^"^^^ee" St.Matthew'
piurch, Glasgow
'i Record of
f '^iftv-five Years
Free St. Matthew's Church Glasgow
Free St. Matthew's Church.
Free St. Matthew's Church, Glasgow
A Record of u
Fifty-five Years ^(fi's
By
George Ernest Philip Session Clerk
Glasgow
David Bryce & Son
1898
GLASGOW : PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS BY ROBERT MACLEHOSE AND CO.
^0
THE MINISTER,
OFFICE-BEARERS AND MEMBERS
OF FREE ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, GLASGOW
THIS RECORD OF ITS HISTORY
IS RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED
Note
The following chapters are offered as a small contribution to local ecclesiastical history. By the many who either are, or have been con- nected with Free St. Matthew's, it is hoped they may be found of permanent interest and value.
The author is conscious that, while he speaks with full personal knowledge of more recent years, he has not a like advantage with regard to the earlier period. At the same time, with complete congregational records before him, and with the recollections of older members to fall back upon, he has not deemed it an impossible task to construct a narrative which, if less elaborate in details than might be permissible, should at least be accurate, and
Vlll
Note
maintain a reasonable proportion throughout. He is hopeful that even a rapid survey of the past may tend to promote that esprit de corps which has so long been characteristic of St. Matthew's.
To the friends who have supplied photo- graphs, or rendered other assistance, he desires to return grateful thanks.
6 WooDSiDE Crescent, Glasgow, \st Noveinber, i8
Contents
I. Glasgow in 1843 .... II. Founding of Free St Matthew's .
III. Early Years of Dr. Miller's Ministry
1844-50
IV. Dr. Miller's Ministry, 1851-65 . V. Dr. Miller's Ministry, 1866-81 .
VI. Mr. Watson's Ministry, 1877-80 .
VII. Mr. Salmond's Ministry, 1881-86
VIII. Dr. Stalker's Ministry, 1887-98 .
IX. St. Matthew's of To-day
X. Appendix
Office-Bearers .... Ministers, Clerks and Treasurers Conveners of Standing Committees Membership and Contributions Missionary and Congregational Assistants ....
I
15
29
49
71
97
115
139
169
200 204 208 210
212
Illustrations
I. Free St. Matthew's Church (exterior)
frontispiece
II. Portraits of five Elders .
III. Portrait of Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D
IV. Free St. Matthew's Church (interior) V. Portraits of five Elders .
VI. Portrait of Rev. John Watson, D.D.
VII. Portrait of Rev. Chas. A. Salmond, M.A
VIII. Portrait of Rev. James Stalker, D.D.
IX. Portraits of some recent Assistants
X. Elders' Communion Service Card, with Old Token
FACING PAGE
20
34 52 86 100 118 144 154
192
Glasgow in 1843
"The year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion."
Isaiah xxxiv. 8.
I
Glasgow in 1843
T T is not very easy for us, whose lot has been cast in the closing years of the century, to conjure up in imagination the Glasgow of the early forties.
In attempting to do so, we must ever remember that those were the days before an aggressive architecture had broken down the featureless lines of our monotonous streets, and when the only public park we could boast was The Green. If we except the hoary, though as yet unembellished Cathedral, with its western towers still standing, the vener- able but dingy College in High Street, the elegant Royal Exchange, some half dozen well-placed churches, and a few quaint spires and gables in the neighbourhood of the Tron- gate, there were not many buildings in the
4 Free St. Matthew's
city which rose above mediocrity or laid any claim to a distinctive character.
We have to think of a Glasgow entirely divested of its stately warehouses and clubs ; of its spacious banks and insurance offices; of its vast hotels and railway stations ; of its board schools and art galleries. George Square was but a grass-grown enclosure, unadorned by Merchants' House, General Post Office, or Municipal Buildings, and Gilmorehill was uncrowned by a palatial University. No vision of a Christian Institute, a St. Andrew's Hall, or a People's Palace had as yet dawned upon merchant prince or city architect, and the need of a Free Church College, now so conspicuous from afar, had not, of course, arisen. There was no network of telephone wires overhead, there were no deep shadows projected on the pavement by electric lamps, there were no Cluthas on the river, and no bicycles on the street. For Underground Railways and District Subway we had half a century to wait. Instead of ubiquitous half- penny tramcars, the citizens had to content themselves with an infrequent service of lum- bering omnibuses, straw-bottomed and tartan-
Glasgow in 1843 5
painted, at twopence a head. Within a mile and a half of the Exchange a couple of toll- bars had to be reckoned with, and the Herald made Its appearance but twice a week, In a single sheet, at the cost of fourpence- halfpenny. It is true that the noble river was ever in our midst, giving direction to the leading thoroughfares, and suggesting mighty possibilities to prophetic eyes, but the capacious docks of Kingston and Stobcross were non- existent, even ship-building yards were quite unobtrusive, and traditions of salmon fishing still lingered among frequenters of the Broomie- law and denizens of WIndmillcroft.
The area covered by the city was insigni- ficant when compared with that occupied by the greater Glasgow of to-day. Eastward, westward, northward, southward, we have ever since extended, till ancient landmarks have become obliterated, and the cry Is still for annexation. Perhaps the best way to form some accurate Idea of the municipal limitations of those days is to examine for ourselves a reliable map of the period, such as Is fortun- ately extant in that drawn by George Martin, surveyor, and dedicated to James Campbell,
6 Free St. Matthew's
Esquire, the Honourable the Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow in 1S42. Let us then unfurl the dusty roll, and take a rapid glance at its bearinofs.
The South side, we find, was mainly re- presented by that oldest portion which still rejoices in the mysterious designation of Gor- bals, though Tradeston, Hutchesontown, and Kingston, were just beginning to spring up around it. Crossbill, Govanhill, Kinninor Park, and Plantation were for the most part under cultivation, and the sparse population re- sponded to Sabbath bells by a weekly pilgrim- age Clydewards. along the flowery banks of a burn. Pollokshields consisted of a few isolated houses, visited occasionally by a baker's van, but otherwise unacquainted with the resources of civilization, and far beyond the scope of police protection. Even the specula- tive builder was fain to confine his operations within such reasonably extended boundaries as Wellington Street, Cumberland Street, and West Street.
Turning to the north side of the river we find that St. George's Cross marked a very extreme limit in a westerlv direction, and,
Glasgow in 1843 7
in its vicinity, a recently erected church had just received the name of St. George's in the Fields. Beyond the Cross, New City Road and Great Western Road stretched right into the countr}-. while Woodlands Road mean- dered pleasantly between hedgerows. It is pathetic to observe, faintly outlined on the map, ground-plans of attractive terraces, gar- dens, and carriage drives, which were never destined to be realized, and where now stand smoky foundries or ungainly tenements. Down by the river a dock is sketched, cap- able of accommodating so many ships of 300 tons each ! Bath Street did not extend farther west than Pitt Street, which was then being opened up. From a sunny slope on the north side of Sauchiehall Street, a line of stately mansions looked out upon goodly orchards, the view being quite unobstructed beyond Douglas Street. The Crescents were in process of leisurely formation. Hillhead was as yet but an embryo suburb. Away to the north and west, the great residential estates of Kelvinside, Kelvinbank, Kelvin- grove, Gilmorehill, Yorkhill, Overnewton, Burnbank. Sandyford, Woodside. Woodlands.
8 Free St. Matthew's
and Claremont had not been broken In upon. St. Matthew's Parish Church, in the crook of lower North Street, occupied ecclesiastically the pioneer position westwards, and few build- ings intervened between it and the rural village of Partick, which then rejoiced in its solitary constable, and the picturesque ruins of a castle.
According to the census of 1841, the popu- lation within the municipal boundaries stood at 255,650. To-day it is estimated at 705,000, or, if the closely contiguous suburbs be in- cluded, at 130,000 more. At the former date, thanks to the persuasive eloquence of Dr. Chalmers, seconded by the active beneficence of William Collins, William Campbell, and others, Glasgow was better off than she had ever previously been in the matter of church accommodation ; yet the city and environs were then provided with but 75 Presbyterian places of worship as against the 240 of to-day. If, however, we are struck by the remarkable increase during the past half- century, another singular fact simultaneously arrests attention. Of the smaller number, it appears that two-thirds were connected with
Glasgow in 1843 9
the State, while of the larger, only one-third remain in that relation. The moment we look for an explanation, we are brought face to face with the ever-memorable Disruption.
On the eighteenth day of May, 1843, as every Scotsman knows, nearly five hundred ministers voluntarily withdrew from the cher- ished associations of the Established Church, throwing up status and emolument for con- science' sake. In this heart-stirring movement, so little understood by the governing powers of the day, the ministers were warmly backed up by large sections of their congregations, and in many cases where they hesitated to lead, the people took action for themselves. In Glasgow the tide of generous enthusiasm for spiritual independence swept over the city like a mighty flood, and within six months no fewer than thirty new congregations had been organized, twenty-three of these con- tinuing to enjoy the ministrations of former parish ministers.
As might be expected, a very serious diffi- culty at once arose in providing convenient places of worship for so many homeless flocks. While some of them, like St. Peter's,
lo Free St. Matthew's
St. Stephen's, St. Matthew's, and St. Mark's were soon able even to improve on former edifices and sites, others were compelled to build where they could, and had long to rest content with indifferent accommodation. And so it came to pass that the Tron, St. Andrew's, St. David's, and St. Paul's got massed in line on the plateau of Stirling Road, while St. Peter's, St. Enoch's, Anderston, Hope Street, and Duke Street clustered together in the hollow of Blyths- wood Holm.
From this early and unavoidable dislocation of parish boundaries, we seem to have got somewhat easily reconciled to the present anomalies of Free Church nomenclature. Thus, the Place which once knew undivided St. George's, has long ceased to be even within call. St. Enoch's flourishes on the Kelvin, far from its Sqttare root. St. David's has thrice withdrawn farther and farther from the sound of the Ra^nshorn. St. Andrew's is no lonofer seen in association with the Cross \ and even the High Church has ex- changed the murky banks of the Molendinar for the clearer atmosphere of Dowanhill.
Glasgow in 1843 n
Duke Street Church is now in Mains Street, and Hope Street in Ewing Place ; Anderston must be looked for in Hillhead, Hutcheson- town in Govanhill, Stockwell in Pollokshields, and the Wynd in South Gorbals.
Were anything needed to show the quality of the men, who in these modern days were called upon to suffer "for Christ, His crown, and covenant," it would suffice to recount the names of the ''mighties" who presided over the congregations thus incidentally referred to, but we prefer to subjoin the entire list of those who, from the old Presbytery of Glasgow, cast in their lot with the Church of Scotland F^'-ee, adding by anticipation the University degrees by which they were lat- terly distinguished and best known. It is as follows :
Alexander N. Somerville, D.D., Anderston, Died 1889
Alexander Wilson, Bridgeton, - - Died 1891
Robert Reid, Chalmers, - - Died 1893
John Cochrane, Cumbernauld, - - Died 1869
Walter M'Gillivray, D.D., Hope Street, Died 1880
Alexander S. Patterson, D.D., Hutchesontown, Died 1885
William Burns, D.D., Kilsyth, - - Died 1859
John Lyon, Kilsyth, - - - Died 1889
James Gibson, D.D., Kingston, - Died 187 1
12 Free St. Matthew's
Jonathan R. Anderson, Knox's, - Died 1859
Thomas Duncan, Kirkintilloch, - - Died 1861
Adam Forman, Kirkintilloch, - - Died 1843,
James Macbeth, Laurieston, - - Died
David Menzies, Martyrs', - - Died 1877
Robert M'N. Wilson, Maryhill, - - Died 1874
Hugh Mackay, Milton, - - - Died 1873
Michael Willis, D.D., Renfield, - Died 1879
James Munro, Rutherglen, - - Died 1884
Nathaniel Paterson, D.D., St. Andrew's, Died 187 1
James Henderson, D.D., St. Enoch's, - Died 1874
John G. Lorimer, LL.D., St. David's, - Died 1868
John Smyth, D.D., St. George's, - Died i860
Thomas Brown, D.D., St. John's, - Died 1847
John Forbes, D.D., St. Paul's, - - Died 1874
William Arnot, St. Peter's, - - Died 1875
Andrew King, D.D., St. Stephen's, - Died 1874
Joseph Somerville, St. Thomas's, - Died 1844
John Thomson, Shettleston, - - Died 187 1
Peter Currie, Stockwell, - - Died 1859
Robert Buchanan, D.D., Tron, - - Died 1875
James M'Kinlay, Wellpark, - - Died 1876
Of these no fewer than six, — the Rev. Drs. Brown, Buchanan, Henderson, Paterson, Smyth, and Somerville, — were afterwards called to occupy the Moderator's chair in the General Assembly. To ourselves it is specially interesting that two, — Rev. Messrs. Anderson and Currie, — are represented in the Session of Free St. Matthew's by sons,
Glasgow in 1843 ^3
who have long been valued elders. Dr. Gibson also, when appointed professor in the Free Church College, attached himself to the congregation.
As the eye travels down the column, what gracious memories are recalled! How nobly in after years did as many as were spared to the city, stand shoulder to shoulder in the van of every social, philanthropic, and re- ligious movement for a whole generation ! Now all rest from their labours, and their works follow them ; but multitudes are alive and remain, to whom the dignified presence, the cultured conversation, the large-hearted hospitality, the fatherly interest, the spiritual solicitude of this or that one of the number are amongst their most cherished and sacred recollections.
We are sorry to miss from this honourable roll the name of the minister of St. Matthew's parish. The Rev. Peter M'Morland, — suc- cessor of Edward Irving in Regent Square, London, — had been translated to Glasgow in 1839. He was a diligent pastor, and a good, though not brilliant preacher. With sympathies decidedly evangelical, he seems to have been
14 Free St. Matthew's
sorely perplexed as to the path of duty in the difficult circumstances which so soon con- fronted him. When the crisis came, he did not see his way to stand upon the Claim of Right ; but that some of his office-bearers and people were of a different mind, the succeeding chapter will show.
II
Founding of Free St. Matthew's
What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord hath founded Zion."
Isaiah xiv. 32.
II
Founding of
Free St. Matthew's
TT is no part of our present purpose to trace the story of the '* Ten Years' Conflict." That has been told and retold in many a glowing page, with which our readers are doubtless familiar. It should be kept in mind, however, that the ferment created by the burning questions then agitating Scotland, reached a climax in the spring of 1843, when it became evident that decisive action was imperative and imminent. A sense of un- certainty as to the ultimate outcome of events took possession of men's minds. It was seen that some of those who had talked most loudly against the reckless encroachments of the civil power, were wavering as to the
1 8 Free St. Matthew's
attitude they should assume. Others had all along judged it prudent not to commit them- selves. But it was even more abundantly- evident that many who had hitherto been serious observers only, were silently preparing to quit themselves like men.
The feeling prevalent in old St. Matthew's has been faithfully preserved in an interesting narrative, by four elders, prefixed to the first session minute-book of Free St. Matthew's. ''In the month of April," they say, *'we became more and more disturbed on con- sidering our position in reference to the proceedings of the evangelical party in the church. Mr. M'Morland, our minister, had kept back from any decided declaration of his views in regard to the approaching disruption, and it seemed more certain every day that he would adhere to the moderate party, at least to that party which was prepared to accept the emoluments offered by the State, on the footing that it will submit to compul- sion by the patrons and civil tribunals in the ordination of ministers and the performance of their spiritual acts."
The admirable men whom Providence
Founding of Free St. Matthew's 19
brought to the front, in the delicate situation thus created, were :
1. Mr. Allan Buchanan, of George Buchanan & Sons, calenderers, Candleriggs, residing in Woodside Place, and uncle of the present Dr. George Buchanan, the distinguished Pro- fessor of Surgery in Glasgow University. He had joined the congregation a few years before from St. John's, where his brother remained a leading office-bearer, and was admitted an elder in 1840.
2. Mr. David Stow, of Stow, Wilson & Co., merchants and manufacturers, Buchanan Street, residingr in one of the laro-e detached houses on the north side of Sauchiehall Street. He had long been a prominent educationist in the city, and a trusted adviser of the Government in such matters. His name had become specially identified with the system of infant schools, and with the Normal Seminary, the first of its kind in Great Britain, which he founded. He was also the author of several publications on his favourite themes, one of which, a pretty bulky volume, ran through eleven editions. He had been one of Dr. Chalmers's original elders in St. John's,
20 Free St. Matthew's
and continued to correspond with him on the subject of Sabbath schools, after the Doctors removal to St. Andrews. He was admitted an elder of St. Matthew's in 1842.
3. Mr. James Keyden, of Strang, Yuille & Keyden, writers, St. George's Place, residing in Newton Place. He was at the head of a firm, still honourably known in the profession, and was ordained an elder in 1840.
4. Mr. Peter Lawson, afterwards of Dron & Lawson, engineers, Anderston, residing in North Street. He was a plain hard working man, but a grand specimen of the good Scottish elder, and on him, in after days. Dr. Miller peculiarly relied. He was ordained in 1841.
The first was pre-eminently a man of action, the second a man of ideas, the third a man of business, and the fourth, a man of sense. They formed a unique quartette, in many respects the complements of each other, and were the four corner-stones on which Free St. Matthew's at first rested ; the living foundation on which it was reared. After several meetings for prayer among themselves, they requested Mr. M'Morland to convene a meeting of Session, which he apparently pro-
Allan Bucha.\a>
David Stow.
WlLLL^.M CU.M.MING.
Session Clerk, 1846-1876.
^
James Kkvden
Peter Lawsox.
Founding of Free St. Matthew's 21
mised, but omitted to do. They thereupon drew up, and published in the Scottish Guardian the following resolutions :
1. "That it is now fixed and settled as part of the civil law of this country, that ministers continuing in con- nection with the Church of Scotland are bound under civil " penalties to receive and admit all qualified persons who are presented to parishes by the patrons of these parishes, not- withstanding the unanimous and most determined opposi- tion of the people, and although actual force should be required to enable them to complete the act of ordination.
2. "That it has also been fixed and settled as part of our civil law, that the civil courts are supreme in ecclesi- astical matters, so that the qualifications of ministers come in the end to be determined by them alone, and, by means of these two principles of law, patrons are enabled to force in the most unacceptable presentees, and do utter violence to the feelings of the people, and to the consciences of the presbyteries, who are forced to perform these acts of ordination.
3. "That no grosser cases than those of Auchterarder and Marnoch, — in both of which the people were all but unanimously opposed to the presentees, and in one of which the majority of the Presbytery was also conscien- tiously opposed to the settlement, — can again occur; and that the ministers and office-bearers who shall remain in the church upon the positive footing and condition that they approve of forcing in their ministers, and ratify the act of doing so, thereby come under an absolute obliga- tion to commit similar acts when required upon every future occasion.
4. "That although various statements have been made
22 Free St. Matthew's
as to propositions for a modified liberty to the Church of Scotland, all those propositions are based upon an absolute acquiescence by the church in the above-men- tioned settlements, and consequently in the principles upon which they are founded, and that this Session, — at least those members of it who subscribe these resolu- tions,— feel themselves constrained, by a sense of duty, to declare that they do not believe that such settlements and principles are reconcilable with the Word of God, and the mind and will of Christ, the sole King and Head of His Church, in matters spiritual, or that it is, or can be reconciled with their duty to Him, that they should, by continuing in connection with an Estab- lished Church based upon such principles, sanction and consent to them," etc., etc.
This manifesto had no sooner appeared In print, than Mr. M'Morland hastened to summon the desired meeting of Session. The four elders duly attended, handed In their resolutions, and, having seen that they were properly recorded, retired. Their next step was to call a meeting of those members of St. Matthew's who sympathized with their views. This was held In St. Peter's Church, and was addressed by the Rev. Dr. Robert Buchanan and the Rev. William Arnot. At the close, 200 persons gave in their names as adhering to the principles of non-intrusion and spiritual independence.
Founding of Free St. Matthew's 23
On the 6th day of May, the first of a series of meetings for prayer and business was held in a school-room in Bothwell Street. They were sometimes presided over by a neighbouring minister, sometimes by one of the elders, and they seem to have been a source of enjoyment and profit. It is also recorded, with gratitude to God, that " in addition to these, we were enabled to meet together for more private fellowship as a Session, to which we mainly ascribe it, that we have been blessed with a spirit of amity and love among ourselves."
Though comparatively small in numbers, the little band never seems to have doubted that it would one day be formed into a con- gregation, and it is expressly noted that those who composed it felt bound by old associations to remain in St. Matthew's dis- trict. One of their earliest acts was to divide the parish into sections, for each of which collectors were appointed, Mr. Buchanan being treasurer.
Matters progressed pretty rapidly, for under date 24th May, 1843, while the historic As- sembly was still in session, we find it stated
24 Free St. Matthew's
that, considerable subscriptions having been obtained, a committee was appointed to look out for a suitable site, which, after much deliberation, was ultimately fixed upon, in Kent Road, opposite the present St. Andrew's Halls. On the nth October, the foundation stone of a church was laid by Mr. Buchanan, senior elder ; and the Rev. Messrs. Arnot, Scott, and Somerville are mentioned as having been present. The weather was unfortunately so inclement that no address could be delivered to the assembled people.
Building operations were continued through the winter, the small congregation being meantime most kindly accommodated by the minister and people of Free St. Peter's. By April of the following year the first Free St. Matthew's was completed, and the sub- joined account of the opening is taken from the Scottish Gtcardian :
"This church, which has been erected off North Street, near Elmbank Crescent, was opened for public worship on Sabbath, 14th April. The Rev. Mr. Arnot of St. Peter's preached in the forenoon, the Rev. Mr. Brown of St. James's in the afternoon, and the Rev. Mr. Somer- ville of Anderston in the evening. The church is built in the Gothic style, combining simplicity and neatness
Founding of Free St. Matthew's 25
with economy and comfort. The cost of the building is about ;^i20o, and the number of sittings a little under 900. The church is surmounted with a small spire, fur- nished with a bell, the first that has been rung in Glasgow belonging to the Free Church. The church is a great ornament to the neighbourhood, in which it was very much wanted, being about half a mile from any other Free Church."
This may be recognized by some as the Free West Church of to-day. At the close of the first financial year, in March, 1844, Mr. Buchanan, the treasurer, was able to announce that ^163 4s. yd. had been re- mitted to Edinburgh for the Sustentation Fund, and that ;^6oo i8s. 4d. had been received towards the Building Fund.
All this was encouraging in a high degree, but as yet little progress had been made towards securing the services of a suitable pastor. Not that the good elders had been inert in the matter; far from it. ''We turned our eyes," they write, ''in various directions; but for a long time in vain. At one period we had great hopes that the Rev. Mr. Welsh of Liverpool might have accepted our call, and he was much inclined to do so, but Providence threw difficulties in our way, and
26 Free St. Matthew's
we were restrained from what we desired. His discourse on the sufferings and atone- ment of Christ made a very deep impression on the congregation, and there was but one mind as to his being a man of God and a valuable pastor. We opened communication with various other ministers with the view of calling, such as Mr. Chalmers of Dailly, Mr. Agnew, and others, but from one cause and another we did not succeed in getting those whom we would have called, and in other cases the people did not proceed to call the ministers we had in view."
In the course of this anxious time Dr. Candlish had thrown out the suggestion that perhaps Mr. Samuel Miller of Monifieth might prove available. No time was lost in following up this clue, but not the slightest encouragement was met with, and the quest had to be abandoned.
It was not very long, however, before two circumstances occurred which unexpectedly changed the aspect of affairs. A rumour got abroad that Mr. Miller was on the point of receiving another call from a Manchester con- gregation, and also that the biting spring
Founding of Free St. Matthew's 27
winds of the East Coast were so affecting him, that the doctor had actually urged a permanent escape from their severity. Nego- tiations were immediately reopened, and Mr. Miller's reply was this time to the effect that, while personally he had no wish whatever to leave Monifieth, yet, as the doctor had ad- vised a change, and as two calls were now before him, he intended to leave the whole matter in the hands of his Presbytery. Though it does not appear that the people of St. Matthew's were particularly sanguine of success, they appointed commissioners to prosecute their interests before that court.
The following brief account of the proceed- ings is from the Witness of 9th October, 1 844.
" The Free Church Presbytery of Dundee met at Moni- fieth on the 3rd instant, to take up the competing calls to the Rev. Samuel Miller from Manchester and Free St. Matthew's Church, Glasgow. There appeared at the bar of the Presbytery the Rev. William Wilson of Carmylie and Mr. Gait of Manchester; and the Rev. James Gibson, Mr. Allan Buchanan, and Mr. James Keyden from the Session, with Messrs. Wingate and Mirrlees, jun., from the congregation of St. Matthew's. Parties were fully heard and removed, when it was moved by Rev. James Miller of Monikie (father of our future minister), seconded by Rev. D. B. Mellis of Tealing, that Mr. Miller be translated to
28 Free St. Matthew's
the charge of the congregation of Free St. Matthew's, Glasgow. The motion was agreed to without a vote. We understand that Mr. Miller is to dispense the sacrament to the congregation of Free St. Matthew's at the approaching communion."
On the 25th of October, 1844, Mr. Miller was duly inducted to his new pastoral charge by the Presbytery of Glasgow, the Rev. Mr. Findlay of Camlachie presiding, and on the next day he was introduced to his people by the Rev. John Roxburgh, of Dundee, who was himself shortly afterwards to be trans- ferred to this city. On the following Sabbath, Mr. Miller was assisted at the communion by his father, preaching his own first sermon as minister of St. Matthew's from the words : *'0 my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice ; for sweet is thy voice, and thy counte- nance is comely." And thus, to quote the concluding words of the narrative already re- ferred to, '' by the good providence of God, our prayers were answered, and a stated pastor, acceptable to the congregation, was settled among us."
Ill
Early Years of Dr. Miller's Ministry. 1844-50
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace ; . . . that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth."
Isaiah hi. 7.
Ill
Early Years of Dr. Miller's Ministry. 1 844-5 ^
IVyrR. MILLER, who, at the time of his coming to Glasgow, had reached his thirty-fourth year, was, as we have seen, a son of the manse. His early education had been acquired under the paternal roof, in company with three or four gentlemen's sons, who boarded in the family, and shared with him the advantage of a private tutor. When barely fourteen he was considered fit for St. Andrews University, which he accord- ingly entered, in the same year that Dr. Chalmers joined its professoriate. Young Miller had been commended to the kindly interest of this king among men, and it is not difficult to believe that the results
32 Free St. Matthew's
of such an introduction proved deep and lasting.
In recalling those days long afterwards, Dr. Miller himself takes us behind the scenes. "During my second winter," he says, "four of us met regularly in Dr. Chalmers' house on Sabbath evenings, when he instructed us and dealt with our souls as if we had been his own children." Of a subsequent session, when one and another had gained admission to this family gathering, until the professor's large dining-room was crammed with students, he continues : "His instructions now became a kind of prelection to silent auditors on the leading topics of Christian doctrine and personal religion. Very simple and conversa- tional they were, but all the more valuable on that account. We felt that we learned more of really Christian ethics at these meetings than from all his class-room lectures on Moral Philosophy."
Having passed through the usual college curriculum, Mr. Miller was licensed as a preacher in 1832, and in September, 1835, was ordained to the small parish of Moni- fieth in Forfarshire, not far distant from
Dr. Miller's Ministry 33
his father's manse. In 1840 he married Thomasina, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Ire- land of North Leith, a gentleman who used jocularly to describe himself as ''the oldest colleague in the Church," he having served in that capacity for twenty-four and a half years as junior to Rev. Dr. Johnstone. Mrs. Miller at once proved a valuable helpmeet in her husband's rural labours, giving earnest of the powerful influence she was soon to exercise in all the missionary and benev- olent enterprises of a great city congregation. Amid these happy surroundings the future minister of St. Matthew's carried on his work, beloved by the whole country-side, and adding daily to his own equipment, till the circum- stances arose which led to his removal to Glasgow in 1844.
From the pen of Dr. Thomas Smith we have a sketch of Mr. Miller, which even those who can only recall his later appearance in the pulpit, will regard as true to life. " From the first," he says, " it was manifest that his ministry was to be of no ordinary kind. With a splendid physique, and a graceful because unaffected delivery, with a
34 Free St. Matthew's
mind originally strong and admirably culti- vated, with a heart overflowing with love to God and love to man, and not inexperienced in the workings of the Gospel and the Spirit of God upon the affections, emotions, and will, he went among his people in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. He had a dignity that made his kindliness more attractive, and a kindliness that rendered his dignity all the more imposing. Apart from his kindliness, his dignity might have been taken for pride. Apart from his dignity, his kindness might have been regarded as mere good-nature. So admirably were the two qualities combined in him, that no one was likely to fall into either mistake, or if any one did, it was sure to be rectified on a little closer acquaintance. Deeply impressed with a sense of the importance of his office, and of the weight of his responsibility, his pre- paration for the pulpit was most laborious. But it was a labour of love. At first his sermons were carefully composed and fully written. Latterly he was one of the best of extemporaneous preachers."
Mr. Miller had no sooner settled in his
Dr. Miller's Ministry 35
new sphere, than he set himself with courage and assiduity to the great task of building up a powerful congregation in the west end of Glasgow, which might speedily be able to help others. The Kirk-session was convened for the week following his induction, and the followino- interesting^ extract is from its minute, of date 30th October, 1844:
" At this the first recorded meeting of Free St. Matthew's Session, the members of the court are — the Rev. Samuel Miller, minister, with Messrs. David Stow, Allan Buchanan, James Keyden, and Peter Lawson, elders. These elders have already constituted a Kirk-session (though no minutes have been kept), under the moderatorship of the Rev. Wm. Arnot of St. Peter's, by appointment of the Pres- bytery. There have been no deacons in the congregation up to this date. Mr. Keyden is now unanimously appointed Session-clerk, and has entered upon the duties of the office."
Able as were the men here enumerated, it is obvious that they could not long continue to discharge alone the whole of the duties devolving on the office-bearers of a growing congregation. One of their earliest acts there- fore was to call for an addition to their number, as well as for such a staff of deacons as would be able to cope with the financial details incident to a church consti-
Z6 Free St. Matthew's
tuted like our own. By the end of the year all these arrangements had been completed, and attention could be freely directed to ;the needs of the poorer district adjacent to the church.
Mission and Sabbath School work have ever been conspicuous features in the life of St. Matthew's, and it is specially interesting to note their first beginnings. As early as May, 1845, we find a movement among the ladies of the congregation to set on foot a ''School of Industry" in Anderston, • no fewer than fourteen backing up pecuniary aid by the still more valuable offer of personal help as visitors. A female teacher was appointed at a salary of £2^ per annum, with free house, the Deacons' Court granting use of the school-room behind the church till other accommodation could be found.
In the autumn of 1846 a farther step was taken by the opening of a day school in rented premises, under the charge of Mr. Robertson, teacher, and seventy children were very soon reported as in attendance. A Sabbath school was added in the following year. It met in the same place, and was
Dr. Miller's Ministry zi
superintended by volunteer teachers from the congregation, who formed themselves into the original '' Sabbath School Society," which has since had such a long and honourable career under the wise rules which the Session then drew up for its guidance.
The great need for ordinary education was keenly felt by Christian men in those days, when as yet the nation had not awaked to its responsibility in the matter, and the eager use made of such opportunities as were pro- vided soon led to the adoption of more thorough-going measures than had at first been contemplated. Along with Mr. David Stow other members of Session strongly sympathized with this benevolent enterprise. Mr. Allan Buchanan in particular never rested till a site had been secured, on the north side of Main Street, Anderston, for permanent mission premises. He collected subscriptions sufficient, with a Government grant, to permit the erection of what soon became known as '' Free St. Matthew's School." This building long continued to be the centre of aggressive operations for the spiritual and temporal good of the district, and the mention of it even
3S Free St. Matthew's
now recalls hallowed associations to many. On the last Sabbath of 1847 it was opened as a preaching station by Mr. Miller, and on the Monday following as a day school, on which occasion the Revs. Dr. James Hen- derson and William Arnot attended as a deputation of Presbytery, and addressed the children.
For about a year prior to this, Sabbath services had been held in the temporary school-room for the benefit of the non-church- going. They had been started by four students attending the Free Church College, but these gentlemen were unable to continue their help beyond the month of April. So encouraging, however, had this branch of the work become that the Session felt it could not be given up, and accordingly appointed the moderator and Mr. Buchanan a com- mittee to look out for a suitable agent to carry it on for the future. It was not long before they were in a position to recommend for the post Mr. Allan M'Vean, a man with whose spirit and qualifications they were well satisfied. It was at the same time intimated that the Deacons' Court had resolved to pro-
Dr. Miller's Ministry 39
vide a salary of ;^I5 per half year for a catechlst or missionary. The Kirk-session ''thereupon resolved to appoint Mr. M'Vean to this work, and he is hereby so appointed accordingly, it being left to the moderator to give him instructions as to his duties, and generally to superintend the performance of them."
This was the first of a long series of appointments which have followed, but to which individually we shall not be able to refer. The missionary assistants so chosen were sometimes students or laymen, but more generally probationers, and they discharged varying functions, according as the work laid upon them was confined to the mission dis- trict, or included a share of congregational duty. It will be seen from the lists, which we give at the end, how many of these subsequently filled important spheres ; nor can it be doubted that the training received in St. Matthew's both recommended and fitted them for the greater life-work to which they were called.
While Christian activities were multiplying at the mission, it must not be supposed
40 Free St. Matthew's
that the increasing body of young people connected with the church itself were over- looked. In 1848, we find the Session anxiously considering the propriety of open- ing a Sabbath school for their benefit ; and a committee was appointed to make arrangements. Early in the following year, Mr. Nielson was able to report that a commencement had already been made with an attendance of twenty-five. The hour of meeting was 9.30 a.m. In these various ways substantial beginnings of strenuous work were effected — an earnest of wonderful developments yet to follow both at church and mission.
A reference to the Communion Roll of this period not only shows the large numbers who from the first flocked to Mr. Miller's ministry, but reveals the curious variety of elements which went to form the groundwork of St. Matthew's. Thus, if we take the entry prior to the autumn communion of 1847, we find that it contains no fewer than 75 names, and includes certificates from Abbots- hall, Arbroath, Bothwell, Brechin, Bridge-of- Allan, Bridge-of-Weir, Broughton, Campbel- town, Corstorphine, Crieff, Doune, Dundee,
Dr. Miller's Ministry 41
Edinburgh, Govan, Greenock, Haddington, Helensburgh, Ireland, Johnstone, Kenmore, Kilmaurs, Kirkintilloch, Kirkmichael, Liver- pool, Logierait, Manchester, Monifieth, New- ton-on-Ayr, Partick, Perth, Renfrew, Troon, besides some from other city congregations of various denominations. These numerous accessions by certificate were quickly followed by large additions of young communicants, and it is worthy of note in passing, with what care Mr. Miller dealt with these, usu- ally expecting also a report from the elder of the district to which they belonged. As the natural consequence of such expansion, re- peated elections of elders and deacons had to be called for, and no fewer than four ordinations to each office took place during the short period we are now considering.
It very soon became evident that the church in Kent Road, which had so lately called forth the plaudits of the Scottish Gtmrdian, was utterly inadequate for the re- quirements of the congregation. Within a year of Mr. Miller's settlement, the Deacons' Court had to pass a resolution to let sittings only to such as were without other place of
42 Free St. Matthew's
worship, and to reserve certain pews exclu- sively for those who were aged, infirm, or dull of hearing. In December, 1845, ^^^ clerk reported "that the remaining seats had been let to stated heare7^s, all those who had sittings in other churches, and who used St. Matthew's merely as a convenience, being excluded." The pressure of new applications had been so great, however, that the Deacons had been unable to adhere to their own resolution as to reserving seats, but "hoped, by next term, when the remainder of the irregular sitters leave the church, to be in a position to reserve pews for those persons whose infirmities required their being near the pulpit." ,In 1848 the seat-letting com- mittee again reported that very many appli- cants had been disappointed, in consideration whereof it was resolved " to open the false door from the church into the school-room, which would accommodate from fifty to sixty additional sitters."
In these circumstances it is small wonder that the question of a new church became one of urgent importance. Mr. Buchanan again figures as the untiring convener of a
Dr. Miller's Ministry 45
committee appointed to take prompt action, and in December, 1849, he was able to report its unanimous opinion in favour of " a site on the proposed continuation of Bath Street, and on the south side of that street, facing the centre of the new street which is being opened up from Sauchiehall Street, and right opposite the west corner of Albany Place." This last item in the definition is a manifest allusion to the proximity of Mr. Miller's own residence, which was then at No. 12 Albany Place, looking almost directly down Newton Street, and now covered by Charing Cross Mansions.
Designs were forthwith submitted by seven architects, and after due consideration that of Messrs. Black & Salmon was selected. The estimated cost came to ^5750, exclusive of site, for which ^1523 had already been paid, being at the rate of 23s. per square yard.
By March, 1850, ^^3500 of this had been subscribed, while it was assumed that a further ^1200 might fairly be expected from the sale of the old church. " Your com- mittee are confident," so runs their report.
44 Free St. Matthew's
''that before the end of hve years (over which subscriptions extend) all the debt will be liquidated. . . . Not more than seven years ago only 6^ members joined them- selves together as a congregation here, and now see how we have increased ! (to 740). , . . Surely the building of a new church is not so arduous an undertaking as some imagine, with such prospects as we have before us now." Little did the sanguine convener foresee that before all was done the expenditure would mount up to nearly ^13,500, or that, with accumulated interest, the burden would not be entirely removed for thirty years to come.
No time was now lost in proceeding with the work, and on the seventh day of August the foundation stone was happily laid. The following documents, contained in a sealed bottle, were deposited in it :
1. Assembly papers with reference to new church.
2. Names of Members of Session and Deacons' Court.
3. Names of Members of Finance and Building Com-
mittees.
4. Names of Architects, Clerk of Works, and Trades-
men. K. Extracts from relative Minutes of Deacons' Court.
Dr. Miller's Ministry 45
6. Authoritative exposition of Free Church principles,
as contained in The Pastoral Address, Claim of Right, Protest, Act of Separation, and Deed of Demission.
7. Catechism on the Principles and Constitution of the
Free Church of Scotland.
8. Home and Foreign Record^ and Children's Missionary
Record of the Free Church of Scotland for August, 1850.
9. Free Church Magazine for August, 1850.
10. Copy of Scottish Guardian for 6th August, and
copies of Witness and Daily Mail for 7th August, 1850.
11. Statement on Post Office question by Sabbath
Alliance.
12. Medal of the late Rev. Dr. Chalmers, commemorative
of the Disruption.
A Study of the records of the time im- presses one with the conviction that this was the heroic age of deacons' courts. While these heavy drafts were being made in con- nection with local church and school building, constant appeals were likewise coming in from Dr. Buchanan as to the Sustentation Fund and new Normal Seminary ; from Dr. Guthrie as to the Manse Fund ; from Dr. Candlish as to the Education Fund ; from Dr. James Buchanan as to the Foreign Mission Building Fund ; from Dr. Begg as to the
46 Free St. Matthew's
General Building Fund ; besides from many other quarters. To these the court always lent a willing ear, and usually extended a generous hand. Before the congregation of St. Mat- thew's attended to their own comfort in the matter of a new church, they were actually contributing between ^looo and ^1200 to the general Sustentation Fund, and were thus practically maintaining a gospel ministry in seven or eight less favoured localities. We do not record this by way of congregational glorification, or in forgetfulness of the fact that St. Matthew's then occupied an alto- gether exceptional position in the expanding metropolis of the west, but rather as an actual and vivid illustration of obedience to certain scriptural injunctions, more heartily realized, perhaps, in those days than in our own. " Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ " (Gal. vi. 2). " Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others " (Phil. ii. 4).
It may be a fitting conclusion to this chap- ter if we here mention that it was in July, 1848, that Mr. Miller received the degree
Dr. Miller's Ministry 47
of D.D. from Princeton College, America. The honour came unexpectedly, and was appropriately conveyed to him by letter from another Samuel Miller, D.D., then an octo- genarian professor in that institution, who had all alons: manifested a keen interest in the Free Church movement. It reached and cheered him at a time when he was tem- porarily laid aside by illness, and it need hardly be said that a wide circle beyond his own congregation rejoiced in the distinction thus worthily conferred.
IV
Dr. Miller's Ministry 1851-65
"When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory."
Psalm cii. i6.
IV
Dr. Miller's Ministry 1851-65
npHE 1 2th of October, 1851, was a day of gladness of heart to the people of St. Matthew's. On that autumn morning — just seven years from the coming of Dr. Miller — their second temple was solemnly dedicated. The zealous anxiety of the office-bearers was at length rewarded, and the dream of years was realized. A brief minute, dated 22nd October, runs as follows: ''The Session, grateful to Almighty God for all the way by which He has led them, and that by His good hand upon them, the congregation have been enabled to erect for themselves a more commodious place of worship, consider it proper to put on record at this place that the new church was opened
52 Free St. Matthew's
for divine worship on the twelfth day of this month." The following account of the memor- able services is from the Scottish Guardian:
OPENING OF FREE ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.
"The new church, erected by the congregation of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller, and situated in the new prolonga- tion of Bath Street, fronting Newton Street, Sauchiehall Road, was opened for public worship on Sabbath last. The services were conducted, in the forenoon by the Rev. Dr. Duff (Moderator of the General Assembly), in the afternoon by Rev. Dr. Miller, and in the evening by Rev. Dr. Buchanan. All the discourses were of a very impressive description, and were attended by crowded audiences. The collection at the three diets amounts to the munificent sum of ;£752 I OS. This edifice is the most graceful of our Free Church structures in Glasgow. The style of architecture is decorated English, after designs by Messrs. Black & Salmon. The flanks of the church are finished with embattled parapets and buttresses, and the windows are embellished with elaborate stone tracery. The pulpit window is 28 feet high by 12 J feet wide, and the glass of all the windows has been stained in a style of great taste and beauty by Mr. Ballantyne of Edinburgh. The front of the church is ornamented with a tower terminating in a spire, which rises to a height of 200 feet, being consequently the highest spire in Glasgow, with the ex- ception of that of the Cathedral. The tower is furnished with richly crocketed pinnacles, and from the general variety of surface, and beauty of outline, the effect of light and shade is very beautiful. The interior has a light and airy appearance, and is well ventilated. We congratulate
Church.
Dr. Miller's Ministry 53
this highly respectable and influential congregation on the erection of an edifice so much better suited to their comfort- and accommodation than the one they have left, and which adds an architectural ornament to the west end of the city. A fine toned bell has been placed in the tower, and is to be accompanied by a clock, both of which will prove a public benefit to that rapidly improving neighbourhood."
The collection was a remarkable one for those or any other days, and, with the small deduction of £"] los. for ordinary expenses, the entire sum was devoted to the Building Fund.
This thing, not having been done in a corner, created considerable talk over the country, and was not without its lesson and stimulus. Dr. Duff had a story of how an Episcopalian congregation in England, com- prising fifteen hundred worshippers, used effu- sively to welcome the annual deputation from the Church Missionary Society, and how after the customary sermons had been preached, they were wont to announce that the '' handsome " sum of £() or ^7 had been taken up. When some of those well-to-do people were shown the paragraph stating that ^752 had been got at a Glasgow Free Church collection they
54 Free St. Matthew's
simply refused to believe it, insisting that the printer had added an extra figure at the be- ginning or end ; it must be either £']^ or ^52, thouo^h both seemed alike incredible.
Yet this was by no means the record col- lection of those times. When Free St. John's was opened in 1845, the sum of £iJ7^ 14s. ii|d. was put into the plate. On that occa- sion Dr. Chalmers was the preacher, and, as it turned out, it was also his last appearance in a Glasgow pulpit. His texts were, "Take heed what ye hear," and " Take heed how ye hear." Dr. Merle d'Aubigne, happening to be of the audience, has thus recorded his impressions in a volume entitled Recollections of a Swiss Minister. '' The crowds," he says, ''gathered from all quarters, but you can have no idea of the order and the devotion of the assembly. On leaving the church, Chalmers took my arm, and we retired together. It was with difficulty we could make our way along. The 40,000 francs thrown into the plate by Christians, who to build this church had already taxed themselves extraordinarily, is a characteristic feature of the Free Church of Scotland."
Dr. Miller's Ministry 55
Men's hearts had not till then been really- opened to the needs of the world, or to a sense of Individual responsibility, even rn the poor measure of our own day. As Dr. Thomas Brown truly says, '* The fountain of Christian liberality needed to be broken up, and, in the providence of God, this was what the Disruption was sent to do. Under the quickening power of the Spirit of God, men s hearts were enlarged, and they began to give of their substance as they never gave before. The first outburst of this liberality was won- derful ; but more wonderful is the fact, that it proved to be no temporary convulsive effort. The generous Impulse became a habit."
Such a habit was indeed very necessary In the case of St. Matthew's, for what with simul- taneous outlay on church and school, inevit- able under-estimates, and accumulating Interest, debt had already assumed alarming proportions. In the year 1852 this untoward item stood in the treasurer's books at ^11,444. Part had, no doubt, been subscribed, and was being paid by Instalments, but the greater portion was quite unprovided for. It was nevertheless strongly felt by the large-hearted office-bearers that.
56 Free St. Matthew's
while gradual reduction was a duty to be steadily kept in view, the interests of the church at large must not in the meantime be allowed to suffer. In this very year when local burdens were at a maximum, no less a sum than ;^iio8 was remitted to the Central Sustentation Fund. Three years later the sum of £i2>7^ was sent in, and in 1858 this was increased to ^1406. Dr. Miller was all this time content with a modest supplement, while setting an example of generosity by an annual contribution to the Building Fund.
In these brave days patriotic Deacons' Courts thought it a small matter to tax even congregational income, that they might more liberally aid the common good. Perhaps they are now too complacently satisfied if total revenue is on the ascending scale, without sufficiently regarding how it has been raised or how distributed. Is there not some danger of so constantly pressing for increased ordinary collections as to obscure the higher aims of our Christian association, and of so dealing with the commercial aspects of seat-letting as to discourage some from joining whom we ought specially to welcome? There seems
Dr. Miller's Ministry 57
need also that a watchful jealousy should be exercised over the frequency of presentations, the promiscuous sale of tickets by church societies, and the collecting from all and sundry for superfluous congregational luxuries, lest too large a proportion of what has been "laid by in store," as the Lord's portion, should be diverted from worthier objects. It surely remains one of the most important functions of a Deacons' Court, to give wise direction to the liberality of the people, and very specially to secure that the great central Sustentation and Foreign Mission Funds — so ably managed at head- quarters for five and fifty years — shall hold the first place in their hearts. On these two funds depend the very existence and utility of our church, and they unquestionably afford the best channels for effective help from our smaller givers.
From this digression we return to notice the means that were adopted to remove the o^reat incubus of debt resting- on the cono^re- gation. In March, 1853, a special committee reported fresh subscriptions to the amount of ;^352 5, spread over five years. In 1856 the
58 Free St. Matthew's
old church in Kent Road was sold to the Free West congregation, who had for a time rented it, thus bringing in /^ 12,00. Again, early in 1859, ten members offered to make up ;^iooo during the next five years, pro- vided the remaining membership raised the sum of ^1500. This cost an effort, which for a time threatened to be just barely suc- cessful ; but, in November, the Finance Com- mittee reported, ''that the entire sum of ;^i5oo had now been subscribed, fulfilling the condition on which the ^1000 was con- tributed, by ten members, and making in all ;^2 5oo." By March, 1864, the large debt was thus reduced to £28^;^. In that year a fresh movement was inaugurated, £1600 being- subscribed, payable over a couple of years, so that in 1866 we find it had melted to ^1399. Efforts were thereafter considerably relaxed, and, in 1870, the sum of ^880 was still out- standing. Ten years later, owing to adverse circumstances which supervened, this amount had been allowed to increase by a couple of hundred pounds, so that to Dr. Miller it was never given to see his loved St. Matthew's entirely free of debt. That the balance did
Dr. Miller's Ministry 59
not, however, remain indefinitely against the congregation, will be seen from a subsequent chapter.
In December, 1856, the Presbytery of Glas- gow selected three of the elders — Messrs. Andrew Nielson, T. L. Paterson, and John Thomson — to act as assessors in Finnieston church, then being formed into a territorial charge under the ministry of Rev. Andrew A. Bonar of Collace, till such time as a regular Session of its own could be chosen. Mr. Nielson, with the hearty approbation of Dr. Miller, ultimately resolved to remain with the new congregation, and became its first Session-clerk. His experience and zeal were sorely missed at the time, but the generosity of St. Matthew's, in then parting with so valuable an office-bearer, was in later years repaid by the reception into its own Session of a worthy son of this worthy father.
In the anxious endeavour to curtail ex- penditure at the outset, the hall below the church had been left uncompleted. If the homely accommodation it has now for so long afforded still leaves something to be desired, it is not amiss to remember that for
6o Free St. Matthew's
five or six years we had to get along without
anything. The Interesting manner In which
this boon was at length acquired, and the
pleasure with which It was welcomed, are
vividly brought before us In the minute of
Deacons' Court for 9th February, 1857 :
" Mr. Forrester, chairman of committee, invited the Court to inspect the premises below the church and to accept them, now completed, as a gift to the Deacons' Court and congregation. The Court, having made this inspection, unanimously expressed their satisfaction and delight at the substantial and elegant manner in which the work has been accomplished, and their grateful acceptance of the valuable addition thus made to the kirk fabric for the accommodation of the congregation. Dr. Miller, in name of the whole Court, returned thanks to Mr. Forrester, and the young men of whom he has been the organ in all this matter, for the energy and self-sacrificing enterprise with which they have brought their spirited undertaking to so satisfactory a conclusion, at an outlay of £264 i6s. 6d., which has been met and defrayed by their own personal exertions. And farther, the Deacons' Court unanimously resolved thus to record this well-earned tribute of their gratitude in the minutes of this sederunt; and as Mr. Allan, the clerk of Court, has been one of those who have been most forward in this labour of love, they requested the Moderator and Mr. Paul to relieve him from the duty of sounding the praises of himself and his associates by preparing a draft of this minute to be engrossed on the record; — which they hereby have done accordingly."
It appears that, by almost unpardonable
Dr. Miller's Ministry 6i
thoughtlessness, the windows on both sides of the church, as well as at the tower end had, in conformity with some whim of the day, been painted over, with the result described by Elihu of old, that ''men saw not the bright light which was in the clouds." By-and-by, with the added dust of years, it seemed as if a perpetual fog had settled down upon the worshippers. In i860 Mr. T. L. Paterson is reported as complaining, at the Deacons' Court, with a touch of grim humour, that the 'Might was inefficient, making the church so dark and uncomfortable that several parties were likely to leave in consequence, while others, par- ticularly the young, were unwilling to come to such a dark and dismal church." The advice of Mr. Burnet, architect, having been taken, and several experiments having been tried, the obnoxious paint was ordered to be removed by a powerful acid, — at considerable expense.
The Day School at Anderston continued to receive the most conscientious and pains- taking oversight from the office-bearers, and in 1858 we find Mr. Nielson reporting in- creased prosperity, 300 children being then
62 Free St. Matthew's
in attendance. The annual examination had just taken place, when the children acquitted themselves to the satisfaction of the inspectors and of a large number of visitors.
In i860 the Presbytery granted leave to dispense the communion at the Mission, and, on the recommendation of Mr. Christison, mis- sionary, nineteen persons were admitted to membership there, thus forming the original nucleus of what was to be afterwards known as Cranstonhill Free Church. From that date forward the ordinance continued to be celebrated half-yearly in the same place.
In the winter of 1862-63 much distress from scarcity of employment prevailed in the dis- trict, especially among mill-girls. Into the task of relieving this misery Mrs. Miller and a committee of ladies threw themselves with characteristic ardour. Sewing was taught and paid for at the rate of sixpence a day ; and a basin of warm soup (often supplied gratis by Mr. Corbett, of Cooking Depot fame), with a halfpenny worth of bread, was given to as many as possible. At the close of the effort, Mrs. Miller detailed as under how ;^90 voted by the Deacons' Court had been expended, viz. :
Dr. Miller's Ministry 62,
Wages paid to girls, - - - - ^63 4 6
Materials, not otherwise contributed, - 670
Soup tickets, 4 10 6
Bread, 380
Teacher, ------ 880
Balance on hand, - - - - 420
£9^ o o Whereupon the Court requested Mrs. Miller to retain the balance as stated, for behoof of a poor member who had been mentioned.
Meantime the wear and tear of fifteen busy- years had told seriously upon the Mission premises which served so many purposes from Sunday to Saturday, but how to raise the necessary funds to put them in proper order was a question of some difficulty. In May, 1863, however, this was completely solved by- Mr. Allan, who handed in to the Deacons' Court duly receipted accounts for the complete overhaul of the school buildings, amounting to ;^3i9 1 6s., which he had raised entirely by private subscription. It is little wonder that we find this Court awarding a special vote of thanks to the committee for carry- ing out and collecting funds for such a praiseworthy object ; and, farther, expressing their deep obligation to Mr. Allan for the
64 Free St. Matthew's
great personal labour and attention he had bestowed on the work.
The Annual Social Meeting of the congre- gation was a great event In those days. That of 1852, for example — the first after the acquisition of the present church — was held in the City Hall, 1000 persons being present ; and was addressed by Rev. Drs. Miller and Buchanan, Revs. William Arnot and George Wisely, and Professor Miller from Edinburgh. The sum of ;^55 9s. lod. was collected at the door, *' being fully equal to the expenses incurred." It was afterwards generally found more convenient to hold these gatherings either in the church or in the Queen's Rooms.
At an early point in the congregational history, it was felt by many that the service of praise was anything but worthily rendered, and efforts were made from time to time to improve the practice in this respect. As early as 1845 the precentor had to be ''com- municated with on the subject of his In- efficiency." He was rather taken by surprise in the matter, " being quite satisfied with his own performances," but the Deacons' Court,
Dr. Miller's Ministry 65
adhering to their view, proceeded to advertise for another leader. In 1846 the new pre- centor asked the use of a piano for his weekly exercises. He estimated the expense at ;^3 to ;^4, but anticipated great advantage to follow. The minute bears that, "after dis- cussion, the request was granted upon the express condition that the instrument was to be kept in the school-room, and at no time to be brought into the church."
In 1854 a communication was read from Dr. Brown of St. James's on the subject of Congregational Psalmody, asking that repre- sentatives might be chosen to act on a Pres- byterial Committee, whereupon Messrs. Sprunt, Allan, and Church were appointed. In 1855 this committee recommended the formation of district classes for the improvement of psalmody, and the Deacons' Court agreed to allow the use of the church for the north- west district, comprising St. George's, St. Enoch's, St. Stephen's, St. Matthew's, Milton, and Maryhill, ''provided the expense of light- ing, heating, cleaning, and attendance be defrayed by the committee."
In the latter part of 1862, we find the Con-
66 Free St. Matthew's
gregational Psalmody Committee asking that four pews in front of the pulpit be devoted to the accommodation of "a number of the congregation, who have agreed to sit together with the view of assisting the precentor in leadine the music durinor divine service," and early in the following year this petition was also complied with. About the same date a meeting was convened of all in the congre- gation interested in the subject of psalmody, when ''it was agreed, without dissent, to form a class of such as possessed sufficient musical qualification to enable them at once to sing in parts." The class was formed under the tuition of Julius Seligmann, a still surviving professor of the art, and it is specially stated that it was regarded as essential that the precentor should also be present, and co- operate generally in the new departure.
In carrying out even these small changes with the view of promoting harmonious praise, it will be noted how carefully the higher har- mony of the congregation was safeguarded. Were office-bearers always to act in the same spirit — guiding, by all means, yet never an- ticipating, and still less forcing the general
Dr. Miller's Ministry 67
sentiment — how much painful heartburning would be saved! There are purposes for which majorities are not sufficient, but where practical unanimity is essential. All things may indeed be lawful, but all things are not expedient.
A singular fact which has to be noticed is the frequency with which cases of discipline came before the Session. This state of things continued for the first twenty years of our existence as a congregation, after which such cases all at once became as rare as they happily are to-day. How far this curious phenomenon is to be accounted for by the extraordinary influx of strangers St. Matthew's had to deal with at the beginning, or how far to a lower view then prevalent as to the obligations of church membership, it is now hard to say.
During the period embraced by the pre- sent chapter the Session were called on to mourn the loss by death of several of their number who seemed to be pillars, and beau- tiful tributes to their memory, in which we can often trace the deft hand of Dr. Miller, were engrossed on the record. In 1849, there passed away Robert Fleming, '' a worthy
6S Free St, Matthew's
elder, a Christian citizen, a brother beloved " ; in 1855, Hugh Cogan, *'a Christian gentleman of unostentatious but devoted piety"; in i860, James Wright, ''a beloved friend and most efficient elder"; in 1861, Allan Buchanan, '*to whom it was not a little owing that the con- gregation maintained Its Individual existence at the time of the Disruption"; on 19th May, 1862, Alexander Wingate, ''a man of sterling worth and great modesty, of steadfast prin- ciple and guileless simplicity, of singularly blameless life and tender heart"; and on the very same day, John Wilson, '*a father in Israel. . . . These were lovely in their lives, and in their death not divided"; in 1864, David Stow, ''a man whose name will be honoured, and whose memory will be blessed for generations to come in connection with the godly upbringing of the young " ; and in 1865, William Paul, ''much esteemed and loved." These all died in faith, leaving behind them fragrant memories and high examples of simple trust in Jesus, and of love to their fellowmen.
On the other hand the Session had twice occasion to record " their grateful thanks to
Dr. Miller's Ministry 69
God for His kindness to them and to the congregation in restoring to health their esteemed minister," after serious illnesses in 1852 and 1862. They had also frequent cause to acknowledge the services rendered by Dr. Buchanan, Dr. Smyth, and Mr. Arnot, in the capacity of interim moderators. In later years such duties were frequently discharged by the Rev. Principal Douglas, D.D., who was ever ready to give any assistance in his power to the minister or people of St. Matthew's.
Dr. Miller's Ministry 1866-81
'They shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion."
Isaiah Hi. 8.
V
Dr. Miller's Ministry 1866-81
TN the latter part of 1866 a wide-spread fear existed lest an outbreak of cholera might occur in our city. A committee, presided over by the Lord Provost, took energetic action, by sub-dividing the poorer neighbourhoods, and allocating these to the supervision of respon- sible local bodies. To the congregation of Free St. Matthew's was naturally allotted its own Mission District in Anderston, and Mr. Wyper undertook the organization of visitors. On the 1 2th November he was able to inform the Deacons' Court that the entire district assigned to the congregation had been over- taken, and that the visitors' reports had already been sent in to the Sanitary Office. So
74 Free St. Matthew's
efficiently indeed had the work been carried through, that the authorities asked him to super- vise an additional district west of the church, bounded by North Street, Kent Road, Kelvin- haugfh Street and Sauchiehall Street, "but," says the report, '' in the respectable parts of this district, it was not considered necessary to do more than employ a man to deliver tracts, containing the recommendations of the Sanitary Committee." The matter again came before the Court in the following year, but no action seems to have been called for.
A wholesome dread of "germs" had, how- ever, taken possession of the members, for, when the ladies asked for the use of one of the rooms below the church to hold their society's wardrobe, the application was refused on the ground "that it was considered danger- ous to have the recipients of their charity cominof about the church." A month later the ladies returned to the charge, pleading " that the room was wanted simply for stor- ing the clothing, and not for dispensing it," whereupon a future Lord Provost, now Sir John Muir, Bart., moved, and it was agreed, "that the use of the room under the vestry
Dr. Miller's Ministry 75
be granted for this purpose." Before the year was out, however, the dauntless ladies once more applied for "the use of the room not merely as a store-room, but also for dis- pensing the clothing, on the understanding that entry would be made only from the lane behind the church," which was finally con- ceded ; nor did any evil effects follow.
In 1868, on a report given in by Mr. Gilbert Beith, afterwards M.P. for the Central Division and for Inverness-shire, the Boys' and Girls' Schools, which had hitherto been distinct, were amalgamated in terms of a new Education code, and placed under the general management of a headmaster, with a lady assistant for the junior department. A cordial vote of thanks was at the same time awarded to Mrs. Miller and the other ladies who had organized and so long efficiently superintended the operations of the female school, and an earnest desire was expressed for a continuance of the same hearty interest in the amalgamated school. From this time forward there is no more prominent item of Deacons' Court business than the very full quarterly reports on the working of this large undertaking,
76 Free St. Matthew's
particulars being regularly furnished as to the number of boys and girls on the roll, the aver- age attendance in each department, the exact number transferred from the junior to the senior section, and an account of the fees drawn. Messrs. Allan, Connell, Hay, and M'KIll seem to have successively held the laborious office of convener for lengthy periods, until the prosperous school was finally transferred to the School Board in 1883. At the examina- tion of 1868 we notice that specimens of the pupils' drawing, maps, and penmanship, together with a quantity of varied and ex- cellent Industrial work were exhibited. The Rev. Alexander Whyte of St. John's (now of St. George's, Edinburgh, and Moderator of this year's General Assembly) gave an admir- able address, and prizes were presented by friends in the congregation.
In 1872 the Session were gratified by receiving proposals from Mr. John C. Gibson, now missionary In Swatow, and other stu- dents, offering active co-operation In the work of the Mission. This led to fuller considera- tion of the methods then In use, with the result that the Session agreed to divide the
Dr. Miller's Ministry ^^
whole ground Into twelve small districts, with an elder, a student, and a mission member in charge of each, the elder and student to conduct a weekly kitchen meeting within their bounds, and the mission member to co-operate with ladies from St. Matthew's in visitation.
In the same year the Mission Committee reported that, in their opinion, the time had come for the procuring of more comfortable premises, and that a suitable site was obtain- able in Cranston Street at about 21s. per square yard. They added that a hall to seat 400 would cost ^1200, or a plain church to seat 800, about ^2400.
Efforts were immediately made to ascertain how far such a movement would meet with sympathetic response in the congregation, and an application for a grant was at the same time forwarded to the Glasgow Church-build- ing Fund. In a few months the committee farther reported that the site had been pro- visionally secured, that they believed ;^20oo might be reckoned on from the congregation, and that the Building Society had promised ;if500 towards a hall, or ^1500 towards a
78 Free St. Matthew's
church. Designs for both were obtained, but, as it turned out that a larger plot of ground than was actually needful had to be purchased, it was found irnpossible to con- template more than the smaller scheme for the present. On Sabbath, 9th November, 1873, a nice hall was opened, and at a subsequent meeting of Deacons' Court much thankfulness was expressed that so commodi- ous and convenient a building had been erected for the Mission congregation, free of debt, and that the reports of the various agencies were so satisfactory.
In due time the Presbytery sanctioned the erection of the preaching station Into a regular mission charge, under the name of Cranstonhlll Free Church. On 22nd Febru- ary, 1877, the congregation worshipping there resolved to invite the Rev. Alexander Linn of St. Fergus, a former missionary, to become their minister, and 116 members and 70 adherents signed the call. On the 14th May Mr. Linn was Inducted, and remains pastor to this day. St. Matthew's thus found itself relieved of the spiritual oversight of this people, and shortly afterwards closed its official
Dr. Miller's Ministry 79
connection with Cranstonhill by handing over to the minister a sum of ^416 8s., being the balance collected towards the ultimate erection of a church. Dr. Miller at the same time drew up a statement commending this new cause to the Free Church public.
Turning now to the congregation itself, we find that the Sustentation Fund continued to receive the most painstaking attention under the convenership of Mr. F. J. Ferguson, who held that post for twenty years. In January, 1867, the Deacons' Court adopted certain re- commendations of his committee, some of which it may not be amiss to reproduce even to-day. We quote the following :
"That where deacons are not themselves the ordinary collectors, they should hold themselves responsible for seeing that the collections are regularly gathered in, and that they themselves should visit each his own district at least twice a year, and on these occasions receive the contributions personally.
"That in making their half-yearly visits, they should confer with the people, where it is thought reasonable, as to the propriety of increasing their contributions, and also deal with non-contributors as to the duty and privilege of contributing to the Lord's cause ; due regard being had to cases of delicacy and difficulty.
" That with the view of increasing the mutual interest of
So Free St. Matthew's
deacon and collector in their respective districts, your committee farther suggests that previous to the monthly contributions being given in, the deacon compare the slip with his collector's book, initial the slip, and hand it in with the money to the treasurer.
"Your committee consider the sum of ;^i3oo a reason- able amount for this congregation to contribute."
As showing what may be accomplished by a judicious visitation, it was reported, about a year later, that an aggregate increase might be expected of ;^ 141 9s. 4d. On the occasion of another similar effort, the increase was even greater. The number of individual subscribers at this time was 397 ; it is now, as we learn from last report, 580. In 1870, we notice that a tendency was exhibited in some quarters to withhold contributions because of divided counsels in the church on the subject of union, but the watchful Deacons' Court promptly deprecated such unreasonable action. For twenty-six years from the opening of the second Free St. Matthew's an average of ;^i284 was maintained — a really splendid record. The high water mark of ^1481 was touched in 1875.
We have referred to the length of service rendered by Mr. F. J. Ferguson in one de-
Dr. Miller's Ministry 8i
partment of congregational work. A glance at the appendix will show that such persever- ance in duty has been characteristic of St. Matthew's throughout. Dr. Miller, indeed, led the way by an unusually prolonged ministry, but It ought to be specially recorded, that for thirty years the minutes of session are en- grossed in a single handwriting — Mr. Wm. Gumming having held the office of Clerk from 1846 to 1876. In like manner Mr. Wm. Church acted as Congregational Treasurer for three -and -twenty years, and several others have closely emulated these examples.
In the summers of 1867 and 1868, the con- gregation united for two or three months with the College Church, each worshipping for half the time in the edifice of the other. On both occasions Dr. Miller was laid aside by Illness, his place being supplied in the latter year by the Rev. J. R. Elder, son of the venerated Dr. Elder of Rothesay. In 1869 the church was thoroughly overhauled at an outlay of /^6oo, and in 1877 It was again re- paired and cleaned at an expenditure of ;^450.
It will be remembered that, from 1863 to 1873, negotiations for union with the United Pres-
82 Free St. Matthew's
byterlan and Reformed Presbyterian Churches were in progress. While at first all promised well, differences of opinion by-and-by mani- fested themselves, which became greatly accen- tuated in the later years. The controversy invaded all the courts of our church, nor was the Session of St. Matthew's by any means exempt. While Dr. Miller, who had the friendliest relations with all the churches, did not conceal his strong antipathy to the idea of incorporating union, a majority of the elders were keenly in favour of it. This led to a strained state of feeling which revealed itself in a variety of ways, trying to both sections of the Court. It had, for instance, been the happy use and wont, as it still is, to choose the half-yearly representative to the Presby- tery in strict rotation ; but when it came to be a question of grave moment how each vote should count in critical divisions, the majority insisted on their legal right to nominate a member of their own party. This unusual step led to dissents with elabor- ate reasons attached, which in turn required answers, and so the thing went on from year to year. At length, in its wisdom, the
Dr. Miller's Ministry Ss
Assembly of 1873 saved the whole church from rupture by abandoning the negotiations altogether, till such time as brethren might be able to see more nearly eye to eye.
An earnest of the good time then fore- shadowed was happily realised, when in 1876 the Reformed Presbyterian Church united with our own, enriching our evangelical suc- cession with her Goolds, her Symingtons, her Binnies, and everything now points to an early consummation of the larger union origin- ally contemplated. May we not even hope that the day is at hand, when all, who from different stand-points have longed and laboured for a united, yet spiritually independent Pres- byterianlsm, shall be gathered into one !
The painful differences, to which we have alluded, were a severe strain upon Dr. Miller's sensitive, if somewhat imperious nature, and in the winters of the two following years he was compelled to seek a more genial climate for several months together. Minutes of affec- tionate sympathy followed him to Cannes, as well as letters keeping him abreast of St. Matthew's news, while in return there were received, from time to time, pastoral letters of
84 Free St. Matthew's
great beauty and tenderness, which were eagerly read and highly valued.
Meanwhile, It had become evident that, both for Dr. Miller's sake and for the sake of the congregation, It was desirable that a colleague should be associated In the work of the ministry. The attitude of Dr. Miller was admirable. Unable, through Illness, to be present at the first congregational meeting called to consider the matter, he wrote :
"Let me entreat you not to fetter the conscientious freedom of your choice by considerations of how I may be affected thereby. ... It is from God you must ask the man whom He shall choose. ... I shall indeed give thanks and rejoice to be associated with such a brother. May he and I and you be blessed of God together."
Overtures were In course of time made to the Rev. John Chalmers, M.A., of Arbroath, and to the Rev. John M. Sloan, M.A., of Aberdeen ; but unanimity not being obtained, proceedings in both cases fell to the ground. It was. Indeed, apparent that the cleavage of feeling which had developed during the union controversy was still Interfering to a great extent with the remarkable harmony which had prevailed In former years.
Dr. Miller's Ministry 85
At length the air was cleared, but by a disruption alas ! — equally painful, it is believed, to those who separated themselves and to those who remained. In the autumn of 1876 eleven elders and nine deacons judged it their duty to demit office at meetings of Session held in Dr. Miller's house. Efforts were made to alter the decision they had arrived at, but as these proved unavailing, the Session had sorrowfully to record the severance of their official and congregational connection with St. Matthew's. In doing- so the a"ood work accomplished by many of them was fully recognized, and the hope w^as expressed "that wherever they might go the presence of the Lord might go with them."
Those were indeed dark days for St. Matthew's, — with Dr. Miller in feeble health, a dismembered session and strained finances ; yet, having paid this just tribute to departed comrades, the remaining elders, after installing Mr. Thomas Wharrie as Session-clerk, like brave men at once buckled on their armour, and prepared for a forward march. Large reinforcements of elders and deacons were speedily called for, voted, and brought into
S6 Free St. Matthew's
line. And so It came to pass, under the over- ruling providence of God, that while other congregations were enriched by valuable ac- cessions, St. Matthew's not only held on its way, but was enabled to enter with some faith upon ever- expanding opportunities of service. In less than a year the Rev. John Watson, M.A., was happily settled as co- pastor, a circumstance which proved an im- mense relief both to Dr. Miller and to the office-bearers. New mission work was there- after undertaken in the north-west district, for which funds were readily forthcoming, but of this enterprise we shall speak more fully when we come to deal with Mr. Watson's ministry.
In November, 1879, a great gathering in Dr. Miller's honour was held in the Queen's Rooms. He was on that occasion surrounded by a galaxy of past, present and prospective moderators, as well as by other notabilities. Amongst those present were the Revs. Sir H. W. Moncrieff, D.D., Principal Douglas, D.D., J. C. Burns, D.D., Thomas Smith, D.D., A. A. Bonar, D.D., Robert Elder, D.D., John Adam, D.D., Thomas M'Lauchlan, D.D., Thomas Main (D.D.), Messrs. James Campbell
LaUKKXCE RoIiEKT
Dr. Miller's Ministry 87
of Tullichewan, and William M'Kinnon of Ballinakill. Mr. Watson took the chair, and in his happiest manner introduced the busi- ness of the evening. After gracefully alluding to the higher qualities of head and heart which characterized Dr. Miller, he concluded by expressing the hope '' that he was not going beyond the bounds of good taste in saying that many of them looked with a kindly and admiring eye upon Dr. Miller's personal appearance, and had a pardonable anxiety that art should preserve to another generation that form which they believed to be the very index of the nobility of his soul." Mr. Wharrie then presented Dr. Miller, in name of numerous subscribers in and out of the congregation, with that ex- cellent portrait by Patalano, which has now, in accordance with Mrs. Miller's will, become the property of the Free Church College.
Within a year Mr. Watson, to the great grief of all, was unexpectedly translated to another sphere. While thus plunged in the uncertainties of a vacancy, the office-bearers were cheered by the receipt of an excerpt from the trust disposition and settlement
88 Free St. Matthew's
of a member of the congregation, directing her trustees to set aside the sum of twenty- five hundred pounds for the purpose of founding a mission in connection with the congregation of Free St. Matthew's. Anxiety with regard to recently assumed responsi- biHties was thus set at rest, and in March, 1 88 1, the Session recorded ''their desire to return thanks to God, who had put into the heart of the late Miss Jamieson to leave this handsome sum to His service, knowing as they do how much her heart was set upon serving Him, both in her person and in her substance."
Two months later the Rev. C. A. Salmond, M.A., was inducted to the colleagueship ; but it will presently be seen how short a time Dr. Miller himself was spared after this auspicious settlement.
During the years with which we have been dealinof the hand of death had ever and anon been stretched forth upon the Session and congregation. Amongst those taken from the eldership we may mention, in 1866 Robert Burns, "humble and cheerful as a Christian, upright and honourable as a merchant, and
Dr. Miller's Ministry 89
devotedly laborious as an elder " ; also Robert Forrester, '' for thirty years an elder, of solid judgment and enlarged experience"; in 1868 William Mirrlees, "one of those through whose zeal and energy the congregation was estab- lished at the Disruption"; also William Mac- Kinlay, *' whose last Sabbath was spent in serving tables at the Lord's Supper here, and who was then taken to that table whereat Christ drinks the wine anew with His dis- ciples in the upper sanctuary"; in 1871 Francis J. Ferguson, *' conspicuous for his Christian worth and energy " ; also James Macarthur, " the prominent features of whose character were simplicity and godly sincerity " ; in 1872 John Duncan, '*a man of singular worth and amiability, a faithful elder, a loving friend, and a humble-minded Christian"; in 1875 Robert B. Park, "whose humility covered an unostentatious zeal for his heavenly Father's glory, and for the welfare, temporal and spiritual, of God's poor"; and in 1876 David Hay, " a pre-Disruption elder, eminently useful and deservedly beloved alike by his brethren in office and by all the people."
Dr. Miller's own health, which had often
90 Free St. Matthew's
given cause for grave anxiety, at length broke down entirely. In April, 1881, he dispensed the Lord's Supper for the last time. In May he presided, in the best of spirits, at the reception given to his young colleague, but it proved to be also his farewell to his flock. At the meeting he caught a chill, from which he never rallied, and on the 5th of July he calmly fell asleep in Jesus. On the 8th a vast procession wended its way to the necropolis amid lines of deeply moved spectators, for it was known In Glasgow that "a prince and a great man had fallen." *' Even so. Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight. He has departed to be with Christ, which is far better. He has fought a good fight, he has finished his course, he has kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness."
After quoting these last verses, the minute of Session, referring to their late pastor, proceeds :
" They remember with admiration his upright and open- hearted integrity as a man, and his unflinching rectitude and high honour as a churchman. They remember with affection the kindly interest in all the members of his flock,
Dr. Miller's Ministry 91
and specially the pastoral offices he so tenderly fulfilled among the sick, the dying and the bereaved. But above all do they remember, with gratitude, his supreme influence as a faithful and eloquent preacher of the Word, with which his own soul was so thoroughly imbued, and, they hereby put on record as the crowning feature of the service Dr. Miller rendered, and as that which constitutes the congre- gation's crowning responsibility in view of such a ministry — his sound and faithful exposition, and earnest and eloquent application of the truth of God, just as he found it in God's own Word, keeping back nothing that was profitable either for the correction of sinners or the edification of believers — not shunning to declare all the counsel of God, but making it his consistent aim rightly to divide the word of truth. There are many witnesses, living and departed, to the power under God, of Dr. Miller's pulpit ministrations ; and the Session profoundly believe that only the day will declare how many there are who have had cause to bless God for sending them such a minister. He was a faithful minister of Christ, of the Church, and of the Word. He was a just man, and has joined the spirits of just men made perfect. He being dead yet speaketh."
On the Sabbath following Dr. Millers death funeral sermons were preached In St. Matthew's by his old and valued friend, the Rev. Professor Smeaton, D.D., by his late colleague, the Rev. John Watson, and by his successor, the Rev. Charles A. Salmond. We cannot do better than close this chapter with an extract from the discriminating eulo-
92 Free St. Matthew's
glum of Mr. Watson, himself a hearer of Dr. Miller for three years. He said :
"His preaching was not occupied in building up and defending, one by one, a series of doctrines, though it left you in no doubt regarding the doctrines of the day. It did not turn, you will remember, on questions of authorship, and dates, and language. It seldom took the form either of a biographical or historical study. It did not deal very directly with the practical details of duty or service. It could hardly even be said to be, in the ordinary sense of the word, expository preaching. It was unique. It was the scriptural exposition of scripture, and, at the risk of deepening our sorrow, must I recall to your minds the manner of his preaching. You can never forget with what solemnity he gave out his text, and with what clearness he stated its relation to the context; how he stated his heads and explained their meaning, and then appeared the peculiar feature of his sermons. Holding up the truth he wished to expound — holding it up as it were in one hand, with the other he illuminated it before our eyes. Turning over the leaves of his well-worn Bible he quoted now from a book of Moses, now from the writings of a Prophet, now from a Gospel, now from an Epistle, making rays of light from every corner of Holy Scripture to converge on the truth in hand, till what at first may have seemed unin- teresting, or even unintelligible, became bright and beauti- ful in a light that came, not from the creeds and philosophies of men, but, from the eternal Word of God. Such preach- ing— need I remind you ? — required a scholarly knowledge of the Scriptures in their original tongues, a mind trained to thought and reflection, a hard and persevering study of the Bible, and a very special unction of the Holy Ghost.
Dr. Miller's Ministry 93
And it was because Dr. Miller was one of the best students of his day, and one of the most spiritually minded men you could meet in any day, that he was able, by the grace of God, to lead his people into the richest and most satisfy- ing pastures of the Gospel. Other features less remarkable, only because they are more common among all evangelical ministers, were his reverence for the Holy Scripture ; — you remember how he used to say, 'Thus saith the Lord,' how sometimes he said, 'Isaiah saith, that is the Lord by the mouth of Isaiah' — you remember that; — the hon- ourable place he gave to the work of the Holy Ghost, and his constant reference in some part of his sermon to the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ ; together with his wide-spread knowledge of the trials and temptations of God's people. His power was of the highest kind, due not to any affectation of manner, — his manner was his own, and none of us would have wished it different — nor to the lavish use of illustration, — though you know at a time he could employ one with great effect — you remember when he preached on 'Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?' and the illustrations he employed in that sermon, — nor to anything like a habit of strained and laboured eloquence, — though he was a master of the most beautiful English — but simply to the truth of God preached by one of His ablest, most faithful and devoted servants, who knew nothing but Christ, and Christ crucified.
But along with the preacher went the man, and you could never separate the one from the other. I shall not venture to speak about him as a Christian. That would be presumptuous on my part, but Dr. Miller was a man, and a real man, and here and now I say boldly he was one of the kindest and largest-hearted men that ever lived. You, who have been long his attached people, know that.
94 Free St. Matthew's
but others who only saw him at a far distance did not always understand him. Everyone was obliged to respect his lofty and spiritual tone, but I have often been amazed and indignant at finding that many fancied him stern and hard. Perhaps it was not their blame. Perhaps they had met him when he was suffering very severe pain, or when he was condemning unrighteousness, or perhaps they had only heard a false report. At any rate, to suppose him such a man was a lamentable mistake. He was the best of friends. He was not ready to take offence at the con- duct of his friends, or to make exacting claims on their kindness. He always thought well of those he loved, and would do them good at any cost. There was nothing mean or small about him. He gave everyone credit for honesty, and he was the perfection of honesty himself. He had the unsuspicious nature of a child, and the royal dignity of a king. His love for little children, whom he delighted to hold in his arms, was very great, and a more gracious picture I never saw than when that splendid-looking man folded to his breast an infant he had just baptized. His tenderness of voice and spirit when he visited the sick and sorrowful, his forbearance with foolish or forward people, his interest in all the lights and shadows of human life and his sympathy with the dumb creatures of God; his unworldliness, his incapability of anything like compromise or unworthy diplomacy, his sympathy with all good men and good work; of these and many other characteristics I might speak were it possible. One thing I cannot omit ; he rejoiced in the success of any minister who was preach- ing Christ; and if any one proclaimed Christ from this pulpit, though it were the weakest sermon that ever came from a Christian's lips, he would thank him for it, because he had preached Christ."
VI
Mr. Watson's Ministry 1877-80
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God : for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain."
Joel ii. 23.
VI
Mr. Watson's Ministry 1877-80
w
E must now go back to the evening of 1 6th May, 1877, when a meeting of the congregation was convened In the church to consider a report of their colleague committee, presented by Mr. Wharrie. It was then moved by Mr. Patrick Robertson, seconded by Mr. William Miller, and unanimously agreed, to present a hearty call to the Rev. John Watson, M.A., of Loglealmond, to become colleague and successor to the Rev. Dr. Miller. The following commissioners were appointed to prosecute the call before the Presbytery of Perth — from the Session, Dr. Miller, Messrs. M 'Caiman, Ramsay, Wharrie and White; from the Deacons' Court, Messrs. Buchanan, Grier-
98 Free St. Matthew's
son, Miller and Robertson ; and from the congregation, Messrs. Grady, Hislop and Turn- bull.
Logiealmond, better known to-day as Drum- tochty — thanks to the genius of the man St. Matthew s had chosen — is a quiet little Perth- shire parish, lying mainly in a cross-country glen, sufficiently removed from everyday traffic to be self-contained, and productive, as will now be generally admitted, of an amazing variety of strongly marked types of character. It has always had its ''sermon-tasters," and has enjoyed, indeed, quite an enviable reputation for the independent discovery of pulpit talent. For this distinction, however, it has had to pay the unavoidable penalty of frequent in- vasion by ecclesiastical raiders, from the north and from the south. On the present occasion it was threatened from both quarters at once. Though this combination of circumstances left small hope for Logiealmond, St. Matthews was not unduly disquieted, for it was able to recall a similar experience three and thirty years before, when Its way had been made entirely prosperous. The following brief ac- count of the Presbytery's proceedings, taken
Mr. Watson's Ministry 99
from the Herald of 19th July, discloses fairly well the points and outcome of the situation :
"At a special meeting of the Free Church Presbytery of Perth held yesterday, the consideration of two calls ad- dressed to the Rev. John Watson of Logiealmond was proceeded with. The one call was from St. John's con- gregation, Montrose, to be successor to Rev. Mr. Nixon; and the other from St. Matthew's congregation, Glasgow, to be colleague to Rev. Dr. Miller. The call from Mon- trose was signed by 535 communicants, and 126 adherents, and the call from Glasgow by 456 members, and 130 adherents. After commissioners from the congregations interested had been heard, Mr. Watson expressed his con- viction that the charge in Montrose was too important for a clergyman of his limited experience, and he therefore had decided to accept the call from Glasgow."
The Session minuted their thankfulness to God for this favourable issue ; and, as it seemed desirable that Mr. Watson should have a short respite before entering upon his new duties, it was resolved to utilise the interval in re- decorating the church.
On 13th September, the Presbytery of Glas- gow met for Mr. Watson's induction, Mr. Ryrie of Hutchesontown preaching and presiding. The new minister received a cordial welcome from his people, and on the following Sabbath
loo Free St. Matthew's
was formally introduced by his uncle, the Rev. Hiram Watson of Ratho. That much was expected from the new settlement is evident from the fact that, at the October communion, 52 persons joined St. Matthews by certificate, considerable numbers beinof added at each succeeding occasion.
Although Mr. Watson's pastorate was not destined to be of long duration, an event occurred in the course of it which has had far-reaching results, not only to the con- gregational life of St. Matthew's, but to many beyond its pale. We refer to the com- mencement of mission work at Springbank, which took place under the following provi- dential circumstances.
Early in 1879, a deputation of mission workers belonging to Free St. Stephen's waited upon the junior minister, and having Informed him of the intention of their Session and Deacons' Court to abandon the district in which they had been working for some years, they expressed an earnest desire to see that mission still carried on, and Intimated their readiness to place themselves under the supervision of the congregation which should
Mr. Watson's Ministry loi
assume the direction of it. Mr. Watson lost no time in communicating, through Dr. Miller, the substance of this interview to his own Session, who, appreciating the significance and the delicacy of the position, requested both ministers to meet with the Rev. James Nicoll, of St. Stephen's, so as to obtain full information on the matter in all its bearings. In February they were able to report that they had called upon Mr. Nicoll, who ex- plained that his congregation had not seen its way to continue operations at Springbank, chiefly on account of the comparative want of success in the endeavour to form an adult congregation which might speedily be recog- nized as a sanctioned charge. He at the same time bore willing testimony to the zeal and success of the Sabbath School workers among the children in that locality. Mr. Watson further stated that after careful con- sideration, he had foreseen the impropriety, in present circumstances, of entertaining these proposals, unless, in some way, the Deacons' Court could be relieved of all difficulty as to expense in carrying on the new work. On the streno'th of this conviction, he had, how-
102 Free St. Matthew's
ever, approached several members of the con- gregation, with the result that sufficient means had been already secured to meet half of the estimated expenditure for two years, while he expected farther promises of help within a few days.
A formal application, signed by thirty-three workers at Springbank, was then read, re- questing the Session to take them and their work under congregational superintendence. The proposals, as now before the Session, were favourably entertained, and the whole question was referred to the Deacons' Court. When that Court met. Dr. Miller laid all the facts before it, and the following minute of the proceedings states the attitude ultimately assumed :
" After very serious and prolonged deliberation, the Court felt that it could not dutifully ignore this application ; and seeing that financial difficulties had been obviated without laying on the Court responsibilities which it could not undertake in present circumstances ; and seeing also that the work in Springbank can be carried on by the applicants without detriment to our own Mission work in Anderston : the Court, therefore, expresses its cordial sympathy with the proposed movement, and thinks that it ought to be carried out experimentally for at least one year, in the hope and with the prayer that the work of the Lord may be
Mr. Watson's Ministry 103
thereby promoted among a spiritually necessitous popula- tion."
Mr. Watson next communicated with the Rev. D. L. Kilpatrick, of North Woodside Free Church, as the minister nearest to the new district, and at once received from him expressions of satisfaction at the arrangements come to, and of his readiness to do all that lay in his power to forward the success of the undertakinof.
Such was the manner in which Springbank Mission became grafted on the life of St. Matthew's, yet so interesting is the story of its own origin five years earlier, as we have heard it fervidly described by one of the chief movers in the matter, that we must spare a paragraph to give some account of this also.
Its genesis really dates from what is still spoken of as the ''hundred and one night," and occurred on this wise. In the spring of 1874 a great wave of spiritual blessing followed in the wake of Mr. Moody's preaching. On one particular evening it seemed to reach high water mark. Overflowing meetings were being held in various parts of the city, at which Dr. Cairns of Berwick and Dr. Wilson
I04 Free St. Matthew's
of the Barclay Church were principal speakers. Curiously enough our present pastor, Dr. Stalker, happened to be an interested spectator. He was then finishing his course at the New College, and, along with Henry Drummond, came through as a deputation from the Edin- burgh students. It was as late as ten o'clock when Mr. Moody, accompanied by these friends and other ministers, entered the meeting con- vened in Ewing Place Church and composed entirely of young men. The presence of God's Spirit was manifest from the first, and was felt by all. The meeting was prolonged till midnight, and ere it closed one hundred and one persons testified to their acceptance of the Saviour. That they had also been apprehended of Christ Jesus is evidenced by the consistent life and conversation of many to-day. It so happened that several of these were connected with Free St. Stephen's Church, and how to find scope for their freshly awakened zeal became a problem for its office-bearers. It was generally admitted that part of the north-west district was then comparatively neglected, and, accordingly, both Session and Deacons' Court were approached
Mr. Watson's Ministry 105
in the hope that mission work might be under- taken in that quarter. A formidable obstacle, however, stood in the way. There still re- mained a debt of ;/J'i500 on their church, and it was felt that further financial responsibility could not be incurred. At this juncture one of the elders (now a member of our own Session) generously volunteered to extinguish the liability ; and so the way was cleared for the founding of Springbank Mission.
Premises were quickly secured, and it was decided to begin with a forenoon Foundry Boys' Meeting, a Sabbath School, and an evening service for adults. The question re- mained as to who should conduct these different enterprises, and the intending workers rightly felt that much depended upon this. They, therefore, made the matter a subject of earnest prayer in the first instance, and then resolved, first, that no one should be appointed to any post except by a unanimous vote ; and, secondly, that no one thus chosen should refuse to act. In this way it came about that Mr. Robert Russell, our present elder, was elected chairman of the Foundry Boys' Meeting, and Mr. P. M'B. Stewart,
io6 Free St. Matthew's
now the devoted missionary of Cowcaddens Church, was elected superintendent of the Sabbath School ; the evening meeting being left open for further arrangement.
Numbers of children were soon gathered in, and a work of grace followed. Within a short period seventy-five young people were noted, not merely as making some profession, but as having given evidence of a changed heart. Mr. Stewart, who has followed up these cases with peculiar interest, delights to bear testimony that in no single case have his hopes been disappointed.
After a few years, as we have said, financial and other considerations led the office-bearers of St. Stephen's to relinquish the work. Their decision was arrived at somewhat unexpectedly, and at first the workers were sorely perplexed. It occurred to one of them, however, on his way home from the meeting where the resolve was taken, to call upon Mr. Watson, to whom he was an entire stranger, and this he did, on his own responsibility, that very night. Ring- ing the bell at 42 Windsor Terrace with some trepidation, he found himself received with the utmost sympathy and consideration. Having
Mr. Watson's Ministry 107
listened to his tale, Mr. Watson encouraged him to believe that he had been rightly directed thither, and, before parting, knelt with him in prayer for further guidance. The various steps resulting from this interview have been already narrated.
Before passing from this subject It is worthy of note that, while without the hearty co-opera- tion of St. Matthew's at this crisis, the Spring- bank Mission could not have been effectively carried on or developed, yet the new blood, then introduced, was of even greater value to St. Matthew's itself. Not only did it supply the most active agents at the Mission for more than a decade, but it has given to the con- gregation some of Its most useful elders and deacons, including a General Treasurer, a Sustentation Fund Treasurer, a Foreign Mission Treasurer, and a Mission Convener.
In the Deacons' Court a full share of atten- tion continued to be srlven to the Sustentation and Foreign Mission Funds, to Psalmody, and to the Day School at Anderston. It would appear that the last of these had not of late been producing quite such good results as for- merly in the senior department. In the course
io8 Free St. Matthew's
of 1879, however, Mr. John W. J. Watt, then a teacher in the Normal Seminary, was appointed headmaster, and it is pleasing to read in next year's report of the Government Inspector: ''This school, under the present teacher, shows a very gratifying rise in effici- ency since last year."
Up to this time there had evidently existed some curious formalities as to the proper mode of ushering into church even regular worshippers, for in 1879, a special instruction to a new door- keeper is "that it is unnecessary to conduct to their seats, on Sabbaths, any but strangers who may inquire for a vacant seat."
In 1880 a proposal was broached to get rid of the remaining debt on the church, amounting to fully /^looo, but before the matter could be dealt with, the distressing information reached the office-bearers that the junior pastor was about to receive a call from Liverpool.
On the 4th of August the Presbytery met to consider and decide the question of Mr. Watson s translation. There appeared for the Session, Messrs. G. M. Grierson, James M 'Michael and Thomas Wharrie ; for the Deacons' Court, Messrs. M'Kill, Peter M'Kichan and William
Mr. Watson's Ministry 109
Miller ; and for the congregation, Messrs. W. R. Currie, John Kirsop, William Miller, John C. Reid and Laurence Robertson. The reasons set forth for the translation were mainly that a church had just been erected in the risinof suburb of Sefton Park at a cost of ^8000, and that, with a minister of Mr. Watson's gifts, there was every prospect of forming a large and influential Presbyterian congregation in an important English centre. The call was signed by 70 members and 109 adherents, among whom, it was incidentally mentioned, were two ministers' sons. These statements were well met by a reference to the admirable position of St. Matthew's Church, the large membership, the existing harmony, the happy prospects of the congregation with a continuance of the present pastorate, and the fact that in its Session alone there were five sons of the manse !
When Mr. Watson was called upon, he said that the matter had caused him much anxious and painful consideration, and that he had endeavoured to give conscientious attention to the pleadings on "both sides. He felt impressed by the claims of English Presby-
no Free St. Matthew's
terlanlsm, the special nature of the sphere offered, the noble efforts already made in Sefton Park, and the difficulty which that congregation might experience In obtaining a suitable minister within their own small com- munion. On the other hand, there could not but weigh with him the shortness of his ministry In St. Matthew's, the measure of success which, by God's blessing, had attended it, the cordial relations subsisting between him- self and his beloved father. Dr. Miller, and the good feeling of office-bearers and people, among whom were some of the most loyal adherents possessed by the Free Church. On the ground of attachment to Dr. Miller alone, he had frequently Inclined to remain where he was, though he also felt that too much weight ought not to be given to a purely personal consideration. On the whole, he had come to the conclusion that he ought to accept the Liverpool call, not as to an easier or more certain position, but as to an opportunity for great work, and from a desire to resume the undivided charge of a congregation. His conviction was that the work put before him on leaving Loglealmond — that of reorganizing
Mr. Watson's Ministry m
a congregation which had passed through a severe trial — had been largely accomplished, and that St. Matthew's might now obtain a worthier man.
In view of this frank and explicit statement, the Presbytery had no alternative but to acquiesce in Mr. Watson's removal, rejoicing at the same time that St. Matthew's found itself in such a strong and united position.
On Sabbath, 26th September, a farewell ser- mon was preached by Mr. Watson, and at the first meeting of Session thereafter the court recorded
"their sorrow at his translation from this congregation, to which he had so fully commended himself by an earnest and able pastorate of three years. They have ever been appreciative of his talents in the pulpit, his devotedness to all pastoral work, the amiability of his intercourse, and the hearty geniality of his whole deportment among them. They trust he will be as highly esteemed in his new sphere, that his days of active labour may be many, and that he may have much comfort and a goodly harvest of souls as the fruit of his ministry in the congregation of which he is now sole pastor. And while their prayers for these blessings follow him, they also seek to be much in prayer that the Lord of the vineyard will, in His good pleasure, provide a suitable successor for him in St. Matthew's, who shall be greatly owned of God to feed our people with the Bread and Water of life."
112 Free St. Matthew's
Mr. Watson carried with him to Liverpool a pledge which must ever remind him of St. Matthew's, for while In Glasgow he married Jane, daughter of the late Mr. Francis J. Ferguson, to whom reference has already been made In this narrative as one of the most useful elders of the congregation. Since going south, he has received the degree of D.D. from St. Andrews University, and '' Dr. Watson of Liverpool" has become his familiar designation.
It would be an impertinence at this time of day to add almost a word about one who has In recent years become so widely known under the name of Ian Maclaren. The volume w^hlch first brought him Into fame, entitled Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush, abounds In accurate and appreciative delinea- tions of homely religious character as exhibited in our Scottish Midlands, and its more pathetic passages cannot be read In any company capable of understanding their Inwardness, without a tremor in the voice, or, it may be, a tear in the eye.
The book has enjoyed a quite phenomenal circulation, not only In our own country, but also In America, while others of Dr. Watson's
Mr. Watson's Ministry 113
works come little behind it in this respect. The great popularity thus acquired on the other side of the Atlantic led to his being asked a year or two later to deliver a course of lectures at Yale University, and these have since been published under the title of The Cure of Souls. So fertile has been his faculty of authorship, that within the past five years no fewer than seven considerable volumes have issued from his pen. Among these may be mentioned The Mind of the Master, The Potters Wheel, and The Upper Room, the last of which is a par- ticularly beautiful and suggestive devotional study.
Dr. Watson Is convener of the College Committee of the Presbyterian Church of England, and is already spoken of as a future Moderator of its Synod. It need hardly be added that it is a pleasure to many old friends, when at some anniversary of Church or Mission, his voice is still occasionally heard from the pulpit of St. Matthew's.
VII
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 1881 86
And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her : and the Highest Himself shall establish her. "
Psalm Ixxxvii. 5.
VII
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 1881-86
'THHE congregation of St. Matthew's, having been thus unexpectedly deprived of their junior pastor, at once proceeded to look round about for that worthy successor to whom Mr. Watson had pointed them. Nor did hearty unanimity fail them in the quest. Within three months from the date of the vacancy, they, with one consent, made choice of the Rev. Chas. A. Salmond, M.A., who had been, for a year or two, settled at Cults in Aberdeenshire. His record was that of an Edinburoh student of much promise, who had enjoyed the ad- ditional advantaore of a session at Princeton, U.S., under Drs. Chas. and A. A. Hodge. The promptitude of the selection gave un-
ii8 Free St. Matthew's
feio^ned delis^ht to Dr. Miller, and was also a happy augury for the future.
The following commissioners prosecuted the call ; from the Session, Messrs. Grierson, M'MIchael and Wharrie ; from the Deacons' Court, Messrs. Currle and M'KIchan; and from the congregation, Messrs. Fulton and KIrsop; along with the Rev. Dr. Adam as representing the Presbytery. A telegram from Aberdeen, read at the prayer-meeting on 17th February, 1 88 1, brought the discouraging Information that the Presbytery had refused to translate. Next day Dr. Miller wrote : " Dear Mr. Salmond, — The telegram which I received yesterday at 3.20 p.m. smote me down very much; and when the news reached the congregation in the evening, every one was bitterly grieved and disappointed. I am glad to find to-day that an appeal was taken to the Synod, and I may say to you at once that the St. Matthew's people will not fall from that appeal, but will prosecute It, In the earnest hope that we may yet succeed in securing you as co-pastor. O how gladly would we all hail such a consum- mation!" When the Synod met on 12th April, It sent Mr. Salmond to Glasgow.
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 119
On Friday, 13th May, a social meeting to welcome the new colleague was held in the Queen's Rooms, at which, as we have seen. Dr. Miller was present, meeting his people there for the last time. On Sabbath the 15th, Mr. Salmond was introduced by his old professor, Dr. George Smeaton.
If the death of Dr. Samuel Miller, within two months of this auspicious settlement, was a painful shock to his attached congregation, the blow fell with double weight upon his newly-inducted colleague. In concluding his first sermon after the funeral, Mr. Salmond said : "I shall not intrude upon you to-day my own personal anxieties, for I need not lay claim in words to your sympathy and forbearance in going forward to the enhanced responsibilities that lie before me. It is to me a solemn reflection that Dr. Miller's last public act was to bid me welcome to the work of the Lord among you. Pray for me, that I may be worthy of the sacred trust!" Thus pathetically did the new ministry open in tears, and so it was with sorrowful, yet courageous hearts that minister and people together went forward towards the solution
I20 Free St. Matthew's
of various problems which already waited attention.
The first of these was how to deal with the ancient balance of debt, amounting to ^1034, which still rested upon the church fabric. A vigorous effort was therefore In- augurated to extinguish this obligation, and It was at the same time proposed to place In the vestibule of Free St. Matthew's a marble bust of Its first minister. " This," as the office- bearers put It to the congregation, *' would form a two-fold opportunity which could not recur, of at once honouring the memory of the pastor deceased, and of heartening, in present and future effort, him whom God had placed in his room." In February, 1882, It was an- nounced that the double scheme had been completely successful, and that the modelling of a medallion bust had been entrusted to Mr. Mossman, sculptor. The result may be seen In that speaking likeness which meets every eye on entering the church.
It soon came to be felt that the relation of St. Matthew's to mission work In Anderston had drifted Into a somewhat anomalous position, Cranstonhill Church had for a number of years
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 121
been the recognized outcome of early labours- there, yet we still continued our Sabbath school, kitchen meetings, and Bible woman in complete, though by no means unfriendly, independence of it. While this could never have been regarded as either a desirable or permanent arrangement, attention was pointedly called to the matter on the forma- tion of the Glasgow Home Mission Union, which had for its objects the suppression of overlapping and the allocation of a definite district to each co-operating congregation. In these circumstances it was dutifully agreed by Cranstonhill and ourselves to approach, first of all, our own Presbytery for advice. After hearing parties at length, the Presby- tery recommended that the Anderston district should henceforth belong exclusively to Cran- stonhill, St. Matthew's being encouraged to fulfil its maternal instincts by a contribu- tion of £2^ for three years or so, to help in the efficient carrying on of aggressive work round that church.
The various ao^encies with which St. Mat- thew's had for forty years been identified were accordingly withdrawn, or rather trans-
122 Free St. Matthew's
ferred. In March, 1884, a leaflet was Issued, from which we cull the following sentences:
"In reluctantly giving up Sabbath School work, so long carried on in Anderston, we, the superintendents and teachers, desire affectionately to express the hope that the parents of our scholars will make sure that their children immediately connect themselves with some other evangelical school in the district. We are glad to an- nounce that arrangements have been made whereby all our scholars will be heartily welcomed at Cranstonhill Free Church school, and we recommend that this be freely taken advantage of. We intend to introduce them personally to the new school, and our hearts' desire and prayer for each and all is that they may grow up into Christ in all things.
In name of the Sabbath School Teachers,
G. E. Philip and J. W. J. Watt, Joint Superintendents."
A neatly lithographed card was at the same lime presented to every child, certifying that he or she was a member of Free St. Matthew's school at the date of its removal from the district. After assemblingf one evening for the last time in the old building, a procession of teachers and scholars wended its way across Main Street to Cranstonhill Church, where they had a cordial reception from the Rev. Mr. Linn and his staff of teachers, a few of our own continuing their help for some time
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 123
until the children got accustomed to their new surroundings.
To many of the senior workers in Ander- ston the closing of their familiar school-house, with all its memories, was a sore trial ; yet it had become abundantly evident that the guid- ing pillar was leading elsewhere. In due time the premises, which had been latterly rented to the School Board, were sold, and by the severance of this last link with the district, we found ourselves free to concentrate every resource on the rapidly developing field at Springbank. The Session, in their annual report, say that '' they have sympathized to the full with the feelinors of those whose lonor attachment to Anderston district has made it a real trial to leave it ; and they have done their utmost to secure that the interests of that district may not suffer. They consider that the spirit shown by the body of teachers and other workers in connection with this matter has been truly admirable." Amongst these, few had been more indefatigable than Messrs. James Imrie, James Glass and William Kirkland, all of whom are represented in the congregation to-day. We are also glad to
T24 Free St. Matthew's
have still in our midst the family of Mr. John Wilson, the first and peculiarly devoted mission convener, as well as Mr. James Miller, a later convener of Dr. Miller's days. While, for the sake of continuity, we have brought down the history of the Anderston Mission to its close in 1884, it is now necessary to go back a year or two in order to keep in hand the threads of interest which were rapidly attaching us to Springbank. It will be remembered that work in the north- west district had in Mr. Watson's time been only tentatively undertaken for a couple of years or so. In December, 1881, however, Mr. Pratt formally raised the whole question of its future, both in Session and Deacons' Court, with the result that it was definitely agreed " to unite the new mission, with all its concerns and interests, to that of Anderston." Again, two years later, the Session ''learned with satisfaction that the joint committee of the different churches have assigned to St. Matthew's a free field in the district where we have been already working." This, of course, refers to the admirably conceived sub- division of the city by the Home Mission
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 125
Union, whose functions we have already described.
The portion for which we thus became responsible consisted of a triangular district, bounded by Well Road, Garscube Road, and New City Road. The premises hitherto rented above a large spirit shop at the junc- tion of Garscube and New City Roads were also triangular in form. Many will remember the little room snipped off the apex, where the senior class of boys was cooped up amid the banners and boxes of a Good Templar lodge, whose grand masters were in posses- sion on certain evenings of the week. Then there was the unpromising room at the farther end, deducted from the Bible woman's house, where Mrs. Black and Miss Macfadzean found cramped accommodation for a numerous follow- ing of senior girls, with the rotunda upstairs, where the grown-up lads held high revel w^hen not under the spell of their regular teacher.
To remedy this state of things, T^Ir. Pratt, In April, 1884, brought before the Session the necessity of providing more suitable pre- mises. The great difficulty was where to find these, and, as temporary expedients, the Infant
126 Free St. Matthew's
class was taken at an earlier hour than the rest of the school, while an empty shop was secured for certain of the other meetings. By December, however, the Deacons' Court saw their way to purchase a plot of ground in Doncaster Street at 20s. per square yard, in anticipation of an early sale of the Ander- ston property. Plans having been prepared by Mr. Wharrie, and estimates accepted, a memorial stone was laid on 8th August, 1885, by Mr. Salmond, who at the same time placed in the cavity a narrative of the Mis- sion, a congregational manual, and other items. He subsequently addressed those pre- sent on the " Stone of Help," and the " Stone of Watching," being followed by Mr. Russell, who spoke of the '' Retrospect and Prospect." " Thereafter," we read, "the throng dispersed, feeling that it was a memorable day alike for the congregation of St. Matthew's and for the district of Springbank."
On Friday, 26th March, 1886, our model mission premises, as we fondly regarded them, were formally opened in presence of a large gathering, appropriate addresses being de- livered by Mr. Salmond, Dr. Andrew A. Bonar,
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 127
Dr. Dalzell of the Gordon Mission, Professor Drummond, Mr. Wharrie, and Mr. R. E. Aitken, congregational treasurer. A full de- scription of the buildings appeared in the Herald next day, but as most of us are a good deal more familiar with them than the reporter, we refrain from burdening our nar- rative with his account.
In the same month Miss Campbell, whose name has since become a household word in every home, was appointed Bible woman. In October the Lord's Supper was dispensed for the first time, under authority of the Presby- tery, when twenty-nine persons, chiefly from among the lapsed, were admitted to member- ship, as a nucleus round which it was hoped to gather others. It only remains to add that the sum of ^1200, required beyond the price realised by the sale of the Anderston school- house, was readily subscribed.
As in Dr. Miller's ministry, so now, the Musical Association and Psalmody Committee from time to time asserted themselves as factors that had to be reckoned with. In 1883 they jointly petitioned the session to sanction the practice of standing during praise, ''having long
128 Free St. Matthew's
felt that the present arrangement (of sitting) is unsatisfactory and miHtates against a worthy expression of heart-felt praise." In acceding to this suggestion the cautious Session '* recom- mended the petitioners and the congregation generally to maintain the standing posture during prayer also, and asked the moderator so to arrange the reading of Scripture as to make standing at both no real inconvenience, except to the aged and infirm, who cannot be expected to stand at either." It may seem strange that no explanation was offered as to why the recommendation did not also include standing during the reading of God's word, for which there would seem to be at least equal authority (Neh. viii. 5, etc.).
In 1884, the Psalmody Committee further asked the sanction of the Court to *'the use of the Free Church Hymnal in conjunction with the Psalms in the ordinary worship of the congregation." Although there was found to be little difference of opinion on the ground of principle, considerable doubt existed as to the ripeness of the congregation for the change proposed. It was, however, decided by a majority '' that the adoption of the Free
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 129
Church Hymnal will enable us, without de- priving the Psalms of their leading place in the praise of God, to have the occasional benefit of well approved hymns, which express in gospel language ideas and aspects of truth revealed with peculiar clearness in New Testa- ment times. The Session cherish the con- fident expectation that this addition to our service of praise will be received with satis- faction by the congregation generally, and at least acquiesced in cheerfully by any of our members who may not yet for themselves be prepared to welcome it." It was a matter of sincere regret, at the time, that several of our attached people, including one elder and other earnest workers, felt constrained to leave St. Matthew's when this decision was intimated; though it is pleasing also to record that some of these soon saw their way to rejoin us.
While touching on psalmody, we must not omit to mention that, in the end of 1881, the congregation had been fortunate in securing the services of Mr. W. H. Murray as praise leader, a choice which has proved of incal- culable benefit to all the interests concerned. For seventeen years he has successfully sought
I30 Free St. Matthew's
to infuse the devotional spirit of praise among old and young, and his illustrated lectures on Music and Song, delivered at joint meetings of the Youno- Men's and Younor Women's Unions, have been looked forward to as annual treats.
In 1883 it was resolved to hold a summer communion for the benefit of such as might be still in town, and the attendance proved so considerable, that the practice has never since been departed from. In October, 1884, the method of simultaneous communion was adopted, and has been found greatly to promote quiet and decorum.
In the winters of 1882-83, and 1884-85, Mr. Salmond held a series of most successful family gatherings. All the members and adherents in two or three contiguous districts met with their elders, deacons, and minister in the Deacons' Court Room, tastefully arranged for the occasion. The programme was — " half an hour for tea, three quarters of an hour for addresses, three quarters of an hour for con- versation, closing with family worship before ten o'clock." It was at one of these that ''Gilbert" (Wilson), who was about to remove
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 131
to a distance, was presented with a marble time-piece as a token of regard. He humor- ously described himself as ''the oldest member of the firm," having been one of the original 44 who in the year '44 gathered round Dr. Miller, from the first day of whose ministry till now he had acted as doorkeeper.
Special attention was paid during these years to the systematic visitation of the three Sabbath schools by elders in rotation, and their interest- ing monthly reports were amongst the stated Items of Session business. In 1883 we find there were 200 young men and women In the minister's Bible class, besides 580 children on the rolls of the various schools. The Savings- banks were particularly flourishing institutions, no fewer than 7318 separate transactions being reported from Anderston, and 2271 from Spring- bank In a single year. The following letter, which we print exactly as received by the Anderston superintendent, may be taken as an Illustration of the power of conscience to quicken seed sown by a possibly disheartened teacher :
" To the head teacher of Free st Matthew's school.
" Dear Sir, — I send you three shilHngs in postage stamps
132 Free St. Matthew's
for the Misshinary box. some years agoe I attended st matthews sabath school the csholars cUecting for a new missinary ship and I also and I kept back part of the money I think it was about nine pence i sthank god he did not strike me doune dead Like Annis and sappria I have been living without god in the world all my life and God has arrasted me in my doward course. O that God would have marce one my soule. pray to God to have marce on me. the other 2/ and three pence I pray that may be the means helping the good work. I conclude
I am a hardened sinner."
A friendly rivalry seems to have existed between the treasurers of the Sustentatlon and Foreign Mission Funds, for while in July, 1882, it is pointed out by Mr. Currie, that, with ;£yS^ as our annual contribution to the Sustentatlon Fund, we stood fourth in the Presbytery and eleventh in the Church, Mr. M'Kichan next month calls attention to the other fact that, with ^127 to Foreign Missions, we only stood sixth in the Presbytery and fifteenth in the Church. An effort to place this latter fund in a worthier position followed, and, in 1884, we find that the situation is reversed. With ;^758 for the Sustentatlon Fund we were then fifth in the Presbytery and thirteenth in the Church, while, with ;^i8o for Foreign Missions, we were third in the Presbytery and sixth in
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 133
the Church. It will, of course, be understood that this last figure refers to the amount remitted to the central fund only, and does not include auxiliary efforts on behalf of female education in India and Africa, China Mission, or other subsidiary schemes. It may be mentioned, for instance, that when, in 1886, Mr. Philip, who had assumed the trea- surership, issued a first appeal on behalf of Livingstonia, ^30 was at once contributed for this object alone.
A congregational supplement to the Free Chtcrch Monthly was added in 1882, and the Reco7^d Cover has since become an indispens- able medium for conveying information about the varied organizations and interests of St. Matthew's. Ably edited from the first, it is now in the hands of an experienced journalist, and promises to make the work of a future historian easy indeed, if not entirely super- fluous.
In November, 1883, Mr. Salmond married Margaret H. Hammersley, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Johnston of Klllarney. The welcome accorded to the young bride repre- sented much kindly feeling, and Mrs. Salmond
134 Free St. Matthew's
soon took a warm place In the affections of the people. She will be specially remembered as first president of the newly formed Young Women's Union.
In January, 1886, Mr. John Macfarlane, elder, was removed by death, ''ever con- spicuous for his humble Christian character and example " ; and, towards the end of the same year. Dr. Ebenezer Watson also, re- markable for ''the long and consistent dis- charge of duty alike as an eminent member of his profession, and as an office-bearer In this congregation." Nor must we forget to mention two notable lady members who passed away In the autumn of 1883. Miss Paterson, who had been Bible woman In Anderston for the long period of twenty-three years, was greatly beloved In the district where she laboured so devotedly, and highly esteemed by the Ladles' Association, who best knew her worth. Miss Eliza Fletcher — a biography of whom, by Mr. Salmond, had an ex- tensive sale — was a magnetic force of no ordinary attractiveness amongst those for whom she laboured. With untiring zeal she conducted large classes of young women In
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 135
various parts of the city, and her "praise was in all the churches." Dr. Watson of Sefton Park, writing at the time of her death, said, '' She impressed me as a woman of passionate nature, consecrated to Christ — a true type of the Christian enthusiast dashed with real genius."
In November, 1886, a call to Mr. Salmond from the Free West Church, Rothesay, as colleague and successor to the venerable Dr. Elder, was initiated. Whenever this became known the elders convened, and hastened to assure their minister of the high satisfaction it would afford them to learn that he had resolved to remain in Free St. Matthew's. On 6th December, however, Mr. Salmond intimated to his Session that, after full con- sideration, he felt he ought to go. When this disappointing information reached the Deacons' Court, they immediately drew up for presenta- tion an appreciative letter, which was signed by every one of the twenty-one deacons.
At the Presbytery, which met on the 13th, Messrs. Thomas Wharrie and G. E. Philip represented the Session, and while offering no opposition in view of Mr. Salmond's declared
136 Free St. Matthew's
mind, they bore willing testimony to the zeal, energy and success of the ministry about to close, and specially to the unremitting atten- tion bestowed upon the poor, the lonely, and the sick. He had put the congregation in thorough working order, and whoever might fill his place would find it an easier matter to carry on the work. Mr. Salmond, in stating his own clear judgment, referred to the painful trial so unexpectedly encountered at the be- ginning of his pastorate, through the death of Dr. Miller, the five and a half busy, happy and not unfruitful years which followed, the loyal support of his office-bearers during a transition stage of congregational history, the new organizations and needful modifications of old arrangements which had been carried through, and the life-long inspiration derived from contact with Christian brethren in this great city. On the motion of Dr. Adam, the translation was agreed to.
In thus losing Mr. Salmond, the congrega- tion of St. Matthew's were conscious of parting with one whose preaching had been acceptable and profitable, and who was ever willing to spend and be spent in their service. The
Mr. Salmond's Ministry 137
Deacons' Court could not but remember his strenuous efforts in connection with the hand- some Mission Halls at Springbank, which remain as a fitting memorial of his pastorate. The Session could also point to a membership increased by 150, no fewer than 229 having been admitted for the first time ; and they only regretted that he was leaving at a time when he had hardly seen the fruit of much good seed carefully sown.
Though a change to some less exacting sphere was probably desirable just then in the interest of Mr. Salmond's own health, after the exceptional strain through which he had passed, it could scarcely be expected that he would long remain ''a country brother." In three years he was once more translated, and has since been instrumental in building up an important congregation at South Morningside, Edinburgh. He is the author oi Princetoniana, a collection of interesting reminiscences of the eminent professors under whom he studied in America ; of For Days of Y02UI1, being Text and Talk for every day ; and of Bible Class Primers on The Christian Passover and The Sabbath.
VIII
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 1887-98
Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities : thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation. . . . There the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams."
Isaiah xxxiii. 20, 21.
VIII
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 1887-98
TXT'E may now be said to have reached the period of modern history, in the making of which many of those now with us have had some share.
When, on previous occasions, St. Matthew's was in quest of a minister, he was v/anted as colleague to Dr. Miller, who, all the while, continued to act as moderator of Session. Now, for the first time, we were without a head, and were, therefore, well pleased when the Presbytery gave us the Rev. Andrew Melville of St. Enoch's as interim-moderator. Mr. Salmond's induction at Rothesay having been postponed till ist February, 1887, it was only after that date that we were In a position
142 Free St. Matthew's
to take formal steps towards securing a successor. The interval was not, however, without its advantages. We became conscious that, with unity amongst ourselves, we might expect to obtain one of the very best ministers the Church could supply, and a frank inter- change of ideas showed that such unity was attainable. Mr. M 'Michael, senior elder, was chosen chairman of the large selection committee, and, under his prudent guidance, matters were not long in ripening. At a congregational meeting held on the last day of February, it was resolved to give a hearty call to the Rev. James Stalker, M.A., of Kirkcaldy.
Mr. Stalker had become widely known as the author of two admirably concise and graphic hand-books on the Life of Christ and the Life of St. Paid. His college career had been full of distinction ; as assistant for a time to Dr. J. H. Wilson of the Barclay Church, Edinburgh, he enjoyed the advantage of in- valuable early training ; while as minister of St. Brycedale for twelve years, he had given proof of his ministry in the building up of a congregation eight or nine hundred strong,
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 143
which had just crowned his labours by rearing a church edifice of noble proportions. He had, a few years before, married Charlotte, daughter of Francis Brown Douglas, Esq., a former Lord Provost of the city of Edinburgh, whose family has always been closely identified with the Free Church.
Presbyterial machinery makes haste slowly, but on 27th April, the Kirkcaldy Presbytery at last met to receive our commissioners. These were Rev. Dr. Adam and Rev. W. R. Taylor from the Presbytery ; Messrs. James M'Michael, G. E. Philip and Robert Russell from the Session ; Mr. Wm. Black from the Deacons' Court ; and Mr. John Boag from the congregation.
Mr. Ross Taylor, in opening the case for St. Matthew's, referred to the admirably mixed character of the congregation, its central position in Glasgow, and its proximity to the haunts of students and young men. Mr. Philip emphasized the enthusiasm of the call, which bore 640 signatures, the honourable history and present activity of the congregation, together with the opportunity its pulpit pre- sented for extended influence in the metropolis
144 Free St. Matthew's
of the west. He was confident that, with a wise head to guide, a warm heart to encourage, and good preaching to provide nutriment, St. Matthew's would, by the blessing of God, continue to flourish. Mr. Russell followed with a lucid description of the various agencies at work in the mission district, and dwelt on the inspiration to be derived from contact with the manifold activities of a great city. Mr. Boag having added a word, ex- Provost Swan intimated that the St. Brycedale people had sorrowfully resolved to place no obstacle in Mr. Stalker's way, should he see it to be his duty to leave them at this time.
Mr. Stalker, when called upon, said that the appeal, conveyed through St. Matthew's con- gregation, had grown more distinct and im- pressive, till he had been forced to recognize in it the voice of God. He had decided to join himself to those who were seeking to leaven Glasgow with the gospel of Christ. He sought not rest, but a fuller life, and the real fascination of the call lay in the stimulus which he anticipated from the religious enter- prise of that city. Whatever the future might bring, however, the twelve years spent in
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 145
Kirkcaldy would always appear in retrospect a sunny portion of his journey through life.
On the motion of the Rev. Norman Walker of Dysart, seconded by the Rev. P. M ' Ainsh of Lochgelly, the translation was agreed to, and our commissioners, after being hospitably entertained by Mr. Swan, returned home grate- ful to God for the happy issue of their errand to the east.
On the 17th May Mr. Stalker was inducted to the charge of Free St. Matthew's, the Rev. John Scott of the West Church presiding. A conversazione was held in the evening, when members of the congregation had an oppor- tunity of individually welcoming the new minister. Among the speakers were Revs. C. A. Salmond, G. A. Smith and Norman Walker, Professor Drummond and ex-Provost Swan. Mr. Laurence Robertson presented Mr. Stalker with gown, Bible, Psalm and Hymn Book, while Mr. M 'Michael handed a suitable acknowledgment to the interim- moderator. On Sabbath 22nd, Mr. Stalker was introduced by the Rev. Dr. J. H. Wilson, and in the afternoon preached himself, to an overflowino- audience, on '' Motives for the
146 Free St. Matthew's
Christian Ministry," from 2 Cor. iv. 5 : " We preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake " ; the passion for self, for Christ, and for man. Thus auspiciously commenced the pastorate, which happily continues to the present time in unabated vigour and with growing appreciation.
Such epochs in a congregation's life are usually attended with unavoidable changes in the personnel of its working staff Honoured office-bearers who have been induced to retain their posts, almost in spite of necessity, during an existing ministry, at length find it their duty to sever the wxll-loved connection. And so it happened that we were all at once called upon to bid farewell to Mr. G. M. Grierson, who had long done yeoman service in the department of finance ; to Mr. R. E. Aitken, general treasurer ; and to two other old and trusted elders, all on account of excessive distance from church. Mr. Wharrie also, for the same reason, intimated that he would no longer be able to discharge the duties of Session-clerk, though willing to give whatever help he could as an elder without a district.
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 147
In accepting Mr. Wharrie's resignation, the Session resolved to minute ''their high appreci- ation of the long and faithful services he has rendered in the eleven years during which he has adorned the office of Session-clerk. Called to the post at a difficult period in the history of the congregation, his tact has been conspicuously exercised in the election of no fewer than three successive ministers, while his manifold labours, wise counsels, and un- failing courtesy have ever deeply Impressed his brethren. In now acceding to his request to be relieved of his more onerous duties, their earnest desire is that he may be long spared for much usefulness In the Church, and that, in the future as In the past, they may fre- quently benefit by his genial presence and ripe experience." Mr. George E. Philip was appointed In his room.
In minuting the acceptance of Mr. Aitken's resignation, the Deacons' Court ''particularly recognized his services (along with those of Mr. M 'Michael) In connection with the clear- ing of the debt at Sprlngbank, and with the sale of the Anderston property." Mr. William Black was appointed his successor.
148 Free St. Matthew's
To the delight of all, the other two brethren soon found that their affection for St. Matthew's so greatly exceeded the distance they had to travel, that at a special congregational meeting they were heartily welcomed back to office within six months of demitting it, and are still in active service.
With nets thus mended, and the church itself freshly decorated, the winter's work was entered upon with high hope and courage. Large accessions of members immediately began to flow in, and have continued so to do, till at the present moment our member- ship is almost doubled. This is the more gratifying when we remember that, in a central city congregation like our own, it requires as many as no additions annually, if numbers are even to be maintained.
In order the better to supervise this ever- increasing congregation, frequent elections of elders and deacons have become necessary, no fewer than five ordinations to each office having taken place during the past eleven years, adding in all about ninety members to the roll of Deacons' Court. Supplementary lists of adherents, and of children were early
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 149
devised by Mr. David Mac Lean, who has since taken infinite pains in keeping them up to date. In addition to this, a standing Strangers' Committee was appointed with the double object of giving a hearty welcome to new-comers, whether casual or permanent, and of Intro- ducing them to church fellowship and work. Its services have been warmly appreciated by many, and its occasional reunions have well answered the purpose for which they were intended.
Difficulty was by-and-by felt by the seat- letting committee in satisfying the requirements of all who applied for sittings, and additional discretionary power had to be granted them, by way of increasing somewhat the total number available, and especially of facilitating provision for families and bond fide members. The tact displayed by successive conveners has ever proved equal to the occasion, and nearly all have been sooner or later accom- modated without friction.
As the natural result of all this, congre- gational income rose rapidly until we were in the happy position of being able to dispense entirely with special and spasmodic efforts.
150 Free St. Matthew's
An analysis of an ordinary church-door collec- tion, casually made In 1889, may not be without interest, as giving some Idea of the attendance at both diets of worship. The following are the number and value of coins put into the plate on 15th September:
|
Forenoon |
. |
Afternoon. |
|||||
|
£ s. |
d. |
£ s. |
d. |
||||
|
92 |
- ^d. |
0 3 |
10 |
112 |
- Id. |
0 4 |
8 |
|
44 |
id. |
I 17 |
0 |
452 |
- id. |
I 17 |
8 |
|
49 |
- 3d. |
0 12 |
3 |
40 |
- 3d. |
0 10 |
0 |
|
71 |
6d. |
I ^5 |
6 |
38 |
6d. |
0 19 |
0 |
|
14 |
IS. |
0 14 |
0 |
13 |
IS. |
0 13 |
0 |
|
3 |
2S. |
0 6 |
0 |
I |
2S. |
0 2 |
0 |
673 Coins, p{^5 S 7 656 Coins, ;2r4 6 4
Total for day, ;£g 14s. iid.
For the first six years, contributions to the Sustentation Fund also steadily increased, till they reached ^917. They have since rather receded owing to the inevitable lapsing of certain considerable subscriptions, and their replacement by smaller ones. While some variation must be allowed for In a congregation composed like our own, It Is quite felt that If the vital importance of this fund were gener- ally realized, an averao^e of ^i per member,
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 151
or say ^1000 at least, might be attained. Nothing, certainly, has been wanting on the part of the treasurers to ensure careful in- gathering, and many contribute well up to their ability, yet it is too patent that some of our younger wage-earners are slow to begin, and forgetful to revise their giving in this particular direction. As Mr. Currie, in one of his weighty Record-cover paragraphs remarks : *' If a member of the Free Church orives to
o
any religious or charitable object, surely it ought to be first and most largely to the fund which is the mainstay, if not the sole support, of a large proportion of her ministers. That their incomes are not too hio;h will be seen when it is stated that only four per cent, have ;^500 a year and upwards, while 500 have less than ^200 a year." At the same time it is a remarkable and creditable fact, that in the 55 years since the Disruption, close upon ;^5 5,000 has been remitted by St. Matthew's to this fund.
With regard to the great work of Foreign Missions, interest has certainly deepened. Not only have contributions through the regular Missionary Association steadily advanced, but
152 Free St. Matthew's
numerous auxiliary schemes have from time to time received warm support. In 1889, a commendable departure was made by Mr. Russell in the formation of a Juvenile Associa- tion, with periodically opened missionary boxes in the homes of its members. Thirteen of these were taken up during the first year, and the contents have gone to support a girl in training for mission work at the Madras Institution.
The appointment of Dr. Sandilands, one of our members, to Bhandara in the same year, was made the occasion of furnishing him with books and medical outfit to the value of ^58, while a native assistant was also pro- vided for a year or two thereafter.
When the Rev. Wm. Ewing, a former assistant, went to Tiberias a little later, a valuable library of research was gifted, chiefly by the Bible Class. In acknowledging its subsequent completion Mr. Ewing wrote :
" It is one of the best, if not the very best of its kind in the country. It comprises volumes on the geology of the Holy Land, its geography, history, antiquities, people, religion, manners and customs ; also books of travel, ancient and modern. ' Memoirs ' and ' Special Papers,'
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 153
their large Survey map, and beautiful set of drawings illustrative of excavations in Jerusalem, have been added by officers of that Fund and others. The books are most comfortably housed in a handsome bookcase, also kindly provided by you. Over it in black ornamental letters on a white ground stands the legend 'Tiberias Mission Library, the gift of Free St. Matthew's, Glasgow.' It will be of great value for reference to travellers in Palestine."
A cot in the hospital there has also been maintained for many years by the Christian Endeavour Society at Springbank.
In 1893, the sum of ^155 was contributed to the "Foreign Mission Jubilee Thank-offering," one donation being accompanied by this note : ''A humble mite from two Disruption worthies, who, on the second Sabbath of July, 1843, sat at the communion in the green field." Wal- densian Missions have been granted a subsidy of ^20 for several years. China and Living- stonia have not been forgotten. Appeals from Armenia, Persia, India, Africa, Belgium, and Canada have also been responded to.
The most important effort in this department, however, has been that inaugurated by Mrs. Stalker and a committee of ladies in 1896, whereby it is intended to support a lady missionary of our own in India. A sale of
154 Free St. Matthew's
work was held in the spring of 1897, which, with a few added subscriptions, reaHzed suffi- cient to carry out this object for two years. Miss Annie Douglas, who used to be a member of St. Matthew's, and whose brother is also a missionary in India, has thus become our representative, and is settled at Jalna, the scene of Narayan Sheshadri's labours.
With Rev. John C. Gibson in Swatow and Rev. Andrew B. Nielson in Formosa ; with Rev. Dr. M'Kichan in the College and Rev. Robert M. Gray in the church at Bombay; with Rev. Dr. Sandilands at Bhandara and his brother Dr. James at Santo, New Hebrides; with Rev. Donald Fraser at Livingstonia and Rev. C. W. Fleming in South Africa ; with Rev. J. H. Maclean at Madras, the Rev. R. B. Douglas and his sister at Jalna, and Miss Gault at Benares ; St. Matthew's can scarcely be other than a missionary congregation. Some of us also remember Alexander Menzies and Robert White, who, in recent years, laid down their lives in China and Africa ; nor do we forget Rev. Walter G. Maclaren, who has longf been settled at Bluff, New Zealand, or Rev. David Ross, who, having ministered for
SOME RECENT ASSISTANTS.
Rev. R. M. Gray, IVLA. Bombay.
Rev. R. SCRYMGEOUR, M.A. Jersey.
Rev. A. R. Gordon, M.A. IMonikie.
Rev. J.B.JoHNSTOXE,B.D. Rev. William Hay, B.D. Falkirk. Ayr.
Rev. R. G. Philip, M.A. Rev. C. W. Fleming, B.D. Glencairn. Indive, S. Africa.
Rev. David Young, M.A. Partick.
Rev. Hugh IMacLuskie, Irvine.
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 155
some years In the beautiful parish of Crathle, close to Balmoral, has now a flourishing charge in Perth, Western Australia.
In the Home field the multiform operations at Sprlngbank have been carried on with In- creasing vigour and success. In the next chapter we hope to say something of these in detail, but may here mention that about ^200 per annum Is expended on that district, in addition to some ;if 80 derived from Invested funds. The membership, which In 1887 was forty, has now almost trebled. House-building in the immediate neighbourhood of our premises has taken rapid strides, whole streets of fully occupied tenements now covering spaces which but the other day appeared to be "no man's land." In view of these and other circum- stances which will be referred to. It seemed to many as If matters were ripe for a forward movement, and In January, 1897, Dr. Stalker was able to make an important statement to the congregation, from which we take the following sentences :
" Our Mission sprang, I am told, out of the revival movement associated with the name of Mr. Moody, which swept over the city in 1874. It was at first connected
156 Free St. Matthew's
with St. Stephen's Church, but was subsequently transferred to St. Matthew's ; and very handsome and commodious premises were erected for the prosecution of the work. It has been a great blessing to the Springbank district, and it has been a great blessing to this congregation.
" I am not sure whether those who started it at first had any very clear views as to what it should ultimately become. It was to be a centre of evangelistic effort — a means of making known the Gospel — perhaps this was all they were thinking of at first. But the best traditions of such work in this city point in the direction of an effort of the kind culminating in the founding of a new congre- gation ; and it is several years since the Presbytery of the bounds represented to our office-bearers the desirability of keeping this in view. The call, however, to take any new step did not seem very urgent; but within the last year or two there set in an extraordinary extension of house- building in the vicinity, in consequence of which the popu- lation has so increased that the call for a new church seems to be imperative.
" The Presbyterial scheme for the planting of twelve new churches, recently launched with so much success, still further aroused our sense of duty ; and finally one of our own office-bearers, by offering to start the new enterprise with a very large subscription, made it plain that there was no alternative but to proceed. A very fine site has been procured, largely through the generous intervention of another of our office-bearers ; and plans of the new buildings are now in the course of preparation.
"We might, perhaps, have kept out of this enterprise had we desired to do so ; we might have thrown the re- sponsibility on the Presbytery, who would have fixed upon this, I presume, as one of their sites.
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 157
"But our congregation has long had a heavy stake in the Springbank district; and, if we are able, it will be a great satisfaction to us to plant down there an organized centre of Gospel light. Besides, we have now for a con- siderable number of years had great prosperity as a congregation ; and it is but natural that this should embody itself in some permanent monument beyond the routine of ordinary effort.
" I am not sorry that the first use we are to make of our prosperity is not for ourselves, but for the public cause of the Gospel in this city ; and, perhaps, if we are successful in this, other things may by-and-by be added to us."
Plans for the proposed church have since been approved, the cost has been well-nigh subscribed, and the building is already in an advanced stage. It is being erected on an admirable site close to the junction of Garscube Road and New City Road, just opposite our original rented premises, and has received the name of Queen's Cross Free Church.
On the evening of 23rd June, 1898, the ceremony of laying a memorial stone took place in presence of a large representation of office-bearers, congregation, and friends. In opening the proceedings, Dr. Stalker referred to the munificence of Mr. David Maclean, which had ensured the success of the under- taking, and to the generosity of Mr. Peter
158 Free St. Matthew's
M'Kissock, who put it in their power to secure such an advantageous site. The Rev. Dr. Whyte of Edinburgh, Moderator of the General Assembly, then laid the stone with all due formality, and thereafter addressed the com- pany, reminding them of " the noble, ever fresh, never conventional, never common-place motto of the city, ' Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the Word.'" This house of prayer was a reminder to men, that if they did their work loyally as in the Great Taskmaster's eye, they would do something, for generations to come, to continue to develop and extend the prosperity, the stability and the wealth of Glasgow. Having got the church, he hoped they would also get a minister worthy of being a colleaofue to his friend Dr. Stalker. Psalm cxxii. 6-9 was then sung, and the assembly dispersed.
While the care of Springbank has chiefly taxed the resources of St. Matthew's, the claims of less favoured congregations who, in their own localities, are bravely seeking to solve the home mission problem, have not been entirely overlooked during those years. Opportunities have been embraced for extending needed aid,
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 159
in various ways, to Springburn, Tollcross, Blochairn, Buchanan Memorial, Cranstonhill and Gorbals, in addition to which some share has been taken in the General Debt Extinc- tion Fund.
The Psalmody Committee and Musical As- sociation have throughout done admirable work in leading the praise at Sabbath and week- night services, and their annual recitals have been of a high order. Special thanks were due to Mr. D. M. Munro, who, by means of a trained choir of children, and a lecture, raised sufficient money to provide the Mission with an American organ for indoor work, and a harmonium for outside. The unofrudo-insf services of Miss Jessie Paterson as pianist upon every possible occasion at church and mission also deserve very special recognition.
In 1894 an Orchestral Society was formed in order ''to bring players of instruments to- gether for mutual improvement, with the view of helping in church and mission work when their services might be useful." This Society has given ample proof of its utility at some of the Corporation Model Lodging-houses and the Canal Boatmen's Mission, as well as at several
i6o Free St. Matthew's
of our own congregational meetings, at one of which so competent an authority as Professor Bruce declared the rendering of " St. George's Edinburgh " to be beyond praise.
In the same year, the Psalmody Committee brought the question of instrumental music at the Sabbath services before the Session, who agreed to consult the feeling of the congre- gation. Finding that a very considerable minority were adverse, that court, with the hearty acquiescence of all, allowed the matter to drop. In the present year, however, the subject was revived by Mr. Nicholson, and the Session, having afresh ascertained the mind of the people, felt warranted in remitting it to the Deacons' Court, to be dealt with in such manner, and at such time as to their wisdom might seem fit, on the understanding that no debt should be incurred thereby.
In the autumn of 1889, Dr. Stalker pub- lished his first volume since cominof to Glaso-ow. It was entitled Imago Christi, and is a devotional study of Christ's example, bearing on the relationships of everyday life. It had a warm reception from the public, and was specially interesting to ourselves as placing in
Dr. Stalker's Ministry i6i
permanent form much of the teaching we had enjoyed during the preceding winters. Other important works have followed at intervals, and it is a striking proof of the favour they have met with even beyond the pale of English-speaking races, that one or another has been translated into at least seven European languages, or has found a circula- tion in the less easily deciphered characters of India, China and Japan.
It was with feelings of genuine satisfaction that, in 1890, the announcement was received that the University of Glasgow proposed to confer the degree of D.D. upon our minister. This was regarded as a just recognition of laborious and solid work based on ripe scholar- ship and wide culture. As a tangible token of the general interest in the occasion, the ladies of the congregation, by the hands of the Session-clerk, presented Dr. Stalker with the hood and cap appropriate to the degree. That he might be long spared to wear and to adorn the new dignity was the heartfelt prayer of all.
With academic laurels still green, he visited America, by invitation, in the spring of 1891 in order to deliver a course of lectures on
L
1 62 Free St. Matthew's
Preaching at Yale University. Many of these were, in substance at least, first given in St. Matthew's, and on his return the whole were published in book form, under the title of The Preacher and his Models. In parting with their Moderator the Session took the opportunity of expressing the hearty willing- ness with which they thus shared their good gift with sister churches in the New World, looking forward, however, to the time when, by God's blessing, pastor and people should again be re-united at the summer communion. In Dr. Stalker's absence the pulpit of St. Matthew's was well supplied, the Rev. Principals Caird and Rainy, Professor Laidlaw, Drs. Fergus Ferguson, Andrew Melville, Donald Macleod, Alexander Whyte and J. H. Wilson, being among those who gave willing help. Interest- ing letters were received from various points on the American continent, and, on the 22nd June, a hearty welcome home was accorded to Dr. and Mrs. Stalker, when the former narrated some of his experiences and im- pressions.
In the following year, an unsuccessful attempt was made to remove our minister to Maryle-
Dr. Stalker's Ministry i6
o
bone, London, in succession to the Rev. Donald Fraser, D.D. Other proposals were at various times mooted with the view of securinor him for Edinburorh and New York, but absolutely unanimous representations from his office-bearers did something, at least, to help him to arrive at the welcome decision to remain in Glasgow. At a large meeting of congregational workers, held in the autumn of 1895 i^ the Berkeley Hall, the ladies presented a new pulpit gown, taking the same opportunity of testifying affectionate regard for Mrs. Stalker by asking her acceptance of a drawing-room lamp.
In 1896, the Pan- Presbyterian Council met in Glasgow, the time of their sittings coinciding with our June communion. The Rev. Dr. Cunningham, of Wheeling, U.S., and Principal Rainy preached forenoon and evening, the Revs. Wm. Park, Belfast, and Vernon Moore, Helena, U.S., assisting Dr. Stalker by address- ing communicants and children. Not fewer than twenty-six of the delegates joined with us in the service.
Sabbath, 20th June, 1897, was kept through- out the length and breadth of the land as a
1 64 Free St. Matthew's
day of thanksgiving to Almighty God for having spared our gracious Queen to reach her Diamond Jubilee. In the forenoon, Dr. Stalker preached from 2 Sam. xxiii. 3-4 : "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds ; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain." The large congregation joined in singing " God save the Queen," not without a lump in the throat. On Accession Day another brief service was held in the church, the Revs. A. R. MacEwen, D.D., of Claremont, and J. Brown, M.A., of St. Peter's, taking part. The joyful singing of the Bishop of Wakefield's hymn and the unanimous vocal prayer of '' God save the Queen " were memorable features.
The first break in our Session by death, during the present pastorate, was the removal, on Christmas Day, 1890, of Mr. Thomas Gray, " who not only discharged with faithfulness the duties of his ofiice, but adorned it by his character. His enthusiasm and ripe experience were greatly valued, and he was a standing proof that genuine Christianity brightens the
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 165
life, and keeps the spirit young." In 1893, Mr. Laurence Robertson was called away, " so long associated with the congregation, and for the past eight years an esteemed elder. Though lack of robust health rendered him less able than willinor to take an active share in some departments of Christian work, he was felt to be a tower of strength as a wise counsellor." In 1895, the Session were called on to record '' their thankful acknowledgment of Mr. Robert Craig's work of faith and labour of love while in their midst"; and in 1897, ''their deep sorrow at the removal of Mr. William Kirkland, — a man of sterling character, diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, — one of the features of whose Christian career was his life-long devotion to Sabbath school work." Lastly, even since these sentences were penned, we have been unitedly mourning the sudden death of Mr. Peter M'Kissock, ''whose shrewd, large-hearted and ever-ready counsel was felt to be simply invaluable. His own spiritual experiences had been deep and memorable, and he rejoiced in making known to others the secret which had saved and held himself."
1 66 Free St. Matthew's
In 1888, there passed away, in his eighty- fourth year, Mr. John B. Buchanan, a truly devoted Disruption elder of Kingston Church, who had latterly worshipped with us ; and in 1889, Dr. Mackintosh, one of our oldest and most respected members, "a pioneer of new methods in a Christ-like work, which, though withdrawn from the public eye, has sensibly diminished the sum of human suffering."
Nor can we omit mention of Miss Eliza Currie, who died in 1890, "than whom no worker at Springbank has been more devoted or influential, and whose gentle presence will be sorely missed." Miss Margaret King Mitchell also was taken home in 1895. ''Be- longing to a family long known and highly esteemed in St. Matthew's, she was one of our most useful members, giving to the more prosaic details of missionary work-parties that skilled and careful attention which it is so difficult to replace."
We should like, in closing, to record the first wedding which had ever taken place within the walls of Free St. Matthews. On 2nd September, 1891, Miss Lizzie MacLean, daughter of our well-known elder, was married
Dr. Stalker's Ministry 167
to Mr. John B. Wallace of Liverpool. The light of her simple-hearted Christian spirit could not be hid, but shone out in every look, word and gesture. She had specially endeared herself to the young women of the congregation, as secretary of their Union. They followed her with benedictions to her new home, and it was with truly mourning hearts that, all too soon thereafter, they were called to lay a wreath of purest white flowers upon her early grave. " She is not dead, but sleepeth."
IX
St. Matthew's of To-day
' ' Walk about Zion, and go round about her ; tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks ; consider her palaces ; that ye may tell it to the generation following."
Psalm xlviii. 12, 13.
IX
St. Matthew's of To-day
TN reverting, as promised, to details of the work carried on at Sprlngbank, there seems no way in which we can do so more naturally or satisfactorily than by inviting the reader to accompany us on a flying visit to the various agencies in operation during a single week. We shall thereafter Inquire what Is going on simultaneously at the church in Bath Street.
Walking out New City Road on a Sabbath morning, we find that its long stretch of hemmed-in causeway presents a very differ- ent aspect from that with which we are most familiar. Crowding and bustling have sub- sided for a space, and save for an occasional car toiling up to Maryhill, or a decent milk- cart, with shining pails, standing at the corner
172 Free St. Matthew's
of some cross-street, the thoroughfare is all but clear. The unwonted quiet makes such sylvan designations as Woodside, Well Road, Firhill and Kelvindale sound a little less incongruous than at other times, and helps us to realise that these are the veritable echoes of a bygone age, when woods and wells, trees and dells were undeniable features of the landscape.
Doncaster Street is already ahve with child- ren cheerily making their way to our Mission Hall. At eleven, the Foundry Boys' Society assembles, with an attendance of 230. Mr. Peter Macfarlane (elder) has for some years been the popular chairman, the infant depart- ment being presided over by Mr. A. M. Forrester in an adjoining room. There is a staff of about 40 monitors and a speaker is provided by the central organization. The teaching comprises Scripture text and lesson, with Psalm and Shorter Catechism ; prizes in the shape of a Bible, hymn-book, or copy of the Pilgrims Progress being awarded annually for the correct repetition of all the texts. By means of such gatherings liberally scattered over the city, it is calculated that sound Bibli-
St. Matthew's of To-day 173
cal instruction is conveyed to about 15,000 children, who might otherwise be left to lounge at home, or loiter on the streets. It is just possible, however, that some encouragement is also unintentionally given to parents of a certain class to be negligent themselves in the matter of morning church-going, especi- ally in the company of their families. This is a tendency which none would desire to foster, and we shall watch with interest an alternative experiment, which is being tried elsewhere, of marking- and rewarding the attendance of chil- dren in the proper church of their parents. There is a further admitted drawback in the necessary absence of so many monitors from the ordinary forenoon service of the sanctuary, though to the credit of those belonging to St. Matthew's it may well be stated that none are more regularly in their places in the afternoon. Moreover, their self-denying zeal from week to week is so far beyond praise as to entirely disarm criticism.
At a quarter-past eleven a Working Lads' Class is held in the upper hall, under the sympathetic presidency of Mr. Arnott. An attractive syllabus of Bible study is in the
174 Free St. Matthew's
hands of members, rotation of speakers being arranged by Mr. Bankier, the secretary, while through the week Mr. Hunter and others o^ive attention to the social side and to visita- tion. A sight of those sixty or seventy eager, upturned faces, with the opportunity of hearing their lusty singing, amply rewards a visit, which, we are assured, is always welcome. It is quite impossible to look upon this stalwart band without reflecting that there must be many in it who are "not far from the kingdom," or without longing to see it become more unmistakably a recruiting ground for open profession and church membership. In a recently published account of the Pleasance Mission in Edinburgh, it is mentioned that for many years ten to fifteen young communi- cants were regularly drawn from an exactly similar source. How encouraging to all con- cerned would such a harvest be !
At a quarter-past two, there Is a service in the hall, conducted by the missionary, and attended by about sixty persons gathered from the district.
The Sabbath school opens at half-past five. It has been fortunate in having had, from the
St. Matthew's of To-day 175
first, a succession of able office-bearers as superintendents, Mr. Buist (elder) at present acting in that capacity. Here we find some 380 children and 30 or 40 teachers in actual attendance, and we fancy that few schools in the city are better equipped. With the younger children separated, and ten or twelve detached class-rooms for the more grown-up boys and girls, the outward conditions for effective teaching seem highly favourable.
At seven o'clock the chief adult service of the day is held, conducted by the mission- ary assistant. It is preceded by a short open-air gathering, and is well attended. The Lord's Supper is, by authority of the Presbytery, dispensed quarterly, the present membership being 114. On these occasions a number of Free St. Matthew's members are always present. The praise, under the en- thusiastic leadership of Mr. Menmuir, is peculiarly hearty, many of our best singers lending willing help in this way. That the people may be trained in Christian giving, collections are taken monthly for the Sustenta- tion Fund, and quarterly for Foreign Missions, in addition to the ordinary church plate.
176 Free St. Matthew's
These have yielded, for the past year, ^4 I2S. 7d. and £\ 4s. respectively. It should be added that two elders — at present Messrs. John Bryce and J. S. Gregson — are detailed for the more immediate supervision of the district. These, with the Missionary Assistant and Bible-woman, form a kind of permanent committee which can advise the Session in cases of application for member- ship or of discipline.
On nearly every evening of the week the halls are fully engaged.
Monday is a stirring night. At an early hour the doors are besieged by the thrifty and intellectual sections of our young people. The Savings Bank, under the charge of Mr. W. O. Small, registers 7800 transactions in a year, representing over ^300 in deposits. The Library issues from forty to fifty volumes weekly, from a nominal stock of several hundreds; but as the books by-and-by get worn out, not to speak of becoming anti- quated, additions are very acceptable. A Reading-room, well supplied with weekly papers and monthly magazines, is also thrown open to members of the Young Men's class.
St. Matthew's of To-Day 177
In the hall, Mr. Robert Leisk conducts an encouraging Band of Hope, with about sixty members.
On Tuesday the week-night service for adults is held in the hall, with a fair attendance. Upstairs the Christian Endeavour Society assembles in two sections, the senior being led by Messrs. Peter Macfarlane and J. S. Gregson, the junior by Miss Kenneth. That of St. Matthew's Mission was the first branch to be started in Glasgow, and has been found a potent factor for good. Its motto is " For Christ and the Church," and it is composed of *' young people who have been led to trust the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and who desire to show their love to Him by serving Him every day." Discussion has lately arisen as to the utility of this new organization in church life. Now, while this must ever depend upon the wisdom of those who guide, it would be strange indeed if the central ideas underlying so remarkable a movement could not be assimilated, without placing a fictitious value on merely accidental details. In our case there need not be the slightest misgiving, so long as we have such devoted
178 Free St. Matthew's
elders at the helm. At the same time, we do well to ask ourselves with regard to all our methods, if we may not rest too easily satisfied with being consciously instructive, without makinor sure that we are also, in the truest sense, constructive. Is it not the fact that we are often more attentive to note, and more careful to tabulate, the numbers enrolled in each of our initiatory departments than to inquire how many are ultimately led by their means into the fixed habit of church attend- ance, and into the intelligent desire for church membership? Yet these are the ends that should never be lost sight of; these are results which, if attained, would demonstrate utility beyond question. In this view it is gratify- ing to know that several members of the Christian Endeavour Society are at present attending a preparatory class with the intention of seeking admission to the Lord's Table.
On Wednesday afternoon our Bible-woman holds her Mothers' Meeting, and this is cer- tainly one of the most flourishing institutions at Springbank. About sixty mothers attend regularly, and although Miss Campbell is always a host in herself, she welcomes the valuable
St. Matthew's of To-Day 179
help given by several ladies in the congregation. In the evening, the Choir holds its practice, and a Gymnasium is likewise thrown open for the benefit of the young men.
Thursday is a day of diffused effort through- out the district. Eight Kitchen Meetings, arranged for by Mr. Gumprecht, are conducted by as many office-bearers and others in the homes of the people, and in connection with these a large staff of Tract Distributors, superin- tended by Mr. Steel, visits the different stairs. In these ways acquaintance with the circum- stances of the families is acquired, and many opportunities for sympathy and timely aid naturally present themselves. Meantime, the Girls' Union is in possession of the hall, and here sewing is taught, relieved by occasional demonstrations in cookery, laundry work, etc. The Union has from the first been singularly fortunate in its presidents, Miss Macfadzean, Miss Cree, and Mrs. Peter Macfarlane having successively rendered admirable service.
On Friday, the 12th company of the Boys* Brigade assembles for drill, and a thoroughly presentable contingent it makes, with its smart uniform, and the bria;ht faces of its members,
i8o Free St. Matthew's
well worthy to share in the commendation bestowed by Lord Roberts upon the Glasgow battalions. Mr. Archibald Kennedy holds the post of captain in succession to Messrs. William Black and Alexander Leitch.
On Saturday there has usually been a Gospel Temperance meeting, conducted on lines vary- ing from year to year. This, however, is at present in abeyance, affording a welcome breathing time to our worthy hall-keeper in view of Sabbath.
Of occasional meetings, we must specially mention the solemn Watch- nigrht Service with which each New Year is ushered in ; the bright and crowded gathering of happy children at noon on the same day ; and the great annual Flower Show held every autumn. This last, indeed, is an event of such outstanding interest in the mission calendar that we must tran- scribe a few paragraphs from a descriptive sketch which appeared in one of the Monthly supplements.
" By three o'clock about eighty plants had been entered by the children for competition, and an equal number had been received on loan from the Corporation and from helpers in the church. Shortly afterwards the judge arrived
St. Matthew's of To-Day i8i
and the children's plants were carefully and patiently passed under review, now with a word of special commendation and now with a kindly hint how to improve; and when at last the prizes were awarded and the flowers all placed in position, the hall presented such an appearance as the oldest inhabitant had seldom seen. At half-past six the doors were opened, and in streamed an expectant crowd of boys and girls. It did one's heart good to hear the involuntary and expressive " Oh ! " burst in chorus from each fresh batch of arrivals, and to see the excitement and joy stamped on every feature. The sense of proprietor- ship too gave a touch of pride and eagerness to the happy faces ; for was it not their own flower show for the success of which they had been working night and morning for months? It was a real luxury to wander about, and to be gently dragged from table to table to admire the beauties of this geranium or that fuchsia, and to hear how they had watched its growth all through the summer, and how many blossoms it had shown at one time."
On the following day, some of the flowers are distributed throughout the district, while others go perhaps to cheer little sufferers in the Sick Children's Hospital. All through the summer, indeed, a fortnightly distribution takes place among the sick and aged, timely intima- tion of the dates when flowers are received for this purpose being given on the Record cover.
But it is now hieh time that we were turninor our steps towards St. Matthew's itself, from
1 82 Free St. Matthew's
whence the motive power for all these organi- zations is derived, and where we shall find a similar activity pervading the entire week. In making ourselves acquainted with the work carried on there, we cannot do better than follow the plan which we have adopted at Springbank, though in this case we propose to reserve Sabbath to the last, not as a re- version to Jewish practice, but because that day is a high day — the best of all the seven. Let us then commence our visitation on a Monday evening, going down early so as to have time for a look round before others have gathered. As we thread our way by Charing Cross, with its meshes of tramway rails, its constant stream of traffic, and its glare of electric light, we are reminded in how many ways the neighbourhood has altered since the times referred to in our opening chapter. And yet as we turn into Newton Street, and see the stately spire of St. Matthew's clear against the clouds, a spirit of restfulness possesses us, and we feel that we are still on familiar ground. The open gate in front and the lighted lamp within indicate sufficiently that business is on hand.
St. Matthew's of To-Day 183
We are met at the door by Thomas Herd, who has been church officer for fifteen years, and who can put us up to anything we want to know. He carries a directory of the con- gregation in the back of his head, and has early information on most subjects. He shows us at once into the Deacons' Court Room with a cheerful fire already ablaze. The massive oak frame above the mantel-piece, enclosing fifty or sixty cabinet photographs, was the gift of Mr. David Mac Lean in 1890, and represents the entire Deacons' Court as it then stood. It may be mentioned in this connection that our elder, Mr. Currie, has long had the idea that an interesting collection of ecclesiastical portraits might adorn our halls, if members and friends would only send in such as they were willing to part with, and which are some- times even relegfated to the lumber room at home. A beginning has already been made with —
D. O. Hill's Disruption Assembly.
Allan's General Assembly of 1787.
First Meeting of Secession Fathers at Gairney Bridge in 1733.
Portrait of Dr. John Erskine of Greyfriars (immorta- lized by Scott in Guy Majineri?tg).
1 84 Free St. Matthew's
Portrait of Dr. Andrew Thomson of St. George's,
Edinburgh. Portrait of Dr. Inglis of Edinburgh (father of late
Lord President Inglis). Portrait of Sir H. Moncrieff Wellwood (grandfather
of the late Baronet, Clerk of Assembly). Portraits of our own Apostolic succession : Dr. Samuel
Miller, Dr. John Watson, Rev. C. A. Salmond,
M.A., Dr. James Stalker.
Soon after half-past seven the collectors drop in with Sustentation and Foreign Mission con- tributions, reporting their successes or dis- appointments, with zealous solicitude, to the respective treasurers. We are quite certain that could our members but witness the arrival of these faithful auxiliaries — perhaps with drip- ping garments on a winter night, — they would appreciate in a new way how much the church owes to such unobtrusive service, and would make a point of lightening the labours of their rounds by a kindly welcome or a sealed envelope in waiting. At eight o'clock, the Deacons' Court meets for ordinary business, taking up, as a fixed item on the agenda paper for each month, the report of one of its standing committees.
In the large hall, the Young Women's Union
St. Matthew's of To-Day 185
meets on alternate Mondays, and, with that turn for practicahty combined with variety which distinguishes the sex, seems equally happy in cutting out rudimentary clothing for Galla boys and famine orphans, or in listening to music, travellers' tales, or missionary intelli- gence. Nor must we omit mention of the Ladies' Work Association, composed of the wives of office-bearers and others, which con- sults together once a month on this afternoon. Its chief objects are the visitation of sick and lonely ones both of church and mission, the sympathetic superintendence of the Bible- woman's work and the support of our lady missionary in India.
On Tuesday evenings the Young Men's Literary Society is in session, and there governments are made and unmade, the relative positions in literature of Tennyson and Browning are definitely ascertained, and the more outlying portions of the globe are ransacked by the aid of lime-light, — all within elders' hours. When a lecturer of outstanding interest has been captured either by this Society, or by the Young Women's Union, a joint meeting is arranged, and is
1 86 Free St. Matthew's
thrown open to the congregation. Dr. Stalker has been in the habit of giving, for the benefit of both, an annual study of some poet's teaching — Burns, Tennyson, and Shakespeare in various moods, being memorable examples. Wednesday night is devoted to the Prayer Meeting, committees being usually called, for convenience, before or after. It is held in the church, the area of which is largely filled. Promptly at eight o'clock, Dr. Stalker steps on the platform, which is the signal for the choir to collect the thous^hts of the con- gregation by singing an appropriate Scripture Sentence. Prayer and praise thereafter alter- nate for half an hour, two office-bearers or other friends invariably taking part. A care- fully prepared and suggestive address fol- lows, and the meeting disperses before nine o'clock has struck. The Psalms afforded ample subject of meditation for nine successive winters, two from the first hundred being alternated with one from the latter fifty ; and as the triumphal symphony of the closing Psalm died away, it was with a sense of regret that we could not just begin over again. The gracious words which proceeded out of the
St. Matthew's of To-Day 187
mouth of Christ are now being taken up in order, and the Sermon on the Mount has alone been found a mine of unfathomable depth. At intervals an evening has been spared for the consideration of missionary subjects, the lives of great hymn-writers, family worship, and temperance. The Session statedly meets at the close of the prayer meeting on the second Wednesday of each month and oftener as required.
On alternate Thursdays the Orchestral Society holds its practisings, while the free night is much in demand for social re-unions of one kind or another. The Total Abstinence Society endeavours to arrange two or three such gatherings in the course of the winter.
On Friday evening there is a Children's Praise Meeting at a quarter before seven, followed by the Psalmody Association at eight o'clock. At each of these there is generally the systematic study of some sacred cantata in addition to the practice of anthems and other more familiar church music.
Owing to the conveniently west-central position of our church halls, the use of them is frequently asked and willingly granted for
1 88 Free St. Matthew's
non-congregational purposes, such as meetings of the Women's Foreign Missionary Associa- tion, Sabbath School Union and other societies, so that it will be seen that they are pretty fully occupied.
Coming now to the Sabbath day, it may be stated that we adhere to the usual forenoon and afternoon diets of worship, nor is there anything in the attendances at either to in- dicate that change would be of advantage. Both are large — especially, perhaps, that of the afternoon.
The ordinary services are preceded by oratherinors of the Youno^ Men's and Younor Women's Fellowship Unions, and are followed bv the Sabbath School and Bible Class. The first of these has a carefully drawn syllabus, calling for strenuous study on the part of members in turn. Mr. Mac Lean has long thrown his whole heart into this work, and it was only the other day that the grateful feelings of the young men found vent in the presentation to him of a beautifully illuminated address. The Sabbath School assembles at half-past ^v^, and has been for many years under the superintendence of Mr. Watt, elder.
St. Matthew's of To-Day 189
There is an attendance of about 120 scholars and 17 teachers. The Bible Class is taught by the assistant for the time being, and subjects prescribed by the Welfare of Youth Committee are usually taken up. There are seventy to eighty on the roll.
Once a month Dr. Stalker preaches a Children's Sermon in the forenoon, and in the afternoon gives one of a course of lectures *' intended chiefly for those who, through being engaged at the children's church or in similar work in the forenoon, miss the regular morning lecture." The subjects thus taken up have been very varied, and have included " The Teaching of Christ according to the Synoptical Gospels," "The Poetry of the Old Testament," " Jeremiah, the Man and his Message," "Religious Psychology," "Conver- sion illustrated in the Lives of Saintly Men, from Augustine to Rabbi Duncan," and "The Background of the Life of Christ." It is super- fluous to say that they have been in the highest desTree informinof to those who themselves seek to impart to others. At the ordi- nary forenoon service lecturing has been the rule. Biblical history and biography, Christian
I90 Free St. Matthew's
doctrine and interpretation have each in turn yielded abundant material " profitable for in- struction in righteousness." The short courses dealing with the lives of ''Joseph," ''St. Peter," "The Two St. Johns," "The Essentials and Non-essentials of Christianity," "The Parables of Zechariah," and " The Parables of our Lord," as well as the longer one on " The Trial and Death of Jesus," will be gratefully remembered by different sections of the con- gregation. In the afternoon we have most commonly a sermon, with its divisions dis- tinctly stated at the outset from a small slip of paper which is seldom again referred to.
While it would be out of place to attempt to characterize the preaching with which we are so highly favoured, we may at least be allowed to say that it is both suggestive and stimulating in a remarkable degree. With the true instinct of an interpreter, the preacher seems to place himself alongside his hearers, accurately gauging their standpoint, and lead- ing up therefrom to the inculcation of highest doctrine stated in untechnical but purposeful language. He comes charged with a message from God, which he delivers sympathetically.
St. Matthew's of To-Day 191
yet with no uncertain sound. All ages, classes, and temperaments, with their questionings, burdens, and temptations, are kept in view, and it is shown how the gospel has a practical lesson for each. Those who most regularly wait upon this ministry are best able to ap- preciate the many-sided aspects of truth which are thus naturally and systematically unfolded from the Word of God. We cannot for a moment doubt that in the Spirit's hand it is often used for turning many to righteousness, and in building up many more in their most holy faith.
It is with satisfaction that the cono^recration has just learned of Dr. Stalker's appointment as Cunningham Lecturer for 1899, when it is understood that his subject will be Ckrisfs Teaching about Himself.
The sacrament of baptism is now admin- istered near the commencement of public worship, and this arrangement has certainly the advantaore of fixinor the hour when the
o o
mother's presence is required, and of setting the minds of both parents free to enjoy other parts of the service. The congregation stand during the dispensation of the ordin-
192 Free St. Matthew's
ance, and at its conclusion spontaneously join in the unanimous prayer :
" The Lord bless thee, and keep thee : The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be
gracious unto thee : The Lord Uft up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
With the view of simplifying arrangements and of promoting that quiet which is in itself so helpful, the entire afternoon is devoted to the Quarterly Communion Service, the action sermon and fencing of the tables being given earlier in the day. Great pains have also been taken, in the spirit of Christ's own example when feeding the multitude, to secure the utmost precision on the part of officiating elders, so that no avoidable distraction may mar the solemn feast. A card of minute instructions has been drawn up, which has been found to serve its purpose well, and not a few testi- monies have been borne by strangers to the impressiveness of the sight from the platform of eight hundred communicants with one ac- cord celebrating the Lord's death.
As these occasions are undoubtedly the most memorable in St. Matthew's, we should like
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Elements should be placed on Table in position shewn.
Each Elder will kindly study back of Card, so as to make himself
familiar \Axh duty assigned
Elders unable to be present should advise Session-Clerk in advance.
All others should wait for instructions at close of Preparatory Service.
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Officiating Elders, unless required earlier, should be in West room by 1-50 p.m. At 2 o'clock they enter Church by East door, following Minister in order called by Clerk.
After depositing their charge on Communion Table, they remain standing opposite seats assigned until all the Elements have been placed on Table. At the luords of Institution all rise simultaneously, but only step on platform in turn as required. All stand during praise and prayer.
The serving Elders are themselves served after the Congregation.
Immediately after Benediction has been pronounced, the Elders remove the Elements by West door, following Minister in same order as on entering.
Care should be taken throughout that corresponding Elders on either side of Church keep as nearly as possible opposite each other.
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St. Matthews Token (Now disused).
194 Free St. Matthew's
to set down briefly the order of service. At two o'clock, Dr. Stalker and the assisting minister, followed by a large company of elders bearing the elements, enter the church by the east door. Each finds his appointed place, and remains standing till the last cup has been deposited on the communion table. Then the service commences with the full-voiced singing of that exalted strain of ZIon :
"O send Thy light forth and Thy truth;
Let them be guides to me, And bring me to Thine holy hill,
Even where Thy dwellings be. Then will I to God's altar go.
To God my chiefest joy : Yea, God, my God, Thy name to praise
My harp I will employ."
A short passage of Scripture and prayer follow, and the familiar 35th Paraphrase is sung, ending with those fine lines which sum up, almost In Christ's own words, the spirit and import of the ordinance :
"With love to man this cup is fraught, Let all partake the sacred draught ; Through latest ages let it pour, In mem'ry of My dying hour."
St. Matthew's of To-Day 195
Authority having been read from i Cor., chap, xi., and the thanksgiving prayer offered, a brief address is given, after which the symbols of dying love are distributed, and a hushed silence falls upon the great congregation, broken only by the footsteps of the elders passing from pew to pew. Returning to the platform, the officiating elders are served by other brethren, and then all give expression to their pent-up feelings in that most appropriate of communion hymns by our own Bonar :
" Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face ;
Here would I touch and handle things unseen, Here grasp with firmer hand the eternal grace, And all my weariness upon Thee lean.
Here would I feed upon the bread of God,
Here drink with Thee the royal wine of heaven ;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load, Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.
This is the hour of banquet and of song;
This is the heavenly table spread for me; Here let me feast, and, feasting, still prolong
The brief, bright hour of fellowship with Thee."
The assisting minister follows with an address, at the close of which a few words on the "mean- ing of this service" are spoken by Dr. Stalker
196 Free St. Matthew's
to the expectant children in the side galleries, and after prayer the whole concludes with the last verses of the same hymn :
" Too soon we rise ; the symbols disappear ;
The feast, though not the love, is past and gone ; The bread and wine remove, but Thou art here, Nearer than ever, still my shield and sun.
Feast after feast thus comes and passes by, Yet, passing, points to the glad feast above,
Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy.
The Lamb's great bridal feast of bliss and love."
Thus do we approach the sacred ordinance by the gateway of prophetic aspiration, and, looking through the lattice of the Upper Room, behold the Saviour in the very act of institution. As we endeavour to realize, in our own experi- ence, some true communion with Himself and with His saints, we seem to be ''compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses." Our hearts burn within us as we call to mind ''the goodly company of the apostles, the noble army of martyrs, the holy church throughout all the world," — guests like us at the same table, spread for disciples till the end of time. Others there are besides, who are never far from our thoughts, — loved ones of our own, —
St. Matthew's of To-Day 197
who used to sit beside us at this feast, and pass to us the cup of blessing. Musing on their absence now, our sorrow is turned into joy, as we remember how they " have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God."
"Now with triumphal palms they stand Before the throne on high, And serve the God they love, amidst The glories of the sky."
It is with hallowed strains like these echo- ing around us that we should choose to close this brief record of St. Matthew's ; yet ought we not first to acknowledge from the heart our gratitude to God for all His great good- ness to us, as a congregation, during the four successive ministries we have been recalling ? And as we wistfully turn towards the future, longing for some assurance that He who hath been mindful of us will still bless us, do we not catch a whispered message from the Master Himself, who, while taking us into His confidence, would at the same time acquaint us with the conditions of His favour : "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall
198 Free St. Matthew's
ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you"? Let us, therefore, who name ourselves of Zion, see that we be "holy, every one written among the living in Jerusalem"; and let us not cease to pray for her prosperity. Then may ''the children of Zion be joyful in their King," for to them shall be fulfilled the promise that is written :
" I will abundantly bless her provision, I will satisfy her poor with bread, Her priests will I clothe with salvation, And her saints shall shout aloud for joy."
3for mi? bcetbren anD companions* safies
5 will now saij,
Ipcace be wttbin tbee.
X
Appendix
Office-Bearers of Free St. Matthew's
(I) ELDERS.
Those marked * are still in office.
|
Ordained |
Ordained |
||
|
Inducted. |
or Inducted. |
||
|
1840 |
Allan Buchanan. |
I861 |
James Macarthur. |
|
1840 |
James Keyden. |
I861 |
William Allan. |
|
I84I |
Peter Lawson. |
1861 |
John Muir. |
|
1842 |
David Stow. |
1865 |
George Reith. |
|
1844 |
Alexander Wingate. |
1865 |
Gilbert Beith. |
|
1846 |
Hugh Cogan. |
1865 |
David Hay. |
|
1846 |
William Gumming. |
1865 |
James C. Wyper. |
|
1846 |
Robert Forrester. |
1865 |
John Boag. |
|
1847 |
Andrew Nielsen. |
1865 |
William Ramsay. |
|
1847 |
John Wilson. |
1865 |
James Miller. |
|
1847 |
George M. Sandilands. |
1865 |
Thomas Wharrie. |
|
1848 |
Robert Fleming. |
1868 |
James White. |
|
1848 |
John Thomson. |
1868 |
Neil Caw. |
|
1848 |
Thomas L. Paterson. |
1868 |
James Connell. |
|
1848 |
Plummer Dewar. |
1868 |
Robert King. |
|
1848 |
William Mirrlees. |
1868 |
William Fairbairn. |
|
1852 |
James Wright. |
1868 |
WiUiam Mathison. |
|
1852 |
William Mackinlay. |
1868 |
John A. Mathieson. |
|
1852 |
Francis J. Ferguson. |
1868 |
Walter Scobie. |
|
1852 |
Archibald M'Nicol. |
1876 |
Donald M 'Caiman. |
|
1852 |
Thomas M'Micking. |
1876 |
James Guthrie. |
|
1852 |
William Paul. |
1876 |
William Kirkland. |
|
1855 |
George Adam. |
1876 "^Robert W. Anderson |
|
|
1855 |
David C. Nichol. |
1876 |
Walter S. Hislop. |
|
1855 |
Robert B. Park. |
1880 |
*James Imrie. |
|
1858 |
Robert Burns. |
1880 |
George M. Grierson. |
|
1858 |
John Duncan. |
1880 |
James Glass. |
|
1858 |
Neil M'Master. |
1880 |
*James M'Michael. |
|
1861 |
John King. |
1880 *David Pratt. |
|
|
1861 |
Michael Honeyman. |
1880 |
Henry A. Rannie. |
Eld
ers
20I
|
Ordained |
Ordained |
|
|
or Inducted. |
Inducted. |
|
|
1880 |
*James B. Steel. |
1 89 1 Robert Craig. |
|
1880 |
Ebenezer Watson, M.D. |
1 89 1 * Wilham R. Currie. . |
|
1880 |
Robert Vanhegan. |
1 89 1 * William Sinclair. |
|
1883 |
Robert E. Aitken. |
1 89 1 William Nielson. |
|
1883 |
Thomas Gray. |
1 89 1 William Lindsay. |
|
1883 |
Robert D. Macalister. |
1891 Walter G. Steven. |
|
1883 |
John Macfarlane. |
1893 *John Boyd. |
|
1883 |
John Munro. |
1893 *John Gumprecht. |
|
1883 |
*George E. Philip. |
1893 *William M. Harvey. |
|
1883 |
Laurence Robertson. |
1893 *Peter Macfarlane. |
|
1883 |
Thomas M. Welsh. |
1893 *James Nicholson. |
|
1885 |
David Clow. |
1893 ^Thomas Noble. |
|
1885 |
Matthew Edwards. |
1893 *A. Wood Smith, M.D |
|
1885 |
*John Fulton. |
1895 ^William Bennett. |
|
1885 |
*Robert Russell. |
1895 *John Bryce. |
|
1885 |
*John W. J. Watt. |
1895 *John S. Gregson. |
|
1885 |
^Robert Mackintosh. |
1895 "^John Hunter. |
|
1888 *D avid Mac Lean. |
1895 John Masson. |
|
|
1888 *Archd. Macfarlane. |
1895 *James IMillar. |
|
|
1888 |
Peter M'Kissock. |
1895 Finlay Macleod. |
|
1888 ^Robert Scott. |
1897 -^Alexander Bissett. |
|
|
1888 |
R. W. Ralston. |
1897 *David Gordon. |
|
1891 |
Ebenezer Alexander. |
1897 "^Andrew Lawrie. |
|
1891 |
Wilham Black. |
1897 *Frederick A. Laing. |
|
1891 |
*James Buist. |
1897 *James H. Meikle. |
|
(2) DEI |
\CONS. |
|
|
1844 |
William Mirrlees. |
1846 William Craies. |
|
1844 |
Walter B. Ogilvie. |
1848 Francis J. Ferguson. |
|
1844 |
George Murray. |
1848 Jesse Jones. |
|
1844 |
John Adam. |
1848 Robert Cross. |
|
1844 |
William Freebairn. |
1848 William Ramsay. |
|
1846 |
Robert Hamilton. |
1850 Robert B. Park. |
|
1846 |
J. B. Mirrlees. |
1850 John M'Kundy. |
|
1846 |
John Currie. |
1850 Archibald M'Nicol. |
202
Office-Bearers
|
Ordained |
Ordained |
||
|
or Inducted. |
Inducted |
||
|
1850 |
Robert Vanhegan. |
1869 |
William M^Isaac. |
|
1853 |
James Campbell. |
1869 |
William Stewart. |
|
1853 |
Michael Honeyman. |
1869 |
David Greig. |
|
1853 |
Thomas Sprunt. |
1869 |
Robert Bishop. |
|
1853 |
John W. Robertson. |
1869 |
Patrick Robertson. |
|
1853 |
William Allan. |
1869 |
Henry Forrester. |
|
1853 |
David C. Nichol. |
1869 |
Robert H. Robertson |
|
1853 |
William Church. |
1869 |
John M'Kendrick. |
|
1853 |
John Church. |
1869 |
James Imrie. |
|
1853 |
Neil M'Master. |
1877 |
Peter M'Kichan. |
|
1853 |
John Muir. |
1877 |
*Robert S. Buchanan. |
|
1853 |
John Macarthur. |
1877 |
^William Miller. |
|
1856 |
Robert Urquhart. |
1877 |
James B. Steel. |
|
1856 |
James P. Miller. |
1877 |
James F. Barron. |
|
1856 |
John A. Matheson. |
1877 |
John M'Kill. |
|
1856 |
George Craik. |
1877 |
James Jack. |
|
1856 |
John Boag. |
1877 |
John W. Weir, M.D. |
|
1856 |
Walter G. Maclaren. |
1877 |
Jonathan Armour. |
|
1859 |
Robert Blackie. |
1877 |
Thomas M. Welsh. |
|
1859 |
Neil Caw. |
1877 |
James Glass. |
|
1859 |
Archibald Grierson. |
1877 |
Alexander M'Lennan. |
|
1859 |
Adam M. Pattison. |
1880 |
Alexander M'Kill. |
|
1859 |
Robert Gilkison. |
1880 |
WiUiam Black. |
|
1859 |
Thomas Wharrie. |
1880 |
Robert M'Kill. |
|
I861 |
Robert King. |
1880 ^Robert Bissett. |
|
|
I861 |
James Connell. |
1880 |
Robert D. Macalister. |
|
186I |
Timothy Bost. |
1880 |
John Munro. |
|
I861 |
George M. Grierson. |
1880 |
William R. Currie. |
|
186I |
John Williamson. |
1880 |
W. F. Maclaren. |
|
1865 |
James Grierson. |
1880 ^Alexander Cameron. |
|
|
1865 |
David Lavvson. |
1880 |
James Nicholson. |
|
1865 |
William L. Watson. |
1883 |
David F. Anderson. |
|
1865 |
George Young. |
1883 *Henry Blackball. |
|
|
1865 |
Alexander Stephen. |
1883 |
Alexander B. Kirsop. |
|
1865 |
John Honeyman, Jr. |
1883 |
William Miller, Jr. |
|
1869 |
William M'Callum. |
1883 ^Robert Montgomery. |
|
|
1869 |
John Currie. |
1883 |
Daniel Macintyre. |
Deacons
203
883 *James M'Michael, Jr. 883 ^Andrew Parker. 883 Hugh Ross. 883 James A. Small. 883 John W. J. Watt. 885 *Robert Love. 885 Peter Macfarlane. 885 *George D. Marr. 885 Donald M. Munro. 885 William Sandilands. 885 William Tait. 885 *James Thomson. 885 Alexander Walker. 885 John Wilson. 889 John Black. 889 John Boyd. 889 William M. Harvey. 889 ^William Hislop. 889 "^Alexander Kerr. 889 ^Robert Lawrie. 889 Archibald Macniven. 889 Thomas Noble. 889 *Thomas M. Pratt. 889 George Tudhope. 892 Alexander Cleghorn. 892 David L. Forgan. 892 John S. Gregson. 892 *William Greig, Jr. 892 John Gumprecht. 892 Andrew Macfadzean. 892 *Robert M'Millan. 892 ^Robert C. Morgan. 892 Arnold Morton. 892 James D. Renwick. 892 *David Rintoul. 892 *Matthew Walker. 892 William Wallace.
Ordained
892 892 893 893 893 893
893 893
893 893 893 893 893 893 896
896 896 896 896 896 896 896 896 896
898
898
*James Welsh. *Thomas S. Young.
David Gordon.
John Masson.
William Bennett.
Herbert C. Boyd. *Alex. K. Foote.
John Hunter. ^Alexander Leitch. ■*John Macdonald. *A. N. Macgregor, M.D. *Charles S. Macintyre.
John M. M'Kendrick. *John Stewart. ^Alexander Bayne. ■^Alexander M. Forrester, ■^Alexander Gerrard. *A. Cowan Holburn. ■^Joseph Menmuir. *James H. Nicoll, M.D. *John T. Robertson.
Andrew Robbie. ^Alexander Ralston. ^William O. Small. *William Watson. *William Weatherston. *Samuel Bankier. *W. T. H. Coutts. *George Lang. ^Robert Leisk. ^Robert M'Eachran. *James M'Ewen. *Donald M'Niven. *Charles M'Phater. *Laur. V. G. Robertson, *Robert P. Wright.
204
Ministers, Clerks
|
Year. |
Minister. |
Session Clerk. |
Deacons' Court Clerk. |
|
1844 |
Samuel Miller. |
James Keyden. |
William Mirrlees. |
|
1845 |
Samuel Miller. |
James Keyden. |
William Mirrlees. |
|
1846 |
Samuel Miller. |
J James Keyden. \ Wm. Gumming. |
William Mirrlees. |
|
1847 |
Samuel Miller. |
Wm. Gumming. |
William Mirrlees. |
|
1848 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
William Mirrlees. |
|
1849 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
William Mirrlees. |
|
1850 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
/William Mirrlees. \jesse Jones. |
|
1851 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
Jesse Jones. |
|
1852 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
/Jesse Jones. \ Andrew Nielsen. |
|
1853 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
Andrew Nielson. |
|
1854 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
Andrew Nielson. |
|
1855 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
Andrew Nielson. |
|
1856 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
Andrew Nielson. |
|
1857 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
William Allan. |
|
1858 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
f William Allan. \james Macarthur. |
|
1859 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
James Macarthur. |
|
i860 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
James Macarthur. |
|
1861 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
James IVIacarthur. |
|
1862 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
James Macarthur. |
|
1863 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
James Macarthur. |
|
1864 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
James Macarthur. |
|
1865 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
James Macarthur. |
|
1866 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
/James Macarthur. \Wm. L. Watson. |
|
1867 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
Wm. L. Watson. |
|
1868 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
Wm. L. Watson. |
|
1869 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
Wm. L. Watson. |
|
1870 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
Wm. L. Watson. |
|
1871 |
Samuel Miller, D.D. |
Wm. Gumming. |
Wm. L. Watson. |
and Treasurers
205
|
Congregational Treasurer. |
Sustentation Treasurer. |
Foreign Missions Treasurer. |
Year. |
|
( Allan Buchanan. \ William Mirrlees. |
Allan Buchanan. |
r \ |
1844 |
|
William Mirrlees. |
John Adam. |
No |
1845 |
|
William Mirrlees. |
John Adam. |
1846 |
|
|
William Mirrlees. |
John Adam. |
Association |
1847 |
|
William Mirrlees. |
John Adam. |
till |
1848 |
|
William Mirrlees. |
John Adam. |
1849 |
|
|
William Mirrlees. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
1852. |
1850 |
|
( William Mirrlees. \ Archibald M'Nicol. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
V J |
185I |
|
Archibald M'Nicol. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Thos. M'Micking. |
1852 |
|
Archibald M'Nicol. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Thos. M'Micking. |
1853 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Thos. M'Micking. |
1854 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
rThos. M'Micking. \ Robert B. Park. |
1855 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Robert B. Park. |
1856 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Robert B. Park. |
1857 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Robert B. Park. |
1858 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Robert B. Park. |
1859 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Robert B. Park. |
i860 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Robert B. Park. |
1861 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Robert B. Park. |
1862 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Archd. Grierson. |
1863 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Archd, Grierson. |
1864 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Archd. Grierson. |
1865 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Archd. Grierson. |
1866 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Archd. Grierson. |
1867 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
Archd. Grierson. |
1868 |
|
William Church. |
F. J. Ferguson. |
James C. Wyper. |
1869 |
|
William Church. |
J F. J. Ferguson. \ Neil Caw. |
James C. Wyper. |
1870 |
|
William Church. |
Neil Caw. |
William Ramsay. |
187I |
2o6
Ministers, Clerks
Year.
1872
1873 1874 1875
1876 1877 1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1S83
1884 1885 1886
1887
1890 1891 1892
1893
1894 1895 1896
1897
Minister.
Samuel Miller, D.D.
Samuel Miller, D.D. Samuel Miller, D.D. Samuel Miller, D.D.
Samuel Miller, D.D. f Samuel Miller, D.D. (John Watson, M.A. /Samuel Miller, D.D. \ John Watson, M.A. / Samuel Miller, D.D. \ John Watson, M.A. /Samuel Miller, D.D. \ John Watson, M.A. [Samuel Miller, D.D. \ C. A. Salmond, M.A.
C. A. Salmond, M.A.
C. A. Salmond, M.A.
C. A. Salmond, M.A. C. A. Salmond, M.A. C. A. Salmond, M.A.
James Stalker, M.A.
James Stalker, M.A. James Stalker, M.A. James Stalker, D.D. James Stalker, D.D. James Stalker^ D.D.
James Stalker, D.D.
James Stalker, D.D. James Stalker, D.D. James Stalker, D.D. James Stalker, D.D. James Stalker, D. D.
Session Clerk.
Wm. Gumming.
Wm. Gumming.
Wm. Gumming. Wm. Gumming. William Allan. Wm. Gumming. William Allan.
Thomas Wharrie.
Thomas Wharrie.
Thomas Wharrie.
Thomas Wharrie.
Thomas Wharrie. Thomas Wharrie. Thomas Wharrie.
Thomas Wharrie.
Thomas Wharrie.
Thomas Wharrie. / Thomas Wharrie. \ George E. Philip.
George E. Philip.
George E. Philip.
George E. Philip.
George E. Philip.
George E. Philip.
George E. Philip.
George E. Philip. George E. Philip. George E. Philip. George E. Philip. George E. Philip.
Deacons' Court Clerk.
/Wm. L. Watson. \james Grierson.
James Grierson.
James Grierson.
James Grierson.
/James Grierson. \ Robt. W. Anderson.
Robt. W. Anderson. Robt. W. Anderson. Robt. W. Anderson. Robt. W. Anderson.
Robt. W. Anderson.
Robt . W. Anderson. /Jonathan Armour. \jas.M 'Michael, Jr.
Jas.M 'Michael, Jr.
Jas.M 'Michael, Jr.
Jas.M 'Michael, Jr.
Jas.M 'Michael, Jr.
Jas.M 'Michael, Jr.
Jas.M 'Michael, Jr.
Jas.M 'Michael, Jr.
Jas.M 'Michael, Jr.
Jas. M 'Michael, Jr. /Jas.M 'Michael, Jr. /Matthew Walker.
Matthew Walker.
Matthew Walker.
Matthew Walker.
Matthew Walker.
Matthew Walker.
and Treasurers
207
|
Congregational Treasurer. |
Sustentation Treasurer. |
Foreign Missions Treasurer. |
Year. |
|
William Church. |
Neil Caw. |
John Williamson. |
1872 |
|
William Church. |
r Neil Caw. \ Geo. M. Grierson. |
John Williamson. |
1873 |
|
William Church. |
Geo. M. Grierson. |
John Williamson. |
1874 |
|
William Church. |
Geo. M. Grierson. |
John Williamson. |
1875 |
|
William Church. |
Geo. M. Grierson. |
John Williamson. |
1876 |
|
Geo. M. Grierson. |
Geo. M, Grierson. |
James White. |
1877 |
|
Geo. M. Grierson. |
Geo. M. Grierson |
James White. |
1878 |
|
Geo. M. Grierson. |
Geo. M. Grierson. |
James White. |
1879 |
|
Geo. M. Grierson. |
Geo. M. Grierson. |
James White. |
1880 |
|
Geo. M. Grierson. |
f Geo. M. Grierson. \ Wm. R. Currie. |
Don. M 'Caiman. |
1881 |
|
Geo. M. Grierson. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Peter M'Kichan. |
1882 |
|
Geo. M. Grierson. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Peter M'Kichan. |
1883 |
|
Robert E. Aitken. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Peter M'Kichan. |
1884 |
|
Robert E. Aitken. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Peter M'Kichan. |
1885 |
|
Robert E. Aitken. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
George E. Philip. |
1886 |
|
J Robert E. Aitken. t William Black. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
r George E. Philip. \ Robert Russell. |
1887 |
|
William Black. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Robert Russell. |
1888 |
|
William Black. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Robert Russell. |
1889 |
|
William Black. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Robert Russell. |
1890 |
|
William Black. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Robert Russell. |
189I |
|
William Black. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Robert Russell. |
1892 |
|
/ William Black, tjas. M' Michael, Jr. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Robert Russell. |
1893 |
|
Jas. M' Michael, Jr. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Robert Russell. |
1894 |
|
Jas. M 'Michael, Jr. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Robert Russell. |
1895 |
|
Jas. M'Michael, Jr. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Robert Russell. |
1896 |
|
Jas. M 'Michael, Jr. |
Wm. R. Currie. |
Robert Russell. |
1897 |
|
Jas. M 'Michael, Jr. |
John Stewart. |
Robert Russell. |
1898 |
208
Conveners of
CONVENERS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.
1844. Allan Buchanan. 1857. Robert Forrester. 1866. John Honeyman.
1896.
Fabric.
I 1868. Thomas Wharrie. 1885. James M'Michael. I 1892. Archd. Macfarlane. Alex. K. Foote.
Seat-Letting.
1844. Allan Buchanan. 1846. William Mirrlees. 1849. J. B. Mirrlees.
1851. Allan Buchanan.
1852. William Freebairn. 1871. James C. Wyper.
1872. Geo. M. Grierson. 1877. James F. Barron. 1879. James Imrie.
1 89 1. David MacLean.
1892. Thomas Noble. 1897. William Weatherston.
Day School.
1846. Rev. Samuel Miller. 1849. John Wilson. 1863. William Allan. 1872. James Connell.
1875. David Hay.
1877. R. S. Buchanan.
1877. John M'Kill.
1882. James M'Michael.
1884. Disco7itinued.
1848. Peter Lawson. 1853. David C. Nichol. 1863. John Boag.
Poor Fund.
1868. David Lawson. 1877. Robert Vanhegan, 1882. James M'Michael
Standing Committees 209
Schoolmasters' (Education) Fund.
1875. John Currie.
1876. David Greig.
1877. Discontinued.
1849. J. B. Mirrlees. 1 85 1. William Ramsay. 1863. Robert King.
1854. William Church. 1877. Peter M'Kichan. 1879. James B. Steel.
Psalmody.
1 88 1. James Nicholson. 1890. V/illiam M. Harvey. 1895. William Wallace.
1897. John T. Robertson.
1864. Robert Burns. 1866. George Young. 1868. William Allan. 1872. James Miller. 1877. Donald M 'Caiman i8q8,
District Mission.
1882. James B. Steel
i885.||T''^
Steel. (John Munro. 1887. David Pratt. 1890. Peter M'Kissock. Peter Macfarlane.
Welfare of Youth.
[889. David Mac Lean.
j 1890. Peter Macfarlane. David Rintoul.
Strangers. 1890. James Nicholson. | 1893. Robert C. Morgan.
Editors of "Record" Cover. 1882. Rev.C.A.SalmondjM.A. I i88q. Peter Macfarlane.
1887. Rev. J. B.Johnston, B.D. 1 1893. Robert Craig. 1896. Alexander Ralston.
2IO
Membership and
MEMBERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
|
Year. |
Membership. |
Sustentation Fund. |
Foreign Missions. |
Ladies' Assoc. for Female Education, etc. |
Total Amount Raised. |
|
1844 |
£i(>3 |
^764 |
|||
|
1845 |
— |
193 |
~£7 |
— |
1426 |
|
1846 |
— |
470 |
30 |
— |
1872 |
|
1847 |
— |
709 |
63 |
— |
2200 |
|
1848 |
750 |
871 |
30 |
— |
2238 |
|
1849 |
947 |
127 |
— |
2621 |
|
|
1850 |
740 |
985 |
163 |
£21 |
2681 |
|
I85I |
700 |
1178 |
152 |
19 |
3576 |
|
1852 |
1188 |
117 |
18 |
4365 |
|
|
1853 |
— |
1234 |
143 |
20 |
3825 |
|
1854 |
— |
1218 |
185 |
16 |
4317 |
|
1855 |
— |
1372 |
179 |
27 |
4441 |
|
1856 |
- |
1478 |
165 |
15 |
3979 |
|
1857 |
— |
1418 |
150 |
22 |
3612 |
|
1858 |
— |
1406 |
162 |
15 |
3624 |
|
1859 |
800 |
1253 |
167 |
20 |
2841 |
|
i860 |
750 |
1258 |
168 |
22 |
3573 |
|
1861 |
700 |
1218 |
181 |
22 |
3476 |
|
1862 |
1238 |
186 |
20 |
3578 |
|
|
1863 |
— |
1292 |
188 |
23 |
3746 |
|
1864 |
— |
1262 |
188 |
34 |
3232 |
|
1865 |
— |
1244 |
190 |
30 |
4036 |
|
1866 |
650 |
1287 |
193 |
52 |
3662 |
|
1867 |
640 |
1231 |
180 |
45 |
3303 |
|
1868 |
630 |
1226 |
184 |
57 |
3296 |
|
1869 |
650 |
1316 |
176 |
45 |
3212 |
|
1870 |
685 |
1248 |
175 |
50 |
3618 |
|
187I |
672 |
1252 |
168 |
57 |
2918 |
|
1872 |
673 |
1264 |
174 |
44 |
3128 |
|
1873 |
670 |
1247 |
178 |
44 |
3053 |
|
1874 |
666 |
1364 |
172 |
34 |
3274 |
|
1875 |
596 |
1481 |
150 |
38 |
2880 |
|
1876 |
596 |
1212 |
150 |
33 |
2530 |
|
1877 |
540 |
787 |
94 |
34 |
2046 |
Contributions
211
|
Year. |
Membership. |
Sustentation |
Foreign |
Ladies' Assoc, for Female |
Total Amount |
|
Fund. |
Missions. |
Education, etc. |
Raised. |
||
|
1878 |
600 |
.^762 |
£77 |
^31 |
^2571 |
|
1879 |
618 |
744 |
83 |
28 |
2147 |
|
1880 |
648 |
763 |
90 |
27 |
2125 |
|
1881 |
511 |
802 |
112 |
28 |
2205 |
|
1882 |
561 |
836 |
127 |
28 |
3II7 |
|
1883 |
662 |
736 |
164 |
30 |
3146 |
|
1884 |
693 |
770 |
180 |
35 |
2437 |
|
1885 |
705 |
708 |
177 |
35 |
2483 |
|
1886 |
682 |
648 |
164 |
29 |
2419 |
|
1887 |
646 |
578 |
142 |
37 |
2726 |
|
1888 |
744 |
582 |
140 |
25 |
2826 |
|
1889 |
S7S |
647 |
150 |
23 |
2983 |
|
1890 |
978 |
670 |
164 |
25 |
2621 |
|
189I |
1035 |
733 |
174 |
28 |
2884 |
|
1892 |
1043 |
820 |
181 |
32 |
2818 |
|
1893 |
1093 |
917 |
215 |
35 |
3415 |
|
1894 |
1 103 |
897 |
251 |
36 |
3175 |
|
1895 |
1122 |
882 |
260 |
36 |
3196 |
|
1896 |
1138 |
874 |
262 |
38 |
3604 |
|
1897 |
1138 |
851 |
242 |
145 |
8531 |
|
1898 |
1113 |
872 |
282 |
99 |
4081 |
|
Totals, |
— |
^54,602 |
;^8572 |
£1707 |
^172,453 |
|
Average |
|||||
|
for years |
765 |
;^993 |
^159 |
£3S |
^3136 |
|
tabulated, |
Prior to 1868 statistics of membership were not called for by the Church. It will, therefore, be noticed that the earlier figures (casually mentioned in congregational records) are evidently stated in round numbers only. Down to 1881, indeed, the roll does not seem to have been purged with the exactitude now considered essential. In that year, however, it was very thoroughly revised, with the result that ninety names were deleted, which accounts for the sudden drop at that time. Since then the figures may be taken as strictly accurate.
2 12 Missionary and
MISSIONARY AND CONGREGATIONAL ASSISTANTS.
(i) I?i Charge of Anderston District.
1847. Mr. Allan M'Vean. First Home Missionary of Free St. Matthew's. Went afterwards to Australia.
1850. Mr. William Urie.
1850. Rev. Samuel Kennedy. Ordained minister at Stewarton in 1852.
1852. Rev. George Wisely. Afterwards missionary in the
Wynds, and assistant at Leghorn. Ordained minister at Malta in 1854, and received the degree of D.D. from Aberdeen University in 1894.
1853. Rev. Peter C. Purves. Ordained minister at Morebattle
in 1855. Now minister at Granton. 1853. Rev. Joseph Davidson. Ordained minister at Saltcoats
in 1855, and afterwards translated to Rothesay.
Married Dr. Miller's sister-in-law. 1855. Mr. Christison. Removed to Edinburgh. 1862. Mr. Alexander Stirling. Ordained minister at Monkton
in 1865. Now minister at York. 1865. Mr, John Bethune. Ordained minister at Portmoak
in 1880. 1867. Mr. Alexander Linn. Ordained minister of St. Fergus in
1 87 1. Translated to Cranstonhill in 1877. 1867. Mr. David S. Dykes. At first assistant to Mr. Linn;
latterly in full charge. Ordained minister at Gamrie
in 1872. 1869. Mr. Thomas Stewart. 1872. Mr. David S. Hamilton. Ordained minister at Symington,
Ayrshire, in 1874. 1874. Rev. Donald Meiklejohn. Last missionary at Anderston.
Many of the above (especially Rev. Messrs. Kennedy, Wisely, Purves, and Davidson), though responsible in the first instance for the Mission at Anderston, gave large help also in the work of the congregation.
Congregational Assistants 213
(2) In Charge of Springbank District.
1 881. Rev. Frank S. Gardiner, M.A. Ordained minister at
Coleraine in 1882. Now minister of Kingstown.
1882. Rev. David Ross, M.A. Ordained minister at Crathie in
1 883. Afterwards translated to Perth, Western Australia.
1883. Rev, H. Y. Reyburn, B.D. Ordained minister at Leven in
1884. Afterwards translated to Kirkintilloch.
1884. Mr. William Ewing, student. Ordained in St. Matthew's
as missionary at Tiberias in 1888. Now minister in Birmingham.
1885. Mr. Robert H. Logan, M.A., student. Ordained minister
at Dundee in 1889.
1885. Mr. James Allan, lay missionary. Accepted similar
appointment in Pvloray Church, Edinburgh,
1886. Rev. J. B. Johnstone, B.D. Ordained minister at Falkirk
in 1888. Married a daughter of Mr, Jas. M 'Michael,
elder. Author oi Place- Names of Scotland. 1888. Rev. Robert M. Gray, M.A. Ordained in St. Matthew's
as minister at Bombay in 1S90. 1890. Rev. William Hay, B.D. Ordained minister at Ayr
in 1892. 1892. Rev. Robert Scrymgeour, M.A. Ordained minister at
Monikie in 1894. Translated to Jersey in 1898. 1894. Rev. Robert G. Philip, M.A. Ordained minister at Glen-
cairn in 1896. 1896. Rev. David Young, M.A. Ordained minister at Partick
in 1898. 1898. Rev. R. D. Robertson. Present missionary assistant.
Nearly all of the above, though responsible in the first instance for the Mission at Springbank, gave large help also in the work of the con- gregation,
(3) Occasional atid Temporary.
1862. Rev. George Proudfoot. Appointed chaplain to City Poor
House about 1863.
1863. Rev, Robert Mackellar, Ordained minister at Gourock
in 1864,
214 Congregational Assistants
1868. Rev. John R. Elder, M.A. Ordained minister of Cromarty in 1869. Afterwards translated to Arrochar. Married a daughter of Mr. John Wilson, elder.
1873. Rev. J. P. Lilley, M.A. Ordained minister at Arbroath
in 1874.
1874. Rev. George Morice (late of New Zealand).
1875. Rev. J. C. Connell. Ordained minister at Thurso in 1876.
1876. Rev. A. Wright, M.A. Ordained minister at Musselburgh
in 1876. 1876. Rev. P. Barclay, M.A. Retired minister of Napier, New
Zealand. 1880. Rev. H. H. Currie, B.D. Ordained minister at Keig in
1880. 1880. Rev. David Miller, M.A. Ordained minister at Stranraer
in 1881.
1892. Mr. John Tudhope, student. Ordained minister of Queen's
Road Church, Liverpool, in 1895.
1893. Mr. J. H. Maclean, student. Ordained missionary at
Madras in 1896.
1894. Rev. Hugh MacLuskie. Ordained minister at Irvine in
1895.
1895. Rev. C. W. Fleming, B.D. Appointed to Indive, South
Africa, in 1898.
1896. Rev. A. R. Gordon, M.A. | Ordained minister at Monikie
1897. Rev. A. R. Gordon, M.A.j in 1898.
1898. Rev. John Fulton, B.D. Son of Mr. John Fulton, elder.
Present winter assistant.
Down to 1880 these appointments were usually made for several months at a time, and had specially in view the supply of St. Matthew's pulpit during the absence of Dr. Miller through illness. From 1892 they were made for five or six months in winter only, and had specially in view the cliarge of Bible class and assistance in visitation.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
HOLIDAY FORTNIGHTS
AT HOME AND ABROAD.
WITH NUMEROUS PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS. Crown Svo. Cloth. Price 2s. 6d.
"A readable volume, which has the further advantage of illustrations." — GlasgtTM Herald.
" In this tasteful volume, Mr. Philip carries us in agreeable fashion through many interesting cities and scenes in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, The Ardennes, Brittany, The Riviera, Italy, and Norway." — Glasgow Evening News.
"An entertaining book of sketches of summer travel, prettily illustrated by repro- ductions of photographs." — Scotstnan.
" Mr. Philip has depicted the scenes visited with accuracy, vivacity, and freshness. The book is thoroughly enjoyable." — Hamilton Advertiser.
" A genial guide book and a great deal more. Minute in details, so far as there is need, it contains also many interesting, historical, poetical, and literary allusions." — Kirkifitilloch Herald.
" An attractive book which the reader will lay down with a feeling of regret that he has not fifteen fortnights to spend as pleasantly." — Weekly Herald.
" Mr. Philip never becomes common-place. The descriptions have a crispness and vitality that carrj' the reader on from one country to another with unflagging energy and interest. By any one fortunate enough to have covered the ground he travelled over in our own Gamle Norge, the account must be acknowledged as life-like, and to many it will be a welcome renewal of happy impressions in the land of the Vikings." — Beyer s (Bergen) Weekly Netvs.
" Beautifully illustrated, pleasant to read, and useful to any one who has occasion to travel in the countries referred to." — Free Church Monthly.
"The sketches are varied in their range, and give a picturesque account of scenery and local incidents. Several tours in Scotland are described, and in these an in- telligent interest is shown in ecclesiastical matters, from John o' Groats to Galloway."
— United Presbyterian Magazine.
"A pleasant companion for the tourist, or to be read beforehand for hints and suggestions. It is made the medium of communicating a good deal of information."
— The Presbyterian.
"Charmingly written by a man who has good eyes, a clear head, a receptive mind, and a loving heart." — Voting Men's Magazine.
"The scenery and inhabitants of the places visited are described simply and pleasantly, and the judgments passed are intelligent and kindly." — Youth.
J. & R. PARLANE, PAISLEY.
GLASGOW : BRYCE & MURRAY ; J. N. MACKINLAY ; And all Booksellers.
BW5517 .G5F8 P5
Free St. Matthew's Church, Glasgow : a
Princeton Theological Semmary-Speer Library
1 1012 00038 5023