THERE has just been issued from the press a memorial booklet of the late Rev. J. R. Anderson, containing “Extracts” from his diary, with a brief prefatory “Sketch of his Life,” by the Rev. Neil Cameron, St. Jude’s, Glasgow. It is now upwards of fifty-five years since the Rev. Jonathan Ranken Anderson passed away to his rest, so that there are very few left in Scotland to-day who had the privilege of hearing Mr. Anderson preach, or who have any personal recollection of him. On the other hand, there is a fair number of people who are acquainted with his name and work through the books and tracts containing his sermons and letters, which have been published since his day. The “John Knox Tracts” have found their way into many parts of the country and have been valued for their expositions of Gospel truth, and for their exposures of false religion. A very edifying booklet, consisting of letters by Mr. Anderson, called “Soul Counsel” and much fitted to help anxious seekers after Christ, was issued some years ago.
The present booklet opens with a biographical sketch, written at request, by the Rev. Neil Cameron. As it was not intended that the volume should be large, the account given of Mr. Anderson’s life is necessarily short. Mr. Cameron touches briefly but appropriately upon some of the leading points in Mr. Anderson’s history, such as his conversion when a boy of sixteen years, his studies at University and Divinity Hall in Glasgow, and
his work and success in the gospel ministry. His ministerial career began in 1834 in the Kirkfield Chapel of Ease, Gorbals, Glasgow, where he experienced much success in the conversion of souls to Christ, and continued until the Disruption of 1843. Thereafter he was minister of John Knox’s Free Church for nine years, until in 1852 he left the Free Church and ministered to a considerable portion of his people who followed him, under the name of the John Knox Kirk of Scotland Tabernacle. He died in 1859, after a twenty-five years’ ministry, at the comparatively early age of fifty-six years, much lamented by his congregation and friends throughout the country.
Mr. Cameron gives a very just estimate of Mr. Anderson’s character and ability as a sound and faithful preacher of God’s word, rightly dividing the word of truth and giving a suitable portion to saints and sinners in his audience. Mr. Anderson was a messenger of the gospel who did not believe in healing slightly the hurt of the daughter of Zion. He sought to probe the disease of sin to the bottom, and then to apply the balm of Gilead to the soul’s wound, and not a few of the excellent of the earth cherished a warm and lasting regard for his ministry. They felt him to be in a very special way God’s messenger to their souls. Mr. Cameron points out that Mr. Anderson had “a keen discernment of the secret actings of Satan in Church and State,” and this was undoubtedly the case. He saw almost with a prophet’s glance the evil tendencies of the time, and did not spare to denounce these with all his might. On the subject of Mr. Anderson’s leaving the Free Church in 1852, Mr. Cameron writes in a sympathetic yet discriminating manner.
“The Extracts” from Mr. Anderson’s diary form the larger part of the volume, and belong to the last eight years of his life. They are interesting as showing his private exercises about the condition of his own soul, and about his steps in connection with the Church. Among them there are not only passages of self-humiliation before God, but also of joyful exultation in the light of the divine countenance. Mr. Anderson had his happy as well as his dark seasons, and bears a good testimony on behalf of the tender mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord. But we must leave the diary to the reader’s perusal.
We cannot conclude, however, without mentioning two notes in an “Appendix” to the biographical sketch. The first is a commendation of Mr. Anderson and his work as a preacher, from the pen of the eminent Mr. J. C. Philpot, M.A., of the Strict Baptist communion in England, while the second is a very touching note of the triumphant death of Mrs. Martha Freer or Anderson, Mr. Anderson’s first wife. Her last words were, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.”
J. S. S.
Note.—The above booklet, “Life and Diary of the Rev. Jonathan R. Anderson,” may be had from Messrs. Pickering & Inglis, 11 Bothwell Circus, Glasgow; Mr. J. Anderson, 196
St. Vincent Street, Glasgow ; or the Editor of the Free Presbyterian Magazine, 248 Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, Glasgow. The price (at a reduced rate) is 6d., postage, 2d. extra. A few copies have been issued in finer binding, price 9d., postage, 2d. extra.