Miss Slessor gives an account of the opening of the new church at Use.
From the Women's Missionary Magazine of April 1914?
From Miss Slessor, Use, Ikot Obon.
Well, “oor kirk” was opened at last on Christmas Day. Mr Cruickshank came over on Christmas Eve, and stayed all night at Ikot Obon, and then Miss Peacock, Miss Couper, & he came here. Miss Couper opened the door and we had a rare forenoon. The church was crowded outside and inside, and all quietly but neatly dressed, children and all. Mr Cruickshank was at his best - he is always that among bairns - and the ladies were the same. The service was hearty and reverent, though three highly coloured flags were flying in the square on a very high flag-staff. Our collection was over £5, mostly in “threepeny bits” and sixpences, and this, after all, as far as we have gone, is paid, and that does not take in over £2 handed in the night before from the non- Christian chiefs of the village. When the service was over, we came home for lunch. The church folk gave a plain breakfast to all guests (mostly from Ikot Obon, Use and Itu) who cared to stay.
When the visitors left, our own people held a praise meeting, the women in the house square, and the men on our quiet road, walking up & down like a Salvation Army march, waving occasionally a silk handkerchief. Some who could not come, since it was Christmas Day and they were employed by white men, sent 2s. 6d. to be added to the collection. God has been good to me! I am anxious that the non-Christian chiefs who have given largely get right impressions about God's work and money, and shall try to make this clear to them. I've been with the newly released Israelites this morning, as they encamped by the Red Sea, for God's “lest peradventure” made Him “lead them about through the way of the wilderness,” and we have still His “lest peradventure” working out strangely inexplicable things, but the glorious freedom is ever His one grand objective for the “farther on”.
GD.X.260.19xxii b
Letter from Miss Mina Amess, Akpap, Calabar, describing the work at her mission. As this letter is included with the preceding item (GD.X.260.19xxii a) it was decided to reproduce it here. Miss Amess was a fellow worker of Miss Slessor's and often mentioned in her letters.
From the Women's Missionary Magazine of April 1914?
Mrs McGregor came over for our Communion, and also for the formal opening of the new church. That ceremony took place on the Friday. We had a good turn-out, and a liberal collection - £6, 3s. 3d. Then, on the Sabbath morning we had about 450 people at the service, even a larger attendance than we had when Ma was here. Several couples have renounced polygamy, and are now married properly. We are glad that at last a stand has been taken against this old custom.
We are now free of debt, and have £18 in hand for complete lining for the roof, paint, and cement for the floor. This building is now quite nice and serviceable as it is, so none of these extras will be done until the people themselves, at the ordinary church collections, give the amount that will be required. The people at Ifakko, Usun-Eauk, and Obio-aka-nkpa are all paying for their own teachers, and also gave money to buy a table and chair for each of the schools.
The progress of the past months has cheered us greatly, but while we rejoice in good church attendances and liberal collections, we want far more than these, we want a band of real Christian natives who will be a power for good amongst their own people. The Church members and catechumen members are beginning to realise their responsibilities more.