By Rev. NEIL MACINTYRE.
IN submitting this report I have to crave the indulgence of my brethren, for this duty has devolved upon me unexpectedly owing to the death of our dear and lamented brother Mr. Cameron who was Convener of this Committee from its very beginning, and who did so much for the Mission. I am fully conscious of the fact that my report will come far short of the interesting reports we were accustomed to have from him.
Before taking up the items referred to in Mr. Tallach’s and Dr. MacDonald’s reports there are some things arising from last year’s report to which I must refer. (1) Reference was made last year to the necessity of sending out a certificated male teacher to Ingwenya so that our school there would retain the status of a Higher Grade School, otherwise it would revert to the condition of a Kraal School. The sending out of such a teacher became necessary on account of an Act passed by the Parliament of Rhodesia entitled the “Native Development Act” and our schools in that Act are designated “Central Schools.” For these schools the Act requires, if we are to maintain our present position, that a qualified teacher be sent out to teach in Ingwenya School and to superintend all the other schools connected with our Mission, otherwise our school at Ingwenya would revert to a Kraal School.
The difference between “Central” and “Kraal” schools is, in Central schools the grants for each scholar, provided satisfactory progress is made is 10s., and for each girl in daily attendance at an approved course of Domestic Training, £1,
making in all £1 10s. for each girl. In Kraal schools the annual grant for each pupil is 5s. and 1s. per pupil in Domestic Training. Besides this loss in grants if we allow our schools to become Kraal schools then our girls, who are now taught in domestic work, would have to go elsewhere for training. This would be a calamity and we should do our utmost to avert it. In sending out a male certificated teacher our future native teachers would be trained in the Mission. This would mean a saving of £30 annually for each teacher required, which was the sum we have had to pay for the training of such teachers at Lovedale. It will at once be seen what great advantage this would be to the Mission that our teachers would be trained under our own responsible man. I may explain that the Rhodesian Government pays two-thirds of the salary of such a teacher. That is £200 for a qualified teacher and £250 for one with the B.Sc. degree, and the Church would pay £100.
In last year’s report it was stated that the Committee had approached four teachers but so far they were unsuccessful in securing any of these. I am pleased to report that now we have been successful in securing the services of a young man whom we believe to be God-fearing, Mr. Donald Macaskill, Stornoway. Mr. Macaskill proved to be a very proficient student, taking his M.A. degree with 3rd class honours in Classics. As the Rhodesian Government demanded that the teacher sent out should be fully qualified, the Committee arranged that Mr. Macaskill should attend the Glasgow Training College during the winter. He expects to finish his studies there by the end of June and then, as soon as he can get ready, to proceed to South Africa. We have much reason to acknowledge the Lord’s goodness and guidance in this important matter. Our prayer is that Mr. Macaskill may prove a great blessing to the young people of Africa.
(2) The next thing I have to notice arising out of last year’s report is Mr. Tallach’s request for leave to come home this year. It was pointed out at the last synod by the late Convener that if Mr. Tallach would wait for other three years, that is until
he would have ten years’ service in the mission field, he would then be eligible for the “John Wilson’s Bequest” of £60. This was left with the Committee to lay before Mr. Tallach. After some correspondence with Mr. Tallach he indicated his desire to come home this summer. The Committee had full sympathy with him after so many years of strenuous labour in Africa, but particularly when he stated that he was subject to serious attacks of gastric flu’, which occurred about every two months, and that Dr. Macdonald informed him that nothing but a change would do him any good. The difficulty, however, with which the Committee were confronted was the heavy expenditure in bringing Mr. Tallach and his family to this country. This difficulty was increased owing to the rate of exchange. The Committee, through the good offices of Lieut. Macaskill, tried to get their passages booked in this country but no shipping company would book them on this side. Capetown being still on the gold standard, the rate of exchange would mean from 6s. to 7s. in the £. The Committee, therefore, wrote Mr. Tallach on 29th February that as the Cape Government was considering the question of departing from the gold standard, perhaps he would postpone making any definite arrangements meantime. To this Mr. Tallach replied that he could book his passage at Bulawayo, and as Rhodesia was off the gold standard there would be no added expenditure in the fares and he desired the money for the fares to be sent by cable. When the Committee came to understand that the booking could be done at Bulawayo I wrote Mr. Grant, our General Treasurer, to send by cable, £240. The fares may not amount to this sum and, if not, Mr. Tallach is expected to refund the balance. He intends to sail with his family from Capetown on 10th June, by the “Edinburgh Castle,” one of the “Union Castle Line.” We hope and pray that the Preserver of man and beast will bring them safely across the ocean to the end of their journey.
I should perhaps explain how the Mission and Schools are to be kept on during Mr. Tallach’s absence. Dr. Macdonald has kindly consented to take charge of the Mission and with
the approval of Mr. Finkle, Inspector of Schools, to superintend the schools until Mr. Macaskill arrives. We are much indebted and desire to thank both Dr. Macdonald and Mr. Finkle for their kind consideration.
(3) I have also to refer to a rather interesting and important matter which is, the case of Edwin Radasi. This young lad, who is about eighteen or nineteen years, is a son of our late and dearly beloved missionary, Mr. Radasi. The late Mr. Cameron, ever since he was in South Africa, had in his mind, that this boy should be brought to Scotland to be trained for future usefulness in our Mission. I may say that at the last meeting of Committee which Mr. Cameron attended a letter was read from Mr. Tallach in which he highly praised Edwin Radasi and suggested that he should bring him home to be trained. Mr. Cameron then expressed his own long cherished desire regarding this boy and, I may say, pled with the Committee to agree with Mr. Tallach’s suggestion. To this last appeal of our dear Convener the Committee readily consented. I was instructed to write Mr. Tallach accordingly. Edwin Radasi will, therefore, the Lord willing, accompany Mr. Tallach to Scotland.
The Committee became responsible for his travelling expenses and training in this country. He will probably be here for nine or ten years. It will at once be seen that this is a heavy responsibility both in expenditure and otherwise. If, however, the son will prove to be such a blessing to our Mission as his worthy father, we shall never regret our decision.
Let me point out to our people that these several items which I have referred to incur fresh and heavy burdens on our Foreign Mission Fund and I hope, as I believe, that our people who have shown such liberality in the past will not relax but rather increase their contributions for this worthy and desirable purpose.
The Committee, in name of the Church, wish to express their sincere thanks to Mrs. Miller, Wick, for all her labours, and to all who help her in this Christian work, and also to Mr. Reid, chemist, Wick, who so considerably supplies the medicines to Mrs. Miller at cost price.
(4) Regarding our Mission to the Jews in Palestine there is nothing to report. We are all aware that the Rev. Donald Urquhart, our missionary to the Jews, had to come home last year on sick leave by the orders of his doctor. We all regretted the necessity laid upon Mr. Urquhart to come home and trust that the Lord will restore him to normal health. The Convener of the Colonial Mission Committee will no doubt explain the steps which have been taken regarding Mr. Urquhart for this year, so I need not enter into it.
The Committee would desire to express their profound sense of the great loss sustained by the removal of their highly respected Convener. Mr. Cameron acted as Convener of this Committee from its very inception and the interest he took in the prosperity and welfare of the African Mission is well known to us all. We feel his removal more than words can express.