Quotation . . . [emphasis added e.g. Watson]

ALIWAL NORTH is decidedly one of the healthiest and most delightful up-country towns in South Africa, situated as it is on the Orange River, 4,500 feet above sea-level. Its mineral springs are one of the glories of South Africa. Its air is invigorating. Its beauty attracts more and more visitors every year. But for Methodists it has its own interest as the home of what was the Primitive Methodist Mission in South Africa, a mission whose history is full of romance and the joy of victories won for the cross.

It was in 1870 that the Mission began. John D. Lindsay sent to England asking that a minister should be sent, and Henry Buckenham and others began a work that was to make Aliwal for a long time a certain source of enrichment of missionary interest in Primitive Methodism, and to lead to even larger developments elsewhere.

Services were begun in the Court-house for Europeans, and very speedily a Bantu church was built, which from the first was an outstanding success. Conversions were frequent, and among both races the church began to take a dominant place. Its roots firmly established in Aliwal North itself, the Church spread outwards year by year, till in due course its stations covered an area 150 miles by 60 or 70, in the Cape, the Orange Free State, and Basutoland.

Henry Buckenham was followed by others who, in their varied ways, extended the usefulness of the Mission. Indeed, Aliwal has always been peculiarly well served by its staff. Out of the ranks of its ministry came three presidents of the Primitive Methodist Church -- John Smith, John Watson, and George E. Butt. E. W. Smith, author of many books, and an acknowledged authority on Africa of world-renown, was born there. The Rev. A. A. Kidwell, serving the church splendidly as a minister and on the Rand, was born at Jamestown, in the Aliwal circuit. The Rev. George Ayre, the present African Secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society, served the circuit for twelve years, and saw great developments. The Rev. F. Pickering, a pioneer missionary, who served all the Primitive Methodist African fields, was there for five years. And others could be mentioned.

John Watson took a vigorous interest in the life of the town, and for a while was a Government Commissioner. George E. Butt, whose son served with him, had perhaps the most romantic and fruitful ministry of all. He started a training school in carpentry, and prepared African evangelists and ministers for their work; and though the school had eventually to be discontinued it did splendid work. He was in Aliwal during the Anglo-Boer war, and for a while was imprisoned during the Boer occupation.

The circuit has always been rich, too, in its African ministry. From Aliwal went the pioneer party who opened up Northern Rhodesia in Primitive Methodism, and a thrilling journey they had, needing three years to reach their objective. The heroism of that journey is an epic of modern missions. There followed several of Aliwal's African leaders and evangelists, who did good work. And in Aliwal circuit itself there has always been a virile African church life ...

Education had always been fostered in this mission. In addition to the training school in Aliwal, schools were opened in every town and hamlet, there being twenty-five such at the time of Union. In the earlier days this meant a heavy charge on mission funds. To-day the Government largely shoulders the bill ...

Source: "The Romance of Aliwal North", by Rev. Charles Crabtree, unidentified Methodist Missionary publication, unknown date (late 1930's?)