Light for the Line, THE SOOTH AFRICAN CHURCH RAILWAY MISSION MAGAZINE. X u . FiXLIX , Qi’ahtkklv. APRIL, 1923. 2j- per annum. ‘2/6 p o s t f k e e , South Hfncan (Xburcb 1Railwa\> iTIMssion. Office of the Mission: Diocesan Office, Grahamstown. STAFF. The Rev. Canon R. Thomely Jones, M.A. P.O. Box 133, Grahamstown. Reverend C. W. Stenson-Stenson.... —. Poste Restante, Bulawayo. Reverend A. C. Hobson, M.A. S. Augustine’s Vicarage, Kimberley. Reverend E. D . Smith The Parsonage, Naauwpoort. Reverend G. H . Thom e Alicedale. Miss M. Porter St. Monica’s Home, Queenstown. Miss Norah Short .... 2, Cuyler Crescent, Port Elizabeth. Miss J. Batcham .... .... .... .... 78, Douglas Street, Bloemfontein. Reverend E. Herbert .... .... .... Watervai Boven, Transvaal. Native Catechist: David Mjezu. Hon. Editor and Children’s Secretary: Miss Muriel Blundell, Box 133, Grahamstown. London Office: South African Room, Church House, Westminster, S.W. JJpn. Secretary in England: Miss Mary B. Attlee, Westcott, Twyford, Winchester, 2 LIGHT FOR THE LINE. LIGHT FOR THE LINE. till it was possible to get other workers out, and when that time came the old ones were Subscriptions, 2/- per annum, 2/6 post all worked out and had to be relieved: in free, can be paid to the Editor or to any of consequence- of this, those who took their the Mission Staff or Local Agents, or sent to the Diocesan Office, P.O. Box 133/ Grahams* places aré now, all in a buncfy, unfortunately, tow n . at the end of their term of service. Miss Local Agents are asked to send names and Porter sailed in January, but it is a pleasure new addresses of any removals from their list, to know that her going is only for a rest or change in numbers required, to the Editor, Box 133, Grahamstown, also to apply at once and that she hopes to come back about Sep­ to the Editor if the Magazines do not reach tember to carry on the good work she has them du ly. been doing. Miss Gardner was not due -----------------:o:----------------- away till the end of May, but she has really PRAYER FOR THE MISSION. not been well since her holiday trip to Por­ tuguese Africa, where she went to visit our O Lord Jesus Christ, whose love is never old friend Miss Fuller. While there she got failing, make this day to be the day of Thy a very heavy attack of malaria fever: she tender mercy towards this Mission. Listen has been struggling bravely to get into to the prayers of all Thy children; be the Shepherd of the lost, the Guide and the Light stride again, but the work is of too exacting of unbelievers, the Teacher of the simple, the a nature to allow anyone who is not really Father of the fatherless, the Protector of the well and strong to do justice either to the oppressed, the Physician of the suffering, the Comforter of the dying, and bring us all at worker or the work, so when at last the last to Thee, our Refuge and eternal Rest, doctor said she really ought to go Home for who livest and reignest with the Father and a trip, with complete rest, Home she went, the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without sailing on March 2nd, not entirely agreeing en d. A m en . with the doctor’s decision. I often wonder ---------------- :o:----------------- why ladies call in the doctor for his opinion LETTER FROM THE HEAD. and advice and then, as soon as his back is turned, do, or want to do, just the opposite; P.O. Box 133, I am still wondering. However, with me Grahamstown, doctor’s orders are orders, so she had to g o : March 8th, 1923. she will be greatly missed by her many Dear Friends, friends along the Eastern Transvaal section, This year is one of many changes in the and our regret is that she is not physically members of the Mission Staff : we are all strong enough to return; if her body were very glad indeed to have Miss Short back as strong as her desire there would not be with us and I know that she has received a very much wrong. Mr. Peppercorn, who has warm welcome from her many friends along been doing real good work in Northern Rho­ her section of the Line. During the war desia and the Congo, finds it impossible to those who were working with us field on stay with us longer and to our regret he SOUTH AFRICAN CHURCH RAILWAY MISSION QUARTERLY. 3 sails on the 30th. Miss Stenson, who has Batcham hope to come back to us, and two been doing useful work in Southern Rho­ Chaplains and a new woman worker hope to desia, will sail early in April, by the East join us in the spring. For the time being Coast route: it was an entirely new venture I have asked Mr. Hobson to make occasional to have a woman worker on that section and visits to Northern Rhodesia and the Congo, Miss Stenson has certainly made good, but so his friends in the Diocese of Kimberley the doing it has taken a full toll of her will have to spare him for part of his time. strength. Mr. Stenson was due Home this I have written fully about the changes so month, but he most kindly agreed to stay on that you may know the actual state of for a few months longer in the hope that a things, and thus you understand the difficul­ new Chaplain might be found to take over ties with which we are at present faced, from him: as I am writing this a cable and understanding, I look to you to hold arrives from Mr. Rogers to say Mr. Berres- together as well as you may till other work­ ford hopes to sail for the Bulawayo section ers come, and we have once more a full in August. We are grateful to Mr. Stenson staff. for standing by us in this way and it seems People sometimes jump to conclusions as if he too is now very pleased that he without knowing the facts, like the doctor agreed to do so; if you see him you can ask who found a man waiting to see him one him why, but I shall not give the reason in day: the doctor noticed something wrong print. Miss Batcham has done her best to with the man’s ear and, without waiting to work herself out in the Free State and has be told what was wrong, he asked, “ Is it very nearly succeeded: she is due to sail this ear that is troubling you?” And the on April 27; we are looking forward to her man replied, “ This ’ere what?” They are return early in October. I am not absolutely doing the best they can for us in England, I sure that she is strong enough for the know: during the war those who would amount of work she feels compelled to do, have been training for the ministry and but she is quite certain she is, and as the who would now be ready to come out to such Bishop and people have pressed for it, I work as ours were doing their duty with have given in— as I usually have to do. She the Forces, so we shall have to wait possibly will receive a hearty welcome back. Mr. and for a little. One sometimes hears it said, Mrs. Smith are due Home in May, but have “ I should like a nice easy job like that,” but very kindly agreed to stay on for another when the offer is made for the training and year as there are now so many changes ultimate work there are, of course, quite taking place, and then, after a trip they good excuses but certainly nothing doing. hope to come back for two more years on It is a very real joy to us all to know that the section. This means that with Mr. one lad whose family has had the ministra­ Smith, we shall have, for the time being, tions of our Chaplains for the past eight or only Miss Short, Mr. Hobson, Mr. Herbert ten years has determined that there shall be and Mr, Thorne; Miss Porter and Miss something doing, an<jl has offered himself 4 LIGHT FOR THE LINE. for the ministry of the Church; he has now impatiently waiting for the Sanctuary already begun his training, which will prob­ fittings, which are on the water—the seats ably take five years. It needs thinking have been finished— and which are being about, for it is not often the lot of a Priest sent out by the Winstanley Guild as a memo­ to get the experience of a Scotsman who rial to Miss Winstanley, their founder. found his way to London and (unlike most The Elise Astley Memorial House at others) found his way back almost imme­ Naauwpoort has not made very much pro­ diately. He reported, to the astonishment gress, but we have bought the ground and of his friends, that he thought London a the bricks are nearly finished: for such a most “ economical place.” He went into a work many things have to be thought of shop and had a meal which cost him only and provided for— “ safety first,” you know fivepence, and he found under the plate six­ — but I hope it will not be long before a pence, with which he paid for it.