BHSQ Forum - Baptist Historical Society of Queensland Forum David Parker Editor Theologian and Archivist Baptist Archives, Queensland

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The Baptist Historical Society of Queensland

President: Mr Eric Kopittke, 98 Yallambee Rd., Jindalee, 4074 Queensland Australia

Phone (+61 7) 3376 4339

Secretary: Dr Ken Smith 110 White St, Graceville Q 4075 Phone (+61 7) 3379 6117

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Qld Baptist Forum No. 49 July 2001

Excerpts below

· Federation

· Early Qld Baptist Churches No 5 Petrie Terrace

· Rockhampton – the early years by Ken Steer

· Schneider Grave Revisited by David Parker

· Reunion – by Leona Haldane

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Excerpts from this issue

FEDERATION

As a contribution to the Centenary of Federation celebrations, we present this article which appeared in the Queensland Baptist of July 1899. The item following it on page 6 appeared in the next issue, August 1899. Neither of these pieces was signed, but they were probably written by the editor, Rev Wm Poole, who had been actively involved with The Age and Melbourne Evening Herald newspapers in Melbourne before coming to the church at Vulture Street. It is surprising to find that Mr Poole’s holistic concept of the Christian (and Baptist) faith (and that of his readers) made it natural for him to comment on such matters in the denominational journal. In our next issue, we will present further historical material on the Federation and also on Baptist federation.

Beyond doubt, federation is the live question of the hour. It is not a party question, and by voice or pen the leaders of almost every denomination in Queensland or the editors of the denominational organs have expressed their views in a manner more or less pronounced. Some have even dealt with its commercial bearings, but in this we have no desire to follow their example - that question had better be left for discussion elsewhere. It cannot, however, be denied that federation has moral or sentimental aspects. Indeed, a former political leader has declared that the sentimental aspect predominates in the old country, and is not to be lightly considered.

Along this line our difficulty is to discover any reason for our present division into separate colonies. We are of the same stock; often of the same family; we have the same language, the same interests, the same religious freedom, the same government, the same Sovereign. The only thing which divides us is a geographical boundary, and even that is an artificial one. So manifest is our oneness that leading statesmen have ever looked forward to some sort of federation as inevitable. This is recognized even by the most ardent opponents of the Commonwealth bill. Almost without exception they deny that they are opposed to federation, and assure us that they only object to the present bill, or to the present time as suitable for its introduction.

It may help to clear the way if we point out that our divisions into separate colonies were caused by the necessities of local government, and local government is an evolution of the democratic times in which we live. In principle it has long since passed the experimental stage, but in development local government is still in that stage both here and in the old country. We are feeling our way to its extensions, and striving to profit both by the successes and the mistakes of the past. It is hardly necessary to add that the commonwealth Bill does not propose to interfere with local government on all purely local affairs.

From the origin of our divisions let us turn to glance at the effects. Confining ourselves to sentimental as distinguished from political or commercial effects, we begin to wonder whether a mistake has not been made in this application of the principle. We find our divided condition has led to extreme jealousy, bitter opposition, profound distrust, and a commercial warfare instead of co-operation. We seem to have forgotten that we are one people with common interests, and have sought to penalise our own brethren because they happen to live in a different locality. In federation we see some hope of slowly but surely remedying some of these evils.

We further believe that federation would tend to develop a larger, fuller, nobler life. Who does not deplore the fact that we have so many petty politicians, so few statesmen? - that so many never get beyond “What can I secure for my electorate?” - that so few can grasp measures of national importance? The British County councils have their place and work, but the British statesman moves in a larger sphere. We have reached the stage when we must take a larger outlook, accept a larger responsibility, seize a larger opportunity, enter upon a larger relation, rise to a larger duty. We believe that the emergency will develop the men. We have no fear of the ability of the rising generation, but only the opportunity can call it forth. We wish to see our sons better than their fathers, and more fit and ready to “take up the white man’s burden”. That greater possibilities are before us united than separate cannot be doubted, and the onward march of events is imposing new duties upon us. We must rise to higher and nobler ideals of national life, brotherhood, and destiny. Utilitarianism, or seeking the greatest happiness of the greatest number, must supersede the individualism, which seeks only our own interest, and to which we are all so prone.

But will it? In many cases, yes. In other cases we fear that the vote, whether for or against federation, will be decided by the individualist question of self-interest. Yet for all this the call comes -

Take up the White Man’s burden;

Have done with childish days,

The lightly-proffered laurel,

The easy, ungrudged praise:

Comes now, to search your manhood

Through all the thankless years,

Cold-edged, with dear-bought wisdom,

The judgment of your peers.

The Federation Vote

Queensland Baptist August 1899

Before next month’s Baptist is in the hands of the majority of our readers the Queensland vote upon Federation will have been taken. The editors feel strongly that the answer ought to be a very decided ‘Yes’. The principle is so universally approved that a pronounced anti-federalist is almost unknown. Opponents of the present measure declare that they only object to the present bill, or the present time. Yet a bill to suit everybody is absolutely impossible. The basis of every federation is compromise, and no one has yet suggested an improvement which would not be open to greater objections from some quarters than the provisions of the Commonwealth Bill. Besides, if actual experience shows it desirable, ample provision is made for amending the Constitution, with the safe-guard that under Federation no one colony could insist upon unreasonable conditions. The prediction of the anti-billites as to disastrous consequences are pure assumptions, generally without the slightest foundation, and contrary to all experience of federation elsewhere. That the City of Sydney polled the most heavily in New South Wales against the bill is conclusive evidence that Sydney does not expect to swallow Brisbane trade. Queensland can gain nothing, but may lose much by delay. There are no difficulties or obstacles which will not be aggravated or increased by delay, while the immense advantage of joining as one of the original states will be lost. The editors for their part will vote “Yes” and they advise their readers to do the same.

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Reunion!

This remarkable account of the reunion of colleagues after many years is written by Leona Haldane, who now lives (with her husband Doug) at Brookfield Village, (formerly Resthaven) Q. It first appeared in the 75th anniversary history of Pymble (now Gordon) Baptist Church, Sydney, and is reprinted with permission. It refers to some well known names and shows the interesting links that sometimes occur within the Christian family. The author’s father, Rev C. Freeman Davies, served at Rosalie Baptist Church during the 1930s.

When we were assigned to the Headquarters of the South Seas Evangelical Mission at Gordon after some years on the Solomons Field, we naturally made our way to the Pymble Baptist Church. There at the porch, the gentleman handing out hymnbooks greeted us kindly, and this went on for a couple of months, until one VERY wet Sunday when I walked to church with our two children (Christine and Stephen) because Doug was away on deputation. BUT - being dripping wet on arrival, this same gentleman offered to drive us home after the service! On our way to his car later, he said,

'You WERE Leona Davies, weren’t you?'

'Yes', I said, 'why? What is your name?'

'Pike, Alf Pike'.

We stopped there - in the pouring rain and stared at each other! 'Alf, WHY didn’t you make yourself known before?'

It really WAS better to chat in the car than out there in the rain, so we continued there!!

Alf and I went to the same school in the north of China, the excellent Chefoo School for missionaries’ children. His sister and brother were the same age as my sister and brother and in the same classes, and indeed our two families were very close friends in that vast land - in those days of the 1920s (and before, for our parents!). All of us 'children' were born in China, thus what a bond was formed again! His older sister and my older sister both later went back to China as missionaries.

Then I learned that the previous minister of Pymble Church was Rev. Fred Smith — also a former missionary in China. AND I soon met Mr and Mrs Eric Norgate (of Overseas Missionary Fellowship) they were assigned to the very same city where I was born, 1700 miles inland in West China (Chenyuan, Kweichow; now Zhenyuan, Guizhou) soon after my parents left there for furlough (their second one in 20 years)

Then a further exciting discovery as we settled into Pymble . . . the Haymans! David and Roslyn and family returned from Japan whilst we were there at Pymble and later returned for another term. I even remembered so well when David first arrived in Chefoo for school . . . he was such a little boy for that long parting from parents. Most of us did not see our parents again for two or three years . . . distances were too great and travel very slow and primitive of course. Hard on youngsters, but surely a 'sacrifice' for parents! The Hayman and the Davies families were also great friends and their 'children' matched us in age groups through school.

Thus - FIVE families from the China Inland Mission (now OMF) reunited at Pymble after many years. A further bond with the Pymble Church, together with the many dear friends formed over our nine years in that area.

I might add, that Mr Pike Snr, Mr Hayman Snr and my father (Freeman-Davies) all suffered severely from being captives (separately) in the hands of the bandits in China for varying periods, during those days of turmoil in the 1920/1930s. Indeed Alf’s father was killed and David’s father was captive over an extended time (he was forced to go with the forces of Mao Zedong on The Long March).

'DIFFICULTIES' should never be a deterrent to the 'call of the Lord' into HIS Service overseas! They are part of the proving, but also eventual joy at our God’s overruling and/or provisions. Doug and I give praise to God for all that too, for a number of 'problems' tried to stand in our way, but His service in the Solomons became our abounding joy and privilege. We praise HIM too, for a 'goodly heritage' and wonderful and precious experiences, culminating in the years at Pymble/Gordon, with the warm fellowship and long-standing friends in the Church. 'Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love'. Thank you.

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