IT is with much pleasure we notice this month that Mr. John Alfred Kensit, son of the late Mr. John Kensit, the Protestant martyr, addressed two meetings on Tuesday, the 13th January, in the Christian Institute, Bothwell Street, Glasgow. The meetings were very well attended as such meetings go in these degenerate times, but if the weather had been favourable, we are certain that the attendances would have been much larger, the excessive cold and dense fog preventing many elderly people from being present.
The first meeting was held at four in the afternoon. In the absence of Sir J. N. Cuthbertson, the Rev. Dr. Kerr, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, presided, and suitably introduced Mr. Kensit, who received a cordial welcome. He then gave an impressive address, bearing upon the fight for the truth going on in England. He quoted largely from Church manuals composed by Ritualists, showing in their own language the blasphemous and pernicious views they hold about the Lord’s Supper and the Confessional. He made it as clear as a moonbeam from their own works that what they are aiming at is the restoration of Romanism in all its vileness and tyranny in England. He closed with an interesting sketch of his father’s career and death, and his own imprisonment in Liverpool. Mr. Maughan, J.P., proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Kensit for his address, which was cordially responded to. The meeting was closed with the benediction by the Rev. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s.
The second meeting was held in the evening at eight o’clock, when there was a large attendance. The Rev. J. D. MacCulloch, Hope Street Free Church, presided. After the exercises of praise and prayer, Mr. MacCulloch delivered a short opening address, in which he pointed out that the present contest was not merely a battle for the truth as such, but for the very civil and religious liberties of the nation. It should call forth the sympathies and efforts of every true patriot. He then introduced Mr. Kensit, whom he said needed no introduction, as his name and work were already well known to most of them. Mr. Kensit then rose and delivered an able and eloquent address, suffused with great earnestness and solemnity. We are sorry we cannot reproduce it here, or even give a satisfactory sketch of it. All that we shall say is that those who heard it are not likely soon to forget it. The subject was “A Call to the Nation.” There was a call from God to the nation to awake and raise again the banner of truth that was unfurled at the Reformation. It was this call they were desirous with all their might to press home upon the people of the country. They were contending for nothing more and nothing less than the truth of God’s Word, that had proved the instrument of delivering the nation from bondage in times past, and for the sole priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom alone remission of sins was given to sinful men. Mr. Kensit made two very excellent points in directing attention to the calls which came from “the children” in the country and from “our sisters in the convents.” The children were being poisoned with error and superstition, and the poor women of the convents were subjected to horrid cruelty and oppression. These crying evils were appeals to the nation for reformation and redress. He spoke of the objections Papists had to the opening of convents for public inspection, and then asked the question in ironical tones, “Were these places little heavens on earth?” “If so,” he proceeded, with humorous and telling effect, “why don’t we get a peep into them?” Mr. Kensit concluded his address with some further interesting details of his father’s career and his own imprisonment. He was in Walton Gaol, when he was permitted to visit his parent on his dying bed. His last message to him was an exhortation to continue the battle for truth, and embodied the words, “No compromise, no surrender.” He earnestly urged this watchword upon the Protestants of Scotland, where he observed the same evils were creeping in as they had to contend with in England. He asked Christian friends to remember him and his work at the throne of grace.
We have given no adequate idea of an admirable address, which was listened to with the closest attention and interest, and was frequently applauded by the audience.
The Rev. Dr. Kerr proposed a motion of thanks to Mr. Kensit, and sympathy with his work. After an allusion to the visit of the late Mr. Kensit four years ago, he made some general remarks on Reformation work. He pointed out something that was very necessary to be told in Scotland as well as in England, that while they held in the highest esteem and veneration the martyrs and reformers of England, they could not hide the fact that there were defects in the Episcopal system by which innovations were introduced into the worship of God contrary to His Word. In Scotland our reformers laid down the principle that nothing was to be observed in worship but what was prescribed by the Word, while in England they held that what was not forbidden might be introduced thus leaving a door for human devices in worship. Among other things he also dwelt upon the injustice with which young Mr. Kensit was treated in being sent to prison for proclaiming the truth in a thoroughly legal way, while the noisy disturbers of his meetings were permitted to go free. He concluded by urging upon Scottish Protestants the duty of opposing to the utmost the errors of the Ritualists and the Higher Critics, who were doing vast mischief in the country.
Mr. Archibald MacNeilage, the well-known editor of the Free Church Record, seconded the motion in a stirring speech. As indicating how far adrift the larger Churches in Scotland were on the subject of Protestantism, he called attention to the fact that none of their representatives were on the platform that night. It was only a few representatives of the smaller bodies who were there. He also said that they were not only much indebted to Mr. Kensit for his excellent address, but also to Dr. Kerr, who was the means of bringing the late Mr. Kensit to Scotland four years ago, and, again, his son on this occasion. Their cordial thanks were due to Dr. Kerr.
Mr. MacCulloch then put the motion to the meeting, which was warmly and enthusiastically carried.
Thereafter, the writer of this article proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. MacCulloch for the able manner in which he presided over the meeting, a vote which was cordially responded to.
The meeting was closed with the benediction by the Rev. John Macleod, Main Street Free Church.
So much for two very interesting meetings, a continuation of which in other towns and villages would confer a boon upon Scotland at the present time. Mr. Kensit, jun., does not resemble much his father in personal appearance, but possesses the same earnestness and ability as a public speaker. There is also a very agreeable touch of refinement and culture in his utterances. He is only twenty-four years of age; his form is slender and fragile-looking; but it appears to be the casket of a very true and zealous spirit in the things of God. His voice is strong, musical, and thrilling, well adapted for its work. May the Lord grant this youthful witness for truth much of His presence, and may his hands and heart be made strong through the infinite power of the mighty God of Jacob.
Obituary Note.—As we go to press we hear, with much regret, of the decease of Mr. Geo. Macleod, merchant, Laig. A fuller notice of this valued friend of the good cause will doubtless appear later. Meanwhile we record our sorrow. To the Free Presbyterian Magazine especially he was a steady support. When any article specially pleased him, he was accustomed to circulate many copies gratis.