I often know not what to
think of the leadings of Providence, in how far it may have been in
tender mercy to my own soul that I was prevented from going thither [as
minister to the Transvaal] ; although the letters I sometimes receive
make a very strange impression upon me. All the people, otherwise so
divided, are united in fixing their choice upon me.—Andrew Murray.
THE visit which Murray paid to the emigrants across the Vaal River was
brief in its duration, but momentous in its consequences. The whole tour
lasted but little more than six weeks. He crossed the Vaal on the 7th
December, 1849, and re-crossed it on his homeward journey on the 22nd
January, 1850. During this period he must have covered, north of the
Vaal River, a distance of some 800 miles, and that chiefly by ox-waggon.
He preached at six different centres, conducting in all thirty-seven
services ; he baptized 567 children ; and he admitted to membership 167
young people, being less than half the number of candidates that
presented themselves.
The far-reaching results that flowed from this visit were of an
importance out of all proportion to its length. There existed on the
part of the emigrants across the Vaal a not unintelligible suspicion
towards ministers of the D. R. Church of the Cape Colony, which was at
that time strongly tinged with Erastianism. Its clergymen were appointed
by the Governor ; their salaries were paid out of the public treasury ;
and though a certain latitude was permitted them in the acceptance or
refusal of calls to particular congregations, the formal approbation of
the Governor was requisite if the call was to be sustained. These
regulations obtained in the case of Andrew Murray, who had received his
appointment as minister of Bloemfontein from Sir Harry Smith, and drew
his stipend from the Colonial Treasurer. It was natural for the emigrant
farmers, who had trekked to the far north in order to escape from
British influence, to look askance at a young minister who held his
sacred office through the grace of a British Colonial Governor. The
importance of Murray’s first visit lay in the fact that it allayed the
suspicions of the Boers, knit their hearts to the ardent young pastor
who brought them the ministrations of grace, and evoked expressions of
confidence1 in the Cape D. R. Church, and of a desire to remain in
corporate ecclesiastical communion with that body.
Of the details of this tour of visitation we have happily full accounts,
both in the Kerkbode, and in letters addressed by Murray to his father.
We shall therefore let him tell the story in his own words, with but an
occasional elucidatory comment.
To his Father.
Magaliesberg, 22nd December, 1849.
I should certainly ere this have begun to write some account of my
journey, but have hitherto been prevented, I may say, by a press of
business ; for the little spare time I have had has generally been on
the road, when I could not conveniently sit down and write. I trust you
received the hurried lines I sent you from Mooi River [now
Potchef-stroom] in which I told you of my arrival there. I was received
with the greatest friendliness and apparent confidence, though I believe
there had been some doubts on the part of the Landdrost as to whether he
would allow me to come, for fear of British influence. The congregation
was large, but I found it very difficult to fix their attention,
evidently from their long separation from the means of grace. I trust
that some impression was produced, if I may judge from their talking
about the sermons. On Monday I had sixty-five candidates for membership,
of whom thirty-two were received; and I was really astonished at the way
in which many could read. On Monday evening I held my last service, at
which they were voorgesteld (presented).
On Tuesday morning we left for the Zwarte Ruggens, to the northwest of
Mooi River. The Landdrost Lombaard took me out on horseback, and with
him I had a good deal of conversation about the state of the country,
especially of the Morikwa, whence he had just returned.
The second church-place ought to have been there, but for want of time
it had been appointed on the borders of that district. It was expected
that we should there have the largest congregation, but on our arrival
(after three days' travelling in an ox-waggon) we found that the
congregation was smaller than at Mooi River. The people in the Morikwa
are most unsettled, and a few ringleaders lead them astray, especially
in religious matters. The most of those who are waiting for the trek to
Jerusalem are in that neighbourhood, and I was very sorry that my
further arrangements prevented my going among them, though this perhaps
was also the Lord’s doing, as they might possibly have turned me back.
On Friday I spoke the whole day to the parents of the children brought
for baptism, and held a service in the evening. On Saturday morning and
evening there was preparation, and between the services I spoke to the
most of those who wished to partake of the Lord’s Supper, which was
dispensed on the Sabbath, and of which some sixty partook. Many of these
appeared to feel the solemnity of the occasion, while others, although I
had tried to speak as plainly and faithfully as I could, gave too plain
proofs that they came without the proper preparation. I trust, however,
that the Lord was with some of us. I was very much pleased with Caspar
Kruger, the deacon, from whose place I am writing, as the church is to
be held here to-morrow. He says that he there first was enabled to
rejoice in Christ, though long seeking after Him. It is the first time
that he has partaken of the Sacrament. He acknowledges that he has long,
through the obstinacy of his heart, rejected Christ.
On Wednesday we left for Gert Kruger’s, your friend. On the way we
called on one of those who refuse to come to church. After a couple of
hours’ conversation I left him, deeply grieved at the ignorance of these
poor people [i.e. the “ Jerusalem pilgrims ”]. England is one of the
horns of the beast, and of course those who receive her pay are made
partakers of her sins. I hardly knew whether to weep or smile at some of
his explanations of the prophecies and of Revelation, all tending to
confirm their hope of being soon called to trek to Jerusalem. By the
way, he for the moment quite puzzled me by showing me the kantteekening
[marginal note of the Dutch version of the Bible] on Revelations xvii.
12, where all the countries of Europe are mentioned as being typified by
the horns of the beast, except Holland,—and under it he included, of
course, the true Africaners.2
In the afternoon I rode to Gert Kruger’s, where I was most warmly
received. With him I had a great deal of conversation on the state of
the country, from which, as well as from my own observation, I really
think that the people are getting settled (though there are a few
malcontent spirits here and there), and many are beginning to do very
well indeed. Gert Kruger says he considers either John or myself their
rightful possession from the promise you made at Mooi River. I really
know not sometimes what to answer the people—they do so press me to come
here. I must acknowledge that, were I not bound to Bloemfontein, which I
have not the least desire to leave, I could not refuse their request.
You may perhaps think that I have not sufficiently weighed the
difficulties which present themselves here, but I think I feel them. The
field is really ripe for the harvest, and many, many are longing for the
preaching of the Word, though with others it is nothing but a desire for
the sacraments.
Yesterday morning I arrived here at Caspar Kruger’s, after having
crossed the Magaliesberg. The country along both sides of the mountain
is really beautiful and very fertile. It is not so flat as about Mooi
River and is beautifully wooded, with many fine streams. Fruits ripen
early. The apricots are past, and I have been eating peaches, figs,
apples and melons, and even a few grapes. I have also seen orange trees,
well laden with fruit.
25th December.—Through the Lord’s goodness I can again record that I
have been holpen thus far, and I trust that you have also been assisted
in your labours on this occasion. I have been much with you in spirit,
and I have tried to rejoice with you in the remembrance of this blessed
day. On Friday evening I had my first service, and then two preparation
services on Saturday, which, with speaking to the parents of more than
eighty children who have been baptized, fatigued me a good deal before
Sabbath came. The congregation was very large, so that the place
prepared for the services had to be doubled in size, and this, with the
open air, require a great deal of exertion to make them hear. On Sabbath
I was very hoarse, but got on very well, and was enabled to preach and
to serve four tables without my voice failing. When I came home, though
I did not feel fatigued, I was so worn out that when I lay down for a
few minutes I slept full three hours most soundly, and was quite
refreshed for the evening service.
Yesterday morning we had service very early, after which I sat full ten
hours in the aanneming (confirmation) with some eighty young people, of
whom forty-two were received, and were this morning voor-gesteld
(presented). The attention from the commencement was much better than at
either of the former church-places, and some of the people appear to
have received deep, might it but be saving, impressions. The interest
manifested in the hearing of the Word was great, and from the
earnestness with which some spoke about it I would hope that the Lord
has been with us. I have to thank and praise the Lord that He has so
supported me, body and soul, but still there is much to complain of—a
hard, unfeeling and unbelieving heart, even in the midst of earnest
preaching, and much self-confidence and pride. The way in which the
people here treat me tends but too much to elevate me, even though I be
unconscious of it. The impressions which appear to have been produced
have made the people still more anxious that I should come here, and
some of them have been pleading with me for hours that I should accept a
call.
On Saturday two men arrived here with an ox-waggon from Zoutpans-berg,
bearing a letter from the Commandant Potgieter. They beg me to come
thither, as the poverty of many of the people will not allow them to
travel thus far, and since it would not be safe to leave the frontier
towards Moselekatse, where they are altogether unprotected. The
distance—fourteen schoften to the north-east from here—alone prevented
me from going. Potgieter asked me to appoint a time when some other
minister, or else myself, should come to them, and I have fixed
September. When the men heard that they could not be visited for such a
time, they were in tears, as they had hoped I might go with them, and
when they left again they could not speak. I hardly know what to say
when the people begin to discourse about their spiritual destitution,
and their desire after the Word. They plead their application to the
Ring (Presbytery) two years ago, and Papa's promise to help them, and
urge the situation of Bloemfontein between Mr. Reid and Mr. van Velden
as a reason why they should have a minister here on the uithoek (far
corner). Suppose another minister, say John Neethling, should refuse to
come here, but be willing to take Bloemfontein, what would you think of
my coming here ? Perhaps you say, Foolish boy ! but the way in which
some of the people here plead really moves my heart. Many are in a fit
state for receiving the seed of the Word. May the Lord in His mercy help
them.
Mooi River, 11th January, 1850.
My last letter I concluded on Christmas Day, and I shall simply commence
this letter by resuming the narrative from that date. From C. Kruger’s
we travelled in a south-easterly direction, and after crossing the
Magaliesberg we reached Andries Pretorius’, where we stopped for the
night. He treated me with great kindness and made great professions of
sorrow over the decay of religion in the land. I rode a considerable
distance with him on horseback the next day, when he asked me if he
might not come to the Lord’s Table, as he had so longed for it at the
last church-place. I spoke as faithfully as I could; and he said that it
really was his most earnest desire to serve the Lord, but acknowledged
that he was living in enmity with Biihrmann the Hollander, and I am glad
to say that he stayed away from the Table. He desired to be remembered
to you, as also did his brothers Piet and Bart, the former of whom is
very well spoken of here. I had also a good deal of conversation with A.
Pretorius on political matters, but into this subject I shall not now
enter. This much I can say, that there does not exist the least fear for
another outbreak [of the Boers against the British], though there is a
small war-party who are doing all they can to disturb the peace.
Unfortunately they are but too much encouraged in secret by some parties
in the Sovereignty, and even in the Riet River, who profess to be loyal
British subjects. But I see I must not begin with this, or I shall not
know where to end.
From Andries Pretorius’ we rode a small schoft to the farm of D.
Erasmus, where church was to be held. Here I had the usual work, and
though the congregation was not as large as at the former church-place,
the number of children brought for baptism was much greater (125), as
the people of these parts had not been able to attend the services of
Messrs. Faure and Robertson. I had a service on Friday evening, two on
Saturday, and on the Sabbath I dispensed the Lord's Supper. It sometimes
makes me unhappy to think that I must preach God’s Holy Word with so
little preparation, and though circumstances prevent my studying much,
yet I might live much more in a state of mind which would be a continual
preparation. Oh ! could I but more live in heaven, breathing the spirit
of God’s Word, the Lord would abundantly make up the want of regular
study.
After the service I was very unwell, and was advised not to preach again
in the evening, which advice I followed. On Monday I had only a very
short service, for the confirmation of those who had been admitted as
members on Saturday, and for the baptism of the children. I had caught a
severe cold from the continual draughts to which I was exposed,
especially when coming heated out of church, and the cold was
accompanied with rather severe fever. Immediately after service I had to
ride on horseback for several hours, the waggon having gone on early in
the morning, since the distance we had to travel to the next
church-place did not allow of our losing any time.
During the week we journeyed nearly due east to the district of
Ohrigstad. The town and neighbourhood have been abandoned, though
exceedingly fertile, on account of the disease which has carried off so
many victims during the last two years, and all the people have trekked
out to the Hoogeveld (plateau), where the climate is as salubrious as
can be wished. For the greater part of the way we travelled through a
thickly-wooded country, very sparsely peopled, though we were able to
spend every night on a farm. The church-place and its neighbourhood
along the Hoogeveld is quite bare, and much cooler than a great part of
the low country through which we had travelled. We reached our
destination on Friday afternoon. New Year’s Day was spent in the desert.
On that day we travelled eleven-and-a-half hours in order to reach a
habitation, or else we would have had to spend the night in the veld,
which is still infested with lions. During the whole of New Year’s Day I
thought much of our dear home, and I am sure the absent members of the
family also formed the subject of your conversation. How many and how
great are the mercies which the Lord has granted to us since the
beginning of 1849.
Valsch River, 25th January, 1850.
When I reached the church-place I was still very unwell, but was
strengthened to do my work. The congregation was not very large, as the
intimations had unfortunately not reached all the people. I baptized
seventy-five children, and was told that there was a still larger number
left unbaptized in this district. When we left the place on the Tuesday,
I had for my fellow-traveller the far-famed Hollander Buhrmann. He is a
plain Amsterdammer, who came out here to be a schoolmaster, and who has
been compelled, perhaps not very unwillingly, to take part in political
affairs. He occupies no office, though every place in the Government has
been offered to him. He does good, I believe, in trying to keep the
people at peace, but is rather permanlig (stuck-up), as the people say.
He is religious, but I fear has not true piety. By some he is much
looked up to, and by others despised and hated. I had much conversation
with him on all sorts of subjects, political not excepted, of which I
may afterwards communicate the results to you.
During the journey back from Ohrigstad district I was still unwell, and
very weak, but recovered gradually ; so that by the end of the week,
when we reached Magaliesberg, I was nearly quite well, though still weak
and very much fallen off in flesh. I had purposely not intimated any
service for Sabbath the 13th, that I might have a day of rest; and I am
thankful that I did so, as I was much refreshed for the hard work at
Mooi River. Unfortunately I did not enjoy so much quiet as I had hoped
for, as there were two or three other families come to the place, and my
companions always strove to be with me. (I did not mention that Caspar
Kruger and Frans Schutte accompanied me for the whole j ourney.) I
trust, however, that the day did not pass without a blessing for myself.
On Monday we left, and spent the night at Gert Kruger’s, of whom I have
formed a high opinion. He gave me a letter for you, on the subject, I
believe, of my coming here. He feels very strongly on the matter, and I
must say again that, were I not bound to Bloemfontein, I know where I
should go. On Thursday afternoon, after having seen the Oog (source of
river) in the morning, we reached Mooi River.
Monday the 21st was the day appointed for the sitting of the Volks-raad,
and this brought a large number of people to Mooi River. There were
above 400 waggons; and a very large place, which had been prepared and
which could contain about 1,000 people, was not sufficient for more than
the half. I was really astonished, when I rose in church on Sabbath
morning, to see the multitude that was assembled. I preached on Friday
and twice on Saturday, not without a blessing, I trust, though I cannot
say that my own soul was in a very lively frame. I sometimes doubt
whether it really be the Lord's assistance by which I am enabled to
preach, or whether it be merely natural powers which, when excited, lead
me to preach earnestly, and apparently with deep impression on the
hearers.
On Sabbath I dispensed the Sacrament, and had by far too many
communicants, though I had tried to set forth as faithfully as possible
what Psalm xxiv. 4 represents as the way to God. My own heart was
somewhat enlarged in speaking on the name Emmanuel, but I found that
very few of the people are in a state to appreciate such subjects. What
they want is knorren (scolding), and if that but produced any good
effect, I would willingly hnoy; but I sometimes feel sad at the thought
that the blessed Gospel of God’s love should be degraded to be nothing
else than a schoolmaster to drive and threaten.
On Monday I preached on 1 John iv. 7, and tried to speak as plainly as
possible on all the contention and enmity which prevails amongst them,
especially in reference to the Raad, where disputes sometimes run very
high. The meeting of the Raad had been postponed till Tuesday because of
the service. Many professed to be very thankful, and I really think that
a good feeling was produced, and that many felt the necessity of
striving after peace and unity. In the evening I had another opportunity
of speaking strongly on the same subject in my farewell address from
Philippians i. 27. I dare not say otherwise than that I was much
assisted from on high, both in body and spirit. The congregations were
very large, and as the place for service was partly open, I had to exert
myself very greatly, and on Monday was very hoarse. Yet I was so
strengthened as to be well heard, and I have not felt my chest pained or
even wearied. At ten that night I began with the church meeting, which
lasted past midnight till two o’clock. Among other things they again
asked me to come amongst them, and though I decidedly said that I did
not see the least opening to do so, they insisted; and I believe they
intend sending me a beroepschrift (letter of call), and also petitioning
the Synod on the subject. May the Lord Himself in His mercy supply the
needs of this poor destitute people !
There is one point on which I still wish to ask your opinion. I never
prayed for the authorities, and of course the people observed it, and
Wolmarans spoke to me about it. I felt it to be a delicate matter, and
wished much to know how the preceding Commission [i.e. Messrs. Faure and
Robertson] would have acted. I do not know myself what to think of the
proceedings of the Boers against the English: in many respects they
appear to me to be justifiable; but on this I hope to speak with you
afterwards. Even supposing that they have done wrong, they appear to me
to be of " the powers that be,” as they are now tolerated by Government;
and as well as Paul could pray for all authorities, and for the Romans
too, might I pray that the authorities may be ruled by the fear of God,
and the Raad be enabled by His wisdom to do all for God's glory and the
good of the people. I hope to receive from you a full statement of your
opinion as to whether I have done right or wrong in this matter. I felt
that I might be led to do it for popularity’s sake, and I prayed the
Lord to preserve me from the same.
On Tuesday morning, after only two hours’ sleep during the night, I left
on horseback ; and I must confess I felt the parting from some whom I
had learnt to know well, and to whom I had become much attached. I rode
with Elder Wolmarans to Jan Kok’s to baptize a child two days old ; but
before we got there we were thoroughly drenched. Though I had no shift
of clothes (the waggon being behind), and was obliged to let my clothes
dry on horseback, I have felt no bad consequences, through God’s
goodness. Elder Wolmarans, Andries Pretorius and many others desired to
be remembered to you.
You may imagine how very strange and varied my feelings were on crossing
the Vaal River again. I had passed over it hardly knowing whither I went
and what might happen, and when I looked back at the Lord’s leading over
the way, all the strength and assistance I had enjoyed, the blessing of
which I had been the unworthy channel to not a few, I trust, and the
measure of comfort with which He had enabled me to do the work;—and when
I then thought on the little progress I myself had made in grace, on the
want of true love to my fellow-sinners, on the hardness and indifference
of my wicked heart, on the absence of that true heavenly-mindedness in
which an ambassador of Christ ought to live, on all the pride and
self-sufficiency with which I had taken to myself the glory which
belongs to God alone—surely I had reason to glory and rejoice in God,
and to weep in the dust at my own wickedness. How fatherly have not the
dealings of my Covenant God been with me, how unchildlike my behaviour
towards Him. Oh ! bless the Lord with me, my dearest father, and praise
Him for all His loving-kindness and long-suffering, praying that the
Lord Himself would pardon and renew me, that I may be fitted truly to
glorify Him.
Bloemfontein, 11th February, 1850.
At length I have again reached my dwelling-place (for home I cannot call
it), and shall try and finish my narrative. From the Vaal River I rode
to old Daniel Cronje’s on the Rhenoster River, where I had service that
Tuesday evening and twice on Wednesday. The number of people was very
small, as many of them had been attracted to the services at Mooi River
by the sitting of the Volksraad. On Thursday I took my departure for
Valsch River, and after having again experienced God’s goodness in
finding the Rhenoster River just low enough to get through (though it
had been excessively full the night previous), reached the church-place
on Friday morning. There was a very good congregation assembled, and
though I felt rather unwell, I was helped to perform the usual Communion
services on Saturday, Sabbath and Monday. On Tuesday I left again for
Winburg, which I reached on Thursday.
You cannot imagine the excitement of the people at Winburg about the
appointment of Mr. van Velden to Harrismith, and I cannot say with what
astonishment and indignation I was filled on receiving the
intelligence.5 Such unprincipled robbery ! Such debasing of Christ’s
servants to be the servants of political speculation. Here there are
3,000 souls, many hungering and thirsting; there not thirty. But enough.
The matter gives me much work in writing to Cape Town whilst I am
anything but well. But the Lord will provide.
The continued prosperity of our journey was interrupted at Valsch River
by a solemn stroke of the Lord’s hand. Deacon P. Coetzer died there on
Tuesday, 29th January, after having been my companion in all our
journeyings. He had been ill about fourteen days, and complained of pain
in all his members, especially his back. Some say it is the Delagoa
disease, but this I cannot believe, as we kept far from the district
where it has hitherto prevailed. He died trusting in the Lord, and I
believe truly one of those who will be for ever with Him in glory.
The tremendous strain which arduous journeys such as that which has been
described cast upon the youth of twenty-one could not but tell upon his
strength. He informs the home circle that on his arrival at Bloemfontein
he was still “weak, thin and very pale." The recovery which he made from
the serious illness which had assailed him across the Vaal awakens
frequent expressions of gratitude towards God. "Many people say that
Deacon Coetzer died of the Delagoa disease, to which so many have
succumbed in the back part of the country beyond the Vaal. As I was
unwell at the same time, and exhibited the same symptoms with which his
illness began, the report was spread that I was suffering from the same
malady On my arrival at Winburg I found the people so alarmed that they
almost persuaded me that I had the Delagoa disease. Though I could not
see any danger myself, yet I could not help thinking of death, and
through the Lord’s goodness the fear of death was taken from me.”
The Sovereignty, especially along its south-eastern border, remained
politically in a condition of perpetual disquietude. About this time a
farmer named van Hansen was cruelly murdered, together with his wife,
four children and two servants, by a party of Bushmen, who appeared at
his door and demanded to be supplied with tobacco. The murderers were
retainers of Poshuli, brother of Moshesh,—a robber-chieftain whose
depredations kept the farmers of the vicinity in a continual ferment of
anxiety. The untoward conditions prevailing on the frontier are referred
to in letters written during the month of April, 1850—
After I parted from John I had a very pleasant ride to Adam Swane-poel’s.
The number of waggons [of the folk who had assembled for service] was
about forty, but that number was very unexpectedly diminished. After the
morning service on Sabbath a message was brought to one of the farmers
from his father-in-law, bidding him to come home immediately, whether
his child was baptized or not, as all the people in the Koesbergen were
going to trek. The message confirmed a report that had previously been
spread, that the Cafire chief Basouli (Poshuli) had fortified Vechtkop,
and that the Cafires had sent away their cattle, and appeared to be
secretly preparing for war. At the close of the afternoon service nearly
the half of the people left, and the minds of the remainder were very
much disturbed. From the conversation I had with Mr. Vowe6 on Monday, I
fear that there is truth in the report, and it is suspected that Basouli
is aided in secret by some more powerful chiefs (Letsea,2 some say, or
Moshesh), as he is too weak to attempt anything alone. I shall let you
know as soon as anything more decided happens. May the Lord in His great
mercy restore peace in these times, that His Word may have free course
and be glorified.
Our three magistrates at the last Circuit Court sentenced five Bushmen
to death for the murder of van Hansen and family, and one for the murder
of a Cafire. All the six are in prison here. Saturday’s post brought the
Governor’s confirmation of the sentence, which is to be carried out
to-morrow week. We have a catechist here from Thaba Nchu to instruct
them. Still, I shall try and do something for them through him, in order
to prepare them for that awful moment. At their execution I cannot be
present, as I have to leave on Monday after the sermon for Burgersdorp,
and have church appointed on the way thither at Hendrik Snyman’s.
In spite, however, of disquieting rumours and occasional interruptions,
Murray applied himself with assiduity to his parochial tasks. The
instruction of the young was one of his chief cares. The dearth of
qualified teachers in South Africa, as well as the grievous lack of
ministers, was the cause of loud lament at each meeting of synod or
presbytery. Teachers had to be imported from abroad, and those who
arrived at these shores received immediate appointments. Towards the end
of 1849 two Hollanders named van der Meer and Groenendaal landed at Cape
Town from a Dutch ship, and were assigned by the Governor to those
distant and needy fields, Bloemfontein and Riet River. Van der Meer was
accompanied by his wife, and Murray relates that on his return from one
of his numerous visitation tours he found this worthy couple installed
in his parsonage,—robbing him of his privacy, but relieving his solitude
and adding sensibly to his comfort. His church building, in the
meanwhile, was making steady progress, and tenders were invited for the
construction of a school-house, which it was proposed to erect by public
subscription.
Correspondence of every description engrossed the most of his spare
time. The burden of four parishes, and the pressing needs of the
emigrants beyond the Vaal, lay heavy upon him, and occasioned much
anxious thought and a heavy official correspondence. To the members of
his family, and especially to his father, he writes with regularity and
occasionally at great length. He exchanges letters with friends at the
Cape, with parishioners like Andries Pretorius and Gert Kruger on the
further side of the Vaal, and with men of the evangelical circle in
Holland, like Dr. Capadose. Nor, even in these early days, was there any
lack of visitors at Bloemfontein, for though remote the town was
central, and highways radiated from it to every part of South Africa.
Missionaries passed through with considerable frequency, among others
Robert Moffat, the famous pioneer of missions to the Bechuana, the Rev.
J. J. Freeman, Secretary of the London Missionary Society, and the
Helmore family, whose later history forms so tragic a page in the annals
of South African Missions. Bishop Gray of Cape Town, to whom reference
has already been made, was a visitor in the winter of 1850. Murray
mentions this visit in a letter to his brother—
We had the Bishop here last Sabbath. He wished me to tell you that he
will most likely come to Burgersdorp from Cradock. I rode out with him
for a distance of one-and-a-half hours (nine miles) on horseback last
Tuesday, and had a little chat. He is exceedingly active, and will not
rest till he has churches everywhere. I tried to probe him on Puseyism,
but he says there is no such thing in the Colony, only different shades
of opinion. ”The jealousy of the Dissenters, and the ignorance of
others, is the cause of all the outcry.” I told him that if he sent a
man of evangelical sentiments [to Bloemfontein], I would be delighted to
welcome him as a brother.
Though Murray’s health seems to have gradually improved during the
winter of 1850, he had no relief from incessant travelling, sometimes by
horse-waggon or Cape cart, sometimes (as in the territory beyond the
Vaal) by ox-waggon, frequently on horseback, exposed to biting cold in
winter or tropical downpours in summer, and always over ill-made and
ill-kept roads. Occasionally he was overtaken by some “moving accident
by flood or field.” Of one of these he tells in a letter to his father—
I had a great deal of rain on the way back [from Smithfield], and was
twice detained by spruiten (river-courses) being full. On Thursday I
experienced the Lord’s gracious preservation at Kaffir River. You know
the drift (ford) is very ugly, and the horses, though good, were
unaccustomed to the water. We unharnessed two horses, and made the boy
ride on one, to lead the waggon through. In the middle of the stream the
rope broke, and the boy was obliged to make for the bank. Our leaders
took fright at the noise of the water dashing against the stones, and
turned round twice in the stream, so that they nearly broke the pole.
While the coachman was engaged in putting the front horses straight, the
right wheeler, who could not stand against the strength of the stream,
fell right over the pole, and both he and the left wheeler so kicked and
struggled as to completely free themselves of' the harness. With all
this confusion the waggon had been swept from the paved roadway, and as
the horses were powerless to draw it up-stream, were obliged to make for
the nearest point of the bank, and there to outspan. We then sent to
Bekerfontein for spades, dug a road for ourselves, and then obtained
some mules from a waggon standing on the banks of the river, and so were
drawn out. Through the great goodness of God we thus got through with no
other loss but that of time, though the hind-harness was a little
broken. I suppose that we were nearly half-an-hour in the river, with
the water sometimes washing against the buikplank (floor) of the waggon.
Oh ! for a heart to recognize God's goodness aright, and to feel more
and more bound to His gracious love and service.
In the course of July Murray paid a brief visit to Graaff-Reinet, and
was greatly refreshed by his intercourse with the home circle. The
residents of his birthplace seem to have made much of him, for he refers
to the period of excitement through which he passed, and to the marks of
esteem which were accorded him. His stay was short, as usual, and on the
18th July we find him back at Bloemfontein, and writing to his parents
in the following terms—
To his Parents.
Through the goodness of our gracious Heavenly Father, I arrived here in
safety yesterday (Wednesday) evening, and take up my pen at the first
leisure moment to do myself the pleasure of corresponding with you. The
doormalkaar (confused) state in which I found the house, and the
business with which I have already been assailed in regard to the
building of the church, and all the other duties still awaiting me,
drive my thoughts to the dear home I left, and from which I shall now so
long be absent. Though my journey possess nothing very interesting, yet
I shall begin my narrative from Tuesday morning. That day we had a long
and not very pleasant ride against the wind, and reached Hendrik
Ekkert's a little after sundown. We found him not at home, though he had
told me that he expected to be back on Tuesday from Richmond ; and we
were obliged to content ourselves with bedding on the rustbank 8 and on
some chairs in the voorhuis,9 of which the old Englishman fortunately
had the key. On Wednesday we had a much more pleasant ride, though we
could not reach Willem Venter's owing to one of the horses getting sick,
and spent the night at Wild-fontein with the van der Walts. During the
day I was able to collect my thoughts after the excitement I had been
in, and enjoyed almost more in the retrospect of the hours spent among
the dearly-beloved members of the family at Graafi-Reinet, than when
there. I tried to feel the exceeding privilege of loving each other in
Jesus, and the greatness of the blessing granted us in the assurance
that not even death, much less any short distance on this earth, can
separate us from the love of Christ. . . .
On Thursday we rode further, and after having left my riding horse dying
at Willem Venter's, reached Colesberg after noon, but too late for the
post. I found Mr. Reid and family well, and rode on that evening to old
Christian van der Walt’s. From him I heard a good deal about the
Colesberg troubles. He says his reasons for signing the petition for the
removal of Mr. Reid is the old business of the Gezangen and the
Herderlijke Brief.10 The latter appears to lie very heavy on him,
especially the obnoxious expression of "doorboren het hart van Gods kin-deren.”
At the Sacrament in Colesberg there was only half a table of men [at
Communion], and a few more of women, principally Seacow River people.
On Friday we crossed by the pont, though the river was very empty, and
reached old Hendrik Snyman’s about two, whence I started immediately
with him and the Viljoens for Henning Joubert’s, which we reached about
ten at night, having ridden twelve hours that day. We outspanned for an
hour at Mr. Pellissier’s, who enquired very kindly about you and
expressed a longing to see you. On Saturday I rode to Smithfield, which
I reached about three o'clock, and on enquiry I found that no post was
to leave that week. We had a pretty good congregation there, though
there were not many people from beyond Caledon. I feared much that we
would have very unfavourable weather, but in this matter God's goodness
also cared for us, and though I had to preach in tents in the open air,
there was neither wind, rain nor excessive cold to disturb us. In
addition to my Dutch services I had also an English service, which I
have been requested to hold regularly when I come. The Dutch people were
attentive, sometimes interested and impressed. Oh 1 for more evident
marks of the Spirit’s presence and power. . . . The time I spent at
Smithfield was very pleasant, and I was made very comfortable in their
tent by the Viljoens. The new churchwardens, with whom I am on the whole
very well pleased, were voorgesield. I am glad to be able to say that a
beginning has been made with church building. We received several
tenders, and accepted one for £325. I think I mentioned that the
dimensions were sixty-five feet long, seventeen wide and ten high in the
clear. After the people knew that a commencement was to be made they
subscribed very liberally.
On Tuesday I left Rietpoort, and yesterday evening I arrived here,
finding the house as I left it. Mr. Stuart has gone to Bethany, but is
still my guest. So are the van der Meers, though they propose to go
to-morrow into Drury’s house, which they have bought for £100. It was a
very great disappointment to hear that the Helmores spent a week here
during my absence, so that I have a second time missed the pleasure of
seeing them. I found a very kind letter from Dr. Capadose awaiting me,
and felt ashamed at this new memento of the affectionate interest with
which many had looked on us in Holland. And when I think of the tokens
of esteem so lately conferred in Graaff-Reinet on such an unworthy
subject, I really feel humbled. Oh ! for the time when our souls shall
praise the Lord aright for His mercies.
I also had a letter from Rev. van Velden which has put me sadly about.
He says it will be impossible for him to be at Winburg before 15th
October, and thus it would be the middle of November before we could
start for the North, where we would just be in the unhealthiest of the
season. This is, however, not all; but the disturbed state of the
country there (according to the reports of the travellers) makes me
anxious to go as soon as possible, if the preaching of the Word might
not move them to peace and quiet. I have here been advised to go as soon
as possible, but have not been able to decide, and trust that my God
will make the way plain before me. I am a little anxious now, as
September is not far off, and arrangements will require soon to be made.
I shall anxiously await Papa’s answer as to whether I should still wait,
or would be warranted to go alone. . . .
A day or two later he writes again to his parents—
As to the matter which occupies so much of my thoughts, I received a
letter from Mr. Faure on Saturday saying that the Governor has asked him
to let me know that my journey must be postponed till I receive further
intelligence. I shall write to-day to Mr. Faure to try and get leave,
for it appears to me a most abominable application of the starvation
principle, to deprive them of the Gospel for their political offences,
and what is more, to lay a whole people thus under the ban for the sins
of a few. I am sure that the great majority are living in quiet and
peace, and anxiously longing for the promised visit. I pray to be made
willing to wait, and to do the will of Him who can say, "I have set
before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.”
Since writing the above I have received a letter from John’s neef
(cousin)1 Buhrmann, requesting me in the name of the Volksraad to come
over, and to make my arrangements so as to be at Mooi River at the time
of the sitting of the Raad in October. May the Lord prepare a way for me
and direct my steps.
His journey to the Vaal River emigrants was clearly costing him much
anxious thought. The obstacles laid in his way were enough to have
daunted a man who had laid the welfare of the Voortrekkers less deeply
to heart. In addition to the adverse attitude of the Governor, and the
unaccountable delay in the arrival of Rev. van Velden at Winburg, he was
served at the last moment with a subpoena as witness in an important
Court case. This threatened to throw his whole journeying programme out
of gear. In those early years, when telegraph-lines had not yet
penetrated to the Sovereignty, and mails were carried no further north
then Bloemfontein, it was difficult to arrange itineraries, and
arrangements once made must needs be scrupulously adhered to.
Fortunately, the magistrate was amenable to reason, and authorized a
private examination of Murray under oath, so that the latter was able to
set out on his second visitation tour across the Vaal River on the 9th
of October, having obtained ten weeks’ leave of absence for the purpose.
The story of this second tour we shall tell in his own words, derived
partly from the account written for the Kerkbode, and partly from his
more private letters to his parents.
After having conducted divine service at Valsch River, I arrived at Mooi
River Town on Friday, the 16th October. There I was welcomed with the
greatest joy by those who were present from various quarters for the
session of the Raad, which had just that day come to a close.
I was soon convinced that this visit was well timed, for from all parts
of the congregation the people streamed together, in numbers of
certainly not less than 500, although many had been prevented from
coming by the drought and the harvesting season. In the village itself I
was pleasantly surprised at the sight of the walls of a roomy cruciform
church, nearly ready to be roofed over. I could not but conclude that,
in spite of much that is faulty, a truly great interest is here
displayed in religious matters.
Though the church was still incomplete, we were able to make good use of
it on this occasion, for canvas spread over the walls sheltered us from
the sun. The only complaint was of lack of room, since the building was
barely large enough to contain the whole audience. I noted great
interest in all the services, though the excitement in connexion with
the session of the Raad could not but have a detrimental influence ; for
the feelings of many had been greatly disturbed. The preaching of the
Word, nevertheless, was not unattended with blessing. More than one came
to assure me how good he had found it, after having suffered want for so
long, to experience satisfaction of soul in the Word of life. The usual
services were held on Saturday, Sabbath and Monday. On the latter day
seventy-four children were baptized and twenty-four young people
confirmed and presented to the congregation.
At Mooi River the people immediately began again to speak to me about my
coming hither, and I gave them the same answer, that were Bloemfontein
but supplied, I would gladly come over. In the course of the journey' I
have at times longed to labour here. Truly the harvest is great. I
believe the churchwardens are going to send me a regular call, and also
a petition to the Synodical Committee, signed by the people. This is not
in the least my work, and I distinctly told them that I did not see the
least possibility of leaving Bloemfontein, but advised them rather to
call John Neethling.
On Tuesday morning we started for Suikerbosch Rand, and rode nine hours
by ox-waggon north-eastward to the Gats Rand, where a small congregation
was collected of those who could not come to the dorp. I preached that
evening and next morning, and baptized eleven children. A woman was here
brought to me to speak to, in distress about her salvation. I cannot
imagine a more fearful case of a person under the power of Satan. She
has already attempted some five or six times to take her own life. It
appears that she was formerly very religious, but now she says she is
lost,—and such perversity in condemning herself I never saw. When she
hears of God’s grace or Christ’s mercy, it only increases her own misery
; for this, she says, will be her condemnation, that she refuses such
mercy and her heart rejects such a God. When I came to her she begged of
me with clasped hands not to speak to her, as she would have to answer
for every word ; and when I offered to pray she burst into tears, saying
that she would only mock God. Speaking to her one would think that she
was in full possession of her reason, and she shows an intimate
knowledge of the Bible. I really trembled at the power of Satan, and
wondered at the goodness of God in not surrendering more of us, who
abuse the day of grace, as she says she has done, to the terrors of His
wrath.
Two days’ more travelling due east by ox-waggon brought us to the farm
of Koos Smit, in the Suikerbosch Rand. This is a rather hilly district,
healthy and fruitful, occupied by respectable and rather religious
people, mostly from Beaufort and Zwarteberg (Prince Albert), among whom
old David Jacobs has been the means of keeping alive a certain degree of
religion. The congregation amounted to upwards of 200, and gave no
reason to complain of inattention, though I felt humbled at the absence
of the power of the Spirit with the Word. . . . We had services on
Thursday and Friday night, on Saturday and Sabbath. Out of eleven
candidates only two were received into membership, and thirty-eight
children were baptized.
As the distance to Lydenburg was great we were obliged to travel on
horseback through a bare and uninhabited country. The waggon was sent
forward on Saturday in order to afford us lodging, and on Monday morning
we started early and rode for about nine hours in a northeasterly
direction. On Tuesday we went some ten hours further, over high flats
with good water and grass, but without wood, and therefore not yet
inhabited. On Tuesday night we reached the farm of Andries Spies, where
church had been appointed for a few people in the neighbourhood, who
were too far off to reach the other church-places. There was a small
congregation of some fifty persons, to whom I preached thrice on the
Wednesday, administering baptism also to eleven children. Thence we
started early on Thursday morning, and after travelling fourteen hours
we reached Lydenburg on Friday morning at about ten o'clock. About eight
hours on this side of Lydenburg the appearance of the country suddenly
changes, and I was quite taken by surprise on suddenly finding myself in
the midst of high rugged mountains, and travelling on roads with which
the Sneeuwberg roads can hardly be compared. It is a beautiful grass
country with large streams of water, and is well supplied with the
suikerbosch (protea). Lydenburg lies in a valley between two of these
large mountain-ranges, the slopes of the Drakensberg, and is about four
hours distant from the unhealthy country. Ohrigstad is about six hours
to the north-east of Lydenburg, but is deserted. Though so near each
other the climate of each is different. Places sometimes adjoin each
other of which the one (the lower) is unhealthy, and the other quite
safe. Lydenburg has only two families living there as yet, though
Ohrigstad had some twenty large houses built, and a still larger number
of residents.
I was hardly off-saddled before I had to begin my work, as we had to
leave again early on Monday morning. Both on Friday and on Saturday I
had to sit late with the work that had to be got through. The
congregation was large and the people were very attentive, and I was
enabled to preach in earnest, so that by Sabbath afternoon I was
perfectly exhausted. I had seventy-nine applicants for membership, of
whom forty-nine were received, and 109 children were baptized. I was
here as elsewhere pressed on all sides, and even with tears, to come to
this side of the River, and if not, at all events to pay them another
visit. On my saying that I trusted they would soon have a visit from
some other minister, an old friend of Papa’s, Andries Beetge, answered,
“But is not a year too long a time for us to suffer hunger?” and I could
give no answer in return.
On Monday morning a little after sunrise we were again in the saddle, as
church had been appointed for some people, who could not come to
Lydenburg, on the Tuesday morning at a place some ten hours distant. We
would have been there in good time, had we not been detained by rain in
the afternoon. Here, however, as elsewhere, we found such kind people
that we were made quite comfortable, and next morning we proceeded the
remaining two hours to the appointed farm, where a small congregation
was waiting. To them I spoke a word of exhortation, at the close of
which they expressed the intensest desire for a more frequent
ministration of the means of grace. After service we rode five hours
further, always due east, along the same road which I travelled last
year when so unwell; and I could not but feel grateful for the strength
granted on the present journey.
Next day we had ridden only a couple of hours when we were detained as
the orders for conveyance had not reached the place, and I enjoyed a day
of rest; but I only felt my fatigue and weariness so much that I was
incapable of doing anything. As the time was too short for us to travel
by the high-road, we were obliged to take a short-cut through
uninhabited boschveld (bush country), where we slept in a waggon on
Thursday night, and thence reached the Bath at the Waterberg on Friday
mid day. In the course of our ride we saw the white and the black
rhinoceros, camelopards (giraffes), and an elephant, besides a multitude
of smaller game.
Schoonspruit, 2jth November, 1850.
My first sheet I wrote mostly at the Bath, and have since then been
prevented by continual occupation from again writing. On our arrival at
the Bath we found only some twelve waggons, standing in lager, on
account of the Caffres, and heard that the people of the neighbourhood
were all gone to another lager near Magaliesberg. Church had been
appointed here for the Zoutpansberg (Potgieter) people, and I was glad
on Saturday evening to see thirteen waggons, well-loaded, arrive from
there—a distance of nine schoften. I had a letter from Potgieter,
lamenting that I had not fulfilled the promise I had half made to go
thither, and begging soon to have the privilege of the ordinances there,
as more than half of the people had been prevented from coming. And need
of it there certainly is, as was proved by the applicants for
membership, for of twenty-five only two were received. I did not
administer the sacraments here, but was enabled to set forth Christ for
the free acceptance of a simple faith with almost more plainness and
earnestness than elsewhere. ... I did not, however, feel that certain
reliance on God which I wished. I saw clearly that faith is a fight, and
at moments I laid hold of the Lord, but alas ! I am so little accustomed
to crucify the flesh and really to believe, that I found it hard work,
which will require much more strenuous effort, much more wrestling with
God in private, than I have hitherto given. Oh ! may the Lord give me
true faith. I feel now that this is a sad life of mine, and that it
requires a person of much more spirituality and habitual intercourse
with heaven than I have, to travel in this way, as there is so very
seldom the regular opportunity for private devotion ; and there is
really nothing that can be a substitute for intercourse with God. I
preached on Saturday and Sabbath, and intended leaving on Monday, but we
were detained by rain. I could not then resist the entreaties of people
who had come so far to hold additional services on the Monday. Baptism
was administered to thirty-six children. May the Lord but add His
blessing.
Before leaving the Bath I may mention that it derives its name from a
beautiful warm bath, which is highly prized for its medicinal virtues in
cases of fever, wounds and weakness. The stream is much larger than that
of Bufiels Vlei (Aliwal North), and hotter, but without the taste of
gunpowder. On Tuesday morning we left the Bath early, and after riding
four hours came to Pienaars River, which we found overflowing its banks,
so as to be perfectly impassable. We rode some four hours up along the
stream, and fortunately found the water run down, so that we could
cross. In the evening we reached the lager, after having been eleven
hours in the saddle. We heard that the Boers had had a fight with the
Caffres, but from all I have been able to learn by the minutest
enquiries from all parties, the blame does not appear to be on the side
of the Boers.
At the lager they asked me to baptize their children as they would not
be able to come to the church. I refused, as I thought the most might
manage to come, and the lager was to break up next day. I felt too that
they were wholly unprepared for the administration of such an holy
ordinance, drinking and cursing having been but too much the order of
the day. The lager people, I should say, were mostly from the
Hakie-doorns, where none but the wild sort live. I do not know whether I
did right, but it is to me a very difficult matter to administer the
ordinance to those who are without any preparation, though it is also
hard to refuse it. And this appears to me to be one great argument for
the first available minister being sent hither, as the ordinance is so
often profaned unknowingly, while the people of the Colony all have a
better opportunity of being instructed in the matter.
On Wednesday we had again a ride of ten hours, which brought us to the
house of Frans Schutte, on this side of the Magaliesberg. He had been my
companion the whole way from Mooi River. We went to his farm in order to
have a day of rest, though such a short rest made me feel my fatigue all
the more, and I was unable to derive that profit which I had expected
from a day of quiet. I was even too listless to take up a pen and write
to my beloved parents. On Friday we rode a couple of hours to the new
church-place and site of a village on the north side of the mountain.
The position of the town is pretty, with the mountain behind and a large
view in front. The woods are still rather dense on some sides, and there
is no lack of water. Some seven or eight houses have been commenced, and
the church building is considerably advanced—all in the hope of soon
having a minister. It is a large building eighty-five feet by thirty,
and the walls are to be sixteen feet high. The congregation was so large
that the church could not contain all the people, and I had to exert
myself so much to make all hear, that I was quite knocked up when I came
to rest on Tuesday.
You know what I think of the Magaliesberg people. My favourable opinion
was confirmed as regards many of them. Contrary to my own expectation I
was greatly helped to preach with some measure of feeling, and though I
know not whether impressions on the unconverted will be abiding, I do
trust that the Lord will gather some there. Before leaving I had the
satisfaction of seeing that some whom I believe to be truly God’s
children had been edified and quickened by the ministration of His most
unworthy servant. I felt greatly humbled when one man who had formerly
spoken very despondingly said at parting, “I hope afterwards to have an
opportunity of telling you what great things God has done for my soul.”
At Magaliesberg I had the usual services on Saturday, Sabbath and Monday
: 109 children were baptized (one child of thirteen I was obliged to
refuse), and of seventy-seven applicants for membership thirty were
received. In the spare moments the people were continually recurring to
the one topic in which they are so interested, the obtaining of a
minister, and Frans Pretorius wished me to tell Papa that he is ready,
if I come, to fulfil his promise, to leave his farm and to come and live
in the village, in order to take care of me. The matter causes me much
thought, and I hardly know how to come to a decision when I get the
call. My own inclination would soon decide the matter, though I really
cannot assign a reason for the liking I have taken. But still I would
tremble at the thought of taking a single step without a clear
conviction that it is the will of the Lord. Though I do not yet see in
what way, I feel assured that God will not forsake the work of His own
hands amongst this people. A faithful God must satisfy that desire for
the Word which He Himself has excited.
The churchwardens pressed me to come again in April for a‘couple of
Sabbaths, in order to open the churches at Mooi River and at Magalies-berg.
When I promised to do my utmost to get Mr. van Velden or John to come at
that time, they said that all the people wished myself to come. I do not
write this from vanity, but to ask Papa for an opinion. The
churchwardens continually urged as a strong reason for my going thither,
the extraordinary unanimity of the people in calling for me, and I must
confess that I was myself sometimes staggered by the urgency with which
they invited me. This was especially the case in the Morikwa, whither I
went for the first time, and where many on parting came to me with
tears, to beg me to come again rather than send another. It occurred to
me that it might be a token of God’s will in the matter, that the whole
people, otherwise so divided, should unite so firmly in fixing their
choice upon me, and will take no refusal. . . .
On Tuesday the 18th we left Magaliesberg by ox-waggon, and travelled a
small schoft, to near the place in the Zwarte Ruggens where I had church
last year. Here I got some of the oranges of the land, and really they
were as large as I have ever seen. The other fruits are far advanced but
not yet ripe. (At Magaliesberg the previous week I had already enjoyed
several dishes of figs and apricots.) On Wednesday we rode for about six
hours on horseback due west to the Morikwa, and next day had travelled
some five hours, when we were suddenly and unexpectedly stopped within
an hour of the church-place. We were informed that we would not be
allowed to go further till I had given an account of myself. Though my
churchwardens begged that I should be allowed to proceed at least as far
as the church-place, they refused. I was thus detained a sort of
prisoner. Fortunately the people in the house were very kind, though the
master of the farm declined having family worship that evening, which we
accordingly held in the tent of Gottfried Mocke. In the course of the
evening Adriaan Stander in whose name we had been stopped, arrived, and
from him we learnt that it had been done without his order or consent;
but as a good many people were expected to be present next morning at my
examination, he requested me to stay. Next day I took my seat upon the
waggon-box, while some forty Boers stood round to put me on trial. A
Brakel11 was brought forward, and all sorts of nonsensical
demonstrations about the duty of coming out of Antichrist were urged, in
order to prove that I could not be a true minister till I came out from
under the English Government to this side of the Vaal River. Of course
there was no arguing with such people, and after answering some of their
questions I simply stated the object of my mission, and left them to
enjoy an imaginary triumph. The greater part of the people were quite
satisfied, and those who refused to come to the services were but few in
number. I felt perfectly calm, but the two churchwardens from
Maga-liesberg were exceedingly annoyed. We afterwards learnt that they
fully intended to turn us back, in fact, a letter had been sent to the
field-cornet, saying that he need not bring us. They would have
succeeded too, had not Stander arrived with such a strong party.
It was Friday noon before we reached the church-place, on the farm of
Hans Steyn. The district of the Morikwa is but small-—some three or four
hours on horseback in diameter—but very thickly inhabited along the
banks of the river, the farms being often not more than three thousand
yards distant from one another. The country is nicely wooded, but rather
too much confined between the hills, and therefore bedompig (hot and
close). For the small space of ground there are many inhabitants, mostly
of the restless sort. At church there was a pretty good attendance of
upwards of 200, sixty-three children were baptized, and of thirty
applicants fourteen were admitted as members. On account of the restless
state of many of the people, I did not administer the Sacrament here,
but preached three times on Sabbath. On Monday there was again a public
dispute with the party of those who wish to go to Jerusalem. I was
opposed to this, but some of the congregation demanded it, as a good
many were sometimes shaken by the arguments adduced. The three heroes,
Paul Roos, Stofiel de Wet and Jakob Erasmus, came forward, and
immediately began to prove that England is a horn of the beast (Rev.
xvii. 3), and that I could not be a true servant of Christ. They exposed
their own ignorance most completely in their misconceptions of the
kantteekeningen (marginal glosses), and all but their own party were
satisfied with the folly of their assertions about the marks of the
beast, etc. I need not repeat all the nonsense, I may almost say
blasphemy, which they uttered. I was very sorry to see them going in
fancied security and holiness on the way of destruction ; for they
literally seek their salvation in their opposition to the Antichrist.
May the Lord have mercy on them. Though the issue of the matter was
quite satisfactory, I was very sorry that the meeting took place, as the
attention of the people was completely drawn away from the solemn truths
they had heard the preceding day, and which had produced some
impression.
On Monday (25th Nov.), we started about mid-day on horseback, and rode
till after dark in south-easterly direction, on our way to Schoon-spruit,
where service had been intimated for Wednesday. We were misinformed as
to the distance, and had thus to ride very hard. On Tuesday we were in
the saddle by 4 a.m., and at 6 a.m. I held service for a congregation
that had previously been appointed to meet us. Then we rode from 9 a.m.
till dark to the first farm on Schoonspruit. We were disappointed in not
finding horses there, and I was obliged to betake myself to an ox-waggon.
Travelling all night, we reached the village at sunrise next morning. I
was much wearied, and preached only twice that day and once the next to
a congregation of tolerable size. I may mention that Schoonspruit runs
nearly parallel with Mooi River, and the dorp [now Klerksdorp] is some
five hours due west from Mooi River township [Potchefstroom]. On
Thursday and Friday I proceeded by easy rides down along the Vaal River
for some ten hours on horseback. On Saturday I had but a small
congregation of some 150 persons, as most of the farmers of the
neighbourhood had trekked on account of the drought. On Monday after
service I crossed the River, and you may imagine that it was with
peculiar feelings that I looked back at the way by which the Lord had
led me, and the mercies which had been the unmingled portion of my cup.
Before Murray reached Bloemfontein on his homeward journey, he was able
to welcome the Rev. D. van Velden as colleague in the pastoral work of
the Sovereignty. Mr. van Velden was a Hollander, who after six years of
work in a small parish in Belgium, accepted an invitation to come out to
South Africa, and receive the appointment to the cure of Winburg. After
a perilous sea-voyage from Cape Town, and a prolonged stay at
Pietermaritzburg, he arrived at his destination in November, 1850, and
on the 9th December following was formally inducted to the charge by
Andrew Murray. The advent of van Velden set Murray free from the
supervision of the two congregations of Winburg and Harrismith, though
he remained consulent of Smithfield and Riet River, and continued
moreover to look upon the Vaal River folk as his special care.
These emigrants spared no efforts to prevail on the young minister to
throw in his lot with them. He was presented with a unanimous call to
the pastorate of Potchefstroom, while a memorial with eleven hundred
signatures was laid before the Synodical Committee of the D. R. Church,
begging that body to use its influence to secure the acceptance of the
call. The impression in Cape Town seems to have been that Murray would
accede to this earnest invitation ; and the Kerkbode records that " it
is not improbable that Bloemfontein will soon be vacant, seeing that the
desire for this young pastor is so urgent, and those sheep can surely no
longer be left without pasture.” It was natural that this pressing
summons to a new sphere of work should cause Murray a prolonged and
painful mental struggle. In a letter to his father he reverts at some
length to this matter. As reasons for accepting the invitation he urges
the marvellous unanimity of the call, the people’s evident attachment to
his person, and their total spiritual destitution—"ten thousand souls
given over to the world and the devil.” He believes that by a
redistribution of work, Bloemfontein and the other congregations of the
Sovereignty can be provided for. "Mr. van Velden could come here every
second month, John could take Smithfield, and the minister of Colesberg
could' easily take the Riet River under his charge.” He is convinced
that the Vaal River people cannot be effectively served by periodical
visits. “Commissions can only visit them irregularly: Mr. van Velden has
a sickly wife and children, and he will not, I fear, be prepared to take
such a journey very often.” He feels sure that Bloemfontein will not
long remain yacant. "Sir Harry [the Governor] would use his influence,
and the importance of the place would demand its being soon supplied.”
But for the poor, destitute trekkers no one pleads. “What young minister
would be willing to go across the Vaal River? I have been brought in the
leading of Providence to take an especial interest in this people, which
may not be excited in the heart of anyone else. God has now set before
the Church an open door across the Vaal River, and if we enter not in,
it may soon be shut.” He refers to the "anxiety with which Pretorius and
others asked my advice, and the willingness they manifested in some
cases to take it,” as proving that a minister, though committed to
political neutrality, could exercise far-reaching influence in assisting
to preserve peace and quiet. He then mentions the names of some friends
who were in favour of his accepting the call, namely Mr. Stuart, the
magistrate, Mr. Wuras, the German missionary of Bethany, and Mr. Moffat,
Sr., afterwards Dr. Moffat. His letter concludes with the earnest
prayer, "May the Lord direct my dear father in advising me, and may He
give His poor servant the comfort of an assurance that he is doing His
will.”
The letter in which his father replied to this appeal for advice has
unfortunately not been preserved. But it is evident that the verdict of
the home circle was adverse to his going to so distant and extensive a
field of work. His mother feared that he would be overtaxing his powers
in the effort to minister to "ten thousand souls” so widely scattered.
His father believed that the Sovereignty had a prior claim upon his time
and strength. To views so definitely expressed Andrew could not but
yield a filial acquiescence, and on the 9th March, 1851, he announced,
to the great joy of the Bloemfontein congregation that he had decided to
remain among them.
There can be no question that in thus deciding Murray was guided by the
Spirit of God, and that his continuance in the pastorate of Bloemfontein
was not merely advantageous to the Church in the Sovereignty, but
spiritually and physically beneficial to himself. One cannot but
speculate, nevertheless, on what might have been the course of history,
both political and ecclesiastical, in the Transvaal, had Andrew Murray
at this time decided to settle among the emigrants as their pastor. He
must from the first have assumed a commanding position and have, wielded
widespread influence. Under such influence the suspicion with which many
of them regarded English and other foreigners must have been allayed;
missionaries and mission societies must have had freer access to the
country, and have been accorded greater encouragement; the forces that
made for disunion and disintegration among the emigrants must have been
strongly counteracted; and the D. R. Church of the Cape Colony, to which
these emigrants had always belonged, would have vindicated its right to
their gratitude and loyal devotion, and would have left them less
exposed to the invasion of unsympathetic sectaries from Holland. |