African Colonization by the Free Colored People of the United States, an Indispensable Auxiliary to African Missions.: A LectureChristy, David
History
African Colonization by the Free Colored People of the United States, an Indispensable Auxiliary to African Missions.: A Lecture
Christy, David
African Americans -- Colonization -- Africa; Missions -- Africa
In 1825, the Rev. Calvin Holton, a white man, went out as a missionary,
but died almost immediately after his arrival. “The mission continued to
be sustained by Mr. Carey, with the aid of two or three pious assistants
from among the emigrants. The resources by which it was kept alive were
supplied almost entirely by his own efforts, as the funds which were
furnished by the Board were of necessity at this time exceedingly
limited. The labors of the mission were bestowed upon the emigrant
colonists, and also, as far as possible, upon the natives of the
country, who had either been rescued from slave-ships and settled upon
the coast, or had voluntarily come in from the neighboring wilderness to
join the colonies of their more civilized brethren. Mr. Carey in this
manner preached and maintained schools at Monrovia, and also at Grand
Cape Mount, among the Veys, one of the most powerful and intelligent of
the tribes on the coast. At these and other settlements he was the life
and soul of nearly all the religious efforts and operations that were
carried on. He preached several times every week, superintended schools
both for religious and secular instruction,—in some of which he taught
himself,—traveled from one settlement to another, and watched with
constant vigilance and unremitting care over all the spiritual and the
social interests of the colonists.
“In September, 1826, he was unanimously elected vice-agent of the
colony, and on the return of Mr. Ashmun to the United States, in 1828,
he was appointed to discharge the duties of Governor in the interim—a
task which he performed during the brief remnant of his life with
wisdom, and with credit to himself. His death took place in a manner
that was fearfully sudden and extraordinary. The natives of the country
had committed depredations upon the property of the colony, and were
threatening general hostilities. Mr. Carey, in his capacity as acting
Governor, immediately called out the military forces of the colony, and
commenced vigorous measures for repelling the assault and protecting the
settlements. He was at the magazine, engaged in superintending the
making of cartridges, when, by the oversetting of a lamp, a large mass
of powder became ignited, and produced an explosion which resulted in
the death of Mr. Carey and seven others who were engaged with him. In
this sudden and awful manner perished an extraordinary man,—one who in a
higher sphere might have developed many of the noblest energies of
character, and who, even in the humble capacity of a missionary among
his own benighted brethren, deserves a prominent place in the list of
those who have shed luster upon the African race.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account