Samuel Kaboo Morris

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Samuel Kaboe Morris (1888?? - May 12, 1893) was a Liberian prince who converted to Christianity while around age 14. At around age 18, he left Liberia for the United States to achieve an education and arrived at Taylor University in December 1891. He died in 1893 from complications of respiratory infection.

Morris's life has been the subject of five novels, over a dozen biographies, a 1954 film, and a 1988 documentary. Taylor University has named numerous buildings, scholarships, and a society in his honor.

One of the most amazing stories from the story of Samuel Morris's life is his escape from the Grebos; another tribe in the interior of Liberia. His tribe (the Kru) was attacked by the Grebos one day and Kaboo (his name was changed to Samuel Morris later) was captured. He was used as a "pawn", meaning the Kru would have to bring the Grebos a present each month if they wanted to see their prince again. His father the cheif came each time but what he brought was never enough. Kaboo was beat badly with thorns that made his back burn (being poisonous). Finally the Kru could bring no more and Kaboo was beat everday. The Grebo cheif would send another one of their slaves to the crew village once in a while to tell them what he saw. Kaboo realized that he would die if this continued, the Grebos already had a cruel fate planned for him. He would be buried up to his neck with honey on his face, then driver ants would eat his flesh.One night there was a flash of light and a voice telling Kaboo to flee. His ropes fell off and his sick body gained strength. He ran off into the jungle were he wandered for days living off such things as snails and mangos until he came to a coffee plantation owned by a former slave. The slave had come to Liberia and was a Christian. Kaboo worked there with another boy from his village before coming to America. His motavation to come to America was learning more about God and the Holy Spirit. One of the missionaries there told him all she knew. Sammy asked who it was that taught her. She told him it was a man in New York named Stephen Merrit. He decided he would go to New York to find this man. As he walked to the shore he prayed that there would be a boat there that could take him. There was a ship there called a tramp ship. The crew of this ship made money by trading. It was very profitable for them because natives often sold goods for useless trinckets.God told Sammy that the captain would take him to America. When Sammy asked the captain refused at first. Later on two of his crew members ran of leaving the captain short-handed. He accepted Sammy onboard taking him for an unemployed sailor.

[edit] References

• Samuel Kaboe Morris, Missouri University. Available at: http://www.taylor.edu/about/morris.
• Baldwin, Lindley J. March of Faith Challenge of Samuel Morris. National Institute of Applied Religion, 1941. ASIN B000H866QM
• Baldwin, Lindley J. The March of Faith: The challenge of Samuel Morris to Undying Life and Leadership. Mary E. Baldwin, 1947. ASIN B0007EL116
• Baldwin, Lindley J. The Ebony Saint: Samuel Morris's Miraculous Journey of Faith. James, 1967. ISBN 0853050015
• Baldwin, Lindley J. Samuel Morris: The African Boy God Sent to Prepare an American University for Its Mission to the World. Bethany House, 1969. ISBN 0871239507
• Baldwin, Lindley J. Samuel Morris: The March of Faith. Dimension Books, 1971. ASIN B00072RO1Y
• Hoff Baez, Kjersti. Samuel Morris: The African Prince. Barbour Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1586609475
• Hoff Baez, Kjersti, The Life of Samuel Morris. Barbour, 1995. ASIN B000GRBP1U
• Jackson, Dave and Neta Jackson. Quest for the Lost Prince: Samuel Morris Bethany House, 1996. ISBN 1556614721
• Masa, Jorge O. The Angel in Ebony. Taylor University Press, 1928.
• Whalin, Terry W. Samuel Morris: The Apostle of Simple Faith. Barbour Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1557488789
• Whalin, Terry W. Samuel Morris: Missionary to America. Barbour Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1597891177
• Samuel Morris: A Spirit Filled Life. Nazarene Publishing House, 1921. ASIN B000MTUPC2
• Samuel Morris. Bethany House, 1969. ISBN 0871233606

[edit] External links

• Angel in Ebony - 42 minute movie about Samuel Morris's life. Streaming Windows media format.
• The Search for Sammy - Documentary of a 1988 expedition to Liberia formed to uncover mysteries surrounding Morris's origins. Streaming Windows media format.