"Clerk's Report for the Second Quarter of 1897"

Reports cases both of a catechumen who confessed sins voluntarily because 'the Word of God gave him no peace' (a man called Kyekye), and another who lied about his having committed no major sins. Reports political difficulties in Worawora town. The chief's son, Dansoa Yaw, has had a case with a man called Tonto who had misled Dansoa Yaw's wife. The chief must have incited Dansoa Yaw to act fiercely towards Tonto on account some old quarrel, and when the case was taken before the chief of Gyasekan (b) Dansoa Yaw asked for at least 300 Marks, and the banishment of the family. This would have had serious implications for the Worawora community, since many of the members were from Tonto's family. Clerk went to the Worawora chief to warn him of the danger to the mission, and the chief told him that a lot of what was being said was rumour only. Clerk is still uncertain of the outcome, however. The people of Worawora still keep the possibility of moving in mind - they fear that the Asantes left some deadly medicine in the ground which they can only avoid by moving. Clerk reckons they have reason for worry, for in his 6 years though out of a population of 1000, 150 adults have died. Clerk puts this down to the rocky soil and the fact that the people wash, eat etc. in the village, and bury their dead there. In Gyasekan (b) there has been a large retreat from the catechumenate, and the Christians are in two minds about where their loyalties lie. Clerk writes that they may have to consider moving the station to Gyasekan (a). In Borada not only the catechist but also chief Akpanya gave no good report on the catechumens, whereon Clerk lectured them severely and put off their baptism.

26.07.1897

26.07.1897

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