THE following letter, which is noticed in the Synod Report, was received by the Rev. Neil Cameron, Glasgow :—
C/O NATIVE COMMISSIONER, BEMBESI,
MATABELELAND, SOUTH AFRICA, 9th Oct., 1908.
MY DEAR MR. CAMERON,—I am glad to inform you that I received your letter dated the 7th of September, also a copy of the book you promised to send me, Forbes’ Procedure of the Free Church of Scotland. I was very pleased to get it, and many thanks for it. It will be helpful to me in many ways. I also got the tokens for communicants sent from Glasgow all right. The rest of the Bibles have also arrived safely. You will thank all the friends who contributed towards them. I also got the £2 sent by Mr. Clunas for the forms which I purchased for the Church. The forms cost £1 18s. Two shillings were for carriage by goods train from Bulawayo station to Bembesi siding.
The school is still kept on, but some of the old scholars have left and have gone to seek work, and new ones take their places. To all those who had learned to read and who belonged to our Church I gave Bibles. Ndabana, the chief’s son, is still with us, and I have given him a Bible and Catechism. He has also begun English; he has finished Part I. and Part II., Step by Step, and has now commenced Royal Reader, No. 1.
I mentioned some time ago that the Services at our station at Koco were held in one of our men’s huts. We are now holding the Services in our Church there—a small square built thatched house. It was all built by our own men. I visit our outstations occasionally, and preach to the people there.
Our people here would be very glad if one of our ministers would pay us a visit. I told them that I had written and had asked if one of our ministers could not pay us a visit, and that I had also asked if one of our ministers could not come and baptize my child, and that I had received no reply yet. I was very sorry indeed to hear about the death of Mrs. Mackay, Strathy Point. Her death will cause a great blank in our Church. You did not let me know what reply you got from the chief man in the head office in London, about putting the Psalms into metre in Kaffir. As they see to the translation of the Bible in all languages, perhaps they might also know of a trustworthy and capable man who could undertake the work.
Mrs. Radasi is not keeping well at all, and the baby is also suffering from a sore chest and sore eyes. My mother at home is still enjoying good health, but my father is often laid up. The rest of our family at home are well; but the husband of one of my sisters, who was a native minister of the Church of England, has recently died in Graham’s Town, Cape Colony, where he was stationed. You will kindly remember me to all the friends in Glasgow, Mrs. Radasi joining.—I remain, yours faithfully,
JOHN B. RADASI.