THIS letter, received by the Rev. John R. Mackay, M.A., Inverness, consists of two parts, in reply to two different letters from Mr. Mackay. The first part deals with the general progress of the Mission, and the second, in answer to a letter of sympathy, gives touching details of the last illness of Mrs. Radasi:—
C/O NATIVE COMMISSIONER, BEMBESI,
MATABELAND, SOUTH AFRICA, 15th August, 1910.
MY DEAR MR. MACKAY,—I have received both your letters, which I read with great interest. I was sorry to hear that you were not keeping well. It was wonderful how your health kept up during all the time you were here in this tropical region. Still more wonderful that the Lord made it so cool during all the time you were here, as the intense heat, which we always have during the summer months, would have made it almost impossible for you to have undertaken all the work that you did. No doubt, the cool weather you experienced here was in answer to the special prayers offered for you by the Lord’s people.
Our congregation here is increasing, as a good number of families have left the farm they were living in—(Mr. Bekker’s farm)—and are now living in our native reserve, about three miles from our church here. Also, that man you baptized and the three women you baptized and their husbands are living in our native reserve. They have built a kraal there similar to Ngege’s but smaller. A kraal is a collection of native huts. And it is now very easy to visit them in their own homes, as that could not be done while they were living in the farm. The man you baptized had told me before that he intended moving into the native reserve, so that he might be nearer the church and that we might be able to visit them in their kraals without interference. He was saying to me, “Now, I think the young men and women can easily attend the services in the church every Sabbath, but there are some old men and women who cannot walk, and for the sake of these a service could be held for them occasionally at the kraal.” And so I have been there several times to give them a service at their kraal. They are also sending their children to the day school. The school children have also increased, and we have now over seventy on the books.
Mr. Lanning, the Magistrate, paid us a visit last week, and examined the scholars. He said that he had been sent by the Director of Education at Salisbury to come and inspect the native schools in his district. There were present that day sixty scholars. He expressed himself as satisfied with the work done, but also said that he was greatly interested in industrial work, and that if our Church at home could pay half the amount for the teaching of industrial work, he was sure the Government would pay the other half.
Ngege’s sons are still adhering to us. Guga also is still well, but always complains of being too ill and too old to come to church. Daniel and the others are still with us, with the exception of Jack, who has gone home to Zambesi. David Ntuli goes every Sabbath to preach to the natives in our new station (Florida Mine).
Reply to Letter of Sympathy with Mrs. Radasi’s Death.
I thank you and the Synod for your kind expression of sorrow and sympathy for the great loss that I have sustained through the death of my beloved wife. She was truly a real helpmeet to me, and was greatly devoted to our cause here. She was a member in full communion with our Church, and perfectly resigned to our simple mode of worship. All our people here feel the loss very much. Although she was so very ill, and suffering great bodily pains, the end came to us somewhat unexpectedly. The day that she died she appeared to us somewhat better. She was able to speak a little and take a little food. After we had the morning worship she said to me, “You know, during the time that you were praying I saw two men with shining clothes. One was standing above my head, and the other one below me. Did you not notice them?” I said, “No.” About an hour after that one of the elders of our Church came to see her, and as we thought she was asleep, we did not wake her. After he had gone she said, “Was it not strange for an elder to come in and go away again without praying?” I said, “Perhaps he thought you were asleep, as your eyes were closed.” “No,” she said, “I was not asleep. It was strange for him to come and see me and go away again without praying.” At another time her mother waked her to give her a little food, thinking she was asleep, as her eyes were closed. She said, “Mother, why did you wake me? I wasn’t asleep, but I had such a beautiful train of thoughts; you disturbed me by waking me up. Another time when you see me sleeping like that, don’t wake me.” I used to watch the time to give her medicine, which the doctor said she was to be given three times a day. I had given it to her in the morning and at dinner-time, and while I was sitting beside her, she called me nearer to her and said, “I want no more medicine, but prayer.” And that was the last word she spoke to me; and at her request I prayed. She died the same night.
And I thank you again, and the Synod, and our people for their expression of sorrow and sympathy. Kindly remember me to Mrs. M. and to all the friends in Inverness.—Yours sincerely,
J. B. RADASI.
KAFFIR METRICAL PSALMS.
We are pleased to be able to inform our readers that the work of rendering the Psalms into Kaffir verse is now being assiduously and heartily prosecuted at the Lovedale Missionary Institution.
According to a letter which the Rev. J. R. Mackay recently had from Principal Henderson of Lovedale, the first three Psalms, rendered into Kaffir verse, had been, on the 12th July, submitted by Rev. J. K. Bokwe to the Principal. “The rendering,” says the latter, “is, so far as I have been able to examine it closely, good, and gives promise that the work can be done successfully.” The Psalms following the first, second, and third are now being taken in hand. The first small remittance on account of outlay in stationery, etc., has already been forwarded. The thanks of the Free Presbyterian Church are due to Principal Henderson for the kind way in which this important, if somewhat difficult, work has been taken in hand by him.