THE following report was read at the Synod Meeting by the Rev. Neil Cameron, Convener of Jewish and Foreign Missions Committee:—
C/O NATIVE COMMISSIONER, BEMBESI,
MATABELELAND, SOUTH AFRICA, 28th March, 1919.
MY DEAR MR. CAMERON,—I am glad to inform you that, through the mercy of God, I am still enjoying good health. We hear that in Cape Town Spanish influenza has again broken out, and that there is in quarantine another steamer from Europe with twenty-nine sick patients suffering from Spanish influenza, and also, in Natal, a report has arrived that sixty natives and thirty Europeans have already died from it. It is to be hoped that it will not spread in the same way as it did last October and November, as it spread all over Africa—in Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, Bechuanaland, Basutoland, Transkei, and Rhodesia. Thousands upon thousands of natives died, and Europeans as well. So much so, that they could not all be buried. In some cases whole families were swept away, father and mother and children dying. Mines had to be closed, and all work was at a stand-still. My wife and family and all in the Mission were also laid up. I was the only person that escaped in the Mission. However, through the mercy of God, all recovered in my family, with the exception of one little orphan girl, staying with us, whom we lost.
I am very glad to say that our men, who went to German East Africa, all returned well. Those who were wounded had also recovered from their wounds. It is a matter to be very thankful for to the Lord for preserving them.
The elders are now assisting in preaching at the out-stations every Sabbath day. We were very glad to have them back with us, as they are of great help to me, as services are regularly kept every Sabbath now in these out-stations since their return. It was impossible to do so during their absence. We are very thankful that the Lord in His own time has ended this terrible War, which has cost so many lives.
Have you heard anything more from Principal Henderson, Lovedale, about the printing of the Psalms in metre? They have been very long in his hands now. And, if I am not mistaken, he promised to let us have the Second Edition about December, 1916; it is now 1919. It is to be hoped that he will soon have the whole Book of Psalms ready in metre, as our people here cannot understand the delay. The Lovedale authorities have done very well in having the Shorter Catechism translated into Kafir.
I was called to see a young girl dying, belonging to our Church at Induba. I found her very ill, but still conscious. She said she was very glad to see me, and that her parents, who are heathens, were not willing that I should be called. But she insisted on my being called. She desired me to read the 14th chapter of St. John’s Gospel. She told me that she had been very much troubled about her sins, and that these words had given her relief, and comforted her, “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” She also warned her heathen parents to seek Christ now, otherwise they would never go to those mansions, where she was going. And then, again, she spoke about the Sabbath, what a delight it was to her, and that it was the day in which she heard the Word of God. This girl had been converted for over a year, and I am told that she never missed a single service.
I may also mention the case of a man named Mpande. This man stays near Sibindwana’s Kraal, where we have a preaching place. He did not belong to our Church, but was a member of the London Missionary Society. They have also a church in the same district, not very far from Sibindwana’s Kraal, where our church is. They say these were his words the day that he died: “I want you to go, and call for me the minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. If that minister is too far away, call me one of the elders or deacons of that Church, and if you cannot find any of them near, call me one of their members, so that they may pray for me. Those are the people that I wish to pray for me, the people belonging to that Church (Irabe Yase Scotland), the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. If you can find any one of them, I shall be very glad. Those are the people I wish to pray for me before I die. I know that there are other Presbyterian Churches, but I want you to call me one belonging to that Church.”
And as I could not be there, being too far away, and there was no elder or deacon near by, Ginya was called, as he lives at Sibindwana’s Kraal. This Ginya is a member in full communion with our Church. He went to pray for him, together with some members of our church living at Sibindwana’s Kraal. He held a prayer meeting in his house. He said to him, “I am glad that you have come.” And when they were singing the Psalms, he said: “These are the sort of songs that give joy to my heart. Had they been singing these songs every day to me, my soul would greatly rejoice” (meaning the Psalms). He then told his wife to see that their children were sent to school. I did not know this man personally, but I am told that he often attended our church, whenever I went to Sibindwana’s Kraal. But he belonged to the London Missionary Society. I must now conclude, with kindest regards to you.—Yours sincerely, J. B. RADASI.