• Destroying History by C. R. Burdeu.
• 'Grannie Corner' Photo by Wilkie J. Thomson
• David Moffat Wilson, B. E. (Civil), 1859-1943 by A. and M. P. Hutson.
• Frederick Collins, 1875-1960 by C. R. Burdeu.
• Notes on Our Hymnals by Frank J. Funston.
• Notes by Wilkie J. Thomson.

      Title of address delivered by Ian F. McLaren, O.B.E., M.P., at P.S.A., Wesley Church, Melbourne, October 3, 1965, and published in The Royal Victorian Historical Society Magazine, May-August, 1966. One section of this address is devoted to Church history and the need for keeping records of all kinds:--

      "The Church should have its record book", its monthly magazine, the memoirs of its members, the memorials and plaques . . . . The nation that neglects to know and understand its own history, and that of those around them, is limited to the narrow present."

      The Ontario Genealogical Society Journal showed recently "that municipalities were empowered under law to destroy their own current records after they had been passed by the auditor, without reference to the Government Department concerned." The article then went on to say that "whilst they had the power to destroy old records it should be realised that some of these old records are very valuable for reference to future generations. Many answers to history were contained in records thoughtlessly destroyed." That applies more so to church records. How many church and Brotherhood Committees know where their earliest records are? We really have no moral authority to de-troy any church records without advice from some authority who could recognise the historic value of anything.--C. R. Burdeu.

      On Page 35 of "The Jubilee History of Churches of Christ in Australia", is one of the loveliest photographs one could wish to see. It is of the late Mrs. John Lawrie. She sits in a rocking chair in a corner by the fireplace, with shelves of books above her, reading. The rose pattern on the wallpaper stands out in perfect clarity as do all things in the corner. It is a perfect picture, breathing peace and quiet content. From Mr. G. A. Carslake, Senior, of W.A., a member of the Society, whose 86th birthday was on April 10, 1967, we have received the following:--

      In my room I have a faded photo, taken perhaps 70 years ago by the late T. J. Gore, whom I remember well.

      He was visiting Long Plains (S.A.) and staying with R. D. Lawrie. Grannie Lawrie was there at the time, R.D. being her son, so a photo was taken which won first prize in an exhibition in Adelaide. It later appeared on the cover of an American women's magazine and was sent out to us by the now famous Dr. Oswald Goulter, who used to meet with us on our verandah as a young man. "Grannie Corner" was the wife of the early John Lawrie and my wife's grandmother.

      He was affectionately known by his contemporaries as "D.M." He was born in Melbourne and in early life was associated with the Churches of Christ. He was baptised at Lygon Street by H. D. Smith. Mr. Wilson began life as a Mathematical Master in the Colleges at Ballarat and Geelong. He then joined

the business firm of Wilson, Corben and Co., Melbourne. He was a foundation member of the Surrey Hills Church and its first Secretary. He married Miss Margaret B. Haldane, of Lygon Street, in March, 1886. She was later Treasurer of the Women's Conference in W.A. for nine years. She died in September, 1916.

      Mr. Wilson was proud of the fact that he wrote the letter which was instrumental in bringing G. T. Walden, M.A., to Lygon Street, and who made a notable contribution to Church life in Australia. "D.M." came to Western Australia in 1896 and was a member of the Lake Street Church for 31 years. He served as Deacon and Secretary and a leader of his brethren in W.A.

      At his suggestion the first conference of Churches of Christ in W.A. was held in 1898. He was President of the Conference on three occasions, 1899, 1907 and 1922.

      He was also the President of the first Federal Conference that was held in Perth, Western Australia in 1926, when over 100 inter-State delegates attended the Conference.

      Mr. Wilson was always interested in the unique position held by the Churches of Christ in the Christian world. He was a very capable exponent of that position in preaching and writing. At the request of the editors of the book "That They All May Be One", be wrote an article on "The New Testament Basis of Christian Union", which indicates he held a clear understanding of the position of Churches of Christ in relation to this subject.

      He was married, the second time, to Miss Jeannie Dickens who was for many years the greatly beloved organist of Lygon Street.

      About the year 1934 the family moved to the then outer suburb of Wembley, and at that time many young members were moving into this new suburb. Although advanced in years he threw himself wholeheartedly into the task of organising a new cause. In 1939, upon the formation of a Church, he was its first Secretary, a position he held for two years. A younger man then took over. However, "D.M." continued to help the Church in an elder's capacity. He was a good preacher, expositor, a wise counsellor and experienced leader and friend.

      Among his other activities he established and built up a book-room to provide for the needs of members by featuring brotherhood books and literature.

      During a trip overseas he attended as a delegate from Australia, the First Conference on Christian Unity at Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1927. The world Church loomed large in his thinking and prayers. He laboured incessantly for the ultimate unity of God's people. The Church and her manifold ramifications was ever a challenge to "D.M." to dedication to her service.--A. and M. P. Hutson, W.A.

      [There were three children of "D.M.'s" first marriage: Maggie, who was Secretary of the Women's Conference in W.A. from 1920-1932 and married A. Hutson (one of our honoured preachers); Grace (Mrs. J. Maloney, dec.) was well known in the churches and in Kalgoorlie: Dr. T. A. Wilson, of New York, and Miss Elsie Wilson, of Perth--Ed.]

      At a great fire of a furniture warehouse in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, at midnight 60 years ago, two cyclists dismounted and spoke. They introduced themselves as Fred. Collins and the writer. From that date we were friends.

      I followed some of his ministries. He never ministered at a church that I attended, but we were very close when he served at Arm Street, Brisbane. Here this quiet gentleman did a memorable work by any standard. Probably Ann, Street challenge was never greater than when he was called. The Church was divided; one section, with important leaders, met in Temperance Hall. The church property was probably in the same state as when it was purchased about 50 years before. When he left the church was united and happy.

      In the meantime, there had been added 18 leadlight memorial windows down each side and the front. The choir platform and pulpit were very tastefully rebuilt and covered with choice woods. To complete the alterations a large 10 ft. x 6 ft. leadlight scene from the Jordan River gave an appropriate back ground to the baptistry. This, at any time, is very effective, but with the light behind it is beautiful. Queensland is grateful for a loving leader of capacity.

      Fred. Collins was a wise counsellor. He was an excellent committee man and became Queensland's Conference President in 1937. He served as Army Chaplain in the first World War. In the Second World War he was a Red Cross worker. He took office in the Council of Churches and shared prominently in inter-denominational, community and temperance activities. He began his ministry before the College of the Bible started. He received instruction from James Johnston, M.A., and H. G. Harward. Fred Collins was the first convert of the latter.

      For a time he taught English at the Chinese Church in Melbourne. In his early days in Churches of Christ he fellowshipped with William Thompson, brother of Mary Thompson, our first missionary to India; Alex. Peacock, H. G. Payne, A. R. Main and H. G. Harward. Harry Black was the preacher at Collingwood Church at the time.

      Fred Collins' ministries started at Corowa, N.S.W. Among the other places he served were Hobart and Launceston, Tasmania; Bendigo, St. Arnaud, Victoria; Brisbane, Queensland; Auburn and Paddington, New South Wales; Maylands (12 years), Dulwich, Victor Harbour, Kilburn and Henley Park, South Australia. He was State President in Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland; Federal President in Launceston in 1933.

      In 1900, at North Melbourne, he met and married Elizabeth Mary Dewar. There are three sons and a daughter. He died in Adelaide, 17/7/60, aged 85. His wife predeceased him. Mrs. Collins was well known throughout Australia, first as a very devout helpmeet for a dedicated servant of God and as an active leader in women's work in the various States.

      Fred Collins was born in Bendigo, Victoria, 18/611875. When he was well in his 80's he was writing history for our Brotherhood for different States. When in Brisbane he replied to the R.C. Archbishop on the question of Christian Unity. This quotation from the press could be his epitaph:

      "Surely the name Christian ought to be enough for us without any denominational or national addition. I am profoundly thankful for the spiritual food provided by the great saints of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches, but long for a closer fellowship, which shall be neither Catholic nor Protestant, but one in the sense in which our Saviour prayed, that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they all may be one in us: that the world may believe'."--C. R. Burdeu (Q).

      Every hymnal undoubtedly has a genealogical tree with a well-marked line of descent. Not only so, but the dates of new arrivals marking the next generation of hymn book--1828, 1865, 1887, 1931--would be entirely feasible for humankind.

      The founders of the Restoration Movement exercised an influence on the hymn-singing as on other aspects of brotherhood life and, as early as 1828, Alexander Campbell published a small hymnbook with 125 hymns, five of these being his own. With several new book,, and as many as eight editions of some of these between times, agreement had been reached by 1864 for hymn-book control to be vested in the American Christian Missionary Society, of which Campbell himself was president from its foundation in 1849 until his death in 1866. The "Christian Hymn-Book" of 1864 contained no fewer than 1,320 hymns "to minister to the comfort, strength and purity of the Church of God, throw over many hearthstones and many a weary pilgrim-path the sweet radiance of heavenly song and give fresh encouragement to the cultivation of all pious sentiments and emotions", so says the Introduction, dated August 7, 1865. Just which of these responsibilities was allotted to which of the hymns is not made clear! It is only fair to say, however, that a century later many of the writers still provide some of the church's songs, even the first page of the index recognising Lyte, Watts, C. Wesley, Bonar, Whittier, Montgomery, Newton and Doddridge. To any of Campbell's own hymns the author modestly refrains from giving the identification accorded most authors in the index.

      Some of our Australian brethren, office-bearers of Lygon Street Church, Melbourne, by August 3, 1867, formed a company to provide capital to republish the entire work, for use "in this and the adjoining colonies". The signatories

to the preface were G. L. Surber, A. Thomson and C. G. Lawson as "Committee of Publishers" and the printer "T. Smith, Gertrude St., Fitzroy". The very comprehensiveness of this book and the certainty that a big proportion of the 1,320 hymns would be of inferior quality, led to the publication in 1887 of "Psalms and Hymns."

      But over half the hymns of 1867 were used. No music was provided, but tunes were indicated as from U., B. or S. (Union and Bristol tune-books and "Sankey"--the "750" edition). In many cases, while there appear to be as many as six or seven tunes for a given hymn, examination of "U., B. or S." might well reduce these to an actual two or three--what with repeats as between the three sources or even within the one book. (Thus "the 1200 Sankey" makes "Munich" and 'Winchester Old" tunes serve four different hymns and nearly thirty tunes do at least double duty.) Later, when "Sankey 1200" was in general use, 13 supplementary pages were added to "Psalms and Hymns", indicating for almost every hymn the tune applicable from this work, but only in emergencies when no "Sankey" tune was available, adding "Alex . . . . .. Special tune, Bristol or "Meth. tune book". Such annotations as "repeat last two words", "with chorus", "adapt", "omit last line", "omit chorus", "repeat first line of chorus-, "repeat 3rd line" and "repeat 2 syllables, 3rd line" also appear. Subterfuges of this kind "to make tunes fit" must have left many organists despairing and obviously such steps could not be regarded as better than interim measures.--Frank J. Funston.

      Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Park celebrated their Golden Wedding in Hobart on April 12. There were visitors from many places on the mainland and greetings from overseas. We wish for these two much blessing in the future. Mr. Park is a Tasmanian historian, a pioneer member of our Society and a valued contributor to the columns of this journal.

      B. S. L. Pateman, who passed away on January 27, 1967, was a natural archivist. Last year he sent to the Victorian historian several cartons of records of the Parkdale Church (Vic.). He kept a record of the movements of some preachers of years ago, which will prove valuable as a reference. He was a member of the Society and will be greatly missed. Sympathy is extended to Mrs. Pateman and family.

      The church at South Melbourne will be celebrating its Centenary on June 11, 1967. This will be the 10th of our churches in Victoria to remember its 100th year of worship and witness. E. Keating is the present minister.

      Remember that all the work of our Society is honorary, but there are many expenses such as printing, etc. If you have not paid your subscription for 1967, we trust you will do so at an early date. Some new members of the Society are H. Heyhoe, B.A.; Miss Merle Peacock, B.A. (W.A.); C. L. Fitzgerald, B.A., Dip.Ed. (S.A.). We hope to publish a full list of members soon.

State Archivists and Historians will be glad of your co-operation in preserving all Brotherhood books, diaries, letters or anything that has a bearing on the history of Churches of Christ or its members. Send to:

Queensland--C. R. Burdeu, 32 Salt Street, Windsor.

South Australia--D. G. Whyatt, 35 Aver Avenue, Colonel Light Gardens.

New South Wales--C. Bowser, 53 Point Road, Woolwich.

Tasmania--Josiah Park, 21 Faraday Street, West Hobart.

J. Foot, 161 High Street, Launceston.

Victoria (or of Federal interest)--W. J. Thomson, 143 Surrey Road, Blackburn.

Any matter of historical interest relating to our churches is required for publication. Send to the Editor.