Journal of the Rev. S. Crowther

Summary

June 29, 1857–After thirty-seven days' detention at Fernando Po, we got on board the “Dayspring” this afternoon: our stay, however, at this place was not without its advantages. On the Lord's-day two services were regularly held in the spacious hall belonging to the British Consul, Mr. Lynslager: they were well attended by nearly all the European residents on the island, many from the ships in the cove, as well as by a good number of native settlers. Mr. Taylor and myself took the services alternately, both morning and afternoon. It gave me no small joy to hear my younger brother in the ministry declare with zeal and earnestness the truth of the gospel as a faithful ambassador for Christ. Had not our candles been long kept under a bushel, and the smoking flax long suppressed, surely the number of faithful native preachers would have been twice as many. May the Lord increase the number of those who shall go forth under the direction of His Holy Spirit, to gather flocks into His fold! Our time during the week was employed in filling up and improving the Ibo vocabulary, and in receiving lessons in the powers of Arabic characters from my Arabic interpreter.