WRAY, John

[s. 812] : Mi ionary of the LMS to British Guiana, South America, from 1807 to 1837. He was sent to Demerara in 1808, at the request of a wealthy planter, and made his home on the plantation. Here his labors were so much ble ed that a great reformation took place among the negroes, not only on this estate, but also on the surrounding ones. They changed their ways of living, and became earnest and attentive listeners to his preaching. The local government of Demerara was not in sympathy vrith the religious work among the negroes, and it placed so many obstructions in the way of the mi ionaries that Mr. Wray was sent to England to obtain, if he could, a modification of the laws of the country. He partially succeeded, and returned to Demerara in 1811. In 1813 he began work among the crown negroes at the stations of George town and I ’’ Berbice. The laws which he had secured for the a meh oration of the condition of the negroes being misunderstood, or not carried out, he found it nece ary to go a second time to England in their behalf. Still negroes were hindered in their religious worship. Their books were taken from them, and overseers accompanied them to the meetings “to judge of the doctrines held forth to the negroes.” Such persecutions irritated them beyond endurance, and a serious insurrection broke out, many of them leaving the plantations and going into the back country. On Mr. Wray’s return to Berbice he was requested by the governor to explain to the slaves the new laws, so that there might be no further trouble. He seems to have succeeded, and quiet was restored in his mi ion, where he remained for 13 years, when, worn out with his work, he with his wife sought rest and health in England. In 1832 he returned to Berbice and continued his work for eight years longer, when he died of yellow-fever at New Amsterdam. 813