BY REV. J. B. RADASI, F.P. MISSIONARY, MATABELELAND.
THE following is the Report, read at last Synod by the Rev. Neil Cameron, Convener of Foreign Mission Committee:—
C/O NATIVE COMMISSIONER, BEMBESI,
MATABELELAND, SOUTH AFRICA, March, 1918.
MY DEAR MR. CAMERON,—I am glad to inform you that I received your letter of the 7th January, also the £30 to send the young lad to Lovedale. The boy was sent to Lovedale as soon as the money arrived. He was only a week late, as the School opened on the 14th February. There are two sessions in the year at Lovedale—the first session begins in February and ends in June, and the second begins in August and ends about the 13th December. Students, living as far away as Matabeleland and Bechuanaland, only go home on December holidays.
Miss Adelaide Ntuli, who was acting teacher here, went to Lovedale last year to qualify for a teacher. She was sent by her parents. She was doing Standard V. work when she left. We have now a qualified teacher teaching in our School here who has passed his teacher’s examination. He is one of those boys of ours who were sent by their parents to Lovedale to be trained as teachers. The natives have no money, but those that have cattle sell their cattle, and send their children to school. But very few here can afford to do that. The great number of the scholars leave school as soon as they have received their Bibles, and some, I am sorry to say, even leave school before they are qualified to receive their Bibles. The custom is still followed of giving Bibles to those scholars who have learned to read fluently and intelligently the native language; and in that way, from time to time, a very large number of these Bibles have been given away. Most of the scholars only learn the Kafir language, and leave school; and it does not take them very long to learn the native language.
The Bibles are now finished, and there are several scholars here and in the out-stations who are now qualified for Bibles, but have not yet received them.
I am glad to say they seem to be very fond of their Bibles, and read them regularly, I am told by those who come in contact with them after they have left school. The following is an example:—One of our boys, who had learned to read the native language, and had received a Bible, and had left school, was working in a mine. Afterwards a heathen boy came, and he also got work in the same mine, and the two boys occupied the same hut. He says, “I used to read the Bible and pray every morning and night, and this boy did not like this at all. He said, ‘Why do you
always trouble me? You read what I do not understand, and you pray to One you cannot see. I do not like what you are doing at all. You are trying to teach me new customs; I did not come here to learn your new customs, I came to seek work; we never pray at our home, and I hate this custom of yours, and if you continue this custom of yours, I shall leave this place altogether.” This boy says, “I continued to read and pray every morning and night, and he continued to show his dislike of what I was doing, until one day, early in the morning, while it was still dark, I heard him cry out, ‘Get up, and let us pray; I like praying now. I have tried it myself; everything seems to be new now with me. When I begin the day with prayer, I find my work light and easy, and I do it cheerfully. Tell me more about God and His Christ. I like to hear about them now.’ He now used to listen very attentively to the Word of God, and wanted to know more and more about Christ and His great salvation for sinners.”
He further told that a stranger who had recently been employed at the mine visited them in their hut one evening, and they had worship as usual. After worship the stranger was silent for some time, and seemed to be in deep thought. Afterwards he broke out in these words, “I am glad to see that you are praying, boys. Keep on praying, my boys. There is a God in reality, and He does hear prayers. I will now tell you of a true incident that happened to me. Before the railway line was made from Bulawayo to Salisbury, goods used to be transported by ox-waggons. I was a driver for some Dutchmen on one of their ox-waggons going to Salisbury. They treated me very cruelly on the way, and so I decided to run away from them. I left them one day and escaped. I kept away from the main road, and followed the foot-path. I had not gone very far when I saw a lion in front, coming towards me at a rapid pace. I turned back to where I came from; to my surprise I saw another lion coming towards me from that side. A lion in front of me, and a lion at the back of me, and both coming to me; it was a hopeless case! I looked round to see if there was no tree to climb; I could not see any; and both lions were coming nearer and nearer to me. I now lost all hope of escape. Just at that time I seemed to hear a voice saying, ‘Pray.’ I knelt down, and prayed at once, and as soon as I got up, I saw both lions running away from me as fast as they could, and so I was saved from them. Boys, keep on praying. There is a God in reality, and He does answer prayers.”
We have lost at our Induba church an aged woman who was one of the wives of the late King Lobengula. She lived at Induba, and was a member in full communion with our Church there. She was converted two years ago. When she got ill, her friends took her away for a change to a place twenty miles from Induba. The change did her no good, but she became worse and worse, and they had to bring her home again, after she had
been there for six weeks, and when she returned, she was so ill, that she could not speak any more. I went to see her on Wednesday just a day after she had returned and read the Bible and prayed, but she had lost her power of speech and she passed away on Friday. They say that just about two hours before she died, she said in a loud voice, “I am leaning on Christ alone for salvation.” Those were the only words she was heard to speak, since she returned home.
We are all glad to hear that the war in German East Africa is now finished. We hope that all our men will return soon, as some of the elders were a great help to us in our out-stations. But at present we only see the sick and wounded returning.
I must now conclude with kindest regards to you.—Yours sincerely,
J. B. RADASI.
The following letter was written by Mr. RADASI on 26th March:—
I received the postal order for £1 sent by two friends. You will kindly thank them for me. I would be very glad, too, if the Lord would raise up a young man here to go to Scotland to be trained for the ministry. I had in my mind Kiwa Mhlahlo, the boy we first sent to Lovedale, but his health so broke down, that he had to return before even he had finished a year, and so I was disappointed. The difficulty is this, that the majority of boys leave school after they have learned the native language only. I cannot say yet about the lad we have recently sent to Lovedale. The work of the ministry is of such transcendent importance that a very careful selection has to be made. May the Lord Himself put into the mind of a truly converted lad a desire to be trained for the ministry.
I am greatly in need of a cart and a mule for visiting the out-stations, especially in rainy seasons, as the bicycle is of no use in rainy weather. I have an opportunity of visiting the out-stations whenever I can go, as there are always people ill with fever. A new cart would cost £30, and a mule from £20 to £25. Mules are better than horses in this hot country. The mules have gone down in price since the introduction of motor cars; before, they cost £40 to £50 each. If it is possible after the War, we would like one of our ministers to pay us a visit here.
I must now conclude with kindest regards to you.—Yours very sincerely,
J. B. RADASI.
Brief Obituaries.
ALEX. MACKENZIE, INVERASALE, ROSS-SHIRE.
By the death, at 13 Coast, Inverasdale, on 23rd May last, of Mr. Alex. Mackenzie, boatbuilder, the Gairloch F.P. congregation has suffered a great loss. The deceased, who lived a most exemplary life, was highly respected by the whole community. Since the
death, in 1914, of Mr. John Mackenzie, elder, Boor, Poolewe, Mr. Alex. Mackenzie, till within a year or so of his death, conducted, with much acceptance, the services of the section of our congregation at Inverasdale. His remarks at Fellowship Meetings were much appreciated by the hearers. The deceased was eighty-one years of age, and his mortal remains were interred on 25th May, in Gairloch Churchyard.
To the sorrowing widow, two daughters, and three sons, we extend our sympathy, and pray that the God of their father be their God.
D. McK.
J. C. PEMBREY, M.A., OXFORD.
WE feel we cannot omit to notice the death of Mr. J. C. Pembrey, of Oxford, who was for thirty-seven years editor of the “Gospel Banner,” an English magazine that contained sound, edifying evangelical truth, known and valued by some of our readers in the north and south. Mr. Pembrey, who had reached the ripe old age of over eighty-six years, was in several respects a remarkable man. He possessed great linguistic powers, and acted during the greater part of his life as a reader in connection with the University Press, Oxford. He had an accurate knowledge of Hebrew, Sanscrit, and other Oriental and classical languages, and was also well acquainted with several modern ones, speaking fluently French and German. His ability in his work as reader amounted to genius, and the Oxford Senate, recognising his remarkable gifts, conferred upon him the honorary degree of M.A. several years ago. But Mr. Pembrey, who was a sincere and unassuming Christian, did not glory in his intellectual acquirements. He preferred to be known as the editor of the “Gospel Banner,” and of religious books of a sound, Calvinistic, and experimental type, which passed through his hands. Two of these are known to us, “The Memorials of Bernard Gilpin,” and the “Life of Joseph Tanner,” two godly ministers of Christ. Mr. Pembrey’s gracious wife (who was a daughter of Mr. Tanner, and a sister of Mrs. M. H. Wakeley, Brighton) predeceased him. He was an esteemed member of the Strict Baptist Chapel, Albert Street, Oxford, and his removal on the 1st May is mourned by the congregation. We cull several items of our information from a notice in the “Sower and Gospel Banner,” a sound periodical, edited by Mr. M. J. Tryon, Stamford.
Mr. J. E. Hazleton, writer of the said notice, states that, “though Mr. Pembrey had failed much during the last two years, he was able to work at his proofs without glasses to the end,” and then concludes the sketch thus:—”His last illness was brief, and extreme weakness prevented him saying much, but he died, as for many years he had lived—a sinner saved by grace. ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.'” We extend our deepest sympathy to his daughter, Miss Pembrey, and all relatives.
J. S. S.
Air Tomadh Dhiadhaciiiiid.
LE MR. EON UELSH.
“Gu’n d’thugadh e dhuinn, air bhi dhuinn air ar saoradh o làmh ar naimhde, gu’n deanamaid seirbhís da as eugmhais eagail, ann an naomhachd agus ’am fireantachd ’na làthair fhèin, uile làithean ar beatha.”—LUCAS i. 74, 75.
BHA dá ni a d’fhag sinn gun chriochnachadh aig an ám mu dheireadh, b’è a h-aon diubh, gu’m bu chòir do uile làithibh ar beatha a bhi na seirbhís dha-san, a rinn bhur saoradh a mach a ifrinn, agus a shaor sibh á làmh bhur naimhde.
B’è an aon eile, ciod an dòigh anns am bu chòir do uile làithean bhur beatha a bhi air an caitheamh (co fad ’sa tha e sudhèanta) agus air an cuir seachad, a chum’s gu’m bi sìth air a gleidheadh eadar Dia agus bhur n-anama’. A chum na crìche so leughaidh mi cuid do earrannibh do’n Sgriobtur a chum bhur daighneachadh, agus a thabhairt dhuibh ni-eiginn do sholus ann an so. An t-àite sin do’n Sgriobtur, ann an Lucas, i. 74. Chuala sibh e anns a mhaduinn, agus ann an fosgladh suas, chuala sibh gu’m feum saoradh a bhi ann, mu’n urrainn sibh seirbhís air bith a dhèanamh do Dhia; oir thusa nach ’eil air d’fhoghlam agus air do theagasg ann an dìomhaireachd do shaoraidh, agus thusa nach ’eil ann an tomhas-èiginn, a’ faotainn do chridhe air fhuasgladh, agus fuil Chriosd a’ glanadh do chridhe, cha’n urrainn thu gu bràth seirbhís a thabhairt do Dhia as eugmhais eagail mar bu chòir dhuit a dhèanamh; uime sin sibhse leis am b’àill bhur cridheachan a bhi air an daighneachadh ann an seirbhís Dhè, feumaidh sibh smuaineachadh gu tric air a so, gu’n do shaor fuil a Mhic ’ur n-anama o ifrinn, bho na bàs, agus bho cheartas Dhè; oir co fhad ’sa bhios tu cur an teagamh, co fhad ’sa tha thu a’ seasamh eadar an dà ni so, co-dhiubh is e Criosd do Shlànuighear no nach e, cha’n urrainn thu soirbheachadh ’san diadhachd, agus mar sin cha mhair do shòlas na’s faide na mhaireas do bheachd agus do mhothachadh; uime sin tha cuimhne agam gu’m bheil e air a ràdh, “uime sin seasaibh gu daingeann anns an t-saorsa leis an d’ rinn Criosd saor sibh, bi’se bunáiteach anns a chreidimh.”
Mar so na’n oidhirpeachadh tu seirbhís a thoirt do Dhia as eugmhais eagail, ghleidheadh tu do ghnàth creidimh anns an Tighearn Iosa; agus dòchas na slàinte ann a fhuil-san; oir co luath ’sa leigeas tu bunait do chreidimh a dhol air falbh, ann an sin cha’n ’eil agad misneach gu seirbhís a thabhairt do’n Tighearn do Dhia. Chuala sibh so a cheana, agus tha nis a’ leantuinn, cia fhaide bu chòir do’n t-seirbhís so a bhi? Fad uile làithean bhur beatha, agus gidheadh cha’n ’eil iad lionmhor; agus ge’ do bhiodh iad lionmhor, fathast, ciod e iad ann an luigheadachd air son beatha shìorruidh? Cha do ghairm Iacob a sheann aois fada ach na’n teirce do làithean, agus olc. Dh’innis mi dhuibh anns a’ mhaduinn, nach bu chòir dhuibh dàil a chuir ann an seirbhís Dhè gu crìch bhur làithean ; ach gu’m bu chòir dhuibh a ràdh maille ri Daibhidh, “Thighearn teagaisg dhomh mo làithean àireamh, a chum ’s gu’n suidhich mi mo chridhe air gliocas;” agus ’se so an t-aon ghliocas, rè uile làithean do bheatha gu’n suidhich thu do chridhe a chum seirbhís a thabhairt do’n Tighearn do Dhia. Na’m biodh neach sam bith agaibh gu dol air turus air gnothach cudthromach a bha agaibh ’san làimh, cha saoileadh sibh e na chùis bheag aon là a chailleadh air an t-slighe ; eadhon mar sin tha chùis ann an so ; ann an so tha bhur turus air gnothach co cudthromach ri sàbhaladh agus dìteadh ; uime sin bu chòir dhuibh a mheas na chùis mhòir aon là a chailleadh air an turus so. Tha mòran an dàil gu’m faigh iad àm na’s cothromaiche an dèigh so gu seirbhís a thabhairt do Dhia, uime sin feudaidh mi an là so a chuir seachad mar is àill leam fhèin ; ach tha iad air am mealladh, oir is leòir do gach là a ghnothaichean fhèin ; uime sin c’ar son a chuireadh sibh dàil gus am màireach anns an ni bu chòir a bhi dèanta an diugh, air dhuibh fhaicinn gu’m bheil na’s leòir aig an là màireach ri dhèanamh air a shon fhèin? Gu dearbh tha mi ’faicinn gu’m bheil clann an t-saoghail so ’na’n ginealach fhèin na’s glice na clann an t-soluis ; do bhrìgh ’s gu’m bheil iad a’ gabhail cunntais de’n obair gach là, agus a’ sealltuinn ciod e a rinn iad, agus ciod a tha aca ri dhèanamh ; ach cha’n ’eil sinn co glic a tha leigeil le aon là a theachd agus le là eile a dhol air falbh. Mar sin, tha mi ag ràdh, cha bu chòir dhuibh aoradh Dhè a thilgeadh seachad gu là na Sàbaid, no làithean sòlaimte, ach bu chòir duibh aoradh a thabhairt do Dhia na h-uile là, ach bu chòir duibh cunntas a ghabhail de’n obair gach là, agus gun na h-uile a thilgeadh ann an aon dùn cuideachd.
’Nis, tha sinn uile-fhad air deireadh ann an so, uime sin tha mi guidhe oirbh gu’n daingnich sibh bhur cridheachan na’s mò agus ’s na mò anns an fhìrinn so, gu’m bheil sibh fuidh cheangal seirbhís a thabhairt do Dhia uile làithean bhur beatha, ann an naomhachd agus ann am fìreantachd; cha bu chòir dhuibh a bhi mì-naomh na’m fianuis ann an uair sa’m bith do’n là no do’n oidhche; ’se sin, bu chòir dhuit do chridhe agus do bheatha a thoirt air làthair na h-uile là agus na h-uile h-oidhche, agus anns gach uair de’n là, oir cha bhi chùis gu bràth gu maith maille riut gus am bi e mar sin.
Agus ciod is aobhar gu’m bheil thu co mì-chùramach a chum seirbhís a thabhairt do Dhia, agus gu glòir a thabhairt da ionnsuidh, agus sòlas do d’anam fhèin gach aon là? Ciod e? Ach do bhrìgh ’s nach ’eil thu cuimhneachadh gu’m bheil thu ann am fianuis Dhè na h-uile là, agus anns gach uair do’n là. Ciod a dhèanadh sibh, na’m biodh sibh na h-uile là am fianuis daoine cumhachdach? Agus ge do bhiodh sibh ann am fianuis a’ phrionnsa na h-uile là, nach faiceadh am prionns’ na nithe a bha sibh a’ dèanamh ’na fhianuis na h-uile là? ’Nis, smuainichidh sibh so cruaidh r’a dhèanamh, a chuimhneachadh gu’m bheil Dia do ghnàth fa’r coinneamh, agus gu’m bheil e do ghnàth ag amharc air bhur smuaintean, bhur briathran, agus bhur gniomharan; ach nach cuir sibh a’ chùis gu dearbhadh, agus gheibh sibh a’ chuing sin socrach, agus an t-uallach sin eutrom; oir aon là air a chaitheadh fuidh chuing Chriosd, ’se sin, ’nuair a ni thu do dhìchioll rè an là uile gu Dia a thoileachadh ’sna h-uile nithean, agus cogais mhaith a choimhead a thaobh Dhia agus dhaoinne, ge nach d’rinn thu an ni fuidh ’n robh thu ceangailte a dhèanamh; gidheadh air do’n là so a bhi air a chaitheadh do Dhia, bithidh e milis agus taitneach dhuit. ’Nis, Leughaidh mi earrann eile de’n Sgriobtur, Eabh. iii. 11, “Ionnas gu’n d’thug mi mo mhionnan a’m fheirg, nach tèid iad a steach do mo shuaimhneas”; anns an t-seathamh earrann tha e ag iarraidh, “dànachd, agus gàirdeachas an dòchais a chumail gu daingeann gus a’ chrìoch.” Agus a chum impidh a chuir orra so a dhèanamh, tha e tabhairt a steach earail an Spioraid Naoimh, ag ràdh, “An diugh, ma chluinneas sibh a ghuth, na cruaidhichibh bhur cridhe.” Agus an dèigh sin tha e tabhairt a stigh eiseimpleir nan athraichean anns an fhàsach, a chaill am muinghinn, agus gàirdeachas an dòchais, ’nuair a bhuaire iad Dia, agus a dhearbh iad e, ge do chunnaic iad oibre rè dà fhichead bliadhna; agus ris tha e ag innseadh ciod a thàinig dheth na sin, sin r’a ràdh, “Gu’n robh dìomb aig an Tighearn ris a’ ghinealach sin, agus thubhairt e, tha iad a ghnàth air seachran ’nan cridhe; agus cha do ghabh iad eòlas air mo shlighibh-sa, uime sin mhionnaich mi a’m fhearg, nach tèid iad a steach do m’ shuaimhneas”; ’se sin, cha tèid iad gu bràth a steach a dh’ionnsuidh m’fhois; an sin tha e a’ cuir earail fhèin ris, anns an 12 rann, ag ràdh, “Thugaibh an aire, a bhràithrean (oir na’m faiceadh neach sam bith agaibh long air an fhairge dol am mugha air carraig fa’ chomhar bhur sùilean, nach d’thoireadh sibhse an aire nach rachadh sibh am mugha mar an ceudna): eadhon mar sin ann an so, d’eagal aig àm air bith, cha’n e mhàin gach là, ach air àm sam bith air an là; tha fios agam gu’m bi e cruaidh air neach sam bith agaibh, a bha ’nar coigrich do Dhia o chian fhada, aire thabhairt duibh fhèin gach aon là, agus anns gach uair ’san là, do bhrìgh ’s nach robh agaibh riamh eòlas air a so; ach fathast nach gabh sibh eòlas air, agus na bithidh na’s mò ’nur coigrich do bheatha Dhè, agus cha shaoil sibh doilbh e, mur bi ann an aon neach agaibh droch chridhe; beachdaichidh sibh a’ ni ’sa mar so, Thighearn, nach feud mi aig àm air bith droch chridhe a bhi agam, ’seadh, cha’n fhaod: fathast, tha so na chuing shocrach agus furas r’a giùlan: agus ciod am buannachd no’n taitneas a bhios agad ’sa pheacadh, ’nuair a mhothaicheas tu breitheanas Dhia ort fhèin? Agus ’nuair a tha do chridhe gu h-olc, ciod a’s urrainn dhuit a dhèanamh ach peacadh, oir thèid teangan, agus làmhan, agus gach ni de’n seòl. Ma bhios droch chridhe ann an neach sam bith agaibh, deir esan, feudaidh e mìle a phuinnseanachadh, ’nuair a tha iad air an cuir ann an cuideachd no ann an companas maille ri mì-threubhghaireasa, oir an sin tha’n droch chridhe a’ teachd, ge b’e uair a leigeas tu as do ghreim do Chriosd, agus do’n ghealladh, tha’n sin an diabhul a’ teachd ’nan àite. ’Nis, tha mi a’ ceadachadh nach fhaigh thu Criosd do ghnàth, ach gidheadh feudaidh tu an gealladh a bhi agad do ghnàth ann do chridhe, gun dealachadh ris an Dia bheò. C’ar son, cha’n urrainn a bheag sam bith do chridhe a chumail air Dia ach creidimh, agus ’nuair a chailleas tu creidimh, ’an sin tha thu aig imeachd air falbh o’n Dia bheò, agus ’an sin falbhaidh do bheatha agus do mhothachadh. Nach faic sibhse a’ nis ciod e is creidimh crìosduidh ann, eadhon aire a thabhairt do’r beatha anns gach uile àm, nach imich sibh air falbh o Dhia. An saoil thusa, an e an creidimh crìosduidh a bhi cumail uairean agus amaibh sònraichte ann an aoradh Dhia? Cha’n e, thusa a tha air do cheannach le fuil Iosa, tha thu ceangailte aire thabhairt do d’chridhe rè uile làithean do bheatha.
(Ri leantuininn.)