Alexander McPherson

Scotsmen have made their mark the world over. It would indeed be no exaggeration to say that Scotland's main export has been men, men of high purpose, men of renown. Not least has their prowess been seen in the field of missionary enterprise. A worthy successor appears in the person of James Fraser, who during the years 1938-59 in Rhodesia, literally worked himself to death in the cause of Christ. Called to that land in the service of the Free Presbyterian Mission, he manifested outstanding qualities as a teacher, and was in face urged by no less a person than the Prime Minister of Rhodesia to retain his post at a time when resignation was in the offing. Zeal for the extension of the kingdom of God accompanied his labors in education, and not surprisingly he spent the last twelve years of his life as a fully-fledged missionary. In labor more abundant he spent and was spent. Time must be utilized to the extreme limits of human endurance. 'Ease' and 'rest' were virtually eliminated form his vocabulary. In him the kingdom of God suffered the violence of unremitting endeavor. Each day he took it by force. Worn out before his days, he succumbed to a virus infection in his 46th year. Fraser's life-story puts most of us to shame. Its reading should goad us into action for God and His cause. At the same time it furnishes us with a close-up time-exposure of a country now prominent for good of for ill, in the world's news. Here is an intimate introduction to a land whose state and wants cannot but stir our interest. As we listen to the heart-beast of Fraser we shall indeed by dull of soul if our own hearts faith to respond in sympathetic unison.… (meer)