, 1833, the Rev. Melville B. Cox, an
ordained minister of this church, landed at Monrovia. The mission
experienced many severe trials; but the good people who had it in
charge held on with great tenacity until the darkness began to give
away before the light of the gospel. Nor did the Board of the
Methodist Missionary Society in America lose faith. They appropriated
for this mission, in 1851, $22,000; in 1852, $26,000; in 1853,
$32,957; and in 1854, $32,957. In the report of the board of managers
for 1851, the following encouraging statement occurs:--

"All eyes are now turned toward this new republic on the
western coast of Africa as the star of hope to the colored
people both bond and free, in the United States. The
republic is establishing and extending itself; and its
Christian population is in direct contact with the natives,
both Pagans and Mohammedans. Thus the republic has,
indirectly, a powerful missionary influence, and its moral
and religious condition is a matter of grave concern to the
Church. Hence the Protestant Christian missions in Liberia
are essential to the stability and prosperity of the
republic, and the stability and prosperity of the republic
are necessary to the protection and action of the missions.
It will thus appear that the Christian education of the
people is the legitimate work of the missions."

At this time (1851) they had an annual Conference, with three
districts, with as many presiding elders, whose duty it was to visit
all the churches and schools in their circuit. The Conference had 21
members, all of whom were colored men. The churches contained 1,301
members, of whom 115 were on probation, and 116 were natives. There
were 20 week-day schools, with 839 pupils, 50 of whom were natives.
Then there Were seven schools among the natives, with 127 faithful
attendants.

Bishop Scott, of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, was, by order of his Conference, sent on an official visit to
Liberia. He spent more than two months among the missions, and
returned in 1853 much gratified with the results garnered in that
distant field.

"The government of the republic of Liberia, which is formed
on the model of our own, and is wholly in the hands of
colored men, seems to be exceedingly well administered. I
never saw so orderly a people. I saw but one intoxicated
colonist while