"
The missionaries are all, or nearly all, Liberian citizens.
The Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States has five missionaries at four stations in Liberia. The first
is at Monrovia, under the care of the Rev. Harrison W. Ellis, well
known as "the Learned Black Blacksmith." While a slave in Alabama,
and working at his trade as a blacksmith, he acquired all the
education, in English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Theology, which is
required for ordination as a Presbyterian minister. The
Presbyterians of that region then bought him, and sent him out as a
missionary. His assistant, Mr. B.V.R. James, a colored man, was for
some years a printer in the service of the American Board at their
mission at Cape Palmas and the Gaboon River. He first went to
Liberia as a teacher, supported by a society of ladies in New York.
In the Presbyterian Church under the care of Mr. Ellis are 39
communicants. During the year, 24 had been added, and 8 had been
dismissed to form a new church in another place. Mr. Ellis also has
charge of the "Alexander High School," which is intended mainly for
teaching the rudiments of a classical education.
Pages:
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197