568 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



hopeful feature is the great number of native agents engaged, by whose means 

 the population is more thoroughly laid hold of. I am more and more con- 

 vinced that little real progress in evangelising Africa will be made until native 

 agents are employed to do the work, under the close superintendence of 

 European missionaries. This method is being carried out most encouragingly 

 at Calabar, chiefly under the oversight of Mr. Edgerley, whose taste and 

 ability for travelling about, with other necessary qualifications, mark him out 

 as thoroughly adapted for such kind of work. I need not dwell much upon 

 the Calabar mission; but I may state, that although from special circum- 

 stances I was pretty well posted up in regard to it, still actual contact with 

 the work and workers there tended much to strengthen any favourable 

 impressions that had been formed. A good solid foundation seems to have 

 been laid ; or, to use another figure, Christianity has got rooted in the soil, 

 and is showing signs of vigorous life, putting forth branches, leaves, and 

 fruit, and gives every promise of becoming a goodly tree in due season. 

 Still it should be for a long time yet carefully nourished. 



" From what I have seen of African missions, it is my decided opinion 

 that the time has come for inaugurating a new method of working, the prin- 

 cipal feature of which should be the employment of native agents, which 

 demands a more systematic mode of training them than has yet been at- 

 tempted, except, probably, by the Church Missionary Society's Educational 

 Institution at Sierra Leone. It must not be supposed, however, that fewer 

 agents will be required than hitherto from home. A much larger force than 

 ever will be needed effectually to carry on the work, although it may be in 

 another way than heretofore; a much larger amount of money must be 

 expended, and a much greater number of lives given, in order to win Africa 

 for Christ. I trust that the martyr spirit is not yet extinct in the churches, 

 and that there will be no lack of brave hearts ready to respond to the de- 

 mand. Many young men have perished on this deadly coast in the pursuit 

 of a very questionable kind of commerce ; and if the lust of gain lead so 

 many to risk their lives, surely the love of Christ and of the souls of fellow- 

 men will yet draw many more to the glorious work of proclaiming the glad 

 news, ' God so loved the world that He sent His only-begotten Son, that 

 whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.' " 



The following account of a conference of native Christians in South 

 Africa, is full of interest. Major Malan, accompanied by Mr. Robert Radley, 

 has been engaged for about two years in evangelistic labours, at Mbulu, with 

 the most gratifying results. In writing to the " Christian," of 19th November, 

 1874, he says: — "I desire to praise the Lord for His presence and blessing 

 in a conference of Christians held at Mbulu, the centre of this mission field, 

 on Sept. 22 and 23, 1874. Very marked was the presence of the Lord in 

 our midst. There is an annual Missionary Conference; but that is a busi- 



