MR D'CRAWFORD’S VISIT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8784, 14 July 1914, Page 9

MR D'CRAWFORD’S VISIT

Tier© was a large assemblage of clergy at the Y.M.C.A. yesterday afternoon to welcome Mr Dan Crawford. missionary and'explorer, to the Dominion. , The chairman, the Rev. W. Hinton, in introducing Mr Crawford, said that they as ministers and some of the loading Christian workers in Wellington, welcomed their guest as on© who had carried the elements of civilisation and education into the heart of Africa. Ministers of the Gospel, were pleased to know ho had done this good and desirable work, but to know he had combined it with evangelism was more than gratifying. v In reply, Mr Crawford thanked the gathering for its welcome. He said about twenty-five years ago he left London. His health was broken down and he had to leave, so he made his necessity his virtue and his virtue his necessity, and took a plunge into the dark interior of Africa, where he found numerous tribes who had no education, hut had lacerated souls, as well as lacerated feet. Seeing snob a vast open field before him, he at once inaugurated a home of refuge, and commenced his teachings of the Bible and the meaning of the Word of God to this uncivilised and .unchristian race.

At the conclusion of the address, the Rev. A. E. Hunt asked the speaks er if ho could give them some inform mation as to where his headquarters aro situated, who are his fellow-work* ers, where are his schools, who are the teachers, and if there is a financial body at the back of him in England who will carry on the work when be leaves it. Mr Crawford said the lantern views at to-night’s lecture would explain the first four questions; there were five schools, but he was going to build fifty, of which thirty would be given by America. They were Bible schools, and the pupils were also taught how to handle tools to make them competent in .the, various trades. The trustees of the organisation included such prominent men as Sir Robert Anderson, head of the Criminal Department, London; Mr Bernard Shaw, Mr Hudson Taylor, and Dr Barnardo, and the association was open to all denominations. He remarked that on his arrival in London it was said he was making money by “Thinking Black,” but it was the publishers who were making the money out of his book and not him, for he handed all the profits over to the trustees, who also receive all donations. He concluded by stating that he was not receiving a penny for his work. The Rev. Mr Hunt and the chairman expressed their satisfaction with Mr Crawford’s reply. On the motion of the chairman, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Crawford for. his interesting address and useful information containedtherein