MCESO-GOTHS, inr".4.-gilths'. A name given to the Goths who, early in the third century. set tied in Lower /11011ill of the Dan the. I 11 f0111111 century they were 4.44nverted to Christ ianity through the efforts who translated the Bible into their dialect. (See L.ts.) The name 1\14eso-Goths is applied espeeinl ly to those Goths who remained in Miesia after the :treat migrations at the beginning of the fifth cent ury. See Go•rns.
MOF'FAT, 1101tFliT (1795-1883). A mission ary to South files, born in Ormiston, Scotland. In early life lie was a gardener. but having made the (wpm in tamp of some Wesleynn min isters, he determined to engage in religious work, and sought to qualify himself to be a mis sionary. He was accepted by the London Mis. sionary Society, and set apart for the ministry in ISIG: was appointed to South Africa. and arrived at Cape Town early in 1817. Ile pro ceeded to Namaqualand. and to the kraal of Afrieaner, a savage chief, who ryas converted and became an earnest Christian. The country, however. did not prove well adapted for the loca tion of a mission centre; and Moffat, after having explored a considerable region, established the station of Kurtiman in 1825. His missionary labors were very successful. and productive of great benefit, in the amelioration of the character of the people and the development of civilization.
In 1859 a new centre was established among the Matabele al Inajati. The missionary labors of Dr. Moffat and his travels and adventures are described in his book. Missionary Labors and Scenes in South Africa (1842). During 1839-43 lie visited England and then returned to Africa, and remained there till 1870. when he went back to England and settled in Brixton. London, where he spent the rest of his life. In 1873 he %vas presented with the sum of £5800 in recog nition of his great services. llis daughter was the wife of Dr. David Livingstone. Besides the volume already mentioned. Dr. Moffat published Africa, or Gospel Light Shining in the Midst of Heathen Darkness: .1 Sermon on Faith 11341) and Hirers of Water in Dry Places: An Ac count of the Introduction of Christianity into youth Africa, and of Mr. lloffat's Missionary Labors (1803). He also translated the Bible into the language of the Beehuanas. The full ac count of Moffat's life and labors is given in the Lires of Robert and Mary Moffat, by their son, John South Moffat (London, 1885; new edition, 1880: popular edition, 1889),