Missionary Humour

rE Rev. J. Noble MacKenzie, who has been nominated Moderator-Design ate of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, has been in the foreign mission service of his church for 45 years, the first twelve months of which were spent in the New Hebrides. He was stationed at Nogugu, on the island of Santo; and, in 1908, he and his wife fell victims to black-water, to which Mrs. MacKenzie succumbed, while Mr. MacKenzie’s health was so undermined that he was obliged to leave the Islands. Though so many years have elapsed since he left the New Hebrides Mr. MacKenzie is still keenly interested in the Islands, and excels as a raconteur of stirring adventures and humour associated with his pioneering days.

Recently, when he was discoursing to an amused company on the grotesque side of Islands life, Mr. MacKenzie described a humorous incident that took place on the island of Nguna, when the missionaries had assembled for the annual meeting of Synod.

The first morning, after landing, the breakfast gong sounded, and the whole company, having taken their seats, waited impatiently for the arrival of their host, the Rev. Peter Milne, the mission ary of the district. To allay uneasiness and pass the time of waiting, the two wags of the Mission, Dr. Robertson, of Erromanga, and Rev. P. J. Paton, of Malekula, seized the opportunity. Going to his bedroom, they found Mr. Milne still dressing, so they caught him in their arms, and carried him to his seat at the breakfast table.

Mr. Milne was renowned for his pawky, Scotch humour, and acknowledging the thoughtfulness of the two missionaries, he said: “I am more honoured than my Master. He rode on one ass, but I had a ride on two”.

The old missionary story, too, about Wilhelm Grube, sometimes called a South Seas buccaneer, bears repetition.

Having run away from Germany on a British ship, which he found at the port of Hamburg, the weird vocabulary of English he picked up on board contained a strange jargon of swear-words, which he continued to use until the end of his days.

While Grube was trading on Paama, his wife, a gently-nurtured New Zealand lady, took seriously ill, and the mission ary conveyed them both to Ambrim Hos pital. The mission doctor took a grave view of Mrs. Grube’s illness, and asked her husband to break the news gently to her that her sickness was mortal and that nothing could be done.

The uncouth sea-rover and the doctor attached a different meaning to the word “gently”.

Approaching the bedside of his wife, he said: “Old woman, the missionary say you’re b —d up!”

MRS. B. SUTHERLAND, of Melbourne, and a party of friends interested in the New Hebrides have made several generous gifts to the Presbyterian Mission—3 pro jectors, with a supply of religious and educational films; an X-ray plant for the Paton Memorial Hospital, Vila; and a Lectern for the Teachers’ Training In stitution, Santo.

MR. B. C. BALLARD, solicitor, of Vila,

And Rev. William Anderson, Of

Santo, returned to the New Hebrides, after furlough, early in May.