[The exact family relationships have not yet been determined.]

80 Juta St
Braamfontein
Johannesburg

23rd May 1910

Dear John,

I have no doubt you will be surprised to hear from me in this distant part of the Empire. My Sister Meggie (Mrs Heslop of Newcastle on Tyne) sent my [sic] your address, & I felt a desire to send you a line for the Sake of Auld Lang Syne, & in remembrance of the fact, that you were Such a favourite of my dear Old Father.

I am 60 years of age, & have had a family of 9 - Seven of whom are living, & out here with me. My two girls are married & the eldest has 3 children. My eldest Son is a Fitter on the Geduld Mine, the two next boys are Carpenters, also working on the Mines, the fourth boy is Assistant to the Secretary on the Simmer & Jaet[?] Mine, & the youngest is in the Office of the Consolidated Goldfields. We came out 14 years ago on account of the depression in the Lead trade with which I had been connected for 20 years. I am practicing as an Accountant. I still continue in connection with the Wesleyans, & have plenty to do. I am a Local Preacher, & they give me a great deal to do along the Reef. I am also Circuit Steward (for a second term) of the Johannesburg West Circuit. You will know that the Wesleyan is the only branch of the Methodist Church in the Transvaal.

It is a hard Country for Methodism to thrive in, the people are so wicked, & worldly minded, but we keep pegging on & sometimes get encouragement. Our morning congregations are very poor, but in the Evening we generally get good crowds.

I suppose you are just resting now, & if you are able to write, I shall be glad to have a line from you, with some particulars of your circle.

My Wife enjoys living in the beautiful climate we have in the Transvaal, & the young people all have good health.

We had a pretty rough time of it during the War, but all survived the dangers. The 3 big boys were at the Front all the time. I was a Lieutenant in the Colonial Defence Force, Cape Colony. I was also acting as Secretary for the Rand Relief Fund in Cape Town for two years, & had thirty thousand Refugees through my hands. The severe, Strenuous character of this work, together with the anxiety about the Boys, affected my heart Seriously, it is very weak now, & I have to be very careful. For five years after the War, I was a helpless invalid, unable to work. Rev Amos Burnet is my Superintendent & he is also Chairman of the Transvaal & Zwazieland District, do you know him. We have also Revs John Howard, & J A. Girdler of the East London Mission fame.

Hoping that you have good health & with Kindest remembrances, I am
Your loving Cousin
Charlie W. Harrison