Origin of Wesleyan Methodism in Sierra Leone and History of Its Missions

Book excerpt: The digital copies of these recordings are available for free at First Fruits website. place.asburyseminary.edu/firstfruits Preface Knowing that it is a serious disadvantage to any people or country whose history is not written for the benefit of posterity, it has, for many years past, occurred to me that I ought to attempt something in this direction in connexion with Wesleyan Methodism, which has not only existed in this Colony of Sierra Leone for more than a century, but has conferred numerous untold benefits, intellectual, moral, and spiritual, on the people in general. Owing to the attendant strain of a Methodist Circuit life, and the great responsibility that rested on me as a Superintendent Minister since the early part of 1867, I could not possibly afford time to undertake the gigantic work of preparing a history of the rise and progress of Methodism and its Missions in Sierra Leone. A gracious Providence having, however, mercifully spared me to retire from the multifarious duties of circuit work at the close of the first quarter of the year 1910, after fifty-one years' active service, I feel that, as the oldest Wesleyan minister in the district, God has no doubt preserved me for the accomplishment of the important task; I must therefore at once proceed to put together certain facts from credible and available records, along with my reminiscences of sundry matters that are about half a century old, for the information alike of both young and old. With the belief that the obituaries of both the European Missionaries and African Ministers that died in the work here or elsewhere will be foundinteresting and appreciated, particularly in Methodistcircles in which they were not previously known; their insertion will be given in the pages within therespective decades in which the deaths occurred. For the map of Sierra Leone showing approximate Tribal Divisions the writer of this history is indebted to Mr. C. H. Lukach's book, A Bibliography of Sierra Leone.