6.4. BU Administrative funds
6.5.2. Formation of SABMS Trust Fund (1925)
The first time that the SABMS funds were referred to as the Trust Fund was in 1922 when
"Mr F. E. Blackwell was appointed as Treasurer to the Missionary Trust Funds."466 In the following year appeared the first statement of revenue and expenditure of the SABMS Trust Fund. By the end of 30* June 1923, the Fund's total assets were £l,724.2s.0d., most (£1,700.0s. 0d.) of which was by loans on mortgage and the remainder of which (£24.2s.0d.) was in the BU Trust Fund.467 As the Fund was still new, the Missionary Session of the BU Assembly, in the following year, agreed to refer to the [BU] Executive ... the rate of interest to be sought for Missionary Trust Fund investments."468 In the same session it was also agreed to "refer [the matter to] the consideration of Mr Biggs' Trust."469 The same year's (1924) statement of revenue and expenditure reveals other sources of revenue besides the BU funds. These were: Interest on Loans (£105.12s.5d.), Dividend Colliery Shares (£12.1 Os.Od.), Interest [from] John Biggs Fund (£146.5s.0d), 500 Shares Elandslaagte Colliery Ltd.
(£150.0s.0.d), Muter Bequest per Wale Street Church (£250.0s.0d), and Legacy Estate late
465 SABMS Annual Report for 1911-1912, in BU Handbook for 1912-1913, p. 39. Two years earlier, 1910, the SABMS Committee had reported that: "Miss Price has proved herself a most devoted worker, and it is a great joy she has completely recovered her health, it was great sadness to the Committee that owing to the financial
condition it was felt impossible to place her upon the peimanent staff of the Society." (SABMS Annual Report for 1908-1909, in BU Handbook for 1909-1910, p. 40.).
466 Minutes of the Missionary Session of 1922 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1922-1923, p. 47.
467 SABMS Trust Fund Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for (he period 1" January to 30* June 1923, in BU Handbook for 1923-1924, p. 70.
468 Minutes of the Missionary Session of the 1924 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1924-1925, p. 36.
m Ibid.
Mr Aubrey, Durban (£250.0s.0d). These sources of revenue including the balance (£l,724.2s.0d.) from the previous year amounted to £2,638.9s.5d. 47° Regarding assets, most of this capital was by loans (£l,800.0s.0d.) on mortgage.471
Since the SABMS, including its funds, were under the supervision of the BU, the BU decided to streamline the administrative functions of the SABMS in line with those of the BU. This was effected when the Missionary Session of the 1926 BU Assembly resolved: "That the Rev Charles Garratt in his capacity as Chairman, the Rev John Edgar Ennals, B.A., B.D., in his capacity as Secretary, and Mr Alexander Hay King in his capacity as the Treasurer, having been duly elected to their respective offices, be Trustees of the South Africa Baptist Missionary Society in accordance with Rule IV of the Constitution of the said Society."472
This rule read: 'That all property shall be vested in, and all bonds shall be made in favour of, the Trustees of the Society, who shall be the Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer, and their successor in office."473
In the same Session during which the Trustees of the Fund were appointed, another important resolution was passed. It was resolved "That to increase the existing Trust Fund to or by
£10,000, an Insurance Scheme be adopted."474 By the close of 30th June 1926, the end of the 1926 financial year, the Fund had assets to the value of £2,829.15s.4d., out of which
£2,260.0s.0d. was by loans on mortgage.475 It is also worth mentioning that among its revenue, the Fund acquired new revenue in the form of £255.3s.0d. from the Orsmond Legacy and £200.0s.0d. from the F. Kay Legacy per Cape Town Church. Pertaining to the Insurance Scheme, in 1927 "progress was reported by Mr E. V. Baker, who advocated the wider adoption of the plan of taking out assurances to be made over to the Society."476 But not much came of this plan for the Insurance Scheme until in 1939 when the BU approved
470 SABMS 1 nisi Fund Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending 30* June 1924, in BU Handbook for 1924-1925, p. 58.
471 Ibid, p. 59.
472 Minutes of the Missionary Session of the 1926 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1926-1927, p. 34.
473 Constitution of the South African Baptist Missionary Society, in BU Handbook for 1920-1922, p. 54.
474 Minutes of the Missionary Session of the 1926 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1926-1927, p. 34.
; ' SABMS Trust Fund Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending 30th June 1926, in BU Handbook for 1926-1927, p. 44.
476 Minutes of the Missionary Session of 1927 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1927-1928, p. 43.
the formation of the Insurance Agency Scheme, as will later be noted. As for the SABMS Trust Fund, its assets by the close of 30th June 1927 were £2,779.15s.4d., out of which
£2,577.1 Os.Od. was by loans on mortgage. But for the first time, appeared in the same year, a distinction between these loans. That is, there were loans at 8% (£2,183.12s.4d.) and those at 5% (£393.17s.8d.) interest.478 This distinction appeared immediately after the BU Assembly had passed its resolution that the BU Trust Fund loans to churches ought to be differentiated.
The period under discussion closes with the 1928 BU Assembly during which new SABMS Trustees, in an annual assembly procedure, were elected. That is, the Missionary Session of the Assembly resolved: "That the Rev James William Joyce in his capacity as Chairman, the Rev John Edgar Ennals, D.D., in his capacity as Secretary, and Mr Arthur William Davis in his capacity as Treasurer, having been duly elected to their respective offices, be the Trustees of the South African Baptist Missionary Society in accordance with Rule IV of the Constitution of the Society."479
During the period when the SABMS Trust Fund was formed, starting particularly with 192S, being the same year that the first record of the SABMS's purchase of motorcars for use by European missionaries took place, the missionaries' benefits continued as before. For a start, during the Missionary Session of the 1926 BU Assembly, "contributions were given towards the purchase of a motor-car for Rev Brailsford."480 The following year, the SABMS Committee in its report for the 1927 BU Assembly justified why a motorcar was necessary. It stated; "We often been faced with the death of horses through sickness, and the roads have been much improved, that the car adds considerably to the work that can be done, and it is cheaper to supply a machine than another worker."481 Therefore, "the provision of a motor transit for our [European] missionaries ... [is] not a luxury but [a] necessity."482 Furthermore,
477 See Chapter 8.
478 SABMS I nisi Fund Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for die year ending M)"' June 1927, in BU Handbook for 1927-1928, p. 65. Also recorded in die source of revenue is a donation £100 from Buffalo Street Church, East London.
479 Minutes of the Missionary Session of 1928 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1928-1929, p. 33.
480 Minutes of me Missionary Session of 1926 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1926-1927, p. 34. In me same minutes it was also recorded mat "contributions were given ... towards die provision of a stove for Mr and Mrs Cross, I^ambaland." (Ibid.).
481 SABMS Executive Report to die 1927 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1927-1928, p. 19.
the SABMS Committee reported: "Miss Sprigg and Mrs H. Chapman in addition to the gifts made gave a considerable sum needed at last Assembly to provide [a] car for Mr Brailsford's use in Pondoland in memory of their father Major Sprigg, and Miss Sprigg has made herself responsible for its maintenance as well."483
The total amount donated for Rev Brailsford's car by the close of the 1927 financial year was
£240.15s.6d.. This was the beginning of the SABMS's purchases of or the raising of funds for the purchase of motorcars for European missionaries. Horses were still, however, being made use of. For example, in the same year, Rev Joyce, Superintendent of the Transvaal, in his Field Report reported that the Pilgrims Rest district had provided a horse for the travelling native preachers, thus "enabling the Superintendent to visit Ponykrantz Mine and Sekukuniland."484 This was the first record of a horse purchased for native workers. And unlike European workers, for whom when a horse was purchased it was for a particular European worker, this horse was for native "preachers" in general. This had been the case ever since the purchase of a horse for a native evangelist in 1911 and two horses in 1914 for Messrs Mtwini and Mrwetyana, respectively.
With regard to the salaries of the SABMS workers, the gap between European missionaries and native workers remained wide. For example, in 1925, the total cost of European missionaries' salaries was £1,913.19s.Od., while for native evangelists itwas£358.12s.Od.,as indicated before.485 In 1926, this increased to £l,935.0s.0d. for European missionaries and
£443.10s.0d. for native evangelists.486 Similarly, in 1927, the European missionaries' salaries amounted to £l,826.17s.5d., while those for native evangelists were f502.5s.6d.487 In addition to salaries, European missionaries also had access to a budget for travelling expenses and local expenses. For example, in 1925, travelling expenses, which also included local expenses, amounted to £728.12s.3d..488 In 1926, the figure increased to
483 Ibid.
484 Ibid.
485 SABMS Financial Statement from 1" October 1924 to 30* June 1925, in BU Handbook for 1925-1926, p.
60.
486 SABMS Financial Statement from l" July 1925 to 30* June 1926, in BU Handbook for 1926-1927, p. 42.
487 SABMS Financial Statement from l" July 1926 to 30* June 1927, in BU Handbook for 1927-1928, p. 62.
488 SABMS Financial Statement from 1" July 1924 to 30* June 1925, in BU Handbook for 1925-1926, p. 60.
The breakdown of these expenses was: Lambaland (£93.10s.8d.); Glen Grey (£23.3s.2d.); Kaffraria
£l,130.6s.8d.,489 and to £l,204.16s.8d., in 1927.490 In addition, in the same year appeared new travelling expenses separately tabled under expenditure. These included an amount of
£39.11s.0d for "Mr and Mrs A. J. Cross on furlough,"491 and £150.0s.0d as a reserve for travelling expenses.492 Lastly, the SABMS continued its contributions to the Pension Fund for the benefit of the European missionaries. That is, £46.14s. 5d. in 1925,493 £52.19s.2d. in 1926,494 and £73.4s.6d. in 1927495 But during this period (1925-1927), there are no records of any SABMS education grants to missionaries' children.
6.6. Eventual funds for native churches and ministers 6.6.1. Background on native funding (1893-1915)
A number of finance related aspects pertaining to native funding especially since 1893, were discussed in Chapter 5. These included among others: the fact that the property of the native churches belonged to the SABMS through the BBC; poor native ministers' training; low salaries and uie secession of native ministers from the Baptist Church to join die African Initiated Churches. There were, however, some distinct aspects pertaining to native funding which tiirow more light on the argument that the SABMS's (including the BU's) funds and related finance matters were primarily for the benefit of European missionaries. For a start, apart from Stofile's salary of £60 per annum,496 the next report of a salary offer to an individual native was in 1911. This was an offer of £50 by Mr Philip Meier "for a Native Evangelist for East Bank Location, East London, under the pastoral supervision of Rev D. H.
(£89.4s.5d.); Pondoland (£36.15s.3d.); Transkei (£25.3s.ld.); Transvaal (£436.18s.l0d); and Carey Mission (£18.16s.l0d).
489 SABMS Financial Statement from 1* July 1925 to 30* June 1926, in BU Handbook for 1926-1927, p. 42.
The breakdown of these expenses was: Glen Grey (£56.9s.5d.); Kafiraria (£267.14s. Id.); Lambaland (1X7.1 Is.hi.): Pondoland (£54.7s.4d); Transkei (£87.7s.9d); Transvaal (£564.14s.5d); Durban Mission (£9.18s.9d.); and retained by treasurer (£2.3s. 10d.).
490 SABMS Financial Statement fiom 1" July 1926 to 30th June 1927, in BU Handbook for 1927-1928, p. 62.
The breakdown of these expenses was: Natal Mission (£64.11s.5d.); Kafiraria Mission (£123.9s.l0d.);
lambaland (£97.2s.0d.); Pondoland (£294.3s.2d); Transvaal (£410.17s.4d); and Transkei and Glen Grey (£214.12s.lld.).
491 SABMS Financial Statement from 1" July 1926 to 30th June 1927, in BU Handbook for 1927-1928, p. 62.
492 Ibid.
493 SABMS Financial Statement from 1" July 1924 to 30lh June 1925, in BU Handbook for 1925-1926, p. 61.
494 SABMS Financial Statement from 1* July 1925 to 30th June 1926, in BU Handbook for 1926-1927, p. 43.
495 SABMS Financial Statement from I* July 1926 to 30lh June 1927, in BU Handbook for 1927-1928, p. 63.
496 See Chapter 4.
Hay."497 In the same year appeared for the first time a record of a "[native] evangelist's horse,"498 which cost £10. Next to this entry on the SABMS's financial statement, the word
"special" is added, meaning a number of things, one of which is, among others, that it is for the first time that a horse has been provided for a native evangelist. In addition, it is implied that this provision does not set a precedent for other native evangelists. But in 1914 appeared another record of the purchase of two horses for the Transkei field. That is, "one for Mr Mntwini [sic], and one for the Evangelist Petros Mrwetyana at Toleni."499 This was the last record of horses purchased by the SABMS for mission work by the native evangelists.
About the same period (in 1921) when the SABMS began purchasing motorcycles for its European workers, it also apparently purchased (in 1920) the first (and the last) bicycle for a native worker. This was for Joshua Monama, at Somabula, in Northern Rhodesia. Of him, it is reported that he "has 3 preaching stations and holds services every Sunday. Work was carried on for a time under a tree until the building for a church could be put up on the ground given by Messrs A. Brandt and C. Hupelt"500 There is no definite proof that this bicycle was purchased since it is not reflected in the SABMS's financial statement, as was the custom with other purchases. Furthermore, the SABMS Committee only mentioned that:
"A bicycle would greatly help Joshua in getting round the district"501
From 1921 onwards until 1927, the SABMS and BU records provide no other forms of any benefits which the native evangelists enjoyed under the SABMS. The only records provided on a yearly basis were the salaries, jointly reported, that the native evangelists received.
These were: £230.7s.6d. (1922),502 £341.10s.7d. (1923),503 £362.2s.6d. (1924),504
£358.12s.0d. (1925),505 £443.10s.0d. (1926),506 and £502.5s.6d. (1927).507 As indicated
497 Minutes of the Missionary Session of the 1911 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1911-1912, p. 30.
498 SABMS Financial Statement from 1* October 1910 to 30* September 1911, in BU Handbook for 1911- 1912, p. 33.
499 The 21"* Annual Report of the SABMS for the 1914 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1913-1914, pp. 35- 36.
500 The 29* Annual Report of the SABMS for the 1921 BU Assembly, in BU Handbook for 1920-1922, p. 47.
""Ibid.
502 SABMS Financial Statement for the year ending 30* June 1922, in BU Handbook for 1922-1923, p. 57.
503 SABMS Financial Statement from 1* July 1922 to 30* June 1923, in BU Handbook for 1923-1924, p. 69.
504 SABMS Financial Statement from 1" Jury 1923 to 30* June 1924, in BU Handbook for 1924-1925, p. 60.
505 SABMS Financial Statement from l" Jury 1924 to 30* June 1925, in BU Handbook for 1925-1926, p. 60.
before, these salaries were minimal in comparison to those of the European workers. It is against the background of these factors that the native funds, if any, were formed.
It is important to note that the salaries that the native ministers received from the SABMS should not in any way overshadow the fact that the native churches which these native ministers pastored, sent contributions to the SABMS. It is interesting to observe that in one of the early records of these contributions, in this case from Mpotula, the Superintendent of the field, Rev Eve, reported the following:
Wc are having fortnightly collections at the Sunday services in addition to the offerings at the Lord's Table. As last year, we held a day of Thanksgiving, when the members of their Church brought their offerings. Of course we do not receive any great amount, but we feel it is good for the people to give some gift of their own free will. The gift that helped me most was a bag of mealies given by one who used to be my servant. In making the offering he said he gave a tenth of his reaping.508
Also, in 1908, there is another interesting record, again by Rev Eve, of an offering by a native woman "who had been away working."509 On her return at "one of the meetings, [she]
gladly testified to the fact that during her absence, and separated from the Christian influence of the [Mission] Station, 'she has been kept by the power of God,' and as a token of her thankfulness and of her indebtedness to the Mission she placed a sovereign upon the plate."510 Commenting on this, Rev Eve added: "He who saw the widow's mite and the motives behind her small gift must have been gladdened that day when that native Christian woman's comparative 'poverty abounded unto the riches of her liberality.'"511 It was such individual contributions, among others, by poor natives; that helped maintain the mission station, which also included the dwelling that the European missionary resided in.
506 SABMS Financial Statement from l" July 1925 to 30* June 1926, in BU Handbook for 1926-1927, p. 42.
507 SABMS Financial Statement from l" July 1926 to 30* June 1927, in BU Handbook for 1927-1928, p. 62.
508 SABMS Annual Report for 1904, in BU Handbook for 1903-1906, p. 42.
509 SABMS Annual Report for 1906-1907, in BU Handbook for 1907-1908, p. 29.
510 Ibid.
5,1 n>id.
In 1908, the SABMS started records of collections from mission stations. These were:
Kaffraria and Transkei (£57.0s.6d); Pondoland (£22.12s.6d); and Cacadu (£1.5s.0d.).512
Besides contributions from mission stations, there were also contributions, separately indicated, from branches of mission stations. For example, when the Mjozi branch built its own church, the measurements of which were 41 x 22ft, the SABMS Committee reported that "this was made possible by three great friends of the Missionary Society - Messrs John and James Biggs and Mr J. E. Halford - together with the Native contributors of £50."513
Concerning this building, it is "out of debt ... [and it also] for their use for school purposes."514 In the same year, 1909, contributions from mission stations came forth, and were even larger than the previous year.515 Therefore, there is no doubt that the natives contributed to the upkeep of the mission stations, including their related expenses. Their contribution at first, however, remained anonymous while European contributors were mentioned by name.
In addition to the contributions made by the native churches to the SABMS, there are also the contributions raised by the branches of the mission stations, which were sent directly to the SABMS Treasurer, through the field Superintendent. For example, in 1910, "The Thanksgiving Day at Kanyayo resulted in £4 I s 3d being added to the funds of the Society, and in this amount there was over £1 contributed by the children."516 The total amount from Kanyayo and other branches of Pondoland for the Thanksgiving Day amounted to £12.7s.6d.
The following year, the SABMS Committee, commenting on the Kanyayo field report, stated: "At this station ... the income has increased during the year and our Missionaries are doing all they can to educate the Native Christians in the matter of giving."517 The same was the case with Kaffraria and Transkei, about which the Committee also stated: "Our native
512 SABMS Financial Statement from 1* October 1907 to 30th September 1908, in BU Handbook for 1907- 1908, p. 36.
513 SABMS Annual Report for 1908-1909, in BU Handbook for 1909-1910, p. 38.
5.4 Ibid.
5.5 SABMS Financial Statement from l" October 1908 to 30* September 1909, in BU Handbook for 1909- 1910, p. 44. These contributions were: Kaffraria (£22.11s.3d.); Pondoland (£19.18s.0d); and Tembuland (£10.0s.l0d).
'" SABMS Annual Report for 1909-1910, in BU Handbook for 1910-1911, p. 38. The contributions from the mission stations by the close of the 1910 financial year were: Kaffraria (£49.10s.7d.); Pondoland (£21.9s.0d.);
and Tembuland (£8.1 ls.6d.) (SABMS Financial Statement from l" October 1909 to 30* September 1910, in BU Handbook for 1910-1911, p. 46.).
3,7 SABMS Annual Report for 1910-1911, in BU Handbook for 1911-1912, p. 36.
members have shown a more liberal spirit at these Mission Stations during the year and this spirit is likely to grow."518 At Mpotula Mission, "An earnest effort has been made by Mr Lowe to get the Native members to give regularly for the support of the Society and during the visit of Mr Pearce the matter was urged upon them and discussed at a Church meeting with the result that it was agreed to make regular contributions."319 Summing up these reports, the SABMS Committee concluded:
The desire for support from the Native Churches has been frequently expressed and at the request of the Committee the Missionaries instituted a Thank-offering day, which has led to the increase of the income during the year. ... Throughout the Mission Stations the grace of giving has been growing during the year and promises well for the future. May the Lord who gives the means bestow upon our Native members and upon all the Spirit of Love which delights in giving. ... The souls that have been won from heathenism by the instrumentality of the Missionaries and Evangelists are cause for praise unto Him who hath redeemed them.520
By the close of the 1911 financial year, the mission stations had contributed as follows:
Kaffiaria (£66.15s.5d); Pondoland (£44.10s.0d); and Tembuland (£10.6s.4d.).521 In the subsequent years, the contributions increased as follows, in 1912: Kaffiaria (£82.Is.2d.);
Pondoland (£53.7s.0d); and Tembuland (£15.4s.4d.);522and in 1913: Kaffiaria (£82.6s.l I d ) ; Tembuland (£22.3ds.4d); and Pondoland (£26.0s.9d.).523 By 1915 they were: Kaffiaria (£97.16s. 1 Id); Tembuland (£26.14s. 6d); and Pondoland (£29.6s.6d.).524 For the first time, in the history of the SABMS's financial records, appeared a new entry of £2.18s.0d. from the
"East London Native Church."525 Further, by 1917 the contributions from mission stations were as follows: Kaffiaria (£82.1 Is. 7d); Pondoland (£32.4s.3d); Tembuland (£28.15s.Id);
5.8 Ibid, p. 37.
5.9 Ibid, p. 38.
520 Ibid.
521 SABMS Financial Statement from 1" October 1910 to 30* September 1911, in BU Handbook for 1911- 1912, p. 32.
,22 SABMS Financial Statement from 1" October 1911 to 30* September 1912, in BU Handbook for 1912- 1913, p. 36.
523 SABMS Financial Statement from 1* October 1912 to 30<h September 1913, in BU Handbook for 1913- 1914,p.44.
324 SABMS Financial Statement from 1* October 1914 to 30* September 1915, in BU Handbook for 1914- 1915, p. 42. Owing to the First World War, which was just beginning, the yearly BU Assembly proceedings were disrupted, thus no SABMS Financial Statement for the period 1913 to 1914.
525 SABMS Financial Statement from 1" October 1914 to 30* September 1915, in BU Handbook for 1914- 1915, p. 42.