George Brown: In his own words (School days)

CONTENTS

Family Background / My father: the able man / My father: the lay preacher / Childhood & school days / Dangerous Occupations / Going to Sea I / Going to Sea II / Going to Sea III / Passage to America / First Steps / The Great Lakes / Return to England / A Narrow Escape / Passage to New Zealand / Auckland / Finding a Mission / Fit for Mission Work? / A Suitable Helpmeet / A Bush Honeymoon / Our Worst Night / Missionary Heroes / Sydney to Samoa
Acknowledgments & Links

Of my mother I have no recollections. She died when I was five years of age. Her father, Mr. William Dixon, was one of the first and best known members of our Church in Barnard Castle. For many years he was class leader and local preacher, and his grandchildren still occupy prominent positions in the ranks of our Church workers. He gave one daughter, Mrs. Buddle, wife of the late Rev. Thomas Buddle of New Zealand, to the Mission work, which he dearly loved.

I was born on December 7, 1835. I have been told that I was a very quiet boy ; but amongst my earliest recollections is one of fiercely attacking a boy who had jeered at my elder brother on account of a slight deformity, and so excited my anger. I may have been good when I was little, and of course I believe the good people who have testified to the fact ; but I have no recollections myself of being what may be called a moral boy as I grew up. I had what used to be reckoned in that little town a good education, in a small private school, but I am sure it would be considered wretchedly bad in these days. The old master had a fad about some new method of parsing, and we boys were quick enough to see that so long as we were up in this we could pretty well do what we liked as regards other branches of education. I left school knowing very little indeed except about parsing, all of which I have long since forgotten.

George Brown: In his own words

The Early Years and The Call

The Early Years
and The Call