Note: John Main, grandson of A. R. Main, has compiled the following account of A.R.M from a series of Digests of the Historical Society, beginning with No. 24 of October 1968. Wilkie Thomson wrote the material and it was published in installments. The page numbering is John's.--C. L. S.

      It seems fitting to us that something of the life of such a Federal figure as the late A. R. Main, M.A., D.D., for 27 years Principal of The College of the Bible, Glen Iris, Victoria; Editor of the "Australian Christian" for 27 years and the first Principal of Churches of Christ Bible College, Woolwich, N.S.W., should be commenced in such an issue as this. Thanks are due especially to Mr. Douglas Main, of Mount Kembla, N.S.W., who made the few relevant documents remaining available, to Mr. Randall T. Pittman for his memories and help, and to that small company of good folk who still live and remember him. And, by no means last or least, Mrs. A. Clutterbuck who typed the manuscript. We hope you will want to continue reading about this man who had such an influence on the Australian Brotherhood. It is obvious that a biography in such a small paper must be serialised and must be condensed. We hope that it will, at least, form a basis for a larger work by someone in days to come.--W. J. THOMSON.

Early Days

      If you look at the map of Scotland, or are familiar with it, you will know that the county of Dunbarton lies north-west of Glasgow, between the mouth of the Clyde, Loch Long and Loch Lomond. It can be cold there, very cold, as the north-west gales sweep down from the Hebrides and across the many water-ways of the broken and disjointed coast.

      Within this county was the small parish of Cumbernauld, and here, more than 100 years ago, was a dairy farmer by the name of John Main, who took to wife Isabella Muir at Torpichon in 1853.

      There were several sons and daughters of the marriage and, as the farm was not large enough to maintain the family, the older boys used the farm horses and dray for cartage work. Glasgow was then extending its borders and here, twelve miles or so out from the city proper, well-to-do business people were building their homes.

      The farm was more than a mile out from the village of Dullatur and the Main children, on their way to school, had to deliver milk to these homes. In winter the snow was often banked up on each side of the road. The milk was carried, not in billy-cans, but pitchers. The late Mrs. Isabella Turnbull, an elder sister of Alexander's, said they had to carry eight or nine of these on each hand. She described with much feeling the hardness of this task in winter's bitter cold and the ice-covered, slippery roads. Alex. was spared this task because he was too young to carry them. (I questioned Mrs. Turnbull about these jugs "eight or nine on each hand". I later wrote her regarding them and, in her reply, she re-affirmed the same number. She did tell me that they were for the early morning cups of tea of the well-to-do, so they may have been small jugs.)

      This younger brother, Alexander Russell Main, was born on February 19, 1876, and two years later his mother died. Thereafter the eldest sister kept house.

      Alex hated the cold and let everybody know it on the way to the village school. In later years he was revolted by the mud and slush of the byres where

the cows were housed throughout the winter. I have often had a mental picture of him doing his share of the farm work, which included the cleaning of the cow-house a job in those days generally referred to in Scotland as "the muckin' o' the byre". There grew a determination in his heart that if he should ever have a son he would not have to live under such conditions if he could possibly provide better.

      The Cumbernauld Public School to which Alexander went later, was fortunate in having a headmaster of some outstanding ability, not the least of which was the recognition of the potential within his students, many of them, it is said, filled important positions in various parts of the world. His name was D. Macphie. From this school, Alex gained a scholarship which made it possible for him to attend night-school classes in Glasgow, to which he travelled the twelve miles by train, and he became a pupil teacher (P.T.) in the Cumbernauld Public School.

      Travelling the twenty-four miles in all, to Glasgow and back, may seem an easy thing to us now, but it was not so easy in that day and generation to attend such night classes throughout the long and severe winters. Crouched in a corner of a carriage compartment from which he would have to arise occasionally and stamp his feet to restore the circulation, this very good-looking, fresh-faced youth would spend most of his travelling time in study. Early photos of A. R. Main show him as a youth or young man of strong character, a firm chin, well-shaped mouth, aquiline nose and bright clear eyes, beneath a high and broad forehead which was crowned with dark hair. I should imagine that few would pass him by without taking a second look at this young man of such striking personality.

      The Main family attended one of the three different Presbyterian Churches in the village--The Free Church of Scotland. Alexander's personality must have been felt there, for a rich gentleman of Dullatur prophesied that he would become a minister. When he was about 13 or 14 years old, this man promised him a Bible, but, with good Scottish caution, made the proviso "when he should become ordained."

      The older brothers of the family migrated to Australia and in 1892 Alexander followed them out. It was on this voyage that he committed the gospel of Matthew to memory. The headmaster of the school regretted his leaving, as he predicted a brilliant career before him in Scotland. A full set of Waverley novels was presented to him which are in the possession of his son, Douglas. They are inscribed as follows:--

      The new home to which he came was in Drummond, Victoria, where Stephen Cheek had established a church in 1878. The preacher of this church ,at the time was K. McKenzie. He was not a particularly literate man apparently, but he and his wife are referred to in the Jubilee Pictorial History of Churches of Christ in Australia in the following words--

      "The church will over remember the kind and loving services rendered by Mrs. O. McKenzie and her late beloved husband, Kenneth McKenzie."

      Although Mr. Main, sen., later came to settle with his sons, Alex was still unsettled. He did not feel fitted for farm work and he was considering returning to Scotland and school-teaching when A. B. Maston paid a visit to Drummond. One result of that visit, apparently, was that Alex, committed his life to Christ. He was baptised by Mr. McKenzie, in the creek which ran behind the McKenzie home. A picture of this creek appears in the Jubilee History on page 263, and is entitled "A Historic Spot" because here Stephen

Cheek had baptised about fifty people. The picture is one of beauty, peace and tranquillity, but some of those baptised there told how larrikins and enemies to the way of Christ did their utmost at times to despoil the baptismal waters and to interfere with the services.

      There is an interesting link in the lives of these two men, Maston and Main, although one was an American, 41 years of age, and the other a Scotsman of 18 years, and in many other ways so dissimilar. Aaron Burr Maston was born in Ohio, U.S.A., in 1853. His home was a small log cabin in Coshacton County on the bank of a winding river known as Crooked Run. No doubt the winters were severe there, too, but not quite as bad as at Main's Dullatur. But Maston's mother had lived to care for and cherish her children. Alex Main was left motherless at 2½ years and, because of his advanced intelligence, his re-actions perhaps would be those of a child a little older. Not that he lacked love from his sisters and brothers, for they seemed to care for him to the point of spoiling. Although Maston had earned a B.A. degree in America, he was not academic as was the younger Alex Main. Maston was a man of strong imagination, a man of vision who turned his dreams into realities

      I have often wondered if Main took thought to enjoy the moonlight and shadow on the snow as he trudged to and from the station, although, as we shall see later, he retained a love for Dullatur. But Maston wrote, "Men get to love places for their associations. To me the most enchanted scene on earth is the little valley in Ohio where I was born and partly brought up. There is more music and poetry in its memories than all else beside. The log cabin is a king's palace, decorated inside and outside with the rich recollections of childhood." "Amongst the Churches of Christ throughout Australasia, for a quarter of a century, the name of A. B. Maston was a household word, while for the last fifteen years of his life, he was the most striking., picturesque personality among the twenty thousand Disciples of Australia and New Zealand. His name had also spread to America, Africa and Great Britain." (Quotations from "Life of A. B. Maston," by G. P. Pittman, 1909)

      It was this man who recognised in Main the potential within him, and one may well wonder if he foresaw the day when Alex would carry his torch of service when he, Maston, should be called out of this world. He persuaded Alex Main to go to Melbourne and took him into his own home and gave him employment as a compositor at the Austral Co., which he had founded. There Alex made some friendships that lasted throughout their lives--Douglas Pittman, who became Manager of The Austral Co., and Randall T. Pittman. The latter tells that he first met Alex at a Conference Picnic held at Surrey Hills and his accent was so broad that he had difficulty in understanding him.

      With A. B. Maston, Alex Main attended the church at Collingwood, where the former was preaching, but ill health forced Maston to relinquish the work. His place was taken by Ferdinand Pittman, in 1896, and R. T. Pittman remembers his brother referring to the brilliant young man who attended the services. A friendship which Alex made there was with F. Collins (1875-1960, Page 2, Digest No. 19), who became one of our greatly loved preachers.

      There is a notebook extant with some of Main's sermon titles and dates. The first is dated January, 1895, and was preached at Drummond. Many of his early sermons were preached at South Yarra.

      There is no doubt that Main absorbed much teaching from Maston. It was O. A. Carr who persuaded the latter to go to New Zealand from America and he gave to him a list of suggestions to help him in his ministries in "a foreign country". Within these suggestions there is the basis of all that Maston did. As we follow through the life of A R. Main, we may find these the fundamentals of A. R. Main's work. When Maston died, after years of suffering, at the early age of 54, Main was one of those whose appreciation of him is published in Life of A. B. Maston. He wrote within it, "though dead, our brother yet speaketh. The wonderful patience, the marvellous cheerfulness with which great tasks were attempted and accomplished, in the face of suffering such as we cannot imagine, the passionate love for the church . . . the strong uncompromising plea for a Christianity pure as at the beginning, the ready help extended to the brethren in any time of need--the memory of these things will be with us. We have seen the heroism of a Christian life, and should not forget the sight." And then he quoted the lines-

      But much was to happen in the life of A. R. Main before he wrote those words of his friend and mentor, A. B. Maston.

      [Note--For fifteen years I have been searching for an old family Bible belonging to the Mains'. Since the last issue of this paper, I have found it in the possession of Mrs. Patten, of Ringwood, a niece of A. R. Main. Although the birth certificate of A.R.M. states his mother's maiden name as Muir, her maiden name is Mair in the Bible; and this name was borne by his sister, the late Mrs. Isabella Mair Turnbull.--W.J.T.]

      Working, studying and preaching became the common round of Alexander's life. He gave eleven Sunday morning addresses in 1895 and five gospel messages, the first in the city being at Williamstown. But in 1896 he was really sought-after as a preacher. He listed eighteen morning "addresses", as he refers to them and which was customary then, and twenty gospel messages. His first decisions for Christ came in this year, the first of the two being Miss Low of Malvern and the second, Alf Finger of Hawthorn.

      Throughout this year and 1897, he seems to have preached at most of the existing Churches of Christ around Melbourne--both small and large. He also preached the gospel messages at Hawthorn from August 30, 1896 to October 4. 1897, and at Surrey Hills until November 8, and re-commenced at Hawthorn on December 6, where he preached at the gospel services consistently throughout 1897 and 1898, excepting on a few occasions when he was called upon to give special addresses in other places. His note-books show that he had twenty seven decisions for Christ to the end of 1898.

      It must be remembered that these were days when brethren in the churches did much of the exhorting themselves whilst the "evangelist" gave the gospel messages. The principle of the "open platform" was maintained for the most part in a very orderly manner. Men were encouraged to "exhort" the church, and it was considered that it did the man himself good and the church as well. But for the most part men had to "tarry in Jericho 'till their beards be grown" before they were acceptable to this work of exhortation. That A. R. Main should have been used so widely throughout the Melbourne churches speaks volumes concerning the preaching of a young man of 18-21 years, for there were a great number of able speaking brethren at that time as well as preachers.

      On April, 1899 he commenced preaching at Berwick. Here he made lifelong friends of E. Hillbrich and Paul Aurisch, who no doubt taught him to fish in Cardenia Creek. This was the only sport he seemed to follow actively and he fished every stream he could get to. Past students may re-call his illustration about "looking up" and how he looked down when crossing a stream on a slippery log. His own vivid word picture of how the downward look caused him to finish the crossing straddling the log and lifting himself on his hands, Left much room for merriment, as we saw his then Pickwickian figure--he wore steel-rimmed glasses as well--struggling across the log in that way. That he would sit at the edge of Gardiner's Creek, which ran through the college grounds, with a piece of string tied to a stick and a bent pin for a hook, I considered to be apocryphal, although I have seen a snap of him sitting fishing there.

      In his Hawthorn days he had come to know Miss Violet Somerville. It was one of her stories, told I imagine, to discreet cars, that during Alexander's courting days and after saying "good-night" at the front gate Violet said, "Can I go in now?" "I don't know whether you can or not but you may", replied her lover. So much for the budding teacher.

      From the first issue of the Australian Christian in 1898, A. R. Main contributed the page on the Sunday School lessons each week and later conducted the Christian Endeavour columns. With study, preaching, pastoral work and writing, he was a busy man. But he still found time for courting and on

      October 30, 1900, he married Violet Rose Somerville at her parent's home, Inverlieth Street, Auburn. The officiating minister was Joseph Pittmann and the witnesses, Isabella McCallum and George Russell Main. The bridegroom's "profession or rank" is given as "Evangelist".

      Mr. Main had accepted an invitation to labour with the church at Ann Street, Brisbane, Queensland, the city church. One can well imagine that Ann Street was very glad to have such a fine looking couple as the Evangelist and his wife, although there must have been some who shook their heads dourly about such a young man serving such an august church. Alex was young and looked it, because of his fresh complexion, but people were surprised when they heard him speak. It did not seem possible that such sound wisdom should come from such a youth!

      Queensland in that day did not have many paid Evangelists and much of the preaching in country churches was done by local brethren. Somehow they managed to make exchanges, church with church, despite long distances and from time to time were helped by speakers from the city. When one realises the immensity of the State, it leaves a sense of wonder and admiration for those who gave their time and suffered the discomforts of such travelling as at the turn of the century. Although being a preacher of the church in Brisbane, we find Mr. Main also preaching at Zillmere, Rosewood, Mia Mia Creek, Mt. Whitestone, Rosevale, Mt. Walker, Boonah and Beaudesert over his two and a half years ministry. Sometimes there appears little notes to his visits--"No gospel meeting. Very wet".

      In 1903 he was president of the Queensland Conference and this no doubt demanded his travelling about a good deal.

      He was appointed to prepare the Queensland section for the Jubilee History, which he did so well. The editor, A. B. Maston, included a large picture of Main on Page 110. He also appears amongst the deacons of the Brisbane Church and Mrs. Main amongst the members of the Sewing Class. As kind as they may have been, one cannot help but feel sympathetic in the obvious discrepancy in their ages and of those around them. Within his review of Churches of Christ in Queensland on pages 103-108 in the Jubilee History, as he draws near to the conclusion Mr. Main mentions some of the things that were deterrents to the advance of the work in this State, and says, "After all, the chief deterrent comes from within. When we better learn we have been saved for service, that a plea for Christian Union is most effectively made by exemplifying that unity, and that soundness of doctrine should be accompanied by goodness of living, we should more speedily go forward."

Back to Victoria

      Leaving Queensland the Mains left behind them some very great friends. Although distance divided them, the friendships remained for life.

      The Church to which they came was Footscray, which had a membership of over 100, and the first confession of faith listed in August, 1903, is that of Alma Streader and then Easton, names well-known in the Brotherhood in later days. From August, 1903, to May, 1905, he lists 42 decisions for Christ and then he has written in his book, "ceased to keep records". He still, however, kept records of his sermons and places of preaching.

      During this ministry he was lecturer at The Australian College of the Bible. The catalogue of the College lists A. R. Main as the teacher in the Department of English and Philosophy. Under "English" was taught grammar, composition, rhetoric and history of English literature. Philosophy embraced Ethics, Psychology and Logic. He also taught elementary Bible History, Bible Geography, Bible Analysis and advanced Bible lectures. Classes were held in the University High School building. Preaching, lecturing and writing for "The Australian Christian", together with all the meetings and pastoral work in connection with Footscray, plus his studies at the Melbourne University, left him little time for other pursuits, whatever his desires to do so may have been. In 1905 he preached the Conference Sermon, his subject being "The Inevitable Christ".

      It is R. T. Pittman who recalls that Mr. Main fell ill with what was then called "brain fever". We have searched for something written in the sparse notes that might indicate the time of such an illness. All that can be seen is not what is written, but a big blank in the record of sermons which extends from February 11 to April 1, then two addresses followed by another blank from April 22 to May 12 in 1906. This could be the occasion which interrupted Main's studies at the University and which were not resumed for at least a year. Mr. Pittman adds that Mr. Main nearly lost his life in that illness. If the above dates should have been the time of his sickness, then he must have been well ahead with his C.E. page in "The Australian Christian" for there is no cessation of those splendid studies, nor have I found any notice appearing in that journal respecting any such sickness, but it was quite in keeping with the man that no such notice would appear. He was always shy and reticent, unless the need called for him to speak, and always embarrassed about anything that called for personal publicity.

Darker Days

      Mrs. Main's sister, Emmie, had made her home with the Mains soon after their return to Victoria and proved a great blessing to them. Emmie Somerville, it is said, was a woman of lovely Christian character and they

were very fond of her. We do not know when Miss Somerville died, but her death brought great sorrow to them. But even darker clouds were gathering.

      In 1907 The College of the Bible was established, under Principal H. G. Harward. Three months later A. R. Main was invited to serve as a lecturer, which offer he accepted and commenced teaching in the third term. The students lived in Rathdown Street, Carlton, and lectures were given in the Lygon Street Church building.

      By the end of the year 1907 the Mains had two sons, Alan Somerville and Douglas, the latter born in December of that year. Alan was a child of great intellectual promise and had taught himself to read from street hoardings and shop signs. In 1908 Mr. Main went to Surrey Hills, Victoria, as minister of the church there. They lived in Suffolk Parade. Here Alan died in August, at the age of 4½ years. One can never plumb the depths of another's sorrow, but the line of sensitivity of a genius, in which class A. R. Main was placed, is greatly extended. Under his record of gospel addresses for August 23 and 30 he has written simply "Home". Alan's death took a heavy toll of him, but on the following Sunday night, September 6, he preached on "Christ and a Speculative Enquirer", followed by "Christ, Our Example", "King Forever", "Cornelius", "Mercy", "Good Confession" and "Amen", obvious sermons of unswerving faith in the Lord.

      In January, 1909, Main paid a visit to New Zealand. Whilst there he attended the N2. Conference and spoke on behalf of the College of the Bible in Australia. He also preached to the churches at Vivien Street, Wellington: Dunedin and Invercargill. He was to see fruit for this trip some years later. "I took the hook" says Will R. Hibburt. As a fisherman it must be agreed that Mr. Main caught "some fish"--although not a large one, yet making up for lack of avoirdupois in vitality.

      In the B. C. Magazine of February, 1910, edited by student R. T. Pittman, we read, "A. R. Main passed the examination for Second Year Arts at the Melbourne University. He secured honours in Logic and Philosophy and carried off the Hastie Exhibition in that School". It was in this year that the college had moved to its present home at Glen Iris and the Mains had moved nearer the college.

      Like some meteorological low that refuses to move, clouds of sorrow still engulfed them. On December 1, 1910, Mr. Main wrote in Miss Priscilla Ellis' autograph book:

      On December 3 their daughter Emmala Rose died suddenly at the age of 13 months. Here again is the simple statement over two Sunday nights "Home re Emma". Mr. Douglas Main, their one surviving child, now of Mount Kembla, N.S.W., says he can dimly remember something to do with Emma in the home, but did not understand its significance.

      In 1910 the appointment of a new Principal was under consideration. A very strong plea came from the students of the College that A. R. Main should be appointed. It was a most wise and happy choice that on June 10, 1910, he should succeed H. G. Harward. In the B.C. Magazine of that year Principal A. R. Main wrote, "The College exists for glorifying God, helping the cause of Christ, and advancing the Kingdom. If this purpose is realised the College will be a glorious success. If this end be not attained, then, whatever else be done the institution will have failed."

      In the University calendar of 1911. A. R. Main is listed among members of the Senate with the degree M.A.

      In 1911 Professor Laurie, who held the Chair of Philosophy in the Melbourne University, retired. An approach had been made to A. R. Main to succeed him, but Mr. Main had put his hand to the plow and for him there was no turning back. It was said that he was twice offered the Chair of Philosophy which he refused, but we have no verification of this second offer. It is only natural that around such a man many legends should grow up, but many of those legends of his greatness had an abundance of truth within them.

      J. Holloway, of Boronia, Victoria, who was a student in The Australian College of the Bible, has written eulogising the work of A. R. Main in those early days before the establishment of the present College. "I sat under him for four years. I remember one incident in which I queried his marking of a Maths. exam paper as he had given me 99½ per cent. I argued that Maths. was either right or wrong. If right, I should get 100 per cent. "I would never give anyone 100. That is perfect and no-one is perfect", he replied. As a teacher he was dedicated to his work. It was all given without pay, not even travel expenses. That College produced some good men and it stands to the credit of Mr. Main."

      Mrs. Radcliffe, of Ballarat, Victoria, well remembers Mr. Main as preacher of Ann Street, Brisbane, and the esteem in which he was held.

      In 1914 F. G. Dunn, the editor of "The Australian Christian", died, and Principal Main was appointed in his place. He had already written much in that journal, as well as tracts and booklets, one of the latter being on Christian Unity and the book "First Principles".

      On taking up the editorship of the journal he proclaimed his aim in it: "To exalt Christ, to declare the facts of the Gospel and to present 'news' rather than 'views' to readers". This position he held for 27 years and enriched the Australian and New Zealand Brotherhood by his wisdom. It was written of him, in a brochure by J. E. Thomas when furthering an appeal to send Mr. and Mrs. Main overseas, "There has been no spirit of criticism and contention manifest; but always the sane and constructive spirit that characterises the articles for a Christian scholar and gentleman", and this after twenty years of his editorship, and almost 1,000 editorials.

      Mr. Thomas's words are far more commendable than one might think in the mere reading. There were people who opposed the College, "The Australian Christian", and, made it obvious, A. R. Main. I doubt if they could be numbered on one's fingers and were very vocal through a certain publication which tended to exclusiveness. Not one valid reason can be found to support anything that was written, for it was never spoken in front of Mr. Main himself. That was a risk no-one dared take with such an analytical and logical mind as had the Editor and Principal. That is not to say that Mr. Main did not write letters to people who may have been unkind, un-Christian and blatantly rude. He did. He told us so. But he left the letters on his desk for a day or so and consequently never posted them. He advised his students to do the same if they must write such letters, and it seems very excellent advice.

      He had a strong sense of humour and I would have no doubts that he would have to curb it. But often humorous gems would be given as asides in his lectures. "Always take a text from the Bible when preaching and be sure to impress it upon your hearers. You will then be sure they have received something worth-while". The warning against wandering from the

subject was well given, of the student who, in an address and by way of illustration, brought a lovely sailing-ship through the Heads, its while sails billowing in the wind and glistening in the sun: but, by the time the said student had brought his ship into the harbour, it was a steamship with the black smoke pouring from its funnels, etc.

      R. T. Pittman remembers visiting the Mains in their home at Hawthorn, when A.R.M. read Lamb's "Dissertation on Roast Pig". Many years after that, L. C. Peacock and I were invited home to Sunday dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Main (we were then new students). After dinner Mr. Main read to us, the same essay, which he could not read without continual chuckling.

      In 1922 the publication of a student magazine was re-commenced with "Our Annual". The Principal wrote within the foreword: "College is serious, but not so serious as to be devoid of joy. The lighter contributions herein contained--sketches, verse and prose--bear witness to the happiness of student days: those in graver mood breathe the spirit of devotion pervading the College: the heaviest will serve to recall Faculty utterances to the minds of former students and other sufferers. So every reader will find something to please."

      In 1911, the year in which Main became Principal, First Principles was published. As the preface says "The articles in this hand-book treat of subjects selected as a special course of study by various Bible School Unions of the Churches of Christ of Australia. Primarily, this hand-book has been written for teachers and senior scholars using the lessons and preparing for examinations on them."

      It is a book that has been, and still is, used widely, having been translated into other languages. Its contents are: 1. The Bible: God's Book. 2. Sin and its cure. 3. Jesus Christ: His Person and Office. 4. The Holy Spirit, I: Work of Inspiration; Baptism in the Spirit; Spiritual Gifts. 5. The Holy Spirit, II: Conversion and Sanctification. 6. Faith. 7. Repentance and Confession. 8. Baptism. 9. The Church, I: Its establishment and membership. 10. The Church, II: Its Worship and Ministry. The original copy ran into 136 pages and over 34,000 words.

      In 1913, "Baptism: Our Lord's Command" was published. The late T. E. Rofe paid to have copies sent to all Churches of Christ in the Commonwealth. This, like other booklets of his, was an address that Mr. Main had given and by request of Conference was published. He was Conference President in 1917 (the third year of World War One). His Presidential address was delivered in the Masonic Hall in Melbourne (then used by the Conference for its larger meetings) on April 6 and was entitled "Reconstruction." This was becoming the theme of the day and time and A. R. Main was right "with it." He commences his address by telling of various words used during the ages and going through "Catholicity" to "Reformation" to "Restoration" and "Evangelisation." Then he deals with some of the outstanding evils of the day, which incidentally are much like our own, and concludes with "Reconstruction and our Plea!" This latter is a grand peroration for faithfulness to Christ. "Seeing that 'our plea' is Christ--His exaltation and pre-eminence in Church life and doctrine, in creed and ordinance--we unhesitatingly declare that any imperfection is with the exponents of the plea and not with the plea itself." He went on to show that the Christian world believes in union, prays for union, works for union and adds, "The only thing it seems to lack is the knowledge that there is a divinely given basis of union. We shall be recreant if, at such a time, we be found unfaithful. The world needs our plea--not half of it merely, for union simply (everybody besides now pleads for union), but the whole of it; for who in addition is pleading for union on the New Testament basis?"

      In 1920 the Federal Conference was held on April 7 and 8. W. C. Brooker of S.A. was too ill to preside. This Conference was held in Melbourne and Principal Main was called upon to preside. The Federal Conference of 1922 was also held in Melbourne and Main was President. I was at some of the meetings of both conferences. At one meeting which was held in the Independent Church, Collins Street, a man sitting in the congregation stood up and interjected. The third time he did so the speaker stopped and looked to Mr. Main who immediately got to his feet and told the man that if he interrupted the speaker again he would have the policeman from the nearest corner called in, etc. The man gathered his coat and scarf in his arms and

left the meeting. Some people thought the president was a bit hard on the interjector and in my own youthful judgment I too felt sympathetic. But in more mature years and experience I think the president did the right thing.

      In 1924 a booklet was published by the Austral Co., Why I Belong to The Church of Christ. This was an address delivered at a meeting of the Collins Street Baptist Church Y.P. Social Circle and was delivered on September 7, 1921. It was published at the request of the Executive of the H. M. Committee of the Victorian Churches of Christ, The foreword says " . . . that it fairly represents the position generally held by those connected with churches pleading for a return to the faith and order of the Apostolic Church." There are 31 pages in this book and over 10,000 words. It bears the name it does because that was what he was asked to speak upon. The headings are: No Short Cuts; What is the Church of Christ?; We Stand For a Purely Undenominational Position; Vital Truths which We Share With Others; The Plea for Restoration and Union; A Catholic or a Scriptural Position; Evangelistic Zeal and Message, The Lord's Supper; Recapitulation.

      I venture to observe here that the logic and scriptural position given by Mr. Main is irrefutable. It is well worth reading by every member of Churches of Christ if by no one else. When speaking about Restoration and Union, "It has often been thought that we err by seeking a return to the past. The Spirit of God is yet with us. The doctrine of development is widely held, Therefore, it is alleged, we need not seek the restoration of the New Testament order. I humbly submit it is not good reasoning from the member of any church which in its standards, confession, or doctrinal basis, acknowledges the supremacy and sufficiency of the scriptures. If a man rejects these, we may reason with him, but the line of reasoning would be different from that we give to those who in theory accept the New Testament as true. There can be no evolution beyond Christ, if He were really Emmanuel. The Spirit of God does not in a revelation today contradict that which He has given in the Scriptures."

      Referring to our undenominational position the writer says. "We do not believe in denominationalism, or in interdenominationalism, as expressing the Lord's Will, but endeavour to an undenominational or non-sectarian attitude. Our rejection of human names is associated with this fact and follows from the obvious truth that such, not only are unauthorised by, but are condemned in scripture. Party names are derogatory to Christ and to Christians, and tend to perpetuate division." He emphasises that in taking this position we can still stand for both courtesy and truth.

      "I know that some will scarcely allow that we can hold an undenominational position. Well, they must admit our intention, or else claim to know better than we the purpose of our hearts." If they still deny that possibility he feels like leaving them to settle "their disagreement with the Apostles, Paul for instance, at the first favourable opportunity."

      Whilst these extracts do not convey in any way the fulness of his statements or reasoning, they do show the position held by Churches of Christ in that day.

      The fourth book which was published by the Austral Co, in 1928 is Messages from the Word: Studies in Ambiguous Texts. This came from a series which the author ran in The Australian Christian. T. H. Scambler wrote the foreword and says within it, "In the following studies A. R. Main, M.A., has brought to his readers the results of wide research and clear thinking. Principal Main's long experience as an instructor in the courses in the New Testament at the College of the Bible has prepared him to an unusual degree to become an expositor of the Word, and the pen of a ready writer has enabled him clearly to express the results of his investigations."

      An interesting little pamphlet of eight pages was of the address given at a Queensland Conference. It is entitled The Centrality of Jesus and the Unity of Christians. Within it he said, "When I am asked if Christians will ever thus unite, my simple answer is: I do not know" . . . "I do know that the will of Christ our Lord is that Christians should unite." He gives six reasons advanced by religious bodies generally as to why Christians should unite and the change for the better that had come about in between the two World Wars. Under the Sin of Division he quoted from the booklet of the Victorian section of the Australian Regional Committee of the World Conference of Faith and Order. These four essays had been contributed by Anglican,

Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian Church leaders. The writers had gone far beyond a mere statement of the desirability of Union. "They take the position which preachers of Churches of Christ have consistently maintained, that disunion is sin." But a greater advance was necessary, that of giving Christ the Central place in our lives. Religion should be expressed "in terms of Christ." We should make Jesus Christ the centre, the focal point of all our thinking, "Christianity is Christo-centric."

      1 . We honour Him by wearing His Name.
      2. He was the Church's message, "preached Jesus."
      3. The Creed of the Church is definitely expressed in terms of Christ.
      4. The Ordinances of the Church exalt Christ.
      5. Christianity is a way of life.
      6. A future life awaits us. He is our hope, etc.

      His conclusion was, Love is the secret of Union. He concluded with the following illustration which I would like to give in his own words:--

      "You recall the familiar story of the man who saw in a picture gallery the representation of our Lord's suffering for sinful humanity. He looked, he stood in adoration, long and earnestly he gazed, the tears came into his eyes and in ecstasy he clasped his hands and exclaimed, "Bless Him! I love Him." One who overheard the words presently came up and taking him by the hand, said, "Brother I love Him too." Others gathered, and ere long an adoring group stood by the picture of the crucified Lord--a company united in heart, loving because He first loved them. Love was the reason for the sacrificial Cross. In love is the secret of union to be found. May we all come to possess an abiding love for Him, such a love as will enable us to keep his commandments, and also to love all for whom Christ died."

      I have quoted this story in full as A. R. Main told it. He was a master of illustration and at times he could be very moving emotionally. I later heard him speak at a farewell dinner, when I listened to one of the greatest flights of oratory I had ever heard. Speaking to him afterwards I referred to his "oratory." I remember how humbly his head went down and he shook it slowly as he said, "Oh no, mister, I'm not an orator."

To Britain and America

      As early as 1921 it had been in the mind of the College Board that the Principal should have an extended holiday, but it was not until the Federal Conference in Launceston, Tasmania, in October 1933 the following resolution was brought forward and carried unanimously and with acclamation:

      "As an expression of the brotherhood's appreciation of the invaluable and self-sacrificing service of Bro. A. R. Main as Principal of the College, that this Conference instruct the College Board to arrange a testimonial for the purpose of sending Bro. Main to the World's Conference in Leicester, England in 1935."

      J. E. Thomas was deputed to prepare a brochure to be sent to all the churches, but before it saw the light of day, gifts were pouring in from all over Australia.

      J. E. Thomas (1879-1944 Digest No. 13) was the right man to make the appeal for he himself was beloved. He had that kindly eye that sees the good in men and magnified that above all else. Not that any magnification of A. R. Main's qualities was needed nor did he use such. It was a simple and direct statement of what the Principal had done and he included Mrs. Main to whose "gracious courtesy" he referred. "She is a woman beloved among us, and has used her gifts in the service of the Lord Jesus with great acceptance. She has been used as a speaker among the sisters, and she would worthily represent them in every way wherever she visits, either in England or America."

      Then followed a round of visits to State Conferences before Mr. and Mrs. Main left for the second World Convention in Leicester, England. W.A. was the last State visited and the weather was perfect. It became one of Mrs. Main's jokes when speaking from the platform that people (many of whom were 't'other siders' anyway) would ask, "Do you ever get any weather like this in Melbourne?" On the day they left Fremantle by ship it was pouring rain. Someone had the temerity to shout, from the quay to the Mains, "Do you ever get any weather like this in Melbourne?"

      At this 2nd World Convention Mr. Main not only represented Australia and the New Hebrides, but was also on both the Resolutions and the Nominating Committees. He gave addresses on The Place and Power of Christian Journalism, and also, in Loving Memory of Wm. Morrow. The Hon. W. Morrow, M.L.C. (1869-1934. See Digest No. 28) was one of the founders of The World Conventions and was a vice-president at the time of his death. It was a moving peroration in which he eulogised upon this man, his character

and his work who had said, "All I am today I owe to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ." Main commenced by quoting:--

      Whilst in Britain the Mains visited Dullatur hoping to see something of the old home, but Glasgow's environs had long since swallowed up the dairy farms there and he found he could not even be sure of the locality where their farm had been.

      Then followed a trip across the U.S.A. where he was feted and gave addresses at Churches, Colleges and Universities. He was entertained by a great many organisations and people and his adjectives concerning these occasions range from "beautiful" to "good." They were driven about to see all the sights, but had to travel by train from city to city. Sometimes trains were late or they had to be caught in the middle of the night or early mornings and there was little rest at times. State Conventions were being held and Main spoke at some of these on subjects ranging from "Australia" to such as "Backward--or forward with Christ."

      The highlight of these occasions was at Butler University on October 7 where he received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity and he gave an address. Following this his diary reads, "Photo and moving pictures." Then, "Luncheon at Columbia Hotel with Dr. Patman, some faculty and distinguished men (Vi with women). Visited U.C.M.S. rooms--photo for World Call (with Dr. S.). Dinner at Whispering Winds--V.G. Excellent fellowship. Dean Kershner in chair. Distinguished college company in our honour. Faculty and Wives. Spoke at both functions." It was indeed a busy day for the new Dr. But this had followed 10 days of such busy times, and they were to continue daily until November 13 when they left for Long Beach, California--and then the diary unhappily ceases.

      To the writer's knowledge A. R. Main never used the title "Dr." in any way. According to K. A. Jones, if anyone so addressed him he would say. "Mister will do, thank you." I recall a tea and very happy evening which followed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Duff Sen. at Launceston. Tasmania. One of the lady guests kept addressing Mr. Main as "professor." I suppose he would accept such a title the same as he would "Principal." but I could see that it irked him.

      That spirit of the tie that binds us as one in Christ Jesus was basically strong within him.

Back in Australia

      Resuming his normal life here we find A. R. Main speaking at the Youth Service of the Victorian Conference. His subject. "How Happy to be young in Australia in 1936." The Argus report of that address was headed Confidence in Youth and we have reason to believe that the older he grew the closer he got to young people. It was in this address that he quoted The Hymn of the Pessimist.

      He must have been as well aware of the approaching signs of another world holocaust of war as any of us, but he could foresee great possibilities in the youth of Australia.

      In 1938 A. R. Main retired as Principal of the College of the Bible at Glen Iris. He was then only 62 years of age and it seems that he retired at a very early age. He settled down quietly for a time in his home Dullater in Scott Grove, Gardiner.

      On November 24. 1938 the closing Graduation Ceremony (now called Ordination Service) was held. Mr. Main had had 32 years association with the College and had been its Principal for 28 years. At this service the Board of Management expressed its appreciation of Mr. Main's services to the College and to the Brotherhood. T. H. Scambler and T. R. Morris each gave a brief . . .

      The Mains settled down happily in their home in Scott Grove. It was an easy and short walk to the tram or train, if there was any need to go into the city. He was an elder of the church at Gardiner and often preached there. Mr. and Mrs. Main were favourites of the children and some would be seen running to meet them, as they came to church, and give them posies of flowers.

      For two years the brethren in N.S.W. had been working toward the establishment of a College in Sydney, and when, in 1942, the Bible College at Woolwich was to be commenced, it had been to A. R. Main to whom the Board looked to become its first Principal. The official opening took place on March 7, 1942. So, once again, Mr. and Mrs. Main had uprooted themselves, this time coming out of retirement to inaugurate the work of the Bible College at 57 The Point Road, Woolwich, N.S.W. The answering of this call was at great personal sacrifice to themselves. Life was not easy now for them, despite the beauty, of their new surroundings and environment. The large and lovely, stone building, which had once been the French Legation, with its flat roof-top view of the deep blue of the Harbour reaches, the water washing at the very feet of its terraced garden and spreading into its own swimming-pool, could not altogether compensate for a non-car driver who had ferries to catch and steep inclines to climb whenever they left the college to give what they could to the brotherhood at large in N.S.W. No matter how kind people may have been in readiness to put themselves and their cars at the Main's disposal, there still remained much climbing to be done. It was a far cry from the gentle inclines and comparative compactness of Melbourne.

      Ten young men were enrolled for the first year and it is interesting to note that seven churches were helped by the students in that first year and no less than 50 confessions of faith were taken.

      "The coming of Principal A. R. Main, M.A., to inaugurate the work immediately lifted the College to a high intellectual and spiritual standard"^* it was reported. In the following year 12 churches were served and 75 were added by the preaching of the students and it was further reported that "Principal A. R. Main had done a magnificent work and had the full confidence of the Board." The dream of B. G. Corlett was being fulfilled.

      After two years living at the College, Mr. Main was relieved of housemaster duties and the Mains went to live at Lane Cove. The Principal was undoubtedly preparing to slip into retirement again. He was now 68 years old and there were signs that age and his years of work were taking their toll. Whatever plans they were making for the future, the greatest calamity in the life of Mr. Main came suddenly and unexpectedly in the home-call of his earthly partner in life. On January 28. 1944, Mrs. Main passed away in her sleep.

      Mrs. Main had been a valiant partner indeed. Mrs. E. C. McCann, of Melbourne, wrote in "The Australian Christian" of Mrs. Main's work amongst the sisterhood of the churches, listing all the various offices she had held and the committees over which she had presided. She had always refused the Women's Conference presidency because she considered her first loyalty was to Mr. Main and the College. In conferences she had a ready wit, was wise in her judgments and possessed a gift of lucid statement coupled with a natural graciousness which was so helpful in discussion. In association with the late Miss Helen Ellis, she had shown outstanding leadership as superintendent of Mission Bands and, during her term of office, Miss Vera Blake had become the first living link missionary. As a foundation member of the church at Gardiner, Vic., it was from her Bible Class of girls that the first decisions of the church had come. A. W. Ladbrook, M.A., Dip.Ed., wrote in the obituary. "Many Australian and New Zealand mothers were thankful for the motherly care that Mrs. Main had given to their sons." She had represented the women of the Australian churches most worthily in Britain and the U.S.A. She was respected, honoured and loved throughout the Australian churches. The funeral services were held at the Chatswood Church and the Northern Suburbs Crematorium on Saturday, January 29. Those taking part at the chapel were F. A. Youens (minister), Mrs. W. G E. Lewis, Dr. A. C. Crisp, Dr. R. Wilson. P. E. Thomas. B.A., T. E. Rofe and B. G. Corlett. The service at the crematorium was conducted by H. J. Patterson, M.A.. Vice-Principal of the College, and A. W. Ladbrook, Senior Lecturer.

      It was said and written that Violet Main "was a faithful help-meet to her husband." I can believe that to be so, far more than any of us can realise, and one can only try to imagine what a blow her decease was to her husband. Suffice to say, he resigned as Principal of Woolwich Bible College in April, 1944, and was appointed Principal-Emeritus by the N.S.W. Conference. The late H. S. Patterson became Principal on April 14, and was loyally, supported in his work by Mrs. Patterson.

      Mr. Main had a room at the College and would sometimes stay there over-night. He made a few trips down to Melbourne to which place he was planning to return. The Mains had never taken their membership from the church at Gardiner, Vic,, and they had both been looking forward to the time when they could return there. In October. 1945, Mr. Main left Melbourne to go to Brisbane, where he was to speak at a Queensland Conference. On the journey he suffered a heart attack and when the train reached Sydney he struggled from it to a phone box and called his cousin, Ern Millar, who drove him to his own home. Dr. Roy Millar (well known in the N.S.W. Brotherhood), his nephew, attended him. F. A. Youens and Mr. Douglas Main were also involved in these efforts of care and attention and getting Mr. Main into a nursing home. But there he died at 11.45 a.m. on October 13. One wonders if Principal Main had not been so independent and had had the train conductor and Travellers' Aid Society do the 'phoning, if it would not have given the doctor a chance to save his life!

      The passing of the Great-heart of the Australian Brotherhood cast a gloom over the churches. In Sydney, obsequies were conducted at Chatswood and the Northern Suburbs Crematorium by F. A. Youens. By request these were of the simplest nature.

      In Melbourne, a Brotherhood Memorial Service was held on Sunday, November 18, at 3 p.m., in the Gardiner Chapel. The President of Conference, A. W. Cleland, presided; Chaplain-General Allen Brooke, then minister at Gardiner, read the scripture lesson, and the speakers were J. McG.

Abercrombie (representing Conference and the churches), Principal E. Lyall Williams of the College of the Bible, and A. W. Stephenson. editor of "The Australian Christian." F. C. Whittington, of Gardiner, was soloist. One would suppose that in every Church of Christ in the Commonwealth reference was made concerning the passing of A. R. Main. I know that wherever preachers or Brotherhood Committees met, there was a great sense of loss felt--a pillar of the churches had gone. But we knew that his influence would still live on through his teaching and preparing men and women for the ministry of the Word, and by his preaching and soul-winning for Christ, and through his authorship. The editor of "The Spectator," the Methodist journal, wrote of him: "Principal A. R. Main was held in high esteem in all the churches".

      E. C. Henrichsen, a unique and most outstanding missionary and graduate of the College of the Bible, wrote: "To the student he was little less than supernatural. Not only did he have an answer for every question, but he anticipated the question. No book worth reading seemed to be unknown to him. To the Conference he was the final authority. More than once it would seem that a question would be decided in the affirmative. Then Mr. Main would rise, quote the Word, use a few unanswered arguments and the whole attitude would change."

      A. W. Stephenson, M.A., then editor of "The Australian Christian" in succession to A. R. Main, himself a graduate of the College of the Bible, wrote: "It was his aim to make clear and simple to young and old the facts of the Gospel. As a writer and teacher, he sought to unfold the Way of Life and Salvation in Christ. There was an un-erring purpose in his life, and he refused to be drawn from it. Whilst others were influenced by the fashions and thought of the day he pressed on steadfastly with the mission of making the facts of the New Testament clear. . . . It was his prayer that many rise up and advance the work of the Restoration Movement, so that the cause he loved may continue to glorify Christ."

      Editors of other church papers made eulogistic comments But with what better words could I conclude this brief outline of such a wonderful man's life than to quote words of Alexander Russell Main:--

      "Let us love and read and study the scriptures and make them the guide of our lives. Let us preach the word! It is the strength of our movement: God meant the scriptures to furnish the Man of God completely unto every good work. No human dogma or creed or philosophy, can do what the book of God will do."

      ^* Principal Main's "Statement of Purpose" which he formulated very early in the life of The Federal College of the Bible, and which he undoubtedly carried on to the Woolwich Bible College, reads:--

      "The Chief purpose of the College of the Bible is to provide Biblical instruction on liberal and scientific principles for students, and to furnish ample facilities for education for the Christian ministry. It is also the purpose to encourage an impartial and unbiased investigation of the Christian scriptures, and in the spirit of devout faith in the Divine Word, freely to lay under tribute every source and light and truth available to modern scholarship. This College seeks to train good men for great tasks, and to make them strong to meet the needs of the age in which they live. Pursuant to such ideals, the courses of study are selected, and in all departments of instruction. an evangelistic spirit is maintained in order that together, the faith, the inspiration and the usefulness of the student, may be cultivated."

      The A. R. Main branch of the family tree:

• John Main: Born June 10, 1830--died ? Married
• Isabella Main: Born October. 1832--died ?
• Issue--
  • Nine sons and one daughter. Youngest child--
• Alexander Russell Main: Born February 19, 1876--died 1945. Married
• Violet Rose Somerville: Born 1877--died 1944.
• Issue--
  • Alan Somerville: Born 1904-died 1908.
  • Douglas: Born 1907,--
  • Emmala Rose: Born 1909--died 1910.
• Douglas married Lillian Williams of Kaniva, daughter of Richard Williams and
• Elizabeth Adeline (nee McCallum).
• Douglas: Bach. Met. Eng. (Melb.)--now Mt. Kembla. N.S.W.
• Issue--
  • Beth: Born 1935, married Keith Robinson (Wollongong, N.S.W.)
  • John: Born 1937, married Valerie Thompson. (Missionaries in India: now at Poona-Christian literature work.)
  • Helen: Born 1941, married Graeme Chapman (Senior Lecturer, Bible College, Woolwich, N.S.W.)
  • Richard: Born 1946, Lieut., A.M.F., married Cris. Pask, of Townsville, Qld.