IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

The demise of the Rev. E. D. Hepburn, on the oth April, 1885, is announced. He was a missionary, highly esteemed among the natives, for whom he has sacrificed his life. Not only was Mr. Hepburn content to preach the Gospel when he lived among our people, but during week-days he directed his energies towards improving their social po- sition, and fought hard with the Government for the rights of the people among whom he laboured. The following tribute to his worth is from the pen of a writer in the P. E. Telegraph, to which it would be impossible for us to add :— Mr. James Weir of this town, an humble but sincerely attached friend of the Rev. Ebenezer Hepburn, who was formerly Wes- leyan minister here, yesterday received a letter informing him of the death of the Rev. gentleman. Dating ' Stellenbosch, April 5,' Mr. Weir's daughter—Mrs. Bennett, who was for 26 years housekeeper to Mr. Hep- burn—writes as follows ' Mr. Hepburn has gone to his eternal rest. He passed away as the clock struck two to-day. Last night he became unconscious, and continued in that state to the end.' The Rev. Mr. Hepburn was at the time of his decease about 70 years of age, and his career as a minister is bound up with the history of this colony. In 1844-5 a number of Scotch families were brought out through the medium of Mr. Pringle, of Baviaan's River, and were located on favourable parts of that fertile, well-wooded, and well-watered district. Like all true Scotchmen, where there was so considerable a number residing within a resonable distance of each other, no sooner had they settled down than they began to make provision for their spiritual wants. They sent home for a young, active, intelligent and zealous Presbyterian minis¬ter the Rev. E. D. Hepburn was set apart for the purpose of being sent to these devout Scottish families, and in 1845 he arrived and preached his first sermon in the temporary church at Baviaan's River. This he ministered for a few years, work- ing hard and studying hard. He began to see that he was fitted for a wider sphere of usefulness than in the little church at Baviaan's River, and on mature consideration he resolved to unite himself to the Wesleyan denomination in this colony. It is hardly necesary to say he was accepted. Trained at one of the strict- est of the Scotch universities he was a profound scholar, his attainments in Greek and Latin being very high. On joining the Wesleyan body he was appointed by the District meeting to Salem, where a school, which soon became famous and has turned out some clever men, was in course of organisation. As resident minister and head of the Salem school, Mr. Hepburn did good service, and made many friends. He was not suffered to remain there for very many years, but had to serve at various circuits where his excellent powers of organisation were of the greatest service. He subsequently went to Mount Coke where he organized the Watson Institution for the training of natives in industrial arts and general education. This institution has prospered to a great extent. Mr. Hepburn was subsequently transferred to Stellenbosch, where, as already stated, he died. Deceased was of most genial disposi- tion. When stationed in this town he secured the friendship of all with whom he came in contact, irrespective of class, creed, or colour. The words ' deeply regretted ' have a great significance in his case. Few men have left us for a better world that have been more deeply regretted than the Rev. E. D. Hepburn.