by Rev D. B. Macleod
(The following paper was read at the Centenary Meeting held in Edinburgh on 25th May, 1993.)
When the Declaratory Act was passed in 1892, a number of the students, some in Divinity and some in Arts, held a meeting and signed a Bond stating that they ceased to prosecute their studies with a view to the ministry of the Declaratory Act Free Church. The account of the Meeting and the Bond reads as follows:
“A meeting of Divinity and Arts students opposed to the Declaratory Act was held in Glasgow on the evening of Wednesday, November 2nd (1892). The finding of the meeting was as follows:— ‘Seeing the Declaratory Act is now an integral part of the Constitution of the Free Church of Scotland, we the undersigned, have ceased to prosecute our studies with a view to the ministry of that Church as now constituted’.”
It was signed by six Divinity students, namely, Allan MacKenzie, James S Sinclair, Alex MacRae, Neil Cameron, Roderick MacKenzie and John MacLeod, and by three Arts students, namely, George MacKay, Donald Beaton and Neil MacIntyre. These students did not wait to see if the Free Church would rescind the Declaratory Act. For them the Disruption Church was no more, and they refused to remain as students on her roll. This would seem a bold step for students for the ministry to take. What if none of the ministers separated from the Declaratory Act Free Church? Where would they be then? Would they not be left in the wilderness without prospect of ordination to the ministry? Whatever the outcome, they did not hesitate, believing that the circumstances required such bold and resolute action, and that the Lord would go before them and make their way straight. However, as events turned out, only four of the nine students who signed the Bond remained faithful to the testimony of the Free Presbyterian Church to the end. These were Neil Cameron, James S Sinclair, Donald Beaton and Neil MacIntyre. It is to these four we wish to refer at this time.
1. Mr Neil Cameron
Mr Cameron’s biographer refers to the prominent place he had among his fellow-students of the Constitutional Party. He also records that at the Achnasheen meeting in 1893 he made his influence felt. He rejoiced at the stand made by Rev D. MacFarlane in the Assembly of 1893 and was a support to him in the crisis. It is recorded that “his fearless disposition, his earnest concern for God’s truth, and his strong attachment to
the Scriptures and the doctrines of the Confession of Faith, made him a tower of strength.” How clear he was as to the Scripturalness of the stand taken in 1893 is seen from the fact that, when William MacBeth of Applecross at a Fellowship meeting about that time revealed that he was seeking light on his duty as to whether or not he should separate, Rev Neil Cameron remarked to someone that William would soon be with them, as he was seeking light from the Lord and no other light could be given than to leave the Declaratory Act Church.
During the whole course of his life in the ministry of the Gospel, Mr Cameron was to prove indeed a leader amongst men and especially in times of trial in the Church. When others defected, he remained faithful to the testimony on the side of truth and did so to the end. His faithful preaching of law and Gospel was blessed to the awakening and conversion of many souls and to the good of the people of God. He himself once referred to a particular minister of the Church, saying he believed that that minister was more used than any other in the Church to the conversion of sinners. But others, who knew Mr Cameron well, were of a different view, and that Mr Cameron himself was more greatly blessed in this respect than the one he had mentioned. A large congregation attended his ministry in Glasgow and, on these occasions when he visited the Highlands and Islands at Communion seasons, large gatherings of people attended his ministry and felt amply rewarded in the blessing they received through the Word preached, which was attended with the power of the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. What he was, as a faithful preacher and pastor, he was by the grace of God which was richly bestowed upon him. He would not take the glory of it to himself but would say with the Psalmist: “Not unto us. O Lord. Not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth’s sake.”
His biographer and fellow-student, Donald Beaton, had to say of him: “From his student days until he breathed his last. Mr Cameron, like Bunyan’s Mr Valiant-for-Truth, stood with his sword in his hand.” In concluding Mr Cameron’s biography, Mr Beaton could think of no more appropriate way of ending it than Bunyan’s words describing the passage of Mr Valiant-for-Truth to the other side. This is how John Bunyan recorded his death:— ” ‘I am going,’ he said, ‘to my Father’s; and though with great difficulty I have got thither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles, who will now be my rewarder.’ When
the day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the river side: into which, as he went, he said:— ‘Death where is thy sting?’ And as he went down deeper he said, ‘Grave, where is thy victory?’ So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.’
Mr James S. Sinclair
The second student I would refer to is Mr James S. Sinclair. He had finished two years in the New College in Edinburgh when the Free Church changed her relationship to the Westminster Confession of Faith by the passing of the Declaratory Act. As one of the signatories of the Bond, already referred to, he refused to enter the New College in 1892 but went later to Assembly’s College, Belfast to finish his course in Divinity.
His obituary states that as a preacher of the Gospel he held a high place in the hearts of the Lord’s people. As first Editor of the Free Presbyterian Magazine, which was begun in May 1896, he gained a reputation of literary ability and soundness of judgment. He became known as a defender of the faith once delivered to the saints. The spiritual tone of the Magazine left nothing to be desired. His leading articles were always of a consistently high standard. As Clerk of Synod he did his work with very commendable ability and faithfulness. He was possessed of a powerful intellect, a strong will, and warm affections and was scrupulously conscientious in his transactions in all temporal and spiritual matters. He was truly a trustworthy man in every respect. These sentiments are the expressions of one who knew him well.
He served as Editor of the Magazine and Clerk of the Southern Presbytery for a period of 25 years and as Clerk of Synod for 17 years. A year before his death his heart gave cause for concern and he was told by his doctor that if he continued with his work he would only live a year. He continued faithfully in the discharge of his duties as before and, as predicted by his doctor, he took a heart attack a year later. This took place immediately after the meeting of Synod in May 1921. He passed away to his eternal rest a day or two later.
3. Mr Neil MacIntyre
The third student I would mention is Mr Neil MacIntyre who laboured in Glendale, Stornoway, and latterly in Edinburgh. His obituary refers to the fact that he was intimately associated with Mr MacFarlane and the movement culminating in the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church. In his boyhood in Kilmallie he had the privilege of being under the pastoral care of that eminent servant of Christ, Rev D. MacFarlane, when he was minister there. Mr MacIntyre was present when Mr MacFarlane tabled his protest in the Assembly Hall. As a Divinity student he studied under
the scholarly tutorship of Rev J. R. MacKay and Rev Donald Beaton. In his ministry in Glendale he was energetic and full of zeal for the Lord and worked hard in breaking the ‘bread of life’ for his people, preaching, teaching, exhorting and catechising them. He commanded the respect of the whole community. In Lewis, where he laboured for 15 years, he was warmly received, and his labours were blessed to many. There were many of the Lord’s people in Lewis at that time and his ministry was deeply appreciated. His last charge was in the city of Edinburgh where he was to labour for 27 years. With his lucid style of preaching he held the attention of his hearers as he expounded the Word of God faithfully, warning the careless and encouraging the poor in Zion. In detailing the circumstances of his death his obituary states: “Thus ended the pilgrimage of an outstanding servant of the Lord, an able minister of the Gospel, and a man dearly beloved.”
4. Mr Donald Beaton
The fourth student to whom I will refer is Mr Donald Beaton. He was an Arts student along with Mr MacIntyre, and a friendship was formed between them which continued throughout all the changes and trials of their wilderness journey. Both of them exercised a long ministry in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and they passed away within a short time of each other. Rev Donald Campbell, who succeeded Mr MacIntyre in Edinburgh, referring in his obituary of Mr MacIntyre to the fact that these aged ministers had passed away within a short time of one another, stated of them: “They were beautiful in their lives, and in their death they were not divided.” Mr Beaton was for 27 years minister in Wick, Caithness, while the remaining years of his ministry were spent in Oban. His extensive knowledge of Presbyterian Church Law and History, together with his fairness, patience, firmness, wisdom and ripe experience made him a veritable pillar in both Presbytery and Synod for many years. He was recognised as a Church historian of repute. A number of books and articles relating to Scottish Church history came from his pen. His work as Church Tutor covered a period of 40 years. For part of that time he carried on the work single-handedly, taking students through all the departments of the curriculum. This was no mean feat. He succeeded Rev James S. Sinclair as Editor of the Free Presbyterian Magazine and carried on that work with much acceptance for a period of 28 years. From May 1936 he had the added responsibility of the Editorship of the Young People’s Magazine, which was started in that year. Prior to this he had acted for 14 years as a most distinguished Clerk of Synod. Having served the Lord
in the ministry of the Gospel over half a century, he passed away to his everlasting rest in November 1953.
Of all these ministers it can be said that they did a noble work in helping to raise up the Lord’s standard that was fallen down. A suitable epitaph over their graves would be: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” They have left a witness behind them as gracious, godly and faithful servants of Jesus Christ. May the Lord be pleased to raise up many more like them, true, humble followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will serve their generation as these men did in that noblest of all works — the ministry of the everlasting Gospel.