Rev. A. Murray, M.A.
As mentioned in my previous report I had intended to be in Winnipeg, Manitoba, by July 4th, and in the Lord’s kind providence, I landed there safely by Air Canada DC8 flight from Toronto that afternoon. It was raining and we could see from the air that large parts of the extremely flat countryside were under water. This is unusual weather during the summer in these parts but this was to be the pattern of things throughout July when recurring rainstorms were followed by only a few days of sunny weather. At the airport I was kindly received by Mr Allan Macleod and Mr Hedley Kitchen. As most of our people know Mr Macleod has long been an Elder in the Winnipeg congregation and although he has now reached the age of 84 years he continues to shoulder the burden of supplying the pulpit there during the extended periods when no minister is present. Likewise Mr Kitchen has been the treasurer and precentor in Winnipeg for very many years.
It was good to meet old friends although it was evident that the years had exacted its own toll from the frail body and my reactions were to be of a similar trend as I met with, at church and in their own homes, all these former acquaintances in Winnipeg. Here I must record — for it was a surprise to myself — how very much “at home” I felt in this large city of 550,000 people and it is a well-established fact that the “Prairies” are a part of the world where friendships are easily made and where it is not uncommon practice for a stranger to greet you on the street. For 10 weeks I preached on Sabbath and held the weekly prayer meeting and endeavoured to visit in the homes and this latter part of my work I count not the least important in Winnipeg as several of the old people are wholly confined to their homes and their appreciation of such visitation is real. On the first Sabbath of September the Communion was kept and it was a pleasure to have Dr R. Macdonald present with us and conduct the main services of what proved to be a solemn and, I trust, profitable season. It was good of Mrs J. Ross of Vancouver to travel the 1,500-odd miles to the scene of her former residence and be with us at that time.
On Tuesday, 9th September, in company with Dr Macdonald, I left Winnipeg and detrained next morning at Biggar, Sask., where Mr Thomas MacDonald, jun., met us and drove us 80 miles to his home, and then later another dozen miles further on to the town of Eston to visit with his aged father. At 95 years and although mostly confined to his room, Mr MacDonald, the other Winnipeg Elder, enjoys amazing health and his memory is very good, and, particularly so, with regard to events of long ago. He tells how on a stormy 14th of March he made his way to St. Jude’s, Glasgow. Already, under the faithful preaching of the Rev. N. Cameron, he had discovered that he was “a sinner, under condemnation and hell-deserving.” On that Sabbath in March he speaks of another storm arising with much fury in his own breast but the words sounded in his ears — “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” To this he was able to answer in the words of Scripture: “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.” It was pleasant to find this aged traveller steadfast in the faith and quietly committing himself to the God of his salvation. That evening out at the farm it was of much interest to me to witness the last truck-loads of the wheat harvest being brought in. These had to be tipped on the open ground as all storage space was already full. Heavy crops have been the order of recent years and Canada has a huge surplus of wheat — estimated as sufficient to supply the needs of the whole world for one year. How ungodly, in the light of such evidences, is the cry of many learned persons who decry the world’s population increase and join with the rebels of old who said, “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?”
After parting with Dr MacDonald at Edmonton, as he was to go to Calgary for that Sabbath, I arrived safely in Vancouver on 12th September and was met by the two Elders there, Mr Farquhar Matheson and Mr Donald Robertson, who took me to the manse where I was to enjoy kind hospitality with Dr and Mrs MacDonald and their sons Alasdair and Donald. That Sabbath I preached twice and next week was the Communion in that congregation which was to prove a memorable occasion as five persons, including two young men, professed a saving interest in Christ and in His atoning sacrifice for the first time. I felt particularly happy for Dr MacDonald who sees these fruits from his conscientious labours over the years. Mr C. MacLennan had travelled the long distance from Michigan to be present on that occasion and it is no doubt a matter of genuine satisfaction to him that he met those of a kindred spirit both in Vancouver and on the course of his journey at Calgary.
After two weeks which seemed so brief among all the expressions of friendship on the part of the entire Vancouver congregation I retraced my steps through the Canadian Rockies to Calgary in Alberta where I arrived on 26th September and which was to be my abode over two Sabbaths. Twice before I had stayed with the late Mr and Mrs Angus Beaton who belonged to the Torridon district of Ross-shire and this time I had the pleasure of being entertained by their equally hospitable daughters, Rodena and Mary. On the Sabbaths an encouraging number gathered in a rented hall and several had come sizeable distances, from Innisfail, Lethbridge and Brooks. I was able to visit in Innisfail during the week and then I returned to Winnipeg via Edmonton, some 200 miles to the north of Calgary. It was a privilege to stay there two days with W/O and Mrs Hardy, who is a niece of the late Rev. James Macleod. With Mr Hardy’s good help I was able to make contact with seven different families and it was most interesting to meet some of whom we had no prior information but that they were subscribers to the Free Presbyterian Magazine.
Since 10th October I have returned to Winnipeg to find all the friends well. This week we had services two days, in connection with Harvest Thanksgiving and the Day of Prayer appointed by the Synod. I expect (D.V.) to remain with this congregation for a further three Sabbaths after which I propose to retrace my steps through Ontario and Michigan and, possibly, include New Jersey and New York in the itinerary, which should take me to the East Coast and so to Scotland around the second week of December, if all is well.