ST. JUDE’S, GLASGOW.
(Continued from page 267.)
c/o REV. W. SCOTT,
BRUSHGROVE, CLARENCE RIVER, N.S.W.,
AUSTRALIA, 24th December, 1904.
DEAR MR. CAMERON,—I arrived safely in Brushgrove on 15th December, as you would have heard from Mr. Scott. I have stood the voyage wonderfully well. We had it very cold from Cape Town to Melbourne; the ship took such a southerly route we had frost and snow for about twelve days. I called on Mr. Paul in Melbourne; he was highly pleased, he said, to see anybody from home, especially from Mr. Cameron. He wired to Mr. Scott asking when the steamer left Sydney for the Clarence, and we got the wire back before I left Melbourne. We got into Sydney on Monday at noon, and I got the steamer for the Clarence on Tuesday evening.
I stayed on board the “Nineveh” until the departure of the Clarence steamer. This steamer took me to Brushgrove, almost to the door of the manse. Of course, this is an island we are on; the river Clarence goes down both sides, dividing us from the mainland. The city of Grafton is 15 miles further up the river, a small city with about 7,000 population, and the most of the congregation of Mr. Scott is there, so he has to travel every Sabbath morning to Grafton, and in the afternoon he keeps service in Brushgrove, and in the evening he goes six miles further down the river and keeps the service there. Archd. M’Donald is staying in Grafton.
I cannot say yet that there is any improvement in my chest. The cough is much about the same, and the discharge is something the same, and my breath is as short as ever, but still I feel more brisk, and have got a better appetite than I had at home. I got a very warm welcome both from Mr. and Mrs. Scott. I could not get a warmer welcome from my own relations, and they are trying everything in their power to recruit my health. I am very often losing courage, but I have need of patience.
Please remember me kindly to your mother. I hope you are all keeping well. Remember me kindly to the Rev. Mr. Robertson: it is my daily prayer to God that He will bless your labours both in St. Jude’s. I wrote a note from Cape Town. I will be glad to hear from you, and I hope you will remember me at a throne of grace.—Yours very sincerely,
JOHN MACLEOD.
5 SHORT STREET,
DUNEDIN,
NEW ZEALAND, 27th July, 1905.
MY DEAR BROTHER,—I have had your most welcome letter some time ago, and was glad to see that you were all well.
I have left the Sanatorium last week, and I am carrying on the treatment at home. I am not gaining weight now, as I did at first; and the cough seems to defy all efforts. However, I have need of patience as improvement is believed to be slow. My breath is shorter than when I began the treatment. I am also getting very tired of this place. You could hardly put any difference between the Sabbath and the other days of the week.
When I was in the Sanatorium we could hear peal after peal from the gun of the sportsman through the whole length of the Sabbath day. Groups of young men can be seen on the high road on their way to the football field on the Sabbath day, and not only these lawless monsters who have given themselves up to the devil, but, if we come nearer to the city, we find that the work of the week day is carried on without interruption. The trading boats, which run between Australia and New Zealand, are at their berths discharging their cargoes on the Sabbath day. They also receive the passengers and sail on the Sabbath day. But this is the way of the world. If we come a step nearer, and go to the churches, we will have to make the very same complaint; for we find men there worshipping by a dead organ and singing hymns of man’s composition. Is this according to the word of God? It is as far against it as those who do their daily work on the Sabbath day; for it is a breach of the Second Commandment,* and a breach of it is as far against the mind of God as a breach of the Fourth Commandment. Singing hymns with an organ is not all we find among them, but almost everything in connection with worship is done according to their own ideas. It is true that there is one congregation in Dunedin that does not use hymns or organ, but they are in all other things on the down grade. They have now a Gaelic-speaking minister from the United Free Church of Scotland—Mr. Maclennan.
The Gaelic-speaking young men and women of Dunedin hold a monthly meeting for singing vain songs and dancing, and poor Mr. Maclennan was at their head at the last meeting. I have this from an eye witness of the scene. But I must stop. It would be better for me to be trying my own foundation. . . .
Remember me to all friends in St. Jude’s. . . .
Hoping and praying that the God of Jacob may be your God, and may He grant you all wisdom that ye may come under His shadow.—Your affectionate brother,
JOHN MACLEOD.
- Shorter Catechism. Question 51. What is forbidden in the Second Commandment? Answer: The Second Commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in His word.—Deut. xii. 32; Matt. xxviii. 20; James v. 13.