Milligan, Robert H.; Gardner, Paul D.

[Collection of Letters on Missionary Work in Africa and Ledger of Pastoral Work].

Mostly West Africa, Pennsylvania and Iowa: 1891-1901. 33 loose typed and handwritten letters, a total of 152 pages (approx. 40,000 words) + 13” x 8” commercial ledger, marbled cloth over boards with 23 handwritten pages + 10 report cards, 8 notes, 12 printed materials and 17 clippings pasted down or laid in and the last 35 pages are blank. Generally very good or better: one letter neatly torn in half; some on thin paper, edge worn and creased but all highly legible. Ledger good due to front board detached, later penciled notation to title page; contents very good with a bit of offsetting.

This is a collection of letters written by and to Paul D. Gardner, a much admired minister in Pennsylvania and Iowa at the turn of the 20th century. Notably, several letters were penned by Robert H. Milligan, a longtime missionary in West Africa who wrote well-respected books concerning the decency and humanity of African natives – a far cry from views being published at the time. Milligan's letters are superbly detailed and rich with observations on life in Africa and religious work among the natives.

Milligan wrote ten of the present letters, a total of 93 pages; most were addressed to “My dear Brother Paul” and show fondness and intimacy between the men. We're not quite sure how they came to be acquainted; the British Rev. Robert Milligan was a missionary in West Africa from 1893 to 1895, then again for seven years, from 1898 until 1905. Paul Gardner was born in Philadelphia in 1869, attended Washington and Jefferson College, followed by theological studies and pastorships in Swickley, Pennsylvania and Mediapolis, Iowa, before falling ill and dying quickly at the age of 31. Other letters here reveal Gardner's relationships with missionaries in India and Laos, among others, and all the men expressed respect and admiration for the preacher.

Milligan wrote two major works, The Jungle Folk of Africa (1908) and The Fetish Folk of West Africa (1912); a New York Times review of the former shared that:

“Milligan pictures the Africans he met as a very Interesting people, constituted, like the rest of us, with brain and soul . . . He rates these people as human beings, and finds many of them distinctly lovable . . . He saw a lot during his seven African years, and saw it all very clearly, so that he came away with a pretty thorough knowledge of the folk among whom he had lived. He presents this knowledge to us delightfully; nobody has written a more instructive and entertaining book about West Africa . . .”

In Milligan's first present letter (30 pages long, written in installments), he thoroughly narrates his journey to Batanga in 1893, starting with meeting his “companion missionaries” in Liverpool:

“We are altogether a brilliant company, most of us English; many are government officials, representing Her Majesty's various interests in West Africa . . . As I hear the talk of those on board I find more and more that opinion is all unfavorable toward the missionaries of West Africa, and their work pronounced failure . . . These passengers are apparently gentlemen, and are intelligent but they are not Believers and their speech on things spiritual is the speech of fools.”

The letters vividly describe his encounters with the locals, their speech, manners and ways of life (“There is all variety of dark faces and all variety of dress and undress”) as well as his disdain for the other white inhabitants: “I have known enough in these two weeks to make me wonder whether this place be not under the providence of the devil. The traders of West Africa include a considerable number of the worst men in the world.” He describes traders and government officials “frightfully” abusing natives, drinking heavily, threatening and demanding African women. He writes of his arduous journey: “White brethren and black friends stood gazing with strange thoughts as we stretched along the beach a short way and suddenly disappeared into the forest. On such a journey to such a land none can forecast even the near future." He tells of horrific weather, lack of food, having to build his own house and his many illnesses – “How I wish you were here tonight my dear boy with that marvellous banjo.” There are tales of the “peculiar people,” apparent castes and native dance, as well as injury, “hardship” and “peril,” “this 'madness,' as some have called it” to preach the gospel – “if Christianity is anything it is courage,” and “it is such a people whom we have undertaken to tame by the Gospel. It is not yet too late.”

Milligan wrote to Gardner in 1898 that he would be returning to Africa, and then that he was glad to have seen him before he went. He told of his appointment to “Angom, in the interior behind Gaboon” and of other missionaries' news. One eight-page letter was nearly wholly dedicated to a young Mpongwe boy he took with him on a voyage, “that I might improve the idle hours in talking Fang with him.” He shared the boy's life story, of being orphaned and unloved:

“The unusual intelligence expressed in the bright eyes that looked up into mine, combined with the most childlike expression and manner; also, the faded rag which was the sum of his clothing, and other marks of neglect and suffering moved me as I have seldom been moved in my life . . . I felt that the Lord had given into my charge one of His little ones, and I prayed that I might be true to a trust so sacred and do all in my power to fit him for the Lord's service in years to come.”

Tragically, his charge fell ill and died on the voyage: “'Only a poor little African boy, and there are thousands upon thousands of others!' Yes, thousands of American boys too; and yet, but few perhaps shall ever be dearer to me than this little African boy, my little scholar.”

He also wrote from Libreville in 1899: “This time I shall write you a chapter of desultory incidents from my experience in evangelistic journeys among the Fang people during the last several months . . . do I really think that they heeded this Gospel? I think that, as I left them talking together, some probably laughed at the message; some doubted; and some pondered these things in their hearts, to whom they may yet become the words of eternal life.”

Other letters in the collection include Gardner's strong-willed declarations to family of his certainty of his place in the cloth, as well as news and reports from missionaries and theologians about their studies, efforts and achievements in home and foreign lands. A ledger reveals his work from 1895 until his death with notes on baptisms, marriages and funerals, sermons, tithes and interactions with his flock. His college report cards are laid in, as are printed programs and proceedings from conferences he attended and his own “Ordination and Installation.” Several newspaper clippings concern Gardner's sudden death, and there are printed copies of a “Tribute” to his “kindly influence” and “faithful pastoral work” as well as “Resolutions” found in his study and “published by one who loved him, in the hope, dear reader, that you will adopt them as your guide through life.”

An incredible collection, documenting firsthand missionary work in Africa and respected religious leaders. An inventory with excerpts and notes on content is available. Very good. Item #9098

Price: $3,750.00