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Auction archive: Lot number 8

Rare letter from famed ex-slave missionary in Liberia

Estimate
US$900 - US$1,200
Price realised:
US$2,000
Auction archive: Lot number 8

Rare letter from famed ex-slave missionary in Liberia

Estimate
US$900 - US$1,200
Price realised:
US$2,000
Beschreibung:

2pp.+ stampless address leaf. To Charles D. Drake, [Presbyterian] Mission House, New York. An Abolitionist newspaper of 1853 remarked that the two former slaves of equal genius who demonstrated “the capacity of the Black man for the culture and conditions of high civilization” were the famous Frederick Douglass, and, in far-off Liberia – H. W. Ellis. Ellis, a freed slave taught himself Latin, Greek and Hebrew as well as studying science and philosophy. In 1846, the Presbyterians of Alabama and Mississippi spent $2500 to purchase his freedom and that of his wife and two children, ordained him a Minister and sent the 35 year-old scholar to Liberia where he became Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Monrovia. He mastered a tribal dialect so he could preach to the natives in their own language and also discussed theology with their Muslim priests in Hebrew Aramaic. "…our Missionary operations are perhaps more promising and important than ever before, our church is indigent but pious and fast rising in intelligence, increasing in number – and influence – but when we speak of intelligence in a Presbyterian Church in W. Africa, at this period of Liberia’s existence, we speak comparatively as a matter of course. Knowing that this branch of Zion is in general the most intelligent part of any Community in every Country. You must then [know?] that the Pastoral Charge at this time and place is necessarily very laborious. Our Alexander High School is the best in all Liberia… Our students are improving reflecting honor to their Donors and Benefactor, Our Citizen gratefully appreciate this costly, novel and Philanthropic Benfice – our Iron School House, Beautiful and useful Library, Splendid and instructive apparatus, etc…. and there is nothing surer than that our white friends in the United States of North America will shortly see the salutary effects and also Glorious Evangelical fruits emanating from that unparalleled benevolence… so Characteristic of that people with whom the Grand Scheme originated. We are trying to increase our access to the Native Tribes, so at to make our Missionary operations more permanent, its effect prominent, conspicuous and perpetual. To effect this, we wish to have an exploring interior Road Company belonging to and forming a part of our Missionary operations, so as to realize in some good degree the effects of our educating and Evangalizing economy – visibly, sensibly and tangibly that will Give Glory to Him! Effect salutary benefits in time and the salvation of myriads of souls in Eternity…”

Auction archive: Lot number 8
Auction:
Datum:
10 Jun 2021
Auction house:
PBA Galleries
1233 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
United States
pba@pbagalleries.com
+1 (0)415 9892665
+1 (0)415 9891664
Beschreibung:

2pp.+ stampless address leaf. To Charles D. Drake, [Presbyterian] Mission House, New York. An Abolitionist newspaper of 1853 remarked that the two former slaves of equal genius who demonstrated “the capacity of the Black man for the culture and conditions of high civilization” were the famous Frederick Douglass, and, in far-off Liberia – H. W. Ellis. Ellis, a freed slave taught himself Latin, Greek and Hebrew as well as studying science and philosophy. In 1846, the Presbyterians of Alabama and Mississippi spent $2500 to purchase his freedom and that of his wife and two children, ordained him a Minister and sent the 35 year-old scholar to Liberia where he became Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Monrovia. He mastered a tribal dialect so he could preach to the natives in their own language and also discussed theology with their Muslim priests in Hebrew Aramaic. "…our Missionary operations are perhaps more promising and important than ever before, our church is indigent but pious and fast rising in intelligence, increasing in number – and influence – but when we speak of intelligence in a Presbyterian Church in W. Africa, at this period of Liberia’s existence, we speak comparatively as a matter of course. Knowing that this branch of Zion is in general the most intelligent part of any Community in every Country. You must then [know?] that the Pastoral Charge at this time and place is necessarily very laborious. Our Alexander High School is the best in all Liberia… Our students are improving reflecting honor to their Donors and Benefactor, Our Citizen gratefully appreciate this costly, novel and Philanthropic Benfice – our Iron School House, Beautiful and useful Library, Splendid and instructive apparatus, etc…. and there is nothing surer than that our white friends in the United States of North America will shortly see the salutary effects and also Glorious Evangelical fruits emanating from that unparalleled benevolence… so Characteristic of that people with whom the Grand Scheme originated. We are trying to increase our access to the Native Tribes, so at to make our Missionary operations more permanent, its effect prominent, conspicuous and perpetual. To effect this, we wish to have an exploring interior Road Company belonging to and forming a part of our Missionary operations, so as to realize in some good degree the effects of our educating and Evangalizing economy – visibly, sensibly and tangibly that will Give Glory to Him! Effect salutary benefits in time and the salvation of myriads of souls in Eternity…”

Auction archive: Lot number 8
Auction:
Datum:
10 Jun 2021
Auction house:
PBA Galleries
1233 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
United States
pba@pbagalleries.com
+1 (0)415 9892665
+1 (0)415 9891664
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