Page:Cole (1885) The Hope of Sherbro's Future Greatness.pdf/16

—12— said, “No, but a large canoe with smoke just bring Ba Gomer. He big you can see bottom far away.” We hope the steamer will remain long, so as to facilitate communication between this and civilized countries, and relieve some of the fears of missionaries in their frequent travels by water, thereby encouraging and introducing Christianity, commerce, and civilization into this land.

The building of a pier-head and a substantial mission-wharf, with the extension of the mission-business in a new and larger store, is also a great advancement toward the civilization of Sherbro. Many may differ from me on this point, or may see differently than I do, therefore I shall enlarge a little here. I have often heard talented and civilized men, both here and in Sierra Leone, crying down the Shaingay misssonaries as traders, or, using their term, “Merchant missionaries;” and it seems to me that this is the opinion of the highest authorities by their recently subjecting to license duties on their boats as those of ordinary traders, whereas the custom regulations exempt missionary boats from paying license. Though my opinion may be feeble on this point, yet it demands your reasonable attention. It is not my intention to proselyte you to my faith in the suitability of combining ministerial work with trade. I do not argue that because Peter was a fisherman and St. Paul a tent-maker, therefore missionaries are to combine evangelistic works with commerce. Missionary labors in enlightened and Christian countries differ. Extensive commerce in connection with missionary operations in civilized countries where the wants of pastors are adequately met either by subscription or donation, is unnecessary. But in a heathen country like Africa,–a country degraded and corrupted by the slave-trade,–the introduction of innocent commerce, together with Christianity, even where the needs of missionaries are adequately supplied, is a necessity and a part of Christian duty. Gomzalez, the first European slave-dealer, who came to Africa