By Rev. N. MACINTYRE.
THE Jewish and Foreign Mission Committee’s report for this year must be of a rather discouraging nature on account of the depleted state of our funds. We began last year with a balance on hand of £1,574 but the General Treasurer informs us that that balance is now almost entirely wiped out. Our expenditure for the year ending 31st March, 1939, amounted to £1,976 whereas our income was only £1,171. That sum included congregational contributions which amounted to £708 which was a record for our congregations. It will at once be seen that our expenditure far exceeds our income. The Committee is therefore faced with the difficult problem of how to square our income and expenditure. A special meeting of the Committee was held on 22nd March to consider this serious question. Mr. John Grant, General Treasurer, was asked to attend this meeting to give a detailed account of how the fund stood. After serious consideration it was unanimously agreed that the general work of the mission should be carried on for this year as formerly and further consideration be deferred until Rev. John Tallach, who (D.V.) is expected home on furlough in July, should arrive, when the Committee would have an opportunity of discussing the whole situation with him. It was further agreed that the General Treasurer be authorised if necessary to realise the £500 War Loan Stock to carry on the work.
It will be seen from the foregoing that the future prospects of the mission are in a very precarious condition. I am sure it would be a calamity regretted by us all that the work which the Lord so abundantly blessed should now after so many prosperous years have to be curtailed. We believe that many will be found on God’s right hand who will eternally bless Him for our labours in Africa.
Having thus briefly stated the financial position it remains with our people to say whether the work of the mission is to be carried on as formerly or not. Perhaps it should be added that the depleted state of the funds is not because our congregations are not subscribing as liberally as they did in former years, for as already stated last year was a record. The chief reason is that legacies on which the fund so much depended are not coming in.
The case of Mr. Edwin Radasi’s future educational career was remitted to the Committee by last Synod for their consideration. The Committee will submit their suggestions on the matter to the Synod in due course for its consideration.
The Committee was instructed by last Synod to consult a lawyer regarding the question of separating the Jewish and Foreign missions. We consulted a very capable lawyer and his opinion will be duly submitted to the Synod for their consideration.
Members of Synod will be interested to know that Miss Nicolson, who along with her mother was home on a well earned furlough, sailed for Africa on 21st March. We are thankful to report that the Lord in His great kindness brought her safely through all the dangers on sea to her destination. The reason why Miss Nicolson delayed her departure when her furlough expired was that the Committee felt they could not take the great responsibility of asking her to return owing to the dangers at the time from magnetic mines. We therefore advised her to postpone her return until a more favourable time. With this advice Miss Nicolson concurred. At the same time we informed her that her salary would be continued until she procured some suitable employment. When, however, the Committee saw that, owing to the “Convoy System,” travelling by sea was much safer we withdrew our advice and left it with herself to decide whether she would face the voyage or not. She immediately volunteered to leave and as stated sailed on 21st March.
I would desire to tender our sincere thanks to Miss Nicolson for her generosity in handing back her quarter salary to be used as part payment for her passage. We understand that Mrs. Nicolson intends to sail from the U.S. for Africa at a later date.
When it was decided that Miss Nicolson should not sail we immediately enabled Mr. James Fraser asking if he would remain in Africa until she would be able to return. Mr. Fraser with much inconvenience to himself very magnanimously agreed to continue at his post. The Committee was much indebted to him for helping them in their difficulty.
Mr. Tallach reported that Miss Nicolson’s dwelling house was in much need of being repaired before her return. The Committee authorised him to put the house in a proper habitable condition. That was done and the repairs cost £38 12s.
Mr. Tallach asked that £5 be sent from the Famine Fund and £6 from the Bible Fund and the remainder of the Car Fund. These sums were sent on. This leaves a balance of £165 7s. in Famine Fund and £27 3s. in Bible Fund while the Car Fund is wiped out.
As reports from our missionaries are not to hand when writing this report we are not in a position to make any comments but we may anticipate that as in former years they will convey interesting and encouraging news. Several matters will come, no doubt under the Synod’s review in connection with the work of the mission when Mr. Tallach, Dr. Macdonald and Mr. Fraser’s reports are submitted.
Our missionaries deserve and need all the sympathy and encouragement we can give them. I often wonder how they are able to overtake all the arduous work they have to face, but no doubt it is a labour of love on their part. While none of them complain, we may be sure that they have their seasons of depression and discouragement, though they have much to encourage them. That the Lord is turning from darkness to light so many of these poor benighted people through their labours ought to be a cause of encouragement to them and should stir us up to wrestle at a throne of grace that the vast and dried fields of Africa which are ready to harvest, would be made to blossom as the rose.
Members are aware that Rev. D. Urquhart our missionary to the Jews was appointed to labour among the Jews in Glasgow. Mr. Urquhart’s report in which he gives an account of his labours is already in the hands of members and they can see what is being done by him. We have always felt that Mr. Urquhart has a steep hill to climb in working among the Jews and it cannot but be discouraging to him to see so few of the poor deluded seed of Abraham brought to acknowledge their true Messiah.
No doubt all the members are already aware that Mr. Reuter, who was for many years labouring as our missionary among the Jews in Glasgow, was removed by death last March, we trust to his everlasting rest. Owing to the infirmities of old age he was unable to do any work for the last number of years. The Committee would desire to express their sincere thanks to the Deacon’s Court of St. Jude’s for defraying all his funeral expenses.
We wish to sincerely thank the ladies and all the friends who help to collect money and material for the mission and we would appeal to them not to be weary in well-doing. The material sent is most useful and greatly appreciated by the missionaries. Our thanks in this connection is particularly due to Mrs. Miller, Wick, Convener of the Clothing Fund, for all her labours. She reports that the income to this fund for last year was £36 6s. 4d. and the expenditure £35 15s. 3d. leaving a balance on hand of 11s. 1d.
The ladies of Winnipeg F.P. congregation, through Miss Mactaggart, sent five parcels containing 150 yards of material, many useful garments and £10 in cash. Miss MacSwan, as secretary of St. Jude’s South African Clothing Fund, sent 11 parcels and £39 10s. to the Mission. Their income was £48 19s. 6d. and expenditure £44 13s. 5d., leaving a balance in the bank of £4 6s. 1d. The thanks of the Synod is due to these ladies for their efforts on behalf of our friends in Rhodesia.
Our thanks are also due to Mr. MacGillivray, Dunoon, for his indefatigable labours in procuring so many useful articles for the schools. We are also much indebted to Mr. Skinner, St. Jude’s for packing and sending out these goods to Africa.
We have also to sincerely thank Mrs. Tallach and Mrs. Macdonald for their valuable help among the girls attending our school during Miss Nicolson’s absence.
In concluding this report we would impress upon all who have the interests of the mission at heart that they would earnestly plead with Him who has the keys of all temporal and spiritual stores, to provide the necessary means by which the work of the mission, which has been so abundantly blessed in the past, might be carried on and that no curtailment should be necessary.
May the Lord move us as a church and individuals to do our utmost to help on the good cause.