THE following was received by the Rev. J. R. Mackay, M.A., Inverness:—
C/O NATIVE COMMISSIONER, BEMBESI,
MATABELELAND, SOUTH AFRICA.
MY DEAR MR. MACKAY,—I got a letter from Lovedale, to inform me that they had translated as far as the nineteenth Psalm. I was very glad, indeed, to hear that. It is a matter to be very thankful for to the Most High for having opened up a way to the translation of the Psalms in metre. All our people were very pleased when I told them. Do you not see now that your visit here was greatly blessed by the Lord? It has been the means of our getting the Psalms translated, and put into metre.
The day school is now closed for a few weeks, and last week I went to Selukwe with one of our elders, to visit Chief Garner Sojini (who is one of our preachers) and the few families belonging to our Church there. I preached to them on the Sabbath day at Sojini’s house. They were all very glad to see me. I found that Chief Garner Sojini had been conducting services every Sabbath on behalf of our Church, strictly adhering to the singing of Psalms only; sitting when singing and standing when prayer is offered, just as we do here.” He and his wife and family and mother were the first Fingoes who joined our Church. He is living on a farm which he has hired, together with a few other people from the Cape Colony. The farm belongs to Dr. Sauer, a European gentleman at present staying in London, but has agents at Bulawayo, and so the farm was hired from the agents. There is no European on the farm; only themselves—a few Fingoe families—on it. The farm is nine miles on the other side of Selukwe, and so we had a good walk to go to it. Selukwe is a little over a hundred miles from here. I presented Chief Garner Sojini, on behalf of our Church, with one of those large Kaffir pulpit Bibles. I think you know him personally, as he was here from Selukwe to see you. He was already an ordained elder before he joined our Church, but living at Selukwe.
The two Bechuana boys have gone home for holidays, and Chief Raditladi gave me £5 to assist me in his boy’s board and lodgings. The Chief Native Commissioner of Bulawayo, Mr. Taylor, who also visited our school some time ago, has sent me £2 to distribute amongst children who have made the best progress and the highest attendance. Mr. Lanning, the Magistrate, has also sent us a few books in the native language—”Pilgrim’s Progress” and “Native Readers”—to give to the school children. I still continue to give, to those who can read, Kaffir Bibles, and also English Bibles to those who have learnt to read English.
You were asking who was keeping house for me. There is no one keeping house for me, but my sister-in-law sometimes comes to help us here; and as she is helping and assisting her aged mother too, she cannot find much time to help us here. My little girl is also staying with her grandmother. She recovered from the measles and is now suffering from whooping cough. Daniel does almost everything, and he was not able to go home for holidays this time.
You will see that the lease for the Mission site has been renewed for five years. The first year’s rent is paid—from 30th September, 1910, to 30th September, 1911; it is the other £4 that they want. They wish the money paid in advance; and so I sent it out of my salary, as you will see by the receipt I am sending to you. Kindly send me the £4 and return the receipt. With kindest regards to all.—Yours sincerely, J. B. RADASI.
A Rock to Rest on.
A minister of the old time in London was visited on his death-bed by another minister, who asked him to describe the state of his mind. Raising himself up in bed, he uttered, with great energy, and dignity, the following words:—”Christ in his person, Christ in the love of his heart, and Christ in the power of his arm, is the Rock on which I rest; and now (reclining his head gently on the pillow) death, strike!”