This Mission Station covers an area as large
as that of the whole of England, so that its claim to be the greatest
in the Primitive Methodist Church is not difficult to substantiate.
Although the name of Aliwal North is still given to the Station
it now extends widely through Cape Province, the Orange Free State
and the Transvaal.
Aliwal itself is a beautiful little town 4,500 feet above the sea level, and one of the healthiest Municipalities in South Africa. It is on the banks of the Orange River on the border of the Free State. A great variety of work is undertaken on this Station. In Aliwal and Jamestown we have self supporting European Churches and two new European Churches have been commenced recently in Johannesburg without any cost to the Missionary Committee, but our chief work is amongst the natives and half-castes. Amongst the natives our work is chiefly with the Basutos, but many other tribes, such as the Sexosas, Fingoes, etc., are members of our Church. The half-castes are chiefly Dutch speaking people, so that our services are conducted in three or four languages, and it is not at all uncommon for a European speaker to have interpreters conveying his thoughts to the different sections of his congregations. We have a separate Church for the Dutch-speaking people, but in most other districts the natives and half-castes meet together. We have now 1,500 Church members, and during the last twelve months we have reported an increase of over 200. There are 52 places in which services are held. We have a staff of seven ministers, four Europeans and three Natives which will probably be augmented in the near future. We have also a Staff of over 100 local preachers, and there are twelve Native Teaching Evangelists. We hold on the average about 100 services a week. There are nearly 600 scholars in our schools and 200 Catechumen members. Nearly £6oo a year is raised on the ground, and it is fully expected that all costs of future developments will be met by an increasing revenue. The latest development of our work in Johannesburg and the Transvaal has had rapid and gratifying success, and the Rev. H. Ogden is now in charge of this work. It must be remembered that Johannesburg is nearly 500 miles from Aliwal North, and it would be impossible to superintend the work in detail from the original headquarters. Within the last twelve months three new Churches have been built and paid for, and three others are contemplated immediately; they will be erected without charge to the Missionary Committee.
In this Station we have proof of the real value of missions to the natives. After nearly 40 years, strong Churches have been established and many consistent Christians may be found in them. Most natives employed in positions of trust in the town have been educated in our schools and trained in our church; some of them are already in the Christian Ministry and others are studying as candidates. The results of our work are seen too in the homes of the natives. The Christian homes are scrupulously clean, and fairly furnished, some of them even possess sewing machines and musical instruments. We have nine native day schools all doing good work. The work of the Native Training Institute has been discontinued. As we can send our students to the larger Training Institutes already provided, our work is concentrated on elementary education and evangelistic work. The work of conversion goes steadily on, and the Class Meetings are splendidly attended, and carried through with all the fire and enthusiasm that characterised these meetings in the early days of our history in the Home Land.
The natives have been taught to support their church according to their means; it is expected that every full member shall pay at the rate of 2/- for his class-ticket, and this is strictly adhered to; those who are unable to do so one quarter, usually pay up their arrears the next. Members on trial contribute 1/- a quarter, and collections are taken at each Sunday service. As the wealth of the natives, especially on the farms, consists in sheep and cattle, it is not unusual to see a native leading in a sheep with him to sacrament, which is the class money for himself and family. It is inspiring to see the way in which our Native members flock to the sacrament; they appreciate most highly this great institution, and only serious illness or insuperable difficulties will keep them away. Some of them travel six hours on horse-back, and many of our members come twenty miles on foot for the sacraments; on these occasions our churches are quite crowded.
The songs of our Native services are a great inspiration, the full, mellow Voices of the women and the rolling, sonorous bass of the men producing effects quite sublime. No musical instruments are used to lead the singing, for none are needed. The natives are taught in the school from the Tonic Solfa Notation and are good readers of music.
Those who have not heard them sing can scarcely imagine the almost overpowering effect of hearing these natives sing some of the grand Methodist tunes to hymns in their own language; such tunes as: Haverhill, Reuben, Careys, Yorkshire, Duke, Street, Creation, Comfort, Cranbrook, are sung with enthusiasm and swing and timbre, which cannot be surpassed even by the miners of the North of England.
Admission into membership in the church is very carefully guarded; sometimes persons are kept on trial for quite a number of years, until their knowledge of the truth of the Gospel warrants their being received as full members. There are now nearly 500 members on trial in the Aliwal North Circuit.
Travelling to the out stations is no light matter in the summer time, the heat is often 100 degrees in the shade and to ride under a blazing sun is most trying; as a matter of fact the journey is usually commenced in the early morning as soon as it is light enough to see the road, and continued until towards noon, when man and horse rest until the late afternoon.
It is fully expected that the Government will very shortly undertake the construction of a railway from Aliwal North to Wepener. This will be a tremendous boon to us, as the railway will link up many of our chief preaching places and long and tedious cart and saddle journeys will be avoided.
GEORGE AYRE.
Source: "Primitive
Methodist Missions, Aliwal North", by Rev. George Ayre, pamphlet
published London c1910?