In the quiet Berkshire village of Basildon, rather more than a hundred years ago, there was born a baby boy who received the name of ALLEN FRANCIS GARDINER, His parents seem to have been godly people, and were careful to teach their little boy the truth of God, and to pray often with and for him. But Allen does not seem to have much profited by their instructions or example, for we are told he grew up to be a restless and adventurous youth, and, at an early age, took a fancy to join the navy. The British were at war with the French in those days, and, when Allen’s mother entered his room late one night, she found him stretched upon the floor, working out a plan to take the French ships in Rochelle harbor. On another occasion, she found him sleeping on the bare floor, “to accustom himself to roughing it,” as he afterward told. At the age of thirteen, he entered the naval college at Portsmouth. For two years he remained as a cadet there, and then went to sea in 1810. Life on board a man of war in those days was far from pleasant, and young Gardiner had a hard time for the next four years. Having distinguished himself in an action off Valparaiso, he was raised to the rank of lieutenant, and, in 1816, he joined H.M. “Dauntless.” Several narrow escapes from death about this time, led him to think on eternal things. While sailing on the Peruvian coast, the boat in which he was going ashore, capsized, and he had a narrow escape from drowning. A comrade sank before his eyes. Deeply awakened as to his state of soul, he was walking through the streets of Portsmouth one day, and, in passing a shop, saw a Bible in the window. He had a desire to buy it, but was ashamed to enter the place, and ask it, lest any of his shipmates might hear or see him. After walking up and down for a while, he at last darted into the shop, and purchased the Bible, which, as an awakened sinner, feeling in measure his need of a Saviour, he read with interest. Just about this time, he received intimation of his mother’s death, which further deepened the impression made, but, without finding peace with God, or knowing the joy of having his sins forgiven, he sailed for South America. Walking through Santiago, he saw the door of a great cathedral open, and entered, but found nothing there to direct his weary soul to Christ, only a gaudy ritual, performed by monks, whose lives, he learned, were openly ungodly. At Tahiti, he was impressed by the changed appearance of the natives, who had been converted through the labors of an earnest missionary, and it must have been then, or about that time, that Allen Gardiner passed into the kingdom of God, for, a short time after, when passing Cape Town on his way to England, he writes— “The last time I visited this colony, I was walking in the broad way, and hastening by rapid strides to eternal ruin. Blessed be His Name, who loved us, and gave Himself for us, a great change has been wrought.” This “great change” was his conversion to God, the beginning of a new life which, as we shall see, was spent in devoted service to the One who had saved him by His grace. Soon after this, he gave himself to the Lord, at His call to go forth, bearing the good news of salvation to the Kaffirs and Zulus of South Africa, where, amid many trials and difficulties, he pioneered and preached for several years. But his heart was set upon reaching the still more needy field of South America, which he had touched on more than one occasion while a naval officer, and where the need of the benighted Patagonians, who were still in utter ignorance of the Name of Jesus, lay heavy on his heart.