BY THE REV. DONALD BEATON, WICK, SYNOD’S DEPUTY.
IT is now over fourteen years ago since the Rev. D. MacFarlane—a solitary figure—courageously laid his protest on the table of the pre-Union Free Church Assembly, and learned by bitter experience how unfeeling the exponents of a world-wide charity can be in the hour of their triumph. Much has happened since then. The years that have passed since the Free Presbyterian Church came into existence have been momentous in the ecclesiastical life of Scotland. The cruel blasts of adversity have swept around the homes of many who had no feeling of sorrow when the Church to which they belonged cast out from their dwellings two aged servants of Christ. And the Church which broke away from the majority in 1893 has continued on her way since then through good report and through evil report. We have not much that is fitted to awaken the admiration of the world nor—I think I can say for the best of our people—do we wish it. Yet it would be base ingratitude to refuse to acknowledge the Lord’s kindness in opening spheres of usefulness that were not of our own seeking. It may appear an insignificant matter that one of the smallest branches of Presbyterianism in Scotland has a footing in three continents—Europe, Africa, and America—but to me it is deeply significant. True, in these missions in Africa and America, as at home, there is very little room left for carnal boasting. It is the day of small things, but if Christ has opened these doors for us no man can shut them. I need not recall to you how it came about that we have a mission in Canada; that has been done, and ably done, already. My main duty to-night is to give you an account of my visit to our friends in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba.
On receiving the invitation from the Canadian Mission Committee of our Church I readily accepted it, counting it no small honour that I should have the privilege of meeting with many who had shown their faithfulness to the purity of gospel worship for many a long year. Hoping also that it might be for the benefit of my wife’s health, I thought it would be a good thing if she would accompany me; and now that we have safely returned I am glad, for her sake and my own, that she was with me, for we shall ever look back to our visit to Canada, notwithstanding all its fatigues in travelling, as one of the most pleasant experiences of our life. We set sail on the 18th day of May in the “Columbia,” one of the large ships of the Anchor Line. There were about 1,600 souls on board—the majority being steerage passengers—mostly made up of emigrants for Canada and the States. Among these were a great number of Jews, and on our second Saturday at sea they held a service on the deck, and sang in Yiddish the songs of the sweet Psalmist of Israel. A feeling of sadness came
over me as I looked on these representatives of a race for which such great things had been done, and which was yet destined to look unto Him whom they had pierced. But as yet it was evident, as far as these Russian Jews were concerned, that “their minds were blinded, for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament.” The voyage was altogether without incident; beautiful weather prevailed, and with the exception of one day of fog, we saw the Atlantic in one of her most pleasant moods. During the first three days we were at sea not even the smoke of a passing vessel on the distant horizon was to be seen. Out on the great expanse of waters the serious mind has sufficient food for reflection, and if one happens to have stored in one’s mind the Psalms and certain passages of Scripture, the ocean can preach as impressive a sermon of the eternal power and Godhead of Him who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand as is fitted to solemnise and awe the mind.
On arriving at New York we were met by Mr. Allan MacKenzie, a Canadian by birth, to whom we had an introduction through our former Deputy, Rev. E. MacQueen. We shall not readily forget the disinterested kindness and the generous hospitality of our kind host and hostess. After a day’s rest in New York we set our faces towards Canada, travelling by the New York Central’s “Empire State Express”—the “most famous train in the world,” if we are to credit the advertising agents of the New York Central lines. The railway passes along the Hudson Valley, and what with the magnificent Hudson River, and the Catskill Mountains in the distance, we were privileged to see as fine scenery as we saw in all our journeyings in the New World. After a run of less than nine hours we reached Buffalo. Here we were met at the station, or dépôt, as they say in the States, by Mr. and Mrs. Middleton, to whom we had received letters of introduction before leaving Wick. Here, too, we received the kindest attention and hospitality. Starting next day at seven p.m., we were soon on Canadian soil, and whether it was imagination or not, we could not help feeling a marked difference in Canada; it seemed liker the home country—there was less of the feverish activity so characteristic of American commercial life. On our way to Seaforth, which was our destination, we passed through Brandtfort—named after a famous Indian chief. Here there is an Indian settlement of the descendants of the Iroquois, who were the most dreaded and savage of the Canadian native races. Fortunately the tomahawk is now laid aside, and the descendants of the men whose deeds of cruelty made the early French settlers to tremble at the mere rehearsals of the deeds of savage cruelty, are now peaceful citizens. I refer to the Indians in passing because I never cast my eyes upon one but thoughts of the noble and consecrated services of John Eliot and David Brainerd came up before me. After six hours in the train we reached Seaforth, and were
met at the station by our dear and worthy friends, Mr. George Forrest and Mr. Daniel Clarke. We rested for the night under Mr. Clarke’s roof, and through the kindly disposition of his partner in life, we felt as much at home as we did since we left Scotland. Next day we left for Brucefield, the home of Mr. George Forrest, which we reached after a drive of six miles. Here we made our headquarters during our stay in Canada, and looking back on the days we spent here we have only the pleasantest recollection of the hospitality so kindly extended to us by Mr. and Mrs. Forrest, and the sweet Christian fellowship we were privileged to enjoy.
After a day’s rest we again set out on our journey—East Williams being our destination. We travelled by train to Ailsa Craig, and then drove a distance of six or seven miles. During our stay at East Williams we experienced the same kindness from Mr. Hugh Ross and his sister, Miss Ross, and it was largely through the laudable activity of Miss Ross that we were enabled to visit so many of our people at East Williams. I preached three Sabbaths in our Church there, which is located in a district called Lochaber, named after the district in the home country. On the second Sabbath the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper was administered—services being held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sabbath, and Monday, as at home. The attendances were most gratifying, and it was a pleasure to preach to a people that showed all outward signs, at any rate, of attention to the Word preached. The congregation at East Williams is fortunate in having a well-equipped Session, consisting of Messrs. Menzies, MacLeish, MacKenzie, and Scott. It was a matter of regret to us that during our visit to East Williams Mr. Menzies, through the infirmities of age, was not able to be present, and that Mr. David MacKenzie was confined to bed with what appeared to be a very serious malady. We are very pleased to hear, however, since coming home, that he has shown signs of recovery, and our prayer is that the Lord may spare him for many a year yet. During our stay at East Williams we had the pleasure of staying a night or two with Mr. MacLeish, a native of Cowal, at West Williams, and Mr. Hugh Scott, at Lobo. It was while at the latter place we experienced for the first time the heat of a Canadian summer, and certainly it made us long for the bracing breezes of Wick. In this matter, however, we were exceptionally fortunate, as the summer heat was not nearly so great this year as it had been with some of the other Deputies. After our work at East Williams was over we returned to Brucefield, and resting for a day or two, we then set northwards towards Lochalsh.
We travelled by train to Ripley, and had then to drive a distance of seven or eight miles to Lochalsh. During our stay at Lochalsh we took up our abode at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Matheson. The genuine, unaffected kindness of our host and hostess, and also of their family, has left behind feelings of the most pleasant kind. Shortly before our arrival a dear son of
Mr. Matheson’s had died in the Far West, and another young man, a distant relative of his and a son of Mr. Donald T. MacKenzie, our treasurer at Lochalsh, had been drowned in the Red River at Winnipeg; so there had preceded us to these stricken homes the solemnizing Messenger of Death. I preached two Sabbaths at Lochalsh, the second of which was observed as a Communion Sabbath. Here I felt my lack of Gaelic more than at any of the places I had been. The services were well attended, and the people listened with commendable attention to the preaching. At the conclusion of the Monday service I baptised the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Finlayson. I may also here mention that at a meeting of session held at Lochalsh it was decided to ask Mr. William Matheson, student, to conduct the services in the Church during the summer vacation.
Thanks to the guidance of Mr. Donald Alexander Matheson, student, we were enabled to visit quite a number of families. We came across a few of the old pioneer settlers, whose horny hands and furrowed brows told of days of wearisome toil and anxiety since they left the land of their fathers. But now, in the evening of their life, we were pleased to see, almost everywhere, signs of comfort, and it was pleasant to hold conversation with many of these old people, for their thoughts were on things above. On Thursday we left the home of our dear friend at Lochalsh on our way to the North Line of Kincardine. A drive of fifteen miles brought us to the house of Mr. John Morrison, one of our elders and a native of Scourie. Mr. Morrison is completely blind, having lost his sight through the glare and heat of the great forest fires which at times swept over that part of the country. We enjoyed his chaste conversation, couched in as felicitous English as it has been our pleasure to hear for many a long year. He told us that when quite a boy he had been present in a house where William C. Burns was during one of his preaching tours in Canada, and that the great preacher called him to his side, and placing his hand on his head, said “God bless you, my dear Highland boy.” “And it would be good for me,” added Mr. Morrison, “if I got that blessing.” And here I may be allowed to add that in conversing with those who heard William Burns either at home or in Canada, they retained impressions of his preaching, and of himself as a servant of Christ, that the long lapse of years has not been able to efface from their memories.
After a day’s rest we resumed our journey, and driving a distance of six miles we reached the home of Mr. Cameron, a native of Strathpeffer. His wife, whom the other Deputies had the privilege of meeting, had been taken home to her rest, and her place in the home was taken up by her widowed daughter, Mrs. MacKenzie, and a grand-daughter, Miss MacKenzie, who showed us much kindness. I preached two Sabbaths at the North Line. There were very good congregations, a great number of the Lochalsh people coming up, especially for the morning service. In the
evenings quite a number of young people from the Methodist Churches came, but—if one may be allowed to judge—they did not appear to be hungering for the bread of life. During the week intervening between the two Sabbaths we went down to the town of Kincardine, a distance of six miles from the North Line. Kincardine is a pleasantly-situated town, on the shores of Lake Huron. We enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. MacKenzie during our stay. On Wednesday I preached in the hall of the Presbyterian Church, which had been kindly granted to our people by the Rev. Dr. Murray. There was a very good turn-out of the people of the place, and they listened most attentively to the discourse. On Thursday I drove out to Tiverton, and stayed a day or two with Mrs. MacVean, a native of Lochgilphead. On the night of my arrival a few friends gathered, and we had a short prayer meeting. Mrs. MacVean and her daughter showed true Highland hospitality, and I felt deeply indebted to her sons for their kindness in driving me from place to place. On Saturday we set off on our return journey for the North Line, and after a drive of twelve miles reached our destination. On Monday we returned to Kincardine, where we were hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Macrae, natives of Assynt; and at six o’clock on Tuesday morning I began my journey to Winnipeg—Mrs. Beaton remaining behind in Ontario. Our train reached Owen Sound at two p.m., but the steamer was not timed to sail until six. The Canadian Pacific Railway Company have a splendid service of steamers sailing over the great lakes of Huron and Superior. The sail over these immense bodies of fresh water was delightful. There was scarcely a ripple on the water, and though the sun was intensely hot at times, yet I could not help contrasting the pleasure of travelling by steamer as compared with travelling by train. We were two days and two nights on board, reaching Fort-William on Thursday evening at four p.m. Here we took train for Winnipeg, and travelling all night, were supposed to reach our destination by nine o’clock next day, but owing to a breakdown on the line, which is, unfortunately, of rather frequent occurrence, we did not reach it until one o’clock. Mr. Lachlan Ross, one of our elders, and a native of Scourie, who went out to Manitoba a few years ago, met me at the station. During my stay in Winnipeg I enjoyed the hospitality of a Free Presbyterian friend, Mrs. Sutherland, a native of Rogart, who also had gone out to Winnipeg a year or two ago. As one passes through the streets of Winnipeg one cannot but be impressed with its fine buildings, its broad streets, and beautiful avenues. It is the door of the Far West, through which the great masses of emigrants pass on their way to the virgin lands of the West. The thoughts of the populace are well nigh wholly absorbed with the rise and fall of wheat, which in its turn affects so materially real estate.
The spirit of speculation is everywhere prevalent; in travelling by train and steamer the conversation usually drifts to the topic
of absorbing interest, and though the people of Winnipeg get credit for being a church-going people, yet it is to be feared that the riches of this world are more to the majority of its citizens than the true riches of heaven. It is scarcely necessary to remind you that I was the first of the Deputies to go as far west as Winnipeg, and after my experience there I recommend to the attention and consideration of the Synod the interests of Winnipeg. Apart altogether from its important position as a city, and as the door to the vast territories of Western Canada, there is always within the city itself a large population of young men and women from the mother country, and it would be a great matter if our Church could keep in touch with these. Unfortunately, I was only able to give two Sabbaths to Winnipeg. We met in a hall in James Street, off Main Street. At our first meeting there were only about fifty present, but each meeting increased in numbers until at the last meeting there would be about two hundred present. The audiences consisted chiefly of young people drawn from all parts of Scotland, the Highlands being well represented. On the last Sabbath I was in Winnipeg a short Gaelic service was held after the English Service, and quite a number of people came in after the services in the other Churches were over. I never heard such hearty Gaelic singing for many a long day; these young men and women, with the rolling Atlantic and the vast prairies lying between them and the homes of their youth, sang the Gaelic Psalms as I am sure they seldom sang them at home. The two leading daily papers were useful in advertising the services, and were kind enough to give short reports of the sermons. It is to be hoped that the next Deputy, in visiting Winnipeg, will be able to give more time to this important centre than I was. People of almost every nationality under the sun meet in its streets, and though the day has not yet dawned when all the peoples that dwell under the British flag in Canada own and acknowledge Jesus Christ as their King, we look forward with hope to that day when men will seek Him with the zeal that they are now seeking the treasures of this world. There are other centres which I am sure would be only too glad to have the privilege of Gaelic sermons being preached, and it is to be hoped that with a wider knowledge of the needs of these localities, which I, as a pioneer, could not be expected to possess, that such places may be attended to in future. During the week I was in Winnipeg I visited some friends of the cause in Portage La Prairie, which is about sixty miles west of Winnipeg. I regret I had so little time at my disposal, as I am sure I would have enjoyed conversation with some I met with there.
I left Winnipeg on Monday evening on my return journey to Brucefield, Ontario, after having preached two Sabbaths at Winnipeg; and looking back on my experiences there, I cannot help hoping that this rising city, with all the freshness and vigour of youth, may yet be a place in which the knowledge of the
Saviour of sinners may be abundantly shed abroad. The return journey was without incident, and though much wearied with the journey, I was pleased to meet again with our friends at Brucefield. Here I preached for two Sabbaths, the second of which was observed as a Communion Sabbath. Our meetings at Brucefield were the smallest of any which we had in Canada; but, if they lacked in numbers, there was a warmth of Christian fellowship and love, the remembrance of which I trust will remain with me as long as I live. On the Monday I baptised the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. MacLennan, Wardsville. It was at Brucefield too we bade farewell to many of our Canadian friends, and for most of us, no doubt, it will be the last farewell.
We left Brucefield on Monday evening for Seaforth, on our way to Newton. On Thursday evening I preached at Newton, and again on the Sabbath. The people came out very well to the services, and listened most attentively—so attentively, indeed, that it was a pleasure to preach to them. Our people at Newton have had their own troubles, and they deserve every encouragement from our Church. While at Newton, we received the greatest kindness from our host; Mr. MacDonald and his family, who did all in their power to make our stay with them pleasant.
Our work in Canada was now over, and our thoughts, which often wandered to Scotland and our dear ones at home, were now allowed a little freer scope as we set our faces southward for New York. We stayed a night at the City of Stratford with Mr. Robertson, whose company and conversation we highly prized. Here we parted with our dear friend, Mr. Clarke, who had accompanied us in most of our journeyings to and fro, and we felt the lonelier after bidding him farewell. Next day we journeyed towards Buffalo, breaking our journey at Niagara Falls. Much has been written about this wonderful sight, but it must be candidly admitted that, though we were prepared for something stupendous, the Falls surpassed our expectations. Dr. Kennedy made a remark, if I remember rightly, that he had seen two great wonders in America—the Falls of Niagara and Dr. Hodge of Princeton—the one representing the gigantic forces of nature, the other representing the wonderful power of intellect governed by Christian humility. The dull roar of Niagara fell on our ears as it fell on Dr. Kennedy’s, but Dr. Hodge had gone from his labours here below, and it was on a tombstone we read his name in the quiet cemetery of Princeton. On reaching New York we again enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Allan MacKenzie for a few days. As we had some time at our disposal I made up my mind to pay a visit to Princeton, to which I had very kind invitations from Professors Armstrong and Warfield. On the way to Princeton we passed through Newark and Elizabeth—places often referred to in the diary of David Brainerd. It was at the former place that he was ordained preparatory to his great and successful work among the Indians at Crossweeksung. At Elizabeth he passed through such
suffering that death appeared agreeable to him; he looked on it as the end of his toils and an entrance into the place where the weary are at rest. As I thought on all he had been enabled to do, the consecrated life he lived, and the few brief years that had been granted to him in this world—for he died ere he was thirty—I felt a sense of shame at how little some of us had accomplished. On reaching Princeton I found the place well-nigh forsaken, owing to the intense heat of summer. Almost all the Professors had taken their departure, but I felt deeply interested in seeing Princeton—famous in the Presbyterian world for having had a series of learned men who have not been ashamed to take up a very conservative position in dogmatic theology and in biblical criticism. In the quiet cemetery of Princeton lies the dust of Jonathan Edwards, the Alexanders, and the Hodges, and of many other humble saints whose names are not known to the world.
Our thoughts now turned towards the “Columbia,” which was to bring us back again to our native land. It was a pleasant sight to see again its heather-clad hills as we sailed up the Firth of Clyde in beautiful sunshine. We reached home in safety through the good hand of the Lord upon us, deeper in debt to Him than ever for His wonderful kindness to us both by sea and land.
Before concluding this report I should like to impress on our people at home that they should be mindful of our Canadian friends when they bend their knees at a throne of grace. They, like ourselves, have to fight against many foes. There is a strong tide flowing against the time-honoured and scriptural customs of our fathers in Canada as well as at home. And I should like to say this, that the Canadian Free Presbyterians, on their part, show the deepest interest in all that takes place in the Church at home, and look forward each month with keen interest for the Church’s Magazine. It was a pleasant and, I trust, edifying experience for us to have met with many of the Lord’s people beyond the seas.
It now remains for me to refer briefly to the financial part of my report. As in former years, our friends in Ontario gave four hundred dollars, with a donation of thirty dollars for the Organization Fund. I also received thirty dollars sixty-five cents from Mr. Lachlan Ross, Winnipeg; two dollars from a friend in Chicago, for Foreign Mission Fund; and five dollars from a friend in Lambton, Ontario, for Sustentation Fund.
Harvesting on the Lord’s Day.—Lovers of the sanctity of the Lord’s Day were pained to read in the press that harvesting operations were carried on in many places on the Sabbath. And it was all the more regrettable because that many joined in this unholy work in some parts of the Highlands. There is need, therefore, that this bulwark of religion would be jealously defended by the people of Scotland, especially professing Christians within our borders.