United Brethren Historical Center

Peace and Progress

Following the “Hut Tax” War of 1898, the missionaries, “Heroes of the Cross,” in Sierra Leone and the Gbangbaia district praised God for a period of “peace and progress.”  

New buildings were replacing the ruins left from the uprising. Rice farms were producing bountiful harvests again. The canoes and gig boats were freighting their precious cargos of food and other produce from Bonthe, Freetown, and other market centers. The excitement of the “Old Days” was returning as people waited to see the purchases packed in hampers and Madra handkerchiefs, which often served as an all-purpose container.  

The school children were also no longer anxious about returning to the mission school from distant villages. At Danville, Imperreh, Victoria and other points where school was in progress, the familiar clang of the bell sounded out, calling the children to line up and await the order of the Headmaster or Mistress to march into the schoolroom.  

For most missionaries, their day began at dawn, the same time a normal day started in the villages. Missionaries at the Danville Boarding School had to adjust to a fourteen-hour workday every day of the week. The rising bell for the boarding students rang at 5:30AM. Morning prayers followed soon after, and then the work period occurred between 6 and 8AM. Breakfast was served at 8:30.  

During the work period, some boys went to the farm to care for the pineapples, cassava, peanuts, and sweet potatoes. Other boys would take machetes and go to farms in the community where the cassava, rice, and other crops had already been harvested. There, the slender trunks of saplings had been felled at the beginning of the season, and the boys could collect this wood for firewood for the three homes at the mission.  

A group of four boys would go to Njala Creek to collect the daily supply of water for the two boarding homes and the missionary’s quarters. It took them three trips, with pails filled to the brim balanced on their heads, to finish this task. A quartet of boys was assigned the important job of preparing the meals for the day. They had to prepare breakfast by 8:30 so they could be on time for school at 9AM. They also helped with the evening meal at 6PM.  

For the girls, the schedule was nearly the same, although their work period primarily consisted of household tasks like sewing, cooking, and laundry. Around 4PM, school closed, and the manual training classes started. For the boys, the training class was tailoring. For the girls, the training class was sewing. All of these activities were interspersed with recreation times throughout the day. 

Saturday mornings were reserved for cleaning up the church, school rooms, dormitories and missionary quarters. In the afternoon, the children had free time. The boys enjoyed playing soccer or cricket. Sunday was reserved for a full day of local services and visiting local towns and villages. 

The First Medical Missionaries in Sierra Leone

The Department of Christian Education chose to support the training and maintaining of a medical missionary to be sent to the Sierra Leone mission field. It would be the project for the coming quadrennium, and it led to great rejoicing among missionaries. Vernon and Audrey Kopp from the Kansas Conference offered their services to the Board and the Christian Education Department. Rev. and Mrs. Kopp were graduates of Central College, now Huntington University. They were required to take a nine-month course in tropical medicine at the Livingstone Memorial College in London, England. The course began on October 1, 1913, and so the Kopps left for England in September of that year.  

The first medical missionaries should have arrived in Sierra Leone in July 1914. However, their departure was delayed for several months. First, the Kopps’ daughter, Ruth Vivian Kopp, was born on July 20th. Second, World War I broke out in southern Europe. The delay allowed workers at the new home in Danville to complete the final tasks before the family arrived. The ground floor, known simply as “The Basement,” was being turned into a dispensary, as well. Considerable work needed to be done to finish this project.  

The arrival of the Kopps was announced as December or early January 1915. In Trail Blazers in Sierra Leone, Rev. G.D. Fleming details two stories that occured before the arrival of the first medial missionaries on the Sierra Leone mission field.  

Fleming was passing out the work assignments for the day when he was interrupted by the sound of wailing coming from Gbangbaia, which was across the river from the mission station. This typically indicated that someone had died or was at the point of death. As Fleming stood and listened to the crying, a runner sent by the local chief approached him. Fleming’s old friend, Lamina Sherrifu, had been attacked and trampled by an angry cow. He was now dying. 

Fleming quickly rushed to the mission wharf and into the large canoe that was being held for him. Once at Gbangbaia, he followed a group of men to a house and found his friend lying on the floor with country clothes around him and a grass pillow under his head. The wailing had ceased as soon as Fleming had arrived in the town. He asks in Trail Blazers, “And now what was I to do? How was I to tell to what extent he had suffered internal injuries?”  

The room was crowded and suffocatingly hot, as it was custom to leave the windows closed during these kinds of situations. Fleming ordered that anyone who was not family leave the house and that the windows be opened. As he knelt down to examine Lamina, he realized that his friend was not dying but had merely fainted. Fleming writes, “I would not dare to claim any ability as a physician nor even imply that I be given credit for any skill which I possessed in this case. I merely did, in my sheer helplessness, what any father or mother would do, whose experience in life had taught them certain basic lessons.”  

Fleming had several simple remedies in his medical kit that he knew how to use. Soon, Lamina opened his eyes. In less than an hour, he was settled into a reclining chair and breathing more easily. They began applying hot pads to the bruised spots on his body. By the time Fleming was preparing to leave, Lamina was resting more comfortably.  

Lamina had been a station chief and worked for many years as a government employee at Bothe as a member of the District Commissioner’s boat crew. He was the captain who had been sent by District Commissioner Aldridge to Momaligi to rescue Miss Mary Mullens during the uprising of 1898. When he retired from active service, he settled in his old hometown, Gbangbaia, where he purchased and began caring for two cows.  

Fleming later learned that one of the cows with a newborn calf had been attacked shortly after dark by a leopard. When the leopard had lunged at the calf, the angry mother thrust her horns into the leopard's side. The injured animal sulked away. A passer-by who noticed the strange and angry behavior of the cow hurried into town to inform Lamina. Lamina, not fearful of his usually tame cows, hurried to the scene. He was attacked by the enraged cow. His cries brought men from the town, who thought he was dying and quickly carried him to his house.  

The Gbangbaia people, typically in a group of fifty or more, would travel across the river to attend the divine service on Sunday morning. When Lamina was strong enough to make the trip himself, he often testified to his gratefulness to God and to the mission for saving his life.      

The second story Fleming relates happened after he returned to Danville following a long trip. He found a patient lying near the steps of the boys’ home. The patient’s condition seemed to be too serious to render aid, but the Bonthe Hospital was seven to ten hours away, depending on the tide and wind. So, Fleming began giving directions and orders. 

Fleming learned that the man had encountered a large alligator while fishing a few miles down the river from Danville. He was pulling a fish toward the shore where his companion sat. Neither knew that the struggling fish had attracted an alligator. When the man on the shore did notice, he plunged into the water and struck the alligator on its head. However, the alligator had already missed the fish and tore the other man's thigh. Two friends were nearby with a canoe, and, putting the stricken man into their boat, they rushed him to the mission.  

Fleming “tried hard to conceal his utter helplessness...” He knew that something needed to be done. He was grateful to learn that Arthur Yarn, one of the ministers and teachers at Danville, was on the compound. Pastor Yarn was known to be handy around sick people. He had no special training, but his concern for the afflicted and his natural aptitude for helping people afforded him many opportunities to serve as a “Good Samaritan.”  

Together, they used germicidal tablets that contained antiseptic ingredients to cleanse the wound until they could safely bandage the thigh. Pastor Yarn helped lead them in replacing torn flesh and carefully binding the wound. He offered to house and care for the patient. Under his faithful ministry and, as Fleming relates, “the guidance and help from the Great Healer,” the patient returned to his home a well and happy man. A year later, a stranger came to Fleming’s office and, when greeted, asked, “Bi nya golo?” (Do you know me?) Fleming admitted that he did not. The man then explained, “I am the alligator man.”  

Medical Missions

It would be a few years before medical missions were officially recognized as an essential division of missionary programs. Despite this, a ministry of healing following the example of the earthly ministry of Jesus was being carried out by ambassadors of Christ throughout various mission fields. Many saw a healing ministry as a part of the great commission of the Church. One of the three church leaders who had been sent out to establish a mission in 1855 was a medical practitioner, Dr. D.C. Kumler. During his brief itinerary to Sierra Leone, he found many different opportunities to serve in the field of healing ministry.  

The daily routine of most missionaries ran from twelve to fourteen hours, meaning their activities were strictly scheduled. And yet, the scheduled programing yielded to the promptings of love in ministering to the sick and wounded. Each case, such as errands of mercy to the sick, rendering first aid to the wounded, or nursing a sick girl or boy stricken with fever, received special attention in, as Fleming writes, “much the same way that a busy mother pauses long enough to look after a child’s bruises.” 

When missionaries first arrived in Sierra Leone, most West African villages did not have sanitary facilities available. Medicinal remedies for the average villager came from the hawkers and street vendors. Later, markets sold a few favorites like Atwood Bitters, Epsom Salts, Vaseline, and Sloan’s Liniment. When Vaseline was sold out, the petty merchant or hawker recommended pomade, a perfumed hair dressing. Most people applied it to their entire body to produce a glossy shine that came to be desirable. Otherwise, pomade had no medicinal value.  

When the Flemings arrived in Sierra Leone in 1913, “Stick Medicine” held high priority among the school children at the Danville station. It was a liniment made of olive oil, camphor, turpentine and spirits of ammonia. The liniment was called “Stick Medicine” because it was the lone remedy for various muscle aches or stiffness in the joints. When the children complained about an aching shoulder or a sore knee, they were given a few drops of the medicine, which was then spread over their skin. The girls loved the shine “Stick Medicine” gave them.  

However, it was seen as a waste of good medicine, and this was how it truly received the name “Stick Medicine.” A piece of wood was whittled down to fit the neck of the bottle. Around the stick, the dispenser securely tied a small woolen cloth. When the stick was inserted into the bottle, the cloth became saturated with liniment, but when it was removed, most of the medicine oozed back into the bottle. This ingenious device allowed “Stick Medicine” to maintain second after pomade as a body shine. It retained first place for aching joints.  

In Chapter 18, Fleming writes, “It was interesting to see how quickly the medicine worked when the girls became absorbed in jumping rope, or when the boys ran off for a round of cricket.” 

Transportation in Sierra Leone

Dugout canoes were one of the first means of travel and transportation on rivers in Sierra Leone. Canoe craftsmen preferred to use cotton trees, whose wood was soft and could more easily be shaped. It would only take these craftsmen a few weeks to turn a cotton tree into a serviceable canoe using homemade tools. The canoe would last many years, and it was an important part of a household's belongings. Not only would they be used for fishing, but the villagers living along the rivers or seas would use them for various travel.  

In the early days of missionary activity in Sierra Leone, one of the common means of travel was the river boat, or gig, which would have been powered by four or five rugged oarsmen and a captain at the helm. These small boats were equipped with a mast and sail. In 1920, a detachable lightweight outboard motor, such as the Evinrude, was introduced. Its use was limited, however, because these motors were not designed to withstand salt water. Many owners demanded more of its power capacity. Motors like Evinrude did lead to the development of built-in motors with more horsepower that could be installed in a heavier constructed hull. 

There were also footpaths in Sierra Leone, and many traveled by hammock on them. They were the only way to get a sick person through the narrow trails in the bush country, which some missionaries related to the story of the paralyzed man in Mark 2. The hammock was quickly replaced by better transportation, but it served its purpose in the pioneer days of missionary activity. Carrier hammocks were the common means of travel for government officials, paramount chiefs, missionaries, and traders. They grew in popularity when the bush paths began being widened. Laborers were trained for this method of travel, and for many, it became their livelihood.  

Before these roads were suitable for cycling or driving, the common bicycle came to Africa. There were some places where the bush paths were worn deep by years of travel, requiring a traveler to get off of their bike and push it. Eventually, the roads improved, and cycling became an easier mode of travel, despite there still being poor road conditions in places. An American bicycle was included in missionaries' equipment, although they were often too heavy, and their gears were unsuitable for African roads. They were quickly replaced by British and European bicycles. The American bikes were left to collect dust in basements like the one in the Linker house at Bonthe.  

The same year lightweight motors became popular for river boats, the first suitable road for motor cars came into the planning stage. Small cars and trucks soon began taking over the roads, replacing the hammock. They frightened many African travelers, who had become accustomed to meandering along the bush paths balancing bags of rice or baskets of chickens on their heads. Slowly, though, these machines became a part of everyday life, and trucks were often seen driving through the countryside, carrying passengers for a fee.  

To visit the other churches of their conference in Sierra Leone, it often required a person to undertake a journey of several days' duration. And, because they would need to carry extra equipment, it often meant the person in question had a caravan of twelve or more people.  

Fleming explains that what often happened was that their party broke up into small groups, rather than traveling as one body. Through this, he discovered an intriguing African custom. When he chose to leave with a group that left later than the one before it, Fleming asked how they knew where to go despite being unfamiliar with the area. The group that made the earliest start knew the way to their destination. He learned that the leader of this group placed a leafy twig on paths that were not to be entered. This was how Fleming’s group knew the correct path to take, especially when they came to a fork in the road.  

Main routes that were wide enough to permit the use of hammock teams were maintained by government order. Most people, however, preferred the bush paths, which were only kept open and passable by constant use. These paths could be more dangerous, though, and people were encouraged to avoid them at night, especially alone. Wild animals would roam, searching for food. Snakes became more active after the heat of the day. You could also accidently step into the middle of a foraging party of driver ants, who would consider a human being legitimate prey.  

If a person had to make a necessary journey to a nearby village, they would bring their machete and a “fire stick.” The right kind of wood would need to be selected, because the fire would need to maintain its glow for a long period of time while it was being swung back and forth as the person walked. Over time, the “fire stick” was replaced by the lantern, which sent its rays further down a path at night. Missionaries like Fleming related this advancement to how God longs to lead us “one step at a time.”  

The Flemings' Initiation Scare

When the Flemings had settled into their sleeping quarters, they were careful to tuck in the bed-tent around their bed to protect themselves from mosquitos and other insects while they slept. They were determined to keep thoughts of pests out of their mind, which they had failed to do during their first night in Bonthe. However, the young couple had not been informed about the set of chores involving the alarm system, and they were set to learn an important lesson in the morning.  

The basement of the Danville mission house was used to store large bins of rice and other items. It was essentially the ground floor, and there was only one entrance into the large storeroom. An ingenious burglar alarm had been set up to protect these valuables from thieves. Strong rope was attached to the upper part of the heavy door. The slender line of rope then traced along the ceiling of the basement, which was the floor of the main living quarters above. It was passed through a hole in the floor and attached to a wash basin in the bedroom where the missionary in charge of the alarm would sleep.  

A large hand bell was placed inside the wash basin. Half a sheet of galvanized roofing sat on the floor at the back of and next to the bed. The missionary’s last chore before going to bed was to place the basin containing the bell on a box which rested on the piece of metal roofing. Then, in the morning, if no one had opened the basement door, the missionary had to remove the wash basin from the box and place it on the floor so the storeroom could be accessed without setting off the alarm.  

Miss Winkel had been the missionary in charge of the alarm. However, in the excitement of their unexpected arrival, the Flemings were given the bedroom. Meanwhile, Miss Winkel had forgotten to tell them about how to turn off the alarm and when to deactivate it. 

The next morning, when someone entered the storeroom to issue the daily supply of rice, palm oil, and other food to the boarding students, the burglar alarm went off. Bedlam broke loose. The Flemings awoke in a panic. In Trail Blazers in Sierra Leone, Mr. Fleming explains, “Sometimes we have to learn the hard way. We survived, of course; but we never had to be reminded about setting the trap and, perhaps more important, how and when to unset it.” 

It was a bad start for the newcomers on their first day. However, it was Sunday, which meant that the Flemings were able to experience the time of worship and the word of greeting at the morning church service. It was also a time to “blow,” or relax, as Mr. Fleming says the Mende people called it.  

On Monday, more chores began at the mission. In Sierra Leone at this time, the world was on the move by 5:30 AM. However, many people in the region did not have clocks, and they referred to the beginning of their day as “door-clean” time. The woman of the house or the children would sweep the doorstep of their home after daybreak. If you wanted to make an early appointment, you would have said, “I’ll meet you at ‘door-clean’ time.” 

Assignments were passed out to the new missionaries and the schedule was arranged. One of Mr. Fleming’s first chores was to ring the rising bell at 5:30 AM. Mrs. Fleming was coached on her duties as “House Mother.” She would supervise the girls in their daily activities, including housework and training classes like sewing, dress making, basket weaving, and handwork. There were also various religious services and programs the Flemings would oversee.  

A busy life was in store for the young couple at the mission, and Mr. Fleming, at the end of Chapter 16, writes how he could only hope and trust God that it would be a fruitful ministry.  

The Flemings Depart for Danville

The departure for the Danville Mission at Gbangbaia was standard, especially for the two uninitiated passengers, Mr. and Mrs. Fleming. There was some bickering between the captain and his crew, but the Flemings could not understand what the argument was about, and so they took it to be a part of the normal procedure.  

As they moved further out into the river, Mr. Fleming scanned the mangrove swamps and took note of the peculiar root formation of the trees. Live oysters clung to the aerial roots that dangled in the water. A monkey made an appearance amidst the tangled mangrove roots. When the boat moved closer to shore, the monkey darted off, chattering loudly. Mr. Fleming watched as the five crewmen handled the oars with rhythmic precision, moving the boat away from the monkey’s habitat.  

Eventually, it became apparent to the Flemings that their boat was going up stream against the outgoing tide, which meant that soon, the crew would be rowing against the tide. The argument between the captain and his crew at the beginning of their journey had been about the miscalculation of their departure.  

In Trail Blazers in Sierra Leone, Mr. Fleming quotes the Proverb, “Time and tide wait for no man.” Their boat was ultimately stuck in a mud bank. The captain and the crew, knowing this would happen, kept moving until they were near a fishing camp. After much pushing and hauling, the fishing camp was within wading distance, and the captain and his crew could “abandon ship.” The Flemings and Woodards were left in the boat, eagerly waiting for the tide to turn and lift them off the mud bank.  

The tropical sun beat down on the passengers and the dry boat. The river flies, gnats, and mosquitoes flew around them incessantly. And the small tarpaulin canopy provided little comfort. Their lunch was meager, as they had expected to arrive at Danville before 2:00 PM. Mr. Fleming writes, “...but here we were... plagued with the everpresent smell of drying fish, smothered with the persistent sulphureous odor of the slimy, oozing mud of the exposed river bed, known locally as ‘putta-putta.’ And there wasn’t one solitary thing we could do about it...” 

Finally, at 5:00 PM, the gentle slapping of water could be heard against the side of the boat, a sign that the tide had turned. A journey that normally would have taken eight hours took fifteen. They arrived at the Danville wharf at 9:30 PM. The mission house on the hill above the river was dark.  

Rev. Woodard went to tell Miss Lena Winkel and Jennie Martin that they had arrived, and he also rounded up the older schoolboys to assist in unloading the boat. The quietness of the mission was broken by the shouts of excited boys who ran to welcome the Woodards back to Africa. Lanterns were provided to guide the missionaries up the long hill. 

Upon entering the mission house, the Woodards and Flemings were greeted by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The table was set with food for the hungry, weary travelers. It was well past midnight before the mission became quiet again and sleep settled over Danville.  

The Flemings Land at Sherbro

On January 9th, 1913, the Flemings arrived at Bonthe, Sherbro Island. It had been forty-three days enroute for them and the Woodards.  

Bonthe, the chief town of Sherbro, was a minor seaport and the Government headquarters for the Colony. Rev. Woodard and Mr. Fleming spent two days in Customs, passing their personal baggage, as well as barrels and cases of mission supplies, through examinations. The experience at Bonthe would later prove vital to Mr. Fleming, who was still a newcomer at the time.  

The couples stayed at the Rest House, which was built by Rev. C.W. Linker. The building’s only furnishings were two beds with bedding. The Rest House did not have any cooking utensils or dishes. Mrs. Woodard purchased Irish potatoes, onions, biscuits and tea at a nearby shop. She prepared a pan of potato soup in a dishpan, one of the only available cooking utensils. They used the same dishpan to wash dishes after the meal, which was the first they had enjoyed since Conakry.  

The Flemings were eager to enjoy their first night’s rest on solid land, but the warnings they had received about insects, lizards, centipedes and other insects kept them from sleeping. The Woodards, who were used to the warnings about the animals, reptiles, and insects in Sierra Leone, fell asleep easily. In the stillness of the night, however, Mr. and Mrs. Fleming imagined driver ants invading the house and forcing everyone to evacuate in the morning. They knew, without a doubt, that lizards would visit them while they slept.  

When the sun finally rose, the Flemings were relieved to find that no member of the animal, reptile, or insect family had made an appearance during the night. They still maintained the habit of checking under chair cushions and in their shoes for lizards or centipedes, who were known for their nasty bites.  

When they cleared Customs and had finished purchasing necessary supplies at local shops, the Flemings and Woodards prepared for the final leg of their journey to Danville Mission at Gbangbaia. On Saturday morning, at six o’clock, Rev. Woodard and Mr. Fleming went to the wharf to inspect the boat they had rented. The captain and his crew of five oarsmen were standing by, waiting for their orders.  

After the loading process had been completed, the four missionaries boarded the boat and pushed off, ready for the next leg of their journey. 

The Flemings: Journeying To Parts Unknown

In late November 1912, newlyweds George D. and Daisy Fleming boarded a train going to Montgomery, Michigan. There they joined Rev. John and Mrs. Lulu Woodard, who were preparing to return to Sierra Leone for missionary work. While the Flemings had no prior experience before going to the field, they did feel the strong call of God. Miss Mary Melissa Titus, who was president of the Woman’s Missionary Association at the time, had been influential in the Flemings taking a step of faith.  

From Montgomery, the Flemings and Woodards then traveled to the church headquarters in Huntington, Indiana, where they received their final instructions from the Board before traveling to New York. During their travels, they stayed with Dr. and Mrs. O.G. Alwood as well as Rev. J. Howe, General Secretary of the Parent Board of Missions, and Mrs. Cora Loew, General Secretary of the W.M.A.  

In New York, the Flemings boarded the S.S. St. Louis, where they prepared their cabin for the eight- or ten-day voyage. On the fourth day, a storm bombarded the ship, and, during lunchtime, a booster wave tipped the ship, causing everything, dishes, food, coffee, etc., to go crashing to the floor around the passengers. Later, when the storm had seemed to finally subside, a gravy bowl slid across a table, landing in the lap of two women. In Trail Blazers in Sierra Leone, Mr. Fleming referred to it as an “initiation stunt.” 

The engine’s boilers burst after the storm, slightly disrupting the ship’s travel schedule. The Flemings and Woodards still had six days in England to sightsee, which Mr. Fleming titled “Four Yankees Invade Liverpool.” They then boarded the Steamship Gando for the trip down the coast to West Africa. It allowed them to avoid an overland route, which would have involved a journey by train, hammock, and riverboat. They spent Christmas and New Year’s Day on board the freighter, where the chief cook prepared an “equally tasty” meal for the holidays.  

The Flemings’ first meal on African soil was with two English traders whom they had met on board the S.S. Gando. The traders invited them to join them for dinner in Conakry, where the young couple was able to visit the city and tour the decorative boulevards and parks.  

The meal consisted of typical fare, which included locally grown rice with an African-style meat dressing that was hot with red peppers. Because the Flemings were not used to the spice, they ate the dish sparingly. However, they would later become accustomed to the “African rice chop,” as it was called. They did eat generous portions of the tropical fruit they were offered. 

From Conakry, the Flemings and Woodards prepared for the last leg of their journey to Bonthe, Sherbro Island.  

The Father of United Brethren Missions

Rev. Daniel K. Flickinger, whose story has briefly been shared in previous blogposts, has often been regarded as the Father of United Brethren Missions. His books and various editorials and articles that appeared in The Missionary Monthly and the Christian Conservator showcase the enthusiasm and passion of this mission-minded man.  

Daniel Kumler Flickinger was born on May 25, 1824, near the village of Seven Mile, Butler County, Ohio. He was the grandson of the esteemed bishop, Henry Kumler, Sr. The Flickinger home was often used for preaching services and prayer gatherings. Daniel became accustomed to family worship, which was conducted twice a day. He found the Lord at an early age and was known as a zealous young Christian. Daniel was also known for reading the New Testament while plowing on his father’s farm. When he was fifteen, Daniel felt called to enter active ministry.  

Daniel desired to acquire a college education. However, as was common at the time, his father opposed and refused to entertain the idea. When he was sixteen, Daniel suffered from a breakdown in health, which further discouraged his hope for a formal education. After his father passed away, he acquired 317 acres of land, part of which was his inheritance. He continued to be a farmer and proved to be as successful as his father.  

In the spring of 1846, Daniel began teaching at a school. When he was twenty-two, and his health had improved, he married Miss Mary Lintner. Three years later, Mary contracted a serious illness, forcing Daniel to sell all of his livestock and place the farm under rental. Then, on September 30, 1851, Mary died, leaving Daniel with two small sons.  

That same year, Mr. Flickinger joined the Miami Annual Conference and accepted a preaching appointment. On January 9, 1853, he married Catherine Glossbrenner, the eldest daughter of Bishop John Jacob Glossbrenner. Sadly, she passed away twenty months later. For several months afterward, Mr. Flickinger’s health was impaired.  

Despite his poor health, he submitted an application to the Board of Missions to join the mission to Africa in January 1855. The board eventually agreed that he should go, which is how Mr. Flickinger met Miss Susan Woolsey at the American Missionary Society’s station in Bonthe, Sherbro. They married in October 1855 and had six children together.  

Mr. Flickinger was the last of three men to go to Sierra Leone in 1855, and he was also the last to return home. While the other two men, Rev. Shuey and Dr. Kumler, were forced to return home due to illness, Mr. Flickinger felt that their errand had not been fully accomplished and that it was best to remain on the field a while longer. His enthusiasm helped convince the Board of Missions that the field should not be abandoned, and they accepted his offer, granting him $1,200 for his mission work.  

In the fall of 1856, Mr. Flickinger applied for and received a preaching appointment at an annual conference. Rev. J.C. Bright, the secretary of the Board of Missions, then urged Rev. Flickinger to accompany two new missionary recruits, Rev. J.K. Billheimer and Dr. Wm. B. Witt, to Sierra Leone. Their stories have already been shared in a previous blogpost. On December 5th, 1856, Rev. Flickinger joined the men on the long journey to West Africa. 

Rev. Flickinger, after finally persuading “King” Caulker to lease a plot of land at Shenge to the church, returned home in May 1857 to attend the General Conference of the United Brethren Church. He was elected as the General Secretary of Missions but offered his resignation, insisting that Secretary Bright should be retained in office. Rev. Bright succeeded in persuading Rev. Flickinger to accept the appointment.  

From May 1857, until the General Conference of 1855, Rev. Flickinger faithfully served as the General Secretary of Missons, even after suffering a violent attack of fever shortly after taking office. During these twenty-eight years, he made twelve trips to Africa. He personally paid the full expense of two or three of these trips to Sierra Leone to ease the financial burden on the church.  

At the time, the Religious Telescope was the only medium available to share information about missions. Secretary Flickinger asked the Board of Missions to create a publication that was devoted entirely to missionary interests. The Missionary Visitor was then created thanks to his encouragement. For twenty years, from July 1, 1865, to May 1885, he served as its primary editor.  

At the General Conference in 1885, Rev. Flickinger was elected as bishop of the foreign mission work. Rev. Billheimer, who was still on the field, had written to the home church in favor of Rev. Flickinger, praising his efforts, enthusiasm, and passion. The 1889 schism led to Bishop Flickinger stepping down from his role. He later sided with the conservatives, and he believed he was an unsuitable candidate for general office.  

In January 1897, the mission board of the conservative group began publishing a magazine called The Missionary Monthly. Dr. Henry Becker was the first editor before he eventually resigned after a short time. Rev. Flickinger then accepted the role of editor and secretary, which he held for seven years. He was blessed to continue to see the fruit of his labors despite the divide in the church, and he was also encouraged to see his namesake, Rev. Daniel F. Wilberforce, work in the new and promising Imperreh district.  

At the General Conference of 1905, Rev. Flickinger handed over his responsibilities to the newly elected secretary, Rev. Jacob Howe. Brother Flickinger’s cycle of service was nearly unbroken for half a century. He had traveled 570,000 miles in the interest of Kingdom building. Most of those miles were to and from Africa.  

Rev. Flickinger passed away on August 29, 1922, at the age of 87. One close friend wrote, “His age was a benediction to all who knew him. A heavenly atmosphere surrounded this sunny soul... His work and influence will never die...” 

The Wilberforce Brothers Return to Sierra Leone

Following the Hut Tax War, Rev. Wilberforce, the Paramount Chief of Imperreh, completed his six-month leave, which had begun in April 1901, and returned to Sierra Leone with his wife and two daughters. His sons, Joseph and Christopher, remained in the States to complete college. Five years later, in October 1906, Christopher married Bessie Ramsey. Joseph married Constance Henderson in the summer of that same year.  

Joseph and Christopher then began preparing to return home to Sierra Leone alongside their wives. Both couples had accepted assignments from the Parent Board of Missions and the Women’s Missionary Association. Christopher had been granted a ministerial license by a local quarterly conference. On October 16th, College Park Church held a social event to celebrate the two couples' honeymoons and homegoing. For Bessie and Constance, they were preparing to venture into a new country.  

On October 20th, the couples sailed from New York, arriving in Bonthe on November 19th. Christopher and Bessie were sent by the superintendent to Danville, where there were vacancies that needed to be filled. Miss Winkel had returned home in May, and Minnie Linker’s untimely death had left a heavy burden on Rev. Linker. Joseph and Constance remained at Bonthe, where they suffered from attacks of malaria.  

Luckly, their fevers were light, and they were assigned to the mission at Victoria. However, Joseph and Constance never accepted the assignment. Their names were never listed as part of the staff in subsequent reports.  

Rev. Linker returned home to rest, leaving the Danville Mission in the hands of Christopher and Bessie Wilberforce. A small group of workers met at Danville for counsel. Christopher was assigned head teacher, and Bessie was named Matron of the girls’ home and assistant teacher. From February to June 1908, however, their efforts were focused on the responsibility of superintendency until the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Stoltz.  

On June 15th, 1908, Bessie gave birth to her first-born child, Theodore. She passed away suddenly following Theodore’s birth, leaving Christopher and the Danville community in shock. His eldest sister, Miss Lucy Wilberforce, left Victoria where she was assigned to assist her bereaved brother at Danville.  

Rev. J.B. Woodard had arrived with the Stoltzs a month after Bessie’s death. He had heard about the need for a builder and offered his services to the board. He introduced a block machine that made cement blocks. He helped to erect the new chapel as well as a second small building. He also aided necessary repair work, including the Rest House, but was forced to return home after only eight months when the heavy rains came earlier.