Introductory Biographical Note
By The
Hon. Samuel Lewis
THE opportunity which has been unexpectedly offered to me of writing a brief biographical introduction to Dr. Blyden’s work on “Christianity, Islam and the Negro Race,” will not, I trust, be misemployed if, at the outset, I venture to express a hope that its bearings on the great question of Negro progress may secure for it an extensive circulation, as well as the sympathetic study of all who are interested in the condition of Africa. Nor can I doubt that a careful consideration of its contents will ultimately lead, if not to the adoption of methods altogether new, at least to an extensive modification of those older methods which have been, hitherto, regarded as most conducive to the civilisation of the Dark Continent.
A Negro myself, of unadulterated African blood, I believe that, in the ideas which underlie and interpenetrate this volume, and which lead up, by different but converging paths, to the general conclusion that the aim of philanthropists should be, not to distort, or to destroy any of the characteristics which are most distinctive of the Negro race, but to ensure to them, as far as possible, their normal and natural development, Dr. Blyden is only giving eloquent expression and emphasis to the sentiments and aspirations of every enlightened member of his race. Foreign influence may—indeed it must—for some time to come do much for Africa, but not least, by recognizing the fundamental fact that when all has been said and done by Europeans and Americans that they can either say or do, the African himself is, and must always remain, the fittest instrument for the development of his country. He it is who can best be trained to utilize the vast resources of Africa, not only for her own good, but for the benefit of the human race.
What may be the precise means which are best adapted for that end, I need not here enquire; nor whether it is Mohammedanism or Christianity which, under the present condition of Africa is likely to be the most important factor in its development. Many enlightened Africans are inclined to think, on grounds which are sufficiently explained in this volume, that Islam is, at the present moment, able to do more for the Pagan Negro than its great rival. But those who, like myself, believe in the ultimate triumph, throughout Negroland, of the Christian faith, will, none the less, be glad to learn that Dr. Blyden does not, in any degree, attribute the spread of Mohammedanism in Africa to its sensualism. Such an explanation is, at once, unworthy of a great religion and insulting to the Negro race, although it is one to which some European travellers of recent date—more qualified to traduce an unfortunate people than to engage in the philosophical investigation of their character and history—have not been ashamed to attribute its rapid spread and its wide influence. The facts and arguments accumulated in Dr. Blyden’s Essays on this important subject will, I am convinced, repay the study of the Christian Evangelist no loss than of the Christian Statesman.
Edward Wilmot Blyden was born in the Danish Island of St. Thomas, West Indies, and is of the purest Negro parentage. Inspired, in early youth, with a love for the Fatherland, and a desire to labour for its amelioration, he went to the United States in his seventeenth year, with a view of pursuing certain studies to fit himself to work in Africa. Influential friends endeavoured to secure for him admission to some institution of learning there, but so strong was the prejudice against his race at that time that the effort proved unavailing. He was advised to proceed at once to Liberia, where the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States was about to establish a High School, under the care of Rev. David A. Wilson, M.A., a graduate of Princeton College, now Dr. Wilson of Missouri. After a few months’ residence in Liberia, young Blyden entered the new institution among its first pupils. By diligence and perseverance he soon rose to the headship of the school, and, after filling that office for three years, to the satisfaction of all concerned, was, in 1862, elected to a Professorship in the newly-founded College of Liberia. In 1864, he was appointed Secretary of State by the President of Liberia, and managed, for two years, to combine the duties of that office with his educational work. In 1869, he made a journey to the East, visiting Egypt and Syria, chiefly with the view of studying the Arabic language, in order to its introduction into the curriculum of the College.
A Negro myself, of unadulterated African blood, I believe that, in the ideas which underlie and interpenetrate this volume, and which lead up, by different but converging paths, to the general conclusion that the aim of philanthropists should be, not to distort, or to destroy any of the characteristics which are most distinctive of the Negro race, but to ensure to them, as far as possible, their normal and natural development, Dr. Blyden is only giving eloquent expression and emphasis to the sentiments and aspirations of every enlightened member of his race. Foreign influence may—indeed it must—for some time to come do much for Africa, but not least, by recognizing the fundamental fact that when all has been said and done by Europeans and Americans that they can either say or do, the African himself is, and must always remain, the fittest instrument for the development of his country. He it is who can best be trained to utilize the vast resources of Africa, not only for her own good, but for the benefit of the human race.
What may be the precise means which are best adapted for that end, I need not here enquire; nor whether it is Mohammedanism or Christianity which, under the present condition of Africa is likely to be the most important factor in its development. Many enlightened Africans are inclined to think, on grounds which are sufficiently explained in this volume, that Islam is, at the present moment, able to do more for the Pagan Negro than its great rival. But those who, like myself, believe in the ultimate triumph, throughout Negroland, of the Christian faith, will, none the less, be glad to learn that Dr. Blyden does not, in any degree, attribute the spread of Mohammedanism in Africa to its sensualism. Such an explanation is, at once, unworthy of a great religion and insulting to the Negro race, although it is one to which some European travellers of recent date—more qualified to traduce an unfortunate people than to engage in the philosophical investigation of their character and history—have not been ashamed to attribute its rapid spread and its wide influence. The facts and arguments accumulated in Dr. Blyden’s Essays on this important subject will, I am convinced, repay the study of the Christian Evangelist no loss than of the Christian Statesman.
Edward Wilmot Blyden was born in the Danish Island of St. Thomas, West Indies, and is of the purest Negro parentage. Inspired, in early youth, with a love for the Fatherland, and a desire to labour for its amelioration, he went to the United States in his seventeenth year, with a view of pursuing certain studies to fit himself to work in Africa. Influential friends endeavoured to secure for him admission to some institution of learning there, but so strong was the prejudice against his race at that time that the effort proved unavailing. He was advised to proceed at once to Liberia, where the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States was about to establish a High School, under the care of Rev. David A. Wilson, M.A., a graduate of Princeton College, now Dr. Wilson of Missouri. After a few months’ residence in Liberia, young Blyden entered the new institution among its first pupils. By diligence and perseverance he soon rose to the headship of the school, and, after filling that office for three years, to the satisfaction of all concerned, was, in 1862, elected to a Professorship in the newly-founded College of Liberia. In 1864, he was appointed Secretary of State by the President of Liberia, and managed, for two years, to combine the duties of that office with his educational work. In 1869, he made a journey to the East, visiting Egypt and Syria, chiefly with the view of studying the Arabic language, in order to its introduction into the curriculum of the College.
In 1871, he resigned his Professorship, and, after a brief visit to Europe, spent two years in Sierra Leone, during which time he was sent by the Governor of the Colony—which was then under the administrations, successively, of Sir Arthur Kennedy and Sir John Pope Hennessy—on two diplomatic missions to the powerful chiefs of the interior. His Report on one of these Expeditions was published at length in the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society.
In 1877, he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia at the Court of St. James’, and was received by Her Majesty at Osborne, July 30, 1878, being introduced by the Marquess of Salisbury, then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He was soon after elected an Honorary Member of the Athenæum Club. In 1880, he was elected a Fellow of the American Philological Association. In 1882, he was made a Corresponding and Honorary Member of the Society of Science and Letters of Bengal. In 1884, he was elected Vice-President of the American Colonisation Society.
The honorary degrees of Master of Arts, Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of Laws have been conferred upon him by different American Colleges. In 1885, he was nominated by the Republican Party of Liberia a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic.
Dr. Blyden has, in the course of his labours, been brought into contact— epistolary or personal—with some of the most remarkable literary men of his day. Among them may be mentioned Lord Brougham, Mr. Gladstone, Dean Stanley, Charles Dickens, Charles Sumner.
He seems from his earliest years to have had a central idea, a dominant conviction, about the Negro and his country, which has, all along, guided and sustained him in his efforts. He believes his views to be true, and he is only gradually elaborating the exact method by which they may be brought home to others.
The following articles, though written at different times, will appear, when read carefully, to be linked together. They are not only the sentiments of a careful observer and diligent student, but they are the exponent of a purpose—the patriotic purpose of a lover of his race.
Many of the thoughts are new, but they are such as will be read with profit by all who are interested in the solution of the great problems which beset the work of the civilisation of Africa, and the genuine progress of humanity.
SAMUEL LEWIS.
FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE,
October 14th, 1886.
In 1877, he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia at the Court of St. James’, and was received by Her Majesty at Osborne, July 30, 1878, being introduced by the Marquess of Salisbury, then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He was soon after elected an Honorary Member of the Athenæum Club. In 1880, he was elected a Fellow of the American Philological Association. In 1882, he was made a Corresponding and Honorary Member of the Society of Science and Letters of Bengal. In 1884, he was elected Vice-President of the American Colonisation Society.
The honorary degrees of Master of Arts, Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of Laws have been conferred upon him by different American Colleges. In 1885, he was nominated by the Republican Party of Liberia a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic.
Dr. Blyden has, in the course of his labours, been brought into contact— epistolary or personal—with some of the most remarkable literary men of his day. Among them may be mentioned Lord Brougham, Mr. Gladstone, Dean Stanley, Charles Dickens, Charles Sumner.
He seems from his earliest years to have had a central idea, a dominant conviction, about the Negro and his country, which has, all along, guided and sustained him in his efforts. He believes his views to be true, and he is only gradually elaborating the exact method by which they may be brought home to others.
The following articles, though written at different times, will appear, when read carefully, to be linked together. They are not only the sentiments of a careful observer and diligent student, but they are the exponent of a purpose—the patriotic purpose of a lover of his race.
Many of the thoughts are new, but they are such as will be read with profit by all who are interested in the solution of the great problems which beset the work of the civilisation of Africa, and the genuine progress of humanity.
SAMUEL LEWIS.
FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE,
October 14th, 1886.
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