This was Livingstone's strong conviction to the end of his life.
In his first letter to the Directors of the London Missionary Society he tells them that he had spent most of his time at sea in the study of theology, and that he was deeply grieved to say that he knew of no spiritual good having been done in the case of any one on board the ship.

His characteristic honesty thus showed itself in his very first dispatch.
Arriving at the Cape, where the ship was detained a month, he spent some time with Dr.Philip, then acting as agent for the Society, with informal powers as superintendent.

Dr.Philip was desirous of returning home for a time, and very anxious to find some one to take his place as minister of the congregation of Cape Town, in his absence.

This office was offered to Livingstone, who rejected it with no little emphasis--not for a moment would he think of it, nor would he preach the gospel within any other man's line.

He had not been long at the Cape when he found to his surprise and sorrow that the missionaries were not all at one, either as to the general policy of the mission, or in the matter of social intercourse and confidence.