November 5, 1881
A young Scotchman, who recently arrived in Newfoundland to take charge of the mission at Random South, commenced his ministry on the first Sunday in October in a fisherman’s coat and boots, borrowed for the occasion. On the previous Friday evening, on the passage from St. John’s, the craft in which he sailed struck a rock, only giving him time to spring to the deck and into a small boat, valise in hand, but leaving behind hat, coat and boots, with his whole supply of winter clothing, and the three trucks of books comprising his library. In a manly note to the President of the Newfoundland Conference, asking for book needed at once in view of Conference examinations, he says, “I do not know how I am to pay for them. I set out for this place with all I thought I should require; no I possess scarcely anything.” President Ladner presents the case in another column, asking ministers and friends who may have any spar books in their libraries to aid in making Mr. Lumsden’s loss. Any volumes send him or ordered to be sent him from our Book Room will be carefully forwarded by Rev. S.F. Huestis. A young man who could reach the shore on Sunday morning in such plight, and greet his future parishioners with the challenge, “Lend me a coat and boots, and I’ll preach to you.” is well deserving of help. – Halifax Wesleyan
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Transcribed by Wanda Garrett and Lester Green, September 2014. Updated September 2021
These transcriptions may contain human errors. As always, confirm these as you would any other source material.