A Monthly Paper for circulation among the coloured people of Australasia.

Issued by the Aborigines Inland Mission of Aust . 242 Pitt Street, Sydney.

August 15, 1940. Vol. 10. No. 6.

2 THE AUSTRALIAN EVANGEL August 15, 1940.

Our Message SOME THINGS THAT SPOIL OUR WITNESS AS CHRISTIANS

9. SHOWINESS "To be

'Showiness"—the

seen of men"—Matthew 6: 1-5; 2 3 : 5.

very word does not sound as if it belongs to any one who loves and follows the Lamb of God, does it? And it does not really. And yet there are some very "showy-Christians." They are all to the front when there are special meetings on! If a visitor comes, they are sure to be present. We are glad they are, and sometimes God speaks to them and next morning they come along to the quiet little prayer meeting, where those who feel their unworthiness and need are found on their knees at the throne of grace.

There are people, and God's people too, who love to pray in the meetings and specially like to be called on. If they are not asked they get huffed and feel very put out and neglected.

It is the same with speaking in the meetings or even leading them. They love to lead and often they only come when it is their turn to do so. I've known people like that. They are a great trouble to their missionaries and give pain to their brethren. How much more do they grieve the Lord Jesus?

When He was here on earth He warned His disciples about this very thing. He did not want them to be showy followers of His.

He wanted them to be just like Himself. All we read about the Lord Jesus in the Scriptures is just the opposite to showiness. He was meek and lowly; He went about His work quietly, never thrusting Himself for­ward, always taking His place with­out noise—he was ready to take the lowest place and do the commonest tasks, yet He was the King of Glory.

There were lots of people around Him who made a great show. They

loved to pray at street corners, out where everybody could see them, and when they wanted to do a good deed they sounded a trumpet so ev­eryone would know about it. The Lord Jesus said they did it "to be seen of men." He said when you do it, don't draw any attention to it. Do it quietly when no one is look­ing. Do it My way and your Father which is in heaven will reward you.

Yes, we must be willing, too, to do the jobs in the background, that no one notices. Sometimes when there are big meetings on, you will see some fussing around, willing to sing solos or do anything people can see, but only one here and there is willing to do the sweeping up after­wards, when everyone has gone home. Yet I think this pleases the Lord Jesus very much.

If we want to grow in grace and become useful servants of the Lord we will need to do everything "unto the Lord." If we pray, it must be to the Lord; not just a good prayer for the people around to hear how-fine it is. If we speak in the meetings it must be just as "a messenger," not as a somebody who can speak well. And if others are put in front of us and we are left out, let us just tell the Lord we love Him best of all and don't mind being forgotten or put aside and He will draw very near to us.

Then, when He wants anyone to do anything for Him in public and in private He will have us near to use in His service. When we do stand up to speak for Him we'll find people listening and being blessed. Let us ask the Lord to help us always to live, not "to be seen of men," not to do eye service as men-pleasers, but unto the Lord and for His glory.

August 15, 1940. THE AUSTRALIAN EVANGEL 3

Our News Page A Bible School

For all who want to know of God's Word

When we opened the College at Pindimar, we had in our minds to hold a Bible School once a year for about a month for all who would come to Pindimar. We propose to hold the first Bible School, God will­ing, in January, 1941.

Will all those who would like to attend please write and tell us or tell your Missionary or Native Wor­ker? It will cost a good bit for railway fares and you would need to commence to save up straight away. You would require money for food, too, while you are there.

This would be a great oppor­tunity for Native Workers who have all the time to be preaching and teaching.

Names of our Men Who Are Enlisting

Last month we asked for the names of our men who have enlisted and these have been sent in so far:

Arthur Stanley, who is really from Cherbourg, Qld., but has been at Proserpine lately.

These are from Boggabilla. N.S.W.: John Knox (Native Work­e r ) , Denny Dennison, Clifton Mc-Leod, Bert Cubby. George Cubby, Cecil Green, Len Brown, Percy Mc-Grady. Vincent Prince, John Bart-man. Three others, Ruben Wright, Les Lang, Roy Dennison, also vol­unteered, but where not accepted.

Then we have word of Mr. Jack­son Stewart and his son Frank, from Lake Boga, Victoria, who have al­ready gone across to the other side. Mrs. Jackson has asked for prayer in her loneliness. Her son Frank wrote while he was on the way over and said the officers were splendid

and the soldiers were all like a lot of brothers. He, too, asked to be prayed for and for his wife and four young children.

I am sure all our readers will remember these men and their loved ones in prayer and others whose names have not yet reached us, but who have bravely answered our country's call.

Will you please let us know the names of any of our men whom you know have enlisted?

Wedding at Fingal Point A pretty wedding of two of our

younger Christians, Dan Paulson and Doris Currie, took place in Fingal Church on July 20.

The church was nicely decorated by the young people. Doris, who has been for some time at Mitchell help­ing in the work, looked sweet in her bridal gown as she entered the church on her father's arm. Her bridesmaid, Enid Bellear, was dressed in blue, and both carried posies of sweet peas.

Mr. Higgs, of the Methodist Church, Tweed Heads, performed the ceremony, after which a happy reception was held in the home of the bridegroom's mother.

A Letfer from Hoya Brown The Fifth Member of the Northern

Territory Party Aborigines Inland Mission,

Box 69, Darwin, 3rd August, 1940.

To the Readers of "The Evangel", Dear Friends,

"There hath not failed one word of all His good promise," (1 Kings 8: 56) . Truly the Lord has blessed us and right from the start we have been proving the wonderful promi­ses of God.

(Continued on next page)

4 THE AUSTRALIAN EVANGEL August 15, 1940.

We all left Brisbane on Saturday night, the 13th July, and were feel­ing quite excited and thankful to God for leading us this far. We did not know where we were the next day—all we could see was water. The sea was wonderfully calm all the way until we sailed across the Arafura Sea. The boat rolled a bit and made some of the passengers sick, including Miss Beasley and myself. The name of the boat was the S.S. "Marella."

The "Marella" pulled into Port Darwin on the 23rd July. We had breakfast on board, then everybody started to go ashore. The men were busy unloading and everything seemed to be moving. The trains were loaded, also the trucks and even the men working on the wharf wharf carrying numerous "por ts" and baggage.

We were expecting Mr. Long with the Van, but he didn't come because he was unable to find out from anyone when the boat would arrive. We did not know what to do, but the Lord undertook for us and a man told us where the town was. We had to climb a hill which had some steps in it, and it was hard work! The heat was dreadful, also the dust, but we landed at the top. Here we had our first glimpse of Darwin. The town is larger than I expected it to be and there were many of our people walking along the street—some were riding bi­cycles.

Another man directed us to the Darwin Post Office and after posting a good number of letters, Miss Shankleton hired a taxi. (The let­ters we posted that day won't be go­ing forward until the 8th of August!) The taxi-driver was very good and drove us around the streets for a while, showing us a good bit of Darwin. Everything was new and different. We noticed some ice-cream shops!

We found the mission house near the military aerodrome, and Mr. and Mrs. Long anxiously awaiting our arrival. On a table just inside the door was a card on which was:

"Welcome to the Northern Territory, the land of promise." We sincerely believe it to be a land of exceeding great promise and are determined, by God's grace and His strength, to spend and be spent in His labour of love among our aborigines of the Northern Territory. We earnestly seek the co-operation of God's people evervwhere in "effectual fer­vent prayer."

Our welcome meeting on the Dar­win Compound was one which we will all keep long in our memory. Their shed was decorated with fern­like greenery and yellow flowers. There were streamers also and a big light which showed everything, and made everything look so nice. On a big green "black-board" was written "Welcome to the Compound," with the date (23rd July, 1940) written on each side. Underneath were writ­ten the words of our A.I.M. motto, "Our God is Able."

We were greeted with bright singing by our people. Our people in Darwin can sing wonderfully well and most of them cannot read or write. We did enjoy their singing.

We met Mr. Harry Foster, the blind Native Worker of the Northern Territory. He is a fine Christian and a fine singer. He spoke words of welcome, saving how they were thankful to our Father in Heaven for sending five more missionaries into the Northern Territory, and they still needed more. There were words of welcome given by one of our women also. Her name was Mrs. Fejo. She is also a lovely Chris­tian, and is a good help in the Lord's work on the Compound. Steven, a Christian from one of the islands off the coast of Darwin, prayed a lovely prayer, speaking in his own lan­guage in some parts of his prayer. After our people welcomed us, we five missionaries responded, telling our people of how the Lord has led us on to labour among them and win them for the Lord Jesus Christ. There were items given by the young women, the children and the men.

(Continued on page 8)

August 15, 1940. T H E AUSTRALIAN EVANGEL 5

Young Dear Young Cousins,

I am glad to be able to write you a little letter again this month. The Lord has been very good and I am feeling well and strong again, although I am not back at Pindimar yet.

Such a nice lot of answers came in this month and it was hard to say which was the best. But if you didn't win a prize, keep on trying and some day you will be sure to.

We haven't had any letters from cousins on this page for a couple of months and it is so nice to have them. Perhaps some of you will write in time for the next Evangel.

Cod bless you all and help you to shine for Him.

Yours in Christ, Cousin Evangel.

"Get Me That Book" Another old chap, a believer, told me of

the passing of one of our dear old be­lievers from Dennawan. No one near him (earthly friends, I mean) ; and he down in the Valley of the Shadow, but the Good Shepherd was near.

At last one old man went to see him. He peeped into the kerosene-tin hut, in which our old brother lay, and saw him stretched out on a blanket. "Come in, brother," came the invitation. So he went in and sat near the dying man.

"Get me that Book," he then asked, so his old visitor got the Book (a little New Testament) and gave it to him, saying, "You've got it now, but we can't read it." "Never mind," the dying man said, "I believe it."

They sat for a few minutes, these two old dark men. away from everyone else, in a little kerosene-tin camp "out back." in silence, thinking. I wonder what their thoughts were in this hour?

Then the visitor quietly left his old friend, never to see him alone here any more, for when someone called out to our old brother later, they received no answer, for he had gone to "the land that is fairer than day."

There in the hut the police and doctor found his body, and he was asleep.

Truly our blessed Saviour is One Who is very careful for His sheep.

Folks Results of June Competitions

CLASS 1 — HIDDEN NAMES 1st Prize: Cousin Dorothy Nicholls,

Walgett. 2nd Prize: Cousin Gloria Ferguson,

Brewarrina. Stars: Pearl Lawton, Essie Young, Mit­

chell; Cecil See, Levenia Carney, Dubbo; May Kennedy, Darlington Point; Billy Williams, Cowra; Harold Williams, Cecil Williams, Marion Nicholls, Walgett; Brida Blair, Merle Blair, Long Gully; Beaty Kirby, Vera Pyke, Alfie Kirby, Balranald; Florence Darcy, Sydney; John Saunders, Gwen Doyle, Woorabinda; Una Byers, Chrissie Edwards, Rosetta Sullivan, Cher­bourg: John Williams, Amy Clark, Ron Kelly, Menindee; Robert Charles, Eddie Sampson. Ronald Sampson, Sheila Sampson, Moonah Cullah; Willie Terrick, Muriel Clark, Lettie Clark, Jack Clark, Maisie Bux, James Moyle, Melbourne; John Browning, Gwen Rotumah, Enid Bellear, Barry Rotumah, Henry Morton, Amelia Slockie, Albert Bellear, Beryl Morton, Fingal Point.

CLASS 2~A HIDDEN PROMISE 1st Prize: Cousin Nellie Hart, Mitchell. 2nd Prize: Cousin Laura Edwards, Bal­

ranald. Stars: Gwen Kirby, Balranald; Eunice

Browning, Joyce Slockie. Betty Browning, George Fay, Fingal Point; Willie Charles. Kathleen Sampson, Moonah Cullah; Fred Clark, Winnie Terrick, Gloria Terrick, John Terrick, Melbourne; Jean Lawton, Elva Swan, Alice Jackson, Mitchell; Mona Perry, Shirley Lalor, Sydney; Kate Williams, Mavis Nicholls, Walgett; Delcie Johnson. Bundaberg; Bettv Blair, Long Gully.

New Competitions CLASS 1 (11 years and over)

Write out in your own words a story from the Bible that you have had lately in Sunday school.

CLASS 2 (Under 11 years) Write out 2 verses from the Psalms

which start with the words: "The Lord." Send your answers in to Cousin Evangel,

A.I.M., Pindimar, Port Stephens, N.S.W.. before the end of September. before the end of August.

Awards for Six Stars Brida Blair, Ron Sampson, Sheila

Sampson,

6 THE AUSTRALIAN EVANGEL August 15, 1940.

Stories from

HOW GOD

A few years ago a beautiful baby girl was sent to two missionaries in China. How delighted the parents were when she arrived! Soon after, the parents brought her to church and publicly dedicated her to God. She was called Helen Priscilla and at her dedication service the minis­ter prayed that she might be like Priscilla of whom we read in the Bible—a help to the church, minis­tering to the saints.

At this time there was much per­secution in China for those who loved the Lord Jesus Christ. An army of soldiers called the "Red Army," were going about every­where and taking those who were Christians, putting them in prison, and killing some, after taking pos­session of all their goods.

One day, when Helen Priscilla was only three months old, her mother was bathing her, when mes­sengers came to say that the Red Army was in the city, and even before an escape could be made some of them were at the door, banging on it and demanding that it should be opened. Helen's parents were kind to the soldiers, serving them with tea and cakes, and they gave them the goods and money that they demanded, but this did not satisfy them. They first bound the father and carried him away, and soon returned for the mother and baby. To torture the parents, the Reds discussed before them whether or not they would kill the baby to save trouble and this would have been done, but for someone who stepped forward and pleaded for the baby to be spared.

"Then it's your life for hers!"' they replied angrily.

"I am willing," replied the man, and he was killed on the spot; but

Lands

SAVED A BABY

the baby's life was spared. The two missionaries and Helen

Priscilla were led to an empty house, closely guarded by soldiers. The father was bound with ropes to a bed post, while the mother gath­ered together a few of the baby's garments, and placed among them all the money they had, and put them inside the sleeping bag with the baby, in case they were taken away from her. They knew that even as they had given their little one to God in the recent dedication service, He would look after her if they should have to leave her.

The next morning, after taking their last look at their baby, they were roughly taken away by the soldiers to be killed and the baby was left alone in the empty house. All that night and on into the second day no one came near her. No one dared to approach the house for the Reds were only three miles away. Yet, as one old woman said, "The angels themselves took care of her!" Just that day a Chinese preacher and his wife came to the town and, on being told that a baby was alone in the big empty house, they bravely went in and found little Helen Priscilla and took care of her. It was a long distance to the mission headquarters, but they took her with them, and Chinese mothers fed the baby all along the road, till they reached a town where they could buy food for her.

At last she was given to Christian friends, who later sent word to the grandparents, and they took charge of her.

Some of the young Chinese women said, when speaking of the baby: "That little baby will one day say to us, 'My mother gave her life that you might know of Jesus'."

August 15, 1940. THE AUSTRALIAN EVANGEL 7

Old Folks Page "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle,

neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light." (Revelation 22: 5.)

Good morning, Grannie! How are you today? It's nice and warm sitting in the sun, isn't it?

Yes, it was a cold winter; but now it has all gone and we can enjoy beautiful sunshiny days. But soon we shall be saying, "Oh, isn't it hot!" and we will be looking for a shady place to sit.

Yes, that is a lovely big tree. It would be nice and cool, sitting in the shade of it in the summer.

Isn't it lovely to know we have God in heaven Who looks after us? He knows what we need, and He makes the sun to shine to give us light and make us nice and warm on cold days, and then when we feel too hot we have the lovely big trees to sit under that God made to grow. You know about God, don't you?

Yes, that's right; He lives up there. He's got a lovely home up there and He tells us all about His lovely home in His Book. He tells us that in His home we shall not need the sun or any candle.

No, no sun or candle.

Do you know why? Because God says there will be no night there, for God Himself is so bright, it will be all light up there.

Yes, light all the time; and we shall not be hungry or thirsty, and no more pain or sorrow, or crying, and nobody die. All those things will be gone, and everybody will be happy.

Do you know why? Because there is no sin there. You know about gambling, drinking and all those bad things. That is sin; and it is sin that makes this place so unhappy. But God says, in His Book, that no sin can go into Heaven, because it would not be a happy place if there was any sin there.

Yes, it is a good place. Much better than this.

Now. Grannie, I must go. You think about all these good things and another time I'll tell you some more. Good-bye.

8 T H E A U S T R A L I A N E V A N G E L August 15. 1940.

(Continued from page 4) One gir l and a few boys gave us a mou th -o rgan i tem. It was lovely to hea r them p lay ing . Mr. Ta to , f rom the Methodis t Mission, spoke words of welcome. Miss Ricket ts knew h im as a boy on Fij i I s lands . When the meet ing b roke up , we found it h a rd to get away, because everybody wanted to meet the new mission­ar ies .

We p ra i se God for th is en te r ing in to the work in the N o r t h e r n Ter­r i tory . W e p ray that H e will keep us in His wil l and he lp us to win these dea r p e o p l e to Himself .

Next day . Wednesday , 24th Ju ly . Miss Ricket ts and Miss Law went to K a t h e r i n e with Mrs . L o n g . Miss Beasley. Miss Shanke l ton and my­self are s tat ioned in D a r w i n . Miss Law wrote to me. te l l ing of the lovely meet ing held when they gath­ered together with ou r p e o p l e the re . May Cod Himself, c rown the i r la­bour for H i m with a b u n d a n t bless­ings, b r ing ing souls out of da rkness into His marve l lous l ight .

God b less you a l l . I am, yours in the M a s t e r s service.

H o y a Brown.

Births Johnson—On 18th May. 1940. to Mr.

and Mrs. Archie Johnson, of Menindee. a daughter. Pearl.

Cooper—On June 15. 1940. to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cooper, of Barmah. a daugh­ter, still-born.

Smith — On 16th June. 1940. to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Smith, of Menindee. a son. Joe.

Hudson-On 28th June. 1940. to Mr. and Mrs. Hudson, twins—Cwen and

Leslie—at Collingwood (Victoria). Leslie—On 28th June. 1940. to Mr.

and Mrs. Alfred Leslie, of Moree. a daughter.

Johnson—On 3rd July. 1940. to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Johnson, of Menindee. a daughter. Priscilla.

Kelly— On 8th July. 1940. to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Kelly, of Menindee. a son. Daniel.

Ellis-On 19th July. 1940. to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, of Boggabilla. a son.

Arden—On 19th July. 1940. to Mr. and Mrs. Arden. a son. at Carlton ( Victoria).

Wright-On 21st July. 1940. to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, a daughter, at Carlton ( Vic­toria ).

Wright- On 23rd July. 1940. to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, of Boggabilla, a son. Keith.

Dedications Blair—At A.I.M. Church. Long Gully,

Tingha, Alexander Blair, on 21st July, 1940.

Livermore—At A.I.M. Church. Long Cully. Tingha. Leslie Livermore, on 21st Towney. on 27th July. 1940.

Collins—At A.I.M. Church. Long Cully. Tingha. Mervyn John Collins, on 21st July. 1940.

Towney—At Walcha, Esma May Towney. 27th July, 1940.

Morris—At Walcha. Alfred Leslie Mor­ris, on the 27th July, 1940.

Marriages Paulson-Currie—On July 20th, 1940,

Daniel Paulson to Doris Currie, at A.I.M. Church. Fingal.

Connors-Williams—On 24th July. 1940, Cameron Cordon Connors and Emily Alice Williams, at Long Cully.

Towney-Wright-On July 27th. 1940. Leonard Towney and Hilda May Wright, at Walcha.

Morris-Morris—On 27th July. 1940. James Henry Morris and Zelma Phyllis Evelyn Morris, at Walcha.

Deaths At Katherine. during May. 1940. Rita,

infant daughter of Tyrill and Kitty. Peters—On 8th June. 1940. Keith

Peters, aged 14 months, of Walgett. Walford--On 12th June. 1940. Albert

John Walford. aged five months, of Walgett.

Dodd— On 16th June. 1940. Arthur Dodd. aged 14 months, of Walgett.

[These are three little laddies whom the Lord called away, all in one week—"Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. ]

Codfry. an old man. on 29th June. 1940. at Darwin.

Dargin — On 3rd July. 1940. Agatha ( Lily) Dargin. from Bulgandramine. at Dubbo Hospital.

On I9th July. 1940. Charlie, son of Rodger, at Katherine. "Safe in the arms of Jesus."

Coo per - O n 14th June, 1940. Allen Cooper, aged 1 year.

Bartman-On June 27th, 1940. Baby Bartman. of Boggabilla. in Moree hos­pital.

Haines—On 12th July. 1940. Mr. Haines. senior, of Boggabilla.

NOTE—In the June Evangel these names were put under "Deaths" instead of "Dedications." We are sorry about this mistake. DEDICATIONS:

William Alfred Carr. at Dubbo. on May 12th. 1940.

Judith Ethel Riley, at Talbragar. on May 19. 1940.

The Central Press Pty. Ltd., 309 Casrlereagh Street Sydney