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Home » Publications » Free Presbyterian Magazine » 1955 » October 1955 » THE REV. JOHN MORRISON OF GAIRLOCH AND URRAY

THE REV. JOHN MORRISON OF GAIRLOCH AND URRAY

The Rev. John Morrison was translated from Gairloch to Urray in January, 1717. He is said to have been quite oblivious to the value of money . . . At one time at which he was announced to preach at Cromarty, a pious man residing in the neighbouring parish of Resolis, who had never seen him, though he had heard a great deal about him, resolved to go to Cromarty to hear him. As he wended his way to the Church, at some little distance from the town, he overtook a stout, rough, unpollished looking man. Being strangers to each other, neither of them spoke. They had not been long walking side by side, when the sound of the Church bell which was generally rung in those days at 8 a.m., and 10 a.m., and at the hour of beginning the services, reached their ears. The uncouth looking stranger, on hearing it, to the astonishment of the Resolis man, exclaimed in Gaelic, “The bell of my heavenly Father’s house,” and set off. In due time the man from Resolis arrived in Church, and a little after he had taken his seat, to his surprise and consternation, whom should he see ascend the pulpit but the ungainly person who had parted with him on the road a short time before. He gave up the day for lost, and felt that his long walk to hear the services of the day would prove fruitless to his soul, but there was no help for it. After sitting for a few seconds in the pulpit, the preacher rose, announced the Psalm. Three or four verses were read and sung in the usual way. Prayer followed, the opening words of which by their striking originality and weighty solemnity at once arrested the Resolis man’s attention. The prayer was in Gaelic, and full justice cannot be done in translation. It began in terms somewhat to the following effect:—”O thou who art the supreme object of the love of all the angels and seraphs in glory, the supreme object of the redeemed Church in glory, the supreme object of Thy Church on earth, and the consciousness of whose love kept me awake during the past night, wilt not Thou now look upon us in Thy mercy and love assembled as we are in Thy house and engaged in Thy service.” The sermon which succeeded was equally unctuous and savoury. The Resolis man did not lose his pains. Mr. Morrison died 1st June, 1747.—From Religious Life in Ross.

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