• James Edgar Laing (1843-1897) by Randall T. Pittman.
• The Home Church by H. F. Gross.
• Missionary John Thompson: 1859-1945 by C. R. Burdeu.

      ". . . my mother opened her home to an elderly spinster who had spent the best part of her life as a servant in a doctor's home. She had been born in Wales and as a child had lived in several parts of England. She was full Of quaint sayings which were the more laughable because she had never lost her accent despite her years in Australia . . . After my mother's death the dear soul said to me, "I'm a norder but your mother was worse of a norder". Of course she meant "hoarder".--From The Annals of Canningwood.

      It is from these very "hoardings" of my mother's; scrap-books of newspaper cuttings, letters, cards, photos etc., that I am able to piece together some of the history of churches and people--Ed.

      One of the scholars of the early days of our movement in Victoria was J. E. Laing, M.A. He was in line of descent from staunch Covenanters in Scotland. Baptised at the age of eighteen at Dumfries, he went later to Edinburgh University. While there he was associated with the church where Thomas Hughes Milner laboured.

      In 1864 he came with his wife to Victoria, and both were engaged in educational work in the Bet Bet district. J. E. Laing attended the church at Maryborough, and was among those who helped to begin the cause at Dunolly. He became inspector of schools, and settled in Hawthorn, where he gave valued help to the church. Later he became a member at Lygon Street, and was in membership at the time of his death.

      Bro. Laing served the brotherhood well. He was a member of the Home Missionary Committee for several years, and became conference president in 1892. He also contributed the conference essay in 1881 upon the subject, "The Relation of Modern Scepticism to Primitive Christianity". He wrote articles for our church papers, and he lectured in the Victorian Biblical Institute. When a committee was appointed in 1884 to prepare a new hymn book for use in the churches, J. E. Laing was made a member of it, and he continued his association with it till the end of his life. The hymn book produced was "Psalms and Hymns".

      My personal knowledge of J. E. Laing relates to an important part of his scholastic career, of which our church papers had little to say. About February, 1894, J. E. Laing founded Prahran college, which at first found accommodation in St. Matthew's school-room, Prahran. I was among the first pupils, and received my first tuition in Greek and Latin from this well-qualified man. Later the school moved to "East Leigh", a fine property in East Prahran. After the death of J. E. Laing the school was carried on largely by his daughters. Several of our preachers and others received help there, especially through coaching work by Miss Annie Laing, M.A.

      A fact worth recording illustrates the tolerance in matters of opinion exercised by the brethren. At the Victorian Preachers' Fraternal, three papers were given on "The Destiny of the Wicked". The first, taking what was then the "orthodox" view, was by J. K. Henshelwood, advocating the theory of eternal conscious suffering. The second was by J. E. Laing, who favoured the universalist position. The third was by my father, Joseph Pittman, who claimed that the Scriptural evidence supported the ultimate destruction of the wicked. The three papers were printed together in a booklet, without comment.

      In the obituary notices of the death of J. E. Laing, tributes were paid to his gentle character, the tolerance shown to those who differed from his views, his

patience as a sufferer, and his strong faith as a Christian scholar--Randall T. Pittman, B.A., Dip.Ed.(Vic).

      When I was a little boy my grandfather, Thomas Edwin (Ted) Haines made me a model of the interior of the Lygon Street Church of Christ. It was a ground plan model, without roof or walls. Small pieces of wood represented the pews, and 1 used to play with it by pushing my marbles into the "pews", and pretending they were "Mrs. Haddow" or "Mrs. McColl" or "Mr. Haines". The church at Lygon Street, Carlton, where my mother grew tip, where she met my father, and where her parents before her had been members since about 1890, was an all-pervasive influence from my youngest years. Names like Haddow, McColl, Dickens, McClean, Craigie, Haines, Prittie, Crichton and Tippett, were constantly in the air.

      But until quite recently, I did not know how or when the Haines family became associated with Churches of Christ. I knew that my great-grandparents, Thomas and Emma Haines, were married in St. George's Church of England, Hobart, in 1857, and that my grandfather had come to Melbourne from Sandy Bay, Hobart. He had been a member of Churches of Christ, as far as I knew, all his life. But had he? When had the family been linked with Churches of Christ? Had Thomas and Emma ever joined them?

      Now some research has brought to light some of the facts. Most of the information has come from "The Australian Christian". Reference to the obituaries listed in the indexes of the bound volumes will locate the information.

      "The Australian Christian" began publication in 1898. One of its forerunners, "The Christian Pioneer", dated 21/9/1893, carries the obituary of my great-grandmother, Emma Haines. This states that she was one of the first four persons baptised by O. A. Carr, in Hobart, in 1872. Carr had been sent to Tasmania to begin the work of Churches of Christ there. A handful of folk with similar views had been meeting with the Baptists, but on Carr's arrival, began their own congregation. Carr remained in Tasmania for only twelve months.

      The report of Emma's death (written by Isaac Selby) states that she died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Haddow, and rather quaintly says that "for some years she has been the victim of a complication of complaints" which she bore "with fortitude and grace."

      Eleven and a half years later, when her husband died, James Johnson reported in "The Australian Christian", that he had been "a most faithful and consistent member of Lygon Street" for the past eighteen years. He states that Thomas Haines also joined the Hobart Church under 0. A. Carr. He must have been at least 65 years of age at the time of his baptism. He is said to have lived "a long and useful life", and for his age was in fairly good health and spirits." It is noted that all his children with their wives and husbands are in membership of the Church. Mr. Johnson added, "like a ripe shock of corn he has gone into the Eternal Garner's presence"-a rather odd slip of the poetical pen.

      Thomas and Emma lie buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery (Baptist Section C.732). Shortly after the former's death in 1905, the three months' old daughter of James Johnson was buried in the same grave. Finally, Aunt Janie, Mrs. James Haddow, was laid to rest there, in 1939. The only inscription to mark the grave is the single name "Haddow" at its foot.

      "The Australian Christian" carried obituary notices for all the children of Thomas and Emma, and the following notes are taken from them.

      . . . . Maria Margaret (Mrs. W. C. Craigie): Born 1862/3. Married 22/8/1886. Died 1/9/1928. Baptized over 50 years before by P. J. Wright. For many years a leader in the women's work at Lygon Street. On the Executive of General Dorcas for some time. Married by John Strang. "Her home was a friendly place where hospitality abounded; here she was at her best as mother and hostess".

      James Henry (Jim): Born 4/4/1867. Married 22/10/1902 at Lygon Street Church. Died 15/3/1931. Married by James Johnson. Associated with Churches of Christ for 40 years; he was "constant in attendance and labours." He was envelope secretary for the church, an ardent worker for the Bible school, and

a member of the choir. He had a genial personality. He was buried by W. Gale and S. J. Southgate.

      Mary Jane (Mrs. James Haddow): Born 1859/60. Died 29/5/1939. Baptized in Hobart at an early age. A member of Lygon Street for 54 years. Married by A. B. Maston. "A familiar figure at College functions, Conference gatherings, General Dorcas." She was also interested in the Women's Mission Band, the choir, and served on Women's Conference Executive. "Erect and gracious to the last,", she frequently attended three services each Sunday until two weeks before her death.

      Harry: Born 13/11/1875. Died 6/1/1934. Died after a long and painful illness. Had been a member at Lygon Street for 40 years. "He was interested in the music of the church, serving in the choir at Lygon Street and Swanston Street churches". The obituary was written by Reg Enniss.

      Thomas Edwin (Ted): Born 7/2/1864. Died 9/3/1941. Married, it is thought, by Isaac Selby, at the home of his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Craigie. Immersed in Tasmania approximately 60 years ago. He was agent for "The Australian Christian" for 25 years at Lygon Street. In the obituary, W. G. Graham wrote that he was characterised by "a quiet disposition, simple faith, thoroughness, attention to small duties, unobtrusive service".

H. F. Gross, B.A.

      Whilst John Thompson was our first missionary to the New Hebrides, it was really an interim ministry. He stayed only a few months, because he left a wife and four children back home in Childers, Queensland. It was brave for a man in those circumstances to see the position so seriously as to go at all. He was, however, our pioneer missionary to the Islands. He worked very hard with the Kanakas in Queensland and had much success. His going to the Islands probably established the work at Pentecost. At that time, we as a Brotherhood, were not ready for such a big challenge. It was six years before the replacements were sent.. They were Bro. and Sister Frank Filmer. They stayed 12 years. After John left Pentecost the work was carried on ably by Tabimancon. This fine Kanaka had been John's right hand man in Childers. When the Federal Government was established, one of the first actions was to order the return to the Islands of all those who had been "Blackbirded" to Queensland for the sugar plantations. On return, Tabimancon's job was to keep contact with the Christians that had returned to the Islands.

      Neither was Bro. Thompson's Kanaka Mission our only work among these people in Queensland. We were well established at Maryborough and Marburg. However, when John came into the work it soon extended like anything does when touched with dedicated drive. Others worked with our brother but he gave it the leadership it needed. During that period thousands were won to Jesus Christ.

      John Thompson was always known in the community as Missionary Thompson. He was more than a missionary, he was a minister, for he served these people. He won their confidence by his service. He was the only medical man and dentist they ever saw. In his days of retirement he gave me some of his medical equipment for the Overseas Board.

      John Thompson was born in Sydney in 1859, brought up R.C. At the age of 13 he became interested in our Sunday School in Elizabeth Street, Sydney. When his father died John was 15 and he left home for Queensland. He went to Mungandi where he started droving sheep to Barcoo. Then he sought his fortune at the Palmer goldfields in the north. Later he came south to Bundaberg working at a saw mill. Here he met C. F. Johnson and Miss S. F. H. Young, both working among the Kanakas. This work gripped him. He never let up on his mission from that day. When sugar growing was extended to Childers he followed the Kanakas. Childers then became his headquarters. John visited the Queensland State Conference. Then he travelled interstate to tell the story. Out of this deputation work Dr. Joseph Verco of Adelaide provided the hall and cottage at Childers. The work first came under the Queensland Conference in 1893, but soon went under the Overseas Board. When the Kanakas had mostly returned to the Islands there was a need for some one to go and consolidate the Christian witness so that these men would not be tempted to return to their pre-Christian way. It was a big decision to make in the circumstances,

but John sailed by the S.S. Tambo, travelling with that famous Presbyterian, Dr. J. G. Paton.

      There was a tremendous welcome on Pentecost arranged by Tabimancon. Hundreds of the natives greeted their previous leader. However, malaria was too persistent for Bro. Thompson. In a few months he had to return home. He promised to send someone in his place, but that was very difficult. It took six years for the next folk to go." Nevertheless, the work was held well under Tabimancon and other elders among the natives.

      John married Jane Gow Munn in 1897. Miss Munn was a member of Ann Street, Church of Christ and she sang in the choir. The success that John was is an indication of the devotion of his wife, without whom he would not have had the drive that helped the work so.

      It was in 1937 at the Bundaberg Half-yearly Conference that I heard the first Pidgin English. John and I were taken out to visit some of the remaining Kanakas. I caught the trend of John's sermon in pidgin, but it greatly amused me. I had never heard a sermon in English that wasn't English.

      John Thompson's life and work have been written before. Here has been given several new incidents which should be incorporated into his Life. Previous stories have related mostly to his service at Pentecost. John ended his days at Pialba, still in touch with odd Kanakas. He died in his 87th year. His wife predeceased him. He was buried in the Ipswich cemetery. A fine memorial marks the grave, supplied by the family.

      These notes have a special significance at present for the Kenmore Christian College has been notified of a scholarship fund to provide training at Kenmore for candidates from the New Hebrides. It will be known as the John and Jane Gow Thompson Memorial Bursary. Its scope will extend beyond the New Hebrides if considered necessary. Some people of my generation knew Mr. and Mrs. Thompson in their old age. We enjoyed their fellowship. Now their names will be remembered in perpetuity--C. R. Burdeu, Q.

      [The name Tabimancon appears in various ways in past publications and letters. We appealed to R. S. A. McLean, A.U.A., Secretary of our Overseas Mission Board, a past missionary in the New Hebrides and a graduate of the School of Linguistics. He writes, "The letter "i" should be used instead of "y" . . . The people on Pentecost have either 'Buli' or 'Tabi' as a prefix to their names. A 'Buli' will marry a 'Tabi' etc." Mr. McLean's spelling and form is given.--Ed.]

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