"Report from Asante for the Third Quarter of 1886 Concerning the Development of the Church in Kpalime"

He has baptised the catechumens in Boso, having examined them, and explained some of the things which they had learned by heart. He dates this as taking place on the 16th Sunday after Trinity. There was one man and his 2 children whose wife unfortunately has not decided to become a Christian, one family of three, the wife of a long-baptised husband, and a youth. The chief's son of Boso was also among those baptised. Reports of what is going on in Kpalime refer not simply to Kpalime, but also to the 3 neighbouring villages of To, Kayera, and Tschatei. 9 of the baptism candidates in Kpalime he deferred till another time, but the rest he taught 6 hours a day for 8 days - they knew the things they had learned will off by heart but it was a hard job teaching them to understand them, since they do not speak Twi very well. At the end of his period of instruction he asked them if they would still like to be baptised, and gave them a night to think over the answer. The baptismal service took place on the 17th Sunday after Trinity in the presence of a large congregation of heathens, including the chief of Kpalime, and with many of the Christians from Boso present. The 30 'adults' range in age from 40 to 12. Among these were two fetish priestesses who at the time of their registering as catechumens had invited the local catechist to came and burn their fetishes and the shrines. At the same event two Christians were received back into the community. They had previously been members of the Akropong community, been excluded on account of adultery in one case and lapse into fetishism in the other, had moved away from Akropong, and now were being re-accepted with their sins absolved at the same time that their wives were baptised. After the baptisms they all celebrated a festive meal. The Christians in Kpalime and To have already selected a pence of land on which to build a Christian village - they are already being troubled by the chicanery of their pagan neighbours. The land from Akwamu to Nkonya have all been taken under the British protection. This occurred at a great assembly in Peki on 30th September. At the same time certain major laws were proclaimed - emancipation of slaves and freedom of religion, for example. The 'friendly' official who addressed the Assembly stressed mission work and especially schools in his address.

20.10.1886

20.10.1886

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