• In Isolation by W. W. Macindoe.
• Carl Martin Frederick Fisher: 1857-1932 by C. R. Burdeu.
• John W. Baker by Randall T. Pittman.
• Women's Conference by Wilkie J. Thomson.
• The First Australian Hymn Book of Our Churches by Wilkie J. Thomson.
• The Society's Report Submitted to Federal Conference, 1966 by C. R. Burdeu, Wilkie J. Thomson, and R. N. Gilmore.

      What would we do without history or some knowledge of the past? We would have nothing on which to build. All advances in science, in industry, in the welfare and betterment of the human race are built upon men's thoughts committed to clay, parchment or paper. Modern discoveries of science, in any field, are based upon the fragments of former discoveries, which, had they been lost, present day researchers would have had to start at the beginning. So is it with Christian faith. The Lord's teaching, the work of the apostles, the trials, conquests or errors of the churches, all must come under the searching light of time and the right and true gathered together with which each and every generation may continue to build, if it will, its part of a structure of noble and lasting faith.--W.J.T.

      Fourteen years ago, on a stormy night, we sailed from Sydney by the S.S. Cooloon, on our way to Dorrigo and a new sphere of life. It was a rough passage though a short one, and we landed safely at Coffs Harbour where we rested for a night. Next morning the women and children went on to Bellingen by coach; we proceeded more slowly with the horses and cattle, and did not reach the last named village till daylight was gone. We were hospitably accommodated in the home of Bro. Greenhalgh and two days later continued our journey to Dorrigo. Our selection was reached six days after leaving Sydney.

      We found ourselves hundreds of miles from the nearest church following the teaching of the New Testament and sixteen miles from the nearest school. Everything about the selection was in the roughest state and the undergrowth had grown up since the clearing, so that in most places we could not see many feet ahead of us. It was lonely and looked far from encouraging but had to be faced.

      For years my eldest son and I worked from daybreak till dark clearing away the undergrowth--even rain did not stop us. At night, after tea, the schooling of the two younger children had to be attended to, and lessons set for them to do next day. In this way they got along fairly well. The greatest deprivation was the lack of church fellowship. For many years we had been in close touch with the work of the churches in and around Sydney and to be suddenly cut right off from it was painful. We had to make the best of this also, so the Lord's Table was set up in the house, and from that time, with one unavoidable exception, we have observed The Feast every First day . . . "

      (The above is taken from a longer article which was published in The Christian Messenger (N.S.W.) about 1915. The family left Sydney early in January, 1911. He writes further about how to help isolated brethren, commends the Women's Conference for their work in keeping in touch with the isolated and concludes by saying that members should be taught before they go away. "Remember," he writes, "We are reformers not party builders." W. W. Macindoe passed away at the age of 88 in 1955 and his wife two years earlier.)--Ed.

      After Bro. Fischer attended the first Federal (Intercolonial) Conference in Melbourne in 1889 the Christian Pioneer reported that "Carl Fischer took us by surprise with his eloquent plea for a mission to Germans in Australia. Brethren had no idea that so quiet looking brother could arouse so much enthusiasm." Obviously they did not really know this Queenslander.

      He was one of the most dynamic personalities among the pioneers. He was a pioneer for he belonged to the German Baptists who came over to the Disciples following Stephen Cheek's mission at Zillmans Waterholes in 1882. He appears never to have rested. Vie was fully dedicated to his Lord and travelled from one end Of Queensland to the other on behalf of the churches. He preached quite a lot in German and English. If there was anything important going on in the churches Bro. Fischer would be there no matter what distance it meant he had to travel. He was used a lot in house to house visitation. He was always after souls. Some of the families he introduced to the Lord are still a force in the Queensland brotherhood. He was one of our greatest men of all time.

      He came with his parents from Germany when he was nine years of age. They were Lutheran. When he was Christened as an infant numerous friends and relatives of the family came, many acted as sponsors. As the laws of the church permitted only four sponsors the parents were fined for every additional one. On arrival in Australia they helped to form a German Baptist church at Nundah, in the early Calvinistic days. For conversion one had to travail to "come through". Carl "came through" after considerable anxiety, helped by his devoted father. At that time he was 11 years of age. His baptism was delayed for seven months, to his disappointment, but he was being tested. At the age of 13 he attended the first Baptist Conference, 1870. Bro. Fischer relates that this Conference finished with a Love Feast that lasted all night. At the age of 14 he was asked to give a public testimony. He did so but it ended in being a sermon to the congregation. From that day he was looked to for regular preaching, in German of course. At that period Rosewood was being opened up for settlement and the adults were going there to settle. This helped Carl to have preaching engagements. However this was brought to a close by his expulsion as he was a Good Templar and refused to recant. That would account for his ardour on behalf of Temperance. He then became a member of the German Baptist Church at Zillmere. Everything went smoothly until Stephen Cheek arrived from Victoria with F. Troy. After Cheek had preached for a week Fischer moved that they use scriptural names and celebrate the Lord's Supper weekly. For this he was expelled again. When he withdrew the whole church followed. The building became the first Church of Christ premises in Queensland. This was on the corner of Church Street and Zillmere Road. I remember seeing the remains of this old building in 1933. Another building was erected a hundred yards up the street and this is where the members still meet. Every second Sunday for years he visited the churches below the Range. Other Sundays he was at Roma, on the Range at Toowoomba, Warwick, etc., as well as Brisbane Zillmere. Later to be more effective in the Lord's work he opened a shop in Brisbane Street, Ipswich. He soon got to know people and to speak a word and was able to start a Church in one of his upstairs rooms. Bro. Fischer had a marriage license. He travelled long distances to marry members for there were very few ministers in those days. In 1938 a couple announced in the papers their golden wedding. They showed that they were married by C. M. F. Fischer in 1888. Bro. Fischer was elected first Vice-President of the Queensland Conference, 1884. He was President five times, Conference Secretary three years. He died March 11, 1932, his wife survived him and died July 11, 1942. His descendants are still in the churches.--C. R. Burdeu, Queensland.

      An article in "The Australian Christian" (April 16, 1966) appreciative of the work of J. B. Baker as hospital chaplain in Adelaide called to my mind the fact that his grandfather, John W. Baker, set a great example of hospital visitation during his forty years of ministry at North Fitzroy, Victoria.

      With the help of obituary notices published soon after the time of his death, I have gathered some facts concerning J. W. Baker, whom 1 knew personally and admired for his valuable services to Christ and the church.

      Mr. Baker was born at Kilmore, Victoria, in 1861, and for some time lived at Castlemaine and Chewton. There he came under the influence of Stephen Cheek. In 1882 he came to Melbourne, and joined the staff of the "Age", with which paper he was associated till the time of his death. He entered into fellowship with the church at North Fitzroy, at that time a large congregation, and when C. L. Thurgood finished his ministry there the officers invited J. W. Baker to carry on. His work with the "Age" kept him busy at night, but he managed to keep up the preaching services, and used much of his daytime for visitation. As he was in receipt of income from the newspaper, he was able to use much of what he received from the church in the alleviation of sufferings of the poor and needy. He paid regular visits to hospitals, especially to the hospital for chronic diseases.

      J. W. Baker was a forthright preacher of the gospel, and his ministry at North Fitzroy was very fruitful. During his work there he organised a fluid for the erection of a large building for Sunday School and youth activities. With the help of a legacy this came to fruition, but unfortunately the exodus from the inner suburbs meant that the plans for a large work among young people were not realised to the full.

      Mr. Baker served the brotherhood well is a member of the Home Missionary Committee for some years. In 1911 he was president of the Victorian Conference.

      After an illness of many months, J. W. Baker died in February, 1942. His memory is treasured by a great company of those who knew and honoured him.--RANDALL T. PITTMAN, Victoria.

      The United Women's work commenced in Victoria about 1863 in the home of Mrs. J. A. Davies. The meetings were for prayer. The first Conference of Women was held in Buninyong near Ballarat, where the late Jas. A. Hamill did so much good work. This was in connection with the Ballarat and District Evangelistic Union and was in 1884. In 1887 the women resolved to help conference by preparing dinners on Good Friday's and served over 1000 dinners on that day at each Conference. What good work! What good Conferences!

      The first Constituted Women's Federal Conference was held in Adelaide in 1941, Mrs. A. L. Read was the President and Mrs. M. Trowbridge Secretary. A history of the Women's Conference has been written by Mrs. V. C. Stafford in Provocative Pamphlet, No. 107, January, 1964, entitled "Women at Work". Erie S. Steele of Ballarat has written, "In reference in the April Digest to Ballarat in 1865: The Meredith Church no longer exists, the building having been shifted to Norlane, Geelong. Buninyong Church has also been closed for many years. As for Pitfield Plains, the only thing going on there in the wide open spaces is farming activity."

      Because of the multiplicity of Hymn books used by our churches in the Victorian Conference in 1884 resolved "That it is desirable that a uniform book should be used by our churches throughout the colony," and appointed a committee of seven to report upon the question. In 1885 this committee reported the collection of 300 hymns, the first third of the proposed book. The matter was referred back to them with a view of reducing the number of hymns, to forward a sample of the print to the churches and if responses warranted to print the book. As Federation was "in the air" it was seen that this should be a book for Australia. It was a rather discouraging report that was presented in 1886, that of all the churches contacted as to how many books would be required only one had replied. But the brethren were not downcast and the following resolutions were moved:--

1. That steps be taken with a view to securing the co-operation of the brethren in all the Australian colonies, so that the proposed new hymn book may be of a federal character.
2. That a sub-committee be appointed to carry out the following resolutions subject to the approval of the editors of the A. C. Standard.
• That all proposed hymns or first lines of hymns be printed in the A. C. Standard from month to month.
• That brethren in all the colonies who are interested should be invited to send on hymns and suggestions.
• That the general committee should finally revise and print.
• That Brethren Illingworth and Dunn be a sub-committee to carry out these suggestions.

      It was decided to interview the printer of one of the present books in use and to report at a later stage. Brethren Dunn, Sinclair and Little were the committee.

      That evening in the conference the committee reported as follows:

1. That the Conference retain proprietary rights in proposed hymn book.
2. That in view of the loss which Bro. Smith will sustain through the publishing of a new hymn book by the conference it is recommended:--
1. That Bro. Smith be entrusted with the printing of the said book, subject to conditions to be hereafter agreed upon.
2. That he be allowed all the profits accruing from the sale of the said book for a period of five years.
3. That in consideration of the foregoing, Bro. Smith to agree to destroy or hand over to the conference all copies, sheets or stereos that he may have left on hand.

      That in order that the committee could have the means to carry out the publishing work it recommended that 200 shares be issued at £1 each and that brethren be urged to take out as many shares as possible. 120 shares were at once subscribed for this guarantee fund."

      In the same issue of The Australian Christian Standard the editors published a list of 74 hymns under the heading "God The Father", "God In Creation" and "God In Providence".--(To be continued).--W.J.T.

      We are privileged and thankful to make this third Annual report to Federal Conference. Not being a policy making organisation but dealing in facts of the past and present in relation to the Brotherhood our reports are somewhat singular to conference. The Society not only deals in interesting events but brings forward, when called for, facts concerning the basis of the Restoration Movement, its purpose, growth and general history.

      There are now 114 members of which 70 are churches. The annual membership fee is $1 and Life Membership $20. There are two Life Members, Mr. R. S. Ryall and Miss P. Ellis, both of Victoria.

      The Digest of the Australian Churches of Christ Historical Society is published quarterly and sent out to members. It contains short biographies and accounts of the commencement of the work in various fields. In this way a further history of the Brotherhood is being built up. Wilkie J. Thomson, the editor, wishes to thank all the contributors to the journal. An exchange of journals is made with the Disciples' Historical Society of America.

      A Historical Display was held in Hobart in 1962 arranged by Josiah Park and in Brisbane in 1964 arranged by C. R. Burdeu. We trust Conference visitors will see the display in Melbourne and that the Society will have the practical interest of the churches throughout Australia.

      Meetings of the Committee are held bi-monthly and at Federal Conference when some interstate Historians attend. Some valuable old documents, books and relies have been retained for the Brotherhood by the keenness of the various States. Micro-films of the Campbell documents found in Australia were presented to the Society by S.A. at the last Federal Conference. The originals were presented to the American Society.

      Much has been done in the short time the Society has been operating but very much more could be done if a part-time officer could be engaged and proper archives commenced. From time to time the Executive Committee has given some financial help which has been very much appreciated but the work is carried on voluntarily and most of the expense is borne by those who do it.

Committee members are C. R. Burdeu, President; W. J. Thomson, Chairman; R. N. Gilmore, Acting Secretary; A. B. Clark, H. A. G. Clark, K. J. Clinton, L. S. Dewberry, R. H. Patterson, R. T. Pittman, D. A. V. Thomas.

(Signed) C. R. Burdeu,      
W. J. Thomson,      
R. N. Gilmore.      

      Errata--In the April issue of this journal the date of the birth of W. C. Craigie was given as 1834. This should have read 1854. Please make the correction on your copy.

      The Society is endeavouring to preserve all records of churches and people of the past, as well as present. Please forward all diaries, brochures, letters, histories, etc., either to your State Historian or to the Federal Society.

      State Historians are:--

      W. J. Thomson, 217 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria.

      C. Bowser, 35 Point Road, Woolwich, New South Wales.

      C. R. Burdeu, Kenmore Christian College, Kenmore, Queensland.

      D. Whyatt, 38 Aver Avenue, Colonel Light Gardens, South Australia.

      A. Pyne, 142 Beaufort Street, Perth, West Australia.

      J. Park, 21 Faraday Street, West Hobart, Tasmania.

      Wilkie J. Thomson, Editor of this paper, welcomes correspondence and short articles dealing with the history of Churches of Christ in Australia or people associated with them.