in the country, and I heard not one profane
word. The sabbath is kept with singular strictness, and the
churches crowded with attentive and orderly
worshippers."[108]

The above is certainly re-assuring, and had its due influence among
Christian people at the time it appeared. At an anniversary meeting of
the Methodist Church, held in Cincinnati, O., in the same year, 1853,
Bishop Ames gave utterance to sentiments in regard to the character of
the government of Liberia that quite shocked some pro-slavery people
who held "_hired pews_" in the Methodist Church. His utterances were
as brave as they were complimentary.

"Nations reared under religious and political restraint are
not capable of self-government, while those who enjoy only
partially these advantages have set an example of such
capability. We have in illustration of this a
well-authenticated historical fact: we refer to the colored
people of this country, who, though they have grown up under
the most unfavorable circumstances, were enabled to succeed
in establishing a sound republican government in Africa.
They have given the most clear and indubitable evidence of
their capability of self-government, and in this respect
have shown a higher grade of manhood than the polished
Frenchman himself."[109]

The Presbyterian Board of Missions sent Rev. J.B. Pinny into the field
in 1833. In 1837, missions were established among the natives, and
were blessed with very good results. In 1850 there were, under the
management of this denomination, three congregations, with 116
members, two ordained ministers, and a flourishing sabbath school. A
high-school was brought into existence in 1852, with a white
gentleman, the Rev D.A. Wilson, as its principal. It was afterward
raised into a college, and was always crowded.

The American Protestant-Episcopal Church raised its missionary
standard in Liberia in 1836. The Rev John Payne was at the head of
this enterprise, assisted by six other clergymen, until 1850, when he
was consecrated missionary bishop for Africa. He was a white gentleman
of marked piety, rare scholarship, and large executive ability. The
station at Monrovia was under the care of the Rev. Alexander Crummell,
an educated and eloquent preacher of the Negro race. There was an
excellent training-school for religious and secular teachers; there
are several boarding-schools for natives, with