Browsing by Author "Pienaar, Pascal"

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    Emma Murray : an investigation into her person as well as her contributions to mission and education in South Africa - a historical-biographical study
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Pienaar, Pascal; Muller, Retief; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is written with the goal of providing an overview of Emma Murray’s life as well as the organizations and institutions with which she was involved. This study is being performed as a means to “uncover” the largely ignored figure of the woman who was partner to Andrew Murray, one of the most influential theologians in South African history. In the interest of accomplishing this, an initial chapter is presented which provides the reader with details regarding women’s mission work within South Africa during the mid-to-late-nineteenth century so as to provide a context in which Emma’s life and work may be placed. Following this, the examination of Emma’s influence is begun. This is accomplished by means of the construction of a narrative of Emma’s life, beginning with her youth in the Cape and then moving onwards to the early days of her marriage to Andrew Murray, as well as their time in Bloemfontein. The thesis then examines the couple’s time spent in Worcester, Cape Town and, finally, Wellington. It was during their time in, Wellington that the majority of Emma’s work took place and, thus, the investigation regarding this period goes into great detail. It is within this chapter that the Huguenot Seminary and College, the Vrouensendingbond, the Women’s Temperance Union, as well as the Kinderkrans are inspected and Emma’s influence within them is presented. Following this examination of Emma’s influence within organizations with which she had direct involvement, her other major area of influence is examined: her role as a mother and the impact which her parenting had on her children and the paths which they took in life. This chapter examines Emma’s daughters, and one of her sons, in an attempt to extract the influence which a figure such as Emma would have on other woman, and the work which they would go on to do as a result of this. The final chapter examines all preceding information in the thesis from a critical stand point and addresses some of the major issues which could perhaps be taken up with the research as well as the manner in which it is presented.
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    The Pniel land dispute of the early 20th century
    (The Church History Society of Southern Africa, 2020) Pienaar, Pascal
    In 1834 the slaves of the Groot Drakenstein area were emancipated. They continued to work for farmers in the surrounding area and this resulted in the formation of a community where these farm workers, now able to leave their employer's land, would return to in the evenings and call home. This land was originally a donation of De Goede Hoop farm, intended mainly for the establishment of a mission station for recently freed slaves. Reverend J.F. Stegman was appointed by the Apostolic Union, a non-denominational Protestant group, as the first reverend of this mission station. At the end of 1834, the Board of Directors of the "Mission Institute Pniël," a body instituted under the auspices of the Apostolic Union with the initial aim of operating for the benefit of the local people, purchased the Papiere Molen farm. A major portion of the farm was then divided into 99 holdings and applicants from the community, who were accepted as occupiers of these holdings, were known as "erf-holders." In the following years it became a condition of tenure that they would pay a monthly rental to provide a salary for the Minister, which became the source of contention following the passing of Reverend Stegman. In 1905, local residents of Pniël spoke out regarding their desire to have more input in the operation of the mission station and usage of the land, and they questioned the overall authority of the current board of directors. This led to a court case in which the Board of Directors acted as the defendants. This paper will seek to examine the circumstances for this case as well as those surrounding its outcomes through the lens of a modern reader.