Excerpt from The Early History of the Church Missionary Society for Africa and the East to the End of A. D. 1814

I. The main sources Of this Work are the printed and manu script records of the Church Missionary Society, whose archives include minutes from the first day Of its existence, a large number of letters written by its friends, and copies Of some important ones sent by the first two Secretaries. We here refer, of course, only to such documents, out Of the vast treasures relating to every department Of the Society's great business for nearly a century, as it has been necessary for us to consult. From these materials have been compiled (1) a short preliminary narrative of an indefinite period containing events and circum stances which led up to and prepared the way for the institution, (2) a full account Of the first fifteen years Of its own life.

In such a history, intended mainly for the Society's friends there seemed to the Author a call for some considerable detail, and for a free exhibition Of what is to them never a matter of indifference, its inner life and leading principles.

A task Of such scope was one very congenial to him when requested to undertake it, falling in as it did with some of his own studies in the more recent history of the English Church. One thing has been strongly impressed upon his mind, that among those who identified themselves with the birth and early years Of the Church Missionary Society there is a larger number than may be suspected worthy of being remembered by those who, had they lived then, would have been their friends and fellow-helpers, but who now know not even their names, while as to their spirit they simply take it for granted. Their record is on high they desired no other, could have looked for no other but the memorials that survive Of them in the letter-cases at Salisbury Square can hardly fail, we think, even through the brief hints we have room for, to awaken an interest in their names. We allude here chiefly to those Of minor importance.

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