BY THE REV. JOHN TALLACH, INGWENYA, RHODESIA.
It seems fitting that I should begin this report with expression of thankfulness to the Most High for the way He has brought us through what has proved a particularly trying year.
In spiritual matters we had the bitter disappointment of seeing some of our members fall away. So far as the purely human side of this question goes, we must at all times expect a measure of disappointment on this account. The subject is a melancholy one, but before passing from it I would like to remark on the conduct of office-bearers and members under these trials. Not only did these come to sympathise and encourage, but they met on more occasions than one and discussed plans on the best ways to reduce temptation. In this they revealed a grief for sin, a concern for the glory of God, and a deep sympathy with us which, perhaps, we would never have known were it not for these trials. If we were downcast on account of darkness from an unexpected quarter, we were upheld on account of an unexpected light from another.
In temporal things, too, this year was full of difficulties. Rain was very scarce, crops were poor, the grass began to fail as early as May, and by July the cattle began to die off. It was in these circumstances that we had to keep 22 girls boarding in the school. I told you last year that our plan was to take in as many girls as would come (at any age) provided that the parents provided food for them. The mealie crop being a failure, only half of the parents were able to fulfil their promise to send food. By June we were faced with the question of sending some of the girls back to their homes, but gifts of money from two friends at home enabled us to keep all the girls until the closing of the school in November. It was in these circumstances that the work reported in the following was done:—
* This Report was sent to Rev. N. Cameron, Convener of the Foreign and Jewish Missions Committee, and read by him to the Synod.
CHURCH MATTERS.—Throughout the year the services held at the different out-stations were all well attended. The congregations of Enduba, Shangani, Ingwenya, and Lebeni have all increased, the attendance at this last station being now over 82. Here, too, during the year two of the young men have begun to help the elder by taking the service occasionally. All the communion services were well attended, and as we have now four Tables to serve we have begun to hold the services for baptism on the Thursday, thus saving time on the Sabbath when these used to be performed. Two members died during the year, one a woman of Lebeni and the other a man of Ingwenya. I was able to see the latter before he passed away. He was an intelligent young man, and careful in his life, and we hoped that one day he would become an office-bearer. The Lord saw it otherwise, however, and we were, in a way, slow to mourn his loss. His departure was one of such happiness that no one would wish him to remain. On the night upon which he died I went to see him; he took my hand and told me that he was leaving everything and was going to be with the Lord. On being asked what was his ground for believing this, he gave me the following striking reply:—”I see a road straight from this hut to Heaven. Christ is the way, and I also see Him standing at the end of the way waiting to receive me. Christ is the way and Christ is the end.” As you know, heathen people are so much afraid of death that they have been known to rise from their death-bed and run outside. “Are you afraid?” I next asked him. “Jehovah is my only God, why then should I be afraid?” was his reply. He then went on at some length to tell how he was enjoying great peace through the blood of Christ, and said that he had no desire other than to depart and to be with his Lord. His mother-in-law is a very old woman, so disabled that she cannot walk well and cannot sit except with difficulty. She was a bad drunkard before she joined the church three years ago. She is now very regular in her attendance on the means of grace, although it must cost her much pain to get there. Passing a house one day I heard a woman member telling about this man’s death-bed to a man who is still a heathen. It refreshes one’s spirit to meet with a witness in an unexpected quarter. I think that I told you that all the heathen living near come to the funerals of our people, and taking advantage of this, we hold a full service, preaching a fairly long sermon; many thus hear the Gospel who otherwise would never hear it.
As the children have to watch the cattle while their parents are in church, we always had a difficulty in ing in the morning, followed by the children’s service. vice and Sabbath School this is now overcome. Our activities on the Lord’s Day now run into a prayer meeting in the morning, followed by the children’s service. There are then the two preaching diets, followed by a Bible Class, and in the evening I go over the “Pilgrim’s Progress” in Xosa with the girls. Last year weekly prayer meetings were begun at all out-stations, and these are well attended. As well as these regular out-stations we have preachers at Mekie’s Kraal, Queen’s Mine, and at Martha Farm, a place about 50 miles north-east of Ingwenya; services are held in these places each Sabbath, and if there are any people who desired to be examined for membership they come to Ingwenya for this. I hope in the future to visit these places at stated times, taking an office-bearer with me, and perhaps through time we will hold regular communion services with them. Shangani, the last time I visited it, was as a little sanctuary of the Lord among the heathen, and I am at present comforted in hearing that there are two men waiting examination when next I go there. This has been our special prayer in connection with Shangani—that the Lord would turn some of the men there to Himself. The missionary there needs their help.
Last year was a starvation year, and the collection only amounted to £28 12s 6d. The number of persons added to the membership is 17, a mere drop out of the ocean of heathenism around. Drunkenness and adultery are the two hands by which the Devil holds this people, and as one stands before the Mystery of Iniquity hidden in these two evils one feels a weakness enter into one’s spirit. “You may cut off my head, but do not take drink from me,” is often said to me. I have seen men actually perspire at the mere thought of giving up drink. Yet we continue to warn and entreat them, and when discouraged because of their indifference, we look at those who have already been brought to the fold and take courage. Small though their number is, we know that the same Lord who has wrought in them can work in others also, and with that hope and expectation we labour on.
SCHOOLS.—You will understand that native education is now under a department of its own, and that this department is worked through a Director of Native Education and three Inspectors. The Inspectors visit all Third Class Schools twice a year. The grants are more liberal than before, but the standard expected is higher, and consequently the superintendence of the schools is more intensive, and will take up more of our time. The total number in our schools at closing time 1927 was 401, which is higher than the number of children last year. The total amount of grants earned for the year was £167 15s. The Inspector visited Ingwenya School on 31st May, 1927, and a copy of his report has been forwarded to you. It was gratifying to us that the work here was reported on as “very satisfactory” and “very valuable.” There were 43 girls taught Sewing, Basketwork, Washing, and Ironing, and, having added a stove and utensils this year, we are to teach Domestic Work and Cooking. My wife has taken these two last subjects in hand. All our teachers are paid the Rhodesian rate of pay, and hope, through the extra grants for Domestic Work, to have a fully qualified teacher for the girls next year. As we dye some of the grass we have introduced the making of fancy baskets, which are not only useful but attractive. The teaching to make these has a moral value as well as an industrial one. In Africa, as well as other parts of the world, idleness often leads to worse evils. When the girls get a desire to make these baskets they can fill in their spare time in a way that is useful and pleasant, and yet cheap. For the same reason we wish to begin crochet work, and thanks to the kindness of friends at home we are able to begin this kind of work this year. In addition to the stove, &c., we have added six forms, a map of Africa, a black-board, and arithmetic books for all classes. The large schoolroom has been walled off, and sleeping quarters for the girls made of one part of it. I have not yet got a kitchen made for them to cook their own food in, but hope to get this done this year.
I do not need to remind you that in all our scholastic activities we have the one end in view, the bringing of the children to a knowledge of God’s claims and their duty in the world. Last year about 30 repeated two Psalms, the 145th and the 25th, and about another 30 repeated the 145th only. We had a written examination in Scripture for all classes from Standard I. upwards. The subject was the Parables, and on the whole the answers were very good. I am sorry that the Shorter Catechism in Xosa is now out of print, but I have a copy, and I will type out the questions and answers, and give these to the children as they learn them.
Farmers have the right to close schools on their ground, if they please, and the farmer upon whose ground our school is at Morven sent word to me that he wished the school there closed, and after a fruitless effort to keep the school open I asked and obtained permission from a farmer close by to build a school on his ground. A school has not yet been built, but this will soon be done, and in the meantime the children meet at a kraal on this farm. I got permission to open a school at Martha Farm, and I am waiting to get a teacher to send there. I hope to go there in April on my way to Shangani, when I will spend a few days at both these places.
I would thank Mrs Miller, Wick, and the many friends who have sent parcels through her. The parcels arrive regularly in a good condition, and in every case the contents are most useful; and would also thank Miss Mackenzie, Ullapool, for the goodly sums she collected for the medical branch of our work. It is a great relief to us that this difficulty is now solved, and that we can turn to sewing, knitting, or crochet work without any anxiety as to where material is to come from. I desire to thank the children of the Raasay School for the money forwarded by them for prizes, and I may mention that if there are any other Sabbath Schools which desire to help in the same way I will only be too pleased to send them a letter of interesting African news.
LEASE.—Up until last year the amount of ground granted to the Mission was only 20 acres, and as this was useless for cultivation owing to its rocky nature, I approached the Government for a further grant. The outcome is that our ground is increased to 60 acres. This includes a fair amount of bush which, when cleared, will be good for cultivation. Should we at a future date begin to teach the boys agriculture the Government has promised to consider a further grant. I think it should be known that this ground is for purely Mission purposes, that is to teach boys agriculture and provide food for the girls attending school.
MEDICAL WORK.—This side of our work goes on as usual. I did not keep an account of those receiving treatment in their homes, but there were over 2000 callers, 200 of these being cases for teeth extraction. As we get opportunity we lay before all the claims of God upon them. The Government gives a grant of £30 in aid of partially trained missionaries in medicine, but as my training extended to 3 months only I do not qualify under this provision. We are overjoyed to know that Dr Macdonald is to come here, and thank the people at home for sending him. May he come in the fulness of the Holy Spirit.
A friend in London, and another unknown friend in Edinburgh, both sent me parcels of medicines, and I wish to thank them both warmly. We are always encouraged by the deep interest manifested by our people in us, and again cast ourselves and our work on their prayers. We look to our people to sit down at a time and think on us and our difficulties, for however unworthy we are in our persons, our work is worthy of their daily interest and prayers. This year is likely to prove one of great trial, as we have had no rain since January. The crops are all burnt, already the grass is failing, and a number of our office-bearers and members are now preparing to go to the towns in search of work.
I have one thing more to ask of you, and I do not think that it will be very difficult for you to help me in it. Good books in simple English is what I want, such as “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” “The Holy War,” “Little Henry and His Bearer,” “Mary Jones and Her Bible,” or the lives of Missionaries and Reformers and other books of that kind. The postage of books by book post is only 4d per pound, and there is no duty to pay. If it is thought better to send all books to Mrs Miller, Wick, I am sure that she will only be too pleased to forward them. If I may be excused a personal plea, I would request of my brother ministers that they be not unmindful of one whose library is necessarily a small one, and who is denied their privilege of picking up useful books.
Going to Lovedale for the first time one of our boys forgot to take his Bible with him, and wrote to me to send it on at once, for he said, “My life is not still well without my Bible.” We cannot do without the Bible wherever we are, and we cannot do without books relating to it if our life is to “still well.” Mr Beaton has been very mindful in this way, and I wish to thank him. The office-bearers, members, and children all send thanks for every interest shown. Mrs Radasi is well and wishes to thank all friends too.
May the Lord, by His almighty power, keep our faces as a Church at home and abroad to the wind until His Kingdom comes in power.