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Home » Publications » Free Presbyterian Magazine » 1945 » December 1945 » A Note-worthy Incident in The Religious Experience of The Late Mr. Hector Jack, Strathconon

A Note-worthy Incident in The Religious Experience of The Late Mr. Hector Jack, Strathconon

ON one occasion in the early religious experience of the late Mr. Hector Jack of Strathconon, he was so concerned on the Saturday night that he might sleep in on Sabbath morning, and so miss hearing Rev. John MacRae (“Big MacRae”), then minister at Knockbain, that he resolved not to divest himself of more than his boots and jacket, and thus went under the bed-clothes. Early on Sabbath morning he went to pray beneath a willow bush in the back garden, before setting out on the long journey to Knockbain. When Rev. John MacRae began to preach, Hector Jack was amazed to find his own spiritual exercises so vividly and minutely described, but still thought that Mr. MacRae might possibly be referring to somebody else. At this stage of the discourse Mr. MacRae declared “Young man, you are still wondering if I am referring to somebody else, but no, I am referring to you who were so anxious last night that you might sleep in that you divested yourself of only part of your clothes.” Naturally enough, at this stage Hector Jack regarded the discourse as extraordinarily applicable but still persisted in thinking that the description might be applicable to someone else in the congregation. It was then that Mr. MacRae raised his voice almost to a shout, by way of emphasis, saying: “You are still thinking, young man, that I may be referring to someone else in this congregation. To put it beyond the shadow of a doubt for you, then, I am referring to you who, in addition to what I have already said, prayed beneath the willow bush in your back-garden before you left for Knockbain this morning.” This climax made it plain to Hector Jack that “the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him,” and so he was overwhelmingly melted with a sense of wonder and gratitude to the Lord “for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” The above incident is narrated in minute detail as it was related by the godly Hector Jack himself to the godly minister, now in glory, who told it to the present writer, J. P. MacQueen.

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