THE Rev. N. Cameron, Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee, has received the following letter from Mr Tallach, dated 5th July:—”I received the letter you sent after the Synod. Since then we received news of the Synod from various sources, and we are happy and thankful that everything passed by in a peaceable way. The fact that the different funds are so well kept up ought to encourage and humble us. To be stewards of temporal things in the House of God is as truly a responsible position as being stewards in spiritual things, and we all require great grace for both places.
A fortnight ago we were at Martha Farm School and stayed for a week-end. Under our supervision preaching has been going on there now for nearly two years, and a number were wishing to be examined with a view to church membership. In these circumstances we took one of the elders with us from Ingwenya, and we held a session meeting on the Saturday. We examined 18 people, and of these we found 16 whose knowledge and experience were such as to fully entitle them to church privileges. The time taken for this serious work was about 5 hours, and all three of us asked questions of practically every candidate. I only mention this to show that the work was done without any undue haste. Later, we examined 5 adult girls and one lad for baptism. To hold the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper where it has not been held before is always particularly solemn, and indeed we felt it so on the Sabbath. One kept marvelling at the evident work of the Holy Spirit among the people. During the preaching, the people followed with a deep earnestness which increased as we proceeded to the work of baptising and serving the Table. Even those who came to look on seemed to be impressed. The vacant yet questioning stare of these poor heathen who come to look on follows one for many days afterwards. There must have been about 100 people present. On the Monday we went to the school, and while I did my work there Dr Macdonald attended to a good number of sick people. We left the people, we trust, strengthened and ourselves greatly encouraged.
Ten miles or so of our road receives no labour in improvement and is very heavy after last year’s rains, and with the rough roads one of our axles broke. From a farm 10 miles away we got a phone call through to town, and a car came out to take us home late the follow-
ing night. Our car is still away in the wilds, but I hope to get it home next week (D.V.) On returning we had our Quarterly Meeting and Communion here at Ingwenya. At the Quarterly Meeting there were 6 forward for membership, of whom 5 were received. On Sabbath the church could not hold all the people, and one of our largest school-rooms did not suffice in holding the overflow.
It was a time of spiritual warmth and refreshing. The Monday meeting was well attended, and as most of the people knew of the success of the Gospel at this time among us it was felt that a regular meeting of thanksgiving was more suitable than preaching; so after reading a portion of the Word we devoted about two hours to praise and prayer. One could discern a tenderness among the people when we came finally to sing a part of the 72nd Psalm. We cannot tell why the Lord gives us these souls except that He works His own will without reference to our unworthiness. The crown is not on us, not on the praying people here, or at home, not on the Church, but on Him, and our desire is that it should rest there.
One man and his wife who came forward at Ingwenya walked 45 miles to be present at the Communion. He was married by us about two years ago, but never professed until now. It seems he took a Bible away with him at the time of his marriage, and as there is no mission where he is, he kept reading it, with the result that he and his wife got not only saving knowledge but very much other Biblical knowledge as well.
We had a wire from Mr Mackenzie that he is to sail from Sydney on the 10th of this month. We are longing to see him, but we fear that his stay with us will be but a short one. I am proceeding with the house, doing as much of the work myself as I can. Patrick Nkamo wishes to be specially remembered to you. He is now getting old. One of our women members at Bembesi is very ill, and we do not expect her to recover. She is a great age, but up till now has been wonderful in health. She is one of the old converts from Cape Colony, and is really a good woman. Her brother, who died some years ago, translated the Shorter Catechism into Isixosa.
My wife and child are well and send you warm regards. Give our kind regards to your office-bearers. We trust that they and all our people will remember us in prayer, especially that the Holy Spirit will continue to work among us, unworthy though we be. This is our
greatest fear. With sincere and warm regards to yourself, I remain, your sincere friend—JOHN TALLACH.
P.S.—I have said nothing of the Doctor as he is writing himself.—J. T.
The Late Mr Charles MacLean, Elder, Cawdor Road, Inverness.
THIS worthy man was the eldest son of the late Mr Lachlan Maclean, Cawdor Road, Inverness. He was born at Duntelchaig, in the parish of Dores, not quite seventy-six years ago. When we knew him first he was at Dalvour, parish of Daviot, about thirty-five years ago. He was then a changed man, but the instrument used by the Lord to work this change in him I cannot definitely state; but I always found that two men for whom he had unbounded regard were the saintly Rev. Donald Macdonald, late of Shieldaig, and the other, a worthy layman, of the name of William Macdonald, who finished his course at Elphin, Sutherlandshire. As a mason contractor, it was his lot to go to Coulin to build a lodge for Lord Lovelace, and while there he always attended the ministry of Mr Macdonald at Shieldaig and Torridon. In after years, when relating his experiences while listening to the Rev. Mr Macdonald, his face would beam, and one could clearly see that remembering those services he was anew refreshed as the Holy Spirit called to his mind what the Lord had spoken to him through His own messenger. At this special time, when he arrived home, he began to praise Mr Macdonald to his father, and declared that there was not a preacher in the Highlands like him, to which the father replied that he was like a young calf getting his first milk, and that there were some ministers in the Highlands much ahead of him. To this Mr Maclean replied that he agreed that if Mr Macdonald had no liberty—his gifts were not very great—but when he had liberty there was no minister like him for feeding starving souls. This the father would readily admit when he became more acquainted with Mr Macdonald’s preaching. To show Mr Maclean’s appreciation of Mr Macdonald, he called his youngest son after him.
As was stated, he also had great regard for William Macdonald, who was Missionary at Elphin. While building the shooting-lodge at Druimaraonidh he made every effort to hear William on the Sabbath at Elphin. There he also met the worthy Marion Mackenzie, otherwise called Merran Mhor. Mr Maclean was also at Portree before the passing of the notorious Declaratory Act, and used to hold meetings with Mr Neil MacKinnon. When the stand had to be made in 1893, he had no hesitation in joining those who, as the Apostle Peter said, left all and followed Christ. Until his dying day he never regretted taking that stand. As long as he was in Daviot he was mainly responsible for seeing the services conducted there. It was while he was still there that the writer knew him first, and if a Paul could approvingly and lovingly write of Gaius mine host, we can certainly state that he was one of the kindest we ever visited. I may say that I shall never forget the pleasantness of his hospitality. About his wife, I may say she was like-minded with him in her kindness, and one who was of a meek and quiet spirit.
To know Mr Maclean in reality one would require to know him in his own house, for although he was a clear speaker on the Friday and a man of an able mind, yet it was at the family altar he excelled. We often felt that when he was engaged at the family altar we had reason to be ashamed for our dryness compared to him.
For the last few years of his life he became very mellow, and a discourse on the sufferings of Christ would make him break down. He was a most affectionate father, and to the writer he confided on more than one occasion his concern for his children’s eternal salvation, and that, although one had the hope that it was well with one’s self, yet what would become of those whom they were leaving behind? He was a steadfast friend, a true Christian, whose loss our congregation has deep reason to mourn. His remains were laid to rest beside those of his father in Dunlichity Burying-ground, where much of the dust of the Lord’s people lies to answer the call of the trumpet of the Great Day. We may say that the dust of his wife was also laid there as recently as the 12th day of June, about nine months after that of her husband.
To their sorrowing family and relatives and friends we tender our heartfelt sympathy, and pray that the Holy Spirit may work in them as He worked in them who are now through faith and patience inheriting the promises.—E. MACQ.