THE “MEN” OF THE LEWS, by Rev. Norman C. Macfarlane, Juniper Green, Edinburgh. Stornoway: “Gazette” Office. 5s.
This book, which has been published lately, contains biographical sketches of some of the most prominent laymen who figured in religious circles in the Lews during the greater part of last century. It is remarkable that nothing of the kind (if we except isolated sketches and notices) has ever been attempted before, although the field has been, notably, one of the most productive in Scotland in recent times. By rescuing the names and sayings of these worthy men from oblivion Mr Macfarlane has done a real service, for which we readily acknowledge indebtedness. His book, however, has one serious fault at least, which for us considerably depreciates its value. It presents the “Men” to a great extent out of their atmosphere. To do justice to a work of this kind one would require to be in full sympathy with the type of piety represented, and so be able, not only to portray the figure, so to speak, but also to faithfully exhibit the characteristic spiritual modes. Unfortunately, Mr Macfarlane’s sympathies have diverged so much in the direction of the newer religion that he is at a loss to give the religion of the “Men” its true and distinctive value. His is the standpoint of
the United Free Church, a Church which, as he himself in effect admits, never became popular in the Lews, and many of whose doctrinal and devotional forms are quite foreign to the system of worship which held and still holds there. The references to this Church, which bulk so largely throughout the book, amount almost to special pleading. In this connection, we feel bound to express our resentment at the disparaging way in which he speaks of Dr Begg and Dr Kennedy. Mr Macfarlane dares a lot in “offering to his native isle” such a statement as that the combined influence of these honoured servants of Christ “told disastrously throughout the Highlands and Islands.” Happily for us, the verdict of history has for ever placed the memory of such men as Drs Begg and Kennedy beyond the reach of prejudice. One word about Mr Macfarlane’s literary style. It is highly ornamental, and glories in allusion to the great masters of fiction, art, philosophy, poetry, and music—a curious garb, surely, with which to grace the memory of the “Men” of Lewis. Take an instance. He says of Kotreena-Thangie that she “had travelled as a spirit from Mount Helicon, the home of the Muses, and, alighted on the Lews.” No doubt this is flowery enough in point of language, but it does little credit to the work of the Holy Spirit in Kotreena-Thangie. Would it not have been worth the sacrifice if he had simply told the truth and said, in the language of Scripture, that she had been “born from above?”
R. MACK.