THE mission forces in South Africa have sustained a great loss during the last two months. We were stricken with grief a few weeks ago, when we received a letter from Sister Watson, telling of the death of Brother Watson at the Nyassaland Mission.
J. H. Watson, Wife, and Son.
During the early part of last year Brother and Sister Watson and little boy spent a few weeks in Cape Town on their way to Nyassaland. They were full of hope, courage, and confidence in the Lord. When they reached the mission, the work was in a very uncertain state, having been left so by Brother Booth. But they began at once to establish the work, and they were beginning to see the fruit of their labor when our brother was called upon to lay down his life. We know not why this is so, but the Lord knows. We are sure that the heartfelt sympathy of all our people will be with Sister Watson in this dark hour of her experience.
A short time after we had received the word from Nyassaland, a wire came from Brother Freeman, announcing the death of Brother David Kalaka, at the Basuto Mission, the first man who took hold of the truth in this country. Of his death Brother J. M. Herman writes:
'He took ill during the night after Sabbath with cramps in all the muscles of the body. I visited him, and prayed with him. He died on Monday night. The last words on his lips were, 'Blessed is the one whose sins are forgiven.' Brother Kalaka was a capable man, well known in the country, and has had ability to do a great work in giving this last message. He was near or about sixty years of age, a man of large proportions and splendid address. I shall miss him very much. It is difficult to realize he is dead, coming so suddenly.'
It is a sad blow to our mission work to have these workers stricken down by death. It will help us to realize and appreciate the danger that surrounds those who go to these unhealthful places to hold up a risen Saviour, that the thousands who are smitten with sin may look, believe, and be saved.
