African Colonization by the Free Colored People of the United States, an Indispensable Auxiliary to African Missions.

In this revealing lecture, a seasoned colonization agent from Ohio shares the uneasy relationship between early American colonization efforts and the spread of Christianity across Africa. Drawing on reports from missionaries, board archives, and contemporary periodicals, he offers a measured assessment of how fledgling settlements have both helped and hindered the Gospel’s advance. The speaker’s careful research invites listeners to reconsider the assumptions that colored the era’s “civilizing” missions.

The presentation turns its focus to the diverse experiments taking place on the continent—from the organized settlements in Liberia to the scattered outposts among native tribes and the English colonies of recaptured Africans. By comparing successes and setbacks, the lecturer seeks a practical rule for future work that balances spiritual goals with the realities of African societies. Listeners will gain a nuanced picture of early 19th‑century missionary strategy, framed by the hopes and challenges of the free colored community’s involvement.