By Rev. NEIL MACINTYRE.
IN submitting this report there are several items to which I must refer and which the Synod is entitled to know. I would first notice Mr. John Tallach’s home-coming with his family on a well earned furlough. As the members of Synod are well aware he arrived in this country in June, 1932, and he purposes to sail, God willing, on his return journey with his family on 9th June. Since arriving in this country Mr. Tallach has had a busy time. He has gone over most, if not all, of our congregations and Mission stations giving lectures
on the work and progress of the Mission. These lectures were highly appreciated by our people and I believe have stirred them up even to greater interest in the prosperity and work of our Mission in Africa.
Reference was made in last year’s report to the difficulty, which partly arose through a misunderstanding, in regard to Mr. Tallach’s coming home, owing to the heavy expenditure which that would involve. When the Committee, however, understood that he could book his passage at Bulawayo we instructed Mr. John Grant to send him by cable £240. This was to cover his own and his family’s fares and also Mr. Edwin Radasi’s. Of this sum Mr. Tallach refunded £72 so that the total expenditure for fares came to £168.
In regard to Mr. Edwin Radasi, as no berth could be got for him in the same boat with Mr. Tallach, he had to travel alone a few weeks later but arrived safely at his destination in this country. He appeared before a meeting of the Committee on 30th August when a few simple questions were asked him regarding his belief in the Bible as the Word of God and in the principles and doctrines of the Free Presbyterian Church. Mr. Tallach explained to him in his native language the meaning of the Convener’s questions and to all of them he gave satisfactory answers.
The problem then arose where was he to be sent to be educated? We desire to thank Mr. MacHardy, Director of Education for Caithness, and Mr. Murdo Mackenzie, M.A., Wick, for the interest they took and the guidance they gave in fixing this matter. On the suggestion of the above gentlemen, Mr. Mackenzie, M.A., headmaster, Ardgay, was approached and he willingly agreed, with the consent of the Director of Education for Ross-shire, to take Mr. Radasi into his school and also board him in his own house. We are much indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie for their kindness and consideration in this matter. Mr. Mackenzie reports most favourably regarding Mr. Radasi’s behaviour and diligence in study.
The Committee invited Mr. Tallach to their meeting on 30th August when several aspects of the Mission were discussed. The question of sending out a qualified teacher to take charge of our Secondary School at Ingwenya was considered. Mr. Tallach pointed out that according to the terms of the “Native Development Act” (a copy of which he produced), the Rhodesian Government would not pay any grants but for a fully qualified teacher either in industrial subjects or domestic science. He also explained that even should the Committee have an industrial teacher ready to go the expense of supplying the necessary material would be prohibitive. After listening to Mr. Tallach’s reasoned statement the Committee came to the conclusion that it was out of the question to send a male teacher. It was then agreed to take into future consideration the advisability of procuring a female teacher fully qualified in domestic science. I may refer here to what we reported last year, viz., that we had secured the services of Mr. Donald Macaskill, M.A., and with the object of qualifying as a certificated teacher he had been sent to the Glasgow Training College. As the Committee at that time did not possess a copy of the “Native Development Act” they were ignorant of the fact that the Government did not pay grants except for industrial and domestic science subjects. We immediately informed Mr. Macaskill that owing to his lack of having industrial qualifications he could not be sent to Africa. Mr. Macaskill willingly fell in with the decision of the Committee.
At the next meeting of the Committee it was finally agreed that a female teacher, qualified in domestic science, be advertised for in the Church Magazine. Two applications were received in response to that advertisement. After carefully considering each application it was agreed to offer the appointment to Miss Jean Nicolson, M.A., Glasgow. After a form of contract was drawn out, which Miss Nicolson signed, she accepted the appointment. In this connection we have pleasure in stating that Miss Nicolson’s mother is to accompany her to Africa. The Synod of course will understand that Mrs. Nicolson is going out on her
own responsibility and at her own expense. We consider this a wonderful providence for we believe Mrs. Nicolson will be a great help and strength to her daughter and to the Mission generally.
By a strange co-incidence Miss Nicolson and her mother booked their passages by the same boat as Mr. Tallach so that they will have each other’s company on the way out.
We had to take immediate steps to provide a suitable dwelling-house for Miss Nicolson and at Mr. Tallach’s suggestion the Committee ordered the General Treasurer to send on to Dr. Macdonald the sum of £10 for the purpose of making 3000 or 4000 bricks whenever the rainy season would be over. To have a man engaged to make the bricks whenever the rain ceased would mean a saving of labour and expense as he could get water in pools near hand instead of having to draw it from the well. We hope the house will be ready shortly after Miss Nicolson arrives. It will cost from £40 to £50. I may also state that Miss Nicolson’s salary was fixed at £200 per annum this sum to be made up of the maximum grant of £100 from the Rhodesian Government and the balance from the Foreign Mission Fund.
Mr. Tallach explained that it was essential that one of the missionaries be appointed as Superintendent who would act as an intermediary between the Rhodesian Government and the members of the Mission; as the Government would not transact any business but through a responsible person. The members of Committee were fully convinced that such an appointment should be made and unanimously appointed Mr. Tallach as Superintendent and Treasurer. It was, however, agreed that each one of the heads of the three departments would be responsible to the Committee and that each would send their annual reports direct to the Convener.
Mr. Tallach reported that the motor car presently used for the work of the Mission was almost useless and asked for permission to collect money on his lecturing tours to purchase either a new or second-hand car. This permission was granted
and it was agreed that the money collected be sent to Mr. Grant, General Treasurer, who would pay for the car and any balance to be kept on deposit by the Treasurer for the upkeep of the car in future.
In view of the fact that Edwin Radasi was now in this country and supported out of the Foreign Mission Fund it was agreed, with the permission of the Synod, that the allowance to Mrs. Radasi might be reduced to £30. The Committee were of the opinion that she on that account would not be reduced to any financial straits.
The usual sums for the upkeep of the Mission and for Kaffir Bibles were sent out by the Treasurer. In a letter from Dr. Macdonald he informed me that there is every prospect of a famine occurring this year as they had had no rain except one slight shower; that the crops were burnt up and the people were already in want. This same calamity happened ten years ago. On that occasion our late Convener, Mr. Cameron, appealed in the Church’s Magazine for funds to help the famishing natives. There was a magnificent liberal response to that appeal for no less a sum than £281 9s. 3d. was subscribed. Of that sum £139 was sent out to the late Mr. Radasi and the balance of £142 was deposited in the Savings Bank to meet any future case such as this famine if that be considered advisable. We trust and pray, however, that the Lord whose prerogative it is to give rain in due season may avert this calamity. The Committee would tender their thanks to Dr. Macdonald for superintending the Mission during Mr. Tallach’s absence to the satisfaction of all concerned.
We have again in name of the Committee and Synod to express our sincere thanks to Mrs. Miller, Wick, for the great interest and trouble she takes in the Clothing and Medical Funds. She reports that for the Clothing Fund the income for last year was:—Balance from previous year £3 1s. 11d.; Donations received £7 3s., and on Deposit Receipt £10 7s., making a total of £20 11s. 11d. The expenditure was:—For goods sent out, £7 12s. 9d.; Cash in hand, £2 12s. 2d.; on Deposit Receipt,
£10 7s. Total, £20 11s. 11d. For the Medical Fund there is a balance in hand of £1 13s. 9d. There was neither income or expenditure in connection with this fund last year. I would desire to draw the attention of our people particularly to the Clothing Fund. This Fund is most useful in supplying our Missionaries with material to clothe the natives and we should support it as much as possible. In this connection I wish to thank our London friends and especially Miss Sansum for their liberal support. Mrs. Miller informs me that they sent no less than 227 yards of cloth last year. This ought to stir up other congregations in the Church.
In concluding this report we have much reason to acknowledge the Lord’s goodness in the liberal mind He gives to our people at home and abroad in supporting the Mission. I have personally to thank the friends who so liberally and willingly responded to my appeal in the Magazine. On the other hand we ought to consider it a privilege and honour to be the means of sending the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation to the people of Africa. No one can deny but the Lord has wonderfully blessed our Mission and still continues to bless it. Let us then, using the natives’ apt proverb quoted by Mr. Tallach and Dr. Macdonald in their last year’s report: “Do not be weary to-morrow” which we might change to read: “Do not be weary this year.” Or we might use the injunction given by Paul to the Galatians: “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”