“Ghabh Iosa truas dheth, agus bhean e ri shùllibh agus thubhairt e ris. Faigh do radharc; imich; shlanuich do chreidimh thu.”
“Ghabh Iosa truas dheth,” gu cinnteach cha’n ann an sin air son na ceud uair, ach bha e air a dheanamh soilleir an sin bha a dhearbhaidhean air an toirt. Bha fàile cubhraidh ‘sa bhocsa alabasteir mu’n do bhriseadh e le neart graidh, ach bha an sin an oladh air a dortadh a mach, agus lion a cubhraidheachd luachmhor an seomar (Marc xiv. 3.) Tha a leithid so, do dh’ainneart naomha ann an urnuigh, agus is ann mar so tha beannachdan tasgaidh Dhé air am faotainn. Tha truas uaighneach Chriosd a gintinn athchuingean annainne, a tha a thras fhollaiseach fein a ris ag aideachadh agus a freagrath. Ghradhaich Iosa Martha, agus a piuthar, agus Lasarus; ach ‘nuair a sheas e
aig an uaigh ghuil e (Eoin xi. 5, 35.) Agus feudaidh sinn a chreidsinn ‘nuair a bha toraidhean uaignheach a pheacaidh mar so ‘na fhanuis gu’n do thaisbein a ghnuis an ni a bha na chridhe. Bha an sin an grádh a thug e gu h-úir a bháis, a ‘chum agus gu’n saoradh e peacaich air a ghluaiseachd ni bu chumhachdaiche ann na anam, agus bha e sruthadh thairis ann na ghnuis, na bhríathraibh agus ann an gníomharaibh truais. ‘Sann aig a leithid so do dh’ám a bha Mata air a ghlusad gu chuir sios “ghabh Iosa truas dheth.”
“Is bhean e ri shuilibh.” Cha robh so ‘na ni do-sheachinte mar nach b’urrainn a bheannachd-san sruthadh thuige gun mheadhoin, ach bha e air a dheanamh ann an iroslaichd, agus ann an caoimhneas.
B’urrainn dha a leigheas le focal a mhàin, agus nam b’e sin a thoil gun fhacal, agus sin fad às cho maith, is fagus do laimh. Ach rinn e mar bu tric feum do mheadhonaibh. Chuir e criadh air suilibh an duine bha dall a rugadh e, agus chuir se e a dh’ionnlad ann an lochan Shiloam (Eoin ix. 6, 7.) Dh’àithn e a chlach bhi air a glusad bh’ar uaigh Lasaruis mu’n do dh’èigh e’, “Thig a mach” (Eoin xi. 39.) Is iad na buillbhinnean is na h-eisg a bha aca ‘nan laimh a lionmhoirach e, ann an aite iognadh a chur air an t-slugh le biadh ulluchadh à neo-ni.
Tha a spiorad irosal ri bhi air fhaicinn ann an so; oir bha na miorbhuilean a dh’obrigh e air am falamhachadh mar so do mhoran dhe’n ghloir a lionadh an t-suil fheoilmhoir le iognadh. Chuimhnich e ged a b’e e fein dluth-chompanach Iehobhah (Sech. xiii. 7), gu’m b’e nis a Sheirbheiseach e’ agus rinn e gu glic (Isaiah lii. 13.) Ged a bha e os ceann nan uile, Dia beannaichte gu siorruidh, bha e nis air fhoillseachadh ‘san fheoil (I. Tim. iii. 16), agus mar a b’iomchuidh dha, chuir e sgàil mu ghloir neo-chruthaichte, agus dh’obrigh e oibre gloirmhoir gu ro irosal.
Ach am feadh a chuir e sgàil air a chumhachd o shuil a mhoir-shluagh, thaisbein e ni bu ro phaillte a chaoimhneas thaobh na muintir euslan. ‘Nuair a thuig an lobhar nach ro eagal, air Criosd gu’m bitheadh e air a shalachadh leis (Marc i, 41); ‘nuair a mothaich an duine bodhar, nach b’urrainn a bhríathraibh a chluintinn gu’n robh a mheur na chluasaibh (Marc vii. 33), ‘nuair a chunnaic a bhean bhochd, a rinn Sàtan a chromadh cho an-iochd’mhor rè ochd bliadhna deug lamh bu chumhachdaiche na lamh a seann fhir sàruchaidh air a leagail gu cairdeil oirne (Lucas xiii. 13, 16), gun teagamh chaidh faireachadh aobhneach tre’n feoil, ‘nuair a bhean e riu, agus bha an creidimh air a neartachadh gus an ni a gheall e a chreidsinn.
Ri leantainn.
Letter From Rev. John Tallach.
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 following 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 Dalvourn, 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.
Notes and Comments.
Rome and the “Encyclopædia Britannica.”—The following cutting is from the “English Churchman”:—The following is an excerpt from page 18 of the twenty-first annual report of the Westminster Catholic Federation for the year 1928, published at the offices, 5 Chancery Lane, London, W.C. 2 (2d):—”Report of the Vigilance Sub-Committee for 1928.—The Sub-Committee report that during the past year they have held twenty meetings. The revision of the ‘Encyclopædia Britannica’ was undertaken with a view to eliminating matter which was objectionable from a Catholic point of view, and of inserting what was accurate and unbiased. That such revision was necessary may be gauged from the fact that it is stated that, of the 1500 contributors to the work, only about 15 are Catholics, 10 alone of whom are recognised authorities on religious subjects. These latter have contributed about 170 of the many thousands of articles which, according to the editors, treat of religion. The whole of the 28 volumes were examined, objectionable parts noted, and the reasons for their deletion or amendment given. There is every reason to hope that the new edition of the ‘Britannica’ will be found very much more accurate and impartial than its predecessors.”
A Frenchman on the Changing English Sabbath.—The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” (London) says that “the eminent writer, Abel Hermaut, member of the French Academy, is astonished at the revolution that has taken place in the English ‘Sunday.'” He knew it towards the end of the Victorian era, and he finds some amazing contrasts between the Sabbath of those days and the present. M. Hermaut is quite clearly a worshipper of the Goddess of Pleasure, and the change pleases him. We quote him as a witness of the tremendous change which has come over, even London, in the matter of Sabbath keeping within recent times.
Rebuke to the Vatican.—The documents in connection with the dispute between the Vatican and the British Government authorities in Malta do not lack in plain speaking. These documents contain a memorandum signed by the Prime Minister of Malta, and the Ministers of Education, Treasury, Public Health, Public Works, Industry and Commerce, and Justice, with reference to the Pastoral Letter of the Archbishop of Malta and the Bishop of Gozo on the relations between Church and
State in Malta, and also Cardinal Gasparri’s note to the British Minister at the Vatican on the subject of an aide-memoir, in which Lord Strickland, the Governor, was denounced. With regard to the latter document the Minister’s memorandum declares that the grave imputations made in it against Ministers—and accepted by Cardinal Gasparri as true—reflect equally on the King’s representative in Malta and on the Imperial Government as the ultimate custodians of law and order. The contents of the document itself, the memorandum continues, are obviously a travesty of the situation in Malta, dictated by undiluted political bias and transparent personal enmity against Lord Strickland himself, and it is greatly deplored that the Holy See should have been unconsciously misled into lending the assistance of its great prestige and power to what is nothing less than a conspiracy against British rule in Malta. It is significant that this severe rebuke gets quite an obscure place in the “Glasgow Herald,” while the emergence of the Pope from his “prison” is emblazoned in large cross headings on the page facing the leader page. The Malta trouble is surely of greater interest to the Protestants of this country than the Pope’s emergence from his self-imposed seclusion in the Vatican.
Rome Hails the Pope.—Such is the cross heading in large type in which the “Glasgow Herald” announces the emergence of Pius XI. from his self-imposed imprisonment in the gorgeous mansion of the Vatican, with its spacious gardens and its imperial fare. On Thursday, 25th July, the Pope broke the long tradition of his predecessors, extending back to 1870, and came out into the open. The reception given to the Pontiff was one of magnificent splendour. Rome is a past mistress in the skilful staging of spectacles fitted to dazzle the imagination and captivate the senses, and on this occasion she put forth every effort to excel all former occasions. The newspaper correspondents are hard pressed for descriptive epithets to depict the scene. They tell us that the sun had set by the time the Papal Cross had appeared with seven candles held high around it. The incident is significant. It was in candle light, after the sun had set, the Pontiff appeared and, in dim light, blessed the kneeling multitudes. The faithful, now that the Pope has emerged from his seclusion, may reserve for worthier causes their long misplaced sympathy for the poor “Prisoner of the Vatican,” and it will be well for Protestants to keep wide awake, for this emergence of the Pope is of world-wide significance.
Henry Martyn’s Portrait.—The Rev. Charles Simeon, Cambridge, had a portrait of Henry Martyn, the consecrated missionary, hanging in his study, the sight of which greatly impressed him. He used to observe of it while looking up at it with affection, as it hung over his fireplace: “There; see that blessed man! What an expression of countenance! No one looks at me as he does—he never takes his eyes off me, and seems always to be saying, ‘Be serious, be in earnest; don’t trifle, don’t trifle.'” Then smiling at the picture, and gently bowing, he would add, “And I wont trifle, I wont trifle.”
Roman Catholics in Present Parliament.—According to the “Protestant Alliance Magazine” there are 26 Roman Catholics in the present Parliament—18 Labour, 5 Conservative, and 3 Nationalist. Forty-eight Roman Catholic candidates stood, of whom 26 were returned and 22 were defeated. Of the latter 9 were Conservatives, 5 Liberals, 7 Labour, and 1 Nationalist.
Getting Bolder and Bolder.—The L.M.S. are determined to pursue their Sabbath excursion policy. Recently the first excursion train from Helmsdale on a Sabbath was run, but the result, we are told, was not such as to encourage the Mammon worshippers to try the experiment again in a hurry. Other northern excursions on the Lord’s Day were not very encouraging. But greatly daring the L.M.S. ran an excursion train from Strathpeffer and Dingwall on the Communion Sabbath. This barefaced flouting of deeply cherished convictions may seem a small thing to Mr Follows and his associates, but the seed sown may yet yield a harvest of desperate sorrow. The “Glasgow Herald” says the L.M.S. carried 60,000 excursionists on the first Sabbath of August. In addition to these there were the excursionists who travelled by the L.N.E.R. and the ‘buses—the figures of which are not given. On a more recent Sabbath the figures for Glasgow excursionists were 40,000. At the time of writing this note the L.M.S. is advertising another Sabbath excursion to Kyle with the inducement held out to the excursionists that the ferry will be at their disposal.
St Columba Parish Church (Glasgow) Induction.—A friend has sent us the programme of the Congregational Celebrations in connection with the induction of the Rev. Alexander Macdonald, M.A., to the Gaelic charge of St Columba, Glasgow. Prior to the opening of the proceedings there were selections on the bagpipes. The pro-
ceedings opened with the singing of Psalm c., followed by a prayer in Gaelic and the Chairman’s remarks. Here are some of the items in the programme:—Part song—”An téid thu leam a righinn og”; Song—”Break o’ Day”; Song—”Mi’n so nam’ aonar”; Part song—”The Viking Song”; Song—”Bu chaomh leam ‘bhi mireadh”; Selections on the Bagpipes; Part song—”O hi-ri-ri, thae tighinn”; Song—”The Wolf”; Part song—”Over the Sea to Skye”; and “Hail to the Chief.” At first sight it seems almost incredible that such proceedings as the above, which took place in the City Hall, Candleriggs, could ever be associated with the solemn induction of a minister of the Gospel to his work in a new charge. The gross worldliness of the whole proceedings is not bettered by the thin sprinkling of what might be termed religious items in the programme. The minister is to be pitied, if he realises the burden of his office, whose introduction to his people was inaugurated by such proceedings. The Moderates in their worst efforts in the olden days could scarcely have outdone the above.
Memoir of Rev. D. Macfarlane, Dingwall.—The work is now issued from the press, and copies have been sent to all who ordered the book. One or two have been returned as the address was not sufficient. Will those who ordered the book, and have not received it, communicate with the Editor giving their full address? Copies have also been sent to our ministers, missionaries, and others for sale, and may be had from them for 3s 6d. The book is going off much quicker than we anticipated, and in order to meet possible demands we have ordered a second impression of 500. When these are disposed of the book will be out of print, and we would advise all those who wish to have a copy to purchase one without delay as repeat orders are already coming in to us. We take the liberty of quoting the following extract from a letter of Mr Ross, Liverpool, to a friend: “I have read Mr Macfarlane’s Life with much pleasure, and I trust not a little profit. What a saint of God and true minister of Christ he was. He was like Mr Spurgeon—pastor, teacher, and evangelist—in his preaching with unflinching witness against the defections and follies of the age. He was eminently taught of God, and his aptitude in quoting the Word of Life showed a truly living acquaintance with it as the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, as well as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Being true, faithful and holy he provoked assaults from hell. Alas! the devil finds so many of us
so fast asleep, like dogs on the dunghill, that he need not disturb us as we don’t cut any ice against him in his ravages on the sons of men, but our dear departed father was an invader of his kingdom and could not but suffer at his hands; but his Deliverer was ever nigh and the trial ended in gracious praise.” No one can read Mr Macfarlane’s Diary without being profoundly convinced that he went with all his concerns to a throne of grace. He lived a life of humble dependence on his God, and it is well that the young people of our Church should become acquainted with the kind of men who left all for conscience sake not knowing what was to become of them. It was a bold venture of faith, but neither Mr Macfarlane nor Mr Macdonald ever regretted the step they took in 1893. Unfortunately the life of Mr Macdonald is long out of print, and though we are often asked for it we have to say regretfully that it cannot now be had. It is to be hoped, therefore, that our young people will possess themselves of copies of Mr Macfarlane’s life before it goes out of print.
Commercialism Exploiting the Lord’s Table.—A well-known theological monthly has an advertisement headed: “Danger at the Communion Table.” The advertisers go on to say: “Doctors and Public Health Officers pronounce the use of the Communion Cup as liable to convey Infectious Diseases.” Then the wares of the advertisers—individual Communion Cups (whatever an individual Communion Cup may mean)—are brought to the readers’ attention. The gross commercialism herein exhibited in its stark nakedness is repulsive to all reverent minds, and it shows how far theological journals are fallen when such an advertisement would be allowed to appear in their pages.
Royalty and Sabbath-breaking.—It is to be regretted that those who occupy high places should countenance the desecration of the Lord’s Day as was recently done at Forfar by the Duke and Duchess of York. The occasion was the parade of 200 ambulance men, 150 V.A.D.’s, 200 Boy Scouts, and 50 members of the Arbroath Boys’ Brigade. Lord Strathmore presided, and welcomed the Duke and Duchess. Thereafter the members of the Forfar Town Council and officials of the ambulance bodies were presented. The Duke and Duchess inspected the parade. Demonstrations of ambulance work were given and ambulance competitions took place, including one for a trophy presented by the Dowager Countess of
Airlie. The fact that these annual inspections have always taken place on Sabbath, as is reported, does not lessen the sin of the Duke and Duchess in countenancing this worldly display on the Lord’s Day, and only emphasises the fact that there is something seriously wrong in the religious life of Forfar when such demonstrations are permitted. The worst feature of the whole business is the excuses some ministers have been making for this demonstration. The Rev. Dr W. S. Provand, Clerk of the Glasgow Established Presbytery, and the Rev. J. Dempster, of the United Free Church, are reported as offering the plea that the work of the Ambulance Association is a work of mercy. There must be more than an ordinary twist in the mental outlook of some men when they cannot draw a distinction between such demonstrations as are noted above and the work of Ambulance Associations in helping the injured. The Rev. Archibald Morrison, Abbey Parish Church, Edinburgh, as reported in the press, gave as one reason of the correctness of the above function that he himself had addressed many Labour meetings on the Lord’s Day. Such are the men who are supposed to be spiritual guides to the people of Scotland. Is it any wonder that the high tidal wave of Sabbath desecration is sweeping over Scotland?
Death of Stationmaster at Kyle of Lochalsh.—Immediately after the issue of our last number an esteemed reader wrote pointing out that the stationmaster (referred to in our note in the August issue) did not die suddenly. That he had been ill for some time and off duty and died in his own home. In writing our note we were misled by the following news item in the “Glasgow Herald” (a paper invariably reliable in its news intelligence), which was followed by other papers, and which we did not see contradicted: “Sudden Death of Kyle Stationmaster. Mr Riach, the stationmaster at Kyle, died suddenly in Kyle Station on Sunday evening as the excursion train was leaving with 300 visitors from Inverness, Nairn, and Forres” (“Glasgow Herald,” 16th July). The fact that the “Glasgow Herald” stated it thus, however, does not make it correct, and though, by it, we were misled, it is our duty to express sincere regret for indicating by our note that the stationmaster died suddenly in the station. We therefore withdraw the words of our former note: “The departure of the train was marked by the sudden death of the stationmaster, who dropped down as the train was departing.”