By Rev. EWEN MACQUEEN.
AS most of you know, I left home on the 20th March, 1931, and spent the week-end at Greenock. On Tuesday, 24th of March, I joined the steamer “Cameronia” and sailed for New York. The officers and the crew of this boat were all well known to me, as I had travelled by her in 1929. I was treated with the greatest respect by all with whom I came in contact on board, and must acknowledge that I consider the “Cameronia” the most comfortable boat I ever travelled by. While at sea I conducted a service on Sabbath at which all who could attend were present.
Next Wednesday, after arriving at New York, the first duty that awaited me was to attend the funeral of a young man who came from the Isle of Skye and had brought out all his family with him. Whilst there I was entertained by a countryman of my own, Mr. Murdoch Macleod (who lives in Arlington, New Jersey), whose father and mother were members of our Church. To him and to his wife and son I have to tender my heartfelt thanks for kindness received from them on more than one occasion. On Friday I conducted services in Gaelic and English at which a number from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland were present as well as some from Canada. On the Sabbath following I conducted further services in English and Gaelic and baptised four children.
On Tuesday I left by the Pennsylvanian Railway for Detroit and was met at the station there by Mrs. R. S. Mackenzie, 474 East Grand Boulevard, and her daughter, at whose house not only I, but most of the deputies of our Church, have been hospitably entertained. In Detroit I conducted services in Gaelic and English for three Sabbaths and could not observe any great difference between the attendance then and in 1929. Although we have poverty and unemployment in this country, it is not to be compared to the unemployment and poverty in the States of America. There is no “dole” money there and they have to depend on what they call “City Welfare.” I
felt very sorry to see many there who were very comfortable in 1929 and were then (1931) greatly reduced in their circumstances.
From Detroit I went to Rodney in Ontario, where I was received and kindly entertained by our friends Mr. and Mrs. Maclennan. I conducted services there on the Sabbath and next week went on to Toronto where I conducted services also, returning the following week to Detroit.
At Chicago, on my way to Winnipeg, as I changed trains for the Soo Line, I heard my name shouted out on the station. Who was there but the eldest son of Duncan Fraser, late of Carrbridge, by whom I was entertained until the train left at one o’clock in the morning. After a day and two nights in the train I arrived at Winnipeg, where I was met by the Rev. D. J. Matheson, with whom I stayed from the morning until 11 o’clock at night. Next day I conducted a service in the F.P. Church there.
The following night, at 11 o’clock, I journeyed by the Canadian Pacific Railway train to Saskatoon and was met at the station there by Mrs. MacAskill (one of our members from Assynt) and Mrs. Brand, who originally belonged to Laide. During my stay there I was hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. MacAskill. I conducted services almost every day for a fortnight and met people from all parts of the Highlands.
Thereafter I continued my journey to Calgary where I was met by Mr. and Mrs. Beaton, who hail from Ross-shire. I was entertained by them for a fortnight and conducted services during the week and on Sabbath. I was taken to a place near Calgary which I considered the most wonderful place I ever visited. For miles and miles near Turner Valley pipes of unused gas burned day and night, and I thought if that volume of gas could be brought across to Scotland it would provide light for the whole Highlands of Scotland. The roar of the gas could be heard for three miles before entering Turner Valley.
From Calgary I journeyed to and through the Rocky Mountains –the most awesome journey I ever undertook. Passing at the foot of the mountains, some of them over 11,000 feet high
(Mount Stephen) and covered with perpetual snow, one comes to a place called Field, from which the descent into Vancouver is the steepest I ever saw. I arrived at Vancouver on the 3rd June and lived there with Mr. and Mrs. John Robertson, 11th Avenue West. With them I was made to “feel at home” in the fullest sense of the term; parents and children spared nothing in their power to make me comfortable.
I began my work there by holding a Prayer Meeting at which a goodly number were present. Mr. Hugh Mackay, our missionary there, always held services during the week and on Sabbath at Vancouver. I came in contact with very many from all parts of the Highlands there, and I must acknowledge that it was, and still is, my heart’s desire that they would have a minister settled among them who would declare to them the Word of Life.
From there I visited many parts where Free Presbyterians lived, among them a son of Mr. MacNair, who lived at Dingwall, and from whom I obtained great kindness. Also in Seattle, on the American side, I visited a son of Mr. John MacPherson, Daviot, who had been out in America for over 20 years. He has not forgotten the truths he heard in his native place and on three occasions he came from Seattle to our services at Vancouver.
From Seattle I visited Victoria, in the Island of Vancouver. The scenery from Vancouver to Victoria I considered the most picturesque of anything I observed on my journey. Sailing through the Straits for three hours, it being wooded on all sides—with cedars growing to a great height, and all kinds of trees (as I am not a Solomon I cannot give many names)—now and again you would think you were at the end of the channel only to find that as each corner was reached the channel opened up for many more miles until finally the City of Victoria came into view. While there I stayed with a relation and namesake of my own who had been a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Canada but is now retired. Next day I returned to my beloved Vancouver. I must own that on every hand I received
the greatest kindness: those who had ears placed them at my disposal to give me drives throughout the country.
The services at Vancouver were very well attended both on week-days and Sabbath. The Church at last could not accommodate them all and many had to turn away. And what might be observed by anyone was how the people brought their children with them to the House of God: for many Sabbaths the platform on which I stood was crammed with young boys. About a week before I left, the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was dispensed, our friend Mr. Angus Mackay, of Alberta, coming to Vancouver to assist Mr. Hugh Mackay at the Communion. Altogether I remained three months in Vancouver declaring the Word of the Lord as He enabled me, and I pray and hope that His Word will not return unto Him void. At the end of the period I set my face again on the Rocky Mountains to visit Calgary, also Innisfail and Red Deer.
At the last-named place I visited the son of one of our worthy elders, the late Mr. Charles Maclean, Inverness. I stayed for one night with Mr. Lauchlan Maclean and conducted a service in the Presbyterian Church there at which a number were present. From there I went back to Calgary where I took services three times on the first Sabbath of September, leaving afterwards for Saskatoon where I conducted a Prayer Meeting during the week and spoke three times on the second Sabbath of September. The Sabbath services at Saskatoon were much better attended than at Calgary.
On the following Tuesday I entrained for Winnipeg at which place the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was to be observed that week. On arrival at Winnipeg I was met by the Rev. D. J. Matheson. The services during the week-days, from Thursday on, were well attended; and, to the glory of God, I must acknowledge that I enjoyed the Communion services at Winnipeg.
After the evening service on the Monday, at the request of Mr. and Mrs. John Brand, I rejoined the train for Saskatoon
to administer the Sacrament of Baptism in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Brand who had had a little girl added to their family. After the baptism I returned to Winnipeg, a distance of 800 miles, arriving there on Wednesday.
I left Winnipeg for Fort William where I was met by my friends from Lewis—Mrs. Newington and her brother. Their father was a worthy missionary in our Church. After conducting services in Mrs. Newington’s house, I again joined the train, on my journey to Detroit, and arrived at West Toronto on Saturday morning. From there I continued my journey to Detroit where I was again welcomed by my friend and kind hostess, Mrs. R. S. Mackenzie. During the two succeeding weeks I conducted services at Detroit and also a service at Rodney, Ontario, which I had visited on my outgoing journey.
On my last Sabbath in Detroit, the two sons of my late worthy elder, Mr. James Campbell, Inverness, came with their car and, having been my hearers during the Sabbath, took me, bag and baggage—no small weight for their car between my own sinful person and my baggage—all the way to Toronto. As we sped along I might have said we had a “Jehu” at the wheel, for we travelled at times at the rate of 60 miles an hour. As I had promised our dear departed friend, Rev. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s, Glasgow, we went first to West Williams to visit the family of a worthy elder, Mr. Archibald MacLeish. After seeing them and taking worship with the family we returned to Toronto.
At Toronto I was most hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Roderick Campbell. I conducted services during the week there in the Reformed Presbyterian Church and had good congregations. I also visited my kind friend Mr. Duncan Campbell and his family at Oshawa, from whom I received unspeakable kindness. Returning to Toronto I entrained for New York from which I intended to sail for home on the following Saturday. At Buffalo I was met by a friend of mine, Mr. Macdonald, whom I have known for 25 years. His father
and mother lived at Kincardine, Ontario. But although my time in Buffalo was very limited, they bestowed on me the greatest possible kindness. After leaving Buffalo our train made all speed, calling at three stations only, viz., Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica.
On arrival at New York I was met by my good friend, Mr. Murdoch Macleod, before-mentioned, whom I may characterise with the Apostle Paul as “Gaius mine host.” With him I stayed during the few days I was there, and on Friday evening spoke in Gaelic and English to an appreciative audience.
As I was booked for the Communion in Glasgow in the second week of November, I joined the steamship “Tuscania” which left New York, homeward bound, on the Saturday. Although many of the officers I had known on the “Cameronia” were not on this boat, such as were did all in their power to make me comfortable on board. I was aboard that boat for two Sabbaths and conducted services each day. Thus, after sojourning in “a foreign land” for nearly eight months, I arrived back in Glasgow safe and sound. And I might now say to the glory of God, as is said of the children of Israel:—
“While yet they went from land to land
without a sure abode;
And while through sundry kingdoms they
did wander far abroad;
Yet, notwithstanding, suffered He
no man to do them wrong:
Yea, for their sakes, He did reprove
kings, who were great and strong.”
—(Ps. ev. 13, 14.)
In conclusion, let me say that I would wish our Church could have a Presbytery in Canada by which the business might be carried on. With all my heart I would desire that a minister be settled in Vancouver, one in Winnipeg and another in Detroit. The Lord can do it, and we pray that He may do it to His own glory and for the good of His cause.