Stewart of Lovedale; The Life of James Stewart, D.d., M.d., Hon. F.r.g.s.

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1908. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... AN ORGANISER AND PERSUADER 35 to undertake such a mission, but its leaders were interested in the proposal, and resolved to open communication with Dr. Livingstone. A list of twenty queries was drawn up by Stewart and forwarded to Livingstone through the Foreign Office. The ardour of Stewart was fruitful in inventions. After visits to Glasgow, Liverpool, and Manchester, and many persistent efforts, he, single-handed, succeeded in forming a very influential committee of eighteen men, under the title of' The New Central African Committee,' 'with the view of turning to practical account the discoveries of Livingstone, and to open a new mission in Central Africa.' He raised a considerable sum of money for the initial expenses, and sold his patrimony at Liberty Hall, near Haddington, and also the family silver-plate, and devoted the price to the mission. The Committee requested him to visit Central Africa on a mission of inquiry. He thus served a useful and successful apprenticeship as an organiser, persuader of men, and an inspirer of liberality. He writes: 'The first efforts connected with this mission occupied me more than a year.' Here is a student--for he seems to have started his scheme before he was licensed--without academic fame or social influence, unknown and untried, who has nothing but himself to begin with, and yet he gets some twenty leading professors, ministers, and laymen to believe in him, to accept his leadership, and support him in his perilous enterprise. Probably no mere student or probationer ever had success like this. Here is proof of originality, resolution, and a remarkable gift of persuasiveness. Even then he revealed his extraordinary power of interesting and impressing people of all classes. Stewart's biography here widens into history,...