*Some Noted Ministers of the Northern Highlands, by the Rev. D. Beaton, Wick. Price, 5s; post free, 5s 4d. Printed at “Chronicle” Office, Inverness.
IN giving a review of this book, for reasons on our side, we undertake to do so with diffidence. When we ask ourselves, however, what especially is necessary for the authorship of such a book, we think that there is required at least (1) Accuracy of statement, not omitting dates nor putting a gloss upon statements in documents to suit religious views; (2) Spiritual sympathy with these men in as far as they followed Christ; and (3) The suitable presentation of material.
So, first, such an author must be exceedingly accurate. “It is required in a steward that he be found faithful.” It is required in a writer after this historical and evangelical manner that he be found accurate as to the facts as far as known or recorded. Such an author must largely be a copyist, in a good sense, copying what he obtains from the resources at his disposal. When men like Dr Hay Fleming and others of that ilk are proven to be reliable, gratitude and cordial acknowledgement is due them for their labours. Mistakes undoubtedly will occur in the most painstaking efforts to ascertain and state facts, but the ideal, and endeavour, remain. For instance, you will find from a quotation in this book that Dr Kennedy states that Norman Macleod left college of his free will. Our author finds that Norman Macleod was “rusticated” or dismissed, and so the previous view, which was of course according to the best of Dr Kennedy’s knowledge, has to be revised. It must have cost much labour and painstaking research to find out much concerning Mackillican, Ross, Robertson, of Kingussie, and others brought before us in the volume.
Then, secondly, spiritual sympathy is needed if one is to give a true and useful account of these witnesses. They were misunderstood, misrepresented, maligned by dignitaries in Church and State. Hog and Mackillican were imprisoned in the Bass Rock, and found it, notwithstanding the intention of their persecutors, to be the confines of Immanuel’s land. “All things work together for good” to God’s people, but that does not justify persecutors nor lessen their guilty load. These ambassadors of Christ were the honourable even among the honourable. Their Lord endowed them with great gifts “to each according to his several ability,” and each would acknowledge, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” They were under-shepherds who knew their need of Christ and Him crucified as their only source of eternal life. When asked by the Master at the Great Day, “Didst thou keep the word of My grace committed to thee?” these will be able to say, “Yes.” Many another one will have to say, “We kept the ecclesiastical or civil law of our day, whether according to the Word of the Lord or not—we had to keep our livings or stipend and glebe.” These were men who had in the very marrow of their souls the faith which was once delivered to the saints. Faithfulness to the truth of God, for their own souls, for life and conduct, for all matters pertaining to Church and State—self-denial, integrity, sagacity, holiness, love, zeal, with the utmost tenderness to the penitent, and prayerful fellow-feeling toward the godly who groan being burdened, these were the principles and the graces which were prized by them in their generation, and this is made amply evident in the clear and useful narratives of this book. They had their failings in this world, some of them more noticeably so than others. “O that black Presbytery,” cried Alexander Pope, after being cajoled to vote against John Sutherland, of Halkirk. Sutherland’s prediction came true. Nor does the author overlook some of the doctrinal peculiarities, say, of Fraser of Brea or Stewart of Moulin. We venture to think that they themselves were not exactly feeling happy with their intellectual conclusions. Would not Fraser of Brea have been satisfied with the Atonement as “Infinite” and “Definite?” Were not their hearts ahead of their heads? We may here note some of the names of these defenders of the faith and breakers-up of fallow ground. Some of them, we all, probably, read of already, as Hog, Sage, Dr Macdonald and others down to Cook. Others however, are brought before us whom we know much less of, as John Mackillican, Daniel Beaton, Angus Macbean, John Robertson (the spiritual father evidently of Dr Macdonald), also Alexander Stewart, Dingwall, and others. We would re-tell some of the incidents recorded were that possible here. If we have not whetted any appetite by our indications and endeavours, it is not exactly for want of will. However, if we wish to have a copy on the home-shelves it may be well to secure one, as the volume will have an interest for those who study the history and local conditions of the districts referred to, quite apart from acquiescence or otherwise in the religious convictions either of the author or his subjects.
Lastly, we have the question—Is the presentation of the author’s material suitable? Mr Beaton does not require an epistle of commendation regarding this. So we leave that point. He throughout indicates his sources—Presbytery Records, etc.—for those who wish to glean for themselves. The reader will find that the book can be taken up in season or out of season, for the refreshing of mind and heart, and be able, we frankly believe, to say that the author is “a succourer of many and of me also.” There are many beautiful remarks which are like precious stones, along with the gold and silver, in the build of the book. Such are those of Liliias Dunbar on the Plant of Renown, and the apt use which Mr Beaton makes of Mrs E. B. Browning’s reference to Cowper is worthy of notice. It is applied by the author to one of these godly men as he was nearing the end of the valley in this world, namely, that “a helpless hand to Christ’s Cross was clinging.” So much for the sketches of “Some Noted Ministers of the Northern Highlands.” “The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”—D. A. MacF.