It’s all about God’s saving & mighty work in people’s life : Part 23

Alexander M. Mackay

Greek and Roman, Arab, Turk, and Christian pioneer, at various times, and actuated by different purposes, have wended their ways into the unknown land of the Dark Continent; and Africa for ages has been the scene of thrilling adventure, perilous labor, and sublime life-sacrifice.

Livingstone, Speke, Gordon, Stanley, Hannington, and others, are numbered among the world’s heroes; and conspicuous upon this roll of noble men must now be written the name of Alexander M. Mackay.

Born Oct. 13, 1849, in the little village of Rhynie, Aberdeen County, Scotland, in his father’s home, — the Free Church Manse, — Mr. Mackay was at once blessed with a godly upbringing in the midst of intellectual surroundings. Mr. Mackay’s father was a man of great literary ability, and for fourteen years carefully carried on the daily instruction of his boy. At three years of age Alexander Mackay read the New Testament with ease, and at seven his text-books were Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” Russell’s “History of Modern Europe,” Gibbon’s “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” and Robertson’s “History of the Discovery of America.”

He was his father’s constant companion in his walks; and stories are now told of the villagers’ wonder at seeing the boy often “stop to look for something in the road;” while from point of fact he was watching his father’s stick trace the supposed course of the Zambesi River, or outline the demonstrating of a proposition in Euclid. Letters were frequently received at the Manse from Hugh Miller, Sir Roderick Murchison, and other eminent scholars, all of which were read and talked about in the family circle; and in these ways the boy’s mind rapidly developed.

At ten years of age he had great skill in map-making, and wonderful dexterity in type-setting; and very accurate were the proof-sheets turned out from his little printing-press.

In 1864 he entered the grammar school at Aberdeen, and here he worked well; he seldom joined the excursions of the young people, but preferred to become initiated in art photography, or to watch the workmen in the great shipyards. And thus from different sources practical knowledge of many things was by him early acquired.

In 1865 Mackay sustained a great loss in the death of his mother, whose parting injunction, to “Search the Scriptures,” became a duty, always continued. In the fall of 1867 Mackay entered the Free Church Training School for Teachers, in Edinburgh; and there he won the admiration of pupils and teachers by his scholarly ability for two years, and then entered the Edinburgh University for a three years’ course in classics, applied mechanics, higher mathematics, and natural philosophy, followed by a year’s study of surveying and fortification with Lieutenant Mackie, Professor of Engineering.
For two years (1870-72), while Secretary of the Engineering Society, and tutor each morning at George Watson’s College, Mackay daily took the tram-car to Leith, and spent his afternoons in model-making, and in turning, fitting, and erecting machinery in the engineering works of Messrs. Miller and Herbert. His evenings were employed in attending lectures on chemistry and geology at the School of Arts and other places. Sundays he gave to regular attendance at religious services, and to teaching in Dr. Guthrie’s Original Ragged School.

In 1875 the Daily Telegraph published Stanley’s famous letter “challenging Christendom to send missionaries to Uganda;” and the Church Missionary Society gladly accepted Mackay’s offer of service in their future mission to the Victoria Nyanza.

At Ugogo, in November, Mackay, who had charge of the third section of the caravan, was taken seriously ill, and was obliged to return to the coast, where he was instructed by the Church Missionary Society to delay starting for the interior until June, 1877. He employed the intervening time in sending a relief caravan to his brethren on the lake, and in cutting a good road to Mpwapa, two hundred and thirty miles inland.

After his great labor in repairs, Mackay, in spite of danger to himself, visited Ukerewe, and with tactful courage held a friendly visit with King Lkonge.
Mtesa appeared very anxious to hear more about the Christian Faith to which Stanley had introduced him, and every Sunday services were held at court. From the first, the Arabs who centered in Rubaga were jealous of Mackay, fearing his influence would overthrow the slave traffic, which brought them here as elsewhere in Africa. They used all means to turn Mtesa against the white man, the most potent of which were the rich presents, including fire-arms, presented to the king.

The Arabs were no more formidable enemies to Mackay than were the Roman Catholic missionaries, who came soon after his arrival, confusing Mtesa with their claims to the true religion, and instituting a cruel persecution against the Protestants.

ackay asked a piece of ground to build huts on, he at once gave him twenty acres. To the natives Mackay’s most wonderful achievement was a cart painted red and blue, and drawn by oxen. From time to time Mackay’s great work was supplemented by co-laborers sent by the Church Missionary Society; and in March, 1881, his heart was delighted by the baptism of five converts by Mr. O’Flaherty. Early in 1883 the Rev. E. C. Gordon and Mr. Wise joined Mackay; in May of the same year the Rev. R. P. Ashe arrived, and the prospects of the Mission were most encouraging until October, 1884, when Mtesa died.

The king’s son, Mwanga, succeeded to the throne — a youth with all his father’s vices and none of his virtues; and a reign of blood and terror followed, beginning with the burning of two Christian lads, who met their death with songs of praise, and were the first martyrs to the faith in Uganda.
The storm of persecution spent its full force in October, 1885, when news reached the king that white men had come by the Masai route, and were entering Uganda by the “back door.” Orders were sent to kill the whole party. Prevented from leaving the court, Ashe and Mackay awaited in dread suspense, which gave way to despair, when news of Bishop Hannington’s death was confirmed. In the months that followed, lives of missionaries and converts were in constant danger; still the gospel spread, and young men came daily to the mission house for translated copies.

In May, 1886, thirty of the missionaries’ faithful converts were slowly burned alive. Mackay was now anxious to get out of the country, but was refused permission to leave. New missionaries with presents would have bought his escape; but he would not write for men to come to Uganda in the disturbed condition of affairs, so bravely stayed on, even after he had unselfishly obtained leave for Ashe to go.

Alone, weary in soul and body, his life in imminent danger, Mackay worked early and late in translating and printing the Scriptures. News of the Emin Pasha expedition reached the king; and warned by French priests that Stanley and Mackay would put their heads together to “eat the country,” Mwanga decided that Mackay must leave Uganda. Arranging that Mr. Gordon should come to care for the converts, who were only comforted by his assurances that he was but going to the south of the lake, Mackay turned away from the country where he had spent nine eventful years, — years of deep experiences, of toils and privations; years that had silvered his hair and calmed the restless impulses of his youth; but his watchword was unchanged — “Africa for Christ.”

After much weary wandering, Mackay fell in with a friendly chief in the land of Usambiro; and here, single-handed and alone, he began the great work of a new mission station. A band of five men, headed by Bishop Parker, and including his old friend and fellow worker, Ashe, soon came to cheer his lonely life. A few happy weeks together — then Bishop Parker and Mr. Blackburn died of fever; Mr. Walker went to Uganda; Mr. Ashe was compelled to return home on account of bad health; Mackay was again alone.
And again this all-round missionary set himself to the work of teaching, translating, printing, binding, doctoring, and building; and in the midst of these many and arduous labors, he found time to give to the world practical suggestions, now being carried out; viz., “Stations all over Uganda,” and, “a railway from the coast to the lake.”

In September, 1889, Stanley visited Mackay on his return to the coast, and “In Darkest Africa” gives with unstinted praise an account of the mission station, with its clay-built house “garnished with missionary pictures, and shelves filled with choice, useful books, its hospitable table with wholesome food (home-made bread and coffee); the mission-school of neat, well-mannered boys, a launch’s boiler, and a canoe under construction, saw-pits, and cattle-fold, all the work of “the best missionary since Livingstone.”
Stanley and his party urged Mackay to join the homeward expedition, but with characteristic fidelity he refused to leave until some one came to take his place. “European platforms and royal receptions” were never his; but Feb. 8, 1890, his tireless energy rested, and the title-deeds of his labor were recorded, in divine Presence, upon the brow of every converted black in Uganda.

GOD BLESS YOU
Copied from Great Missionaries of the Church by Charles Creegan and Josephine Goodnow. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, ©1895.

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