"Annual Report for the Station of Anum for 1887 (Written by David Asante)"

The Christian quarter in Anum has grown from 13 houses to 22 in the course of the year, although only some of the near ones are completed. Personal changes in the course of the year: Teacher Amaning was posted from Anum to Tschatei and Gyadu from Larteh took his place. Chr. Asiedu from Boso was to go to Amvoi, but because of boundary discussions between the Basel and Bremen Missions this was not carried through and he was taken out of the area, He was replaced by Catechist J. Afari and Teacher J. Okyere. The Assistant Catechist Imm. Boakye from Kibi took over Toseng. The personal of the district had undertaken 67 day's travelling – Asante’s only journey seems- to be the one reported in his report for the second quarter (No. 135 below). The Anum community lost 13 persons through all causes, and gained 2 children born to Christian parents, 7 Christian adults moved onto the station, and 46 heathen and heathen children were baptised. At one stage he had (30 presumably adult) catechumens, of whom some lapsed, and some whose baptism he put off on the ground they were not yet ready for it. As for the ‘inner life’ of the community morning prayers-are not as well attended as Sunday Services. He comments that the members of the community approach the Elders first usually about problems, and without the knowledge of Asante himself. The missionary zeal of the community has especially been concentrated in one woman, now called by the heathen ‘Suku-moni’ - i.e. mother of the Christians. Many of the heathens will not now let her into their houses - a fetish priest in Toseng described her as a 'dangerous person’. Zeal in prayer seems more concentrated among the women also. With a few exceptions married life in the community is satisfactory, but the bringing up of children leaves something to be desired in terms of both clothing and parental control. The women surpass the men in their singing, too, again thanks to the zeal in organising Singing meetings shown by the Mother of the Christians Maria Abena. In the course of the year the order of the community was careful gone through, and dealing in pawns, which was threatening to creep into the community, dealt with. They have been working too in the Anum villages - Dodi, Toseng, Nkwakubew (there are 3 Christians in the latter), Apenkwa, Amoama and Amanforo. Their practice now is to spend the whole second part of Sunday in these, their street preaching being adapted to a whole service. In the Boso community they lost 9 members by all causes, and gained 7. The number of scholars increased by 3. These disappointing results were due to a lack of unanimity among the members – many irregularities in the community have been brought to light. There had previously been only one elder the leading spirit in the community, but he has now been joined in that office by two others. Npalime - increase of 6 by baptism of heathen and birth of 2, but lost by exclusion and death 4, while 25 Christians moved away, though out of these the new community at Tschatei was formed. Tschatei increased by baptism of 2 adults, and 3 Christians moving into the town. Beyond his journey to Nkonya in the second quarter Asante also journeyed 14 times in the year to Boso Kpalime.

30.01.1888

30.01.1888

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