Liberia: Description, History, ProblemsStarr, Frederick
History
Liberia: Description, History, Problems
Starr, Frederick
Liberia
The number of pure blood natives among the Liberian clergy must be
considerable. Some of these, like the Rev. F. A. Russell, of Grand
Bassa, minister to mixed congregations, with both Liberian and native
members. Other native clergymen have charge of definite mission work
among the natives. Thus, Rev. McKrae is in charge of the Kru chapel
(Episcopalian) in Monrovia. The Kru and Grebo are close kin, both in
speech and blood. In connection with such mission effort we are
naturally reminded of Mr. Scott, a full-blooded Grebo, who is the
architect and superintendent of construction of the Bromley School for
Girls, situated upon the St. Paul’s River about three hours by steamer
from Monrovia; it is said to be the largest building in Liberia. Mr.
Scott has had no instruction in the builder’s trade beyond what he has
picked up practically and through a course of instruction received from
America by correspondence.
These are a few examples of native men who are doing something to help
Liberians to solve their problems. There must be a considerable number
of such. There is, however, another class of men who are helping in the
advancement of the country, though in quite a different way. Those whom
we have mentioned have practically severed themselves from the native
life; they are living among Liberians and taking active part with them.
Thomas Lewis, a Bassa, living in Grand Bassa, where his house, newly
built, is one of the finest in the town, is a native of the natives. His
father was a local king; Thomas was one of about a hundred children.
Through missionary effort he gained the rudiments of education; coming
then to the United States, he studied in various cities, finally taking
his advanced work in Syracuse University. While there he devised a
system of writing the Bassa language, which, like the system long in use
among the Vai, consists of a series of phonetic characters standing for
syllables. While in Syracuse he had a primer printed in the new
characters for teaching Bassa children to read. Having studied medicine,
he became a practising physician on his return to his own country. He
has large influence with the primitive Bassa, and not infrequently is
called upon by the Government to exert this in its behalf. He has taught
a number of Bassa boys his system and takes great pride in their ability
to write and read their language with his characters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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