Robert Moffat / The Missionary Hero of Kuruman

ey were pious God-fearing people; the mother though holding a stern religious faith, yet possessed a most tender loving heart,

tment in the Custom House at Portsoy, and in 1806 the home of the Moffats was at Carronshore, on the Firth o

ars bearing fruit a hundred-fold. The lads were gathered by the fireside learning to knit and sew, and while so engaged their mother, who took great interest in the missionary enterprises then carried on, rea

ion book. His progress was but slow, his hands often being made to suffer for the dullness of his brains. A boy living in the midst of shipping, his desires were more for nautical matters than for Wully's books, and so he ran off to sea. The captain of the

t was allowed to wait for his brother in the large room while the class was being conducted. "I felt queer," he tells us "to know what the master was doing within the circle, and used to look very attentively through any little slip of an opening under an elbow, while

inued for six months. It wa

s severe and the food scanty. Often in the bitter cold of a Scottish winter the lads employed were required to commence work at four o'clock in the morn

. He also picked up some knowledge of the smith's craft, and acquired sufficient skill to play a little on the violin. A spec

e, he delighted his fellow-workers of an evening by his violin performances, was fond of athletic sports, in which he excelled, and beca

ployment as under-gardener to Mr. Leigh, of High Leigh, in Cheshire. While at Donibristle he h

sketched by his own hand and appeared in the Bible Societ

where we were to part, perhaps never

for I wish to ask one favour of you before we part, and

t, mother?'

u will do what I am now going

not till you tell m

hat I shall ask you, my son, to do anyth

I do not like to make promises w

She sighed deeply. I lifted my eyes and saw the big tears rolling down the cheeks which

what you will an

read a chapter in the Bible every

ying, 'Mother, you k

ome with a happy heart, inasmuch as you have promised to read the Scriptures daily. O Robert, my son, read much in the New Testam

ame and a mind full of energy, it required all to keep pace with the duty which devolved upon me. I lived at a considerable distance from what are called the means of grace, and the Sabbaths were not always at my command. I met with non

ok to him, and soon left a great deal in his hands. This made his work very heavy and responsible; but, although labouring almost day and night, he yet managed to devote so

n Methodists had commenced a good work at High Leigh, and a pious Methodist and his wife induced Moffat to attend some of their meetings. He became convinced of his state as a sinner, and unhappy, but after a severe and protracted struggle, he found pardon, justification, and peace, through faith in Jesus Christ, and henceforth hi

and a position of honour and comfort seemed opening befo

ncident was now about to change the current of this young man's life, and to convert the rising

and with thoughts full of hope he entered the town. Passing over a bridge he noticed a placard. It contained the announcement of a missionary meeting, over which the Rev. William Roby, of Manchester, was to preside. He had never seen such an announce ment before. He read the placard over and

e event just related, to be present at a Wesleyan Conference; and while there, with much hesitancy and trepidation, ventured to knock at the door of Mr. Roby's house and request an interview with that gentleman. He was shown into th

of the London Missionary Society concerning him, and to communicate their wishes to him

s arranged that he should accept a situation in a nursery garden belonging to Mr. Smith, at Dukinfield, that place being near at hand. Moffat continued here about a year, visiting Mr. Roby onc

mind of every youth and maiden. Robert Moffat's desire was for the glory of God and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, and God was not

tinguished for fervent piety and deep sympathy with the missionary cause. The two young folks were thrown together, mutual esteem deepened into love, and the maiden, possessed w

ployment and removed to Manchester, so that he might be close to Mr. Roby, to receive such superintendence as was possible in h

ed visit was paid to the parents whom he never expected to s

terated from my mind," he started for London. While in the Metropolis he visited the Museum at the Rooms of the London Missionary Society, and the

ly awful, the appearance of the wild beasts is very terrific, but I am unable to describe the sensations of my mind when gazing on the objects of Pagan worship. Alas! how fallen are my fellow-creatures, bowing down to forms enough to fri

repared to enter upon the