In  1892,  Mr.  Harvey  was  joine(J  by  his  wife,  and  also  by
L.  B.  Rockwell  and  wife.  After  the  building  of  the  mission
station,  and  owing  to  sickness,  the  latter  two  returned
during  the  following  year.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey  con-
tinued to  work  alone  until  the  summer  of  1895,  when  they
were  joined  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  W.  Russell  of  Spring-
field, Mass.  The  next  spring  when  starting  on  their  return
to  the  United  States  for  a  furlough,  and  having  stopped
for  the  night  at  Boma,  the  Steamer  Matadi  was  blown  up
by  the  explosion  of  gunpowder,  and  the  weary  missionaries
suddenly  fell  into  that  rest  from  which  only  the  Master's
resurrection  call  will  awaken  them.  This  was  utterly  sad
and  shocking  news  to  the  friends  at  home  and  their  loss  was
almost  a  fatal  blow  to  the  work  they  had  established,  and
yet  the  work  gave  some  promise  of  frtiitfulness  under  the
diligent  labors  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell.  But  circumstances
later  arose  which  made  it  imperative  that  the  mission  should
be  reinforced  with  new  workers  and  •  receive  a  stronger
financial  backing  to  warrant  success.  Being  unable  to
secure  the  workers,  failing  in  financial  support,  and  there
being  considerable  opposition  to  the  continuance  of  the
work,  it  was  finally  abandoned  and  negotiations  were  en-
tered into  for  its  transfer  to  the  board  of  the  Baptist  Mis-
sionary Union.  There  was  a  difference  of  opinion  regarding
the  wisdom  of  the  location  chosen  for  this  missionary  ef-
fort, but  there  could  be  only  one  just  opinion  regarding
the  pioneer  missionaries.  Those  who  knew  them  well
testified  that  no  truer  or  more  loyal  followers  of  the  Advent


STAXI  EV     S,     I'ARXliN"


LII.IAX     A.     MARNILV


MISSION   HISTORY  343

faith,  or  self-sacrificing  toilers  in  the  work  of  Christ,  have
ever  graced  our  ranks.  Their  i;nemory  has  been  cherished
through  the  years  as  a  veritable  benediction.  They  with
the  other  toilers  on  this  field  will  receive  a  just  reward  at
the  hands  of  the  Great  Master.
