OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22410, 3 November 1934, Page 14

OBITUARY

THE REV. A. DON The friends of the Rev. Alexander Don, the veteran missionary of the Presbyterian Church, will learn with regret of his death, which occurred yesterday in the'Central Otago train, when he was on his way to Dunedin. He had spent the previous night at Oturehua, where he joined the train, but shortly afterwards he expired suddenly from heart failure. Mr Don’s parents came from Scotland His father, who was well known on the different gold fields in New Zealand, left his home in Auchterarder in the early ;fifties, when the golden reputation of Ballarat had reached almost every corner of the world. In a digger's tent in Plank road, Ballarat, Alexander Don, who was the eldest of a family of 10 was born on January 22, 1857. One writer has remarked that if handicapped by circumstances he certainly had a fair start as far as brains were concerned. Before he was four years of age he could write the alphabet in capitals, and before he had attained his sixth birthday he had read “Robinson Crusoe,” that classic fascinating to boys even in these days of cheap stories and. much more so well over 60 years ago, when books for boys were scarce. At the age

of eight.add a-half years he was busy with the mysteries of vulgar and decimal fractions, and a year later he had left school. For 18 months Mr Don found employment on his grandfather’s farm, and he followed this with a year’s propcutting in the Bullabrook forest. Then came six months in a foundry, after which nearly three years were spent in stamp-feeding at a mining battery on one of the Bendigo deep leads. In those days the men had acquired an eight hours’ working day, but the boys were shamefully required to put in II hours on the day shift and 13 hours when on night duty, which came round every alternate week. Only 20 minutes were allowed during the-shifts for meals. While engaged in this work the lad became interested in a “ riddler ” column which appeared weekly in the Melbourne Leader, and much of his spare time was devoted to searching the dictionary and atlas in an endeavour to solve the questions. Through these exercises reading, writing, and geography were brought into requisition, and the reasoning faculties were developed. While Mr Don was working at the stamper battery, Lower Huntly was visited by the Rev. W. H. Fitchett, afterwards Dr Fitchett, the editor of Life, who conducted a .series of evangelistic meetings extending over a week. His message struck home to the heart of the young stamper feeder, who was found amongst those at the penitent form. The decision formed there became more definite as the result of teaching received in a Bible class conducted by the local banker, Mr Lachlan Fraser. By this time Mr Don had become anxious to improve his education, and with this object in view he began to attend a night school, which had been opened by Mr J. Blyth, the schoolmaster at Huntly. A very brief acquaintance between master and pupil led the former to seek an interview with Mr Don, sen., and advise that the youth be given a better opportunity for improving his mental equipment than a night school could afford. Thus it came about that at the age of 15 years Alexander Don left the battery and returned to school. After three months’ study he passed an examination which entitled him to become a pupil teacher, and from that stage he went on through the different courses until he was licensed to teach. He became an assistant teacher in' the largest school in Bendigo at the age of 21 years. After Mr Don’s return to school his time on Saturday’s was divided between two occupations—wood chopping and collecting beetles. The latter occupation was carried out in a thoroughly scientific manner, the beetles being carefully examined, named, numbered, and classed. To this training the methodical habits which characterised Mr Don’s later life may be traced. The careful attention to minute differences which was necessary in classing the beetles was a splendid preparation for his subsequent study of Chinese characters, many of which appear so much alike to the uninitiated. Those who were numbered amongst Mr Don’s regular correspondents knew what a careful register he kept of all letters written and received. His marvellous memory was a constant source of wonder to his scattered Chinese flock. Those who were his companions on his inland visits knew how much he owed to his detailed records of past visits. Nothing but methodical habit could make possible his accuracy in the Knots and Puzzles column in the Outlook nor admit of his having so many irons in the fire and keeping them all not only warm, but hot. Mr Don found an opportunity for Christian service on the Huntly Sabbath school staff and also as precentor in the church. In the course of his evangelistic tour through Australia and New Zealand Dr Somerville formed a Young Men’s Christian Association in Bendigo, and Mr Don had a place in the first Board of Management and was elected to the position of corresponding secretary. Mr Don owed his first missionary impulse to the New Hebrides veteran, Dr J. G. Pat on. When he was only six years old he heard Dr Patou tell about his work in the Islands, and even at that age he wished he was big enough to go and do likewise. In 1877 Dr Paton again visited the Victorian churches, and in response to an appeal for volunteers Mr Don offered his services. Dr Paton advised him to go to New Zealand as the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland was then looking for a man to send as its missionary to the Islands. Two years later Mr Don came to Dunedin, and found immediate employment as second assistant in the Port, Chalmers District. High School. He learned that - in the meantime Mr 0. Michelson had been appointed to the New Hebrides, but that the Foreign Missions Committee had for two years been seeking a young man who was willing to go to Canton and, after studying there, return to work amongst the Chinese immigrants in Otago. Mr Don had seen a good deal of the Chinese on the Victorian goldfields. He had attended Sabbath school in Ballarat in a building, part of which was occupied by a Chinese catechist, and when he was eight years old he saw seven Chinese baptised in St. John’s Church, Ballarat, by the Rev. John Inglis', a missionkry who had returned from the New Hebrides. His contact with the Chinese had induced him to take an interest

in them, and he gladly offered services to the Foreign Missions Committee. When he was accepted a united meeting of Dunedin Presbyterians was held to wish him God-speed. The measure of interest taken in the attempt to evangelise the Chinese sojourning with us was evidenced by an attendance of about 50 people! Mr Don resided in Canton for 16 months. One convener of the Foreign Missions Committee stated many years ago that when Mr Don died “ Canton ” would be found written on his heart. A man, especially a Christian man, could hardly come into touch with that marvellous city without receiving a lifelong impression. Mr Don made several journeys into the outlying districts in company with experienced missionaries. His musical ear, methodical habits, training in pedagogics, good memory, and diligent pertinacity all combined to make him an apt student of Chinese. Those who received their first lesson In the language from him knew that the Cantonese which he gave them stood them in good stead on their arrival on the field. could both speak and teach correct Cantonese, When he returned to New Zealand in 1881 Mr. Don brought his pundit with him. On the way back he visited old friends in Bendigo, but his special.purpose was to see one whom, he was fond of saying, he first met “ on the stage.” This was when they were both members of a evangelistic choir on the occasion of Dr Somerville’s visit. A certain important question having been satisfactorily settled Mr Don continued his journey to New Zealand. After spending some time in Dunedin he was stationed at Riverton, and a church was opened; at Round Hill, where there was a large Chinese population. The next year brought his bridge from Victoria to New Zealand. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. William Banuerman at Warepa. Only Mr Don himself knew how impossible it would have been for him to carry out the arduous work to which he had been called if it had not been for the efforts of his devoted help-meet. At the end of 1885 a catechist named Kwok Wai-Shang came out from Canton, and took up the work at Round Hill. Mr Don was then removed to Lawrence,. where he was ordained in 1886. In 1889 he took up his residence in Dunedin, and from that year until his retirement from the position of Chinese missionary, ih 1914, the headquarters of the mission were in this city. For the .first eight years operations were carried on in a rented hall in Lees street, and subsequently in the welladapted mission premises in Carroll During this period the distinction of appointment to the moderatorship of the Presbyterian General Assembly was conferred on him. This was in 1906-7. The value of his Services to his Chinese parishioners cannot be too highly esteemed. He became all' things to them in order that he might win some to Christianity. Scorned and despised by some, respected by the many, and loved by a few, he carried on patiently in his efforts to convert them. After some years of labour he had only a handful of converts gathered round him, but if nothing else had resulted than the salvation ■ of that little band he would say that it was worth all the disappointments, difficulties a!nd toil. His mission here projected itself across the sea into China, where the Canton Village Mission, opened by him in 1901, has done wonderfully fine work in the cause of Christianity. Mr Don’s capacity for work was one of his best known characteristics. His energies were tremendous. For many years his work necessitated for the most part the use of his own legs, and he used them mercilessly. He tramped thousands of miles over mountain heights and through lonely gullies in search of the Chinaman, and at the end of his weary day’s journey he would sleep in a Chinaman’s hut and eat the Chinaman’s fare.i Year after year he pursued" these labours with a fervour that never flagged. His work had as its motive love for men, love for the souls of men, and love for a race of men of whom few else took note. During the summer months on his inland tours he penetrated into the recesses of Otago, and he probably knew the country as well as any other man. He tramped many a mile over tussock-covered hills to visit a solitary digger working in a lonely gully. ’rficre was no excitement of numbers to stimulate, and not much in the way of visible result to inspire. His work was done largely out of the sight of the public and amongst a people for whom many of his fellow-countrymen had no thoughts or feelings but those of contempt. One of the reasons for his success was his unboandeu faith. At times, one convener of the Foreign Missions Commute has declared, he appeared to have more rashness than all the committee put together. He never had any misgiving as to where the necessary. money was coming from. “ Oh, that will, be all right,” was his frequent remark to a doubting convener. Probably the interest of the church In foreign _ mission work and the extension made in it is duo more to Mr Don than to any other man in the church. Though he was more interested in Chinese work than in any other, missionary efforts amongst the Hindus and in the New Hebrides was not beyond the pale of his sympathies. Mr Don made a tour of inspection of Chinese missions in the Sandwich Islands, California, British Columbia, Japan, Shanghai, Hongkong, Canton, Sydney, and Tasmania in 1897 and 1898. From 1914 to 1923 he was secretary of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. In, 1883 Mr Don was a member of the Wallace Licensing. Committee, and in 1912-13 he was on the High Street School Committee in Dunedin. In 1880 he was a member of the Shameen Canton Fire Brigade. In recognition of his services he held the Chinese Seventh Council insignia of Excellent Crop. Mr Don was the author of “ Light in Dark Islands” (a history of the New Zealand Missions to the New Hebrides) and of a life of the Rev. Peter Milne, missionary in the New Hebrides. At the time of his death he was engaged on the preparation of a history of the Presbyterian Church in Central Otago. After his retirement from active work Mr Don took up his residence at Ophir (Central Otago), where he lived for several years. In 1883 he married Miss Amelia Warne, daughter of Mr Francis Warne, of Ballarat. His family consisted of four sons —Mr John Don and Mr Frank Don, of Auckland; Mr A. W. Don, of Masterton; and Mr Roy Don, of Black’s Point, Reefton—and three daughters—Mrs J. Peart, of Wellington; Mrs W. J. Bennett, of Green Island; and Mrs F. G. Haigh, of Dunedin. Three of his sons and one daughter rendered service in the Great War.

LADY aUNY (PEB UNITED PEES 9 ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, November 3. Advice has been received in New Zealand of the death of Lady Cluny, widow of the chief of the Clan Macpherson. To-day a cablegram from London conveying this news reached Captain Cheyne Macpherson, who is in New Zealand organising the appeal to save Cluny Castle, the historic home of the Macphersons for the Scottish people. MR R. W. JONES Mr Robert William Jones passed away peacefully at his residence, Eosebank, Balclutha, on Thursday afternoon. Born in 1856 in the tiny village of Hankerton, Wiltshire, England, Mr Jones emigrated as a youth by the sailing ship Christian M'Causland, and landed in New Zealand in 1872. For a number of years

he engaged in sawmilling, harvesting and shearing, later joining the railway service, from which he retired on superannuation 18 years ago. In June, 1881, he married Margaret, eldest daughter of the late Mr Alexander Armstrong, of Hillend, by whom he is survived. There is a large family of 12 children (one deceased), 31 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr and Mrs Jones celebrated their golden wedding three years and a-half ago. Before going to Balclutha, Mr Jones lived at Stirling. He subsequently purchased the home of the late Mr David Lindsay, Kosebank, and had resided there, ever since. Jir Jones was a very keen gardener and apiarist, and in connection with this interest he visited England and Australia. In his prime Mr Jones was a very powerful man physically and was a noted game shot. He was a man of sterling integrity and was a staunch Liberal. He was one of the, oldest local members of the Masonic Lodge, and nine sons are also members of the same Order. Five sons were on active service during the war, and one made the supreme sacrifice. MR ALBERT SPENCER The death occurred in Wellington yesterday of Mr Albert Spencer, president of the Auckland Employers’ Association; aged 68.