ISSIONARIES say that the hardest part about being a missionary is the separation from one's own folk. Living in a strange land is as nothing in comparison to that. T. J. Gore was truly a missionary to Australia. He gave up home and loved ones and cane to Australia. Although he had invitations to go back to America, and in some ways he longed to go, yet the insistent call of Australia prevailed, and he gave his life to the work out here.

      Foreign Mission work was in its infancy in Australia, and it was not until T. J. Gore with A. T. Magarey sent an invitation to G. L. Wharton of India to visit Australia, that the churches began to really feel their obligation and to be specially interested in Foreign Mission work. Mr. Wharton accepted this invitation, and with his wife and two children came to visit the churches in Australia. He was the first herald of Foreign Missions among the Churches of Christ in Australia, and it was largely due to this visit that so much interest was aroused at that time and has since been taken in Foreign Mission work.

      Miss Mary Thompson, our pioneer missionary, was, sent out to India shortly after Mr. Wharton's visit. Later Mr. McLean, of the American Foreign Mission Society, visited Australia in the interests of Foreign Missions. In his book, "A Circuit of the Globe," writing of Grote Street church, he says: "T. J. Gore, the pastor, was born and raised in Kentucky. He came [36] out here twenty-nine years ago. He has all the virtues of his native land and of the land of his adoption, and so far as I could see, the vices of neither. His praises are heard on all sides. I found only one fault--he spends too much money on his guests. He is so obstinate in this that all appeals are in vain. Mrs. Gore is a daughter of the lamented Philip Santo. She is as good and as wise and as efficient as her husband, and that is saying much."

      During the end of his ministry at Park Street, a visit was paid to the churches in Australia by F. M. Rains, then the Secretary of the Foreign Christian Missionary Society of America. He and T. J. Gore became great friends, they simply could not see enough of one another. The Conference in Adelaide was held at this time, but in spite of the many meetings they found time for many long talks. They were late for some of the meetings, and left some of them early so that they could have more time together. When F. M. Rains left Adelaide T. J. Gore was down at the boat to see him off. They felt that they would not meet again in this world, and therefore the parting was doubly hard. They walked up and down the wharf together, but at last the boat had to go--taking one of God's noblemen to America and leaving one in Australia. The following is copied from a letter written by F. M. Rains soon after he arrived back in America:--

      My dear Brother Gore,--

      It was a real pleasure to receive your letter of June 26th. I am glad you received my little booklet and am gratified to know that you enjoyed it.

      I am very much pleased indeed that you hear my name mentioned among the brethren of your land. I am sure they are very kind. I have never met a [37] band of brethren that I have appreciated more than those with whom you abide. They are large-hearted and enthusiastic, and they did Mrs. Rains and me a great deal of good. It was worth a trip all the way to Australia to have my little conference with you. I shall not soon forget our last interview. I felt on leaving you that I would never see you again in the flesh. You have certainly done some great work in that land. You have helped to lay broad and deep the foundations of a great brotherhood and it will go on and on after you have been called to your reward.

      I have recently been down in old Kentucky. It is a pleasure to go down there and sample a fried chicken, and a hot biscuit, and a blackberry cobbler, and some sliced peaches, and sandwiched in between all these a nice piece of watermelon is not bad. Yes, Sir, and I saw many fields of tobacco, long rows with broad leaves. There is much more tobacco being raised in that land than in your day. But Kentucky is improving in every way, educationally, morally, spiritually.

      I am rejoiced to hear of the advanced steps the brethren of Australia are taking. I keep an eye on your paper and read it as often as I can. I shall try to act upon your suggestions and write an article soon for the "Australian Christian."

      Brother McLean is the same grand man. He is growing in years and grace and knowledge and power. He is without question the greatest man we have in our brotherhood. An unrighteous fight has been made upon him, as you may know, but this seems not to affect in the least his influence and his growing power. Our brotherhood is growing in America. You must not believe all that you read in the papers. Our brethren are growing in liberality and grace and knowledge. Some of the greatest and most influential men we have, you never hear of in print. They [38] go along quietly and do the Lord's work and trust God.

      I want to be remembered to Brother Walden and to all the brethren whom I had the honor and pleasure of meeting while in your land. May God richly bless you in your declining years. As the evening shades of this life gather may the bright light of an eternal day dawn upon you and guide your footsteps. You have done a great and noble work.

      Miss Tonkin, who for over twenty years labored in China, was a member of the Grote Street church during T. J. Gore's ministry there. Mr. H. R. Coventry and Miss Elsie Caldicott were both students at the Adelaide Students' Training Class conducted by T. J. Gore, and are both now missionaries in India. He was always interested in mission work and in missionaries, and when any of the missionaries were in Adelaide he would delight to have them to his home and entertain them. His was indeed the missionary spirit, for he thought not of himself but of others. [39]

[TJG 36-39]