• Blair's Church of Christ by C. R. Burdeu.
• The House of Haddow by Wilkie J. Thomson.
• The McColls by H. Gross.
• Andrew Walker Connor, 1871-1942 by Randall T. Pittman.
• Obituary Notices: Thomas William Smith; Josiah Park by Wilkie J. Thomson.
• An Aspect of the Kellems-Richards Missions by C. R. Burdeu.
• Notes by Wilkie J. Thomson.

"History is not dry as dust . . . it is the story of people . . . their faith in the future . . . and courage."--Principal L. Williams.

      The above were just some of the things said at the launching of the book THEY CARRIED A TORCH by B. J. Combridge. The function was held in The Churches of Christ Centre, Melbourne. The book is the history of Home Missions in Victoria from 1873 to 1967 and in Tasmania since 1952. Great and beloved personalities of the past and present appear in its pages as well as the courageous story of pioneering ministries and evangelism. "I never considered myself an author much less an historian," said Mr. Combridge. It is another great addition to the books of the history of Churches of Christ in Australia.

      The Australian Churches of Christ Historical Society will be requesting all State Executives shortly, to approach each church that the history of churches and individuals may be written so that the story of those churches appearing in The Jubilee History may be brought up-to-date as well as of the, newer churches.

      In the beginning of the twentieth century a Church of Christ met regularly in the Oddfellows Hall in Swan Street, South Richmond, Melbourne, close to the Railway Station. They were known as "BLAIRITES". Mr. Blair, the leader, was manager of L. S. BLAIR & CO., glass bevellers and mirror manufacturers, with a factory in South Melbourne. The church secretary was Albert Huckerby. Albert worked for Blairs as a glass beveller. He later became the popular secretary and leader of the Theatrical Employees' Union for many years. His daughter married Mr. Stent who was for years secretary of South Richmond church in Balmain Street. Principal A. W. Stephenson's father-in-law, E. Winch, made occasional visits to this church. According to the Jubilee History, E. Winch was one of the first members of the North Richmond church, which commenced about 1889. Later he was an officer at Balmain Street, which first reported to Conference in 1902. In the Jubilee History there is no mention of Swan Street, but in a Year-book of the churches for 1894 Swan Street is listed as having 47 members. In that year a number (10) took letters to other congregations. The membership at North Richmond was 83 in 1893 and 102 in 1894. It may be that some of the gain at North Richmond was by letter from Swan Street.

      In the Australian Christian Watchman for May, 1885, a list of churches is given. The list includes Richmond, with 49 members. As North Richmond and Balmain Street were not established till later, it seems that the reference in the Watchman is to Swan Street. Whether the church at Swan Street ceased to exist or simply failed to report to Conference later is not known.

      The Blair group did not believe in singing hymns at gospel services. On one occasion J. C. F. Pittman was asked to conduct the gospel service. He announced the hymn, "Come ye that love the Lord and let your joys be known". However, only the preacher sang until the second verse which runs, "Let those refuse to sing who never knew their God", when everybody joined in.

      In 1904 I attended a Sunday morning service by invitation. There were between 20 and 30 in attendance. When the presiding brother was giving his

pre-communion talk another brother in the congregation rose to a point of order regarding New Testament procedure, a general discussion followed until the matter was finally determined, when the service resumed. In reply to my enquiry after the meeting, I was advised that that was normal procedure.

      I understood that at the time I knew these people, that at the Communion table members were separated from non-members as is the case in Close-Brethren Assemblies. Mr. Randall T. Pittman has a similar recollection of this practice and that it was based on I Cor. 11: 29 "discerning the Lord's body".

      Report has it that a daughter of Mr. Blair married Mr. Alfred Tucker, a member of a well-known Prahran church family. They met for a time with the Hampton church.

      Principal A. W. Stephenson and Mr. Randall T. Pittman have helped with some of the material for this article.

--C. R. Burdeu (Q).      

      Madeleine (born 1821/2) and Andrew Haddow (b. 1828) migrated from Scotland about 1852. In his youth Andrew Haddow knew the Haldane brothers, who so much influenced the thinking of Alexander Campbell. He also heard Alexander Campbell preach the sermon in Glasgow, in 1847, immediately prior to his imprisonment for a week on a charge (which could not be sustained) over the slavery question. Madeleine Haddow, formerly a Presbyterian, was baptised about the year 1848.

      The Haddows arrived in Melbourne with James Ingram, who was largely instrumental in establishing the Restoration Movement in Victoria with Robert Service, the first meetings being held in Ingram's home in Prahran. The Haddows were associated with this pioneer congregation in 1853; the next year they were meeting at the Mechanics' Institute, Collins Street (now the Athenaeum) which group later transferred to the Temperance Hall in Bourke St., and was the forerunner of the Lygon Street, and Unity Hall (Swanston Street) congregations.

      The Haddows went into business as retailers of ironmongery in Queensberry Street, North Melbourne. Although the family is not connected with the business now, the name is still retained by the present proprietors. A spoon stamped "Haddow and Sons" is in my possession, and Haddow's Lane, North Melbourne, commemorates their association with the district.

      Andrew Haddow was elected as one of the first Board of Deacons at Lygon Street, in 1865, and remained a revered leader and officer until his death (May 23, 1914). His family was particularly active in the musical life of the congregation. His wife died on September 7, 1900. There was one daughter, Margaret, who married Andrew Dickson, a relative (brother?) of P. A. Dickson.

      The first entry in the share register of the Austral Printing and Publishing Co., dated 12/6/1892, was for a parcel of 50 shares taken out in the name of Haddow and Sons.

      As already indicated, there were four sons and a daughter of Andrew and Madeleine who married. Twins were also born to them, one was named Alexander, but no further details are known. James Haddow, who married my grandfather's sister, Janie Haines, worked with the Victorian Railways for many years. For some of this time his work took him to isolated parts of Victoria; when his mother died it took nine days for the news to reach him. He died November 11, 1904. Andrew Haddow, Jnr. (born 2/12/1859) was a deacon of the Lygon Street church and died on June 9, 1930, leaving three sons, James, Andrew and Alec., and a daughter Anne (Mrs. Carter) of Mitcham. His brother Nat Haddow, Snr., died exactly two months later. He led the, choir at Lygon Street for 26 years. His son, Nat. Jnr. married my mother's cousin, Alma Haines. He passed away in 1965--his wife is still living. There are four children of this last union--Elaine (Mrs. Laurie, McClean), Allan, Natalie (Mrs. R. Wright) and David.

      Alexander McColl and Annie Archibald met on the ship which brought them to Australia. He was a tailor from the Highlands, having been born at Kilmally, Fort William, on February 16, 1826 (although his marriage certificate would suggest 1829/30). She was a nursemaid from Glasgow, born May 23, 1836. His parents were: John and Christine (nee McIntyre), John being spoken of as a farmer. James Archibald, Christine's father, was a shoemaker, who had married Margaret Hill.

      They were married in Melbourne according to the rites of the Church of Scotland on July 16, 1858, and there were 12 children. Three died in childhood or infancy. The youngest, Haldane Stewart McColl (born 1884) is still alive. In addition to the Haddow and Haines marriages referred to: above, another sister, Catherine, married Ernest Tippett in 1897.

      The McColls joined Churches of Christ some time after 1858, presumably, and met with the Barkly Street congregation until it merged with that of Lygon Street, in 1865. Their actual baptism took place in the Collins Street Baptist church. The family has supplied active and respected members of Lygon. Street for over a century. Miss Flo. Haines, a grand-daughter of Alex. and Anne, is still in membership there.

      Alexander McColl died on December 17, 1890, and Mrs. McColl survived him by almost 30 years, passing away on April 17, 1919. Three grandsons were killed in action in World War I.

      At the present time the wives of three of our Victorian ministers (Mrs. G. W. Barnett, Mrs. A. B. Dowsett and Mrs. M. D. Keatch) are McColl descendants.

      The full list of the children of Alexander and Annie McColl is as follows:--

      The list above was supplied by Miss Flo Haines, daughter of the union of Florence Priscilla Stevenson McColl and James Haines.

--H. Gross. B.A.      

      My first contact with Andrew Connor was at Cheltenham, Victoria, during my father's ministry with the church there. At the time of my baptism (1896), Andrew Connor was active in church work. He had been baptised at Cheltenham in 1891, and gave his first address to the church there.

      Andrew Connor was born in Scotland, and as a boy went with relations to New Zealand. He came to Victoria in 1891. He was among the first of our Victorian Home Mission preachers, beginning a ministry at Kaniva in 1897. After a successful term at Kaniva, he went to Horsham in 1899. Other ministries were at Castlemaine, Collingwood, Colac and Bendigo. During the period of the First World War, he served in Western Australia, where he became Conference President in 1917. While in Western Australia he nearly lost his life in a tragic boating accident in which the beloved preacher, H. J. Banks, was drowned.

      Returning to Victoria in 1918, A. W. Connor ministered at Ballarat, Prahran, Doncaster and South Yarra. He died suddenly on Sunday, January 25, 1942.

      Andrew Connor served the brotherhood well. He was Victorian Conference President in 1927 and Federal Conference President in 1933. As a writer he contributed many articles to the "Australian Christian", and some of these appeared in book form, "The Lord of Glory" and "Scenes and Voices from the Upper Room". He was a kindly and friendly man, and contributed much to the brotherly spirit among preachers during their annual retreat sessions. It was in these sessions that I heard him tell of his many and varied experiences as a preacher of the gospel.

--Randall T. Pittman, B.A., Dip.Ed. (Vic.).      

      The Kellems Mission in Wirth's Hippodrome (July 22-August 26, 1923) was something that greatly stirred the whole community. The huge choir and the crowds of up to 5000. The religious and secular press indicated something of the impact on Victoria. The organisation was very thorough and complete, almost. Provision was made for the usual conveniences. A cafe was provided in the main foyer for those coming straight from work.

      The first night was a great success. There were many that stepped forward for confession. I witnessed this and felt a mighty thrill. However, among the "converts" were some of Melbourne's down-and-outs, whose "conversion" apparently was very superficial, so that, following their confession they sought out the leaders and asked for financial assistance. This was something not planned for. At that time I was secretary of the Department of Social Services in the Victorian Conference. We were helping people regularly and had an office in Australian Buildings, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. The mission leaders interviewed me immediately and offered one of the offices in the Hippodrome, so that those asking for material assistance could be referred immediately to our office. There was still a need for our service but not like the first night. We did help several by advice and direction. When they complained of being hungry, as many did, they were referred to the cafe opposite, the office to order what they wanted. This was a previous arrangement. Others were helped in various ways, probably not two the same.

--C. R. Burdeu (Q).      

      Subscriptions have been received from: Fremantle Church W.A. (new); East Kew, Coburg Church, W. W. Saunders, R. T. Pittman, Mrs. D. Clarke, Vic.; W. H. Nightingale, Q; J. P. Foot, Tas.; L,. Fitzgerald, E. A. Arnold, S.A. All work is carried on by committee members voluntarily but the barest minimum costs is $193.60. We appreciate a small subsidy from the Federal Executive. If you think the work of the Society is worthwhile will you tell others? If not, tell us. Some very encouraging and appreciative letters have, been received and we wish we had space to publish them. Thank you.

      This is the last issue for 1967. In the meantime, make your wills and pay your bills and don't forget The Historical Society.

      To all members and friends we wish the joy and happiness of Christmas and God's richest blessing throughout 1968.

      We still require matter relating to individual members of Churches of Christ or of Churches. If any church has published a booklet relative to an anniversary please forward at least two copies to be placed in the archives. The Editor is always pleased to help with any information concerning the history of a church, or for that matter, of individuals. A search must often be made through such volumes as The Australian Christian Watchman, The Christian Standard, The Christian Pioneer, The Australian Christian Witness, The Australian Christian, and of course The Jubilee History of Churches of Christ. Your State Historian will be glad to help. Many minute books have been placed in the archives and these are a constant source of information. Most of our earliest information must be gleaned from the British Millennial Harbingers.