MR. J. B. RADASI, our Kaffir student, was ordained as a missionary by the Southern Presbytery of our Church in the Hall of St. Jude’s Glasgow, on the evening of 16th November. He chose as the field of his future labours Matabeleland in Rhodesia. In making this choice he was guided by two considerations which appeared to us judicious—viz. (1) He thought he could understand their language—seeing the Kaffir and the Matabele are two branches of the Zulu tribe, and therefore speak the same language; and (2) he desired to make known the gospel where it was not preached before. There was a mixed feeling of joy and sadness in the minds of all present. The prospect of his being a blessing to his poor fellow-countrymen in turning, at least, some of them from darkness to light, and from Satan to God, caused some to rejoice secretly before the Lord. On the other hand the fact of poor Mr. Radasi’s having to go alone caused us all to feel sad. It dawned on the minds of some how sympathetic the Lord Jesus was to the frailty of our human weakness when He sent His disciples out by twos. We desire to urge on our praying people to bear Mr. Radasi and his future labours on their spirits to the throne of grace; for his success depends entirely on the presence, guidance, and quickening power of the Holy Spirit.
It was felt that some recognition from the Colonial Office would strengthen his position as our missionary to South Africa. The Rev. J. R. Mackay wrote Sir R. B. Finlay, Attorney-General, M.P. for the Inverness Burghs, asking his valuable help. He immediately wrote the Secretary for the Colonies. On the 1st of December he wrote Mr. Mackay—”The Colonial Office informed me some time ago they were to do all that could be done for Mr. Radasi.” Mr. Angus Fraser, who accompanied Mr. Radasi to Southampton, and Mr. Radasi himself called on the Colonial Secretary, who received them very kindly, and sent a letter to Lord Milner, and asked them to see the Secretary of the Chartered Company. This they did. The secretary of this company sent a copy of Mr. Radasi’s certificate of licence and ordination to their office at Cape Town. He told them it would be necessary to get a letter of recommendation from some well known public man, otherwise he would have to cancel the letter he sent. Mr. Fraser asked him if a letter from Sir R. B. Finlay would do. He assured that a letter from him would be all that was necessary. Mr. Mackay wrote Sir R. B. Finlay about this, and he at once wrote the secretary of the Chartered Company. On the 5th December he wrote Mr. Mackay, enclosing the following letter from the secretary of the company:—”I am directed to thank you for your letter of the 1st instant with reference to the Rev. J. B. Radasi, a native missionary of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and to say that a copy of your letter has been forwarded to the Administrator of Southern Rhodesia at Salisbury, and to the company’s representative at Bulawayo, with a request that they should afford Mr. Radasi any assistance possible in carrying on his work.”
The Free Presbyterian Church is very much indebted to Sir R. B. Finlay for the deep interest he manifested in this matter, and for the good success of his advocating our cause both with the Colonial Office and with the Chartered Company. We have no doubt the recognition given will be very valuable to our dear brother in his future labours in South Africa.
May the Most High cause that, through weak instruments, Ethiopia may soon stretch out her hands to the Lord. N. C.