• William Cameron Craigie: 1854-1936 by Randall T. Pittman.
• Thomas Henry Scambler: 1879-1944 by Wilkie J. Thomson
• T. G. Mason: 1867-1944 by C. R. Burdeu
• Decades of Service: 1895 - by Josiah Park
• Our Church Hymn Books by Wilkie J. Thomson.
• Ballarat in 1865 by C. R. Burdeu.

      "The missionary arm of the Church, wherever strong, has produced literature of a high order . . . A unique type of British life is fast being obliterated by that scythe which destroys everything which has not been transferred from memory to paper, and pioneers can seldom put anything adequately on paper Footprints on sands of the inland are not impressed on time."

Flynn of the Inland.

      Will you put what you know of people and churches on paper and send to the Editor please.

      W. C. Craigie was born at Portsoy, Banffshire, in 1854. He was baptised at Banff at the age of eighteen. He later went to Glasgow, and then to England, where he served as deacon in several of our churches, including Sheffield and Bradford. Owing to the illness of his wife, he decided to leave for New Zealand. With his wife (who died on the voyage) and two young children, he left London in 1882. My parents, who knew him well in England, took me as a babe in arms to the ship to say good-bye.

      Mr. Craigie stayed in Dunedin, New Zealand, for a brief period, then came to Victoria, where he took membership with the church at Lygon Street in 1883. He soon became prominent in brotherhood work, and became a member of the Home Missionary Committee, of which he was a member in all, about 45 years. He was Conference President in 1897, and again in 1905 and 1920. He was Conference treasurer for 31 years. Many other important positions were occupied by W. C. Craigie. When the Austral Publishing Company was formed, he was a director, and became first chairman of directors. He was treasurer of the College of the Bible from its inception in 1907 till shortly before his death. He also served as member of the Church Extension Committee and of the Advisory Board.

      W. C. Craigie was known as a friend of preachers, and on many occasions preachers met him and one another in his business premises in Little Collins Street. He was a tailor, a very busy man, but he always found time to speak word of encouragement to those engaged in the ministry of the word. In 1886 he married Miss. Maria Haines, and there were several children of the second marriage. His home at Hawthorn was well known for the gracious hospitality extended to many. There he died on July 4, 1936, a man much beloved by a great company of brethren and friends.--RANDALL T. PITTMAN.

      T. H. Scambler was born at Joyce's Creek, Victoria, of English parents who had joined the Restoration Movement through the preaching of Stephen Check. They, with others, formed a little church meeting a few miles away at Newstead. Harry, as he was called, was baptised by W. W. Davey in the River Lodden.

      He attended the State school at Joyce's Creek until the age of 14 when he left to help on his father's farm. But he continued studying often taking memory assignments and lists of words etc., to learn as he followed the plough.

      Having an early desire to be a preacher of the gospel, he took a correspondence course from Melbourne to gain entrance to a university.

      His first attempt at public speaking was at the age of 13 when he addressed the little group of Christians at Newstead. At the age of 15, he wrote his first letter to "The Australian Christian." Accompanied by his cousin, a little older than himself, he tried preaching in the open air at nearby towns, sometimes receiving rather rough treatment and ridicule.

      At the age of 18 he went to Melbourne for further study at a High School and a course at our earliest Bible College in Carlton.

      Whilst a student in Melbourne, he preached at Ascot Vale, receiving 5/- a week. A Melbourne business man, a member of a city church, offered to provide money for his advanced education if he would sign an understanding to spend his life as a preacher of the gospel. This he sincerely hoped to do, but refused to bind himself in this way, so the offer was not accepted.

      His first appointment under the H.M. committee was to Echuca, which included a very large circuit, taking in Kyabram, Toolombra, Shepparton and Cosgrove. He covered the distances by bicycle or horse and trap. He accepted a call by the W.A.H.M. Committee to Boulder City, then a very tough gold mining town. From there he went to Bunbury where there was but a small congregation with no church building. He assisted with evangelistic meetings at Collie and other centres. While at Bunbury, his young wife, formerly Dolly Jordan, of Ascot Vale, died.

      At the age of 20, he received a call from the church at Lake Street, Perth. Here to an advanced degree he felt the need for a more extensive education. Shortly after his second marriage (to Beatrice McEwen of Cookernup, W.A.), they sold their possessions and left early in 1907 for Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A., where he studied for four years, graduating with the B.A. degree and the Bible College diploma. They were strenuous years, marked by shortage of money, week-end preaching appointments which meant long hours of travelling, and conducting evangelistic sessions during the vacations. In one lean period, he wrote a story for "The Christian Standard" for which he received a few welcome dollars.

      After his graduation, he received invitations to some attractive appointments in the U.S.A., but decided to return to Australia. They sailed for England in 1911 and during a short stay in London, he held a 9-day mission at Fulham Cross where the British Brethren conducted a Community Mission work at Twynholm Hall. There were 32 decisions.

      On his return to Australia, he went to Kalgoorlie under the W.A. H.M. Committee and then for 21 years to Maylands. He accepted an invitation to Hawthorn, Victoria, where he spent 14 happy, strenuous years. After a couple of years building up the church through evangelistic effort a Chandler-Clay Tent Mission was held when 242 confessed Christ as Saviour. He continued to preach to crowded congregations making use of charts. Some of these series ran for 12 weeks and were held in the Hawthorn Town Hall over the winter and attracted students from all over Melbourne. But his messages all had a personal application to life. Despite his preaching and heavy pastoral duties he took his Dip. Ed. at the Melbourne University. During the absence of H. E. Knott he lectured at The College of the Bible, Glen Iris, and when Mr. Knott decided to remain in the U.S.A., Mr. Scambler was appointed to the faculty. He was the author of many tracts and booklets, the novel "Constant Stars" and "Sermon Construction" as well as numerous articles in religious journals and the very popular series, "A Preacher on Holiday", in "The Australian Christian". He engaged in a public debate with 1. S. Langley, Secretary of the Rationalistic Association on "Is Christianity True", which was later published in book form. He served on many conference committees and was Victorian Conference President in 1919.

      In 1929 he resigned from Hawthorn and then served at Box Hill and later Swanston Street until appointed Principal of the College of the Bible on the retirement of A. R. Main. In this office he raised the standard of education and emphasised the need of evangelism to the students, initiating chosen teams to hold missions with him during term vacation holidays.

      He took an interest in music through E. W. Pittman and studied the Tonic Sol-Fa system. Later he studied Harmony at Drake University Conservatorium. He taught himself to play the organ and composed some hymns, both words and music. One of his best known hymns is "The Call of God Resounding."

      Those who knew T. H. Scambler well would know of his self-disciplined life. He seemed to sense danger in slackness and too much bodily comfort. He

rose at 6 a.m. and took a cold shower, summer and winter and engaged in physical exercises. He knew the ever increasing need of personal contact with Christ and was conscious of His presence, power and guidance.

      At the age of 65, while on his way to a meeting at which he was to speak, on October 31, 1944, he died. He was a Christian brother and gentleman in every sense of the words.

      (From M.S.S. and Notes supplied by his widow, Mrs. B. Scambler, of Hartwell, Victoria. Mrs. Scambler was baptised by T. Haggar at the age of 15 at Fremantle, W.A.)

      Although T. G. Mason was not one of our pioneer preachers, he served during the middle years when full-time ministers were scarce. Thomas George Mason was born in 1867 at Balranald, N.S.W. He married Mary Elizabeth Ayre in 1890 at Echuca, Vic. Like so many of our preachers in the middle years, he did not receive a theological training. T. G. Mason was brought up in the Salvation Army. He became a sergeant-major. His parents were salvationists too. His soul was set on fire by Torrey in the Torrey-Alexander mission in 1903. Soon after this he became minister of our Echuca church where he served for two years. He moved about a fair amount, but in those days many churches were poor and could not keep a paid ministry for long. In the early and middle years a preacher in Queensland was expected to share the ministry with as many churches as he could manage to visit by train and horseback. On two occasions T.G.M. travelled hundreds of miles into the country to marry church folk. After Echuca, Vic., T.G.M. served at Shepparton, Vic., Gympie, Roma, West Moreton Circuit, MaMa Creek and Kingaroy in Qld., Bangalow in N.S.W., Long Plains, Strathalbyn, Milang, Point Sturt S.A. He retired to Maryborough in Queensland in 1935. Here he was persuaded to undertake a ministry in the new and small church at Nanango, Q., where J. E. Thomas had just concluded a mission. When stationed at Gympie, Q., he took the initiative to save their (then) new building in the Crescent, now sold. The property was mortgaged to the Bank and was threatened to be sold to a denomination because payments were in arrears. T. G. Mason died in 1944 and was buried by the Presbyterian minister, Rev. McKay. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mason are buried in Nanango Cemetery.--C. R. Burdeu.

      Mrs. (Madge) Staples comes of a Christian family, her father, the late J. Gindes, was treasurer of the West Hobart church for over 24 years. She was baptised during Geo. Manifold's ministry at the age of 17 and received into membership of the Collins Street church on January 21, 1912.

      She served as secretary of the Girls' Mission Band for some time and taught in Bible School at West Hobart after the Hinrichsen Mission till married towards the end of 1922. Teaching also in Collins Street, she acted as Treasurer and Corresponding Secretary to the Conference Executive for some ten years.

      In 1940 she commenced a wonderful work in connection with our Aborigines' Mission, purchased material and cut out and distributed such to be made up. One such effort used up more than 200 yards of material. An expert cutter, she continued this dedicated service for 21 years until forced by ill health and arthritic hands to give up. Who knows the number of children thus clothed?

      This consecrated, unassuming, talented servant of God deserves the grateful thanks of our Brotherhood and particularly that of the Aborigines' Mission Board.

      Mrs. Staples still attends Collins Street when health permits. May the words of the Master cheer her in declining years "Inasmuch . . . ye did it unto Me."--Josiah Park, Hobart.

      In the Victorian Churches of Christ archives are four old hymn books and to us quite valuable.

      The oldest of these was published by our British brethren and edited by James Wallis, Editor of "The British Millennial Harbinger." Its date of publication is 1848 and was brought to Australia by Mrs. A. Abercrombie, whose name appears on the first Melbourne Church roll and numbered 18 thereon.

      It contains a translation of the New Testament by "Doctors George Campbell, James McKnight and Philip Dodderidge with preface and general emendations, etc., by Alexander Campbell." The hymns cover the various divisions such as we have today, some being given to Christian Love and Union, The Church Triumphant on Earth and the Second Advent. Nor were the children or the seasons forgotten. The hymnal portion is entitled Christian Praise for the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. The hymns are preceded by an essay of over 2000 words and with 14 points on Praise.

      The second hymnal is an original Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs compiled by A. Campbell, W. Scott, B. W. Stone and J. T. Johnson. This is a fifth edition and is dated 1864. In the almost 2000 word preface, Campbell says, "We flatter ourselves that we have in this volume the cream of the most evangelical and scriptural poetic compositions now extant, and on such a variety of subjects and occasions as will meet all the wants and circumstances of the Christian community, as individuals, families and congregations." There was a sharp line of difference between psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in those days and so he writes: "1--Psalms are historic compositions or poetic narratives. 2--Hymns are songs of praise in which the excellencies, glories and gracious acts of some persons are extolled. 3--Spiritual songs are either songs, the matter of which was immediately suggested by the Holy Spirit; or sentimental songs, composed on the divine communications to men."

      One statement which he makes is worth noting. ". . . My observation goes to prove that in no one community are there more than some one or two scores of favourite songs: I mean songs or hymns frequently sung. In all my travels, and they are not within narrow limits, I find only one or two dozen universal favourites, sung almost daily, especially at large public meetings."

      The inscription within the cover of this dainty little book made for mittened hands is E. M. McGirr, member of The Christian Church, Lygon Street, Carlton.

      Book No. 3 is the first Australian edition published in 1867. The preface tells us that because, in England and the U.S.A., publication of the two former books had ceased, and the increasing demand for them in Australia, office-bearers of the Church of Christ, Lygon Street, formed a company to furnish the capital to re-publish in Melbourne the new Christian Hymn Book, which was revised and enlarged.

      The committee of publishers was composed of G. L. Surber, A. Thomson and C. G. Lawson. Thomas Smith of Fitzroy was the printer. This book belonged to E. W. Abercrombie of Hotham.

      The fourth hymnal is a second edition of the above and dated 1869. It is inscribed "To Mrs. McColl from a loving sister in Christ, September 6, 1882." The Committee for this edition was G. L. Surber and 0. A. Carr. The reasons given for this further publication are: 1--The first edition is exhausted. 2--the amount expended on the first edition would be lost if another book were adopted. 3--Because of the increased demand for the book throughout the colonies.

      We will hope to write more concerning our hymn books at a later date.--Wilkie J. Thomson.

      My attention has been drawn to the Ecclesiastical Section, page 153 of the Ballarat and Ballarat East Trade Directory of 1865/66, compiled by F. M. Dicker. It records the churches as follows:--

      Church of England, Presbyterian, Methodist, Disciples of Christ.--C. R. Burdeu.

      At the last meeting of The Federal Society Committee, plans were discussed regarding a meeting and meal together of Society members and of those interested. If you are coming to Federal Conference in October and would be in any way interested, would you write and let the committee know. Send to R. N. Gilmore, 16 Alverna Grove. Brighton, Victoria. Present Membership 114.

Thanks to Mrs. Knight of Dover, Tasmania. Letter and donation, $2.

Wilkie J. Thomson, Editor, 143 Surrey Road, Blackburn, Victoria, Phone 878-1649.