Memories of a Wayfaring Man by Rev. Murdoch Campbell. Highland Printers Ltd. Price £1.00.
In this his last book Mr Campbell gives reminiscences of his own life. The incidents he records are full of interest, especially to Highland readers. Mr Campbell’s “Gleanings of a Highland Harvest” endeared him to the people of the North. In that book he portrayed in anecdote the Christianity of a past generation. In this book he speaks of those whom he knew in his own lifetime and who manifested the grace of God in their hearts. He gives an account of the religious atmosphere and surroundings in which he was nurtured mentioning incidents relating to a number of the godly whom he knew in his youth. He was born and brought up in a part of the country where true piety still flourished. He tells how after a season of conviction of sin, he was led at a question meeting in our Church at Greenock in 1919 to put his trust in Christ for eternity. In 1923 he began studying for the ministry of the Free Church. He refers to many of the ministers and professors of those days, his visit to Fort William, Canada, in 1928 and his meeting with Dr John Macleod there. He tells of many incidents throughout his life, special tokens he received and seasons of the Lord’s favourable presence which he enjoyed, Mr Campbell tells of his powerful convictions that another great catastrophe other than the two World Wars is to overtake the nation. Yet he was one who longed for the prosperity of Zion, nevertheless was no stranger to the temptations of the wicked one. Suitably the book ends with a chapter on heaven — the Better Country — where we believe Mr Campbell is now enjoying the presence of the Master whom he served.
While many of the incidents will be of special interest to Free Church people to whom the persons spoken of will be well known yet the book should be of interest to a wider range of readers as depicting a type of Christianity which is fast fading from our land.
D.B.M.
History of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (1893-1970) Price £2.00.
This volume will now be in the hands of many of our readers. Part II of the history consists of 9 chapters, two of which deal with the history of the Rhodesian Mission. It contains a factual but uncritical account of what occurred in the Church from 1933-70. The material is so varied as to hold the attention of the reader and is, of course, of special interest to those who were contemporary with the events recorded. Included in the account is material of a biographical nature, chiefly about ministers of the Church, which gives added interest. Reference is made repeatedly to events in the religious world of the day and particularly to happenings in the Church of Scotland. Sometimes, we think, too detailed accounts are given of events which really constitute part of the history of the Church of Scotland rather than that of the Free Presbyterian Church, though we allow that these events have a bearing on the Free Presbyterian Church. The reader is kept fully aware of the general religious and moral decline during the years dealt with and also with the spiritual decline in the National Church. The history of the Mission is very fully covered in the two chapters devoted to this aspect of the Church’s work. The omission of, or scanty treatment given to certain matters may be understandable in view of the close proximity to the present day of some of the events. The writing of contemporary history is fraught with great danger unless factual accounts are adhered to. It will remain to future historians to interpret those facts in the light of future events. This history will afford the groundwork from which a more interpretive history can be written some time in the future.
A new feature of the history is the inclusion of 16 pages of photographs. We think this a welcome feature and the selection though necessarily not exhaustive, yet is sufficiently representative as to convey to future generations some impression of the ministers and men of a past age.
We commend the History to readers throughout the Church as a useful means of becoming more fully acquainted with the real purpose for the existence of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
D.B.M.
The Autobiography of William Jay. Banner of Truth Trust. Price £1.95.
William Jay was a noted non-conformist preacher of the first half of the 19th century. His preaching labours were conducted mainly in Bath over the long period of 62 years. The first part of the book consists of the autobiography; the second part of reminiscences of distinguished contemporaries (such as, Rev. John Newton, William Wilberforce, Mrs Hannah More, Rev. Rowland Hill, etc.) and selections from his correspondence.
The book, which is tastefully produced, will be of interest especially to ministers and to students of this particular period of Church history. We trust that those who purchase it will find it helpful and edifying. It will not, however, have the same appeal to the ordinary reader as other biographies already published by the Trust e.g. Volume I and II of the life of C. H. Spurgeon.
D.B.M.