the wind at every plank, This, I believe
injured her. But she is gone—gone from earth to
- paradise ; there to be with Jesus, for her ‘life was hid
with Christ in God.’ I would not call her back to
earth, even if I might; -she is freed from a body of
sin and death. I cannot tell you how desolate and
sad I feel. There is a deep void in my heart, which I
would have filled with the love of Jesus.’ I seek com-
fort no more in the creature. Henceforth, I give my-
self ap oa to God and His work, if He deign ta
use me.’
258 THE FINISHED COURSE.
The postscript to this letter, written a few weeks
later, shows how the “God of all comfort,’ was com-
forting this Missionary mourner, ~
‘Oh! I cannot tell you what God has done for me.
I would bear my testimony to His faithfulness and
loving-kindness. He has, indeed, taken my treasure
from me, but he has given me more of Himself. He
has removed ‘the desire of my eyes, but he has
‘married’ me ‘to another, even to Christ.’ I cannot
tell, even to you, the deep midnight which filled my
soul, but all is light now. God has wonderfully sup-
ported me, and, as by a miracle, raised me up from
almost perfect weakness, to strength and health, and
bid me go forth to glorify His name. I live but for
that now.
“Oh, pray much forme. God has answered prayer,
IT am sure, by all he has done for me. But oh, she,
my sainted Emilie, was so fitted to adorn the missionary
life! Her dear mother rejoices that she was counted
worthy to suffer. She will have the martyr’s crown.
Press on to her with me.”
One more extract shall be from a letter written a
little later, when on the point of starting on a mis-
sionary tour. |
“December 19th, 1850... . Your note came to
cheer me, when the deep midnight of my sorrow was
passed, even just when I needed the sympathy of the
human heart ; for, you know, dear friend, that when
the Lord wounds, He alone can heal; and it is not till
He applies the healing balm of His love to the broken
heart that it is capable of receiving sympathy from
MR. AND MRS. VAN COOTEN. 259
man. . . . Words cannot convey the feelings of agony
that had possession of my soul some months past. But
the bitterness is over, I can now behold my beloved
wife, my sainted Emilie, safe in her Saviour’s arms.
Christ was precious to her while she lived; oh, how
precious is He to her now! No tongue, no, not even
that of an angel, can tell. She delighted in Jesus,
but grieved that her love was so mixed with sin. Now
she ‘loves Him with unsinning love.’ To her ‘to live
was Christ, to die has been gain.” I would not bring
her back to earth if I could, Oh no! she is freed
from sin, from pain, from sorrow. Soon, soon, I shall
join her glorified spirit ; and, with her, sing the song
of the Redeemer in heaven. , . , I have, upon her cold
grave, again and again dedicated myself and all I have
afresh to the service of my God, I do not forget one
of you at a throne of grace ; each one is dear to me.
‘‘ Your sorrowing yet rejoicing F riend,
“‘ HUGENE Van Cooren.”
In a letter, written about the same time to the
Church Missionary Committee, he thus expressed the
ardent hope that. he might yet be used of God as an
instrument of good to Africa:—
“TI should like to go half-way towards the centre of
Africa to meet Dr. Krapf. I have afresh dedicated
myself to this work, Africa is henceforth my home.
I desire not to dwell in houses, but to be a pilgrim
from day to day. I have one great object at heart, the.
salvation of the sons of Ham. So that I may but be
used in this work, I am willing to be like my Saviour,
without a place whereon to lay my head.”
82
260 THE FINISHED COURSE.
In this spirit, he went forth on missionary tours,
preaching from village to village, and from town to
town. Full extracts from his journals are to be found
in the Church Missionary Gleaner for 1851, and the
Church Missionary Record for the same year. We
will make but one quotation here.
‘‘ Leaving Amunigun, I came to Thavibe, a village
distant about four miles. After taking water, and speak-
ing to the elders, I requested them to assemble the people
in an open space, as I had a very important message to
deliver to them. Men, women, and children soon came
together under the shade of a noble tree, the women first
sweeping the place clean. I felt much drawn out to-
ward them, and had some liberty of thought and speech.
Oh, that the Holy Spirit would seal the truth upon
many of their hearts! After I had left them, I again
looked back to say good-night, when a picture: for an
artist met my eye—the splendour of the setting sun,
the soft shades of evening, and the deep shadow of the
majestic tree, under which sat old men and old women,
young men and young women, and children of both
sexes, all eagerly gazing after me. My heart rose in
thankfulness to God, for permitting me to make known
to them the glad tidings of salvation. I then returned
home through the villages of Bedu and Ajarra. This
has been a truly happy day. I would be content to
spend my whole life in going from village to village,
making known the knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
And he was permitted to spend the remainder of
his life in this glorious employment. He had -been
raised up so wonderfully from the bed of sickness,:
))
MR. AND MRS. VAN COOTEN. 261
and was so evidently quickened and purified by afflic-
tion, that all thought God had yet a great and long work .
for him to do, and thanked Him for the discipline by
which, as it seemed, he had ripened His servant. for
it. But God was ripening him for heaven, which was
‘‘ far better,” and not for His work on earth.
The next African despatch began with the words,
“How are the mighty fallen!” The war with Da-
homey was then raging at Abbeokuta,-—death, therefore,
was on every side. Yet, even before another sentence
had been read, the hearts of those who loved him mis-
gave them that it was not to the earthly defenders of
the town that the writer referred, but that the noblest
soldier of that little Mission sais had ‘fought the
good fight, and finished his course.’
And so it was! The letter, written by Mr. es
proceeds: “It has pleased God, in His infinite wisdom
and mysterious government, to take our dearly beloved
brother Van Cooten unto Himself. He died of yellow
fever, on the 13th of March, at half-past one in the
afternoon, and, the following morning, his remains were
committed to their last earthly resting-place, near to
Mrs. Van Cooten’s, ‘in sure and certain hope of the
resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus
Christ,’ From Mr. Van Cooten’s journal, you will
learn that he was not very well during the last quarter.
His illness, however, was not of a serious character, he
being cheerful and active as ever.
“On Tuesday morning, the 4th of March, he left
home, to visit the towns on the strip of land between
Ossa and the sea, towards Porto Nova. It appears
Cer ee =
tS es ee
262 THE FINISHED COURSE.
that he did not feel quite well when he set out, but
thought that he should get better while moving about.
The long walk, however, and the hot sun, so over-
powered him that he felt very ill, and was obliged to
rest. When a little better, he, instead of following
the dictates of his judgment and feelings, to return
home, went on ; and, finding the people attentive, felt
encouraged, and thought he was better. So he went
on, from town to town, proclaiming Jesus to a fallen
world, but, whilst he thus zealously endeavoured to
call the dead to life in Christ Jesus, he unconsciously
hastened his own death. Feeling very ill, he went to
Domingo, on the beach, with a view to get some
medicine, which he forgot to take with him, but was
disappointed, Domingo having only a little quinine.
He was afterwards conveyed in a litter made of boughs,
to Porto Novo, where he suffered so much, that, ac-
cording to his own words, he thought he should lose
his senses, and not live to see the next day. Being a
little better on Monday morning, he was conveyed
to Badagry, in a canoe, and arrived there about four
o'clock. The brethren at Abbeokuta had written,
earnestly requesting him to come to the aid of the
wounded there, and I therefore sent messengers after
him, to call him back. The messengers never found
him. As soon as I heard that he had come home, I
sent him the notes from Abbeokuta. He sent back
word that he was very ill, and begged me to come and
see him. I, not being able to walk well yet, on ac-
count of the boils from which I have suffered the last
month, at once took a hammock, and was carried over
to him, Mrs. Gollmer accompanying me on foot. I
MR. AND MRS. VAN COOTEN. 263
cannot describe what I felt on seeing him. All I saw
was, that he was not dead, but he looked worse than
when we buried him. When he saw me, he wept, and
said, ‘ My dear brother, I thought I should never have
seen you. Since I left, I have suffered more than I
can tell,’ From various symptoms, he judged that he
was beyond recovery, and said, ‘I shall die.’ We lost
no time in wrapping him in a blanket, and in a ham-
mock removed him to our own house, and laid him on
our bed, giving him such medicine as he requested. He
seemed to revive a little, but his feeling was, ‘God was
going to remove him.’ He spoke but little after, gradu-
ally becoming insensible, and gently falling asleep on the
morning of the 13th. I need not say our loss is great,
He was beloved by all who knew him, and is mourned
over by all. God had begun to do great things by him,
and great things we looked for. But the Lord, I know
not whether in love or in anger, has taken him away.
Yet He abideth, and He cannot forsake us and His
work. Therefore, though bowed down and weeping, we
go on, till we also shall be permitted to enter into rest.”
Thus, within one year from the day of their landing
in Africa, did both these devoted servants of God
enter their heavenly rest. Mrs. Van Cooten came
thither: only to die; but, during her husband’s short
Missionary course of scarcely twelve months’ service, it
was given him to glorify God, first in trial and sickness,
and then in faithful labour, more than many are per-
mitted to do in a long life-time. Both, however, had
accomplished the work the Master had appointed unto
them. “They have fought a good fight; they have
| finished ther course.”
REV. ROBERT C. AND MRS. PALEY.!
Mr. Paley Sailed Dec. 8d, 1852. Died April 1st, 18538.
Mrs. Paley Sailed Dec. 3d, 1852. Died May, 1853.
‘Thou didst well that it was in thy heart.”—-2 Chron. vi. 8.
(ta | the time of the Church Missionary Society’s
“| ‘‘ Jubilee,” when she celebrated her fiftieth
3} year of work for her Lord, a long chart was
renared by order of the Committee, on which were
inscribed the names of all the labourers whom she had
sent forth since the year of her foundation.
A long and deeply-interesting. roll it is, many yards
in length, recording the names of each Missionary,
Catechist, and Schoolmaster, as well as those of their
wives ; showing, too, the year in which each went out,
with the date 7 death or of return, and their length of
service abroad.
Loved and honoured names are there, side by side
with others unknown, and almost forgotten — the
leaders and the soldiers of the Missionary army ; but
one and all dear to, and remembered by, the great
“ Captain of the hosts of the Lord.”
(1) Abbeokuta, Western Africa.
REV. ROBERT C. AND MRS. PALEY. 265
One evening, a party of Missionaries, just about to
gail for Western Africa, were looking over this list of
“the Kine’s mighty men.” One was a bright young
bride, going thither for the first time, with a husband
who had passed years of hard toil in that deadly
climate, and who might have said, with one of the first
Missionaries, “I bear in my body the marks of the
Lord Jesus.”
She had counted the cost of the risk she ran, and
was gladly going forth to that land of death. But yet,
that roll brought before her, in a way that had never
struck her till then, the probable shortness of the time
that might be allowed her to work for her Lord. She
stopped at the record of the year 1822, and read
“three months,” “five months,” ‘six weeks,” “ four
months,” as the length of service permitted to one
after another who went forth in that year.
A cloud came over that sunny face, and rested for a
moment there, though when she was reminded that she
would be “ zmmortal till her work was done,” it quickly
passed away.
But soon, a little lower down, she met with a similar
record, and then the cloud returned once more; a
cloud, not of doubt, or of fear, but of disappointment
at the thoughtthat she, too, perhaps, might not live
- long enough to do anything for her Saviour in Africa.
' She turned to her husband, who was looking over
her shoulder, and, pointing to those names, said, “ Oh,
I do trust that God will give us a little longer time
than that, to live and to work for Him. I should not
like to go out and die and do nothing. Don’t you hope
266 THE FINISHED COURSE.
that God will spare us, just for a little labour?” For
a moment, he did not answer; but when she repeated
the question, his beautiful reply, in his German-English
as: “I will tell you how it is. There was a city. It
was ‘large and strong and fenced up to heaven.’ An
army encompassed that city, to besiege and to take it.
For long years they fought, but still they took it not.
It was destined that they should conquer, and they
knew it. But yet, long time passed ; whole ranks of
the army fell; and that city stood yet untaken. Now
this was the reason wherefore they could not prevail
against it. Round about the city was a very large
trench. So deep and wide was it, that because thereof
the army could not approach near enough to throw
down the walls. Still, they would not raise the siege,
until, at last, they found that that. mighty trench had
been quite filled up with the dead bodies of their
fellow-soldiers, who had fallen in the fight. Then ve
marched over them and they took the city.
_ “Now, so it is with Africa. Long time, our brethren
have been attacking the strongholds of Satan there,
though, as yet, they have not stormed it. But we,
who come after, will conquer by the grace of God.
Look*(and he pointed once more to the names), those
are only the bodies of our soldiers, filling up the
trench. We will not fear them. We will step over
them boldly, in the name of our God, and we will take
the city, will we not?”
What a beaming look it was with — até
answered, “ Yes, dear, we will!”
_ Years have passed, and she and her brave husband
REV. ROBERT G. AND MRS. PALEY. 267
have been spared, until now, not alone in fever and
sickness, but in untold danger from “4 famine, peril and
sword.” .
They are spared, but two, who, with her, were
looking over the “Roll” that night, and with her
sailed for Africa, were soon, very soon, to “ fall into
the trench” ; or rather, were called away to wear the
crown of victory, almost before they had struck a blow
on. the battle-field.
The names of Rev. Robert Charnley Paley, and ie
ardent, devoted young wife, were added to the Mis-
sionary-roll at the close of the year 1852. |
He was the grandson of the eminent and well-known
Dr. Paley, and one, from whom, on many grounds,
great things were looked for. God seemed to have
been preparing him in every way, for the special work
to which he was set apart—the instruction of the
young in Abbeokuta. His own university education,
his “aptness to teach,” his exceeding attractiveness of .
manner and disposition, and his wonderful love for
children, made him, not only an able, but a most
winning teacher. . |
Even’when at College, and necessarily occupied in
te own studies, he was yet most diligent in work for
his Master, as a visitor and Sunday-school teacher. He
hada large district, about four miles from Cambridge,
which he visited week by week, with untiring regu-
larity. The people soon began to know and value hin,
and he was always welcomed with eager earnestness,
especially by the children, who would gather round
him in one of the cottages, and repeat to him the little
268 | THE FINISHED COURSE.
texts and hymns they had learned for him during the
week.
Besides his regular work in this village, he often
took long walks to neighbouring ones, which had no
visitors, and would speak of his Saviour, and the way
to heaven through Him, to the cottagers, or to an
whom he met.
Almost immediately after he went up to Cambridge,
he became a teacher in the Barnwell Sunday School.
As is often the case, while “watering” others, he was
more abundantly ‘watered himself.” Often has he
said that his connexion with that school was of incal-
culable good to his own soul. So diligent was he in
this work, and so very evident was his ability and
success, that when, after he had laboured two years at
Barnwell, the post of superintendent of the East Lane
Girls’ Sunday School became vacant, it was offered to
him.
After much thought and prayer, he accepted it, and
entered upon his new duties at the close of 1849.
How he loved those children! Wherever he was, he
always seemed to bear them in mind. Any new story
that he heard, was always booked “ for my children.”
If ever he saw a beautiful picture, or an interesting
curlosity, especially a Missionary one, his first exclama-
tion was, “ Oh, how I should like to show that to my
children !”
Though their spiritual and eternal good was always
the object uppermost in his thoughts, he yet delighted
in anything that would give them innocent and instruc-
tive amusement. Never did any one more fully act up
REV, ROBERT ©. AND MRS. PALEY. 269
to the spirit of that beautiful motto, “He that makes
a little child happier for half an hour, is a fellow-
worker with God.”
It was his connexion with this school, that first led
him to think of devoting himself to foreign missionary
work. : i |
- The scholars had assisted, by their contributions, in
building the mud church at Abbeokuta; and had
undertaken to support two children in the Mission
school connected with it. Mr. Hinderer, the zealous
Missionary there, having written to thank them for
this, it devolved upon Mr. Paley to read the letter to
his children, and then to help them to answer it.
Their deep interest in the work was reflected back
upon their superintendent ; and, at length, determined
him that, should his path be made clear, he would
consecrate himself to work for his Lord, in the mission
that “his children” loved and prayed for.
He did not come forward alone; one of his fellow-
students, the Rev. Robert Meadows, a ‘“‘ brother beloved
in the Lord,” the head of another Sunday school in the
town, offered himself, at the same time, for the same
mission.’ Bright scenes had these two friends pictured
to themselves, of sowing—yes, and of reaping together
in that far off land. But it was not to be. Mr.
Meadows’ health was found to be unfit for the African:
climate, and his destination was changed to Southern:
India, where he is still labouring, and where his name_
will ever be united with those of the beloved Ragland
and Fenn, as one of the “‘worthy three” who com-
menced the itinerating mission in Tinnevelley,
270 THE FINISHED COURSE,
Mr. Meadows sailed in the summer of 1852. The
following are extracts from Mr, Paley’s letters to him
soon after his departure :—
_ “This, my beloved friend, is an important year to us
both. God grant we may make good use of it, in pre-
paring for the glorious and blessed work which the
hand of our all-true Father seems to have marked
out for us. And though it is not His will that we
should, as we sometimes so much desired, together
leave this country, still, though far distant from one
another in person, and perhaps never to meet again
in this world, we shall, I hope, often, very often be
united in spirit, being, both of us, soldiers in the
army of the living God, and members of the same
family.
‘The Communion of Saints is indeed one of the
most delightful parts of the Christian’s creed. The
union subsisting between those who are in Jesus is
such as the world, or worldly principles, cannot pro-
duce. And how, my dear friend, is this general
privilege of believers enhanced, and strengthened, and
defined, by such a close and holy bond as wnites us,
and many others, together at the same throne of grace!
This does indeed make the ‘Communion of Saints’ a
precious and an animating reality.”
“The first Saturday evening of this month, I enjoyed
exceedingly, in communion with our ‘ Prayer Union.’
Four of our numbers were then on their voyage ; you,
my dear friend, and Fenn, Cobbold and Cobb. More
and more, does the sweetness and value of our ‘ Union’
come before me. The more that its members become
REV. ROBERT C. AND MRS. PALEY, ett
scattered, the more closely do they seem to be brought
together. ‘One in Christ,’ were our beloved New Zea-
fond friend’s last words to me, ere we parted, and oh!
how full of comfort are these words !” |
“*One in Christ!” How those words recall the
speaker ! and the bright look of joy, almost of triumph,
with which he would repeat them, to comfort himself
and others, in the bitter prospect of separation.
The New Zealand friend, whose parting words to Mr.
Paley they were, gave a very simple yet beautiful illus-
tration of them. A hyacinth was upon the table, a
tall and nicely-grown one, with its leaves rising ele-
gantly from the centre of the root, all united there, but
spreading at the top, as they gracefully encircled the
flower. :
“Ttis just like that,” said he, pointing to the plant,
“Tt is just like that. There is the root ; Christ is our
root. And there are we all,—the believers in Him,
even as these leaves, although separated far at the
top, yet joined together in Him, in the root. There
is Mr. Paley, in Africa; and Mr. Meadows, in India ;
and you, in England; and Mr. in China, and
I, in New Zealand—Africa, India, England, New Zea-
land, China’—{and with a smile, he touched the tip
of each leaf as he spoke) “ far, far, far—but all one down
there, one in the root—One in Christ !”
The Union for Prayer, to which Mr, Paley. refers,
had been formed in the year 1840, among students of
Cambridge, either engaged in, or preparing for the min-
istry, for the purpose of concerted prayer for each other,
and for the whole Church of God, both abroad and at
catalina ———— — a = “= aa - :
indi tt tk bids ceil la aaa kana Alta siren: a onnnie iirseminemmmemnninainmen emia 1- entrees Screener, Gorton 9 CER Fi nmin enlist odie Tw CGS Rl ea oa A LS LN A OR
y
t! 272 THE FINISHED COURSE.
H home. Mr. Paley became secretary to the Union, in
i the summer of 1851, and only resigned his office when
i he left England, at the close of 1852.
i In the autumn before he sailed, he was married to
h one who had been his “ fellow-helper in the Lord,” in
i his work in Cambridge, and who burned with a holy
ardour, scarcely inferior to his own, to work for her
Saviour, on the deadly coast of Africa.
Again we will extract, from a letter to Mr. Meadows,
Mr. Paley’s own account of that “happy day,” and of
God’s sustaining grace in the time of trial, which so
quickly followed.
«We are all trusting that you, and lia Fenn, are
now, in the Lord’s mercy, safely lodged in Madras,
and, in some measure, enabled to commence your work
there.
_ “May our gracious God abundantly bless you, my
dear friend, and prove to you in all seasons, the truth
| of His word, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’ Oh,
| how sweet, how encouraging those words, to the Gate
| : believer !
he “You will, I know, be alad to hear how kind the same
good Lord has been, in giving me the excellent Mis-
4 sionary wife I now have... . On September 23d,
just about the time you would be arriving in India, our
marriage took place. I must give you a short account
of it ... . . Lwish, my dear friend, you had been there.
It was such a very happy day. The church was nearly
full of children, and their parents ; but they were so
still, that, during the whole of the service, you might
have heard a pin drop ; and when we came out of: the
REV, ROBERT CG. AND MRS. PALEY. 273
church, all the dear children had ranged themselves,
from the door to the gate, and down the road on each
side of us, strewing flowers in the way, as we went
along... . After breakfast, we set off to Yorkshire.
. We remained a fortnight with my dear father, and
then we left Yorkshire, never to return to it Much,
very much strength was given me, to bear the trial
of parting from all my dear relations there. . . . Your
time of trial has come and passed. . . . I mean that of
parting with friends and relations ; mine is just drawing
nigh, and sometimes I do dedaiily dread the thought
of it ; especially the separation from ny beloved flock
at Barnwell. But I doubt not, ‘grace’ will be ae
‘sufficient’ for me, in that hour.”
Soon after his return from Yorkshire, Mr. Paley was
ordained in the parish Church of Islington. It was an
occasion of deep interest—the first Ordination held by
Dr. Vidal, the first Bishop of Sierra Leone. Another —
candidate was admitted to the Ministry, at the same
time with him—an inhabitant of Pitcairn’s Island, who,
after faithfully discharging, for many years, the office of
Lay Pastor there, was then ordained as the Missionary-
Clergyman of the Island. The two formed a striking
contrast as they knelt together—the refined and polished
graduate of an English University, and the weather-
beaten Islander ; but both were fellow-soldiers of the
same King, fellow-servants of the same gracious Master.
Quickly after Mr. Paley’s ordination followed his
“ dismissal,” on the morning of November Ist, in the
Hall of the Church Misdouiey College at Islington.
‘In addition to the new Bishop of Sierra Leone,: and
T
274 THE FINISHED COURSE.
Mrs. Vidal, with Mr. and Mrs. Paley, the Missionary
party consisted of the Rev. David and Mrs. Hinderer ;
the three German Missionaries—Gerst, Kefer, and
Maser; the Medical Missionary, Mr. Hensman; and
one of Mrs. Paley’s “own dear Sunday-school children,”
Ellen Apthorpe, who was going with them, as Infant-
school Teacher.
The instructions of the Committee to the Mission-
aries whom they then sent out, are given, in full, in the
Church Missionary Intelligencer for the same year. The
few words addressed to Mr. Paley were these :-—
“You, brother Paley, have been set apart specially to
‘the work of education. In your person are happily
combined, with a personal experience of the manage-
ment and superintendence of elementary schools, all
the advantages of a complete academical education, and
the prestige of a name, celebrated throughout Christen-
dom, for the noble achievement of communicating to the
youthful mind, clear and simple, yet acute and profound
knowledge of the ‘Evidences of Christianity.’ The
Committee are bound to restrain their own anticipations
by the rule, ‘Let not him that girdeth on his harness
boast himself as he that putteth it off,’ else might they
expatiate on the new lustre, which even the name of
Paley may acquire, when you shall be permitted to teach
the youth of Central Africa the solid foundations of reason
and fact, upon which they are invited to build their
hopes of salvation, and when the heathen and Mahom-
medan shall cast away their ‘refuges of lies,’ and em-
brace, from your lips, ‘the truth as it is in Jesus,’ and own
the religion of Christ to be the only ‘reasonable service.’”
REV. ROBERT C. AND MRS. PALEY. 275
The parting words to the Missionary sisters were the
following—so strikingly realized by both, in their after
course. ,
“The Committee commend you, dear sisters, to the
unseen, but Almighty arm of that Saviour, who, on
earth, permitted certain ‘honourable women’ to minister
unto Him ; and who first appeared, after His Resurrec-
tion, to comfort them. We speak by faith, and not by
sight, when we assure you that, ‘as your day, so shall
your strength be ;’ and that you shall be no real losers
by the sacrifices you are about to make of all the com-
forts, and social advantages of a happy English home.
Chirst’s presence in Africa will more than recompense
you. . . . We shall not fail, on our part, to present
you continually before the Lord, praying that He may
‘keep you from falling,’ and preserve us all ‘ faultless
unto that day,’ when we shall meet before the throne of
God, as we trust, with exceeding glory.”
Mr. Paley’s simple reply was :—
“We know that we are going forth to many trials,
temptations, and dangers ; but we do not fear. I have
known, before, something of the power of Christ in
delivering me from them; and I am sure that it will
still be exercised for us. When I first thought of offer-
ing myself for the work, there were many, many difficul-
ties ; but all have been removed and made clear, and
thus they will be. I shall never forget, as long as I
live, the words which one of my own dear Sunday-
school children gave me, on a little slip of paper, the.
other day. She had just written the simple words,
‘Christ conquers all for us.’ I have already felt the
ee
276 THE FINISHED COURSE.
comfort of knowing and experiencing that ; and it is
now my comfort, in going to Africa, to know that,
should we there meet with sorrow, discouragement,
apncenian, sickness, death itself—‘ Chiwst conquers all
fon us
And now followed one of the most trying seasons of
their short missionary course. The vessel, in which
they were to sail for Africa, was then almost daily ex-
pected on her homeward voyage. But week after week
passed, and she came not. How hard were those days
of suspense, both to the waiting Missionaries and to
their friends, who were thus kept in all the lingering
agony of a prolonged parting! .
At length, came the long looked for, yet dreaded
message, that the ship had arrived—then a few days of
hurry and bustle, spent in preparations that could only
be made at the very last; and then, the bitter, bitter
parting from those on they were never to see on
earth again.
A. little party af those who were the nearest and
dearest accompanied them to the ship; but this last
link to home was at length broken, and, at sunset, on
a dark, dismal December Sabbath evening—the rain
pouring, and the wind wailing—the last farewell was
spoken, and the Missionaries looked their last on
England.
Mr. Paley’s “dear children ” were remembered on
the voyage. Almost his first letter was to them, dated
December 15th, between Africa and Madeira.
“My very, very dear children,-—I might write very,
very, a hundred times over, but it would not be suffi-
REY. ROBERT C. AND MRS. PALEY. OTT
cient to tell you how much I love you all.. Though I
am now 1,500 miles away from you, yet you seem to
become all the dearer to me, the oftener I think of
you. Itseems as if there were an india-rubber string,
fastened at the one end to Barnwell, and at the other
end to myself; and this string is always pulling my
thoughts back again to you, and at the same time
there is a strong cord pulling me the other way to
Abbeokuta. You know what a loadstone is. Many
of you will remember that I showed you one, some
time ago. . . . Now Africa is like this loadstone, always
pulling me nearer and nearer, till at last I hope to
be safe there, and be at my work among those poor
children, of whom we have heard so much. God bless
you all, my beloved children.”
They reached Sierra Leone, at the end of the month.
Immediately upon his arrival, Mr. Paley wrote a most
interesting and graphic letter to ‘‘ his children.” We
will only copy a short extract from one to his friends
at :
‘‘Grammar School, Freetown, Dec. 27th, 1852.
“T know you will be glad to hear that God has
brought us so far on our voyage ; and, as there is a
vessel just about to start for England, I feel I must send
you a few lines to show that we have not forgotten you
all at — Often do the happy days spent there,
come into our thoughts. Perhaps we shall be per-
mitted, some day or other, again to pass such pleasant
hours.
‘‘But now, other work is before us. Oh! how
graciously and mercifully has the good Lord carried us,
278 THE FINISHED COURSE.
thus far, on our journey. Though the first part of our
voyage was very stormy, and we suffered much, in con-
sequence, from sickness, still we were enabled to realize
fully His protecting care, and thus were kept calm and
dependent on them, in the midst of all the danger. .
A steamer was seen to founder in the Bay of Biscay,
during one of the very days that we were tossing about
there. However, He has been with us, and here we are,
safe and well, thus far on our journey... . It was
indeed a delightful sight, to witness the joy with which
the Bishop was welcomed here. Every black man and
woman who came off the steamer this morning, in-
quired if the Bisuop was here, and when told that he
was, they clapped their hands and laughed with joy.
It is a strange sight, to be looking down from here, and
see the numbers of black faces in the streets. The
children I have begun to love already. Iam sure I
shall enjoy my future work among the little ones, in
Abbeokuta, they have such good-humoured, honest-
looking faces. |
“The steamer which will take this, has only just
returned from Lagos: she brings glorious news from
Abbeokuta, that they are every day expecting their
‘white man.’ ”
Months before, even before they had left England,
letters that stirred their very hearts, had arrived from
Abbeokuta, telling of the longing, prayerful expectation
with which their coming was anticipated. The Yoruba
children had written :—“ We are puttmg our eyes
upon the road to see him who shall come to this place
REY. ROBERT C. AND MRS. PALEY. 279
at the end of the year; and we pray that the Lord will
be with him on his way, and draw him away from the
fighting sea.” |
Very happy were the hours in Sierra Leone—a
pleasant rest by the way. Gladly would they have
prolonged them, and had their souls refreshed by
seeing more of God’s great work there. But the
colony was not their destination; and soon the
summons came to go forward. |
After a quick and prosperous voyage, they landed
at Lagos. . “ And now,” writes Mr. Paley, “we are
eagerly looking forward to the time when we shall be
at our posts in Abbeokuta. The middle of next week
will, I hope, find us there. More than ever do I now
feel the privilege it is to have been permitted and
chosen to come out hither. . . . It is delightful to see
the welcome given to us on all sides. . . . Numbers of
the people have come down from Abbeokuta, to see if
they can help us, and so glad they seem to see us!
“Last Sunday — our first Sabbath in Africa—TI
enjoyed very much. In the morning, I went with Mr.
Gollmer to the tree where he has his church. Under
a neighbouring tree, in the afternoon, we had another
service.
“We first of all sang the beautiful hymn, ‘There is
a fountain filled with blood.’ I preached to them,
through an interpreter, from Luke viii. 35—37. Fancy
you see me’ standing under the great banyan-tree, Bible
in hand, dressed in the African fashion, the interpreter
by my side, and all around me—men, women, and
children.”
280 THE FINISHED COURSE.
After a short rest at Lagos, the missionary party
started on their inland journey to Abbeokuta. A rough
and toilsome road it was, across broad rivers and
through dense forests, where the paths are so narrow
that only one person can pass at a time.
They slept at night, in tents, under the spreading
trees ; and, as they marched by day, Mr. Paley en-
livened the way by singing some of his children’s
sweet hymns. ‘The last line he sang as they neared .
the town was :—
‘* Hallelujah! We are on our journey home.” ~
It was on the 20th of January, 1863, that the Mis- |
sionaries reached the long-prayed-for city of Abbeokuta.
Very thankfully were they welcomed by the labourers
already there, and were full of eager desire to begin
their work at once.
‘But, that night, all were taken ill with the fever.
' Mr. Paley’s attack appeared but slight, and, with his
usual cheerfulness, he made very light of it, saying
that, as every European must pass through this disease,
it was far better to have it before he had begun his
work, than to be laid aside in the middle of it.
Mrs. Paley’s illness proved more severe ; and, before
she had regained her strength, after one attack of
fever, she was Jaid low with another.
But they were neither of them alarmed or dis-
couraged ; and Mr. Paley, after a very few days, was
out and at work, though still weak and ill.
On February 23d he writes to his friend Mr.
Meadows :—
REV. ROBERT C. AND MRS. PALEY. 281
“‘T have three children with me here, so you see I
have begun. . . . You remember, dear friend, we came
to the conclusion that, if we should ever be permitted
to realize our hopes, and reach our respective destina-
tions in safety, it would still be possible to keep up
communication between Asia and Africa. Well! you
have reached your home in India, and I have reached
mine in Abbeckuta. Now let us try whether we
cannot succeed. . . . After I recovered from fever, I
was able, the following Sunday, to get to the school—
a novel and interesting sight—I suppose very similar
to what you have in India, and just what one has been
in the habit of describing to the children in England.
In fact, from having so often done so, I almost fancied
I had been an eye-witness before. About 200—men,
women, and children eagerly reading and spelling away,
in little groups, under the tuition of some youngster.
About 400 assemble in the church, and are exceedingly
attentive, and make the responses most audibly ;
shaming many an English congregation. ... After
morning service on Sunday, the children sang, ‘I want
to be like Jesus.’ Another Sunday they sang, ‘ One
there is above all others.’ On the sixth, we had the
Communion, when about seventy natives united with
us around the table of the Lord. On the tenth, Mr.
Townsend being away, I preached. It was truly de-
lightful to see, gathered around me, such a number of
those who had once bowed down iS ies: and stone,
meekly kneeling at the feet of Jesus.’ |
Mr. Paley’s first care was to render their new
dwelling at Ikija in some degree habitable. As soon
282 THE FINISHED COURSE.
as this was done, he brought his young wife, who was
still but very poorly, to their first home.
He writes soon afterwards :—
“ March 3d, 1853.—We have just removed to Ikija,
which is, in future, to be the ‘seat of’ all the ‘learn-
ing’ of Abbeokuta. I am now very busy, with a number
a labourers, building my schools, and preparing for
many new boarders. I have already four with me... . I
am getting acclimatized, having twice had the coustinty
fever, and been mercifully restored each time.”
But Mrs. Paley, instead of recovering, as they fondly
hoped, seemed to grow daily weaker, and soon the
doctor began to talk about her returning to England.
While his wife was still in this critical state, a third
attack of fever, short, but severe, again brought Mr.
Paley very low. He rallied, however, and, with wonder-
ful energy, in afew days, resumed his Missionary work.
But, before the end of the month, it returned once
more, and this time accompanied by dysentery. Soon
it became evident that he would be obliged to accom-
pany his wife to England, if indeed, as the hearts of
some already misgave them, they were not bound for a
better country, and brighter home than England.
“On March the 28th,” writes Mrs. Hinderer, “the
doctor and Mr. Townsend judged it advisable to tell
him that they thought it would be necessary for him
also to return, for a short time. This seemed to rouse
him. ‘Only think, Mrs. Hinderer,’ he said to me, on
the 29th, ‘of my going home, and, in a short time, to
come back to you all again, stronger than ever, I hope,
for my work!’ We had really a cheerful afternoon, so
Es
REV, ROBERT ©. AND MRS. PALEY. 283
calm, composed, comfortable and patient were they,
under all their sickness. The next day was a very
stormy one: I could not go out. There were several
tornadoes and much rain. The 3lst, Mr. H. and
myself both went, and were alarmed. We had been
very uneasy before, but had. much hope. The first
glance at him this morning dashed away every hope ;
but dear Louisa could not believe there was anything
serious. She was too ill herself, I think.
“TJ tried many times to give her hints of alarm, for I
felt what a blow was coming upon her. She was ex-
hausted, and, after making her up a bed in the other
room, and half carrying her there, she rested a little.
A slight delirium had come over Mr. Paley, so that he
did not miss her, though knowing every one around him.
There were several; my husband, Mr. Townsend, Mr.
Jrowther, and Mr. King. He wasrather restless, and
talked of ‘his children,’ and his new school, and about
something wrong, which he thought had been done ;
but he was soon soothed by a text of Scripture, and a
gentle word. We left them that night, quiet and
comfortable, and we were cheered and hopeful. Fancy
our surprise, early the next morning to have a note
from her. *‘ Please come to me directly and bring
the doctor.’ Of course, we immediately went, He had
been very restless, and quite delirious, and she had had
no rest. He knew us, however, when he saw us, and
put out his hand to us. My husband repeated to him
many precious words of promise, which seemed to
soothe and calm him. . . . Once he exclaimed, ‘I have
nothing to say for myself—nothing!’ ‘No, my dear
284 THE FINISHED COURSE.
brother,’ replied Mr. Hinderer, ‘we can none of us
say icc dueiea: for ourselves. Christ has said all we need
for us. :
“But his sickness increased more an more. ‘The
bodily power became weaker, and he was soon uncon-
scious of all around... . Dear Louisa was so utterly
exhausted, that, as he would not have known her, she
remained for some time on the sofa, in the next room.
Her dear husband gently breathed his life away, with
very little struggle. She went in again near the end,
supported by me and Mr. Crowther, and spoke to him.
But things temporal had passed from him ; he was
engaged with things eternal. She begged for prayer
again, and my dear husband commended the departing
spirit to the God who gave it She was very calm, but
at the same time there was an intense shinee I
begged her to come away with me, which she did for a
few minutes. Soon one came and told us that the hard
breathing had subsided. We went back, and in a few
minutes all was over. With her own hands she closed
his eyes. Then she begged us all to leave the room. I
waited by the door. A few tears relieved her oe
heart. She called me back again.
“T could not but exclaim, ‘Thou didst well that it was
in thine heart.’ Though only permitted to see the land
he loved, God has accepted the service at his hand, and
has given him his full reward in His kingdom above!”
They laid him to rest in the beautiful burial-ground
at Abbeokuta, by the side of the Missionary Miiller.
It is an humble grave,—a little hillock, with a young
tree planted at its head.
REV. ROBERT C. AND MRS. PALEY. 285
But he needs no monument—though’ he was among
them for so short a time, his name is written on the
hearts of the simple, loving people, for whom he came
to labour, One writes of him :—
“He was a man of undiluted.piety, and condescend-
ing manners ; and very affable in his disposition, as I
found, during the short time we were permitted to meet
together. He was very close to his Bible, as the kernel
to the shell, or the needle to the touch-stone.”
Another says :— .
“Though Mr. and Mrs. Paley had not yet commenced
their labours, before their departure, yet their endea-
vours, their love, their prayers, their sympathy for us
poor Africans, and their piety, which were in them,
began to be seen as a coloured flower, which begins to
make its appearance from its bud.” |
And the poor young widow! Kind and sympa-
thising friends received her to their own house, while
she was waiting the arrival of the steamer that was to.
take her home. But so great had been the shock of her
loved husband’s death, in addition to her own severe
sickness, that they almost doubted whether she would
live to embark. |
Tenderly they carried her back, by the forest-paths,
to the shore, Tenderly they bore her on board, and
then left her, with renewed hope that the reviving
sea-breezes might even yet restore her exhausted .
strength. But it was not to be. ‘Her course was
finished.” Five long days of weakness, and sickness,
ee
i a as Te
286 | THE FINISHED COURSE.
and weariness, and then she quietly and peacefully
passed away.
But little is known of her last hours, for her young
companion, Ellen, was herself far too ill to attend on
her dear dying teacher.
All we know is that there, in that lonely berth, in
the rocking ship—“ G'od gave his beloved sleep.”
** Asleep in Jesus! Blessed sleep !
From which none ever wakes to weep ;
A calm and undisturbed repose,
Unbroken by the last of foes.
‘* Asleep in Jesus! Peaceful rest!
Whose waking is supremely blest ;
No fear, no woe, shall dim that hour
That manifests the Saviour’s power.
** Asleep in Jesus! time nor space
Debars this precious hiding-place ;
On Indian plain, on Northern snows,
Believers find the same repose. ;
““ Asleep in Jesus! Far froin thee,
Thy kindred and their graves may be ;
But thine is still a blessed sleep
From which none ever wakes to weep.”
Re
Pe S95 Se
Da K 2 Wh
at SS
ve: we ss
THE REV. GEORGE F. GERST,! AND THE REV.
JOHN THEOPHILUS KEFER.2
_ fev. George F. Gerst sailed Dec. 5th, 1852. Died Aug. 31st, 1854.
Rev. John Theophilus Kefer sailed Dec. 1852, Died May 28th, 1855.
_“ Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
; Rev. ii. 10.
(rae gj MMEDIATELY after the capture of the slave-
Some): | trading sea-port Lagos, by the British cruisers
Leon ‘ in 1852, the head-quarters of the Mission on
the coast of Guinea, were removed thither from Badagry.
The following year, the interesting station of Ibadan—
more inland than Abbeokuta, was occupied by the
zealous Missionary, the Rev. David Hinderer, who had
been thither to explore, some time before.
Ere two years had passed over either station, each
was consecrated by the death of a Missionary ; and a
grave in each churchyard, as the noble New Zealand
martyr said, ‘‘tapus® the land for Christ.”
They are those of the German brethren Gerst and
Kefer, whom we have already named as “ dismissed,” on
the same day with Mr.and Mrs, Paley, and as their fellow-
voyagers to Africa. How soon to be reunited es !
(1) Lagos. (2) Ibadan.
(3) ‘* Tapus,”’ t.e. hollows, separates as sacred, or as the property of any one.
| Ea tension
ST cet te tt ie BP te sone frre
= —
pT tangs
Raine
288 THE FINISHED COURSE.
As Lagos was the earlier occupied of the two Stations,
so it was there that the first death occurred. We will
gather a few of the records of the Rev. G. F. Gerst’s
devoted labours there, and then turn to the bright
course of his brother Kefer, at Ibadan.
Bishop Vidal and his party landed at Freetown, at
the end of the year 1852. On February 20th of the
following year, was held the first ordination in Sierra.
Leone. It was a time of deep and thrilling interest,
when, in the midst of a densely-crowded congregation
of African Christians, the first Bishop of their Church
admitted the three German Missionaries to the holy
office of deacons.
The text of his Ordination Charge was, 2 Cor. iv. 12.
“Death worketh in us, but life in you.” How almost
prophetic seemed some of the words he addressed to the -
young candidates! Take for instance the following :—
“ May the comfort which He, the great Comforter,
gives you, enable you to ‘count it all joy,’ even when
death worketh in you, whether you be called to labour
for Him in the Colony, or on the distant coast of
Guinea! Hitherto, the African Mission has been con- 1
ducted in the midst of danger and of death, The church- i ||
yard of Kissey, with its multiplied memorials of those |
‘not lost but gone before,’ is a silent, but eloquent wit-
ness to the kind of schooling which the Missionary for
Africa requires. Oh! faint not, brethren, in the hour
of your coming trials; but look upon them as your
training for future usefulness, and eventual success.
“ Finally, brethren beloved of the Lord, who have
REV. G. F. GERST, REV. J. T. KEFER. 289
been called this day to so high and holy a calling, let
me urge upon you to take ever that view of these
things which St. Paul took of them; and, when you
find ‘ death working in you,’ to hail it as the token that
‘life shall work,’ yea ts working already, in those to
whom your high commission sends you. Learn to add
with him, ‘For which cause we faint not, but, though
our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed
day by day.’ With this firm resolve, and this unwaver-
ing confidence, you may pass through all difficulties
unscathed, and the result will be, abounding blessings
on every side. The word of life will have great success,
and be glorified, and He ‘ who walketh in the midst of
the seven golden candlesticks’ will own the church of
Abbeokuta as one of the brightest of them all, and
yourselves as lamps in His right hand, to shine ‘as the
stars for ever and ever.’ ”
By the first opportunity that offered after their ordi-
nation, the three Missionaries proceeded onward to the
coast of Guinea. They landed at Lagos, at the end of
March, 1853, and after a week’s rest there, Mr. Kefer
and Mr. Maser started inland for Abbeokuta, leaving
their brother Gerst to assist Mr. Gollmer, in the newly
occupied station at Lagos.
Mr. Gollmer was the patient, persevering Missionary
who had commenced the Mission at Badagry seven
years before, and had carried it on, almost single-
handed, amid much discouragement, and many sorrows.
It had been no little trial to him to leave a spot, en-
deared as his first station was, by many bright manifes-
tations of God’s special presence in the midst of much
3 U
290 | THE FINISHED COURSE.
outward darkness. But the same Hand which had
directed him thither, was now very clearly seen pointing
to Lagos.
At first, as in the early days at Badagry, a widely-
spreading tree was chosen for a church; and the Mis-
sionary, with his wife and child, lived in a dark, dismal
shed, once a slave-barracoon. Soon, however, a com-
fortable dwelling-house was built, and the ground
marked out for a church. The people listened gladly
to the tidings of salvation, whether proclaimed by the
European Missionary, or by his native helpers ; and, at
the close of six months’ labour, Mr. Gollmer was able
to write in thankful triumph,—
‘What a change for Lagos ! Twelve months ago, it
was in full possession of the Prince of Darkness. Now,
his stronghold is broken open, his bulwarks are over-
thrown, and his banner must give place to the standard
of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Twelve months ago,
the king, chiefs, and people invoked their gods, and
called the neighbouring gods to their assistance, and
bloody sacrifices abounded. Now, many people as-
semble to hear God’s word ; sacrifices are discontinued ;
idols thrown away, and the true God worshipped and
believed, at least by some. What a change! What
has not God wrought! What an earnest of Africa’s
speedy salvation ! God hasten the time!”
It was to this interesting and hopeful station that
Mr. Gerst was appointed ; and heartily he threw him-
self into the work. His journal tells us how, as soon
as he arrived, he began at once to “speak to the people,
about the love of Jesus to poor sinners.” We find him
REV. G. F. GERST, REV. J. T. KEFER. 291
generally adding a few words at the close of Mr. Goll-
mer’s addresses, and, after a few months, joining him
in missionary expeditions to neighbouring towns.
One journey shall be an example of others. It is to
Otta, a place about eight hours’ ride from Lagos, where
a native agent has since been employed. Mr. Gerst
writes :—
“ May 10th, 1853.—I accompanied Mr. Gollmer to
Otta. In consequence of fever during the preceding
week, I felt very weak when we left Lagos in the
morning, but enjoyed the ride, and was quite well when
I arrived at Otta in the evening. I was therefore able
to go about every day in the streets and address the
people ; and they were very willing, and many of them
anxious, to hear me. If I began to speak to two or
three persons, I was sure to have, after a few minutes,
thirty or forty hearers. The first congregation I had
was occasioned by an old man, whom I addressed about
the idols I saw in his hand, and in a little bag hanging
from his shoulders. In his house, I was told, he had
plenty more. Very soon, about thirty persons had
gathered to hear us ; and in addressing them, I felt that
the news of the forgiveness of our sins in Jesus Christ,
found open hearts among them. They returned very
hearty thanks to me when I left them. The old man
had been sitting at my feet all the time, wondering at
the new things he heard.
“One evening, I had a congregation of about eighty
persons. I found them under a large tree, selling and
buying palm-nuts. When I asked them whether they
were inclined to hear a word of the true God, they
U2
292 THE FINISHED COURSE.
immediately left off their business, and listened
to me.
“On Sunday, we kept service under a tree in the
market-place ; Mr. Gollmer in the morning, I in the
evening. Some of the chiefs were present. I trust
the Lord has a number of people in this town, though I
do not forget that there is a great step between hearing
the Word of God a few times, and giving up the heart
to Him.”
On their return to Lagos, the Missionaries found the
town in great commotion. The slave-trading chief
Kosoko was threatening an immediate attack, and, as
two traitor-chiefs were within the walls, the danger was
very great. For a time, the assault was delayed, but
the next two months were passed amidst constant alarms.
At length, on August 5th, the civil war broke out be-
tween Kosoko and his adherents, who wished to continue
the slave-trade, and those who desired to live in peace,
and cultivate their land. One of the first steps of the
enemy was to set fire to Lagos. The flames swept from
house to house, and, in a short time, nearly the whole
town was burned to the ground.
A week of terrible anxiety followed, and the lives
and property of the Missionaries were in great peril.
But God “sent” his servants ‘strong deliverance.” In
the hour of their extremity, the timely arrival, and
energetic interference of the British squadron put the
enemy to precipitate flight.
The remainder of the year was spent in diligent
labour, though amidst “wars and rumours of wars.” Mr.
Gerst’s greatest delight was to go about through the
REV. G. F. GERST. REV. J. T. KEFER. 29S. .
streets of the city, and, collecting little groups around
him, to tell of “salvation by Jesus Christ.” The fol-
lowing may serve as a specimen of his mode of teaching.
He writes :—
“JT addressed about twenty persons ina square. My
interpreter began by saluting a man with the usual
question, ‘Is your body well?’ I asked that man in
Yoruba, ‘Is your soul well?’ He had evidently never
heard so strange a question, and could not find an answer.
I therefore proposed to go to a piazza, where I saw some
people, and to speak more about the question. Some
went there, and I addressed them about the ‘ medicine,’
and the food for the soul.”
But this incessant labour, though very delightful, was
not without risk, in that unhealthy climate. Soon it
began to tell upon the ardent young Missionary.
Throughout October and November, he had frequent
attacks of the country fever, which kept him very weak
and low ; and obliged him, for a time, to suspend his
itinerating work. ‘This precaution, however, was taken
too late. By the end of the year, he became so
alarmingly unwell, that change of air was absolutely
necessary.
It was therefore arranged that he should visit his
brother Maser, at Abbeokuta, early in December. The
rest proved most timely and delightful, both to body
and mind. His spirit was cheered by what he saw of
God’s great and good work, in that more advanced
station, and his soul was refreshed by intercourse with
his brethren ; for, soon after his arrival, Mr. Kefer
came down from Ibadan, for change of air, after severe
a or —_" a a
a 2
294 THE FINISHED COURSE.
fever. Thus the little brotherhood. was once more
complete. Fellow-countrymen of Wiirtemburg, fellow-
students at Basle and at Islington, fellow-voyagers in
the “ Forerunner,” and now, though divided, fellow-
labourers, in the same land, it was no common bond
which united these three fellow-heirs of glory.
‘Tt was a great pleasure to be together again,” writes
Mr. Gerst, “after a separation of nine months, though
we were all of us unwell, and, as we could not help
remarking to each other, pale-faced. We felt very
thankful, however, to the Lord, who had been pleased
to spare the lives of His three unworthy servants, while,
of the fourteen members of that Missionary party that
had, in the same vessel, sailed for this country a year
ago, three had been called away by death, and five
obliged to return to England.
_ “Besides this, on exchanging our experiences, we
could but praise God, who had in His mercy made use
of our tribulations to bless us the more in our inward
man.”
Yes !—“ death was already working” in the Mis-
sionaries ; but as their Bishop had foretold, while “their
outward man decayed, their inward man was being
renewed day by day.”
On February Ist, 1854, Mr. Gerst returned to Lagos,
in renewed health and strength, and was left in charge
of the station, while his over-worked fellow-labourer,
Mr. Gollmer, took the short rest he so greatly needed.
He too, went, for a season, to Abbeokuta ; refreshing
others, and being himself refreshed by intercourse with
the brethren there.
REV. G. F. GERST. REV. J. T. KEFER. 295
After Mr. Gollmer’s return, the two Missionaries
again visited the neighbouring towns, bearing the good
tidings of peace. At one place, they were attacked
with sticks and stones, and all sorts of missiles ; but,
though struck, were preserved from serious hurt. Gene-
rally, however, the welcome they received was warm,
and the attention with which they were listened to, very
encouraging.
- There was one town, Igbessa, about twelve hours’
pull up the friver, where a Christian liberated negro
from Sierra Leone was living. This man was very
anxious that his people should hear the Word of God.
He came to Lagos, with two elders, as a deputation
from the chief of the town, to beg the Missionaries to
go there.
It was an opening not to be neglected ; and on June
12th, Mr. Gollmer and his young brother entered.
Igbessa. The chief received them very kindly, gave
them ground for a house, and promised to send the
children to be taught.
Mr. Gollmer was obliged to return to Lagos, at the
end of the week, but Mr. Gerst remained behind. His
journal gives a most interesting account of this visit,
and presents a beautiful picture of the young Mis-
sionary, alone in this heathen city, where scarcely a
white man had trodden before—by day, gathering the
little wild children around him to teach them ; and, in
the evening, telling of the way to heaven, and of the
“one sacrifice,” to little groups of listeners.
Surely, it was a blessed occupation, and one that
angels might well have coveted !
—996 THE FINISHED COURSE.
But, though this opening was so full of promise, the
Missionary could not long be away from his own duties
at Lagos; and he left Igbessa, praying that the time
might soon come when a permanent labourer could be
stationed there.
The 27th of August, 1854, was a day to be ever
remembered at Lagos, when the first-fruits of her church
were dedicated to the Lord ; twenty-four adults, and
sixteen children, being admitted, by baptism, into the
visible fold of Christ. Mr. Gerst returned in time to
take part in the long-looked-for services of that happy
day. It was a season of holy joy, and of deep and
humble thankfulness.
The candidates, dressed in white, were ranged in
front of the large congregation which had gathered to
witness the administration of the Sacrament. The
adults—of all of whom the Missionaries “ had a good
hope through grace ”’—were baptized in the morning,
the children in the afternoon. After the baptism, Mr.
Gerst preached from Romans vi. 3. “So many of
us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized
into his death.”
It was his last sermon.
That high and holy day was his last Sabbath on
earth. What a bright, glad foretaste of the end-
less ‘‘Sabbath-keeping” he was so soon to enter
upon !
For the next two or three days he was very poorly,
complaining of severe headache, and unable to apply
himself as usual to the study of the language. On the
Wednesday evening, Mr. Gollmer noticed that his
REV, G. F. GERST. REV. J. T. KEFER. 297
countenance seemed suddenly to change, and a ghastly
bluish tinge to overspread it.
He was persuaded to go to bed, and almost imme-
diately a violent fit of ague came on, succeeded, in
about an hour, by raging fever. Soon he became deli-
rious, and strongly convulsed. His sorrowing brother,
and the native teachers, watched around his bed, ex-
pecting that each breath would be the last. About
eleven o'clock, he fell into a quiet sleep, and hope once
more revived. But, soon after midnight, another ter-
rible convulsive fit came on, which, as Mr. Gollmer
writes “ wrested life from him.”
Again he slept, not this time to awake in pain and
agony ; but in peace, in rest, in joy, in His bright
presence above, “whom not having seen,’ he had
“loved” and served on earth.
In the evening, the little Christian flock, and many
of the heathen, gathered around the first Missionary-
grave at Lagos ; and there the newly-baptized converts
wept for the death of him who had come to Africa to
bring them the glad tidings of everlasting life. It was
a sorrowful ending to a week which had commenced so
brightly ; yet those mourners had already learned not
to ‘sorrow without hope, knowing that them which
sleep in Jesus, shall God bring with Him.” While as
for that calm sleeper, ‘“‘he had fought a good fight.
He had finished his course.”
Strikingly similar was the course of Mr. Gerst’s
young brother, Kefer. He, too, was appointed, with a
298 THE FINISHED COURSE.
_ senior Missionary, to commence work in a new and
most promising station. He had the same ardent evan-
gelistic spirit, delighting to go from place to place,
preaching Jesus to all whom he met. He, too, was
called away, when the fruit of his labours was just
beginning to appear ; and his is the first grave that has
hallowed the churchyard he helped to inclose.
Ibadan, the scene of his labours, is about sixty miles
N.E. from Abbeokuta, a vast city of 70,000 people, with
walls of fifteen miles in circumference. Mr. Hinderer
had, for some time, been looking thither with longing
eyes, when in May, 1851, an opportunity was offered
of visiting the town. The chiefs of Abbeokuta nego-
tiated for permission for a white man to go thither, and
official messengers were sent to introduce him. He
travelled with a caravan of 4,000 people as his com-
panions on the road, and on his arrival was welcomed so
warmly, that there was a dispute as to who should have
the privilege of entertaining him. The principal chief,
however, claimed the honour, and, for three months,
Mr. Hinderer lodged with him, a valued and respected
guest. Men and women came in crowds to gaze at the
first white man who had ever been seen in Ibadan,
making strange, though not rude remarks upon his
person and dress. On May 21st, he writes, “I am con-
stantly visited by small and great, rich and poor, at my
dwelling, so that I am greatly in want of fresh air ; and
if I try to get a little outside, I am again surrounded by
people rushing together from all quarters. This after-
noon, I was visited by one of the chief’s friends, who,
while talking to others about me, whispered, “ Now we
REV. G. F. GERST. REV. J. T. KEFER. 299
have got a white man we must hold him very tight.”
They did indeed “hold him very tight.” The slave-
trading Mahomedans tried, in vain, to influence the
people against him ; and he was only allowed to depart
after five months’ sojourn, upon the promise to return
as quickly as possible, and to bring another Missionary
with him.
But, soon after he reached Abbeokuta, a severe at-
tack of fever brought Mr. Hinderer to the brink of the
grave; and the only hope of saving his life was an
immediate return to England. During the months
which he spent at home, Ibadan was in all his thoughts
and prayers, and it was with a heart bounding with
thankfulness, that he once more embarked for Africa,
at the close of 1852, taking with him, not only the
promised Missionary for Ibadan, but a bright, zealous,
devoted wife, who would indeed be his “ fellow-helper
in the Lord” there.
When they reached Africa, Mr. and Mrs. Hinderer
pressed on to Abbeokuta, leaving Mr. Kefer behind at
Freetown for ordination. He followed by the first op-
portunity ; but, when he reached the city, death had
already entered the Missionary circle. Only a few days
before his arrival, his loved young brother, Mr. Paley,
had fallen asleep in Jesus; and Mrs. Paley was so ill,
that it was doubtful whether she were not also fast
sinking, A few days later, on the first Sabbath he
spent in Abbeokuta, another of his fellow-voyagers, the
medical Missionary, died very suddenly ; and soon, he
too, was laid low by a very severe attack of fever.
His work, however, was not yet done. He was
300 THE FINISHED COURSE.
brought safely through the crisis of his sickness,
though far too ill to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Hinderer,
when, on April 25th, they started for Ibadan. But
scarcely were they settled in their temporary dwelling
there, before their hearts were gladdened by his arrival,
in restored health and bright spirits.
Very heartily he began, at once, the work of street-
preaching and visiting ; and with much success. At
first, the Sunday services were held in the piazza of the
Mission-house, but that soon became so crowded, that
the Missionaries were obliged to build a large temporary
shed, roofed with palm-leaves. The work of the Lord
in Ibadan seemed now most hopefully commenced. A
Mission Church and dwelling-house, rude though they
were, stood as witnesses for God in the midst of that
heathen city ; and such crowds of eager hearers gathered
on week-days in the streets, that the preachers were
obliged to choose the quietest corners, because “ every
one wanted to hear about the new fashion.”’ Mrs. Hin-
derer, too, had begun to collect a few children around
her, to teach and train for heaven.
But God had a lesson to teach those eager workers,
that it is “not by might, nor by power, but by His
Spirit” alone that His work is to be done. At the end
of June, after struggling nearly a fortnight against
threatenings of illness, Mr. Hinderer was seized with
most violent fever. or some days he was delirious,
and in great danger; and, when the crisis was passed,
and he, by God’s mercy spared, though scarcely able to
crawl about, his wife was attacked. For more than a
fortnight, there seemed no hope of her recovery, and
REV. G. F. GERST. REV. J. T. KEFER. 301
again and again the heart-sick watchers listened for
her last breath. But God had pity on them, and
spared to them the sunshine of the Mission-house at
Ibadan.
In this time of sickness, Mr. Kefer nursed them
both with exceeding tenderness, sitting up with them,
night after night ; and watching them day by day with
most loving care.
Throughout the year, he suffered himself from severe
though short attacks of fever ; but, whenever health
allowed, and sometimes even when it barely did, we
find him preaching in the streets, in piazzas, and under
trees, with unwearying zeal. |
But, at the close of the year, a most alarming and
dangerous return of fever, laid him aside, for a time, from
all work, and made his friends think that the hour of
his rest was drawing near. Mrs. Hinderer now rejoiced
to return all the sympathy and loving care that he had
shown for them, and was his kind and skilful nurse,
tending him in his hours of pain and weariness, cheer-
ing him by her bright hopeful words, and, when he was
able to bear it, playing and singing to him some of the
songs of Zion in that strange land. The young Mis-
sionary, like so many of his countrymen, was very fond
of music, and it was better than medicine, to lie and
listen to that sweet soothing voice, and those glad and
holy words. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered,
he went to Abbeokuta for change of air, where, as we
have seen, he spent New Year’s Day, with his dear
brethren, Gerst and Maser. This step was blessed to
his perfect restoration ; and, after a few weeks of happy
302 THE FINISHED COURSE.
intercourse, Mr. Gerst started, southward, for Lagos, and
Mr. Kefer, northward, for his home in Ibadan.
The first part of the new year, 1854, was a time of
much secular labour. Their dwelling was most un-
comfortable, and was daily becoming more so, letting
in the wind and rain, and endangering their health ;
while the palm-leaf church was already tottering. The
building of a permanent Missionary-house and church
seemed a necessary duty, and the Missionaries applied
themselves to it diligently.
At the beginning of May, after hard manual inhouse
of several weeks, the dwelling-house was so far finished
as to be thought habitable, and Mrs. Hinderer set to
work to make calico doors and windows, in the absenee
of wooden ones. “Thus,” writes Mr. Hinderer, “by
such and the like contrivances, we are enabled to inhabit
a comfortable dwelling near the bush of Ibadan, with a
large town and a great work before us, and trusting in
the ‘help for ages past,’ as ‘our hope for days to come.’
Yet the old house ought not to be forgotten. . . . There
it was, where we were all brought low, even to the
brink of eternity ; and there also, it was, where ‘a joy-
ful noise and melody’ was first made in this place of
pagan darkness unto the Lord Jehovah.”
Mr. Kefer adds :-—
“Tt really is a great enjoyment to us to move now
about on a dry-floored ground, and to breathe fresh air,
and to have such nice and lovely views from our very
rooms ; and especially to know ourselves sheltered under
a roof which will protect us against the rains. All our
people rejoiced with us.”
REV. G. F. GERST. REV. J. T. KEFER. 303
The church was so far completed, that service was
held in it, for the first time, on July 23d. It was ready
none too soon, as their old palm-leaf church had fallen
to the ground during the heavy tornadoes.
But the new church, though the “ holy place ” where
the little congregation of real inquirers gathered for
worship on the Sabbath, was not the only, or indeed
the chief preaching-place of the Missionaries. In Sep-
tember, we find Mr. Hinderer and Mr. Kefer going
through the town to select regular preaching-places for
the week. “We fixed,” writes Mr. Kefer, “on ten
trees in the different districts, so that by regular preach-
ing, every quarter of the town will be visited by the
Gospel once a week.”
The Missionaries, like their great Master, constantly
chose illustrations of their words from objects and
events around them. Mr. Kefer was peculiarly apt at
doing this ; it seems to have been a special gift with
him. When a native said he could not come to the
preaching because he had been so occupied in “ mending
his house,” the Missionary told him of the “house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens,” that the
Saviour had prepared for his people. “These are sweet
words,” said the poor man at last, “I wish to get one
too.”
Once, after a long morning’s work, he stopped near
some men who were gathered in front of an idol house ;
he began to speak to them, and, weary with his
journey, tried to sit upon the low wall. But he had
scarcely done so, when the whole side of the little build-
ing tumbled down, and it was only by a quick spring
304 THE FINISHED COURSE.
that he escaped falling with it. As he stood among
the crumbled ruins, he spoke of the “sure foundation
of hope, that never can fail; of the strong rock of
salvation.”
As he passed a woman fanning her beaten corn, to
separate it from the husks, he paused, and when a little
congregation was gathered round him, preached about
the great and terrible day when God will separate His
people from the wicked, “the wheat” from “ the chaff,”
and advised them to be found among “the wheat.”
At another time, he was struck with a beautiful
flower, which he picked, and showed to his first con-
gregation ; he told them how that fair flower would
fade and die, and so must they; but that there was a
better land, and those transplanted thither would never
die. Then, when their attention was fixed, he told them
of the way thither.
A party of weavers were busy with their looms. Mr.
Kefer came among them, and, after a little pleasant
talk, asked them, “if they would be able to make ‘a
cloth’ fit to appear before God in.” No! they had
never heard of such a thing, and besides they thought
that God only could provide it. The answer was just
what the Missionary wanted, and he stood long in the
midst of that little group, telling to eager listeners of
the “Robe of Righteousness.”
The place of execution furnished many an illustra-
tion. Once he pointed to the awful grave by the side
of which the criminals are siain, and asked if there was
any hope for the poor condemned one, when he stood
there. When they said there could be none, he con-
REV. G. F. GERST. REV. J. T. KEFER. 305
tinued, ‘‘ But, suppose that a friend of the malefactor
should go to the chief, and offer even to die instead
of him?” “Such a thing cowld not happen,” said
they, ‘‘no man would make such an offer.” “This
answer,” writes the Missionary, “prepared the way to
tell them of the great and all-surpassing love of God,
towards us, who were in just such a condition. My
hearers were quite astonished when they heard these
words. It seems to me they delighted when such glad
tidings touched their hearts.”
In such incessant, yet delightful labour, passed the
year 1854 ; broken indeed, in September, by another
dangerous attack of fever, through which Mr. Kefer was
again nursed with unwearying love and sympathy by
his Missionary brother and sister ; and, by God’s bles-
sing on their care, he once more recovered, The work,
too, though so full of encouragement, was not without its
trials. ‘The wars and rumours of wars which so dis-
tressed the brethren at Lagos, extended, even then, to
Ibadan, and caused many a fear and anxiety.
At the close of the year, the Yoruba Missionaries
were cheered by a visit from their beloved Bishop, and —
Mr. Kefer and Mr. Maser once more met at Abbeokuta,
to receive priest’s orders at his hand.
It was a solemn time. How many would be their
thoughts of their departed brother Gerst, while the
windows of the church in which they were gathered,
looked out on Mr. Paley’s grave! Both would have
been associated with them on this holy day, but both
were now with Jesus.
They were “kings and priests for ever unto God.”
x
306 THE FINISHED COURSE.
After his ordination, Mr. Kefer returned to his work,
with, if possible, increasing earnestness. But it was
nearly “ finished,” now.
On May 18th, the roof of their church was blown off
by a violent tornado. Mr. Kefer had much set his
heart upon going, the next week, on an evangelizing
journey through some outlying towns, but he now
offered to stay at home, to help to repair the church.
Mr. Hinderer, however, could not bear to disappoint
him, and urged him still to go, saying that the weather
would not admit of much repairing at present.
On Whit-Sunday, the 21st, they could not hold
service in the roof-less church, but Mr. Kefer preached
in the piazza, with great spirit and power, from the
text, “ Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee
a crown of life.” It was his last sermon to the regular
congregation of worshippers.
On the next day, he was busy with preparations for his
journey; and on Tuesday, 22d, the Missionaries parted,
wishing each other Pentecostal blessings, wherever they
might be. i
The notes of this journey, written in pencil—the
last lines Mr. Kefer ever wrote—are deeply interesting,
but too long to insert here.
His faithful native companion and interpreter,
Thomas Hardisty, thus tells us of its end :—
“‘ Mr. Kefer was ever ready to talk to all who came
near him, and he tried to tell all of Jesus. On Friday,
when I saw he had a little fever, I begged him to rest,
which he did, for a short time, but soon said, ‘I am well;
this little white powder takes all my fever away.’
REV. G. F. GERST. REV. J. T. KEFER. 307
“He slept well in the night, and seemed quite well
in the morning, Saturday, the 26th. There was heavy
rain, and so we could not go out till past eleven; but
it was then nice and cool, and we stayed out in com-
pounds, &c. till two. Fever returning, he lay down,
taking a little more white powder. He became better,
and walked a little. After an hour, he returned, look-
ing very pleased, but pale. He said, ‘I have found
another nice little town, to which we must go, on
Monday.’ )
‘We had a pretty quiet evening, and Mr. Kefer slept
well. On Sunday morning, the 27th, his skin looked
a little pale and yellow, which I did not like, and I
said, ‘You must be quiet, sir, to-day, or fever will take
you strong.’ He said, ‘I am not at all ill, only a little.’
We went out preaching to many people. At eleven, I
again said, ‘Please, sir, do come home now ;’ but he
said, ‘Wait a little longer.’ At twelve, I looked at
him again, and he said, ‘ Well, we will go, now.’
‘““As soon as he lay down, fever came sharply, and,
by seven in the evening, or before, he was quite un-
conscious, and continued so all night. The next
morning, we saw his skin more yellow than gold, and
I set about making a hammock ; for I felt we must get
him home, or he would die out there. I said to him,
‘I will carry you home in a hammock.’ He seemed
conscious for a minute or so, and said, ‘ Yes, do; make
haste.’ ”’
Poor Hardisty, however, had great trouble to get
bearers. He begged the chiefs to give him people. But
when they came near, and saw the hue of the poor
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308 THE FINISHED COURSE.
sufferer, they fled in terror. It was not until the chief
took one end of the hammock, and Hardisty the other,
that any one would touch it. Mr. Kefer was quite
delirious ; one had to walk on each side, to guard him,
and another held the umbrella over his head. Thus
they arrived at Ibadan, about four o’clock on that
Monday afternoon.
What a shock was the sight of that mournful pro-
cession to the Missionary brother and sister who loved
him so well! They saw his horse led riderless along the
road, and the hammock borne behind: there was but
little need to ask the cause. When he saw them, he
was just able to give one smile of recognition, but that
was all. |
They put him to bed, with all speed, and gave him
medicine which had been blessed before. While
Mrs. Hinderer bathed his burning head, he fell into a
calm sleep, and once more there seemed a little hope
that God would spare him. But, about seven, he
became very restless, requiring three or four to hold
him. Mrs. Hinderer tried to get a few words from him :
he smiled, and made an effort to speak, but could not.
The few broken words he said were all in Yoruba,
evidently showing that he thought himself in the
villages,
‘‘ After a time,” writes Mr. Hinderer, “he got into a
praying attitude, without, however, recognising any
one, or saying a word. We then gathered round his
bed to pray. The bitter hour of parting was at hand.
He was still unconscious of what was doing in the
room, and around his bed. As we got up from our
i)
REV. G. F. GERST. REV. J. T. KEFER. 309
knees, he was still calmer; he lay with his hands
folded, as quietly as a little child falling to sleep in its
mother’s arms ; and, at seventeen minutes past ten, that
evening, he drew his last breath.
“ Next day, at five in the afternoon, Ibadan witnessed
the first Christian burial. How affecting that the first
Christian funeral in the town should be one of its
evangelists !
“¢ Near the church, we laid our dear brother, till the
resurrection morning, in the sight of, and amid the
sympathy and tears of a large number of heathen, and
our little band of Christians. . . . We could scarcely
get through the service.
“Oh, what a change has the last week brought for
us! Full of sadness, I look out from our front door
to-day, upon a grave near our little church. Can it
be? Is it really true, that there lie the remains of our
dear brother, my most faithful fellow-labourer? Yes!
He has, indeed, been fazthful unto death, and is now
receiving the crown of life.”
He has fought a good fight ; he has finished his course.
We must not leave Ibadan without naming—we
can do no more—a young labourer, who has since been
laid to rest beside the faithful Kefer.
After a short sojourn in England, in 1856, the
devoted Hinderers returned to Africa, in 1857. Very
loving was the welcome they received from their little.
flock ; and, amid sickness and many hindrances, they
held on their work alone, till, at the close of 1859, they
ee a
310 THE FINISHED COURSE.
were joined by an English catechist, George Jefferies.
Soon after his arrival, civil war broke out between
Ibadan and Abbeokuta. Ibadan had sent an army
against Ijaye, and Abbeokuta thought itself bound to
send an army to succour it. Thus, the three most
important stations of the Church Missionary Society
were involved in all the horrors of civil war. Ibadan
was completely isolated for very many months, and the
faithful Missionaries were not only destitute of European
necessities, but were without cowries to buy enough
native food. Weakened by sickness, they often shed
tears through actual hunger. At last, Mr. Jefferies, worn
out with illness and privation, died.
“In peace” —is the only account that has yet reached
us of his last moments ; but, oh! what does not that
say !
“In Peace,” amid war and tumults, and sickness, and
starvation.
And in glory now!
THE CHURCHYARD OF KISSEY!
‘* Sown in corruption,—raised in incorruption :
** Sown in dishonour,—raised in glory :
. ““Sown in weakness,—raised in power :
“‘ Sown a natural body,—raised a spiritual body.”
1 Cor. xv. 43, 44.
Rea SHOP VIDAL has pointed us to the “Church-
i te<4| yard of Kissey, with its multiplied memorials
IAI} of those ‘not lost, but gone before.” We
wat not, then, leave the Western coast of Africa, with-
out once more returning to Sierra Leone, that we may
visit that hallowed spot, and there learn some of those
lessons of faith and hope, of patient resignation, and
heroic devotion, which we may gather among its silent,
yet speaking tombs.
There lies the veteran Missionary, worn out by years
of toil; and there, the young brother, struck down in
the prime of his youth, and the height of his useful-
ness. Zhere sleeps the young wife, who rejoiced that
she was “counted worthy” to die for the name of the
Lord ; and there the little children, early blighted by that
deadly climate—like the babes of Bethlehem,—“ un-
conscious martyrs in the cause of their Redeemer.”
We. have before us a beautiful drawing of Kissey
Churchyard,* brought home by the widow of a young
(1) Sierra Leone, West Africa.
(2) Copied in the Church Missionary Quarterly Paper for Midsummer, 1862.
312 THE FINISHED COURSE.
Missionary, who is lying there. Let us, as we look on
each grave, just glance—we can do no more—at the
“‘ finished course” it records.
The humble grave in front, close to the white tomb,
is that of the holy, laborious Nylander, the Apostle of
the Bullom Shore, and the first Pastor of Kissey. We
have already followed his long and faithful course, to
its end.
The white tomb, with the pointed headstone, is that
of the Rev. Niel Christian Haastrup, and his little son.
This earnest young Missionary was a native of Den-
mark. After passing through the usual course of study,
in the Colleges at Basle and Islington, he embarked for
Sierra Leone, in December, 1840. For some time after
his arrival, he was removed from place to place, as one
station after another was rendered vacant, by sickness
or death. At length, he was finally located at Kissey,
to the great joy of the flock there, who, since Nylander’s
death, had suffered much from frequent change of
pastors. In 1846, he was obliged to return to Europe,
for a short time, on account of health; but, the next
year, we find him again at his post. Most eagerly did
his people welcome him back amongst them. Many of
his flock went down to Freetown, to meet him, and
escort him back to his own parish ; and, as soon as he
entered it, the village rang with shouts of joy. For
another year and a half, he laboured with great dili-
gence at Kissey, and then “his course was finished.”
arly in August, 1849, he became unwell, and continued
so for a few days; but his sickness was thought to be
THE CHURCHYARD OF KINSEY. alo
only the result of fatigue and overwork. Suddenly,
however, it turned to yellow fever ; and, in a few hours,
all was over. The Missionary brother, who, on first
hearing of his illness, hastened to visit him, found him
already unconscious, and calmly passing away. In two
hours more, he heard the last gentle breath. The grief
of his people at Kissey was es great. One of the
native helpers wrote :— _
“ On the entrance of the coffin into the church, which
was densely crowded by people from every neighbour-
ing town, the building so loudly echoed with the voices
of sympathizing mourners, that it might have been
called ‘Bochim.’ There was scarcely an individual
present who did not shed tears. The people of Kissey,
in particular, wept as for an affectionate father ; and,
doubtless, he had been a spiritual father to many among
them.”
Beneath the grave in the foreground, is the touching
sole Seat da :-—“Our dear and blessed Conrad’s resting-
place.” It is that of the Rev. J. Conrad Clemens, Mr.
Haastrup’s successor at Kissey. A short but bright
course was his.
~ On his arrival at Sierra Leone, in November 1848, he
was at first placed in charge of the villages of Charlotte
and Bathurst, where he soon won the deep love of his
little flocks. After Mr. Haastrup’s death, he was re-
moved to the more important station of Kissey, and
there a bright field of usefulness seemed opened before
him and his devoted wife.
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