DOMESTIC SLAVERY IN SIERRA LEONE [To the Editor of the
SPECTATOR.] SHL—A few weeks since Sierra Leone was before the eye of the world. Slavery was found to be still in existence. Public opinion was aroused. In one sitting of the Legislative Council slavery was abolished. The effect of restrained publicity was instantaneous. One hundred years ago, on January 13th, 1828, the slaves, freed and landed in Sierra Leone, were rejoicing. Their first stone Church in their new settlement of Freetown was being opened. Twenty-five years later it became their Cathedral, fittingly dedicated to St. George.
The blazing sun, rain averaging about 150 inches a year, played sad havoc with the walls. Twenty years ago the grandchildren of those early freed men partially restored their cathedral and raised over 210,000, a great deal of which was their own contribution. The nave walls and the west end of the cathedral could not be finished. Our Christian congre- gation of to-day seeks to celebrate the centenary of the cathedral's opening by completing the rebuilding, and by ,4-athering together an endowment fund.
Three thousand pounds is required to complete the nave and the west end, and our African Christians are busy collecting what they can. They have asked me to seek the help of friends at Horne, for they feel that they have many friends there. Slavery is now entirely abolished, and they, . the desJendants of the freed slaves, feel strongly that Christianity is the one way to give the people complete freedom. The , treasurer of the fund, who is also the treasurer of all chapter funds, is an African justiee of the peace, and a very keen Mason. Any help, of whatever amount, will be gladly received and acknowledged either by our treasurer, E. A. C. Noah, Esq., J.P., or by myself. Letters can be addressed either to St. George's Cathedral, Freetown, or to Bishop's Court.
[We hope that the Bishop of Sierra Leone will succeed in
raising the sum he requires.—En. Spectator.].. . . -
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