In May, 1887, Bro. Maston began meetings at Ascot Vale on Sunday afternoons. He was still preaching at North Melbourne in the evenings, but the brethren at Ascot Vale had taken a hall in that locality, and were in need of help, so Bro. Maston gave them a hand in the initiatory stages of the work. At a later date, he became their preacher, and was with them when their chapel was erected.

      He paid his first visit to South Australia in September of this year, and preached and lectured in connection with most of the churches in the State. This was the beginning of a series of annual, or almost annual trips to South Australia. These visits were always a great joy to him, and he delighted in the fellowship of the brethren in the South.

      Having made up his mind to consult specialists in London about his eye, Bro. Maston resolved to visit America as well, but in order to fulfil a long-cherished wish to see the Holy land, he sent Mrs. Maston and the children direct to the States via Sydney. They left on May 11, 1888, and Bro. Maston arranged to meet them in America. Before leaving Australia, however, he paid a visit to New Zealand, and went round to most of the Churches there, renewing old acquaintances everywhere. At Mataura, 25 were added to the Church as the result of a few days' mission, and in other [40] places encouraging results were secured. He returned to Melbourne in October.

      His engagement with the North Melbourne Church terminated on Dec. 10. At the farewell meeting the brethren presented him with a purse of 50 sovereigns, towards the expenses of his tour. He left for the Old World on Jan. 11, 1889, put off at Port Said, and visited Sakkarah, Cairo, On, or Heliopolis and other places. In the company of five Americans, whom he met at Cairo, Messrs. Morgan Morgans, H. C. Patterson, L. T. Van Cleave, N. B. McGhee, and John Oberlies, all, except the last, being preachers among the Disciples, he set sail for Beyrout, landing there on March 9. Leaving Beyrout, they climbed up Mount Lebanon, the foot-hills of which reminded Bro. Maston of the hills about Dunedin, New Zealand. They were, of course, enraptured with the Sea of Galilee, and spent some days in its neighborhood. They visited Cana, Nazareth, Samaria, Sychar, Bethel, and most of the places on the way to Jerusalem, then went to Bethlehem, Hebron, the Pools of Solomon, Mar Saba, the Dead Sea, and the River Jordan and Jericho; returning thence to Jerusalem, where several delightful days were spent.

      After leaving the Holy Land, A. B. Maston made his way through Europe, visiting many places of interest in Italy, Germany, and France. Crossing over to England, he met many of the leading brethren there, and in London consulted leading physicians as to his disease. From England he proceeded to America, where he joined Mrs. Maston and the children. After visiting various places of [41] interest, and coming in contact with many well-known brethren, they left San Francisco once more for Australia, arriving in Melbourne on January 11, 1890. Almost immediately, Bro. Maston set sail for New Zealand, on a lecturing tour.

      During these travels, Bro. Maston contributed a series of letters to our Australian and American papers. These articles were fragrant with his quaint humour, and fresh and breezy with his own views of things.

      Good use was made of the varied experiences of his travels for many subsequent years, in lectures, and addresses, and sermons. [42]

[LABM 40-42]