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Presented  to  the 

LIBRARY  of  the 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO 

by 


Robin  S.  Harris 


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f>^:N^Y' 


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THE   LIFE   AND   TIMES 


OF    THE 


REV.  ROBEUT  BURNS,  D.D. 


F.A.S.,   F.R.S.E. 


TORONTO. 


INCLUDING  AN  UNFINISHED    AUTOBIOGRAPHY, 


The  Rey.  R.  F.  Bui\ns,  d.d. 


MONTREAX. 


TORONTO : 

JAMES    CAMPBELL    &    SON, 

1872. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  the  Parliament  of  Canada,  in  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seventy-two,  by  James  Campbell  &  Son,  in  the  office  of  th« 
Minister  of  Agriculture. 


%      /'  ^ 


/.^' 


BUNTER,    ROSE,   &   CO. 

PaWXBRS,  TORONTO. 


List  of  Tllusti\ations, 


Steel  Engravings. 


Portrait from  Photograph  by  Notman. 

Knox  College Toronto. 

Wood  Engravings. 

St.  George's  Church Paisley. 

Knox's  Church Toronto. 


=0!*r 


PEEFACE. 


The  "  Unfinished  Autobiography,"  which  forms  so  promi- 
nent a  feature  in  the  first  part  of  this  volume  seems  to 
have  been  written  principally  in  1867, — the  year  previous 
to  its  author's  last  visit  to  Fatherland.  A  few  portions 
were  penned  during  that  visit. 

The  singular  accuracy  with  which  so  many  minute  in- 
cidents are  recalled,  by  one  nearing  fourscore,  and  the 
vividness  and  freshness  with  which  they  are  related, 
make  us  regret  the  more  that  a  work  so  successfully  com- 
menced should  not  have  been  carried  to  its  contemplated 
completion. 

It  appears  not  to  have  been  prepared  consecutively, 
but  in  detached  portions,  on  separate  sheets,  as  he  felt 
disposed.  We  have  arranged  them  to  the  best  of  our 
ability,  and  have  avoided  intermingling  editorial  intro- 
ductions or  reflections,  unless  where  it  appeared  necessary 
or  desirable. 

When  the  Autobiography  failed  us,  we  have  drawn 
largely  on  his  own  letters  and  papers,  and  the  willingly- 
rendered  contributions  of  those  with  whom  or  for  whom 
he  laboured  in  his  native  and  in  his  adopted  country. 


Vi  PREFACE. 

#  ■ 
Hearty  thanks  are  cordially  tendered  to  the  friends, 

too  numerous  to  particularise,  in  the  Province  and  beyond 

it,  who  have  thus  kindly  substituted  their  many  lights, 

radiating  from    different  standpoints,  and  reflecting  a 

variety  of  facts  and  phases,  for  the  one  which  we  could 

have  but  dimly  supplied. 

We  would  gratefully  acknowledge,  also,  the  services  of 
the  Rev.  Professor  Gregg,  and  Mr.  John  Young,  of  Toron- 
to, who  have  largely  remedied  the  difficulty  connected 
with  our  distance  from  the  place  of  publication,  by  the 
iaboriousness  and  fidelity  wherewith  they  have  revised 
the  manuscripts  and  proofs,  and  superintended  their  pas- 
sage through  the  press. 

We  are  fully  sensible  of  the  imperfections  which  must 
attach  to  a  Work  to  whose  preparation  we  could  devote 
but  fragments  of  time,  amid  the  constant  pressure  of 
manifold  duties.  But  if  it  serve,  even  in  an  inadequate 
measure,  to  embody  and  embalm  the  leading  features  of 
a  remarkably  forceful  character,  and  the  main  facts  of 
an  earnest  and  eventful  life,  as  well  as,  incidentally,  to 
furnish  a  contribution  towards  the,  as  yet,  unwritten 
history  of  Presbyterianism  in  Canada,  our  labour  will  not 
have  been  in  vain. 

MoNTEEAL,  1st  August,  1872, 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  DAYS. 

Birth — First  Remembrance — Lord  Howe^s  Victory — Greenwich 
Hospital — Naval  Heroes — Grateful  Octogenarian — Kinneil  House 
— Dr.  Roebuck — Dugald  Stewart — Heroes  of  Covenant — Flavel, 
a  favourite — Boy  Reader — Inner  Life — Early  Leanings  —  The 
Wooden  Pulpit — The  Drunkard  of  Fifty  Years page  1. 

CHAPTER  IL 

LITERARY  EDUCATION. 

School  and  College  Days — Parish  School — Boyhood  Teachers — Un- 
iversity of  Edinburgh — Professors  Hill,  Dalzell,  Finlayson — Robi- 
son,  McKnight — Laidlaw,  the  Tutor — Logarithms  on  Portobello 
Sands — College  Companions — Saturday  Strolls — Courts  of  Session 
— Harry  Erskine — Ponderous  Judge  and  "  Screeching"  Lawyer — 
Book  Auctions — Peter  Cairns  and  Hammer  Oratory — The  "  Sacra 
Lectio" — Lady  Yesters — Rev.  David  Black — Stewart  of  Moulin — 
Dr.  Balfour — Dr.  Thomas  Fleming — Thomas  Brown — Earl  Russell 
and  Dugald  Stewart — The  Leslie  Controversy — First  Communion 
— Wilberforce's  Practical  View — Defoe's  Eulogy  onBo'ness  Men — 
Captain  John  Henderson — John  Henderson,  of  Park — Last  Visit 
to  Haunts  of  his  Youth — The  Old  Pit — Name  notched  on  the 
Tree — Retrospect page  12. 

CHAPTER  III. 

THEOLOGICAL   EDUCATION. 

Divinity  HaU — Dr.  Andrew  Hunter — Pictet's  Theology — Dr.  Mei- 
klejoiin — Dr.  Moodie — Elocution — Defects — Few  "  Serious"  Stu- 
dents— Theological  Society — Broad  Church — Wright,  of  Borthwick 
— Darwinianism — Dr.  Candlish's  First  Appearance — Wright's  De- 
position— Dr.  Hamilton,  of  Strathblane — Sir  Robert  Spankie — 
First  Theme — Scathing  Criticism — Adelphi-Theological — William 
Peebles — Oak-tree  in  the  "Meadows" — Geo.  Whitefield — Silliman 


Viii  CONTENTS. 

— Dr.  Codman,  of  Boston — The  Race  of  Reconciliation — Prevalent 
Arminianisra — Harvard — Cooper  on  Predestination — Lights  of 
the  Edinburgh  Pulpit,  Black,  Fleming,  Campbell,  Jones,  Peddie, 
Struthers— Colquhoun,  of  Leith — The  two  Dicksons — Dr.  David- 
son-^Dr.  Walter  Buchanan — "The  Apostle  of  the  North"— Dr. 
McAU,  of  Manchester — Singular  Meeting  with  Dr.  McAll — The 
Illustrious  Triumvirate,  McCrie,  Thomson  and  Chalmers — Tutor- 
ship at  Cramond — The  Bonar  Family — Matrimonial  Connexions — 
Licensed,  March,  1810 — First  Sermon  at  Cramond — Four  months 
at  Perth — Perth  Friendships page  26. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

PAISLEY  MINISTRY. 

Paisley  Worthies — Communion  Cups — The  Paisley  Weaver — The 
Candidates — Laigh  Kirk — John  Neilson — The  Election — Ordina- 
tion— The  Scottish  Lecture — The  Paper  Man — Pastoral  Visitation 
— Church  Catechising  —  Sabbath  Schools  and  Bible  Classes — 
Letters  to  his  Sister — The  Unreadable  Manuscript — Domestic 
Bereavements — Mrs.  Burns'  Correspondence  with  Mrs.  Briggs  — 
Glimpses  of  Home  and  Church  Life— Mrs.  Burns'  Death,  14th 
"Nov.  1841 — Letter  of  Sympathy  from  Dr.  Chalmers — Missionary 
Work— Charge  to  Rev.  John  Macdonald,  of  Calcutta— Testimo- 
nies as  to  success  in  Paisley — Letter  from  Mr.  Bonar,  of  Cra- 
mond  page  43. 

CHAPTER  V. 

CHURCH   COURTS  AND  SOCIETIES. 

Paisley  Presbytery— Three  Parties— Fleming,  of  Neilston,  and  Pat- 
rick Brewster— Logan,  of  Eastwood— Death-bed  Visit— Father  of 
Free  Church— Macfarlane,  of  Renfrew— Smith,  of  Lochwinnoch — 
Findlay— Rankin— Snodgrass— Stewart,  of  Erskine— Scott,  of 
Greenock  —  Patrick  Macfarlane—  Douglas  —  Telf er,  Monteith, 
Boog,  McNair,  Thomson— First  Appearance  in  General  As- 
sembly—  Moderatorship  Controversy  —  Chalmers  and  Lee  — 
Moderates  and  Wild  Men— Clerical  Literary  Societies— Moral 
Philosophy  Chair,  St.  Andrew's— Dr.  Chalmers  Appointed- 
Letter  from  Dr.  Chalmers page  67. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

INTEREST  IN  FOREIGN  MISSIONS  AND  HOME  POOR. 

Lurid  star  of  1784— Rise  of  Modem  Missions— Any  Word  from  the 
Duff?— A  Thousand  Pounds  from  Paisley— Haldane,  Bogue,  Ew 


CONTENTS.  IX 

ing,  Innes,  Simeon,  Fuller,  Rowland  Hill,  J.  Haldane,  John  Aik- 
man — Sabbath  Schools — Tract  Societies — Scotch  Congregational- 
ism— London  Missionary  Society — Movements  in  Old  World  and 
New — Dr.  DufF — First  Mission  and  Return — Letter  from  Colin 
Campbell — Secretary  of  Bible  Society — Sabbath  School  Report — 
Labours  for  the  Poor—  Working  Classes  aloof  from  Church — Ef- 
orts  in  behalf  of — Henry  Dundas  and  Sir  Harry  MoncreiflF — Pub- 
lication of  Work  on  Poor — Favourable  Criticisms — Alexander 
Dunlop,  in  1825 — Westminster  Review  in  1870 — Interest  in 
Charitable  Institutions — Emigration  Societies — Visits  to  London 
— Bonfires  of  Papers — Provost  Murray — Philosophical  Institution 
— Water  Works — Savings  Banks — Reform  Bill — Free  Trade — 
Lectures — Principal  Willis page  81, 

CHAPTER  VIL 

VISITS  TO  OXFORD  AND  CAMBRIDGE. 

Day  at  Oxford  in  1812 — John  Gibson  Lockhart,  his  Guide — Mar- 
tyr's Pillar — Baliol,  the  "  Scotch"  College — English  Universities 
adverse  to  Scottish  Patriotism  and  Presbytery — Lockhart  boast- 
ing of  Dr.  Parr — Scotland  not  afraid  of  Comparison — Hinton,  the 
Baptist — Bishop  Daniel  Wilson — Sabbath  at  Oxford,  1834 — Four 
Services — St.  Mary's  University  Church — Ebion,  the  Typical  Dis- 
senter— Ritualism  of  Oxford — Praises  of  the  Dead — Heard  John 
Angell  James  — Howard  Hinton  —  Requests  for  Prayer  —  The 
Venerable  Celt — Visit  to  Cambridge — Professor  Smyth's  Lectures 
outside  the  walls — For  Practical  uses  Scotch  Colleges  better — In- 
tercourse with  Charles  Simeon — High  Churchism — Hospitalities 
— Sizers,  Commoners  and  Peers — Reign  of  Caste page  99. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

AUTHORSHIP. 

Wodrow  Manuscripts  ;  Sixty  Vols,  discovered  :  Use  by  Dr.  McCria 
and  Wodrow  Society — Landsborough,  of  Stevenson — Warner  of 
Ardeer— More  MSS. — Editing  of  Wodrow's  History  of  Church  of 
Scotland — Presentation  of  the  Book  to  William  IV. — Narratives 
of  interview  with  the  King — Graphic  Pen  Picture — Bearer  of  Pre- 
sent to  Queen  Victoria — Dr.  Andrew  Thomson — Starting  of  the 
**  Christian  Instructor" — At  bar  of  General  Assembly — Inter 
course  with  Thomson — Letters  from  Thomson — Sacramental  Ex- 
changes— R.  A.  Smith — Tune  of  St.  George's,  Edinburgh — Mar- 
cus Dods,  Senr. — Archibald  Bennie — Contributors  to  the  "In- 
structor"— Dr.  Burns'  Contributions  for  Twenty- Seven  years;— 
Three  years'  Editorship  -  Dr.  Grierson  of  Errol — First  Literary 
Effort — List  of  Literary  Contributions page  108. 


X  CONl'ENTS. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

CONTROVERSIES. 

Popery  Controversy — Dr.  Chalmers'  Sermon  before  Hibernian  So- 
ciety— Dr.  Bums'  Letter — Germ  of  McGavin's  *'  Protestant" — 
Plea  for  Thanksgiving  Day  in  1817 — Wightman's  Joke — Hamilto- 
nian  Lecture  —  Popery  a  Specialty  —  Combats  Cahill — Vicar- 
General  Hay — Apocrypha  Controversy — Haldane's  Umbrella — 
Dr.  Thomson — Bible  Purity — Keen  feeling — Part  taken  by  Dr. 
Burns — Pluralities — Case  of  Dr.  Ferrie — Case  of  Principal  Mc- 
Farlane — Work  by  Dr.  Burns  on  Pluralities — Gareloch  Heresy — 
Campbell  of  Row — His  Errors — Trial  and  Deposition — Dr.  Burns' 
"  Gareloch  Heresy  Tried"  and  "  Reply  to  Layman" — Curious  Mis- 
take— Voluntary  Controversy — Marshall  and  Balantyne — Dr. 
Burns'  Synod  Sermon — Other  writings  on  subject — Contests  with 
Mr.  Smart  and  Dr.  Baird — Private  Friendships  unbroken — 
Charles  Leckie.. P^g©  122. 

CHAPTER  X. 

THE   TEN  years'   CONFLICT. 

Somerville's  Autobiography — Secession  Churches  Lights  in  Dark- 
ness— Historical  Illustrations — Root  and  Branch  Petition — Two 
Errors  of  the  Church — Sir  Daniel  Sandford — Dr.  Bums  on  two 
Deputations  to  Prime  Minister — Meeting  with  Lord  Brougham — 
Conference  at  Lord  Moncrieff's — Veto  carried — Anti-Patronage 
Resolutions — Sir  George  Sinclair — Drs.  McCrie  and  Burns  and 
Laudian  Librarian  of  House  of  Commons — Precious  MSS.  burned 
— Dr.  Bums  a  witness  before  Committee  of  House  of  Commons — 
Dr.  Bums  and  Dr.  Cunningham — Procurator's  Speech — Leader's 
League — Great  Meeting  in  West  Kirk,  Edinburgh— Dr.  Cunning- 
ham in  Assembly  of  1842 — The  Forty — Dr.  Bums'  Anti-Patron- 
age standpoint — The  Disruption — Great  Activity — New  Church 
— United  Communion — Happy  days page  138. 

CHAPTER  XL 

GLASGOW   COLONIAL  SOCIETY. 

The  Emigrant's  Cry — The  Society  Organized — His  Secretaryship — 
Associates — Dr.  Candlish  offered  Ancaster — Letters  from  Dr. 
Candlish — Rev.  H.  Gordon — Visit  to  Paisley — Rev.  T.  Alexan- 
der's Notices — Dr.  Bayne  and  Matthew  Miller — Dr.  Welsh — 
Highland  Trip — Mr.  Clark,  of  Inverness — Sir  Andrew  Agnew — 
Visit  to  Lochnaw  Castle  with  Dr.  Chalmers — Dr.  Macintosh  Mac- 
kay — First  suggestion  of  Queen's  College — Efforts  in  behalf  of 
the  College — Dalhousie  College,  Halifax — Marcus  Dods,  of  Bel- 


CONTENTS.  XI 

ford — Colonial  Correspondents t)rs.  Mathieson,  Machar  and 

McGill — Clugston,  Rintoul,  Romanes — Principal  Campbell — Hon. 
W.  Morris — Mr.  Alexander  Gillespie — Dr.  Kirkpatrick,  of  Dub- 
lin— Very  interesting  statements  of  Dr.  Henderson,  of  Glasgow, 
«iid  Dr.  Beith,  of  Stirling page  152. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

VISIT   TO  THE   UNITED   STATES   AND    CANADA   IN   1844. 

Appointed  Delegate  of  Free  Church — Autobiographical  Account — 
References  in  Dr.  Cunningham's  Life— Pastoral  Letter — New- 
York — Philadelphia — Princeton — Study  and  Grave  of  Wither- 
spoon —  Boston  —  Dr.  Codman  —  Harvard  University — Elliot's 
Bible — Mount  Auburn — Met  Daniel  Webster — The  Indian  ex- 
-amined — Dr.  J.  W.  Alexander's  notices — Drs.  Blagden,  Bethune, 
and  Boardman — Visit  to  Canada — Mr.  Redpath — Mr.  D.  Eraser 
— Narratives  of  Rev,  W.  Smart,  T.  Alexander,  and  H.  Gordon — 
American  Notes — Baltimore — Dr.  R.  Breakinridge — Methodist 
■churches — Washington  Monument — At  Bishop  Waugh's — Bishop 
Soule — Petersburg — North  Carolina  Statesman — Slave-selling — 
Tobacco-spinning — Richmond — Field  slaves — Governor  Macdon- 
■ell — Richmond  Theatre — Slave  Market — Old  Mammy — Freder- 
icksburg— Washington — Visit  to  President  Tyler — Congress — 
Senate — Quincey  Adams,  Crittenden,  Buchanan,  Attorney-Gene- 
ral Watson — Alexandria — Mount  Vernon — Alms  House — Girard 
College — The  Mayor — Princeton  again — Miller's  class — Talk  with 
Dr.  Alexander,  Senr. ,  on  New  School — Newark — Elizabeth — New 
York — Yale  College — Silliman  absent — Boston — The  Beechers — 
Harvard  again — Lowell,  the  "Paisley  of  America" — Heard  Danif^l 
Webster — Journey  to  Buffalo — First  Sight  of  Canada  —  Jottings 
on  places  visited  in  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia — Leave  Halifax  third 
of  June  by  "Britannia" — Dr.  Chalmers'  Letter  of  Thanks — Report 
to  Colonial  Committee — Visit  to  the  Marquis  of  Breadalbane— 
Letter  from  Taymouth  Castle — Queen's  touching  references — 
Visits  Synod  of  Dumfries — Janet  Eraser — Marriage . .  .page  175. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

TRANSLATION   PROM   PAISLEY   AND   SETTLEMENT   IN   CANADA. 

Overtures  from  Canada — Montreal  and  Toronto — Letters  from  Mr. 
Redpath — Call  from  Knox  Church — Colonial  Com.  Reasons — Ap- 
peals from  Mr.  Isaac  Buchanan  and  others — Letters  from  Dr. 
Burns  when  deciding  for  Canada — Pastor  of  Kilsyth — Prepara- 
tions for  leaving — Dr.  Black's  Paris  Polyglott — Farewell  Sermon 
— Ship  Erromanga — Greenock  gathering — Dr.  Keith — Voyage 
out — Note  from  the  Gulph — Life  on  the  Ocean — W.  C.  Burns — 
Communion  at  Quebec — Tabernacle  at  Montreal — Dr.  John  Bo- 


Xll  C02s  TENTS. 

nar — Sabbath  at  Kingston — Induction  at  Toronto — Temperance 
Advocate — Paisley  Remembrances — Session  Clerk — Dr.  McKech- 
nie,  Sheriff  Campbell — Dr.  James  Buchanan page  201. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

PASTORATE   IN   TORONTO. 

Union  of  Pastorate  and  Professorship,  temporary — Pastoral  duty- 
Young  Men — Mutual  Improvement  Circles — Moderatorships — 
Visits  to  the  Churches — Rev.  J.  W.  Smith — Rev.  T.  Wardrope — 
First  Ordination — Crowding  Work — Wayside  moralizing — Selec- 
tion of  Texts — Work  in  Western  and  Central  Canada— Letter  to 
an  old  College  Friend — 1847 — Address  from  Knox's  Church — 
Nova  Scotia  Tour — Results — Burning  of  Knox's  Church — Foun- 
dation laid  of  present  erection — "  Mare  Magnum  Controversy" — 
*'  Laigh  Kirk" — Church  Opening — Letters  in  1850 — Varied  occu- 
pations— Saugeen  District — Seventy-first  Highlanders — Fight  for 
Freedom  of  Conscience — Eldership — John  Bums — Dr.  Duff's 
Visit — Two  Letters  from  Dr.  Duff — Dr.  Guthrie — Serious  illness 
— Dark  cloud  with  its  silver  lining — Letter  from  Earl  of  Dalhousie 
— Suffering  and  succouring — Letter  to  Rev.  James  Clason — Weeps 
with  those  that  weep — Friend  of  Poor — The  Twenty  Dollar  Bill 
—The  Pulpit  Bible— Ministers'  Widows— The  Fallen  Brother- 
Professor  P.  C.  Macdougal — Life  Insurance — Widows'  Fund — 
Mr.  Gordon,  of  Gananoque — Ottawa  Visit — The  delighted  Far- 
mer's Wife — Bridal  Feast — Public  Questions — Family  Compact — 
Letters  to  Lord  Elgin — Detection  of  Impostors — The  Jewish 
Society— Lublin — The  Priest  from  the  Vatican — Results  of 
Ministry page  215. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

PROFESSORSHIP. 

Rise  of  Knox  College — Address  to  the  Students — Mr.  Gale — Toronto 
Academy — Higher  Educatiou  of  Women — Occasional  Prelections 
— *'  Grinding" — Preparatory  Training — Permanent  Professor — 
Collecting  for  College — VariedWork — Journey  with  Mr.  Fraser  to 
Great  Britain — Bursaries — Circulation  of  Cunningham  and  Mo- 
sheim — Intercourse  with  Students — Severity  towards  Ignorance 
and  Pretentiousness — Illustrative  Anecdotes — Story  Telling — Stu- 
dent's Testimony — Correspondence — Pastoral  Theology — Baptism 
— Pastoral  Visitation — Catechizing — Family  Worship— Education 
of  Children — Standard  of  Discipline — Cases  of  Scandal — Causes  of 
Discouragement  in  ourselves — "  I'eazing  slowness" — College  Lec- 
tures— Church  History—  Apologetics-  —Plan  pursued — Undying 
interest  in  Knox  College— Montreal  College — Old  Students'  Tes- 
timony   page  244. 


CONTENTS.  ,  XIU 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

MISSIONARY  LABOURS. 

Dr.  Bums  a  Missionary  at  large — Quebec  and  Vicinity — Rev.  W. 
B.  Clark — Laval  University — Montreal  the  "  New  York  of  the 
North  " — London — Immaculate  Conception — Edgar's  Variations 
of  Popery  —Huron  College — Bishop  Hellmuth — Orillia — Couchi- 
ching  Lake  —Preaching  to  Indians — Mr.  Brooking — Kincardine — 
Highland  Sacrament — Speaking  to  the  Question — Artemesia — 
Ottawa — Nepean — Glengarry  in  1848 — Rev.  D.  Clark — Rev.  D. 
Gordon — Glengarry  in  1854,  1858,  and  1865 — Immense  Audiences 
—  Elims  in  the  Wilderness — "  The  days  of  Cambuslang  are  back 
again" — Owen  Sound  District — Rev.  James  Cameron — ^Triumphal 
Marches  and  Episcopal  Visitations — the  Runaway  at  the  Rocky 
Saugeen — Hairbreadth  Escape — Stage  upset — Almost  shot  for  a 
Bear — Snow  on  the  Coverlet — the  Snowed-up  Train — the  Wayside 
Shanty — John  Gunn's  (of  Beaverton)  Reminiscences — William's 
fatal  Illness — Rev.  Wm.  Burns'  Statement — Red  River  Mission, 
its  Rise  and  Progress — In  Search  of  a  Missionary — Rev.  John 
Black  goes — Alexander  Ross — Dr.  Burns  contemplates  a  Visit — 
Sir  George  Simpson — the  Buxton  Mission — Rev.  Wm.  King's 
Statement — Visit  to  United  States  and  Great  Britain  with  Mr. 
King — Across  the  Alleghany  Mountains  by  Stage — the  Pro- 
Slavery  Doctor — Visits  to  Buxton — the  Freed  Woman  Lydia  and 
her  Household  baptized  by  Dr.  Bums — Gould  street  Church,  To- 
ronto— Georgetown — Nova  Scotia — Prince  Edward's  Island — 
Newfoundland — Letters  of  Lady  Bannerman — Visits  to  Chicago, 
Elmira,  and  Monmouth page  259. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

MISSIONARY    SKETCHES. 

Day-book  Jottings — A  Canadian  Paisley — Dundas — Gait — Debate 
between  Dr.  Liddell  and  Dr.  Bayne — Flamborough — Rev.  Thomas 
Christie — Hon.  Adam  Ferguson — London — Communion  in  1845 — 
Mr.  John  Fraser — Kingston — Rideau  Canal — Mr.  John  Redpath 
— By  town — Beckwith  and  Ramsay — Lanark-  —Perth — Dalhousie 
— Dr.  Boyd,  of  Prescott — Cote  street  Church,  Montreal — Pointe 
aux  Trembles — to  Glengarry  with  James  R.  Orr — St.  Eustache — 
Ste.  Therfese  -  Jesuit  College — From  Montreal  to  Boston  with  Mr. 
Court — Intercourse  with  the  Hon.  Abbot  Lawrence — Prince  Ed- 
ward Island — Bermuda — Morrison  and  Struthers — Cape  Breton 
— Earlton — Truro — Opening  of  Chalmers'  Church,  Halifax — Col- 
lege at  Halifax — Dr.  Wilkes— St.  John,  New  Brunswick — Port- 
land— ^Dr.  Payson — Boston — Quebec — Origin  of  our  church  there 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

— Merle  D'Aubigne — Metis — Portnenf — Rev.  Alex.  Young — St. 
Sylvester — Leeds — Student  Missionaiies — Kennebec — Inverness 
— Eastern  Townships —  Libraries  —  Daiiville — Richmond — Mel- 
bourne— American  Land  Company — Nova  Scotia  and  New  Bruns- 
wick in  1858 — Knox  Church,  Toronto — Dr.  Topp — Newfoundland 
— History — Rise  of  Presbyterian  ism — Rev.  M.  Harvey — Literary- 
Successes — St.  John's  described — Harbor  Grace — Visit  to  Lower 
Provinces  in  1849 — Lady  Bannerman — Cape  Breton — Fortress  of 
Louisburg  Thermopylae  of  the  West — Mrs.  Mackay  in  1827  and 
"her  little  island" — Farquharson,  the  Pioneer — Dr.  Hugh  Mc- 
Leod's  manifold  labours — Stewart,  of  New  Glasgow — Truro — Dr. 
Forrester — Theological  College  and  Dr.  Keir — Many  Worthies — 
Nottawasaga — James  Mair — Osprey — Artemisia — the  Perth  early 
Settlers — Sullivan—  Euphrasia  and  St.  Vincent  in  1859 — Meaf  ord 
— Collingwood — Supplying  for  Mr.  McTavish  when  at  Red  River 
— Perth — Rev.  J.  B.  Duncan — Ramsay — Beckwith — Smith's  Falla^ 
— Brockville — Sheriff  Sherwood — Mr.  Smith — Spencerville — Ot- 
tawa in  1859 — Quebec  in  1863 — Mr.  Crombie — Huron  District  in 
1867 — Chicago  :  its  History  and  Resources — Presbyterian  Semi- 
nary— Christian  activities  of  Chicago — D.  L.  Moody — Scotchmen 
and  Canadians — First  Scotch  Presbyterian  Church — Elmira — 
Highland  Settlement — Monmouth—  -Dr.  Wallace — Aurora — Rev. 
Ed.  Ebbs— Evanston page  289. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

PIONEERS  OP  PRESBYTERIANISM   IN   CANAPA. 

Henry — Spark — Harkness — Bethune — Young — First  Presbyterian 
Communion  in  Roman  Catholic  Church — Gabriel  Street  Church — 
First  Presbytery — Forrest — Easton — Esson — Black — Robert  Mc- 
Dowall,  of  Fredericksburg — The  suspected  Rebel — Niagara — 
Young,  Burns,  Creen,  Eraser,  McGill — Father  Eastman  and  hia 
**  Seven  Churches"— William  Smart  in  1811— The  Stray  Twelve 
Pounder— Incidents— Robert  Boyd  in  1821— William  Bell  in  1817 
— Anecdotes — James  Harris — Father  Jenkins — Arch.  Henderson 
— Father  of  our  church — The  First  ISynod — John  Crichton's  Let- 
ters— Glimpses  of  Canada's  destitution  fifty  years  since — Letters 
from  Dr.  Mathieson,  of  Montreal — Rev.  George  Cheyne — Inci- 
dents— United  Synod — Pioneers  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Synod 
— Progress  of  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church page  340. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Domestic  Character — Death  of  Two  Children — Two  Letters  concern^ 
ing,  to  Mrs.  Briggs — Domestic  Likings — Interest  in  Children** 
Welfare — Illustrations — New  York  Celebrities — St.  Catharines — 


CONTENTS.  XV 

Dr.  Kalley — His  Jubilee — Letters  to  Mrs.  Bums  from  Missioo 
Field — Lindsay — Oil  Springs — Present  of  Plans  of  the  New  Pais- 
ley to  the  Old — Educational  Views — Love  for  the  Students — 
First  Letter  to  the  Students — Mental  Discipline — Letter  to  the 
College  Committee — Vidimus  of  Views — Oflfers  of  Aid — More 
"  Grinding"  Needed — University  Reform — Great  King's  College 
Meeting — Leaders  in  the  Agitation — Dr.  Burns'  Address  —Broad 
Foundation — Various  interests  to  be  represented — Religious  Tests 
— Religion  Pervading — Characteristic  Sketches — Fond  of  Pen 
Pictures — His  Brother  William — Interesting*  Sketch — Chalmcra 
as  a  Young  Man  — Sir  James  Hay — Dr.  W.  Symington — Parish 
of  Dun — McCrie — Kilsyth — Revival  Disruption — Temperance — 
Letter  from  Pastor  of  Kilsyth — Triumph  in  Death — Dr.  Sprague, 
of  Albany,  and  Annals  of  American  Pulpit — Dr.  Steven,  of  Rot- 
terdam— Rev.  James  Mackenzie  and  Dr.  Cunningham's  Life — 
Sketch  of  Mary  P ,  Grace  abounding  to  the  Chief  of  Sin- 
ners  page  360 

CHAPTER  XX. 

VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND   AND   LAST  DATS. 

Montreal — Mr.  Dougall's  notice — Free  Church  General  Assembly 
of  1868— Delegate  with  Mr.  King— Rev.  Mr.  Nixon's  (Modera- 
tor) Address — Varied  Work — General  Assembly  of  1869 — Dele- 
gate with  Mr.  Cochrane — Dr.  Candlish — Sir  Henry  Moncrieff 
(Moderator) — Kindly  utterances — Remarkable  Gathering  at  Pais- 
ley— Professor  Murray — Rev.  W.  Cochrane,  M.  A. — Presentation 
— Mr.  Cochrane's  Statement — Attention  to  Students — Interest  in 
Canada — Seeking  out  Ministers — General  Assembly  "  Ovation" 
— The  Paisley  Meeting — Reception  at  Dr.  Richmond's — Contro- 
versial Likings — Mrs.  Burns'  Journal — Mrs.  Briggs'  Death — 
Paisley  Friends  —  Advocates'  Library — Wodrow  MSS.  — Last 
Days  in  Edinburgh — Missionary  Designation — Meeting  with  Dr. 
Duff — Remarks  of  Dr.  DuflF — Dr.  Guthrie — Parting — Voyage 
Home— Preaching  on  board  "  The  Russia" — New  York — Central 
Park — Princeton — Arrival  at  Toronto — Residence  at  Knox  Col- 
lege— Last  Sermon — Last  Letter — Last  Notes  in  Day  Book — Last 
Article — Serious  Illness — Drs.  Constantinides  and  Bethune — 
Last  Exercises — Death page  402. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

MEMORIAL  TESTIMONIES. 

Funeral —  Funeral  Sermons —  Monument —  Dr.  Fraser,  Middle 
Church,  Paisley — Dr.  Guthrie — Dr.  C.  J.  Brown — Kev.  Alexan- 
der Cameron — Rev.    R.    Wallace — Former  Students — Rev.  A. 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

Sanson — Episcopalian  Testimony — Dr.  Hugh  McLeod — Reminis- 
cences— "  The  Apostle  of  Canada" — Visits  to  Newfoundland  and 
Cape  Breton — Dr.  Ormiston,  of  New  York — Characteristic  Sketch 
— Philosophical  Society  of  Paisley — College  Board — General 
Assembly — "The  Record" — Obituary  Notice — Dr.  Bums'  last 
Article— Delineations  of  Character  by  Rev.  J.  M.  King  and  Prin- 
cipal Willis page  423. 


APPENDIX. 

I.  Early  History  of  Knox  Church,  Toronto,  by  the  Rev.  James 

Harris. 

II.  Reminiscences  of    Early  Missionary   Labours  in  Canada,  by 

the  Rev.  Wm.  Bell  and  the  Rev.  George  Cheyne. 

ni.  Addresses  delivered  by  Dr.  Burns  before  the  General  As- 
sembly of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland  in  1868  and 
1869 page  44T. 


LIFE    AND    TIMES 

OF   THE 

REV.   EGBERT    BURNS,   D.D., 

F.A.S.,  F.R.S.E. 


CHAPTER   I. 

EARLY  DAYS. 

HE  day  of  my  birth  is  entered  in  the 
public  record  as  on  the  13th  of  February, 
1789.  My  earliest  distinct  recollections 
reach  no  further  back  than  the  victory  of 
Lord  Howe,  on  the  1st  of  June,  1794.  This 
was  fresh  on  my  mind  when,  in  May,  1812, 
my  first  visit  to  London  brought  me  into  contact 
with  that  noble  monument  of  a  nation's  gratitude 
to  its  brave  defenders,  the  Naval  Asylum  of 
Greenwich  Hospital.  I  was  accompanied  on  that 
occasion  by  a  kind  friend,  who  had  suffered  the 
chopping  away  of  the  better  half  of  the  great 
toe  of  his  right  foot,  the  effect  of  which  was  a  slight 
palpitation  of  limb,  as  he  walked.    On  coming  home  from 


2  '  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  BURNS 

sea,  he  became  a  manufacturer  in  Paisley,  then  at  its 
prime  ;  made  money,  lived  a  useful  and  religious  life, 
and  died  in  hope.  This  friend  was  my  befitting  com- 
panion in  the  visit  to  Greenwich  ;  we  chatted  with  the 
old  sailors ;  saw  their  neatly  fitted  up  apartments  ;  and 
looked  at  their  books.  One  of  them  was  busily  reading 
a  large  folio,  which,  he  said  to  me,  was,  in  his  opinion 
"  good  for  both  worlds,"  a  sentiment  which  I  cordially 
seconded,  on  finding  it  to  be  Matthew  Henry's  Com- 
mentary on  the  Holy  Scriptures.  My  next  visit  to 
Greenwich,  was  on  June  1st,  1834,  when  William  lY.  and 
Queen  Adelaide  kept  the  anniversary  of  the  battle,  and 
when  fourteen  of  the  brave  shipmates  of  Howe  were  still 
alive,  hobbling  about  with  something  like  quarter-deck 
authority,  and  hailing  with  patriotic  cheers  their  unas- 
suming and  kind-hearted  "  Sailor  King." 

A  grandsire  by  the  father's  side,  and  of  my  own  name, 
was  in  1643  named  by  the  authorities  as  one  of  the  In- 
spectors of  the  signing  of  the  National  Covenant  at  Fal- 
kirk, and  a  like  relative  by  the  mother's  side,  suffered  in 
persecuting  times  for  conscience  sake.  "  Hilderston  and 
his  lady,"  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Sir  William  Cunning- 
ham, of  Cunningham  Head,  were  both  remarkable  for 
their  attachment  to  the  Presbyterian  principles  of  the 
Scottish  Church,  and  their  Mansion  House  at  Hilderston 
was  often  the  hospitable  resort  of  the  persecuted  Cove- 
nantors. His  son  (afterwards  Sir  Walter  Hamilton,*  of 
Westport)  retained  the  same  attachment  to  Protestant 
and  Presbyterian  principles,  which  had  characterized  the 
family  from  the  days  of  their  illustrious  ancestor.  Sir 
James  Sandilands,  the  personal  friend  of  John  Knox.-|- 

My  father,  John  Burns,  belonged  to  a  family  of  respect- 
ability and  old  standing  in  the  town  of  Falkirk,  Stirling- 

*  One  of  our  early  reminiscences  is  of  father  pointing  out  in  a  picture  the  figure  of 
his  maternal  uncle,  Sir  W.  Hamilton,  Bart.,  of  Westport,  standing  on  a  jutting  ledge  of 
rock  at  Quebec,  and  directing  his  brave  men  as  they  dragged  the  guns  up  the  heights  of 
Abraham,  in  the  grey  of  that  memorable  morning  of  July,  1759,  when  Wolfe  fell  in  the 
arms  of  victory,  and  Canada  became  a  jewel  in  the  crown  of  Britain.  Major-General 
Terrier,  once  Governor  of  Dumbarton  Castle,  was  also  an  uncle.  The  distinguished 
metaphysician,  Professor  Ferrier,  son-in-law  of  Christopher  North,  was  nearly  related. 
Hie  names  of  Hamilton  and  of  Ferrier  are  enshrined  in  our  domestic  annals. — Ed. 

t  New  Statistical  Account  of  Scotland,  voL  II.,  p.  65. 


i 


EARLY  DAYS.  3 

shire,  and  till  1779  he  was  engaged  in  Scotland's  "staple," 
the  manufacture  and  sale  of  linen  cloth.  He  was  in  that 
year  appointed  by  Government  to  the  office  of  Surveyor 
of  Customs  at  the  port  of  Borrowstounness.  He  held 
also  for  fifteen  j^ears  the  factorship  on  the  oldest,  and  not 
the  least  valuable,  of  the  estates  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton 
— that  of  Kinneil.  He  was  present,  though  merely  as  a 
spectator,  at  the  battle  of  Falkirk,  in  January,  1746,  and 
often  entertained  us  round  the  family  hearth  with  anec- 
dotes of  that  stirring  period. 

He  was  one  of  many  in  Scotland  whose  religious  char- 
acter was  formed  in  connexion  with  the  visits  and  preach- 
ing of  the  celebrated  Whitefield,  who  occasionally  resided 
under  his  father's  roof  The  pastor  of  the  parish  at  that 
time  was  Mr.  John  Adams,  a  first-rate  man  every  way, 
once  (though  not  a  D.D.)  Moderator  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, and  whose  name  and  memory  are  still  revered  by 
many  in  the  locality.  He  encouraged  the  visits  of  the 
eminent  Englishman,  introduced  him  to  Mr.  Lindsay,  of 
Bothkennar,  and  other  genial  brethren  around,  of  the  true 
evangelical  stamp,  and  shared  with  them  and  "  good  old 
Bonar,"  of  Torphichen,  as  Whitefield  calls  him,  in  the  re- 
vival feasts  of  Kilsyth  and  Cambuslang. 

My  father  managed  the  affairs  of  the  estate  of  Kinneil 
so  long  as  age  and  infirmities  would  allow  him.  Amid 
the  gatherings  of  the  numerous  feu  duties  of  the  town  of 
Borrowstounness,  many  of  them  small,  and  of  somewhat 
doubtful  ownership,  while  many  thousands  of  pounds  of 
land-rents  passed  through  his  hands,  and  were  trans- 
mitted to  the  Ducal  Commissioner  at  Edinburgh,  and  at 
a  time  when  banks  in  the  country  districts  were  un- 
known, not  one  penny  was  ever  lost. 

In  the  beginning  of  1817  my  father  died,  after  a  short 
illness,  full  of  years.  He  was  born  in  1730,  and  his  whole 
course  of  life  had  been  marked  by  simplicity  and  godly 
sincerity,  piety  to  God,  high-toned  and  warm,  integrity 
and  benevolence  towards  men,  singularly  disinterested, 
His  sons,  eight  in  number,  were  all  present  at  his  funeral, 
all  settled  in  diflferent  places  and  positions  in  life,  four  of 


4  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.    BURNS. 

US  ministers  of  the  Established  Church,  and  the  other 
four  occupying  civil  stations  of  respectability  and  useful- 
ness. 

The  mortal  remains  of  our  nearest  earthly  relative  sleep 
in  the  tomb  of  his  forefathers  in  the  ancient  graveyard  of 
Falkirk,  famed  as  the  resting  place  of  Sir  Robert  Monro 
and  his  brother,  both  slain  at  the  battle  of  Falkirk,  June, 
1740.* 

His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Ferrier,  of  Linlithgow, 
lawyer,  who  held  appointments  in  the  legal  department 
of  Her  Majesty's  Customs  there,  and  married  the  daugh- 
ter and  heiress  of  Sir  Walter  Hamilton,  Bart.,  of  West- 
port.  Their  daughter  Grizzell  Ferrier,  was  my  mother, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  53. 

It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  the  general  reader,  and 

cannot  be  to  his  now  numerous  descendants,  to  peruse  one 

of  the  MS.  letters  of  this  "  old  disciple,"  whose  hoary  head 

was  a  crown  of  glory,  and  whose  children  rose  up  to  call 

him  blessed.     The  one  before  us  is  addressed  to  his  eldest 

son,  the  Rev.  James  Burns,  of  Brechin,  father  of  the  Rev. 

J.  C.  Burns,  of  Kirkliston,  and  of  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 

Guthrie,  of  Edinburgh. 

"BoNESS,  18th  February,  1812. 

"  Dear  James, — I  duly  received  your  good  and  precious  letter  of 
the  27th  ult.,  and  have  great  cause  of  thankfulness  that  I  am  still 
able  to  read  it,  and  say  somewhat  in  answer.  Though  with  great 
weakness  of  intellectual  powers,  yet  I  bless  the  Lord  I  am  not  worse 
in  that  respect  than  for  some  years  past.  But  as  I  am  now  arrived 
at  the  uttermost  ordinary  age  of  man  upon  earth,  being  81, 1  cannot 
expect  to  hold  out  long,  and  am,  therefore,  endeavouring  to  im- 
prove time  while  some  measure  of  health  remains,  and  especially 
when  I  call  to  remembrance  the  wonderful  preservations  and  long 
respite  our  Gracious  God  has  been  pleased  to  continue.     It  there- 


*  The  epitaph  on  his  tombstone,  which  is  written  in  excellent  Latin,  describes  him  as 
"  distinguished  for  his  holiness,  benevolence  and  integrity.  In  life,  he  was  favoured 
with  the  love  of  his  family  and  friends,  and  in  death  his  memory  is  blessed."  His 
father,  who  was  a  writer,  in  Falkirk,  is  described  on  the  tombstone  (in  Latm  too)  as  an 
"  upright  and  truly  Christian  man,  who  died  on  the  18th  of  July,  1774  in  the  80th  year 
of  his  age." 


i 


EARLY  DAYS.  5 

fore  becomes  me  daily  to  watch,  and  so  much  the  more  as  I  see  the 
day  approaching. 

'  *  I  am  glad  to  hear  of  your  and  William's,  as  also  of  Robert's^ 
zeal  and  diligence  in  discharging  the  duties  of  your  high  calling* 
For  your  encouragement  I  shall  transcribe  a  note  from  the  Rev. 
Basil  Wood.  His  eleventh  sermon,  May,  1807  : — '  The  zealous 
missionary  shall  shine  to  eternity,  enrolled  in  the  ancestry  of 
Heaven.     Continue  therefore  steadfast,'  &c. 

**  I  rejoice  to  hear  of  the  happy  deaths  you  mention.  May  they 
be  more  and  more  increased  ! 

"  Robert  was  assisting  here  last  week  at  the  sacrament.  He 
preached  both  on  Sabbath  night  and  Monday.  He  left  us  on 
Thursday,  went  to  Cathlaw,  all  night,  and  next  day  took  the  stage 
from  Bathgate.  George  passed  examination  before  the  Presbytery 
two  weeks  ago,  and  will  soon  follow  you  to  the  pulpit,  an  uncom- 
mon instance.  INIay  the  Lord  preserve  me  humble  !  And  I  am, 
with  best  respects  to  your  and  William's  good  wives, 

**  Yours  aflfectionately, 

''  John  Burns." 

The  reference  to  Kinneil,  with  which  early  associations 
were  linked,  sets  memory  at  work,  and,  after  a  fashion 
peculiarly  his  own,  he  groups  diverse  historical  con- 
nexions. The  thread  of  his  narrative  is  dropped  here  (as 
elsewhere  when  it  pleases  him),  that  he  may  expatiate 
over  congenial  fields  which  the  old  Manor  opens  up. 

Kinneil  House,  once  the  favourite  residence  of  the  Ducal 
famil}''  of  Hamilton,  has  been  associated  almost  within  my 
own  remembrance,  with  the  progress  of  science  and  of 
mechanical  art,  for  there  dwelt  Dr.  Roebuck,  the  origina- 
tor of  the  famed  Carron  iron  works,  and  the  patron  of 
James  Watt,  in  his  first  efforts  in  the  improvement  of  the 
steam  engine.  Soon  after  my  ordination,  when  on  my 
way  from  Falkirk  to  Boness,  I  had  the  curiosity  to  do 
what  I  had  not  done  when  a  boy  ;  I  climbed  up  by  a  bye- 
path  to  one  of  the  olden  appendages  of  the  Mansion,  into 
which  I  succeeded  in  making  my  entree,  and  there  gazed 
upon  the  blackened  and  wasted  exuvice  of  the  mechanical 
processes  of  the  ingenious  inventor,  in  this  the  humble 


LIFE  OF  REV.    DR.   BURNS. 

scene  of  his  primary  movements,  which  their  speedy  aii< 
successful  trial,  within  the  circle  of  an  adjoining  coal  pit, 
changed  into  the  sure  and  certain  precursors  of  a  magni- 
ficent scientific  triumph.  But  Kinneil  House  is  associated 
in  my  mind  also  with  the  name  and  the  labours  of  my 
revered  instructor  in  the  elements  of  mental  and  moral 
science,  the  celebrated  Dugald  Stewart,  who  resided  in  it 
from  1810  to  1828,  receiving  there  the  frequent  visits  of 
the  famed  representatives  of  science  and  of  literature,  and 
enjoying  that  otimn  cum  dignitate  which  permitted 
him  to  prepare  maturely,  Works  which  posterity,  we 
firmly  believe,  amid  all  the  delusive  witchery  of  later 
forms  of  thought,  will  not  suffer  to  die.  Of  his  ultimate 
religious  views  I  cannot  speak  positively,  but  I  had 
various  opportunities  of  testifying  to  the  reverence  which 
he  cherished  for  the  truths  and  ordinances  of  religion  ;  and 
on  a  communion  Sabbath,  some  years  before  his  death, 
there  sat  at  the  table,  on  my  right  hand,  the  venerable 
patriarch — a  representative  of  the  philosophy  of  mind, 
with  all  the  seeming  docility  and  complacence  of  a  humble 
disciple. 

And  who  has  not  heard  of  "the  incident,"  in  Scotland's 
.eventful  record,  more  than  two  centuries  past  ?  A  peer, 
heated  with  wine,  had,  in  the  hearing  of  royalty,  declared 
that  there  were  "  three  kings  in  Scotland  where  one  was 
quite  enough,  and  that  he  would  take  speedy  measures  to 
rid  the  land  of  two  of  them."  Argyle  and  Hamilton 
knew  well  the  import  of  the  threat,  left  the  capital 
secretly,  and,  by  a  short  residence  in  the  quiet  halls  of 
Kinneil,  saved  themselves  and  their  country  from  death 
and  from  havoc.  My  esteemed  parish  minister,  Dr. 
Rennie,  in  the  first  "  statistical  account"  of  the  scene  of 
his  labours,  written  but  a  few  weeks  after  his  ordination, 
has  said  of  this  Mansion,  with  no  less  beauty  than  truth, 
that  there  was  a  time  when  it  was  the  residence  of 
nobles  and  the  retreat  of  Kings. 

But  to  the  mind  of  a  Christian  this  now  somewhat  dis- 
mantled and  yet  stately  mansion  is  associated  with 
circumstances  of  a  more  decidedly  religious  character.   Ir 


I 


EARLY  DAYS.  7 

the  middle  of  the  century  before  the  last,  the  Ducal  family 
of  Hamilton  could  boast  of  a  succession  of  representatives 
more  or  less  sincerely  religious.     Kinneil  was  occasionally 
their  favourite  abode,  and  pious  Presbyterian  ministers 
frequently  resided  there  as  chaplains  or  as  visitors.     In 
the  shady  groves  adjacent  would  Zachary  Boyd  carol  his 
homely  lays,  when  engaged  in  his  celebrated  "travails  with 
the  Pentateuch"  and  the  Psalms ;  and  in  his  "  last  Battle 
of  the  Soul"  he  seems  to  have  happily  anticipated  what 
soon  became  blissful  reality  in  the  experiences  of  more 
than  one  of  the  male  and  female  representatives  of  the 
noble  house  of  Hamilton.     May  we  not  trace  to  this,  in 
some  sense,  the  fact  that  Kinneil  and  Borrowstounness  had 
their    confessors    and    martyrs    in    persecuting     times. 
Robert  Woodrow,  first,  and  James  Aikman,  afterwards, 
himself  a  Borrowstounness  man,  have  recorded  the  names 
of  not  a  few  who  "  loved  not  their  lives  unto  the  death"  ; 
and  the  story  of  the  cruel  and  untimely  deaths  of  Marian 
Harvey  and  Isabel  Alison,  at  the  Grass  Market  of  Edin- 
burgh, possess  a  painfully  thrilling  interest.     Sir  llobert 
Hamilton,  of  Preston,  of  Both  well  Bridge  celebrity,  lived 
at  that  place  for  years  after  his  return  from  Holland,  and 
died   there   in    1701  ;   yea,   even   under  the  eye   of  the 
Muscovite  Laird  of   Binns,*  Donald    Cargill    was   long 
sheltered  here.     Mr.  Mackenzie,  in  his  statistical  account 
of  the  parish,  has  not  only  referred  to  these  cases,  but  has 
in  addition,  given  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  names  and 
positions  of  others,    both   ministers   and   laymen,    who 
suffered  in   the    various  modes    of  imprisonment,   fines, 
banishment  and  death;  and  thus  my  native  parish,  if  it 
has  not  furnished  a  full  "sacramental  host"  or  "glorious 
army  of  martyrs,"  has  presented  to  all  ages  a  noble  speci- 
men of  what  has  been  suitably  termed  "  the  goodly  fel- 
lowship" of  holy  confessors,  that  form  the  "  cloud  of  wit- 
nesses" on  high. 

The  Parish  of  Kinneil,  though  small,  was  important 
from  its  connexion  with  one  of  the  mansions  of  the  Ducal 

*  Sir. Thomas  Dalyell,  the  noted  persecutor,  who  had  been  for  some  years  in  the  Mus- 
covite service. 


8  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


family,  and  from  the  Reformation  downwards  it  seems 
have  enjoyed  the  pastoral  services  of  a  succession  of  pious 
ministers.  About  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
"  the  Ness,"  as  it  was  called,  had  become  the  residence  of 
not  a  few  enterprising  persons  connected  with  the  navi- 
gation and  commerce  of  the  Firth  of  Forth.  For  their 
accommodation  a  Church  was  built  and  endowed  by  the 
liberality  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  aided  by  the 
Lord  of  the  Manor,  and  in  a  short  time  the  two  places 
were  associated  together  as  one  pastoral  charge.  For  half 
a  century  prior  to  the  year  1793,  the  united  parish  was 
presided  over  by  the  Reverend  Patrick  Baillie,  a  pious 
and  laborious  evangelist,  the  very  heau  ideal  of  a  truly 
consistent  Scottish  Presbyterian  pastor  of  the  olden  times. 
He  was  succeeded  by  a  well-meaning  man,  of  weak  parts, 
both  mental  and  bodily,  who  retired  from  the  charge 
within  two  years,  and  the  people  having  had  granted  to 
them  by  the  patron  the  privilege  of  election.  Dr.  Robert 
Rennie  was  chosen,  who,  till  1833,  occupied  the  charge 
with  credit  and  usefulness.  His  successor,  Mr.  Mackenzie, 
lately  deceased,  was  also  the  choice  of  the  congregation. 
At  the  disruption,  in  1843,  he  remained  with  the  Estab- 
lishment. A  portion  of  his  flock  united  with  a  similar 
portion  from  the  neighbouring  Parish  of  Carriden,  and 
formed  the  ''  Free  Church"  of  the  district,  which  has 
prospered  under  several  faithful  ministers  in  succession.* 
From  the  under  shelf  of  my  library,  a  large,  well-bound 
folio  protrudes  at  this  moment,  its  venerable  head  bearing 
the  title,  "  Flavel's  Works."  In  1754,  when  this  edition 
was  printed,  Glasgow  enjoyed  the  able  and  faithful  minis- 
trations of  a  Maclaurin,  a  Gillies,  a  Findlay,  a  Corse,  and 
others  of  high  evangelical  position,  and  real  vital  godliness 
flourished,  for  the  motto  of  the  city  had  not  as  yet  been 

*  Like  other  mansions  of  Scotland,  Kinneil  House  has  been  haunted  for  a  century  at 
least  by  the  ghost  of  Lady  Lilbum,  wife  of  one  of  Cromwell's  Generals,  said  to  have 
been  murdered  here.  In  the  interesting  work  of  Mr.  Smiles,  on  "Industrial  Biography," 
we  have  the  following  curious  statement : — 

"Sir  David  Wilkie  having  been  on  a  visit  to  Dugald  Stewart,  at  Kinneil,  the  learned 
Professor  told  him  one  night,  as  he  was  going  to  bed,  of  the  unearthly  wailings  which 
he  himself  had  heard  proceeding  from  the  old  apartments,  but  to  him,  at  least,  they 
had  been  explained  by  an  old  door  opening  out  upon  the  roof  being  blown  in  on  gusty 
nights,  when  a  jarring  and  creaking  noise  was  heard  all  over  the  house. 


n 


EARLY  DAYS.  9 

altered  from  its  first  edition,  "  Let  Glasgow  flourish  by 
the  preaching  of  the  word."  A  folio  edition  of  the  works 
of  the  outed  minister  of  Dartmouth,  though  rather  high 
priced,  took  well,  and  my  father  was  one  of  the  original 
subscribers.  Next  to  the  Scriptures,  it  was  his  favourite 
book,  and  as,  at  ten  years  of  age,  I  could  read  pretty  well, 
and  as  my  voice,  to  use  my  own  expression,  even  then  was 
an  "  audible"  one,  he  conferred  on  me  the  honour  and  the 
privilege  of  now  and  then  reading  to  him  aloud,  after  the 
labours  of  the  day,  one  of  Flavel's  sermons.  The  style  was 
simple,  the  diction  sweet  and  sappy,  and  the  titles  were 
fascinating,  "  The  Fountain  of  Life  opened,"  "  The  Method 
of  Grace,"  "  Navigation  Spiritualized,"  Mount  Pisgah,"  &c. 
I  got  a  fondness  for  the  task,  and  often,  while  other 
boys  were  at  play,  I  was  reading  John  Flavel.  The  idea 
occurred  to  me  of  copying  out  in  manuscript  as  many  of 
the  sermons  as  I  had  time  and  paper  for.  Having  pro- 
vided myself  with  a  whole  quire  of  foolscap,  I  made  a 
commendable  effort  in  my  best  hand.  But  I  longed 
heartily  for  the  close  of  the  first  sermon,  and  proceeded  no 
further.  An  aged  aunt  who  lived  with  us,  and  who  be- 
longed to  the  moderate  school,  said  to  me  that  to  have 
copied  one  of  "  Blair's"  would  have  been  *'  wiser  like  ;" 
but  Flavel  was  no  favourite  of  hers.  She  accompanied  her 
suggestion  with  the  broad  hint  that  there  seemed  **  some- 
thing of  the  hypocrite"  about  the  whole  concern,  and 
perhaps  she  was  not  very  far  wrong.  My  religious  belief 
at  this  time  was  strictly  orthodox,  but  it  had  a  tincture 
of  antinomianism  about  it.  I  had  clear  ideas  of  the_ 
"  fountain  of  life,"  but  as  to  the  "  method  of  grace." 
I  knew  nothing  about  it.  A  lengthened  period  elapsed 
between  my  clear  apprehension  of  the  foundation  of  hope, 
and  my  cordial  reliance  on  the  grace  of  the  Spirit  to  en- 
lighten, to  sanctify,  and  to  guide.  A  still  longer  period 
elapsed  before  I  knew  the  defects  of  such  a  book  as 
"Law's  Serious  Call,"  and,  although  Whitefield's  memoirs 
were  estimated  in  our  circle  above  all  price,  the  Calvinistic 
system  had  as  yet  failed  to  "  conquer  me."  This  topic  I 
shall  have  occasion  to  notice  again,  and  in  the  meantime 


10  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

shall  only  say,  in  the  words  of  Cowper,  applicable  equally 
to  the  Divine  dealings  with  individual  minds  as  with  the 
larger  economy  of  the  universe, 

*•  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way, 
Hia  wonders  to  perform." 

It  is  not  easy  always  to  account  for  the  inclinations  and 
tendencies  that  run  in  families,  and  determine  the  future 
of  its  several  members.     None  of  my  forefathers,  on  either 
side,  occupied  the  oiSce  of  the  ministry.     And  yet  among 
the  male  members  of  our  family  there  did  appear  at  early 
periods,   and  in   pretty  regular  succession,   a  somewhat 
uncommonly  strong  leaning  towards  the  ministerial  pro- 
fession, showing  itself  in  a  singular  love   of  pulpit  oc- 
cupancy, and  somewhat  premature  pulpit  oratory.     My 
eldest  brother,  James,  who  was  minister  of  the  first  charge 
in  the  parish  of  Brechin  for  nearly  forty  years,  took  a 
fancy,  when  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  to  devote  all  the 
little  pocket  money  he  had  picked  up,  to  the  purchase  of 
a  wooden  pulpit,  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  word  ;  and 
my  second  brother,  William,  afterwards  well-known  as 
"  the  pastor  of  Kilsyth,"  a  short  time  thereafter  completed 
the  ecclesiastical  erection  by  the  addition  of  a  precentor's 
desk.      A  small  room  in  the  house  was  allotted  to  its 
reception,  and  it  henceforth  had  affixed  to  it  the  name  of 
^'  The  Kirk"     The  domestic  worship  was  pretty  regularly 
performed,  and  occasionally  more  full  religious  services  en- 
gaged in.     At  a  somewhat  later  period,  a  summer-house 
in  the  garden  was  set  apart  for  the  same  purpose,  and  in 
it  the  more  juvenile  attempts  at  preaching  were  carried 
on.     These  attempts  were  indeed  juvenile,  but  they  were 
always  serious.   We  were  not  "  playing  at  preacher."    We 
were  really  in  earnest,  and  much  precious  truth  from  the 
pages  of  approved  authors  was  exhibited ;  and  it  is  inte- 
resting to  state  that  sometimes  the  humblest  efforts  in  the 
service  of  God,  may  be  honoured  with  a  measure  of  suc- 
cess. 

I  have  just  had  put  into  my  hands  an  interesting  little 
memoir  of  a  departed  female  member  of  his  congregation, 


EARLY  DAYS.  11 

by  the  excellent  minister  of  the  Free  Church  at  Craig, 
near  Montrose.*  The  person  who  forms  the  subject  of 
the  naraative  had  in  early  life  resided  near  our  family- 
residence  in  the  town  of  Boness,  and  had  occasionally  at- 
tended the  meetings  referred  to.  "  Many  a  solemn  word," 
said  she  to  her  pastor,  "  many  a  warm  prayer  have  I  heard 
in  that  place,  at  times  some  words  sunk  deep  into  my 
soul,  but  going  away  to  another  town,  and  f\\lling  into 
different  company,  I  fear  I  sinned  these  all  away.  You 
know  the  character  of  my  life  for  years,  but  I  can  assure 
you  I  never  was  altogether  without  upbraidings  of  heart, 
and  I  knew  in  my  conscience  what  was  right  and  what 
was  wrong.  0  !  I  wonder  greatly  how  God  did  not  give 
me  up,  and  now,  in  my  old  age,  those  words  and  prayers 
of  the  young  men  come  back  upon  me."  The  particulai-s 
of  the  case  are  to  me  very  touching,  and  they  present 
not  an  inapt  illustration  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
sovereign  mercy  and  grace  of  God  may,  by  small  and 
seemingly  unlikely  instruments,  carry  on  to  completion 
the  great  scheme  of  infinite  wisdom  and  love  in  bringing 
many  sons  and  daughters  to  him. 

The  pulpit  first  reared  in  1787  found  its  last  resting 
place  at  Kilsyth,  where,  in  1839-40,  it  stood  as  a  silent 
witness  of  the  great  awakening. 

*  Sketch  of  the  life  of  Mary  P ,  by  the  Rev.  Hugh  Mitchell,  Ferryden,  1869. 

The  woman  was  fifty  years  h  confirmed  drunkard,  but  became  a  wonderful  instance  of 
grace  abounding  to  the  chief  of  sinners.  See  last  three  pages  ol  "Miscellaneous" 
chapter— pp.  399-401. 


CHAPTER  II. 


LITERARY  EDUCATION. 


HE  parochial  school  which  I  attended  was 
open  six  days  in  the  week,  with  one  ex- 
ception of  a  half-day's  play  on  Saturday. 
It  was  opened  and  closed  daily  with  prayer, 
not  read,  but  free,  and  suitable  and  short. 
Three  hours  on  Saturday  found  us  occupied 
with  class  readings  in  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  repe- 
titions of  the  Shorter  Catechism,  miscellaneous 
historical  questions  and  appropriate  advices  by 
the  master,  closed  with  devotional  exercises  some- 
what enlarged.  Six  hours  each  day,  Saturdays 
excepted,  were  devoted  to  the  ordinary  less(ms 
belonging  to  the  usual  arrangements  of  such  seminaries 
in  Scotland — English  reading,  orthography  and  recita- 
tion, arithmetic  as  far  as  the  cube  root,  book-keeping, 
navigation,  Latin,  Greek,  and,  to  a  limited  extent  and  on 
occasions  only,  French.  In  the  system  of  those  days, 
the  chief  error  lay  in  the  department  of  classics,  where 
the  whole  of  the  six  hours  were  rigidly  devoted  to  elemen- 


SCHOOL   DAYS.  13 

tary  branches,  and  to  the  simple  translation  and  construing 
of  the  originals.  An  intermingling  with  this  of  historical 
and  geographical  information,  and  illustrations  of  antiqui- 
ties, and  biographical  references  and  notes,  would  have 
been  a  valuable  addition.  Still,  the  seminary  was  well 
taught,  and  the  annual  examinations,  by  the  Presbytery 
of  the  bounds,  were  duly  attended  to. 

About  this  time,  when  running  to  school,  he  fell.  A 
sharp  stone  pierced  his  forehead,  and  left  a  mark  which 
he  bore  through  life.  He  was  carried  home  insensible. 
The  kind  school-boy  who  carried  him  home  was  Mr. 
Archibald  Petrie  (or  ''  big  Baldie  Petrie,"  as  he  was  called), 
who  was  for  many  years  a  respected  citizen  of  Belleville, 
Canada,  recently  deceased.  The  two  sons  of  Boness  used 
often  to  meet  and  talk  with  amazing  interest  over  the 
"  old  times."  When  my  father  died,  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  his  ancient  friend',  who  outlived  him,  though  weighed 
down  with  manifold  infirmities,  could  be  prevented  making 
the  long  pilgrimage  to  his  funeral. 

From  1795  to  1799, 1  was  under  the  Rev.  JohnDuguid, 
afterwards  minister  of  Eva  and  Rendal,  in  Orkney  ;  and 
from  1799  to  1801,  under  Mr.  John  Stevens,  who  continued 
in  charge  until  twenty-five  years  ago,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  son,  the  present  efficient  teacher.  Both  of 
my  preceptors  were  superior  men.  With  the  second,  my 
intercourse  in  after  life  was  tolerably  frequent ;  but  the 
first  I  never  saw  after  April,  1799,  when  he  sailed  from 
Peterhead  with  his  family  for  the  (then)  remote  and 
scarcely  known  islands  of  the  north.  It  is  rather  interest- 
ing to  record  that  two  generations  after,  his  grand -daugh- 
ter, the  amiable  spouse  of  a  young  banker  in  Toronto, 
became  one  of  the  members  of  my  fiock.  Her  father,  Dr. 
Alexander  Duguid,  was  a  companion  of  mine  at  school  for 
four  years,  at  the  close  of  the  last  century,  and  he  has 


14  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

been  long  an  eminent  medical  practitioner  in  Kirkwall. 
His  son-in-law,  Mr.  Baikie,  went  back  to  his  native  island 
in  bad  health,  and  a  fatal  affection  of  the  lungs  soon  cut 
him  off ;  but  he  departed  in  peace,  and  his  affectionate 
widow  and  fatherless  children  have  been  spared  and  blest 
by  their  common  Father  in  Heaven. 

In  the  end  of  October,  1801,  I  left  the  Grammar  School 
for  Edinburgh  College,  being  twelve  years  and  a-half  old, 
certainly  too  young,  and  yet  I  was  reading  Juvenal  and 
Livy,  and  was  able  to  read  and  construe  through  the  Greek 
New  Testament,  at  least  the  Gospels.  Our  Humanity 
Professor  was  Dr.  John  Hill,  author  of  the  quarto  volume 
of  "  Synonymes  of  the  Latin  Language,"  and  the  life  of 
Dr.  Hugh  Blair.  He  was  a  man  of  eccentric  character, 
and  withal  very  narrow  in  his  habits,  but  of  great  acute- 
ness,  ready  wit,  and  admirable  skill  in  clothing  concep- 
tions, often  original,  in  English  words,  always  pure  and 
racy.  To  the  young  men  of  the  second  year,  he  gave 
weekly  lectures  on  three  subjects — Roman  Antiquities, 
Universal  Grammar,  and  the  principles  of  Natural  and 
Commercial  Policy.  Of  these  he  put  a  scanty  synopsis 
into  our  hands,  but  what  would  I  not  give,  even  yet,  for 
the  originals  themselves,  as  they  came  from  his  lips  !  Our 
class-room  in  the  old  college  was  dark  and  glum,  and  he 
had  a  slender  and  cheaply-constructed  lamp  to  assist  his 
vision,  even  at  broad  day,  and  it  was  a  great  amusement  , 
to  the  boys  to  see  it  occasionally  blinking. 

Our  Greek  Professor  was  Andrew  Dalzel,  A.M.,  who  had 
studied  for  the  church,  but  who,  being  an  apt  and  elegant 
scholar,  and  having  interest  with  the  patrons  of  the  Edin- 
burgh chairs,  turned  aside — in  the  professional  sense  I 
mean — from  the  pathways  of  Zion,  to  the  heights  of  Par- 
nassus and  of  Helicon.  He  was  a  most  amiable  and 
worthy  man,  and  he  kept  his  class  always  in  good  order, 
which  Dr.  Hill  never  did  nor  could  do. 

But  of  all  the  Professors  in  the  Arts  Department  in 
those  days,  Dr.  James  Finlaj^son,  the  occupant  of  the  chair 
of  Logic  and  Metaphysics,  was  by  far  the  best.  He  was 
comparatively  young  when  called  to  succeed  John  Bruce, 


SCHOOL  DAYS.  15 

who  was  removed  to  a  more  lucrative  post,  which  he  was 
thought  more  competent  to  fill,  namely,  that  of  King's 
Printer  for  Scotland.  I  attended  Dr.  Finlayson  two  ses- 
sions, embracing  the  ordinary  branches,  Pneumatology  in 
the  first  year,  and  Metaphysics,  or  the  higher  philosophy 
of  mind,  in  the  second.  Our  teacher  aimed  at  being  use- 
ful rather  than  at  being  brilliant.  He  did  not  perplex 
young  minds  with  any  such  strange  "conceits"  as  are 
now  ordinarily  submitted  to  them ;  but  he  gave  us  a  plain 
and  intelligible  account  of  the  powers  and  capabilities  of 
the  human  mind,  with  most  suitable  rules  and  suggestions 
for  their  right  improvement  and  guidance.  He  gave  us 
quite  enough,  and  perhaps  more  than  enough,  on  syllogism, 
perhaps  too  little  on  Lord  Bacon's  method  of  induction, 
and  next  to  nothing  at  all  on  Rhetoric  and  Belles  Lettres. 
I  look  back  on  these  lectures,  however,  with  deep  grati- 
tude and  interest.  They  were  well  fitted  to  form  the 
mind  to  think,  and  they  were  read  so  slowly,  and  with  so 
many  repetitions  (all  for  the  sake  of  the  pupils)  as  to  ren- 
der it  easy  for  us  to  take  down  full  notes.  We  had  regu- 
lar viva  voce  examinations,  and  six  essays  were  prescribed 
during  the  course ;  and  every  student  who  wrote  three, 
had  the  honour  of  reading  one  in  the  class  at  the  close  of 
the  session. 

The  Teachers  of  Mathematics  in  the  College  of  Edin- 
burgh in  my  days  were,  Professors  Playfair  and  Leslie, 
but  they  were  both  by  far  too  scientific  for  boys ;  very 
few  attended  them,  and  we  found  a  most  excellent  sub- 
stitute in  a  private  teacher,  Mr.  William  Laidlaw,  a  Dum- 
frieshire  man,  of  mild,  gentlemanly  manners,  and  competent 
abilities  for  his  work.  We  were  taught  by  him  also  the 
elements  of  Logarithms,  of  the  use  of  which  I  now  retain 
little  more  than  the  recollection  that  on  a  bright  April 
morning,  at  five  o'clock,  we  found  ourselves  along  with 
our  much  respected  teacher,  posted  on  the  soft  sands  of 
the  Firth  of  Forth,  at  Portobello,  and  busily  engaged  with 
our  varied  apparatus,  measuring  the  height  of  "  Largo 
Law,"  and  the  most  prominent  of  those  "  Hills  in  Fife," 
about  the  "  prospects"  from  which  I  may  tell,  by  and 


16  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

by,  a  little  legend.  I  had  no  taste  for  either  Geometry 
oi  Logarithms,  but  my  friend,  Andrew  Irvine,  was  ex- 
cellent at  both ;  and  it  commonly  happened,  yea  seems 
to  have  been  understood  in  those  days,  that  the  skill 
and  attainments  of  one,  became  the  "  common  good  of 
all." 

Irvine  and  I  were  intimate,  but  he  did  not  go  with  me 
to  the  Divinity  Hall.  He  went  to  the  Church  of  England, 
as  did  John  Wightman,  our  Hall  Librarian,  and  Thomas 
Sword,  one  of  our  cleverest  lads.  Of  all  these  I  have 
long  lost  sight.  If  they  are  still  within  the  land  of  the 
living,  little  doubt  exists  in  my  mind  that  they  will  be 
found  in  the  ranks  of  the  "  broad  church"  brigade.  Never- 
theless, I  would  give  much  for  a  sight  of  any  one  of  them 
now,  and  I  can  assure  them  that  I  would  waive  contro- 
versy for  "the  time  being."  Mr.  Irvine  has,  I  think 
published  a  volume  of  sermons,  which  I  am  sure  will  be 
able  and  logical.  May  I  hope  that  the  sal  evangelicum . 
is  diffused  through  their  pages  as  largely  as  it  is  in  the 
volume  of  my  loved  and  lamented  Episcopal  friend  Thomas 
Bissland. 

Saturday  was  always  a  play  day  in  College,  and  we 
enjoyed  it  in  excursions  to  Arthur's  Seat,  .to  Craig-Millar 
Castle,  or  to  the  Hermitage  of  Braid  ;  but  to  those  who 
preferred  scenes  in  the  interior  of  the  city,  the  Parlia- 
ment House  offered  an  agreeable  lounge,  for  besides  the 
"living  throng"  of  barristers  and  officials  moving  to  and 
fro  in  the  "  Outer  House,"  we  were  privileged  occasionally 
with  an  ascent  to  the  gallery  of  the  "  Inner,"  where  the 
whole  "fifteen"  were  seated  together  in  solemn  conclave 
on  knotty  points.  The  President,  Sir  Hay  Campbell, 
of  Succoth,  was  a  profound  but  common  sense  lawyer, 
always  dignified,  and  universally  respected  ;  but  in  those 
days  of  Tory  ascendancy,  his  associates  were  sometimes 
men  who  owed  their  places  more  to  political  and  family 
interest  than  to  legal  talent.  The  Hon.  Henry  Erskine, 
brother  of  the  Earl  of  Buchan,  and  of  the  Lord  Chan- 
cellor of  England,  was  never  elevated  to  the  bench,  but 
he  was  a  very  successful  pleader,  and  a  wag  of  the  high- 


SCHOOL  DAYS.  17 

est  class.  His  puns  were  endless,  and  often  extremely 
happy.  I  shall  give  one  as  a  specimen :  on  occasion  of 
the  first  appearance  in  his  robes  of  a  newly  appointed 
judge,  a  plain  country  gentleman  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
more  than  ordinary  material  bulk,  Mr.  Erskine  took  occa- 
sion "  to  congratulate  their  lordships  on  the  large  acces- 
sion which  had  been  recently  made  to  the  weight  of  the 
bench,  without  diminishing  the  respectability  of  the  bar." 
"  That's  too  bad  in  you,  Harry,"  said  the  worthy  neo- 
phyte ;  to  which  "  Harry "  replied,  in  one  of  his  most 
aristocratic  bows,  and  the  pleadings  went  on.  In  com- 
mon with  most  of  the  Lords  of  Session,  the  Doric-Scotch 
was  the  familiar  vernacular  of  this  good-natured  senator ; 
and  he  one  day  sought  to  check  the  vociferating  energies 
of  an  over-excited  advocate,  and  with  most  convulsive 
success,   by  an  interlude    perfectly   irresistible.      "Mr. 

F ,  dinna  skriech  sae   heigh,  7)iun ;    you  'perfectly 

dumfounder  -me."  I  rather  think  that  the  amusing  era 
of  "Parliament  House  fun"  ended  at  or  soon  after  the 
multiplication  of  "  Lords  Ordinary,"  and  the  division  of 
the  chambers.  Another  "Harry"  took  away  from  the 
bar  much  of  the  "  wit,"  when  he  mounted  the  bench  as 
Lord  Cockburn. 

Dr.  Davidson  often  warned  the  students  who  visited 
him,  against  frequenting  auctions,  buying  useless  books, 
and  spending  both  time  and  money  in  something  like 
useless  play  rather  than  pleasant  recreation.  There  was 
need  of  such  cautions,  for  we  did  often  leave  our  lessons 
for  the  morrow,  unfinished,  and  go  down  to  "  get  fun,"  as 
we  counted  it,  at  one  or  more  of  the  auctions  of  books, 
which  were  of  nightly  recurrence.  On  such  occasions 
there  was  something  like  oratory  of  an  inferior  stamp 
indulged  in  by  the  main  actors.  I  am  not  sure  whether 
Mr.  William  Blackwood  figured  ever  on  this  arena,  before 
the  days  of  Christopher  North,  but  this  I  know,  that  his 
partner,  Mr.  Robert  Ross,  opposite  the  College,  figured 
away  from  his  elevated  platform,  and  dealt  out  many  en- 
comiums on  favourite  authors,  successively  falling  under 
his  merciless  hammer.     By  far  the  most  popular  of  all 


18  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  BURNS. 

these  humble  orators  on  the  literary  platform  was,  beyond 
question,  Mr.  P^ter  Cairns,  Bookseller,  College  Street, 
and  whose  place  of  holding  forth  was  more  accessible 
than  that  of  Mr.  Ross.  The  comments  and  the  blunders 
of  this  vulgar  rhetorician  afforded  us  often  not  a  little 
amusement.  To  give  one  instance  out  of  many.  One 
evening  Peter  got  into  his  hands  an  octavo  volume  or 
thick  pamphlet,  containing  a  collection  of  miscellaneous 
poetry,  under  a  fanciful  title.  I  had  looked  at  the  book 
before  it  was  set  up,  and  soon  saw  that  the  orator  mis- 
took its  title.  "  Here,"  said  he,  "  gentlemen,  is  a  noble 
work,  poems  from  the  hill  of  life ;  human  life  a  hill,  valu- 
able instruction  for  young  persons ;  who  says  for  the  Hill 
of  Life  r  The  offers  began  pretty  fairly ;  but  I  whispered 
to  Peter,  that  he  had  better  look  at  the  title  again,  for 
I  thought  he  had  not  quoted  it  right.  He  took  the  hint, 
thanked  me  for  it,  and  again  began,  "  Gentlemen,  it  is 
the  Hills  of  Life,  not  one,  but  many  ;  a  valuable  work ; 
who  bids  for  the  'Prospects  from  the  Hills  of  Life?'" 
It  soon  brought  a  good  price ;  but  what  was  his  surprise, 
when  the  purchaser  read  the  real  title,  "  Prospects  from 
mih  in  Fife ! !''  and  demanded  back  his  money  !  Peter 
rubbed  his  eyes,  and  confessed  his  error,  cancelling  the 
sale,  and  was  satisfied  with  half  the  price  offered  under 
the  plausible  misnomer,  and  a  hearty  laugh,  in  which  we 
all  joined  ;  for  our  host  never  failed  to  exemplify  before  us 
young  orators  a  well  known  rule  in  rhetoric,  that  if  you 
wish  to  succeed  in  your  pleading,  be  sure  you  keep  your 
hearers  in  good  humour.  Indeed  the  interludes  that 
went  on  in  the  way  of  dialogue,  or  otherwise,  during  the 
eventful  period  from  the  lifting  of  the  volume  to  its  being 
knocked  down,  were  often  vastly  amusing.  Many  vol- 
umes we  bought,  good,  bad  and  indifferent.  Sometimes 
a  book  was  valuable,  and  yet  cheap ;  for  instance,  the 
lovely  "  Flores,"  of  Erasmus  cost  me  just  one  half-penny! 
and  I  made  a  present  of  it  to  our  College  Library,  where 
its  sweet  savour  remains.  For  that  fine  specimen  of 
Tnultum  in  parvo,  the  Selectee  Historicce,  I  paid  just  two 
pence !  but  this  is  not  all,  for  on  the  back  of  the  cover 


f- 


SCHOOL   DATS.  19 

stands  the  interesting  autograph  of  the  dearly  loved 
young  friend  of  the  poet  Cowper,  William  Cawthorn 
Unwin,  1756. 

From  the  date  of  the  foundation  of  Edinburgh  College, 
by  King  James  VI,  in  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
due  provision  had  been  made  for  the  religious  superin- 
tendence and  instruction  of  the  students.  It  was  part 
of  the  duties  of  the  Princif  al  to  address  to  them  on  every 
Saturday,  what  was  called  the  sacra  lectio,  and  of  these 
suitable  appeals  to  the  understandings  and  the  hearts  of 
young  enquirers,  the  theological  lectures  of  Leighton, 
when  he  held  that  office,  are  admirable  specimens.  Down 
to  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  accom- 
modation on  Sabbath  was  provided  in  the  Easter  High 
Church,  and  when  Lady  Tester's  Church  was  erected, 
about  that  period,  the  main  gallery  in  it  was  appropri- 
ated to  the  students.  In  1801,  when  I  entered  College,  the 
pastor  of  that  church  was  the  Rev.  David  Black,  who  had 
been  for  some  years  minister  of  the  small  Parish  of  St. 
Madoes,  near  Perth,  and  his  valuable  ministry  I  enjoyed 
for  five  years.  Clergymen  of  greater  talent,  and  of  more 
comprehensive  mental  range,  it  might  not  be  difficult  to 
find,  but  you  would  search  in  vain  for  a  man  of  higher 
pastoral  eminence,  and  better  adaptation  in  the  pulpit  to 
the  capacities  and  afiections  of  youth.  Of  his  "  Action  Ser- 
mon "  at  the  communion  in  November,  1801,  on  "  This  day 
shall  be  unto  you  for  a  memorial,"  taken  in  connection 
with  the  evening  sermon  on  the  same  occasion  by  one  of 
our  most  talented  young  ministers,  the  deeply  lamented 
Mr.  Bennet,  of  Duddingston — of  the  series  of  lectures  on 
the  "  History  of  Joseph,"  and  of  a  remarkably  impressive 
discourse  on  the  history  of  Naaman  the  Syrian — of  these 
and  other  specimens  of  Mr.  Black's  pulpit  powers  I  retain 
a  vivid  impression  to  the  present  day.  A  remarkable  re- 
vival of  religion  had  taken  place  at  Moulin,  in  Perthshire, 
under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Stewart,  afterwards  of  Ding- 
wall, and  the  letter  to  Mr.  Black  by  that  gentleman 
contains  a  full  and  deeply  interesting  detail  of  the  leading 
features  in  that  revival,  and  its  wide  circulation  did  much, 


20  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

with  the  blessing  of  God,  in  effecting  and  confirming  a 
genuine  religious  awakening.  The  mournful  event  of 
the  death  of  Mr.  Black,  in  the  spring  of  1806,  spread  a 
funeral  pall  over  the  land,  and  wide  and  earnest  was  the 
question,  "  where  shall  a  suitable  successor  to  him  be 
found  ?"  All  eyes  were  directed  to  Dr.  Balfour,  of  Glas- 
gow, then  the  most  eloquent  evangelical  preacher  in  Scot- 
land ;  but  the  moral  force  of  Scotland's  commercial  me- 
tropolis interposed  an  interdict  that  was  irresistible,  and 
Dr.  Balfour  remained  in  Glasgow  till  1818,  when  his 
translation  on  high,  by  a  remarkably  sudden  removal, 
was  hailed  by  the  echo  of  a  thousand  voices,  as  was  that 
of  the  prophet  of  old,  "  My  father,  my  father  !  the  chariots 
of  Israel  and  the  horsemen  thereof"  The  mantle  of  Mr. 
Black  and  Dr.  Balfour  fell  on  Dr.  Thomas  Fleming,  an 
admirable  expositor,  and  an  affectionate  and  judicious 
pastor.  Dr.  F.  was  not  so  impressive  in  delivery  as  Mr. 
Black,  but  in  thought  and  in  style  he  was  more  exact, 
and  his  other  substantial  qualifications  eminently  fitted 
him  for  occupying  a  college  pulpit. 

I  had  the  privilege  of  attending  Dugald  Stewart  one 
full  session,  and  partially  a  second ;  but,  alas  !  that  second 
was  his  last !  Dr.  Thomas  Brown  had  assisted  him  a  good 
deal  during  the  session  of  1804-5,  and  in  1805  he  was 
appointed  as  assistant  and  successor,  Mr.  Stewart  remain- 
ing emeritus.  On  the  interesting  occasion  of  his  taking 
leave,  the  students  drew  up  and  presented  to  him  an  address, 
to  which  the  Professor  made  a  short  but  not  unsuitable 
reply.  The  chairman  of  "  the  students'  committee"  was 
the  present  Earl  Eussell,  then  Lord  John,  whose  image  is 
now  most  distinctly  before  me,  when,  at  the  close  of  the 
class  meeting,  he  stept  forward  at  the  head  of  the  mem- 
bers of  committee,  and  read  the  paper  in  the  hearing  of 
the  Professor  and  the  whole  class,  now  more  than  sixty 
years  ago.  I  have  no  copy  either  of  the  address  or  of 
the  reply ;  indeed  I  don't  think  that  either  of  them  ever 
reached  the  Press,  for  the  newspapers  in  those  days  seldom 
inserted  articles  purely  literary.  It  was  against  the  inter- 
ests of  the  class,  and  even  the  fame  of  its  illustrious 


'    SCHOOL  DAYS.  21 

preceptor,  that  his  "  printed  work,"  as  he  usually  termed 
it,  had  been  published  so  soon,  and  that  it  embraced  so 
many  of  the  usual  topics  of  the  class.     No  edition  at  a 
moderate  price  had  as  yet  appeared,  so  that  the  students 
were  inadequately  supplied  with  it.     Still  there  was  very 
much  in  the  lectures  of  Mr.  Stewart  that  was  captivating 
and  instructive,  and  the  fascinating  charms  of  his  style 
and  delivery  were   felt,  and  richly   enjoyed,  by  us  all. 
With  regard  to  Professor  Robison,  I  concur  in  all  that 
Dr.  Chalmers  and  others  have  said  as  to  the  bearing  of 
his  prelections,  judging  of  them  from  the  admirable  articles 
which  he  contributed  to  the  "  Encyclopedia  Britannica," 
particularly  those  on  "  Physics  "  and  "  Philosophy."     The 
impression  which  their  perusal  made  on  my  mind,  at 
the  distance  of  sixty  years  remains  deep  and  fresh,  but 
at  the  time  (1804)  when  I  attended  his  class  he  was 
weakened  much  by  age  and  bodily  infirmities.     His  coun- 
tenance was  remarkably  striking,  and  he  had  all  the  im- 
pressiveness  we  associate  with  the  idea  of  a  truly  Chris- 
tian philoso])her  and  sage.       He  died  in  the   January 
following.     During  the  vacancy  his  place  was  supplied 
by  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Macknight,  one 
of  the  ministers  of  the  city,   and  who  soon  after  became 
a  candidate  for  the  chair  of  Mathematics,  vacated  by  the 
elevation  of  Professor  Playfair  to  the  chair  of  Natural 
Philosophy.     It  was  in  connection  with  this  matter  that 
the  famous  controversy,  regarding  Mr.  Leslie,  (afterwards 
Sir  John),  arose,  and  shook  Scoti  and  to  its  centre.     The 
contest  brought  out  clearly  the    selfish  character  of  the 
policy  of  the  moderates,  which  had  clothed  itself  with 
the  garb  of  religion,  and  the  defeat  of  Mr.   Macknight 
and  his  party  (for  it  was  altogether  a  party  strife)  was 
the  first  blow  that  heralded  the  downfall  of  the  clique 
that  had  so  long  h  >ld  the  Church  in  bonds.     Candour  at 
the  same  time  leads  me  to  say  that,  had  Dr.  Macknight 
pledged  himself  to  resign  his  living  in  the  church  on  his 
obtaining  the     hair,  the  best  Iriends  of  religion  would 
have  given  a  preference  to  him    bove  his  successful  rival. 
It  was  in  1808,  and  in  the  first  year  of  my  theological 


22  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

studies,  that  I  joined  the  church  as  a  member  in  full  com- 
munion, by  sitting  down  at  the  Lord's  table.  Frequency 
of  intercourse  with  the  pastor  of  the  congregation  prior 
to  this,  did,  to  a  certain  extent,  perhaps,  supersede  minute 
examination  on  his  part,  and  I  passed  easily  along  ;  but 
still  I  felt  disappointed  in  the  summary  way  in  which  the 
matter  was  gone  about ;  and  I  notice  it  as  a  caution  to 
brethren  in  the  ministry,  not  to  venture  on  the  assump- 
tion that  academical  attainments,  however  respectable, 
necessarily  presuppose  accuracy  of  elementary  religious 
knowledge,  far  less  personal  experience  in  the  things  of 
God.  As  to  my  own  impressions,  the  "  lights  and  sha- 
dows "  of  sixty  years  passing  now  over  them  cannot  but 
throw  a  bedimming  influence  around,  and  yet  I  have 
always  considered  the  period  of  one's  first  approach  to 
the  table  of  the  Lord  as  a  most  solemn  era  in  one's  spiri- 
tual life,  the  remembrance  of  it  sweet,  and  the  impress  of 
it  savoury  and  profitable.  The  ofiicial  relation  of  my 
father  to  the  tenantry  on  the  Kinneil  estate  brought  us 
into  close  intimacy  with  all  of  them,  and  especially  with 
Si  few  of  the  more  pious  and  intelligent  who  had  been 
<3hosen  office-bearers  of  the  church.  They  were  well 
informed  men,  judicious  and  upright,  with  piety  sincere, 
if  not  very  ardent.  Spending  a  day  about  that  time  at 
the  house  of  one  of  them,  Mr.  Macvey,  the  conversation, 
after  dinner,  turned  upon  books,  and,  among  other  things, 
he  asked  me  if  I  was  acquainted  with  a  remarkable  work 
just  pubHshed  by  Mr.  Wilberforce,  Member  of  Parliament 
for  Yorkshire,  "  A  view  of  the  prevailing  sentiments  and 
habits  of  the  professing  religious  world "  in  England. 
The  work  was  quite  new  to  me,  not  so  to  the  worthy  Scot- 
tish yeoman,  and  the  hint  I  got  from  him  was  enough. 
Our  minister  soon  supplied  me  with  the  book,  and  I  read 
it  with  pleasure,  not  a  little  surprise,  and  possibly  some 
profit.  The  worthy  man  asked  me,  "  Have  you  read  the 
Meditations  and  Soliloquies  of  Captain  John  Henderson  ?" 
Of  the  man  or  of  the  book  I  had  never  heard;  years 
rolled  away  before  I  chanced  to  fall  in  with  the  volume. 
I  picked  it  up  in  Edinburgh,  and  it  is  now  on  my  table 


SCHOOL  DAYS.  23 

in  Knox  College,  of  whose  library  I  have  also  made  it 
an  inmate.  The  author  was  a  native  of  our  little  sea- 
port town,  and  master  of  a  trading  vessel  from  Borrows- 
tounness  to  the  northern  ports  of  Europe,  and  on  ship- 
board, and  among  the  rocks  and  shallows  and  fiords  of 
the  Norwegian  coast,  he  mused  and  penned  "  soliloquies  " 
on  the  profoundest  themes  of  the  "  fatherhood  of  Jehovah," 
and  "  Trinity  in  unity,"  with  a  scriptural  accuracy  of 
thought  and  expression  rarely  to  be  met  with.  The 
''  Traveller,"  and  "  Solitude  sweetened,"  of  James  Meikle, 
and  the  "  Memoirs  "  of  Joseph  Williams,  are  works  of  the 
same  class,  and  our  worthy  "  Scotch  Elders "  of  the 
"  olden  time,"  were  familiar  with  them  all. 

It  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that  this  worthy  man  belonged 
to  that  class  of  whom  the  celebrated  author  of  "  Robinson 
Crusoe  "  makes  honourable  mention  in  his  "  Tour  through 
Britain,"  when  he  says  that  they  {i.e.  "  the  Borrowstoun- 
ness  men,"  as  he  calls  them)  are  the  best  seamen  in  the 
Firth,  and  are  very  good  pilots  for  the  coast  of  Holland, 
the  Baltic,  and  the  coast  of  Norway.  Defoe  farther  says 
that  Borrowstounness  "  was  a  town  of  the  greatest  trade 
to  Holland  and  France,  except  Leith."  I  have  not  ascer- 
tained whether  there  may  have  been  any  family  relation- 
ship between  the  pious  sea  captain  of  whom  I  am  speaking, 
and  the  late  wealthy  and  philanthropic  merchant  of  the 
same  name,  John  Henderson,  of  Park.  That  gentleman 
was  a  native  of  the  place,  and  I  have  a  distinct  remem- 
brance ol  his  father,  Robert  Henderson,  shipowner,  and 
the  leading  man  in  the  old  anti-burgher  congregation. 
Mr.  Henderson,  who  had  been  long  a  resident  of  Glasgow, 
died  about  a  year  ago  (1867),  and  his  ashes  rest  with 
those  of  his  forefathers  and  other  relatives,  in  the  church- 
yard of  the  place. 

[The  reference  in  the  foregoing  to  that  devoted  chris- 
tian philanthropist,  Mr.  John  Henderson,  of  Park,  we 
cannot  let  pass  without  noting  the  life-long  friendship 
which  existed  between  the  two  sons  of  Boness,  and  the 


24  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


1 


prompt  and  generous  responses  given  by  Mr.  Henderson 
to  the  appeals  made  to  him  by  his  old  fellow-townsman, 
for  various  objects  of  benevolence.  The  vicinity  of  Park 
to  Paisley  made  intercourse  easy;  nor,  when  the  ocean  sub- 
sequently intervened,  was  that  intimacy  suspended.  Fre- 
quent were  such  interchanges  of  friendship  and  of  funds 
as  the  following : — 

"Park,  14  Jan.,  1864. 

*'Ihave  been  in  receipt  of  your  kind  letter,  and,  agreeable  to 
what  I  promised,  I  send  herewith  a  cheque  enclosed  for  £50,  to  be 
laid  out  to  the  best  advantage,  for  the  benefit  of  the  library  of  your 
College.  I  notice  what  you  mention  about  getting  long  credit  from 
the  publishers,  but  my  experience  is  that  by  far  the  cheaper  way 
is  to  send  the  money  with  the  order,  and,  by  doing  so,  you  will 
get  them  at  about  half  the  publishing  price.  I  am  in  the  custom 
of  buying  both  from  London  and  Edinburgh  publishers,  and  this 
is  uniformly  my  experience.  We  are  glad  to  hear  that  the  Gould 
Street  congregation  is  prospering.  I  have  seen  the  Rev.  John  Kerr 
to-day,  who  was  speaking  with  great  pleasure  of  his  visit  to  Canada. 
J  will  always  be  glad  to  hear  that  matters  go  on  well  with  you." 

[Gould  Street  congregation,  Toronto,  seems  at  this  time 
to  have  shared  also  in  Mr.  Henderson's  benefactions,  for, 
at  the  Annual  Congregational  Meeting,  held  in  January, 
1864,  the  following  resolution  was  unanimously  passed: — 

"  That  this  meeting  would  desire  to  record  their  heart- 
felt thanks  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Burns,  for  his  many  acts  of 
kindness  towards  this  congregation  in  the  past,  particu- 
larly as  the  means  of  securing  from  John  Henderson,  Esq., 
of  Park,  so  munificent  a  donation,  and  thereby  aiding, 
along  with  his  own  and  Mrs.  Burns'  liberal  subscriptions, 
in  very  materially  reiuciug  one  church  debt."] 

My  last  visit  to  the  haunts  of  my  youth  was  in  June, 
18G8,  ancient  associations  crowded  around  me,  and  Ark- 
ley's  nice  crimped  biscuits  were  still  to  be  had,  as  in 
1794,  but,  alas  !  Pennant's  dc^crij^aon  of  the  "smoke"  of 


SCHOOL  DAYS.  25 

1776  was  literally  realized,  for  the  "  old  pit "  at  the  back 
of  our  school  house,  and  which  formed  to  us  a  somewhat 
dangerous  playmate,  had  been  made  to  "  go  again,"  and 
its  murky  accompaniments  did  not  increase  the  amenity 
of  the  place.  Extensive  iron- works  have  added  largely 
to  the  population,  and  a  "  Bank,"  unknown  in  my  days, 
propitiously  met  my  eye.  The  trees  at  Kinneil  had  lost 
nothing  of  their  venerable,  yet  fresh  and  lofty  aspects, 
and  there  stood  still  the  spacious  mansion  as  before, 
though  somewhat  scathed  by  the  ravages  of  fire.  The 
worthy  Pastor  of  the  Free  Church,  Mr.  Wilson,  intro- 
duced me  to  Mr.  Cadell,  the  proprietor  of  Grange,  in  the 
garden  of  whose  hospitable  mansion  I  had  an  opportu- 
nity of  examining  the  antique  stone  which  had  just  been 
dug  out  of  the  grounds  in  the  neighbourhood,  whose  dis- 
tinct Latin  inscriptions,  round  and  round,  go  far  to  settle 
the  disputed  question  of  the  termination  of  the  cele- 
brated wall  of  Antoninus  Pius.  The  place  of  my  birth 
stands  about  half  a  mile  to  the  west,  and  on  a  splendid 
beech  tree  in  the  adjoining  thicket,  I  read  my  name  dis- 
tinctly, inscribed  with  the  date,  "  May,  1802."  From  the 
vista  of  two  generations  passed  away  what  a  crowd  of 
profitable  reflections  rush  forth,  revealing  at  once  the 
darker  scenes  of  the  past,  and  brightening  with  a  higher 
tint  the  lights  of  the  future. 


CHAPTER  III 


THEOLOGICAL   EDUCATION. 

HE  date  of  my  entrance  at  the  Divinity  Hall 
is  November,  1805,  which  at  that  time,  and 
for  a  long  time  after,  embraced  only  three 
Professors.  Dr.  Andrew  Hunter,  the  Pro- 
fessor of  Theology  proper,  had  long  held 
the  situation  along  with  one  of  the  city 
parishes,  and,  as  a  natural  consequence,  his  atten- 
tions were  divided  betwixt  a  large  class  of  from 
150  to  200  young  men,  under  training  for  the 
ministry,  and  a  large  and  somewhat  rugged  me- 
tropolitan parish.  Without  any  marked  native 
talent,  and  with  attainments  in  theological  learn- 
ing, respectable,  but  nothing  more,  he  was,  in  respect 
of  character  and  moral  worth,  truly  one  of  the  excellent 
of  the  earth.  He  commented  on  the  Latin  duodecimo 
volumes  of  "  Pictet's  Theology,"  and  one  day  in  the  week 
was  devoted  to  public  examinations,  but  these  were  con- 
sidered by  us  all  as  rather  of  the  nature  of  ordinary 
catechisings  of  the  people  in  the  church,  than  as  going 
into  anything  like  the  depths  of  systematic  theology. 
But  this  was  perhaps  compensated  for  by  scriptural  and 


THEOLOGICAL  EDUCATION.  27 

practical  expositions  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans.  Dr. 
Hugh  Meiklejohn  was  the  pastor  of  a  considerable  country 
parish,  fourteen  miles  distant  from  the  city,  and,  after  the 
manner  of  those  times,  he  held  also  the  chair  of  Divinity 
and  Ecclesiastical  History.  He  sometimes  told  us  that 
the  Royal  Charter  which  endowed  the  chair,  entitled  him 
to  lecture  on  these  systematically  or  theologically,  tut 
he  limited  himself  to  the  second  of  these  bi'anches,  to- 
gether with  lectures  on  the  contents  of  the  sacred  books, 
and  a  few  miscellaneous  but  very  valuable  prelections  on 
preaching,  lecturing,  and  the  duties  of  the  pastoral  care. 
His  Church  History  lectures  never  reached  beyond  the  oime 
of  Julian  the  Apostate.  Nevertheless,  he  was  a  man  of 
fair  abilities,  of  extensive  learning,  and  great  kindness  of 
heart.  Amid  much  that  was  heavy,  and  not  very  inter- 
esting, he  brought  before  us  much  that  was  really  valu- 
able, and  his  written  critiques  on  our  discourses  and 
essays  were  always  candid  and  discriminating.  I  don't 
recollect  of  his  ever  examining  the  students  on  the  lec- 
tures. Dr.  William  Moodie,  the  Professor  of  Oriental 
Languages,  was,  at  the  same  time,  one  of  the  ministers  of 
St.  Andrew's  Church,  a  man  of  competent  learning,  and 
of  most  agreeable  manners.  With  all  our  Professors  we 
held  occasional  private  intercourse  convivially,  but  Dr. 
Moodie  was  the  only  one  of  the  three  who  was  gifted 
with  conversational  powers,  calculated  to  interest  and 
edify  young  minds.  Biblical  criticism  and  exegetics,  with 
Hebrew  and  Greek,  did  not  then  hold  any  distinct  place 
in  the  prelections  of  the  hall. 

Four  lectures  on  the  eloquence  of  the  pulpit,  by  the 
Professor  of  Rhetoric,  we  were  invited  to  hear ;  and  for 
practical  lessons  on  elocution  we  were  indebted  to  the 
classes  of  such  private  teachers  in  the  city  as  Mr.  John 
Wilson,  Mr.  William  Scott,  and  Mr.  Jones,  (formerly  an 
actor  at  the  theatre,)  the  best  reader  by  far  of  the  three, 
although  they  were  all  very  competent  instructors.  I 
attended  three  full  courses  at  the  Hall,  and  a  partial  one ; 
the  average  number  of  regular  students  was  about  180, 
but,  alas  !  the  number  of  those  who  were  known  by  the 


28  LIFE   OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

designation  of  "  serious  "  students,  or  of  pious  young  men, 
did  not  amount  to  above  a  tenth  of  that  number.  Nearly 
all  were  then  looking  for  the  smiles  of  a  "worthy  patron;" 
and  patronage  made  "  its  appointments,  and  dispensed  its 
good  things,"  irrespective  altogether  of  personal  godliness. 
In  the  memoirs  of  my  brother,  ''the  Pastor  of  Kil- 
syth," reference  is  made  to  the  "  old  Theological  Society," 
and  the  "  broad  church  "  influence  which  had  been  gathered 
around  it.  That  society  had  ceased  to  exist  prior  to  my 
entrance  at  the  Hall,  and  the  only  field  for  debate  and  criti- 
cism then  among  the  students,  was  "the  Philo-theological." 
I  was  just  16  when  I  was  admitted  a  member,  having, 
however  been  connected  with  the  Philalethic  and  other 
literary  associations  for  two  years  before.  In  these  latter, 
clubs  as  we  may  call  them,  there  were  some  men  of  very 
high  talent,  and  great  powers  of  extemporary  address, 
but  the  first  by  far,  in  my  time,  was  Mr.  Thomas  Wright, 
afterwards  minister  of  Borthwick,  and  author  of  the 
beautifully  written  "  Statistical  account "  of  that  interest- 
ing parish,  but  who,  unhappily,  never  seemed  to  be  under 
the  controling  agency  of  devout  and  spiritual  views.  He 
was  much  given  to  theoretical  and  bold  speculations, 
and  often  brought  out  original  views.  One  night,  when 
my  scientific  friend,  David  Landsborough,  had  spoken, 
and  spoken  well  on  the  side  of  truth,  in  defence  of  the 
unity  of  "  species,"  Wright  perplexed  us  all,  (for  most  of 
us  were  far  his  juniors,)  by  his  ingenious  rambles  amid 
the  "  devious  wilds,"  trodden  since  by  a  Darwin  and  a 
Gliddon,  and  many  others,  startling  us  by  his  facts,  real  or 
supposed,  and  at  any  rate,  to  us,  quite  new.  John  Smith, 
afterwards  of  Aberlady  (a  sweet  "  marine  villa "  it  is), 
who  hid  in  a  napkin  many  rare  talents  and  endowments, 
was  the  only  one  amongst  us  who  could  give  him  battle  ; 
but,  ah  !  he  himself  was  far  away  from  the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus.  His  favourite  principle,  when  a  student  of 
theology,  was  the  whimsical  idea  of  shaping  "  the  extent 
of  the  remedy  by  the  depth  of  the  disease,"  and  as  his 
diagnosis  of  the  latter  was  very  slight  and  superficial,  so 
were  his  estimates  of  the  former;  .  ad  this  rule  of  propor- 


THEOLOGICAL  EDUCATION.  29 

uion  he  thought  might  be  applied  to  square  everything, 
leaving  the  question  as  to  abstract  quantities  in  the  pro- 
portion itself  to  be,  as  in  modern  parlance,  matter  of  for- 
bearance. 

Mr.  Wright,  while  at  Borthwick,  published  "The 
Morning  and  the  Evening  Sacrifice,"  a  book  which  took 
by  its  title,  and  by  its  splendid  and  somewhat  gorgeous 
style.  He  afterwards  came  out  with  his  "  Living  Temple," 
in  which  he  evolved  his  pantheistic  views,  and  thus  ex- 
posed himself  to  righteous  censure  from  the  church,  whose 
bread  he  was  eating,  while  he  aimed  a  blow  at  her  vitals. 
Dr.  Bannerman,  now  of  the  new  College  (Edinburgh), 
then  a  member  of  Dalkeith  Presbytery,  took  him  up, 
unveiled  the  hidings  of  the  title  page,  and  convicted 
him  of  grievous  heresy.  Dr.  Candlish  made  his  first 
appearance  at  the  bar  of  the  assembly  in  that  case.  I 
heard  it  all.  The  pleadings  for  truth  were  masterly  ;  the 
cobwebs  of  plausible  -error  were  swept  away,  and  the 
unhappily  misled  author  was,  in  consequence,  deposed 
from  the  ministry.  He  went  to  England,  and,  for  any- 
thing I  have  heard,  may  be  there  &till,  climbing  the 
heights  of  Parnassus  rather  than  reclining  in  the  peaceful 
vales  of  Mount  Zion.  And  yet  well  do  I  remember  the 
evening  when,  at  the  "  Philalethic,"  William  Hamilton, 
afterwards  of  Strathblane,  was  declared  an  honorary 
member;  and  when  the  ribbon  with  its  medal  were  placed 
round  his  neck,  and  the  congratulating  speech  made  by 
this  same  Mr.  Wright,  the  two  men  were  perfect  con- 
trasts. Had  Hamilton  remained  in  the  ranks,  he  would 
have  been  a  befitting  tilter  in  combat  with  Wright.  But 
he  left  us  for  the  work  of  God  at  Broughton,  thereafter 
laboured  at  Dundee,  then  made  the  "  land  of  the  Blane, 
to  flourish  by  the  preaching  of  the  W^ord,"  and  from  thence 
passed  into  glory.* 

*Dr.  William  Hamilton,  of  Strathblane,  was  one  of  his  dearest  friends.  Among 
father's  most  cherished  Manuscripts  is  one  dated  1835,  by  Dr.  James  Hamilton,  contain- 
ing full  particulars  of  his  father,  which  we  reluctantly  omit.  In  the  deeply  interesting 
Memoir  of  the  son,  is  the  following :— "  Dr.  Robert  Burns,  of  Paisley,  presided  at  the 
marriage  ceremony,  and  survives  in  bodily  health  and  mental  vigour  to  the  present  day. 
Such  was  the  fact  when  this  sheet  was  sent  to  the  printer,  but  ere  it  returned  the  race 
of  the  venerable  Patriarch  was  run."  Dr.  Wm.  Hamilton  married  a  Paisley  lady  on  the 
19th  January,  1813,  and  his  distinguished  son  was  bom  there,  on  the  27th  NoVember 
n^li.— Editor's  Note. 


80  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

In  the  Philo-theological  Society  I  was  much  the 
youngest  and  the  smallest  member.  Among  the  seniors 
we  had  Mr.,  afterwards  Sir,  Robert  Sparkie,  Sergeant-at- 
Law,  and  a  judge  in  India ;  Dr.  John  Hodgson,  afterwards 
of  Blantyre,  a  man  of  genius  and  remarkable  popular  giftS; 
but  with  a  mind  somewhat  bizarre;  Dr.  Patrick  Mac- 
farlane,  of  Glasgow,  and  thereafter  of  Greenock,  eminent 
for  talents  and  high  principles  ;  Mr.  Archibald  Campbell, 
from  the  Highlands,  lecturer  on  Mathematics  in  Edin- 
burgh, and  author  of  a  fine  article  on  "  Acoustics,"  in 
Brewster's  "Encyclopedia,"  cut  off,  alas!  in  the  bright 
morning  of  his  fame;  and  many  other  "gems  of  purest  ray 
serene,"  but  of  which  "  the  deponent  sayeth  nothing." 

At  my  entry  as  a  member,  I  was  asked  to  choose  my 
subject  for  essay.  Being  sheepish  and  raw,  I  looked 
blank.  A  fellow-student,  Peter  Brotherston,  afterwards 
of  Alloa,  helped  me  by  saying,  "  I'll  give  you  one,"  and 
he  gave  me  one  of  the  most  difficult  topics  in  theology, 
natural  or  revealed,  "  the  permission  of  evil."  I  grappled 
with  it,  aided  by  Edwards,  West,  Hopkins,  and  others 
that  came  in  my  way.  The  production  survives  with 
all  the  vital  energy  it  ever  had,  and  that  was  not  much. 
In  criticism  it  was  sadly  mangled  ;  but  all  acknowledged 
that,  considering  everything,  it  was  a  "  successful  nib- 
ble." 

After  two  sessions  the  hollowness  of  the  "  Philo,"  in  a 
theological  light,  broke  on  us,  and,  feeling  that  there  was 
a  sad  lack  of  piety  and  of  evangelical  sentiment  among  the 
mass  of  the  members,  seventeen  of  us  declared  for  a 
secession,  and  we  constituted  the  "  Adelphi-theological." 
If  the  terms  of  admission  to  the  "  Philo  "  were  too  lax, 
those  of  our  new  organization  were  too  strict.  We  re- 
quired a  certificate,  not  only  in  the  ordinary  technical 
way,  but,  in  addition,  an  expression  of  belief,  that  the 
applicant  "  was  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  divine 
truth."  Moreover,  the  original  members  were  too  much 
of  one  mind,  and  the  debates  were  deficient  in  zest.  An 
element  of  feebleness  thus  entered  into  the  composition 
of  the  society,  and,  although,  I  rather  think  it  still  re- 


THEOLOGICAL   EDUCATION.  31 

mains  in  existence,  its  range  of  operations  is  limited  to 
the  peculiar  business  of  a  preaching  society. 

The  "Adelphi"  behoved  all  to  be  members  of  a  "  society 
for  prayer  and  religious  conference,"  and  many  delightful 
recollections  I  have  of  our  meetings  in  the  "  Orphan 
Hospital,"  and  in  the  private  parlour  of  the  "  Master,"' 
the  eminently  pious  and  richly  experienced  William 
Peebles.  This  fellowship  society  is  of  venerated  and 
holy  descent.  Its  history  allies  itself  with  the  days  of 
Erskine  and  Walker  and  Macqueen,  a  century  past,  and 
its  meetings  were  held  at  first,  not  literally  sub  tegmine 
fagi,  but  better  still,  under  the  spreading  branches  of  a 
widely  expanding  oak  tree  in  the  Meadows.  Thereafter 
this  shady  retreat  was  exchanged  for  the  apartment  in  that 
benevolent  institution  where  many  young  hopefuls  have 
been  trained  for  usefulness  here  and  glory  yonder,  and 
whose  extensive  park  had  been  the  favourite  scene  of 
the  out-door  addresses  of  the  "eloquent  Englishman,"*  on 
whose  lips  many  thousands  waited  in  breathless  sus^ 
pense,  whom  the  nobles  of  the  land  delighted  to  honour^ 
and  on  whom  David  Hume  himself  hung  with  amaze- 
ment and  seeming  complacence.  The  funds  of  the  Hos- 
pital benefited  largely  by  such  occasions  as  these,  and 
far  away,  the  "  Orphan  House"  in  Georgia  shared  also  in 
the  pecuniary  results,  while  the  friends  of  Christ  on  both 
sides  of  the  Atlantic,  by  a  species  of  spiritual  telegraphic 
agency,  then  quite  familiar  to  them  all,  re-echoed  the 
whispering  of  the  "  one  faith  "  and  the  "  one  hope."  The 
spiritual  and  evangelistic  history  of  Caledonia  stands  in 
close  relationship  to  such  rehearsals  as  these,  and  Scot- 
land's Church  and  Scotland's  religion  owe  not  a  little  to- 
the  visits,  first  of  Whitefield,  and  thereafter  of  Simeon, 
and  of  Rowland  Hill,  and  of  Fuller,  by  whose  appeals- 
not  a  few  of  Scotland's  sons  have  been  brought  to  sit 
under  the  "  Plant  of  renown,"  and  to  eat  the  pleasant 
fruit. 

Among  fellow-students  at  the  Hall  with  whom  I  had 

*Rev.  George  Whitefield. 


32  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   RURNS. 

a,  close  intimacy  for  two  sessions,  was  Mr.  John  Codman, 
of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  afterwards  the  well  known  and 
much  respected  Dr.  Codman,  of  Dorchester,  near  that 
city.  On  his  voyage  to  Scotland,  in  1805,  he  had  as  his 
fellow  traveller  the  since  world-renowned  Professor  Silli- 
man,  of  Yale  College,  who,  in  the  eager  pursuit  of  pro- 
fessional knowledge  and  acquirements,  visited  various 
parts  of  the  continent,  as  well  as  England  and  Scotland, 
and  gave  to  the  public  those  interesting  volumes  of 
*'  travel,"  the  perusal  of  which  gave  me  so  much  pleasure, 
many  years  ago.  It  so  happened  that  Dr.  Miller's  "  Re- 
trospect of  the  nineteenth  century  "  had  been  lent  to  me 
by  our  minister,  and  eagerly  perused  on  its  first  publica- 
tion in  Britain,  and  thus  I  was  rather  "  ripe  "  than  other- 
wise on  the  colleges,  churches  and  ministers  of  America. 
My  questionings  about  Dr.  Ezra  Stiles,  Dr  Eliphalet  Nott, 
and  other  worthies  of  the  period,  gratified  my  New 
England  friend.  He  liked  to  meet  with  any  one  who  took 
an  interest  in  the  United  States,  and  in  the  varied  phases 
of  American  theology.  All  the  "  serious  "  students  loved 
Mr.  Codman,  and  respected  his  abilities  and  attainments. 
He  had  advantages  over  us,  in  having  previously  studied 
in  seminaries  whose  modes  of  tuition  he  was  able  profit- 
ably to  compare  with  ours.  He  was  not  a  Presbyterian, 
but  was  the  next  thing  to  it,  and  had  he  remained  in 
Scotland  and  joined  the  Established  Church,  he  would 
unquestionably  have  taken  his  place  among  the  leader? 
of  the  disruption  of  1843. 

The  following  little  illustration  of  occurrences  in  oui 
early  days  may  not  be  uninteresting  as  throwing  light  on 
character.  Saturday,  being  a  blank  day  as  to  college 
studies,  was  selected  as  the  day  of  our  meeting  to  hear  one 
another  preach,  and  to  offer  criticisms  on  the  matter  and 
manner  of  the  discourses.  One  day  it  so  happened  that 
the  critical  remarks  which  had  been  made  partook  of  rather 
an  acrimonious  character,  and  my  American  friend  had  felt 
«ome  of  them  rather  keenly,  and  repelled  them  in  the  way 
of  sharp  repartee.  It  so  happened  that  another  student 
and  I  had  taken  a  walk  after  the  meeting:  with  Mr.  Cod- 


THEOLOGICAL  EDUCATION.  33 

man,  and  he  once  and  again,  in  the  course  of  conversation, 
indicated  considerable  chagrin  at  the  freedom  of  remark 
of  one  of  the  critics.  It  was  a  clear,  though  cold,  after- 
noon in  March,  when  our  companion  (Mr.  Denoon,  after- 
wards of  Kothsay),  turning  round,  pointed  to  the  glorious 
orb  of  day  just  going  down  over  the  Corstorphine  Hills, 
solemnly  pronouncing  the  blessed  Saviour  s  words,  "  Let 
not  the  sun  go  down  upon  your  wrath."  "I  was  not 
thinking  of  that,"  said  Mr.  Codman,  as  if  roused  from  a 

reverie ;  "  but  do  you  think  I  could  get  to  C "  (the 

student  whom  he  felt  he  had  repelled  rather  severely) 
"  before  the  sun  goes  down  V  "I  think  we  may,"  said 
I,  and,  leaving  our  companion  to  make  his  way  home, 
pleased,  no  doubt,  that  he  had  successfully  made  the 
suggestion,  off  we  set  for  the  house  in  Charlotte  Square, 

where  Mr.  C resided,  and,  making  good  use  of  our 

locomotive  energies,  we  found  ourselves  on  the  front 
steps  of  the  house,  just  as  the  last  rays  of  the  setting  sun 
were  leaving  the  sky.  We  met  the  friend  we  sought. 
It  was  my  lot  to  detail  the  circumstances  of  the  sugges- 
tion thus  promptly  and  liberally  acted  on,  and  with  much 
good  feeling,  and  some  jocularity,  the  breach  was  healed, 
and  the  relationships  of  brotherly  kindness  at  once  re- 
stored. More  than  half  a  century  has  rolled  away  since 
the  incident  occurred,  I  am  now  the  only  survivor  of  the 
parties  concerned,  and  no  reason  occurs  to  prevent  me 
from  naming  the  excellent  brother  most  deeply  interested. 
It  was  Mr.  James  Clason,  afterwards  the  pious  and  now 
lamented  minister  of  the  parish  of  Dalziel,  in  Lanark- 
shire, and  brother  of  the  justly  venerated  Dr.  Patrick 
Clason,  principal  clerk  of  the  Free  Church  Assembly, 
and  one  of  its  former  Moderators. 

Dr.  Codman,  in  corresponding  with  his  friends  in  Ame- 
rica, gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  the  general  phase  of  opin- 
ion among  the  students  at  this  period  was  Arminianism. 
This  is  perfectly  correct,  and  the  only  way  in  which  they 
expected  to  find  themselves  "  at  liberty  "  to  sign  a  creed, 
whose  utter  hostility  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Leyden  Pro 
fessor  they  never  denied,  was  by  taking  care  never  to 


34  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  BURKS. 

read  the  Confession  of  Faith  prior  to  signing  it.  There 
were,  in  my  day,  very  few  symptoms  of  hard  study  either 
of  Calvinism  or  Arminianism,  and  I  have  a  strong  impres- 
sion that  the  real  cause  of  the  dislike  to  evangelical  truth 
was  a  practical  one,  the  want  of  a  deep-toned  sense  of  sin 
in  the  heart,  and  of  high  views  of  the  majesty  of  a  Holy 
God,  and  the  spotless  purity  of  His  law.  A  decent  me- 
diocrity in  sentiment  and  character,  if  even  so  much,  was 
all  that  was  thought  needful  to  gain  the  favour  of  a  "  wor- 
thy patron,"  and  to  pass  the  ordeal  of  a  Presbytery.  My 
student  days  w^ere  brought  forcibly  to  my  mind  on  read- 
ing Dr.  James  Buchanan's  admirable  "  Cunningham  Lec- 
tures," in  marking  his  quotation  from  the  pious  Robert 
Trail,  of  London,  to  the  effect  that  "  there  is  not  a  min- 
ister that  dealeth  seriously  with  the  souls  of  men,  but  he 
finds  an  Arminian  scheme  of  justification  in  every  unre- 
newed heart." 

A  circumstance  connected  with  the  mental  and  spiritual 
history  of  Dr.  Codman  is  worthy  of  record.  While  a 
student  at  Harvard  College,  then,  as  now,  greatly  under 
Unitarian  influences,  he  had  a  small  book  put  into  his 
hands,  with  a  request  that  he  would  write  a  reply  to  it  : 
a  matter,  it  was  thought,  of  no  difl^cult  performance.  It 
was  a  piece  on  the  subject  of  "  predestination,"  written 
by  an  evangelical  minister  of  New  England,  of  the  name 
of  Cooper.  My  friend  undertook  the  task,  and  went 
manfully  forward,  his  own  mind  not  being  at  all  fixed  on 
the  more  recondite  points  in  theology.  Soon  did  he  find 
that  instead  of  his  "  mastering  Calvanism,"  Calvanism  fair- 
ly mastered  him.  His  candid  and  serious  spirit  was  open 
to  the  impressions  of  truth,  and  he  finished  the  perusal 
of  Cooper  with  a  full  persuasion  of  the  scriptural  correct- 
ness of  his  leading  views.  He  brought  the  book  over 
with  him  to  Scotland,  and,  with  the  aid  of  Dr.  Dickson, 
of  the  West  Kirk,  and  other  clerical  friends,  got  a  new 
and  cheap  edition  published,  and  extensively  circulated 
among  the  students  then  in  the  Edinburgh  Hall,  and 
with  good  success  in  the  advancement  of  sound  doctrine. 
My  copy  of  this  unpretending  but  able  book,  the  gift 


CLERICAL  ANNALS.  35 

of  my  friend,  I  can  still  look  on  with  many  pleasing  re- 
membrances. 

The  clerical  annals  of  my  student  days  are  bestudded 
with  a  number  of  bright  stars.  In  the  Establishment, 
and  among  the  Dissenters,  there  were  not  a  few  able  and 
successful  ministers.  Our  College  pastor  was  Mr.  David 
Black,  of  St.  Madoes,  afterwards  of  Lady  Tester's  Church, 
Edinburgh,  cut  off,  alas !  prematurely  (sicut  flos  succisus 
aratro)  in  1806,  but  not  before  he  had  made  full  proof 
of  a  ministry  of  great  power,  much  like  that  of  Mc- 
Cheyne  at  a  later  period,  though,  like  his,  too  limited  in 
duration.  There  was  his  successor,  Dr.  Fleming,  formerly 
of  Kirkmichael,  Perthshire,  and  latterly  of  Kirkaldy,  a 
most  correct  and  admirable  lecturer,  and  a  preacher  ever 
in  earnest,  though  he  raised  one  of  his  hands  only  on  an 
occasion,  and  ever  appeared  collected  and  calm,  but  cer- 
tainly not  cold.  There  was  Sir  Henry  Moncrieff  Well- 
wood,  of  fine  baronial  appearance,  rather  bold  in  prayer, 
perhaps,  but  in  his  preaching  a  perfectly  heroic  "  exhi- 
iDitioner  "  of  solidity,  of  soundness  and  of  good  sense. 
There  was  Dr.  Davidson,  not  profound  perhaps,  but 
savoury,  scriptural,  and,  to  a  certainty,  captivating  and 
impressive.  There  was  his  colleague,  Dr.  Campbell,  a 
prince  among  theologians,  grandly  solemn,  the  Owen  and 
the  Baxter  in  one.  There  was  Jones,  of  Lady  Glenorchy's, 
original,  acute,  richly  experimental,  and,  while  eternity 
was  ever  uppermost,  never  failing  in  "a  word  to  the 
times."  Among  the  Dissenters  there  was  Peddie,  the 
finest  lecturer  on  the  Old  Testament  I  ever  heard ;  and 
Struthers,  very  passably  orthodox,  and  splendidly  elo- 
quent. 

Among  the  ministers  of  the  time,  who  took  special 
interest  in  the  students,  and  did  them  much  good,  I  note 
worthj^  Dr.  Oolquhoun,  of  I.eith,  the  very  Herman  Witsius 
of  his  day,  rich  in  his  theology,  and  sweet  and  affectionate, 
and  truly  paternal  in  his  addresses;  the  two  Dicksons, 
father  and  son,  models  of  excellent  preaching,  the  latter 
with  rather  a  husky  voice,  but  clear-headod,  and  one  of 
the  first  Hebrew  scholars  of  his  day    Dr.  Davidson,  who 


36  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

kindly  welcomed  us  in  his  study  at  an  evening  hour,  and 
at  once  disarmed  us  with  "  Now  lads  !  tell  me  what  you 
are  doing ;  say  away,"  and  from  whom  we  got  many 
fine  hints  about  books,  and  the  way  of  using  them,  with 
anecdotes  of  his  early  days,  when  he  studied  at  Leyden, 
and  could  tell  of  the  Cocceians  and  the  Wolfians  of  those 
times.  Dr.  Buchanan  and  his  lady,  of  all  our  patrons 
and  patronesses  the  chief,  kindly  affectionate,  easy,  and 
ever  abounding  in  anecdotes  of  the  pious  Simeon  of 
Cambridge,  Newton  of  London,  and  the  worthy  mission- 
aries at  Serampore ;  and,  though  last,  not  least,  John  Mac- 
donald,  the  "  Apostle  of  the  North,"  with  whom  we  could 
use  greater  freedom  than  with  any  of  the  others,  from 
his  being  nearer  our  own  age  and  standing. 

Dr.  Macdonald  was  a  ripe  scholar,  an  adept  in  the  exact 
sciences,  and  an  acute,  though  by  no  means  ill-natured,  dis- 
putant. The  sharp  doctors  of  Aberdeen  had  been  his 
instructors,  and  a  Brown  and  a  Kidd,  a  Gerard  and  a 
Beattie,  he  held  in  high  esteem  ;  not  indeed  as  Calvinistic 
divines,  for  while  the  one  had  rather  too  much  of  what 
the  wags  of  the  new  school  termed  "  Cayenne  pepper,"  the 
rest  had  by  far  too  little  of  that  exciting  commodity.  Dr. 
Macdonald's  social  qualities  and  accessible  learning  fitted 
him  for  being  useful  to  students,  and  our  occasional  con- 
versational evening  parties,  at  his  house,  were  at  once 
agreeable  and  instructive.  While  he  remained  in  Edin- 
burgh he  had  occasionally  a  congregational  student  or 
two,  from  Hoxton  or  Homerton,  boarding  in  his  house. 
One  of  the  most  marked  of  these  was  a  young  man  of 
apparently  18  or  19  years  of  age,  of  great  acuteness,  a 
most  ready  speaker,  instinct  with  mental  life,  and  not 
over-loaded  with  Dutch,  or  even  German,  theology.  The 
young  Englishman  was  well  read,  an  acute  and  some- 
what daring  controversialist,  not  over  fond  either  of  the 
Highlands  or  of  the  Lowlands  of  Scotland,  and  we  looked 
on  him,  taken  as  a  whole,  in  the  light  of  a  "  semi-Armi- 
nian  brother."  It  was,  I  think,  in  September,  1833, 1 
went  to  England  to  collect  money  for  missions  to  Canada. 
Among  other  large  towns  and  cities  visited  was  Manchea- 


DE.   R.   S.   M'ALL.  87 

ter,  where  a  Presbyterian  Church  had  been  erected,  in 
Mosely  Street,  by  a  wealthy  and  pious  Scottish  merchant, 
whom  I  once  met  at  Dr.  Buchanan's,  of  the  Canongate, 
Mr.  Robert  Spear.  The  place  had  got  into  the  hands  of 
nonconformists  of  the  congregational  body  (a  thing  not 
at  all  uncommon,)  and  was,  at  that  time,  filled  by  Dr. 
Robert  S.  McAll,  perhaps  the  best  preacher  of  his  day 
among  the  English  Independents.  Not  having  an  oppor- 
tunity of  hearing  the  eloquent  preacher  on  the  Sabbath, 
I  went  to  his  week-evening  lecture.  The  evening  was 
wet,  but  the  attendance  in  the  lecture-room  below  the 
the  chapel  might  amount  to  300.  He  preached  off-hand, 
with  pathos,  clearness  of  doctrinal  statement,  and  trans- 
parent perspicuity  of  style.  The  raw  Arminianism  of 
early  days  was  all  away  ;  the  smart  and  seemingly  com- 
placent critic  of  other  times  was  absorbed  in  the  "  Apol- 
los  "  of  his  day,  the  warm  and  lively  preacher  of  that 
Gospel,  which,  when  I  first  knew  him,  he  certainly  neither 
understood  nor  felt.  After  the  blessing  there  was  a 
pause,  and  deep  feeling  seemed  to  rest  on  many  counte- 
nances. The  preacher  occupied  a  desk  of  no  lofty  eleva- 
tion, so  I  came  from  the  remote  end  of  the  apartment, 
where  I  had,  on  purpose,  taken  my  seat,  and  stood  before 
the  preacher,  who  rose  and  bowed.  "  May  I  ask,  sir,  did 
you,  when  a  student  of  theology,  pass  a  winter  in  Edin- 
burgh, and  board  with  Mr.  John  Macdonald,  of  the  Gaelic 
Chapel?"  "I  did,  sir,"  was  his  immediate  answer. 
"  Then,"  said  I,  "  let  me  claim  you  as  an  old  companion 
and  fellow-student."  He  looked  at  me,  and  I  looked  at 
him,  but  the  shadows  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  which 
separate  a  man  of  eighteen  from  the  maturity  of  a  man 
of  forty,  had  stamped  us  both.  On  mentioning  my  name, 
however,  he  needed  no  more.  Our  memories  of  the  past 
were  "  sweet  and  mournful  to  the  soul."  Circumstances 
rendered  a  prolonged  interview  impracticable,  and,  though 
I  might  cherish  the  hope  of  our  meeting  again,  I  saw  him 
no  more.  Death  did  not  very  long  withhold  its  seal  from 
the  matured  attainments  of  one  who  seemed  to  ripen 
with  a  holy  rapidity  for  the  Heaven  of  the  faithful.     The 


38  LIFE  OF  EEV.  DK.   BUKNS. 

interview,  though  short,  was  enlivening,  sweet  and  richly 
suggestive,  the  remembrance  of  it  is  fresh  as  the  morning; 
but,  like  the  waves  of  the  ocean,  time  rolls  on,  eternity  is 
near,  and  the  Macdonalds  and  the  McAlls,  the  Spencers 
and  the  McCheynes,  of  kindred,  though  for  the  time  sepa- 
rated, religious  connections,  are  now  blended  together  in 
one  bright  constellation. 

The  advantage  of  studying  theology  in  a  large  city, 
rather  than  at  such  small  places  as  Haddington  or  Sel- 
kirk, is  the  opportunity  of  marking  the  "  varied  gifts " 
of  the  ministry,  and  of  thus,  with  the  modesty  ever,  we 
shall  presume,  characteristic  of  young  aspirants,  "  trying 
the  spirits." 

In  the  process  of  seeking  out  churches  and  ministers, 
I  descried,  one  Sabbath  morning,  a  spacious  and  lately 
erected  place  of  worship  in  the  Potter-row,  where  I  had 
heard  that  a  Mr.  McCrie  was  the  pastor.  The  congrega- 
tion was  pretty  large,  attentive,  serious-looking,  and,  from 
the  aspect  with  which  they  listened,  by  no  means  unin- 
telligent. It  was  in  1806,  and  keen  disputes  were  going 
on,  as  they  had  been  for  years,  on  points  said  to  be  im- 
portant, but  of  which  we,  in  the  very  midst  of  it  all, 
knew  as  little  as  the  inhabitants  of  the  New  Hebrides. 
But  the  minister  of  that  church  came  forth  on  the  day  of 
the  Lord,  fresh,  calm,  well  prepared,  and  apparently  just 
from  a  region  where  the  din  of  controversy  had  no  place. 
From  a  passage  in  the  first  Epistle  of  John,  he  illustrated, 
in  ten  particulars,  "  the  truth  "  to  be  sought,  and  the  best 
means  of  finding  it.  I  was  more  than  surprised,  but  the 
surprise  deepened  into  profit,  and  I  entered  all  the  par- 
ticulars in  my  note  book,  where  they  still  remain.  I  have 
no  recollection  of  hearing  the  preacher  again  for  years, 
and  then,  while  the  edification  was  heightened,  the  sur- 
prise was  less,  for  the  author  of  the  "  Life  of  Knox  "  was 
then  bearing  the  stamped  insignia  of  a  Dugald  Stewart 
and  a  Francis  Jofirey,  and  the  star  of  his  glory  was 
shining  with  surpassing  brightness. 

In  the  spring  of  1812,  not  long  after  my  settlement  in 
Paisley,  my  fellow-traveller,  in  what  was  then  felt  as  a 


DB.  M'CRIE  AND  DR.   CHALMERS.  39 

sort  of  pilgrimage,  to  Greenock,  was  the  Rev.  James 
Thomson,  afterwards  Professor  of  Theology  to  the  Relief 
Synod,  and  for  fifteen  years  my  esteemed  fellow-labourer 
in  the  secretaryship  of  the  Paisley  and  East  Renfrew- 
shire Bible  Society.  During  our  ride  in  the  mail  coach, 
besides  the  ordinary  topics  of  the  day,  and  of  the  road, 
two  themes  of  higher  claim  engaged  our  thoughts.  One 
was  Henry  Bell's  "  Comet"  on  the  Clyde,  in  her  earliest 
and  best  days;  "  See  how  she  ploughs  !"  "  Well,  Henry 
will  succeed  after  all."  The  other  was  the  recent  public- 
ation of  the  "  Life  of  Knox,"  by  McCrie.  My  friend 
knew  at  that  time,  far  more  than  I  did  about  "  those  sort 
of  things,"  and  yet  to  him,  as  well  as  to  me,  the  book 
was  something  quite  new.  He  had  read  it,  I  had  not. 
Soon,  however,  1  procured  it,  and  devoured  it  greedily ;  a 
new  mine  had  been  opened,  stereotyped  errors  were  at 
once  brushed  away.  David  Hume  himself,  had  he  been 
alive,  would  no  longer  have  dared  to  speak  of  the  "  rustic 
apostle ;"  and  the  "  apes  of  Epictetus,"  in  the  Church  of 
Scotland,  then  began  to  fear,  lest,  on  the  shoulders  of 
John  Knox,  the  evangelical  or  **  wild  party,"  would  gain 
a  vantage  ground,  from  which  they  would  not  easily  be 
dislodged ;  and  so  it  was.  The  labours  of  Dr.  McCrie, 
from  1810  down  to  the  period  of  his  lamented  death,  in 
1835,  formed  a  lever,  which,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
kept  moving;  and  an  agency  derived  from  one  of  the 
smallest  sections  of  the  churches  of  the  Reformat  [on 
produced  effects  in  regard  to  the  revival  of  sound  theology 
and  true  godliness  in  Scotland,  second  only  to  those  of 
Luther  and  of  Calvin  and  of  Knox  himself.  Dr.  McCrie 
was  a  real  independent  thinker,  and  withaJ  a  man  of 
enlarged  and  liberal  mind;  and  the  careful  study  of  the 
writings  of  such  a  man  could  not  but  form,  even  now,  a 
most  effective  panacea  against  a  host  of  evils,  at  present 
looming  in  Britain's  horizon  with  ominous  portent. 

Second  in  the  order  of  chronology  (but  only  so)  among 
the  main  revival  agencies  at  this  time  in  Scotland,  is  the 
accession  of  Thomas  Chalmers  to  the  great  cause  of  evan- 
gelical truth.     When  Sir  David  Brewster  arranged  his 


40  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 


subjects,  and  his  contributors  for  his  "  Encyclopedia/'  he 
allotted  the  article  "  Christianity  "  to  his  talented  friend 
Andrew  Thomson,  then  at  Sprouston,  and  soon  after  at 
Perth.  On  the  prospect  of  his  settling  in  Edinburgh, 
Dr.  Thomson  found  that  he  could  not  overtake  all  his 
literary  engagements,  and  recommended  that  the  singular 
but  noble  genius  of  Chalmers  should  be  called  to  grapple 
with  the  grand  theme.  Said  the  Pastor  of  Kilmany, 
yet  far  more  alive  to  the  claims  of  chemistry  than  to  those 
of  Christianity,  "  You  ask  me  to  write  on  a  subject  of 
which  I  know  absolutely  nothing."  "  Oh,"  said  his  cor- 
respondent, "  You'll  soon  learn ;  we  shall  send  you  books, 
just  begin."  He  did  "  begin,"  not  so  much  to  read  as  to 
think ;  for  hitherto,  as  he  said  long  afterwards  on  a  retro- 
spect of  years,  he  had  been  "  measuring  all  magnitudes, 
save  only  the  mighty  magnitude  of  eternity."  Various 
influences  were,  in  the  course  of  the  divine  dealings  with 
this  distinguished  man,  brought  to  bear  upon  a  mind  of 
vast  expansion  and  power,  and  on  a  heart  warmed  with 
strong  impressions  of  benevolence  and  zeal,  but  hitherto 
alienated  from  the  source  of  all  that  is  excellent. 

The  rest  is  well  known.  The  man  was  made  over 
again ;  his  noble  mind  was  cast  in  a  new  mould,  and, 
from  1812  to  1847,  when  he  died,  Chalmers  may  be  said 
to  have  been  the  great  centre  pillar,  around  which  all 
effective  movements,  in  the  way  of  reform  and  extension 
on  the  part  of  the  church,  were  seen  to  move.  At  the 
great  missionary  May  meetings,  in  London,  in  1812,  I 
heard,  incessantly,  of  the  wonders  effected  by  his  little 
tract,  price  one  penny,  "  The  two  great  instruments ;" 
and  the  question  was  constantly  put  to  every  one  from 
Scotland,  "  Who  is  this  ?  Tell  us  about  him."  What 
with  his  pastorship  at  Glasgow,  and  its  exemplified  re- 
forms in  the  style  of  the  existing  ministry ;  what  with 
his  sound  and  truly  Christian  teachings  at  St.  Andrew's ; 
what  with  his  labours  in  the  theological  chair  at  Edin- 
burgh, in  the  extension  and  non-intrusion  cause,  and  in 
all  fields  of  enlightened  benevolence ;  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  the  giant  mind  of  Chalmers,  associated  as  it 


n 


I 


DR.   ANDREW  THOMSON.  41 

was  with  a  genial  heart  and  a  sound  practical  judgment, 
became  under  God  one  great  means  of  producing  and 
consolidating  that  propitious  moral  change  in  which 
Scotia's  sons,  of  all  shades  of  opinion  and  worship,  have 
so  cordially  rejoiced. 

Though  last,  not  least,  in  this  illustrious  triumvirate,, 
and,  in  some  respects,  taking  precedence  of  the  other  two, 
Andrew  Thomson  comes  full  to  view  as  a  leading  power 
in  the  forward  movement.  With  less  of  the  lustre  of 
genius  than  the  one,  and  far  more  limited  in  historical  in- 
formation than  the  other,  he  had  a  clearness  of  perception, 
a  power  of  logical  argument,  and  a  native  force  of  thought 
and  expression  that  placed  him  in  the  first  rank  of  de- 
baters, while  his  sound  judgment  and  his  business  talents 
gave  him  a  mighty  ascendancy  among  all  his  compeers. 
A  series  of  letters  generally  ascribed  to  him,  and  with 
almost  certainty,  shook  the  Cronstadt  of  moderatism  ta 
its  centre  ;  and  the  monthly  issues  of  the  "  Christian 
Instructor,"  kept  up  for  twenty  years  a  running  fire  on 
the  hosts  of  the  foe.  Beyond  all  question  the  power  of 
Balfour  and  Macgill  in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  Hall  at 
Glasgow,  the  telling  itinerancies  of  "  the  Apostle  of  the 
North,"  and  the  indirect  but  powerful  contributing  forces 
from  various  but  friendly  hands  of  the  Secession,  all 
blended  together  under  the  plastic  influence  of  truth  and 
grace  in  speeding  the  progress  of  Scotland's  third  Re- 
formation. But  in  what  I  have  now  specially  in  my  eye, 
assuredly  Thomson  stands  full  to  view,  the  slayer  of  the 
hydra  of  stern  moderatism,  and  the  hero  in  the  victory 
of  evangelical  truth,  although,  alas !  he  was  not  spared 
to  enjoy  the  victory  he  had  won. 

In  close  connection  with  the  causes  of  spiritual  revival 
already  noticed,  an  important  event  took  place  in  Glas- 
gow in  1814,  that  powerfully  aflfected  the  state  of  the 
Church,  particularly  in  the  west.  I  allude  to  the  very 
unexpected  issue  of  a  keen  contest  for  the  Chair  of  The- 
ology, vacated  by  the  death  of  the  learned  and  justly 
venerated  Dr.  Robert  Findlay.  That  very  accomplished 
divine  had  grasped  the  standard  of  scriptural  orthodoxy 


42  LIFE  OF   REV.   DB.  BURNS. 

'with  less  vigour  than  might  have  been  wished,  owing 
partly  to  growing  infirmities,  and  partly  to  constitutional 
tendencies.  I  once  heard  Dr.  Balfour,  of  the  Outer  High 
Church,  the  most  eloquent  minister  then  in  the  Establish- 
ment, ascribe  the  election  of  Dr.  Macgill  to  the  chair,  as 
a  remarkable  interposition  of  Providence  in  relation  to 
the  tide  that  had  set  in  in  favour  of  evangelical  truth. 
It  might  perhaps  have  been  possible  to  find  a  man  of 
profounder  attainments  and  bolder  theology,  but  it  would 
not  be  easy  to  name  one  who  combined  so  many  qualities 
essential  to  a  successful  leader  in  theology.  Under  his 
tuition,  and  enjoying  the  benefit  of  such  preaching  as 
that  of  Balfour  and  Chalmers,  the  students  in  the  Glas- 
gow Hall  possessed  high  advantages  both  in  learning  and 
in  spiritual  character :  while  the  successful  efiorts  of  Dr. 
Macgill,  in  the  Church  Courts,  as  the  antagonist  of  plu- 
ralities and  non-residence,  place  his  name  in  the  front 
rank  of  those  who  have  been  leaders  in  the  revival  of 
evangelical  truth  in  Scotland  during  later  years.* 

On  finishing  my  third  session  at  the  Hall,  in  1808,  I 
went  to  reside  at  the  Manse  of  Cramond,  five  miles  west 
from  tlie  city,  and  there  remained  for  eighteen  months. 
In  taking  the  superintendence  of  the  younger  members  of 
the  family,  and  in  holding  district  meetings  for  worship 
on  Sabbath,  I  found  myself  ver}'-  fully  occupied,  and  my 
near  residence  to  the  city  made  it  easy  for  me  to  get 
books  from  the  libraries,  both  of  the  University  and  of 
the  Divinity  Hall.  This  was  to  me  a  very  profitable  and 
pleasing  interlude  betwixt  the  close  of  my  student-life 
at  College,  and  my  entrance  on  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
Mr,  Bonar,  of  Cramond,  was  justly  esteemed  one  of  the 
most  valuable  ministers  of  his  day,  the  member  of  a  family 
which  has  furnished,  in  our  own  and  former  days,  a  number 
of  faithful  messengers  of  the  Cross.  The  great  grandson 
of  "  good  old  Bonar,"  of  Torphichen,  so  particularly  men- 
tioned by  Whitefield  in  connection  with  the  "  Cambus- 
lang  awakening,"  in  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  and 

*  In  1842  I  published  a  Memoir  of  Professor  Macgill  in  a  duodecimo  rolume,  embrac- 
ing various  references  to  public  questions  affecting  the  progress  of  the  Church. 


LICENSED.  43 

himself  the  uncle  of  three  living  ornaments  of  the  min- 
istry in  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland,  his  name  stands 
forth  bright  among  "  Scottish  worthies."  He  was  the 
father  of  Dr.  John  Bonar,  late  Convener  of  the  "  Colonial 
Committee,"  of  the  Free  Church,  cut  off,  alas !  in  the 
prime  of  his  days.  The  associations  of  a  commencing 
ministerial  life  in  circumstances  favourable  to  acquired 
experience,  must  retain  an  agreeable  fragrance ;  and,  in 
my  case,  the  ties  of  friendship  have  be§n  blended  with 
attachments  still  more  tender.* 

I  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Edinburgh,  on  the 
last  Wednesday  of  March,  1810,  and  I  preached  my  first 
sermon  on  the  following  Sabbath,  in  the  parish  church 
of  Cramond,  my  text  being  Romans  i.  16.  In  the  begin- 
ning of  June  thereafter  I  was  requested  to  supply,  for 
the  summer,  the  pulpit  of  the  East  Church,  in  the  city 
of  Perth,  then  vacant  by  the  translation  of  Dr.  Andrew 
Thomson  to  New  Grayfriars  Church,  Edinburgh.  In 
that  ancient  ecclesiastical  capital  of  Scotland  I  spent  four 
months  very  happily,  having  got  into  intimate  acquaint- 
anceship with  the  clergymen  of  the  place,  and  with  not  a 
few  esteemed  citizens.  Among  the  ministers  there  were 
■especially  two  of  whom  I  cherish  a  fond  remembrance. 
One  of  these  was  the  Rev.  James  Scott,  then  the  sen- 
ior and  emeritus  clergyman  in  the  city,  whose  inti- 
mate knowledge  of  the  ecclesiastical  antiquities  of  Scot- 
land was  made  greatly  available  to  me  in  the  way  of 
interesting  conversation,  and  reference  to  ancient  books 
and  records.  The  other  was  the  Rev.  William  Taylor, 
minister  of  the  Old-Light  Burgher  Congregation,  and 
Professor  of  Divinity  to  the  body  of  which  he  was  a 
member.  From  him  I  received  much  information  regard- 
ing the  controversy  which  had  been  going  on  for  years, 
on  the  subject  of  the  relations  of  the  church  and  the 
civil  magistracy.  The  matter  was  at  that  time  under 
litigation  in  the  highest  courts,  and  it  was  not  decided 

*  My  first  partner  in  life  was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Orr,  first  Provost  of  Paisley,  and 
tny  second  the  daughter  of  Thomson  Bonar,  Ksq.,  of  the  Grove,  near  Edinburgh,  hrother 
of  Mr.  Bonar,  of  Cramond.  By  my  first  wife  1  had  seven  children,  of  whom  four  died  in 
childhood,  the  rest  surviving,  one  in  Scotland,  one  in  Chicago,  and  the  third  in  Toronto. 


44 


LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


for  several  years  thereafter.  It  did  not,  at  that  timej" 
excite  much  interest  amongst  us  of  the  Establishment, 
although,  at  a  later  period,  and  up  to  the  present  hour, 
covers  questions  of  great  practical  value  connected  with 
the  interests  of  social  religion  among  men.* 


*  The  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor,  Free  Church  Minister  at  Flisk,  in  Fifeshire,  has  published  a 
Memoir  of  his  father.  Professor  Taylor,  containing,  within  small  bounds,  the  cream  of 
a  controversy  which  is,  at  this  yery  time,  affectlug  powerfully  the  union  moyements  of 
the  Presbyterian  Churches. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


PAISLEY  MINISTRY. 


HOULD  any  one  enquire  the  reason  why  it  is 
that  Mr.  McNaughton,  of  Belfast,  is  a  front 
—  rank  man  in  theological  polemics,  civil, 
literary,  theology,  an  enlightened  landed 
proprietor,  and  a  most  skilful  exponent 
of  the  crafty  rules  of  the  "  man  of  sin  ;"  and  how 
it  is  that  Dr.  Begg,  of  Newington,  is  a  tower 
of  strength  to  any  cause,  indomitable  in  mental 
power,  and  inexhaustible  in  his  resources ;  and  why 
Professor  Douglas,  of  the  New  College,  Glasgow, 
though  a  very  young  man,  was  found  worthy  of 
a  seat  among  the  rabbis  of  eastern  lore,  my  reply 
ii.  short  and  easy,  and  of  course  eminently  satisfactory  to 
my  own  mind.  They  resided  more  or  less  in  Paisley,  de- 
fined by  Rowland  Hill  in  his  "Journal,"  as  "  the  paradise  of 
Scotland ,  or  at  any  rate,  if  they  were  not  so  signally  priv- 
ileged, they  dwelt  at  one  time  so  near  it  as  to  be  within 
the  range  of  its  mystic  influence. 

Had  not  this  enumeration  been  abruptly  broken  off 
here,  he  would  have  doubtless  brought  forth  from  his 


46  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 


ntiquarian  treasury,  such  names  as  Andrew  Knox,  a 
relation  of  the  illustrious  reformer,  minister  of  Paisley, 
and  afterwards  Bishop  of  Raphoe,  Patrick  Adamson,  after- 
wards Archbishop  of  St.  Andrews,  Thomas  Smeton,  after- 
wards Principal  of  Glasgow  College,  Robert  Boyd,  who 
had  been  successively  Principal  of  the  Universities  of 
Edinburgh  and  Glasgow,  and  then  promoted  to  be  minis- 
ter of  Paisley,  Alexander  Dunlop,  father  of  the  Principal^ 
Robert  Millar,  author  of  the  "  History  of  the  Propagation 
of  Christianity."  John  Witherspoon,  afterwards  President 
of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  and  Robert  Findlay,  Pro- 
fessor of  Theology  in  Glasgow  University,  one  of  the  best 
divines  of  the  Scottish  Church.  He  would  not  have  omit- 
ted sons  of  Paisley  so  eminent  in  the  literary  world  as 
John  Herring,  the  modellist,  Alexander  Wilson,  the  orni- 
thologist. Dr.  Robert  Watt,  author  of  the  "  Bibliotheca 
Britannica,"  the  poets  Tannahill  and  Motherwell,  John 
Wilson,  the  renowned  Christopher  North,  and  such  recent 
ornaments  of  the  pulpit  as  James  Hamilton  and  James 
Buchanan. 

The  town  in  which  so  many  men  of  mark  were  cradled, 
and  where  for  thirty-four  years  my  father's  lines  were  to 
fall,*  was  distinguished  for  the  morahty  and  intelligence 
of  its  inhabitants,  and  their  avowed  attachment  to  the 
institutions  of  the  gospel.  The  silver  communion  cups  of 
his  future  charge,  bearing  date  1758,  had  engraven  on 
them  the  old  motto  of  the  municipality — "  Let  Paisley 
flourish  by  the  preaching  of  thy  Word." 

*  For  the  "New  Statistical  Account  of  Scotland"  he  wrote  (along  with  Dr.  Macnair 
of  the  Abbey)  the  article  on  Paisley,  fillina:  171  octavo  pages,  and  containing  a  vast 
juuouut  of  uuportant,insome  iustauces  of  curiuua  and  raxe,  iuformaliou. — Ed.. 


i 


CALL   TO   PAISLEY.  47 

In  the  view  of  an  election  at  Paisley,  I  was  required  to 
preach  to  the  congregation  on  two  Sabbaths,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  three  months  from  each  other.  Paisley  wanted 
not  its  critics  variously  accomplished,  and  each  of  the  can- 
didates was  favoured  with  remarks,  partly  written  and 
partly  oral.  To  the  former  of  these  classes  belonged  a 
letter  of  some  length,  addressed  to  me  after  my  second 
appearance,  and  signed  "  A  Paisley  Weaver"  Neither  in, 
thought  nor  in  expression  did  it  throw  discredit  on  the  class, 
its  spirit  and  language  were  respectful,  its  argument  very 
fair,  and  its  theology  sounder  than  mine.  From  the  text 
in  Romans  iii.,  "  There  is  no  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes," 
I  had  preached  a  carefully  prepared  sermon  on  "  practical 
atheism."  My  correspondent,  who  was  unknown  to  me, 
had  no  objection  to  anything  that  was  said  either  in  sen- 
timent or  illustration,  but  viewing  the  words  as  a  quota- 
tion from  the  Old  Testament,  and  as  one  of  the  links  in  a 
chain  of  reasoning,  he  suggested  to  me  the  idea  of  my  ex- 
hibiting their  connexion  with  the  apostle's  argument,  and 
their  bearing  on  the  two  cardinal  points  enlarged  on  by 
the  apostle. 

Of  the  result,  "  deponent  saith  not."  From  other 
sources  we  learn  that,  notwithstanding  the  objections 
of  the  worthy  weaver,  he  who  seemed  as  "  the  lad  with  the- 
five  barley  loaves  and  the  two  small  fishes,"  was,  after 
all,  the  people's  favourite.  He  had  no  mean  rivals.  Dr. 
James  Carlisle,  afterwards  so  useful  in  Ireland,  was  one  of 
them.  Carlisle's  local  influence  was  great,  for  his  father 
was  one  of  the  baillies  of  the  town.  But  the  Boness  youth, 
carried  it. 

John  Neilson,  the  philanthropic  founder  of  the  well- 
known  institution  on  the  old  Bowling  Green  which  bears 
his  name,  writing  to  a  relative,  absent  on  an  annual  tour  to- 
London,  on  the  4th  May,  1811,  says: — "  There  has  been 
little  domestic  news  since  you  left  us,  except  the  choice  of 


48  LIFE  OF  EEV.  DR.  BURNS. 

a  minister  to  the  Low  Church,  and  I  am  happy  to  say- 
that  Mr.  Burns  has  got  it  by  a  great  majority.  The  Town 
CJouncil  put  four  candidates  in  the  list,  viz.,  Messrs.  Kay, 
Small,  Burns  and  Carlisle.  Mr.  Burns  had  121  votes,  and 
the  other  three,  put  all  together,  came  only  to  109  votes." 
A  nephew  of  this  faithful  chronicler*,  who  was  ever  a  firm 
friend  of  the  successful  candidate,  and  who  "  remains  unto 
this  present "  a  veteran  elder  of  the  Free  Church,  was 
present  at  the  ordination  on  the  19  th  July,  1811.  At  the 
<;ustomary  "hand-shaking"  which  closed  the  solemn  ser- 
vice, he  was  led  up  by  his  sainted  mother  to  the  youth- 
ful pastor,  when  Dr.  Rennie,  of  Borrowstouness  (the 
old  family  minister)  who  stood  at  the  church  door,  by  the 
young  pastor's  side,  familiarly  said,  "  Come  awa',  my  wee 
manny,  and  shake  ban's  wi'  your  minister." 

Thus  was  he  installed  in  the  pulpit  of  the  illustrious 
Witherspoon. 

The  Professor  of  Church  History  in  Edinburgh  was  in 
the  habit  of  giving  a  short  series  of  lectures  on  pulpit 
duty,  including  the  preparation  and  delivery  of  sermons, 
and  other  discourses  of  a  like  kind,  and  these  were  among 
his  most  useful  prelections.  He  was  anything  but  an 
eloquent  preacher  himself,  and  he  was  an  accomplished 
moderate.  But  I  often  call  to  mind  one  of  his  favourite 
short  sayings  in  connection  with  these  discourses,  "  Gen- 
tlemen," he  would  say,  "  the  lecture  is  the  glory  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland."  He  held  it  as  a  matter  of  fact,  (and 
so  it  was,)  that  above  all  other  reformed  Protestant 
Churches,  Scotland's  Church  encouraged,  and  practised  in 
her  pulpits,  the  wholesome  method  of  instruction  by  fa- 
miliar and  sound  exposition  of  the  Word  of  God,  and  he 
laid  down  rules  both  for  preaching  and  lecturing  profitably. 
These  rules  were  not  unlike  those  which  Dr.  Hill,  in  his 

*  Archibald  Gardner,  Esq.,  of  Nsther  Couuuon. 


THE  LECTURE.      KEADING.  49 

"  Institutes,"  has  so  sagaciously  drawn  out,  and  it  were  to 
be  wished  that  they  had  been  more  attended  to.  For  a 
whole  session  I  heard,  every  Sabbath  morning,  the  lec- 
tures of  Dr.  Peddie,  on  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  al- 
ternately, and  I  considered  him  an  admirable  model.  My 
resolution  was  taken,  and  immediately  after  I  was  or- 
dained, I  betran  a  course  of  lectures  in  the  morninor  ser- 
vice.  First,  on  select  portions  of  the  Psalms,  then  on  two 
or  three  of  the  smaller  Epistles  of  Paul,  and  then  on  the 
harmony  of  the  Gospels.  This  last  should  perhaps  have 
come  first,  but  I  was  afraid  to  try  it  without  some  prac- 
tice in  lecturing,  and  after  all  I  would  not  advise  exposi- 
tion in  the  way  of  a  harmony,  for  it  requires  far  more 
piercing  and  critical  adjustment  than  is  consistent  with 
popular  effect.  In  the  course  of  my  ministry  of  thirty- 
four  years  in  Paisley,  I  went  over  the  whole  New  Testa- 
ment, and  the  leading  historical  and  prophetic  parts  of  the 
Old.  My  plan  was  to  study  the  passage  well,  comparing 
the  parallel  places  and  illustrating  them  by  references  and 
suitable  quotations,  putting  down  on  paper  full  notes  to 
the  extent  of  six  or  eight  octavo  pages,  and  inserting  dis- 
tinctly the  practical  inferences  or  lessons  to  be  drawn. 
Many  sermons  have  I  read  when  the  occasion  was  pecu- 
liar, and  the  subject  difficult ;  but  never  once  did  I  read  a 
lecture.  I  defy  you  to  do  it  with  any  effect;  only  let  a 
preacher  grasp  his  theme  with  point  and  nerve,  throw  him- 
self into  the  trenches  with  all  his  capabilities  about  him, 
and  he  need  fear  nothing. 

In  my  early  days,  the  main  distinction  of  a  moderate 
man  from  a  popular  or  evangelical  one,  was  the  habitual 
use  of  paper  or  no  paper.  But  the  distinction  carried 
reality  with  it.  The  "paper  man"  was  almost  always  stiff, 
dry,  scrimply  orthodox,  cold  and  formal.  In  our  "book  of 
common  order,"  the  people  were  told  that  "  a  reader " 
meant  an  inferior  "  kind  of  minister."  That,  indeed,  is 
not  the  meaning  of  the  thing  as  defined,  but  it  took  well, 
for  the  slavish  readers  of  sermons  were,  in  nine  cases  out 
of  ten,  "  inferior  "  preachers.  The  time  no  doubt  came 
round  when  a  Moncreiff,  a  Chalmers  and  a  Thomson  read 


50  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

their  sermons,  but  these  were  felt  to  be  rare  men,  who,  in 
spite  of  their  reading,  were  powerfully  eloquent.  Jona- 
than  Edwards  read,  but  Dr.  Allen,  his  biographer,  tells  us 
that  on  the  near  view  of  death  he  declared  his  conviction 
that  the  parts  of  his  sermons  that  were  blest  for  the 
spiritual  benefit  of  the  hearers  were  the  close  and  pointed 
applications,  which  were  never  read.  Yea,  moreover,  he 
added,  that  if  he  had  his  ministry  to  begin  again,  he 
would  throw  aside  his  papers.  The  English  (Established) 
Pulpit  has  at  no  time  been  a  powerful  one,  inasmuch  as 
the  hierarchy  has  always  encouraged  the  neat,  and  short, 
and  "feckless"  essay,  "intoned"  if  you  please;  in  prefer- 
ence to  the  vivcB  voces  ah  imo  pectore  (living  voices  from 
the  heart's  depths).  All  the  writers  on  the  pastoral  care, 
the  Burnets,  the  Blairs,  the  Hills,  the  Gerards,  and  the 
Vinets  and  Spencers,  of  Europe  and  America,  have  been 
advocates  of  the  unfettered  style  of  delivery  in  the  pulpit. 
Dr.  Blair  has  wisely  and  correctly  said  that  the  dislike  to 
papers  in  the  pulpit,  so  strong  among  the  people  of  Scotland, 
if  a  prejudice  at  all,  is  the  most  reasonable  of  all  prejudices. 
Three  months  after  my  ordination,  I  began  to  visit;  the 
elder  of  the  "Proportion,"  as  it  was  called,  always  accom- 
panied me.  I  could  not  have  got  on  at  all  without  him, 
and  yet  with  him  the  work  was  by  far  the  most  difficult 
of  all  pastoral  duties.  The  parish  had  seven  thousand 
inhabitants,  and  of  all  denominations.  Vast  varieties  of 
character  behoved  to  be  treated  according  to  their  phases. 
Men  were  shy  of  being  familiarly  and  closely  dealt  with. 
I  was  young  and  inexperienced,  often  at  a  loss  what  to 
say  or  do,  and  withal,  not  over  well  furnished  with  the 
skill  required  in  "rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth," 
and  giving  every  one  his  portion  of  meat  in  due  season, 
and  hence  I  was  tempted  to  become  desultory  in  the 
work,  a  most  fatal  mistake.  Visiting  is  the  very  life's 
blood  of  a  successful  ministry.  If  we  don't  go  to  the 
people  they  won't  come  to  us.  Difficulties  in  the  work 
there  undoubtedly  will  be,  but  they  maj^  be  greatly  modi- 
fied or  wholly  removed  by  due  discrimination,  and  by 
prudent  and  kindly  measures.      In  a  large  town  I  have 


SUCCESS  IN  PAISLEY.  51 

found  the  advantages  of  combining  congregational  with 
parochial  visitation,  and  I  never  was  charged  with  being 
a  proselytizing  intruder. 

With  regard  to  catechising,  I  generally  attended  to  it 
in  my  pastoral  visits,  in  so  far  as  the  young  people  and 
domestics  were  concerned,  for  I  did  not  approve  of  expos- 
ing the  ignorance  of  parents  and  seniors  in  the  presence 
of  juniors  and  children.  T  tried  "public  catechisings"  on 
Sabbath  evenings  and  they  succeeded  wonderfully ;  the 
discourses  of  the  day  were  slightly  reviewed,  the  "shorter 
catechism"  explained  in  order,  and  occasionally  a  few  of 
"Whitecross's  best  anecdotes  told.  One  of  my  elders,  who 
generally  attended  on  these  occasions,  once  gave  it  as  his 
opinion.  "  that  one  of  those  anecdotes  was  as  good  as  a 
pinch  of  snuff."  My  "  Bible  classes  "  were  always  held 
weekly,  and  on  week  nights.  They  were  well  attended, 
and  proved  fine  nurseries  for  the  church.  The  Sabbath 
Schools  in  connection  with  our  congregation,  and  under 
my  immediate  inspection,  embraced  upwards  of  a  thous- 
and young  immortals,  and  when  in  Paisley,  in  1857  and 
1860,  I  witnessed  the  goodly  gatherings  of  such  under 
the  faithful  ministry  which  that  much  loved  scene  of  my 
first  labours  still  so  largely  enjoys. 

A  few  extracts  from  Dr.  Burns'  letters  of  these  years 

may  be  introduced.     They  touch  on  passing  events,  as 

well  as  reflect  the  "  lights  and  shadows"  of  home  life. 

Paisley,  Feb.  16, 1820. — We  have  our  spring  sacrament 
towards  the  end  of  April,  immediately  after  which  it  will 
fall  to  me  to  open  our  own  church,  when  my  presence 
will  be  required  for  a  few  weeks  at  least,  We  have  had 
a  visit  from  Mr.  Thomson,  of  St.  George's,  Edinburgh,  last 
week,  when  he  preached  for  me  on  Sabbath,  and  for  the 
Sabbath  Schools  on  Monday  evening  last.  Collection  £45 
— very  handsome,  considering  the  state  of  our  town, 
which,  I  regret  to  say,  does  not  seem  to  be  improving, 
either  in  a  mercantile  or  moral  view.  His  sermon  was  well 
fitted  to  rouse,  and  I  trust  it  will  have  this  effect.  I  have 
been  attempting  some  improvements    in  the   Sabbath 


52  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.    BURNS.   ' 

Schools  of  my  own  parish,  somewhat  on  Dr.  Chalmers' 
plan,  and  I  anticipate  good  effects.  We  are  also  trying 
the  plan  of  Female  Bible  Associations,  with  the  immediate 
view  of  enabling  the  poor  to  supply  themselves  with  the 
Word  of  God.  More  than  this  we  cannot  look  for  in  pre- 
sent circumstances.  We  have  been  distributing  largely  to 
the  wants  of  the  poor,  and  still  I  fear  we  must  do  more. 
I  am  glad  to  hear  that  some  efforts  have  been  making 
with  you  for  behoof  of  the  ignorant  and  pDor.  When  ini- 
quity Cometh  in  like  a  flood,  then  is  the  time  for  us  to 
be  lifting  up  a  standard  against  it.  We  have  too  long 
neglected  the  mass  of  our  people,  who,  in  all  our  large 
towns,  are  not  much  removed  from  absolute  heathenism. 
I  am  not  certain  if  the  late  change  with  you  will  be  very 
favourable  to  the  cause  of  religion.  Perhaps  things  have 
gone  fully  as  well  as  could  have  been  expected.  The  Dr. 
should  try  and  keep  his.  friend,  the  new  Principal,  right.  I 
wish  he  may  make  as  good  a  professor  of  divinity  as  of  math- 
ematics. I  do  not  approve  of  the  new  plan  adopted  at  Edin- 
burgh, of  ladies  (especially  young  ladies)  coming  so  promi- 
nently forward  in  the  way  of  religious  profession.  As  to 
the  musical  festivals,  I  am  not  a  disinterested  judge,  as 
(in  common  with  the  strictest  classes  here)  I  attended  on 
such  occasions  without  even  the  suspicion  of  doing  what 
was  wrong.  I  do  not  know  what  they  may  be  in  Edin- 
burgh; but  the  sacred  oratorios  we  have  had  occasionally 
here,  appeared  to  me  to  have  a  good  tendency,  and  we 
were  glad  to  find  at  least  one  species  of  relaxation  or 
amusement  which  we  could  approve. 

Paisley,  June  29,  1820. — I  was  at  Irvine  last  Sab- 
bath, introducing  Mr.  J.  Wilson  to  his  charge  of  that  large 
and  important  station.  Everything  went  on  pleasantly, 
and  he  has  been  received  with  open  arms.  He  is  full  of 
zeal  and  seriousness,  and  I  trust  he  will  have  the  wisdom 
which  is  necessary  to  direct  in  a  place  where  anything 
prevails  rather  than  true  religion.  It  is  a  cold  region,  and 
their  last  two  ministers  were  frigid.  Mr.  W.  gave  an 
excellent  and  suitable  discourse  on  the  angelic  song, 
*'  Glory  to  God,"  &c.,  and  my  text  in  the  forenoon  was 


SABBATH  SCHOOLS,  FEMALE  TEACHERS.       53 

Col.  xxxi.  23,  "Whatsoever  ye  do,"  &c.,  considered  as  the 
great  principle  of  Christian  and  ministerial  conduct.  The 
church,  which  is  large  and  elegant,  was  crowded  with,  it 
is  thought,  2,500  people.  It  is  pleasing  to  hear  of  the 
settlement  of  good  men  in  important  places. 

It  is  a  pity  that  political  considerations  should  interfere 
in  such  matters.  If  James  Brewster,  who  is  truly  a 
moderate  man  in  politics,  is  to  be  objected  to  on  this 
ground,  I  see  not  who  could  stand  the  test!  I  would  ob- 
ject to  G — ^n  now  on  the  ground  of  his  low  and  satirical 
vein  of  writing,  which  does  not  recommend  him,  and  must 
procure  him  many  enemies. 

There  is  likely  to  be  a  keen  competition  for  the  Moral 
Philosophy  Chair  in  Edinburgh.  Everyone  who  regards 
the  interests  of  religion  in  the  case,  should  support  Mr. 
Esdaile,  of  Perth,  who  is  well  qualified,  and  very  decided 
in  his  religious  attachments.  The  other  candidates  are  all 
hostile  to  religion,  and  not  one  of  them  at  all  equal  to  Mr. 
Esdaile  in  point  of  acquirements. 

Our  town  is  likely  to  be  in  a  bustle  for  some  time  by 
the  trials  of  the  Radicals.  The  Lords  arrive  to-morrow, 
and  the  Grand  Jury  sit  on  Saturday.  The  place  fixed  on 
has  been  our  new  church.  This,  however,  does  not  prevent 
our  ordinary  labours. 

Our  Sabbath  Schools,  we  hope,  are  doing  good,  though 
not  to  the  extent  that  might  be  expected.  How  are  yours 
getting  on.?  You  ask  me  a  question  regarding  female 
teachers.  Lady  Hope  and  her  daughters  regularly  attend 
the  Sabbath  School  at  Carriden,  and  take  part  in  the 
exercises,  and  here  we  have  young  ladies  of  high  respect  • 
ability  who  think  it  not  beneath  them.  I  never  ques- 
tioned the  propriety  of  it,  when  conducted  with  prudence. 
As  to  the  place,  whether  your  own  house  or  another,  is  of 
no  great  consequence.  We  were  stirring  up  Anne  and  some 
other  of  the  Boness  ladies  to  it,  and  they  are  trying  some- 
thing. But  my  paper  warns  me  to  stop,  and  I  must  away 
to  the  examination  of  our  public  schools,  which  takes 
place  to-day. 


54  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

Paisley,  March  17th,  1825. — Your  Sabbath  School 
Library  is  likely  to  do  good.  It  is  an  agreeable  ex- 
ercise occasionally  to  catechise  the  children  on  what 
they  have  been  reading,  so  as  to  see  that  they  do  read, 
and  that  they  understand  what  they  read.  You  say 
nothing  about  the  settlement  at  (]!upar.  I  fear  it  will 
not  be  popular,  but  I  know  nothing  of  the  man.  He  is 
from  a  cold  region,  and  recommended  by  those  who  wiU 
not  put  in  a  "  wild  man"  if  they  can  help  it.  They  have 
got  Campsie  settled  to  their  mind,  and  will  get  Greenock 
too.  It  is  thought  Row  has  also  fallen  into  their  hands. 
My  only  consolation  under  the  idea  of  Mc.  going  to  D — was 
the  hope  of  a  favourable  change  to  the  parish  left.  We 
are  forming  a  society  in  Glasgow  for  sending  good  minis- 
ters to  the  North  American  colonies.  Lord  Dalhousie  has 
embarked  in  it  warmly,  and  has  written  me  twice.  Our 
general  meeting  is  on  the  81st,  when  he  is  to  preside. 

Miss  A.  recovered,  to  the  surprise  of  all.  Miss  B.  greatly 
worse,  and  no  hope  of  her.  She  is  in  a  most  pleasing 
frame  of  mind,  and  her  hopes  are  clearly  built  on  the  sure 
foundation.  Mrs.  P.  rather  better,  but  no  prospect  of  re- 
covery. 

Paisley,  April  22nd,  1825. — We  are  all,  through  divine 
kindness,  in  good  health,  and  the  fatiguing  engagements 
of  last  week  at  Glasgow  have  not  laid  me  up.  What 
with  the  Sacramental  season,  the  Synod,  and  half-a-dozen 
of  public  meetings,  to  say  nothing  of  private  calls,  etc., 
my  time  was  for  eight  days  wholly  occupied.  One  of 
my  speeches  (that  on  the  Catholic  claims)  will  probably 
reach  your  quarter  soon  in  the  shape  of  a  small  pamphlet. 
It  was  miserably  reported  in  the  News,  and  many  friends 
applied  to  me  to  allow  it  to  be  published  by  itself,  and  to 
this  I  have  consented ;  although  it  is  no  easy  thing  to 
recall  an  extemporaneous  effusion,  and  that  in  the  shape 
of  a  reply  to  what  has  been  said  by  other  speakers.  The 
most  agreeable  of  all  our  meetings  were  those  of  the  dif- 
ferent religious  societies  of  Glasgow,  which  seem  to 
be  in  a  prosperous  state.  The  spirit  of  zeal,  and 
piety,  and   harmony    which   pervades  the  members,   is 


GLASGOW  COLONIAL  SOCIETY.  55 

one  of  the  most  pleasing  symptoms  of  the  state  of  relig- 
ion at  present,  and  the  good  done  directly  and  indirectly 
is  great.  It  gives  us  great  pleasure  to  hear  that  Dr. 
Chalmers  is  exerting  himself  to  promote  a  missionary 
spirit  in  St.  Andrew's.  My  old  friend,  Dr.  Codman,  from 
Boston,  U.  S.,  told  me  that  he  had  been  at  one  of  your 
monthly  meetings,  and  was  highly  delighted.  These  are 
more  pleasing  scenes  than  the  college  squabbles,  which  I 
fear  will  do  no  good.  The  classes  will  be  now  nearly  all 
up,  and  this  will  occasion  an  armistice  or  cessation  of 
hostilities  at  least,  but  the  elements  are  too  uncongenial 
easily  and  readily  to  coalesce. 

You  may  let  Dr.  C.  know  that  his  favourite  overture 
on  Theological  education  was  carried  by  us— 1 7  to  3 — and 
the  one  on  pluralities  unanimously.  Our  Synod  vote 
was  45  to  10 — a  most  signal  victory,  considering  the 
force  that  was  brought  in  array  against  us.  The  party 
had  corresponding  members  from  Argyle,  Lothian  and 
Galloway  to  help  them  with  speeches  and  notes,  but  they 
were  sadly  out-witted;  indeed,  some  of  their  own  packed 
men  were  so  cowed  they  did  not  venture  to  vote  at  all. 
They  are  making  great  efforts  to  get  a  fierce  moderate  in 
St.  Enoch's  church,  and  I  fear  they  will  be  too  successful, 
as  the  people  there  like  to  have  it  so.  Dr.  C's  successor 
at  St.  John's  goes  on  nobly,  and  he  and  the  agency  are 
completely  at  one.  By  the  way,  one  of  his  deacons,  Mr. 
Wm.  W.  (of  the  house  of  Denniston,  Buchanan  &  Co.),  is 
to  be  married  to  our  cousin,  Susan  A.,  on  Tuesday  first. 
I  am  engaged  to  ofl^iciate,  and  the  young  couple  set  off  on 
a  jaunt  by  St.  Andrews.  The  Dr.  has  invited  them  to 
spend  a  day  or  two  with  him,  and  they  expect  to  be 
there  by  Thursday.  I  mention  this  that  you  may  have 
it  in  your  power,  at  least,  to  call  for  them.  The  lad 
seems  very  pleasant,  and  the  connection  is  every  way 
agreeable  to  all  parties.  We  had  a  visit  of  Islay  lately, 
but  his  wife  was  unable  to  accompany  him.  He  seems 
still  to  look  towards  the  Fife-side,  where  some  changes  are 
contemplated. 

A  letter  from  George  lately — Lord  Dalhousie  seems 
very  friendly  to  him.     I  had  a  good  deal  of  intercourse 


66  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  Bt/j 


1 


with  his  lordship  when  at  the  Canadian  meeting  last 
week,  which  was  a  very  interesting  one.  He  was  in  the 
chair,  and  gave  a  very  good  address,  and  seems  very 
hearty  in  the  cause.  It  will  be  of  importance  for  G.  to 
be  in  Scotland  before  Lord  D.  leaves  it. 

Anne's  account  of  Mrs,  Spence  is  still  very  dark,  I 
mean  to  write  Mrs,  Coutts  to-day  or  to-morrow.  The 
Crossflat  family  have  met  with  another  shock  in  the 
death  of  a  niece,  Margaret  Brown,  aged  18,  of  consump- 
tion— a  very  promising  girl.    How  affecting  the  changes !  * 

Though  much  in  public  life,  my  father  was  thoroughly 
domestic  in  his  tastes.  His  heart  was  in  his  home.  He 
was  very  fond  of  children,  and,  as  a  necessary  consequence, 
they  were  very  fond  of  him. 

Our  family  circle  was  repeatedly  broken  in  upon,  and 
as  one  "  who  had  seen  affliction,"  he  had  to  mourn  "  if  I 
am  bereaved  of  my  children,  I  am  bereaved."  The  last 
month  of  1819  found  him  "in  bitterness  for  a  first-born," 
Agnes,  an  interesting  girl  of  four;  and  within  a  month, 
on  New  Year's  day  of  1820,  there  was  "  another  lily 
gathered."  Soon  after,  another  flower  was  "  offered  in 
the  bud;"  and  in  1831,  John,  a  most  promising  boy  of 
ten  was  taken  away. 

He  learned  obedience  by  the  things  which  he  suffered 
and  with  the  Master  was  able  to  succour,  in  that  he  himself 


*  His  writing  in  most  of  the  letters  we  have  quoted,  is  remarkably  good ;  though  he 
had  generally  the  reputation  of  being  a  very  bad  writer,  he  could,  when  he  chose  to  take 
pains,  write  well.  He  wrote  much  and  with  exceeding  haste.  In  a  hurry  one  day  he 
grasped  a  quill  in  its  natural  state,  on  which  no  knife  had  been  exercised,  and  hsui 
ficribbled  ofif  half  a  letter  ere  the  mistake  was  discovered.  Mr.  David  Wylie,  of  the 
Brockville  Recorder,  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  Canadian  press,  mentioned  to  me,  that 
when  a  boy,  serving  his  apprenticeship  with  Neilson  &  Hay,  a  well-known  Paisley  print- 
ing firm,  he  was  sent  to  our  house  in  St.  George's  Place,"  with  the  proof  of  one  of  my 
father's  reports  on  Sabbath  Schools,  and  one  part  of  the  MS.  which  the  boy  averred 
"nane  o'  them  could  mak'  oot."  Father  was  not  at  home.  My  mother  (who  blended 
with  remarkable  dignity  a  kindliness  and  homeliness  which  set  every  one  at  ease), 
meeting  him  with  the  pleasant  pmile  which  was  her  wont,  and  using  the  dialect  he 
could  best  understand,  replied  ;  "  Deed,  laddie,  I  dinna  wonner,  for  sometimes 
he  cauua'  mak'  it  oot  hkasel' ! "—  Ed. 


BEREAVEMENTS.  57 

had  suffered.  He  was  thus  prepared,  too,  for  our  heaviest 
domestic  trial,  which  was  yet  to  come. 

On  Sabbath  morning,  the  14th  December,  1841,  after 
an  illness  of  thirty  hours,  the  desire  of  his  eyes  was  taken 
away  with  a  stroke.  For  twenty-eight  years  she  had 
been  his  counsellor  and  comforter.  She  had  always  been 
in  labours  more  abundant  throughout  the  parish,  and 
1841  being  one  of  Paisley's  years  of  destitution,  there 
came  upon  her  daily  the  care  of  many  poor  women  and 
children.  .  She  died  on  the  field,  almost  a  martyr  to  her 
self-sacrificing  toil. 

She  was  endowed  with  a  comely  and  dignified  personal 
presence,  with  rare  good  sense  and  admirable  administra- 
tive ability,  with  the  ornament  of  a  meek  and  quiet 
spirit,  with  a  piety  sincere  and  unostentatious,  but  uncom- 
monly practical  in  its  outgoings,  and  a  gently  persuasive 
influence,  which  all  who  came  within  the  circle  of  her 
acquaintance  felt  and  acknowledged, — 

"  She  led  me  first  to  God  ; 
Her  prayers  and  tears  were  my  young  spirit's  dew  ; 
For  when  she  used  to  leave  the  fireside  every  eve, 
I  knew  it  was  for  prayer  that  she  withdrew." 

Many  were  the  expressions  of  sympathy.  Foremost 
and  earliest  of  any  beyond  the  circle  of  immediate  rela- 
tives, was  Dr.  Chalmers,  who  two  days  after  our  sore 
sorrow,  notwithstanding  the  pressure  of  professorial  duty, 
just  after  the  session  had  commenced,  found  time  to 
write  thus : — 

"Edinburgh,  November  16th.  1841. 

**  My  Dear  Sir, — It  is  with  real  concern  and  heartfelt  sympathy 
that  I  have  been  apprized  of  your  heavy  loss,  and  can  enter  into 
all  that  you  must  suffer  under  this  afi'ecting  breach  of  the  nearest 


58  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  BURNS. 


^ 

con-  m 


and  dearest  of  all  earthly  relationships.  May  the  giver  of  all 
solation  bear  you  up  under  this  sore  bereavement,  and  grant  that 
on  you  may  be  fulfilled  the  saying  of  the  Saviour  (John  xv.  2), 
that  if  any  branch  bear  fruit,  the  Father,  our  great  Spiritual  Hus- 
bandman, purgeth  (pruneth)  it,  that  it  may  bring  forth  more  fruit. 
It  is  truly  marvellous,  that  with  all  the  experimental  demonstrations 
we  have  of  our  mortality,  a  new  death  comes  upon  us  with  the 
force  and  surprise  of  a  new  lesson,  as  if  we  had  it  yet  to  leam. 
May  we  at  length  learn  wisdom.  May  we  consider  with  effect  our 
latter  end,  and  keep  closer  and  more  abidingly  with  Him,  who  alone 
hath  the  gift  of  eternal  life.  I  take  it  very  kind  that  yoa  should 
have  sent  an  intimation,  which  makes  me  a  partaker  of  the  sorrows 
of  your  heart.  It  domesticates  me  with  you  and  yours  ;  and  it  is 
my  earnest  prayer  in  behalf  of  your  afflicted  family,  that  they  may 
all  receive  grace  from  on  high,  to  become  followers  of  them,  who, 
through  faith  and  patience,  are  now  inheriting  the  promises. 

"  Ever  believe  me,  My  Dear  Sir, 

"  Yours  with  great  regard, 

Thomas  Chalmers." 


I 


When  that  "elect  lady,"  Mrs.  Dr.  Briggs,  of  St.  An- 
drews, my  father's  sister,  and  the  special  friend,  almost 
biographer,  of  that  mother  in  Israel,  Mrs,  Coutts,  passed 
to  her  rest  and  reward,  there  was  found  among  her  num- 
erous papers,  a  lengthened  correspondence  of  my  sainted 
mother,  stretching  over  twenty  years.  Because  of  the 
light  which  they  reflect  on  my  father's  private  and  domestic 
character  and  history,  and  the  love  borne  to  her,  whose 
memory,  as  that  of  the  just,  is  blessed,  a  few  extracts 
from  these  letters  will  not  be  unacceptable  or  inappro- 
priate. «| 

"  Innerkip,  24th  July,  1817.        Sl 

"  Robert  goes  and  comes  as  he  finds  it  suits  him.  He  went  up 
last  Saturday  and  will  not  be  down  again  before  Tuesday  or  Wednes- 
day next,  as  the  Lord's  Supper  is  to  be  dispensed  in  his  church 
(and  all  the  other  churches  in  town)  Sabbath  first.  It  was  dispensed 
in  this  place  Sabbath  last.  From  the  account  you  give  of  the  com- 
munion in  St.  Andrew's,  I  suppose  things  went  on  much  in  the 
same  melancholy  state  here  as  with  you.  The  external  decency 
and  order,  great  indeed  ;  but  the  heart  appeared  little  engaged  in 


the  service. 


I 


MRS.  burns'  letters.  59 

*'  Your  brother  preached  all  the  fast  day  here,  and  I  may  say  I 
never  saw  a  more  attentive  congregation.  They  appeared  afraid  to 
lose  one  word.  They  are  all  enquiring  when  he  is  to  preach  again, 
for  they  never  were  better  pleased  with  anj''  minister.  God  willing, 
he  is  to  preach  here  again  Sabbath  fortnight.  Pray  for  the  blessing 
of  God  on  his  labours,  and  Oh  may  there  be  a  stirring  among  the 
dry  bones." 

"  Paisley,  April  17th,  1818. 

*'  By  this  time  you  will  have  read  Robert's  letter  to  Dr.  Chal- 
mers. You  must  write  me  soon,  and  give  me  your  candid  opinion 
of  it,  and  also  that  of  the  doctor,  and  the  good  folks  at  St.  An- 
drews. In  the  west  it  has  given  general  satisfaction.  It  is  said 
the  Dr.  will  soon  be  in  the  press  again  in  answer  to  it.  We  have 
just  been  reading  the  life  of  Dr.  Erskine,  with  which  we  are  much 
pleased.  It  gives  a  great  deal  of  information  concerning  the  state 
of  literature  and  religion  in  the  time  in  which  he  lived." 

''Paisley,  30th  March,  1819. 

"  Mother  is  much  comforted  by  Robert's  prayers  and  conversa- 
tion, as  is  my  afflicted  father.  Robert  is  much  with  them.  May 
the  Lord  send  an  answer  of  peace  to  his  prayers. 

"  Robert  and  Agnes  continue  to  enjoy  great  good  health.  The 
former  has  been  kept  very  busy  this  winter  with  his  book.*  The 
second  edition  is  going  on  fast,  and  will  be  out  by  the  first  of  May. 
According  to  your  order,  he  will  s  nd  you  four  (4)  copies  of  it. 
What  tiiink  you  of  George  in  the  press  ? — with  both  a  volume  of 
sermons  and  one  of  lectures  ?  He  seems  well  and  happy,  and  I 
hope  useful." 

"  Paisley,  13th  December,  1820. 

**  It  gave  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  the  professorship  was  at 
an  end.  I  hope  there  shall  be  no  more  of  it.  I  would  assuredly 
rather  live  on  three  hundred  a  year  in  this  quarter  than  on  three 
hundred  and  fifty  at  St.  Andrews,  Robert,  also,  has  no  great  desire 
for  such  a  change,  and  to  give  up  preaching,  and  sit  and  hear  such 
cold  orthodoxy  as  you  mention  you  have  from  your  pulpits,  is  what 
he  never  could  think  it  his  duty  to  do,  but  he  feels  much  obliged  to 
your  good  Dr.  and  you  for  your  interest  in  him.  Robert  and  I  are 
both  in  good  health,  which  we  desire  to  be  thankful  for.  The  re- 
turn of  this  season  we  feel  very  painful,  but  our  dear  little  ones, 
which  were  suflfering  so  much  this  time  last  year,  are  now  where 
suffering  and  sorrow  cannot  enter,  for  I  am  convinced  they  are  in 
glory,  therefore,  if  we  felt  aright,  instead  of  wishing  them  back 
to  this  world  of  sin  and  sorrow,  we  would  rejoice  that  they  had 
gone  to  our  Father  in  Heaven.  Oh  may  we  have  the  sanctified  use 
of  all  our  trials. 

*  His  work  on  the  Poor. 


60 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 


**  We  have  just  been  reading  Dr.  Chalmers'  volume  of  Commer 
cial  Sermons,  and  are  truly  delighted  with  them.  All  may  derive 
benefit  from  them,  but  they  are  calculated  to  be  very  useful  among 
a  particular  class.  It  is  astonishing  the  knowledge  of  human 
nature  he  shows — he  is  surely  raised  up  for  some  great  purpose. 
May  the  blessing  of  God  attend  the  reading  of  them  to  thousands, 
for  it  is  only  that  which  can  bring  them  home  to  the  consciences  of 
men.  We  have  not  seen  No  Fiction — from  what  you  say  of  it  we 
are  anxious  to  read  it.  We  have  been  reading  a  life  of  Dr.  Owen, 
by  Mr.  Orme,  of  Perth,  which  is  really  interesting,  and  introduces 
you  to  many  great  and  good  men  before  little  known.  But  it  is 
evident  throughout  that  his  great  design  is  to  exalt  the  Independ- 
ents. It  is  a  pity  he  shows  himself  so  sectarian.  Nevertheless, 
we  were  much  pleased  with  the  perusal  of  it.  We  shall  be  looking 
for  William  some  day  soon.  I  hope  he  will  have  pleasure  in  his 
visit  to  his  intended  flock.  ■" 

"Paisley,  March  13th,  1822. 

"  Our  valuable  friend,  Miss  Park,  was  seized  with  apoplexy 
about  three  weeks  ago.  She  lived  for  eight  days  after  the  shock. 
She  was  often  sensible  during  that  time.  Her  faith  was  strong  and 
lively  whenever  the  stupor  left  her  for  a  little.  Robert  saw  her 
every  day — he  experienced  much  pleasure  in  his  visits.  Her  afi'ec- 
tion  to  him  was  very  sincere,  for  she  always  said  that  his  preach- 
ing and  conversation  had  been  made  very  useful  to  her  soul.  Her 
conduct  had  been  so  consistent  ever  since  she  professed  Chris- 
tianity." 

"Ist  March,  1830. 

"  Robert  left  me  on  Friday  for  Kilsyth  (yesterday  being  their 
Communion  Sabbath).  He  was  then  in  great  health,  and  has  been 
BO  since  his  return  from  Ireland.  He  has  been  lecturing  for  twelve 
months  past  in  the  Revelation.  I  am  the  voice  of  many  when  I 
say  that  his  course  of  lectures  on  that  interesting  but  difficult  por- 
tion of  the  Word  of  God,  has  been  particularly  interesting  and  I 
hope  profitable.  He  has  reached  the  length  of  the  19th  chapter. 
I  am  astonished  how  he  gets  on,  for  what  with  the  business  of  the 
parish  societies  of  various  kinds,  supplj'ing  and  correcting  the 
press,  etc.,  etc.,  he  is  constantly  busy,  but  he  would  not  be  happy- 
otherwise. 

*'  The  Lord's  Supper  (God  willing)  is  to  be  dispensed  here  on 
Sabbath  eight-days.  Let  us  have  your  prayers  that  there  may  be 
an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit,  so  that  it  may  be  a  time  of  great  re- 
freshing from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  Your  brother's  help  are 
Mr.  Smith,  of  St.  George's;  Mr.  Welsh,  of  St.  David's,  on  the 
Fast-day ;  Mr.  Henderson ,  of  Carmunnock,  on  Saturday ;  and  Dr. 
Barr,  of  Port  Glasgow,  on  Sabbath  evening.  They  are  adl  excellent 
preachers. 


H 


II 


4 


MKS.   BURNS    LETTERS.  61 

''  5th  February,  1835. 

"  Tour  brother  has  been  absent  since  last  Monday  eight-days, 
on  the  North  American  Colonial  Society's  business.  He  was  to 
preach  at  Perth  last  Sabbath.  I  do  not  know  when  at  Dundee, 
whether  he  would  have  time  to  take  a  run  your  length  ;  he  was  to 
be  at  Brechin  on  Tuesday,  and  in  the  course  of  this  week  he  was 
to  visit  Montrose,  Arbroath,  and  Aberdeen.  I  feel  a  little  anxious 
about  him  after  such  a  severe  illness  as  that  which  he  had  so  lately 
in  Glasgow.  I  expect  him  home  on  Saturday.  1  have  just  received 
a  letter  this  moment  from  him  dated  Brechin.  He  says  he  is  in 
excellent  health,  and  found  Anne  and  the  Manse  folk  all  very  well. 
Part  of  the  letter  is  dated  Montrose,  where  Mr.  James  and  he  had 
gone  to  dine  yesterday,  and  to  have  a  meeting  in  the  evening. 
They  were  to  return  the  same  night  to  Brechin.  He  meets  our 
friend  Mr.  McNaughton  at  Perth,  where  they  are  to  have  a  public 
meeting  this  evening.  You  would  observe  by  the  newspapers  that 
Mr.  McN,  is  out  on  the  same  labour  of  love.  Our  dear  boys  are 
very  well  and  busy  with  the  schools." 

"  12th  August,  1837. 

*'  Your  brother  was  called  to  London  very  unexpectedly, 
to  plead  the  cause  of  our  poor  operatives.  I  hope  they  will 
be  successful.  Our  worthy  females  are  suffering  very  much.  The 
Fund  only  extends  to  those  who  work  at  the  deepening  of  the  river, 
or  breaking  of  stones,  &c.  I  have  distributed  from  £50  to  £60  in 
a  quiet  way  among  our  respectable  females,  who,  I  believe,  would 
almost  starve  before  they  would  apply  for  help." 

Dr.  Burns'  sympathy  with  missionary  enterprise  was 
intense.  His  large  parish  furnished  ample  scope  for 
schemes  of  moral  excavfition ;  such  as  of  late  years  have 
become  increasingly  common  in  the  cities  and  towns  of 
Scotland.  A  faithful  visitor  himself,  he  had  the  faculty 
of  systematizing  the  work,  and  of  infecting  others  with 
somewhat  of  his  own  enthusiasm,  so  that  when,  in 
many  a  Black  Sea  of  sin,  as  a  fisher  of  men,  he  said,  "  I 
go  a  fishing,"  they  were  induced  by  his  energetic  will  and 
active  example  to  say,  "  We  also  go  with  thee." 

The  South  Church  was  the  fruit  of  earnest  toil  in  a 
destitute  section  of  the  parish.  From  it  again  sprang 
the  Free  South,  which,  under  the  indefatigable  pastorate 


62 


LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


of  the  Rev.  A.  Pollock,  once  one  of  his  young  men,  a 
singularly  efficient  co-worker,  has  become  one  of  the  most 
thoroughly  equipped  churches  in  Paisley.  He  maintained 
regularly  the  goodly  practice  of  preaching  to  the  young, 
and  the  mammoth  gatherings  of  children  in  Old  St. 
George's  were  seasons  to  be  remembered.  The  Sabbath 
afternoon  diets  of  examination  were  also  of  signal  benefit. 

In  the  Sabbath  School  Unions  of  the  town,  both  de- 
nominational and  general,  he  took  a  prominent  part.  n 

Tract  Societies  received  his  countenance  and  aid.  The 
Monitor  and  Visitor,  and  other  kindred  tract  serials,  were 
as  "leaven  which  a  woman  hid."  Not  a  few  such  women 
were  furnished  by  him  for  the  work.  al 

For  some  twenty  years  he  was  Secretary  of  the  Paisley 
and  East  Renfrewshire  Bible  Society,  whose  first  meeting 
was  held  in  the  Old  Low  Church. 

Within  six  months  after  the  formation  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  an  auxiliary  branch  was  formed  in 
Paisley.  The  movement  started  in  March,  1796,  the 
very  year  when  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Scottish 
Church  threw  the  weight  of  its  influence  into  the  anti- 
missionary  scale. 

The  original  records  of  this  fruitful  Branch  are  before 
us,  and  reveal  the  pains  and  the  prayers  with  which  it 
was  conducted.  Large  sums  were  raised : — in  one  year, 
about  £1,000  sterling.  Four  months  after  his  settlement, 
on  the  4th  November,  1811,  Dr.  Burns  became  Secretary 
of  this  Society,  and  continued  so  for  many  years.  He 
preached  one  of  the  annual  sermons  of  the  parent  insti- 
tution in  London;  and  those  missionary  marvels,  which 


I 


4 


MISSIONARY  ZEAL.  63 

have  emblazoned  its  history,  and  re-produced  in  Asia  and 
Africa,  in  the  South  Seas  and  Madagascar,  the  triumphs  oi 
Apostolic  times,  ever  excited  his  gladness  and  gratitude. 
In  the  mission  of  Dr.  Duff  he  felt  a  peculiar  interest,  and 
no  heart  beat  more  responsive  than  his  to  the  thrill  which 
ran  through  fatherland  on  the  first  return  of  that  prince 
of  missionaries  from  India.  Subsequently  in  the  new 
world,  the  intimacy  of  the  old  was  revived. 

When  John  Macdonald,  the  son  of  the  Apostle  of  the 
North,  having  been  loosed  from  his  important  charge  in 
London,  that  he  might  go  back  with  Dr.  Duff,  was  desig- 
nated to  his  distant  field  on  the  8th  May,  1837,  the  charge 
to  the  missionary,  the  full  notes  of  which  we  have  in  our 
possession,  was  delivered  by  Dr.  Burns.  We  have  also  a 
letter  of  twenty-four  pages  addressed  to  him  by  one  of 
the  most  useful  of  the  missionaries  of  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society  in  India,  who  was  onco  a  member  of  St. 
George's  and  married  another,  and  who  gratefully  ascribes 
to  his  Paisley  pastor  much  of  the  formation  of  his  Chris- 
tian character,  and  the  first  impulse  he  received  to  the 
missionary  work.  He  was  one  of  many  whom  my  Father 
was  instrumental  in  influencing  in  a  kindred  way. 

With  reference  to  the  success  of  his  Paisley  ministry, 
many  testimonies  might  be  given.  A  thoroughly  com- 
petent witness  says : — 

"  He  owed  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude  to  his  venerable  friend,  Dr. 
Burns,  for  his  valuable  instructions  to  him  as  a  youth,  and  also  in 
after  life,  and  he  regarded  him  as  his  spiritual  father.  He  looked 
back  with  grateful  remembrance  to  his  attendance  for  a  period  of 
twelve  years,  at  the  Doctor's  Thursday  evening  class,  and  to  the  great 
interest  he  felt,  when  a  youth,  in  his  minister's  expositions  of  Scrip- 
ture, in  what  was  called  his  forenoon  lectures.  Dr.  Bums,  as  a  lec- 
turer, stood  unrivalled  in  the  West  of  Scotland,  his  success  arising. 


LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


lie  believed,  from  his  extensive  reading,  his  wonderful  memory,  and 
his  great  readiness  in  recalling  on  all  occasions  whatever  he  had  seen, 
read,  or  heard.  The  Doctor's  language  was  clear,  plain,  pointed, 
vigorous,  and  terse,  and  pregnant  jvith  meaning.  He  never  knew 
any  man  possessing  such  a  wonderful  memory,  not  for  great  matters 
only,  but  for  the  most  trivial,  as  Dr.  Burns.  He  remembered  of 
taking  supper  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  White,  with  him  and  the  late 
Dr.  Fletcher,  of  London — Mrs.  White's  brother — who  had  that 
evening,  some  thirty-six  years  ago,  preached  in  the  High  Church. 
During  supper  they  had  a  pleasant  conversation  (the  doctor  posses- 
sing at  all  times  great  conversational  powers),  and,  looking  around 
him,  he  (the  doctor)  said  to  Mrs.  White,  'Did  not  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Smart  live  in  this  house  V  '  0  yes,'  was  the  answer,  '  eighteen  or 
twenty  years  ago.'  'Well,'  said  the  doctor,  '  I  remember  dining 
in  this  very  room  with  Dr.  Waugh,  of  London,  and  I  remember  it 
from  the  walls  being  painted  green.' " 

The  following  is  from  the  Free  Church  Record  for 

December,  1869  :— 

"  His  ministry  in  Paisley,  from  the  first,  was  extremely  accept- 
able ;  so  much  so,  that  a  new  church  had  soon  to  be  provided  of 
larger  dimensions,  and  of  a  more  modern  style  of  architecture,  for 
his  over-crowded  congregation,  to  which,  accordingly,  under  the 
name  of  'St.  George's,'  he  and  they,  a  few  years  afterwards,  re- 
moved. His  early  popularity,  doubtless,  was  due,  in  some  mea- 
sure, to  his  youth  and  youthful  appearance,  associated,  as  these 
were,  with  an  almost  premature  ripeness  and  mellowness  of  the- 
ology— with  an  '  unction'  which  in  those  days  was  rare,  and  with  a 
fluency  which  was  never  known  to  fail  him  ;  but  the  position  which 
he  took  as  a  preacher  from  the  beginning  he  maintained  ever  after. 
There  were  solid  qualities  in  his  discourses  which  made  them  always 
instructive,  often  telling  in  a  high  degree.  They  were  solid,  with- 
out being  heavy  ;  they  were  copious,  and  yet  clear  ;  they  were  level 
to  the  humblest,  yet  such  as  to  command  the  ear  of  the  most  culti- 
vated among  his  hearers  ;  while,  as  a  lecturer  and  expositor  of 
Scripture,  he  had  the  reputation  in  the  West  of  Scotland  of  being 
*  unrivalled. '  One  of  his  oldest  surviving  parishioners  says  of 
him  :  '  He  was  a  model  parish  minister,  visiting  not  only  his  own 
congregation  (1,200  strong),  but  his  parish,  once  a  year,  most  regu- 
larly attending  on  the  sick,  and  taking  a  special  oversight  of  the 
godly  upbringing  of  the  young.  He  was  a  most  valuable  citizen,  and 
there  was  not  a  religious,  benevolent,  or  philanthropic  movement 
in  town,  but  he  was  to  be  found  at  the  beginning,  middle,  or  end 
of  it.  He  was  one  of  the  original  promoters  of  the  scheme  for  sup- 
plying the  town  with  water  ;  and  by  successive  visits  to  London 
and  otherwise,  did  great  service  in  bringing  in  large  sums  of  money 
during  the  periods  of  the  depression  of  trade,  when  weaving  was 


4 


BONAR  OF  CRAMOND.  65 

the  staple  branch  of  manufacture  in  town/  His  capacity  for  work  of 
all  sorts  was  indeed  something  marvellous.  A  day  in  his  life  was  like 
a  week  to  any  other  man.  We  have  heard  of  his  composing  two  dis- 
courses, visiting  a  whole  list  of  sick  people,  and  having  time  for  a 
constitutional  walk,  over  and  above,  on  a  Saturday  ;  yet  those  dis- 
courses bearing  no  marks  of  haste  or  slovenliness  when  delivered, 
without  the  assistance  of  a  note,  on  the  Sabbath  following.  Nor 
less  active  was  he  with  the  pen  than  with  his  tongue,  taking  part 
more  or  less  prominently  in  every  question  of  interest  which  stirred 
the  public  mind." 

Soon  after  his  settlement  in  Paisley  there  came  to 
him  from  the  quiet  manse,  where  he  had  spent  a  year  and  a 
half  so  happily,  such  cordial  greetings  as  follow.  Because 
of  the  light  it  sheds  on  his  opening  ministry,  the  freshness 
and  fragrance  of  its  heart-breathings,  and  the  fine  speci- 
men it  supplies  of  letter- writing  from  a  father  in  Israel 
to  his  son  in  the  faith,  we  think  our  readers  will  not  grudge 
the  space  this  communication  from  the  "old  disciple"  at 
Cramond  fills. 

"26th  November,  1811. 

"  My  Very  Dear  Brother, — I  was  much  gratified  and  rejoiced 
at  receiving  some  time  ago,  your  affectionate  and  comfortable  letter, 
and  would  have  answered  it  before  now,  had  not  severe  distress 
prevented  me.  But  oh,  my  dear  brother,  I  rejoice  to  inform  you 
that  my  mind  was  most  comfortable  amidst  all  the  gloomy  prospect 
of  leaving  my  flock  and  dear  family  and  friends.  The  everlasting 
Gospel,  the  all  fulness  of  Jesus  and  the  hope  of  glory,  were  brought 
delightfully  to  view,  and  yielded  both  peace  and  joy  in  believing.  I 
am  truly  happy  that  you  like  Paisley  so  much.  I  have  all  along 
thought  it  was  a  situation  quite  suited  to  your  sentiments,  talents, 
activity  and  Christian  habits,  and  I  trust  you  will  be  long  spared 
to  a  people  who  prize  the  pure  Gospel,  at  least  as  much  as  any  town 
in  Scotland.  I  really  admire  your  plan  of  discourses  on  the  leading 
parts  of  our  glorious  Lord's  history  ;  you  will  find  these  discourses 
of  great  use  to  you  afterwards,  on  many  subjects  ;  you  do  not 
mention  if  you  have  yet  begun  a  regular  course  of  lecturing.  It  is 
difficult  to  determine  where  to  begin  ;  worthy  Dr.  Gillies  used  to 
tell  me  that  he  was  called  to  Glasgow  when  a  young  man  and  soon 
after  being  licensed,  and  he  had  very  few  lectures  ;  that  very  soon 
after  hii  settlement  he  began  to  lecture  through  the  New  Testa- 
ment, a«d  when  I  knew  him  he  had  lectured  over  the  whole  Scrip- 
tures and  was  going  a  second  time  through  the  New  Testament. 
F 


REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


You  hint  at  being  in  thi 


•t  of  the  country  ere  long  ;  all  herej 
will  be  rejoiced  to  see  you,  and  1  beg  you  will  lay  your  account 
with  spending  a  night  or  two  with  us — make  this  your  home  ;  if 
you  can  so  arrange  matters,  as  to  give  us  a  Sabbath-day's  supply,  I 
need  not  tell  you  what  a  gratification  it  would  be  co  us  and  to  all 
our  parish.  Mr.  Mackellar  preached  here  last  Sabbath,  and  was 
universally  admired  ;  he  will  be  a  great  acquisition  to  your  country 
side,  but  I  suspect  he  will  remain  a  very  short  time  at  Carmunnock. 
We  have  not  seen  your  brother,  Mr.  George,  thi^  very  long  time. 
Your  old  acquaintance,  Mr.  Glen,  is  doing  exceedingly  well  ;  had 
he  not  been  previously  engaged  for  Mr.  McLean^  of  Dumfermline, 
I  would  have  asked  him  here  for  a  month  or  two.  This  is  the  first 
letter  I  have  written  since  being  laid  up,  and  therefore  must  make 
it  short.  You  have  my  earnest  prayers  for  your  success  and  hap- 
piness in  the  most  honourable  of  all  employments,  that  you  may 
have  many  seals  of  your  ministry,  and  may  long  continue  a  burning 
light  in  our  Zion,  full  of  holy  zeal,  and  a  shining  light  exemplary 
to  all  around.  If  you  be  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  next 
year,  and  if  I  am  still  a  sojourner  in  this  weary  wilderness,  will  you 
have  the  kindness  to  allot  a  Sabbath-day's  services  to  your  old 
friends  at  Cramond.  Nowhere  can  they  be  more  prized.  Dear 
brother,  pray  much  for  me,  that  I  may  not  be  doomed  to  bie  a  use- 
less cumberer  in  the  vineyard.     Grace,  peace  to  you  daily. 

"  ARCHIBALD   BONAR.** 


I 


CHAPTER  V. 


CHURCH  COURTS  AND   SOCIETIES. 


regards  our  Presbytery,  a  portly  member  of 
it  gave  me  this  precious  information  just 
■  before  I  joined  it — "  My  elder  and  I  hold 
the  balance  between  the  two  parties."  I 
dare  say  he  Tvas  nearly  right.  At  all  events, 
we  were  in  the  habit  of  saying  there  were  ''  three 
parties"  in  the  Presbytery  of  Paisley.  There  was 
the  "  Moderate  Party,"  and  the  "  Popular  Party," 
or  "  Wild  Men,"  as  they  were  called,  and  there  was 
Mr.  Fleming,  a  sort  of  unique  character,  whose 
bizarre  movements  could  be  kept  under  no  rule. 
As  a  "  party,"  j^er  se,  its  dimensions  were  tolerably 
large,  and  it-s  pretensions  still  larger.  In  the  course  of  a 
few  years  we  got  amongst  us  another  unique  "  party,"  in 
one  of  the  ministers  of  the  Abbey  parish,  a  man  of  fine 
talents  grievously  misapplied;  but  he,  most  happily  for 
the  common  peace  around,  went  off  from  the  old  toryism, 
or  conservatism  as  it  is  now  politely  called,  and  waged 


68  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

the  "  havocs  of  war"  against  the  other  son  of  Mars,  who 
was  "tory"  to  the  bone.  Many  disreputable  scenes  of 
clerical  antagonism  would  meet  the  eyes  of  "  calm  observ- 
ers ;"  and  yet,  after  all,  we  had  no  heretics,  in  the  ordinary 
sense,  amongst  us.  All  professed  strict  adherence  to  the 
standards,  though  some  were  suspected  of  being  "  broad 
churchmen;"  thus  proving  the  truth  of  an  important  matter 
of  fact,  that  personal  godliness  may  be  at  a  low  ebb  when 
speculative  orthodoxy  shews  no  change.  I  think  that 
during  all  my  time  we  kept  a  majority  of  "right  men," 
for  the  town  of  Paisley  has,  ever  since  its  separation  eccle- 
siastically from  the  Abbey,  in  1720,  been  a  stronghold  of 
evangelical  truth. 

It  may  not  be  generally  known  that  to  our  Paisley 
Presbytery  the  Free  Church  was  indebted  for  its  father, 
both  in  years  and  in  ecclesiastical  position.     The  Kev. 
George  Logan,  a  native  of  Glasgow,  and  born  in  1760,  was 
a  licentiate  of  our  presbytery,  and  though  ordained  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Perth  to  a  Scotch  church  in  Newcastle, 
where  he  also  superintended  a  private  classical  academy, 
he  was  brought  back  to  our  bounds,  in  1802,  as  minister 
of  the  Parish  of  Eastwood,  where  he  laboured  successfully 
for  forty-one  years.   On  the  second  Sabbath  of  July,  1843, 
he  was  gathered  to  his  fathers,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year 
of  his  age,  and  the  fifty-eighth  of  his  ministry,  the  vener- 
able patriarch  of  that  church  which  he  had  so  long  adorned, 
and  the  achievement  of  whose  freedom  he  had  just  lived  to 
witness.    A  first-rate  classical  scholar,  one  of  his  favourite 
recreations  was  the  perusal  of  the  standard  writers  of 
Greece  and  Rome  ;  and,  unlike  the  generality  of  parochial 
ministers,  he  not  only  preserved  but  augmented  his  literary 
stores.     His  mind  was  also   characterized  by  a  native 
quickness  of  perception,  and  he  had  always  at  command 
a  fund  of  amusing  anecdotes,  with  which  he  entertained 
the  circles  of  his  friends.     On  the  settlement  in  Glasgow 
of  that  very  eminent  and  distinguished  minister,  the  late 
Dr.  Balfour,  of  the  Outer  High  Church,  Mr.  Logan  was 
introduced  to  his  favourable  notice,  and  this  introduction 
was  always  cited  by  him  as  one  of  the  happiest  events  of 


d 


REV.   GEORGE  LOGAN.  69 

his  life.  Dr.  Balfour  discerned  his  worth,  encouraged  him 
in  his  professional  pursuits,  and,  till  the  period  of  his 
lamented  death  in  1818,  acted  to  him  the  part  of  a  faith- 
ful councillor  and  a  most  valuable  friend.  With  other 
two  venerable  ministers  of  that  city  he  was  also  associated 
in  the  bonds  of  affectionate  endearment — the  late  Dr. 
Burns,  of  the  Barony,  and  Dr.  Love,  of  Anderston.  These 
were  all  men  of  kindred  minds,  though  marked  by  charac- 
teristic varieties.  Mr.  Logan  knew  the  value  of  such 
acquaintanceship,  and  in  the  vale  of  years  his  heart  was 
often  cheered  and  refreshed  by  the  recollections  of  other 
times ;  while  his  younger  friends  recognized  in  him  one 
of  the  few  remaining  links  which  connect  the  present 
generation  of  pastors  with  those  venerable  men  who  have 
gone  before.  In  a  theological  and  literary  society  which 
was  instituted  by  the  evangelical  ministers  of  the  bounds, 
Mr.  Logan  was  always  at  home  on  the  Epistles  to  the 
Romans  and  the  Hebrews,  and  his  ready  humour  was 
always  at  command  to  lighten  the  sober  gravity  of  length- 
ened argument.  It  need  not  excite  any  surprise  that  such 
a  man  joined  heartily  in  the  crusade  against  intrusion, 
and  readily  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  men  who  resolved 
to  sacrifice  their  all  for  the  sake  of  a  conscience  void  of 
offence.  In  the  beginning  of  April,  1843,  and  thereafter 
early  in  June,  I  paid  him  a  visit  when  he  lay  on  that  bed 
of  sickness  which  was  soon  to  be  the  bed  of  death.  On 
both  occasions  we  touched  considerably  on  the  points  in 
debate,  and  I  found  him  on  both  occasions  alike  clear  and 
decided.  The  only  thing  that  vexed  him  on  the  second 
occasion  was  that  the  "Deed  of  Separation"  had,  by  some 
oversight,  not  been  sent  to  him,  that  on  his  couch,  and 
within  sight  of  glory,  he  might  have  affixed  to  it  his  sig- 
nature. His  removal  so  soon,  was  not  anticipated  by  any 
one.  But  there  was  a  marked  grandeur  in  the  scene 
which  the  chamber  of  the  dying  pastor  did  exhibit  a  very 
few  weeks  before  his  death.  With  perfect  collectedness 
on  his  part,  we  joined  in  devotional  exercises,  surrounded 
by  the  family  circle.  Thereafter  I  witnessed  the  dying 
patriarch  settling  the  time  and  the  manner  of  his  "  leaving 


70  LIFE  OF  REV.    DR.   BURNS. 

the  manse,"  endeared  by  so  many  tender  associations.  I 
wish  Sir  James  Graham  and  the  other  cabinet  ministers 
of  an  earthl}^  monarch  had  beheld  the  solemn  scene.  But 
the  ministering  angels  of  a  heaven ty  Kini^  were  hovering 
near,  and  sooner  than  any  of  us  had  anticipated  did  they 
receive  their  commission  to  translate  his  disembodied 
spirit  to  "  an  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens." 

The  brother  who  went  with  me  to  the  dying  bed  of  our 
aged  friend  was  the  Rev.  Duncan  Macfarlane,  D.D.,  of 
Renfrew,  another  of  our  co-presbyters,  whose  name  deserves 
respectful  record.  We  met  by  appointment  of  the  lately 
constituted  Free  Presbytery  of  the  bounds,  with  a  special 
commission  to  convey  the  best  wishes  and  sympathies 
of  the  brethren,  long  "one!'  but  now  joined  in  a  still  more 
emphatic  oneness  of  principle  and  of  trial.  Of  that  noble- 
minded  minister, who  ministered  where  Mr.  Patrick  Simson 
in  other  days  lived  and  laboured  and  died,  a  faithful 
record  has  been  published  by  another  co-presbyter,  Dr. 
Robert  Smith,  of  Lochwinnoch,  at  whose  ordination  I  pre- 
sided in  1815,  and  who  lately  finished  his  course  after  a 
ministry  which  stretched  through  the  chequered  scenes 
of  upwards  of  half  a  century.  Dr.  Macfarlane  was  much 
younger  than  either  Dr.  Smith  or  I,  but  he  was  ripe  in 
learning  and  in  rich  spiritual  experience,  a  divine  of  the 
best  school,  and  a  Hebrew  scholar  whom  Thomas  Boston 
would  have  hailed  with  eagerness  as  a  "  fit  and  proper 
man"  to  help  him  in  his  perplexing  warfare  about  the 
Hebrew  "  points  and  accents/'  Such  men  are  blessings 
in  their  day,  but  they  are  "  not  suffered  to  remain  by 
reason  of  death.'" 

During  my  incumbency  at  Paisley,  from  1811  to  1845, 
a  considerable  number  of  eminently  excellent  and  success- 
ful ministers  lived  and  died,  and  I  cherish  the  clear  remem- 
brance of  them  with  fond  respect.  Dr.  John  Findlay,  of 
the  High  Church  of  Paisley  for  nearly  forty  years,  was 
characterized  by  perspicuity  of  thought  and  language ; 
placid  but  earnest  appeals  to  all  shades  of  hearers ; 
pointedness  of  preceptive  announcement:  faithfulness  in 


CONTEMPORARIES.  71 

the  pastoral  care  ;  and  upright  and  unswerving  sincerity 
of  daily  walk.  Mr.  Rankin,  of  the  Middle  Church,  who 
succeeded'in  1797,  Dr.  John  Snodgrass,  a  man  who  ranks 
well  with  the  "  First  Three"  in  the  camp  of  Israel,  laboured 
among  his  people  with  great  meekness  and  unassuming 
faithfulness  for  upwards  of  forty  years,  leaving  a  character 
without  reproach,  and  not  a  few,  both  old  and  young, 
ready  to  garnish  his  resting  place  with  flowers.  Dr. 
Andrew  Stewart,  of  Erskine,  allied  to  the  peerage  by- 
marriage,  was  in  every  way  a  noble  man.  in  acuteness  of 
mind  and .  breadth  of  intellectual  vision ;  and  Dr.  Robert 
Stewart,  of  Leghorn,  is  the  worthy  son  of  such  a  father. 
Prior  to  the  disjunction  of  Greenock  from  Paisley  we  had 
amonfi^st  us  Dr.  Scott,  of  the  Mid  Church  there,  "  a  master 
in  Israel"  for  rare  accomplishments,  for  an  admirably  fur- 
nished and  arranged  mind,  and  a  practical  zeal  in  the 
pastorship  truly  primitive  and  apostolic.  And  let  us  not 
forget  the  man  who  with  noble  Christian  heroism  dashed 
from  his  lips  the  fullest  cup  that  Scotland's  church  could 
show,  when  the  tasting  of  it  would  have  involved  a  sacri- 
fice of  conscience  more  precious  than  all  the  gold  of  India. 
I  mean  Dr.  P.  Macfarlane,  of  the  West  Kirk,  Greenock. 
I  can  only  name  Dr.  Boog,  of  the  Abbey;  Dr.  Monteith,  of 
Houston;  Mr.  Douglas,  of  Kilbarchan;  Mr.  Telfer,  of  Johns- 
town; Dr.  McNair,  of  the  Abbey;  and  others  of  my  earlier 
or  later  acquaintanceship  whose  memory  is  fragrant,  and 
with  whom,  in  times  long  gone  by,  I  have  had  intercourse 
more  or  less  close,  but  ever  friendly  and  free.  And  can  I 
forget  in  this  connexion  the  pleasure  I  felt  in  committing 
the  care  of  my  flock  in  Paisley  to  the  ability,  the  piety, 
and  the  pastoral  diligence  of  my  excellent  successor,  Mr, 
Thomson,  whom,  may  the  Great  Shepherd  long  spare ! 

The  first  General  Assembly  where  I  was  present  as  a 
member  was  in  1813,  when  the  plurality  question  came 
on  in  the  case  of  Kilconquhar  and  Dr.  Feme,  and  I  doubt 
not  that  had  either  Thomson  or  Chalmers  been  present 
on  that  occasion,  in  place  of  our  losing  it  by  the  small 
majority  of  five,  we  would  have  decidedly  carried  the  day. 
But  still  a  blow  was  struck  on  that  occasion  which  proved, 


72  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

by  anticipation,  fatal  to  the  claims  of  non-resident  plural- 
ism ever  after.  It  was  in  1817  that  a  cause  from  the 
Synod  of  Merse  came  up  to  the  Assembly,  in  which  the 
question  of  calls  and  of  patronage  was  directly  involved. 
Thomson  appeared  at  the  bar  on  the  popular  side,  in  his 
capacity  of  a  corresponding  member  from  the  Synod  of 
Lothian  and  Tweeddale  to  that  of  Annan  and  Teviotdale. 
Most  fully  did  he  enter  into  the  history  of  patronage  and 
of  the  "  call,"  and  vindicated,  by  appeal  to  many  prece- 
dents, the  inherent  power  of  the  church  to  refuse  a  settle- 
ment on  the  simple  ground  of  "  no  call."  Graphically  did 
he  describe  the  miserable  substitute  which  moderatism 
had  put  in  the  room  of  the  effective  substantial  "  call"  of 
former  days ;  and  on  referring  to  the  mode  of  expression 
used  regarding  it  by  Principal  Hill,  in  his  "  View  of  the 
Consolidation  of  the  Church  of  Scotland" — "  a  paper  named 
a  Call" — the  Principal,  who  was  present,  rose  with  indig- 
nation, and  called  the  speaker  to  account  for  putting  such 
language  into  his  mouth.  Br.  Thomson  handed  to  him 
his  own  volume ;  and  on  examining  the  passage  and  find- 
ing the  speaker  perfectly  correct,  acknowledged  politely 
his  mistake,  and  with  a  very  hearty  laugh  returned  him  the 
volume.  This  incident,  though  in  one  sense  trifling,  spoke 
volumes.  It  was  one  of  the  straws  which,  when  thrown 
up,  indicate  how  the  wind  blows.  Even  in  1817  we  lost 
the  cause  only  by  a  small  majority ;  the  tide,  which  had 
set  in  in  1810,  continued  to  roll  in  the  right  direction. 

In  1824  and  1825  the  plurality  question  was  again  dis- 
cussed, and  although  the  decisions  went  against  the  friends 
of  reform,  the  pleadings  of  Thomson  and  of  others  like- 
minded  told  with  tremendous  effect  on  a  cause  that  had 
been  sinking  for  years.  Then  also  the  independency  of  the 
church  was  nobly  vindicated,  though  by  a  small  majority 
of  eight,  in  the  question  of  Gaelic  preaching  as  essential  in 
the  Parish  of  Little  Dunkeld.*  In  the  meantime,  move- 
ments were  going  on  in  various  directions  in  favour  of 
popular  rights  in  the  election  of  parochial  ministers.     A 

*  Little  Dunkeld  (said  Andrew  Thomson)  is  the  mouth  of  the  Highlands,  and  ought 
certainly  to  have  a  Gaelic  tongue  in  it.— Ed. 


THE  MODERATORSHIP  CONTROVERSY.        7» 

"  Society  for  improving  the  system  of  Church  Patronage'* 
had  been  formed,  and  both  Dr.  McCrie  and  Dr.  Andrew- 
Thomson  had  patronized  it ;  but  they  both  moved  simul- 
taneously in  the  way  of  a  *'  further  advance,"  and  came  out 
on  many  occasions,  both  in  church  courts  and  in  private 
voluntarj^  associations. 

In  the  course  of  the  year  1836  circumstances  of  a  very 
painful  nature  occurred  which  had  the  effect  of  introduc- 
ing elements  of  discord  and  disunion  among  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  evangelical  branch  of  the  church,  and  the 
causes  of  these  painful  results  were  not  finally  removed 
for  a  period  of  four  years. 

The  w^hole  soul  of  Dr.  Chalmers  being  set  on  the  plan 
of  church  extension,  it  was  not  to  be  wondered  at  that 
any  man  of  power  and  influence  who  took  a  side  antago- 
nistic to  his  could  be  looked  on  by  him  with  any  friendly 
feeling.  Dr.  Lee,  from  some  cause  or  other,  had  placed 
himself  in  this  position,  and  when  the  idea  was  mooted 
by  the  friends  of  the  evangelical  cause  that  he  should  be 
elected  as  Moderator  of  the  Assembly,  Dr.  Chalmers  firml}'- 
opposed  it,  and  by  a  triumphant  majority  (for  all  the 
moderates  joined  in  it)  carried  the  day  for  Dr.  Gardner 
rather  than  Dr.  Lee.  Had  this  formed  the  main  element 
in  the  dispute,  it  would  have  been  easily  and  speedily 
rectified  and  removed ;  but  there  had  arisen  nearly  at  the 
same  time  in  the  minds  of  certain  ministers  of  the  evan- 
gelical party  in  the  church  a  fancy  that  some  new  plan 
for  electing  a  moderator  should  be  proposed,  and  it  was 
seriously  suggested  that  the  junta  of  old  moderators  who 
had  for  a  long  time  assumed  the  right  of  nomination  should 
continue  to  act  as  they  had  done,  only  with  the  under- 
standing that  a  candidate  for  the  chair  should  be  named 
by  them  from  each  of  the  parties  in  the  church  alternately. 
To  this  the  more  ardent  and  conscientious  members  could 
not  agree.  They  held  that  "  Moderatism "  was,  in  fact, 
corruption  in  the  church,  that  the  system  so  called  had  for 
nearly  a  century  been  the  grand  supporter  of  patronage 
in  its  most  rigid  form,  and  with  all  its  real  or  supposed 
abuses ;  and  that  now,  when  the  evangelical  party  had 


74$  -  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

gained  the  ascendancy,  it  would  be  absolute  folly  in  them 
to  surrender  their  vantage  ground  and  play  into  the  hands 
of  their  deadly  foe.  A  good  deal  of  pretty  smart  contro- 
versy on  this  matter  arose,  partly  in  newspapers  and 
partly  in  fugitive  pamphlets.  It  so  happened  that,  from 
some  cause  or  other  which  has  entirely  escaped  me,  I  be- 
came one  of  the  combatants  on  the  high  side,  as  it  was 
called,  embracing  mainly  such  as  were  the  avowed  and 
earnest  advocates  for  the  abolition  of  patronage.  A  lay 
friend  of  mine,  to  whom  I  ever  felt  a  strong  attachment, 
Mr.  J.  S.  More,  Professor  of  Scots  Law  in  the  University 
of  Edinburgh,  was  my  principal  correspondent  on  the 
occasion,  and  a  few  sentences  from  one  of  his  letters  may 
shew  the  bearing  of  the  controversy : — 

''  The  question  has  now  assumed  a  more  serious  aspect  than  it 
formerly  did,  and  after  the  contemptuous  and  reproachful  manner 

in  which  Dr. speaks  of  the  '  Wild  Men,'  a  very  important 

interest  has  been  attached  to  this  question  which  it  did  not  formerly 
possess.  I  am  convinced  that  the  prosperity  and  welfare  of  the 
church  depend  entirely  on  that  vital  Christianity  which  he  stigma- 
tized as  '  wildness,'  and  that  his  plan  of  openly  and  avowedly  recog- 
nizing no  difference  in  our  church  courts  between  the  conscientious 
men  whom  he  calls  '  wild,'  and  the  thoughtless  men  whom  he  calls 
'  moderate,'  is  one  of  the  greatest  delusions,  and  would  prove  one 
of  the  sorest  mischiefs  which  could  be  inflicted  on  our  church." 

Our  opinion  was  in  favour  of  the  election  of  Dr.  Lee  to 
the  chair,  not  at  all  on  the  notion  that  he  was  either  an 
anti-patronage  man  or  an  earnest  advocate  of  evangelical 
truth,  but  simply  that  he  was  a  man  of  independent 
views,  and  one  of  the  very  few  of  any  eminence  that  were 
so  ;  and  we  wanted  effectually  to  break  the  chain  of  caste 
which  had  so  long  bound  us  all ;  and  it  did  not  appear 
to  us  that  however  we  might  regret  the  opinions  of  Dr. 
Lee  on  church  extension,  they  were  of  such  a  kind  as 
to  preclude  his  being  called  to  the  chair.  Dr.  Hanna 
has  given  a  full  account  of  the  painful  personalities  of 
the  case  in  his  "  Life  of  Dr.  Chalmers."  With  these,  we, 
living  at  a  distance  from  Edinburgh,  had  little  to  do,  but 
we  all  grieved  to  read  or  hear  of  them ;  and  we  rejoiced 
exceedingly  when  Mr.  Charles  Brown  and  other  friends 
succeeded  in  applying  a  healing  restorative. 


CLERICAL   LITERARY  SOCIETY.  76 

The  "Clerical  Literary  Society"  of  Glasgow^  was  an 
association  of  clergymen  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  belong- 
ing to  the  city  and  to  the  country  districts  around,  who 
met  once  a  month  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  for 
the  purpose  of  mutual  improvement,  particularly  in  the 
literature  of  theology.  It  owed  its  existence  mainly  to 
the  efforts  of  Dr.  MacGill,  of  the  Tron  Church  ;  afterwards 
Professor  of  Divinity  in  the  University.  On  his  induction 
to  the  pastoral  charge  in  the  city,  it  occurred  to  him  that 
amid  the  varied  and  laborious  duties  of  the  pastorship  in 
a  large  community  there  was  some  danger  of  ministers 
losing  their  studious  and  classical  habits ;  and  the  idea 
occurred  to  him  that  occasional  meetings  of  the  brethren 
for  reading  of  essays,  or  for  exercises  of  Biblical  criticism, 
in  the  departments  both  of  Greek  and  of  Hebrew ;  friendly 
advice,  literary  conversation,  and  consultation  on  ques- 
tions of  mutual  interest,  might  be  useful  in  cherishing  the 
academic  spirit,  and  enabling  clergymen  to  keep  abreast 
of  the  age  as  regards  the  departments  of  literature  and 
science.  The  idea  was  soon  taken  up  by  a  respectable 
number  of  the  brethren  in  the  city  and  neiglibourhood, 
and  it  was  efficiently  acted  on  for  many  years,  and  while 
subjects  of  a  theological  character  were  always  kept  prom- 
inent, each  member  was  expected  to  give  in  turn  some 
account  of  his  topics  of  discussion  in  the  pulpit  during  the 
intervals  of  meeting,  and  to  submit  questions  of  casuistry 
for  consultation  and  advice.  Nay,  more,  if  any  member 
had  the  daring  courage  to  "put  Out"  from  the  press  a 
work  of  any  magnitude,  he  was  expected  to  lay  some 
specimens  of  it  before  us  for  criticism  and  suggestion.  In 
this  way  certain  of  the  works  of  Dr.  Chalmers,  of  Dr. 
MacGill,  of  Dr.  Robertson  of  Cambuslang,  of  Dr.  Hamilton 
of  Strathblane,  and  of  the  writer  of  these  memorials  were 
inspected  and  judged  of  at  their  "  first  throwing  up  "  by 
their  appointed  "  Lords  of  the  Articles." 

As  might  have  been  expected,  the  labour  of  "  tugging 
the  oar,"  in  this  as  in  other  departments,  lay  mainly  with 
the  popular  or  evangelical  clergy ;  and  yet  we  had  always 
an  agreeable  minority  of  respectable  moderates.     At  the 


76  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

time  of  my  joining  it,  in  the  end  of  1811,  I  found  among 
the  membership  such  men  as  Dr.  Cooper,  Professor  of 
Astronomy  in  the  University ;  Dr.  Maclatchie,  of  Mearns, 
the  early  preceptor  of  John  Wilson ;  and  Dr.  Gibb,  then 
of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  afterwards  Professor  of  Oriental 
Languages  in  the  College.  Party  questions,  if  brought  in 
at  all,  which  was  very  seldom,  were  never  discussed  in  an 
exclusive  or  sectarian  spirit ;  and  the  meetings  ever  helped 
to  cherish  a  friendly  spirit  among  the  members,  and 
were  cheered  and  crowned  by  a  somewhat  substantial,  con- 
vivial repast  at  the  close  of  each  annual  session.  I  wag 
a  member  of  a  similar  society  in  our  own  presbytery,  the 
members  of  which  met  at  each  other's  houses  once  a 
month  ;  and  the  wives  and  families  at  the  manse  always 
regarded  their  meetings  as  pleasant  interludes.  Not  a 
few  of  the  "  Essays  and  Dialogues"  which  figure  in  the 
annals  of  this  friendly  club  adorn  the  pages  of  the  Edin- 
burgh Christian  Instructor,  from  1824  down  to  1840, 
when  that  effective  journal,  associated  as  it  was  with  the 
name  of  Dr.  Andrew  Thomson,  closed  its  career. 

The  benefit  of  such  self-constituted  schools  of  literature 
and  theology  was  largely  felt  by  all  who  took  a  part  in 
their  healthful  maintenance.  My  own  case  affords  an  apt 
enough  illustration  of  this.  In  1823  the  chair  of  Moral 
Philosophy  in  the  united  College  of  St.  Leonard's  and  St. 
Salvator  at  St.  Andrew's  fell  vacant,  and  my  friends  in 
the  locality  of  the  college  asked  me  to  become  a  candidate 
for  the  chair.  Nothing  could  be  more  preposterous  than  the 
proposal  of  taking  a  minister  from  the  large  manufacturing 
town  of  Paisley  to  be  an  active  member  of  an  academic 
corps.  The  habits  and  whole  spirit  of  such  a  position  as 
this,  appeared  to  be  altogether  opposed  to  the  duties  and 
responsibilities  of  a  college  gownsman.  There  could  be 
no  question  about  it ;  bnt  on  the  other  hand,  my  confreres, 
in  those  humble  haunts  of  literature  which  I  have  des- 
cribed, knew  full  well  that  I  had  been  a  most  regular 
attendant  on  the  exercises  of  those  associations,  and  they 
had  heard,  and  criticised  too,  my  repeated  lectures  on 
such  subjects  as  "  the  theory  of  morals/'  "  the  argument 


MORAL   PHILOSOPHY   CHAIR   AT  ST.   ANDREWS.         77 

a  priori,"  and  such  like.      I  had  not  yet  reached  my 
maturity,  and  such  competent  judges  as  Dr.  Chalmers, 
Dr.  MacGill,  Dr.  Gibb,  Professor  Jardine,  and  Dr.  Scott, 
of  Greenock,  Dr.  Andrew  Stewart,  of  Erskine,  and  others 
certified  me  as  amply  qualified  to  occupy  successfully  an 
ethical  chair.    Other  independent  testimony  was  brought 
forward  in  my  favour,  and  my  own  brother-in-law,  Pro- 
fessor Briggs,  was  himself  one  of  the  electors.     In  one 
word,  my  chance  of  success  was  pretty  fair,  and  the  matter 
seemed  to  run  betwixt  my  claims  and  those  of  an  able 
and  worthy  man,  lately  deceased.  Dr.  Fleming,  then  the 
minister   of  old  Kilpatrick,  afterwards  the  successor  of 
Professor  Mylne  in  the  Moral  Philosophy  chair  at  Glasgow. 
Of  the  very  friendly  feelings  of  Dr.  Chalmers  I  had  not 
the  smallest  doubt,  and  my  intercourse  with  him  on  the 
subject  of  the  approaching  election  was  friendly  and  fre- 
quent.    Some  little  circumstances  conspired  to  produce 
on  my  mind  the  notion  that  overtures  had  been  made  to 
the  great  man  himself,  and  that  he  indeed  was  in  the  eye 
of  Principal  Nicol,  and  certain  of  his  colleagues,  in  the 
Senatus.     On  hinting  my  suspicions  to  a  mutual  friend, 
Mr.  William  Collins,  the  excellent  Christian  bookseller  in 
Glasgow,  he  turned  on  me  with  vehemence,  saying  eagerly, 
*'  Do  you  mean  to  insult  him,  sir  ? "    So  very  unlikely  did 
the  thing  seem  of  Dr.  Chalmers  leaving  the  high  vantage- 
ground  of  Glasgow  for  the  literary  solitude  of  St. Andrew's, 
that  the  very  idea  was  repelled  with  indignation.     Did  I 
feel  disappointed  in  the  unlooked-for  issue  of  the  contest  ? 
Assuredly  I  would,  had  some  old  worn-out  moderate  been 
chosen,  or  it  may  be  some  "broad"  sceptical  sciolist;  but 
my  highest,  if  not  my  exclusive,  wish  was — and  all  my 
best  friends   participated  with  me  in  it — that  a  larger 
measure  of  the  "  sal  evangelicum"  might  be  thrown  into 
the  academic  waters,  and  that  the  heights  of  Parnassus 
and  of  Helicon  might  not  be  ever  and  only  climbed  by 
the  haters  of  Carmel  and  of  Zion.     Circumstances  in  my 
position  lent  m©  a  sort  of  "  pull"  for  the  place  ;  and  there 
was  no  fear  of  Paisley  being  filled  by  a  "right  man." 
Still,  I  was  aware  that  many  of  my  most  pious  friends 


78  '      LIFE   OF  KEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

and  fellow-labourers  had  very  serious  doubts  as  to  the 
propriety  of  my  leaving  a  spiritual  charge  so  important, 
and  offering  myself  a  candidate  for  what  seemed  a  purely 
secular  office.     It  was  not  easy  for  me  to  vindicate  my 
conduct  in  the  case  without  seeming  to  indicate  by  doing 
so  a  somewhat  conceited  idea  of  perhaps  thinking  myself 
fitted  to  be  of  some  service  to  the  ineffably  important 
cause  of  spiritual  religion  as  deeply  involved  in  right 
theological  and  college  training.      But  in  addition  to  the 
pleadings  of  some  most  competent  judges,  I  was  some- 
times gratified  by  receiving  encouragement  from  quarters 
where  it  was  least  expected.     One  evening,  at  a  meeting 
of   our  Sabbath-school    directors,  on  the  subject  being 
mooted,  John  Cairns,  an  elder  of  the  West  Relief  congre- 
gation, and  a  fine  specimen  of  a  class  that  was  fast  passing 
away — -the  w  ell-conditioned  and  respectable  Paisley  weaver 
— put  in  his  word,  to  the  effect  that  he  was  a  native  of  St. 
Andrews,  knew  well  the  state  of  sentiment  and  of  feeling 
among  the  teachers  and  students  of  that  college,  and  that 
nothing  was  more  to  be  desired  than  a  change  from  the 
cold  and  withered  sterility  of  moderatism  to  the  genial 
influence  of  evangelical  truth.     He  approved  highly  of 
the  movement  I  had  made,   and   recommended  to  my 
people  a  cheerful  concurrence.      Forty-five  years  have 
rolled  away  since  the  time  referred  to,  and  still  I  recollect 
well  the  feeling  of  satisfaction  which  the  unlooked-for 
testimony  of  this  plain  unlettered  tradesman,  connected 
as  he  was  with  another  communion,  afforded  me;  and 
now,  looking  back  through  the  vista  of  years,  the  contest 
referred  to  does  not  violently  disquiet  my  conscience. 

Political  reform  and  the  "popular  party"  were  then 
rising  into  strength  and  form.  But  still  the  moderate 
ranks  were  strong,  and  the  favourite  haunts  of  the  party 
were  strongholds.  I  belonged  to  the  "  wild  party,"  as  it 
was  called,  and  not  the  tamest  of  the  "  wild ;"  and  St. 
Andrew's  had  long  been  the  "  lion's  den "  of  moderatism. 
The  case  required  caution,  and  some  skill  in  tactics.  Cir- 
cumstances connected  with  the  political  aspect  of  the 
times  brought  to  my  side  some  "  men  in  Dower,"  whose 


I 


4 


APPOINTMENT  OF  DR.   CHALMEES.  79 

Kood  opinion  was  not  to  be  despised ;  and  a  few  of  the 
least  "  fierce"  moderates  befriended  me.  But  "  our  men," 
le.  those  of  the  more  marked  and  decided  character,  pru- 
dently lay  by,  and  quietly  watched  their  opportunity  of 
service.  Andrew  Thomson,  indeed,  said  that  we  had  "  tied 
up  his  hands  too  much,"  for  he  was  ready  to  work  if  we 
had  let  him.  "  The  use  of  terror"  he  had  largely  at  com- 
mand ;  but  we  were  jealous  of  that,  and  preferred  a  quieter 
move  :  and  he  certainly  proved  himself  a  kind  friend,  for 
he  not  only  gave  advice  which  was  invaluable,  but  he 
brought  the  matter  under  the  notice  of  Sir  Henry  Mon- 
erieff,  whose  favourable  opinion  of  any  one  Principal 
Nicol  well  knew  how  to  appreciate,  and  well  did  I  know 
the  value  of  the  friendship  of  such  a  man  as  Sir  Henry. 
He  examined  my  credentials,  weighed  the  case  impartially, 
and  gave  his  best  advice.  In  ordinary  circumstances  I 
would,  in  all  likelihood,  have  been  the  successful  candi- 
date. As  things  turned  out,  Glasgow  and  the  west  of 
Scotland  were  covered  for  a  season  with  a  saddening 
funeral  pall ;  but  the  accession  of  Chalmers,  first  to  St. 
Andrew's  and  thereafter  to  Edinburgh,  were  great  turning 
points  in  the  wheel  of  Providence. 

The  apparent  crossing  of  his  path  by  Dr.  Chalmers 
caused  no  interruption  of  their  friendly  relations.  These 
had  commenced  soon  after  the  Doctor's  settlement  in 
Glasgow,  and  continued  till  his  death.  It  was  on  the 
21st  of  July,  1815,  Dr.  Chalmers  was  inducted  into  the 
Tron  Church.  Two  months  thereafter  the  following  re- 
sponse came  to  an  application  from  the  Paisley  pastor. 

"  Glasgow,  Sept.  26th,  1815. 
"Rev.  Mr.  Burns, 

''  My  dear  Sir, — I  trust  the  time  is  coming  when  i  shall  be  able 
to  satisfy  my  friends  with  such  assistance  as  they  may  demand,  but 
that  time  has  not  yet  arrived.  1  feel  that  ever  since  my  arrival  at 
Glasgow,  1  have  been  pressing  so  hard  upon  the  limits  of  my  strength, 
that  I  cannot  go  beyond  the  regular  line  of  my  exertions  without 
doing  a  positive  and  serious  inj  ^ry  to  my  constitution.  In  these  cir- 
cumstances, I  have  been  under  the  necessity  of  refusing  a  number 


80  LIFE   OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

of  home  applications  for  sermons  ;  and,  feeling  as  I  do,  that  any 
spare  strength  I  have  should  be  directed  in  the  Hrst  instance  to  the 
objects  which  are  immediately  around  me,  I  am  not  at  liberty  to 
listen  to  any  foreign  applications  but  such  as  I  consider  a  return 
for  sacramental  services.  Do,  therefore,  indulge  me  in  declining 
the  request  with  which  you  have  honoured  me.  I  take  your  visits 
to  me  very  kind,  and  trust  I  may  soon  return  them.  I  hope  wo 
may  see  one  another  frequently  on  this  side  of  time,  but  let  us  not 
destroy  the  health  or  comfort  of  each  other  by  making  a  sacrifice  of 
them  to  the  itching  ears  and  gaping  curiosity  of  our  people. 

"  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  perceive  that  you  are  much  at  one 
with  me  on  the  subject  of  Bible  associations.  Dr.  Burns  (Barony) 
has  become  a  member  of  one  of  them,  and  the  President  of  the 
S.E.  district  has  just  called  upon  me,  and  obtained  my  name  also. 
I  cordially  agree  in  your  sentiments  that  the  true  way  of  neutral- 
izing all  that  is  dangerous  to  the  Establishment  in  the  influence  of 
dissenters,  is  to  move  cordially  along  with  them  in  all  that  is  good. 
With  most  cordial  good  will  to  yourself,  and  every  sentiment  of 
esteem  for  the  zeal  with  which  you  carry  on  the  all-important  work 
of  the  ministry, 

"  Believe  me  to  be,  my  dear  Sir, 

"  Yours  most  truly, 

"Thomas  Chalmers." 


1 
i 


CHAPTER  VL 


INTEREST  IN  FOREIGN  MISSIONS  AND 
THE  HOME   POOK, 


HAT  the  state  of  religion  in  Scotland  during 
the  last  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century 
was  very  dark  and  depressing  is  a  matter 
of  fact  of  which  there  can  be  no  doubt.  Dr. 
McCrie  speaks  of  the  "  lurid  star"  of  1784! ; 
and  Sir  Henry  Moncrieff,  in  his  Life  of  Dr. 
Erskine,  traces  back  the  sad  defection  to  the  days 
of  Hutcheson,  Robertson,  and  other  leaders  in  the 
downward  march  of  sterile  moderatism.  Among 
the  causes  that  led  to  a  great  revival  may  be 
mentioned  the  rise  of  the  missionary  movement  in 
England  in  1794,  followed,  as  it  instantly  was,  by 
similar  symptoms  and  effects  in  Scotland.  The  sailing 
for  the  South  Seas  of  a  chartered  vessel  filled  with  warm- 
hearted candidates  for  missionary  life  and  labours  among 
savages  and  cannibals  was  a  new  thing  in  Britain,  or 
perhaps  in  the  world ;  and  the  question :  "  Any  word 
from  the  Duff  I"  still  lingers  in  my  ears  as  associated 


82  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DR.   BUllNS. 

with  the  arrival  of  the  weekly  post  or  carrier  from 
the  metropolis.  Regularly  on  such  occasions  did  I  go 
with  or  without  my  companions,  to  the  humble  sources 
of  information  in  our  little  town,  with  the  significant 
question  "  Any  word  ?"  When,  on  the  second  voyage 
of  the  Buff,  word  came  that  she  had  been  taken  by  the 
French  frigate  Buonaparte,  the  announcement  thrilled 
through  the  awakening  heart  of  Scotland  as  the  signal  of 
a  great  national  calamity.  The  General  Assembly  of 
1796  did  indeed  by  a  majority  (not  very  large,  I  am  happy 
to  say)  try  to  put  down  the  rising  spirit  of  missions.  But 
Paisley  subscribed  at  the  first  call  one  thousand  pounds 
sterling  as  the  primary  offering.  Edinburgh,  and  Glasgow, 
and  the  North  organized  their  missionary  associations. 
The  Evangelical  Magazine  of  1793,  and  the  Edinburgh 
Missionary/  Magazine  of  1796,  helped  wondrously  the 
/'move;"  and  four  such  men  as  Haldane,  Bogue,  Ewing, 
and  Innes  (most  distinctly  do  I  picture  the  men  now  to 
my  mental  eye,  amid  the  shadows  of  the  past)  offered  to 
head  a  mission  to  Bengal,  and  four  more  like  minded,  and 
like  circumstanced,  were  ready  to  follow  in  their  wake. 
The  visits  of  Simeon,  and  of  Fuller  to  Scotland,  at  a  rather 
later  period,  told  mightily  ;  and  "  the  preaching  tours"  of 
Rowland  Hill,  James  Haldane,  John  Aikman,  and  Greville 
Ewing  contributed  much  to  deepen  impressions  already 
made  for  good  in  the  hitherto  stagnant  national  mind. 
Those  week-day  services  of  "  Strangers  "  amongst  us  did 
immense  good.  When  John  Aikman,  a  native  of  our  sea- 
port, and  a  man  every  way  remarkable  for  zeal  and  piety 
and  disinterestedness,  preached  in  our  school-house  of  an 
evening,  he  gave  out  the  107th  Psalm  at  the  beginning, 
and  preached  on  "joy  among  the  angels  in  heaven  over 
one  sinner  that  repenteth  ;"  and  the  memories  and  im- 
pressions are  still  present  with  me.  And  I  remember  the 
sermon  of  Mr.  Slatten,  of  Chatham,  in  our  town,  the  more 
distinctly,  perhaps,  because  we  heard  him  under  the  im- 
pression that  it  was  "  the  Captain"  himself,  meaning  Mr. 
James  Haldane,  who  usually  went  under  that  name. 
Great  and  salutary  moreover  was  the  era  of  the  erection 


LONDON  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY.  83 

of  Sabbath  schools,  and  the  circulation  of  religious  tracts 
also  did  much  good  ;  and  the  names  of  John  Campbell, 
John  Ritchie,  George  Cowie,  Alexander  Pitcairn,  and 
many  others  like  minded,  are  still  fresh  and  fragrant  in 
Scotland.  Independency,  or  Scottish  Congregationalism, 
indeed  got  then  a  strong  pull ;  but  no  matter  of  that. 
The  Established  Church,  whose  deadness  was  the  real 
cause  of  this,  shared  largely  in  the  happy  issues  ;  for  her 
sleep  was  disturbed,  she  began  to  look  through  the  cur- 
tains of  her  repose,  and  to  rub  her  eyes  with  the  feeling 
of  surprise.  We  that  were  boys,  or  little  more,  wondered, 
and  eagerly  put  questions,  more  or  less  to  the  point,  and 
moved  on  with  the  current.  My  father  estimated  the 
Moulin  revival  at  the  close  of  the  century  (1796)  as  the 
return  of  the  days  of  Whitetield  and  the  scenes  of  Cam- 
bus  lang. 

At  an  early  period  in  his  ministry  Dr.  Burns  evinced 
practically  his  interest  in  the  missionary  enterprise.  Four 
months  after  his  settlement  in  Paisley  we  find  him  ap- 
pointed secretary  of  the  auxiliary  to  the  time-honoured 
London  Missionary  Society,  which,  fifteen  years  previous- 
ly, had  been  established  in  Paisley.  The  MS.  minutes  of 
this  fruitful  branch  during  the  finst  nineteen  years  and  a 
half  of  its  history  (from  March,  179G,  till  November,  1815) 
lie  before  us.  We  have  also  on  our  table  the  first  mis- 
sionary magazine  ever  published  on  this  continent.  The 
two  beautifully  synchronize.  The  retrospect  is  sugges- 
tive. The  movement  in  the  2Tew  World  was  almost 
simultaneous  with  that  in  the  Old. 

The  magazine,  which  seems  to  have  been  occasional  in 
its  publication,  embraces  in  its  240  pages  from  1796  till 
1800.  The  purely  missionary  news  being  then  but  scanty, 
its  columns  are  largely  filled  with  other  matter  suitable 
to  a  religious  journal.     Special  prominence  is  given  to 


81  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  BURNS. 

the  doings  of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  which  had 
been  formed  on  a  catholic  basis  on  the  22nd  of  September, 
1795,  in  presence  of  two  hundred  ministers  of  different 
Protestant  denominations,  and  an  assembly  which  crowded 
every  corner  of  Spa-fields  Chapel.  The  designation  of  the 
first  missionaries,  twenty-eight  in  number :  their  settle- 
ment amid  the  islet  gems  which  stud  the  bosom  of  the 
vast  Pacific :  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  work  at  Ota- 
heite  :  the -exploits  of  the  good  ship  Duff  and  the  devoted 
Captain  Wilson:  the  thanksgiving  day  on  her  return 
after  fifty-one  thousand  miles  of  voyaging,  with  Dr. 
Haweis'  discourse  on  the  occasion,  from  Psalm  cxxvi.  3 : 
these  and  such-like  form  the  staple  of  the  thrilling  story. 

From  the  altar  kindled  by  the  "  Spirit  of  Burning  "  in 
the  British,  the  friends  of  truth  in  the  American  metro- 
polis received  "  a  live  coal." 

McWhorter,  and  Livingston,  and  Mason  caught  inspi- 
ration from  Bogue,  and  Wilks,  and  Waugh. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1796,  the  New  York  Mission 
ary  Society  was  organized,  with  "  John  M.  Mason,  of  the 
Scots  Presbyterian  Church,  Cedar  Street,"  as  secretary. 

Six  months  before  the  movement  in  New  York,  and 
after  that  in  London,  Paisley  began  to  move  in  the  samje 
direction.  In  this,  as  in  other  religious  and  philanthropic 
enterprises,  she  has  proved  a  pioneer  among  the  towns, 
and  made  good  her  claim  to  Rowland  Hill's  eulogium — 
"  PaLsley  is  the  Paradise  of  Scotland,  because  there  Chris- 
tians love  one  another." 

Li  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  en- 
terprise in  the  Church  of  Scotland  Dr.  Burns  felt  a  pecu- 
liar interest.     None  mourned  more  deeply  than  he  over 


4 


DR.   DUFF — COLIN  CAMPBELL.  85 

the  sad  defections  of  the  past,  when  the  church  of  his 
fathers  had  forgotten  her  first  love ;  and  none  more 
ardently  longed  for  her  to  remember  whence  she  had 
fallen,  and  to  repent  and  do  the  first  works.  He  rejoiced 
greatly  in  the  dawning  of  a  brighter  day,  when  the  claims 
of  the  "  great  commission  "  received  on  the  floor  of  her 
Supreme  Court,  where  a  generation  before  they  had  been 
contemned,  a  fitting  recognition  ;  and  when,  shaking  her- 
self from  the  dust  and  loosing  herself  from  the  bands  of 
her  neck,  she  responded  promptly  to  the  appeal,  "Awake  I 
awake  !  put  on  thy  strength  !" 

He  gloried  in  the  mission  of  Dr.  Duff ;  and  when  that 
apostle  of  India  first  returned  from  the  field  of  his  trials 
and  triumphs,  and  the  electric  shock  which  his  mar- 
vellous oratory  gave  to  the  General  Assembly — then 
unused  to  such  visitations — vibrated  to  the  extremities 
of  the  land,  he  felt  in  all  the  fulness  of  his  ardent  nature 
the  thrill.  While  plodding  on  perse veringly  at  home  work ; 
and  his  sympathies  going  forth  to  his  expatriated  fellow- 
countrymen  in  the  remotest  of  Britain's  colonial  depen- 
dencies, he  found  time,  with  voice  and  pen,  by  labouring 
and  travelling,  to  shew  in  many  practical  forms  his  interest 
in  the  perishing  heathen. 

Several  ministers  and  missionaries  were  trained  up 
under  Dr.  Burns'  Paisley  pastorate,  and  received  their  first 
impulses  towards  the  work  from  him. 

The  Rev.  Colin  Campbell,  for  many  years  a  faithful 
and  successful  missionary  of  the  London  Missionary  So- 
ciety, at  Bangalore,  in  the  Presidency  of  Madras,  thus 
writes,  in  a  letter  full  of  interesting  incident : — 


86  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

**  My  ever-revered  and  much-loved  Friend  and  Pastor : 

**  I  have  often  had  it  in  my  mind  to  write  to  you.  A  very 
good  likeness  of  you  which  hangs  in  my  study,  and  which  has  been 
long  in  our  possession,  often  gives  occasion  to  speak  of  you,  both 
among  ourselves,  and  friends  who  may  happen  to  be  visiting  us. 
But  without  this  I  know  I  should  not  be  ready  to  forget  you.  I 
owe  so  much  to  your  ministerial  labours,  to  your  kind  advice,  and 
to  the  interest  you  took  in  my  welfare  in  my  early  days,  and  espe- 
cially at  the  time  1  began  to  think  of  the  missionary  work,  that  I 
always  think  of  you  with  the  highest  respect,  affection,  and  grati- 
tude. I  am  now  stirred  up  to  write  to  you  by  hearing  from  my 
sister-in-law  that  you  have  been  paying  a  visit  to  Paisley,  and  that 
she  has  had  the  very  great  pleasure  of  hearing  you  again.  I  was 
agreeably  surprised  to  hear  that  you  looked  so  well,  and  that 
your  preaching  was  still  characterized  by  so  much  energy  and 
power. " 

His  labours  in  connection  with  the  Bible  Society  and 
Sabbath  schools  we  can  only  touch  upon.  It  was  in  the 
Old  Low  Church  the  "  Paisley  and  East  Renfrewshire 
Bible  Society"  was  organized  on  May  17th,  1813,  at  a 
meeting  presided  over  by  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  John 
Orr,  first  Provost  of  the  town.  His  speech  on  that  oc- 
casion, which  was  one  of  great  eloquence  and  power,  is 
given  in  full  in  the  August  and  September  numbers  of  the 
Christian  Instructor  of  that  year.  For  many  years  he 
filled  the  post  of  secretar}^  With  the  Sabbath  school 
4-ssociations  he  was  closely  identified.  The  numbers  M 
the  Instructor  for  May  and  June,  1814,  contain  *'the 
Paisley  Sabbath  School  Report,"  which,  though  without 
signature,  bears  the  impress  of  his  hand,  and  of  which  the 
editor  says,  "  the  report  is  so  creditable  to  the  society 
whose  proceedings  it  details,  and  so  much  calculated  to 
be  useful  in  the  way  of  information  and  encouragement, 
that  we  shall  give  it  without  abridgment." 

In  behalf  of  Bible,  missionary,  and  kindred  societies  he 


TEMPORAL    WELL-BEING   OF   THE   POOR.  8? 

made  many  tours,  two  of  them  in  Ireland,  which  created 
a  deep  impression  and  won  him  many  friends. 

Not  less  in  the  temporal  well-being  of  the  poor,  than  in 
promoting  the  spiritual  good  of  all,  did  Dr.  Burns  take  a 
deep  interest.  With  the  poor  of  Paisley  he  naturally 
sympathised  most  deeply,  and  on  their  behalf  exerted 
himself  most  actively.  Here  we  recur  to  his  autobio- 
graphical notes. 

A  very  interesting  enquiry  has  been  lately  instituted 
in  England,  and  surely  it  may  be  extended  to  Scotland 
also,  although  it  may  be  with  greater  limitation  in  the 
one  case  than  in  the  other,  I  refer  to  the  causes  why  the 
working  classes  in  the  community  seem  to  be  so  indifferent 
to  religion  in  its  social  character,  so  callous  to  the  interests 
of  eternity  as  compared  with  the  keenness  with  which 
they  struggle  for  secular  rights.  My  settlement  in  Paisley 
and  lengthened  residence  there  necessarily  led  me  to 
remark  certain  phenomena  that  did  bear  pointedly  on 
such  questions.  Of  course  it  was  with  the  state  of  things 
within  the  pale  of  the  Established  Church  that  I  had 
mainly  to  do,  and  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  that  the  facts 
to  which  I  am  about  to  refer  were  not  realised  at  all  to 
the  same  extent  within  the  circles  of  secession  or  dissent 
as  in  the  Establishment.  I  entered  the  church  at  a  time 
when  popular  rights,  whether  civil  or  religious,  were 
greatly  in  abeyance,  when  the  notion  of  meddling  with 
church  patronage  or  anything  of  the  kind  was  held  to  be 
purely  absurd,  and  when  even  a  recognition  of  dissenters 
at  all,  in  our  discussions  in  church  courts,  was  repelled 
and  put  down  as  insulting.  Toryism  reigned  in  all  its 
power  in  all  the  grades  of  society  above  or  beyond  that 
of  the  working  classes,  and  to  a  limited  extent  in  that 
immediately  above  it.  By  the  established  church  courts 
the  people  were  ignored  ;  and  any  allusion  in  our  speeches 
to  the  popular  mind  or  to  the  ordinary  vehicles  of  popular 
sentiment  were  uniformly  and  contemptuously  frowned 


88  LIFE  OP  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

down.  The  feeling,  if  not  expressed,  was  nevertheless 
strong, — Who  are  the  people  1  We  know  them  not ;  we 
are  independent  of  them ;  we  are  the  church,  not  of  the 
people,  but  of  the  constitution.  In  perfect  harmony  with 
this,  stood  side  by  side  with  it  a  disinclination  to  do  any- 
thing at  all,  ecclesiastically,  for  benefiting  the  temporal 
interests  of  the  working  classes.  Often  have  I  thought 
of  the  words  of  Paul  in  reference  to  an  apostolic  commis- 
sion, "only  they  would  that  we  should  remember  the 
poor,"  as  in  striking  contrast  with  the  apathy  of  so  many 
modern  churchmen.  When  I  first  published  my  volume 
on  the  poor  in  1818, 1  had  by  no  means  got  above  the 
dominant  prejudice.  Circumstances  connected  with  the 
depression  of  trade  and  with  the  civil  disabilities  that 
impeded  the  prosperity  of  Scotland  gradually  enlarged 
and  liberalized  my  views,  and  during  the  second  half  of 
the  period  of  my  ministry  in  Scotland  I  not  only  felt  and 
acted  on  the  principle  that  the  church  ought  to  do  more 
than  she  had  done  for  relief  of  the  humbler  classes,  but  I 
pleaded  occasionally  from  the  platform  and  from  the  press 
in  behalf  of  removal  of  iniquitous  and  oppressive  laws, 
such  as  those  which  affected  the  importation  of  corn  and 
provisions  from  foreign  ports.  With  great  difficulty  did 
I  obtain  a  scrimp  majority  of  votes  in  our  presbytery  for 
a  searching  enquiry  into  the  causes  of  prevailing  distress 
among  the  working  classes  in  our  community. 

I  tried  it  in  the  Synod  at  Irvine,  but  signally  failed. 
My  experience  led  me  strongly  to  the  conclusion  that 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  especially  those  in  the  Estab- 
lishment, ought  to  take  a  deeper  interest  in  the  temporal 
necessities  of  their  people,  by  ever  shewing  suitable  sym- 
pathy with  them  in  their  difficulties,  and  by  bringing 
their  influence  to  bear  on  the  side  of  an  increase  of  their 
comforts.  Four  times  in  the  lapse  of  ten  or  twelve  years 
was  I  sent  to  London,  as  one  of  a  deputation  to  the 
"  powers  that  be,"  on  behalf  of  suffering  operatives.  The 
ministers  and  laymen  who  co-operated  with  me  in  these 
missions  were  fully  satisfied  as  to  the  line  of  duty  followed 
out,  and  never  regarded  the  sacrifice  of  a  few  weeks' 


DISSENTERS  NEGLECTED.  89 

absence  from  our  ordinary  fields  of  labour  as  at  variance 
with  conscience,  or  as  morally  deleterious  to  the  cause  of 
religion — quite  the  reverse. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  in  large  communities 
as  Paisley,  Dundee,  Aberdeen,  and  such  like,  the  preval- 
ence of  French  infidelity,  the  introduction  of  Sunday 
drilling,  and  other  causes  of  a  like  kind,  tended  greatly  to 
eat  out  the  piety  of  the  people  and  to  thin  the  churches. 
But  I  am  not  less  persuaded  that  if,  half  a  century  ago, 
proper  means  had  been  used  to  remove  the  evils  that 
beset  the  church,  and  to  promote  a  kindlier  feeling  towards 
all  classes  of  dissenters  from  her  communion,  Scotland 
would  have  presented  a  far  more  pleasing  aspect  than  it 
has  done.  Old  affection  would  have  risen  from  its  tor- 
pidity, and  associations  happy  and  healthful  would  have 
welded  society  sweetly  in  one.  Had  our  General  Assem- 
blies dealt  not  in  such  "pastoral  admonitions"  as  were 
levelled  at  Simeon,  of  Cambridge,  and  Fuller,  of  Kettering, 
the  very  best  men  of  their  age,  but  in  such  addresses  as 
that  of  Mr.  Bonar,  of  Cramond,  entitled  "  Genuine  Religion 
the  Best  Friend  of  the  People,"  of  which  thousands  of 
copies  were  showered  among  the  people  of  the  metropolis^ 
what  substantial  good  would  have  been  the  result ! 

Far  am  I  from  sajdng  that  Dr.  Hill,  of  St.  Andrew's, 
and  Dr.  Thomas  Hardy,  of  Edinburgh,  did  no  good  by 
their  printed  appeal  to  the  working  classes  in  Scotland  at 
the  end  of  the  last  century ;  but  this  T  know,  that  when 
Henry  Dundas  came  down,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Pitt's 
Government,  to  reconnoitre  on  behalf  of  trembling  and 
panting  patriotism,  he  found,  and  he  acknowledged,  that 
moderatism  could  do  little  to  mellow  the  chafed  spirits  of 
a  discontented  people,  and  he  made  an  affecting  appeal  to 
Sir  Henry  Moncrieff,  as  the  representative  of  the  Evan- 
gelical party,  for  help  in  the  sad  emergency.  Kay,  in  one 
of  the  very  best  of  his  caricatures,  giving  utterance  to  a 
deeply-felt,  wide-spread  conviction,  has  shown  how  little 
the  Carlyles  and  the  Grieves  of  the  moderate  clergy  could 
do  to  meet  the  swelling  tide.  The  noble  Baronet,  with 
commendable  highmindedness.  said  in  reply,  "  Mr.  Dundas^ 


90  LIFE   OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

you  have  kept  us  always  in  the  background,  and  lavished 
all  your  favours  upon  others." 

One  of  his  oldest  Paisley  friends  thus  expresses  himself 
on  his  interest  in  the  poor : — 

' '  Dr.  Burns  was  not  only  a  popular  preacher,  but  a  model  parish 
clergyman,  visiting  not  only  his  congregation  once  a  year,  but  all 
his  parishioners.  He  was  truly  a  valuable  citizen  ;  for  there  was 
not  a  religious,  benevolent,  or  philanthropic  movement  in  town  but 
he  was  to  be  found  either  at  the  beginning,  middle,  or  end  of  it. 
The  work  which  specially  connects  the  Doctor  with  Paisley  is  his 
'  Historical  Dissertations  on  the  Law  and  Practice  of  Great  Britain, 
and  particularly  of  Scotland,  with  regard  to  the  Poor  :  On  the 
Modes  of  Charity,  and  on  the  Means  of  Promoting  the  Improvement 
of  the  People,'  and  known  as  'Burns  on  the  Poor  Law.'  This 
work  is  full  of  valuable  local  information,  containing  an  epitome  oi 
the  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Paisley,  from  1739  to  1818  ;  the  Cen- 
sus of  the  Population,  from  1695  to  1811  ;  the  Ecclesiastical  Pro- 
vision for  the  Poor  by  the  Established  and  Dissenting  Churches  ;  a 
History  of  the  various  Charitable  and  Benevolent  Institutions, 
Schools,  &c.,  &c.  ;  and  containing  an  account  of  the  *  Town  Guard' 
prior  to  the  obtaining  of  the  Police  Act  in  1806.  The  information 
is  most  varied  and  interesting." 

This  work  met  with  general  acceptance,  and  received 
the  warmest  commendations  of  the  critics.*  The  first  edi- 
tion was  rapidly  exhausted,  and  a  new  edition  was  brought 
out.  It  was  quoted  as  the  great  authority  on  the  subject. 
Six  years  after  its  appearance,  one  just  then  rising  into 
notice,  but  who  was  afterwards  destined  to  occupy  a  front 

*  "A  mass  of  evidence  and  information,  of  which  the  volume  before  us  presents  us 
with  a  distinct  and  valuable  abstract." 

"  One  cannot  do  better  than  quote  the  excellent  and  judicious  observations  of  Mr. 
Bums  in  his  own  words." 

"  Our  author's  observations  upon  the  management  and  application  of  the  poor  funds 
are  equally  just  and  practical." 

"  On  this  as  on  every  other  view  and  bearing  of  this  subject,  Mr.  Bums  writes  with 
great  information  and  good  sense." 

"  The  work  itself,  which  is  at  once  full  and  clear,  and  comprehensive  in  its  statements 
and  details,  can  alone  speak  for  itself." 

"  Were  we  called  upon  to  point  out  any  single  book  which  contained  the  greatest  pro- 
portion of  useful  and  acciirate  information  ;  of  just,  honest,  and  impartial  reasoning 
upon  the  subject  of  the  Poor  Laws,  in  its  broadest  and  most  extended  bearing,  we  would 
not  hesitate  an  instant  in  fixing  upon  the  volume  before  us." 

In  1841  Dr.  Burns  published  "  An  Enquiry  into  the  State  of  the  Poor,  and  a  Plea  for 
n  Government  Investigation  "  (which  soon  followed),  being  the  substance  of  two  lectures 
delivered  before  the  Paisley  Philosophical  Institution. — Ed. 


i 


WESTMINSTER   REVIEW.  91 

rank  in  the  coining  struggle — Alexander  Murray  Dunlop, 
the  future  trusty  counsellor  of  the  church — thus  wrote : — 

"  Edinburgh,  Feb.  1825. 

"  Sir, — May  I  beg  of  you  to  do  me  the  favour  to  accept  of  the 
accompanying  little  volume,  in  testimony  of  the  respect  I  entertain 
for  the  learned  author  of  the  admirable  dissertations  relative  to  the 
poor,  to  which  I  venture  to  hope  my  imperfect  treatise  may  perhaps 
serve  as  a  sort  of  supplement. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  much  esteem, 

'*  Your  very  obedient  servant, 

*'  Alexr.  Dunlop,  Jr." 

Though  half  a  century  has  rolled  away  since  its  pub- 
lication, this  work  is  quoted  as  an  authority  still.  The 
Westminster  Review  of  October,  1870,  has  an  able  article 
"  On  the  Scottish  Poor  Law."  in  which  repeated  quotations 
are  made  from  H  and  references  to  it.  In  a  foot-note  at  the 
beginning,  the  reviewer  states  "  the  principal  works  con- 
sulted in  this  part  of  our  enquiry  are  *  The  Scottish  Poor 
Laws,'  by  Scotus,  Edinburgh,  1870,  and  a  work  by  the 
Rev.  Robert  Burns,  '  Historical  Dissertations  on  the  Law 
and  Practice  of  Great  Britain,  and  particularly  of  Scot- 
land, with  regard  to  the  Poor.'  Glasgow,  1819.  Svo.  pp. 
897." 

Dr.  Bums'  interest  in  the  poor  was  no  mere  thing  of 
theory.  It  was  intensely  practical.  He  was  all  the  time 
in  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  town  on  missions  of  be- 
nevolence. He  exhibited  to  the  full,  pure  religion  and 
undefiled,  by  "  visiting  the  fatherless  and  widows  in  their 
affliction."  All  the  local  charitable  institutions  enjoyed 
his  advocacy  and  felt  his  care.  Connexion  with  their 
boards  to  him  was  no  mere  sinecure.  He  was  chairman 
of  emioration  societies  to  facilitate  the  exodus  of  the  de- 


92  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

serving  poor  to  those  lands  of  promise  which  Britain's 
colonies  supplied. 

In  those  periodical  seasons  of  commercial  stagnation  to 
which  a  town  like  Paisley,  so  long  dependent  on  one  great 
staple,  was  subject,  he  was  prominent  among  his  fellow- 
citizens  in  the  proposing  and  carrying  out  of  measures  to 
meet  the  prevalent  distress.  Without  making  himself  a 
fool  in  glorying,  he  might  perhaps  have  said,  "  Ilowbeit 
I  laboured  more  abundantly  than  they  all ;"  nor  would 
the  patient  Uzzite's  self-appropriated  eulogium  have  been 
out  of  place — "  When  the  ear  heard  me,  then  it  blessed  me ; 
and  when  the  eye  saw  me  it  bore  witness  to  me,  because 
I  delivered  the  poor  that  cried,  and  the  fatherless,  and 
him  that  had  no  helper;  the  blessing  of  him  that  was 
ready  to  perish  came  upon  me,  and  I  caused  the  widow's 
heart  to  sing  for  joy.  I  was  eyes  to  the  blind,  and  feet 
was  I  to  the  lame.  I  was  a  father  to  the  poor  ;  and  the 
cause  which  I  knew  not,  I  searched  out." 

The  remembrance  comes  up  to  us  of  long  rows  of 
poverty-stricken  people  reaching  from  his  study  desk  out 
into  the  street,  eager  to  pour  into  his  ready  ear  the  story 
of  their  woes. 

Four  times  he  visited  London  and  leading  cities  of 
England  on  missions  for  the  poor.  Frequently  did  he  act 
as  a  member  of  deputations  to  confer  with  the  Ministry 
of  the  day,  and  with  prominent  statesmen,  with  reference 
to  the  condition  of  the  suffering  operatives. 

We  remember  how  proud  we  were  to  handle  and  to 
read  a  letter  he  received  from  the  Duke  of  Wellington  on 
the  subject,  which  has  perished  with  a  host  of  others 


PUBLIC  CHARITIES  OF  PAISLEY.  93 

which  reached  him,  alike  from  the  lofty  and  the  lowly. 
He  had  a  fashion  of  making  periodical  bonfires  of  letters 
and  of  sermons, — often  when  we  were  not  aware  of  it. 
Thus,  of  the  immense  accumulations  of  nigh  sixty  years, 
not  over  a  dozen  of  fully  written  out  discourses  have 
escaped  the  fury  of  the  flames  ;  and  in  the  general  burn- 
ings, letters  whose  preservation  we  would  have  coveted, 
slipped  in,  sometimes  by  mistake,  oftener  intentionally. 
Of  these  periods  of  commercial  stagnation  in  Paisley, 
and  of  Dr.  Burns*  connexion  with  her  pubHc  charities,  one 
of  her  most  public-spirited  citizens,  and  closely  identified 
with  his  Paisley  life,  testifies  :* 

"  I  shall  not  say  much  regarding  him  personally,  but  I  must  ask 
your  indulgence  while  I  state  a  few  words  regarding  his  labours 
during  his  residence  in  this  place,  which  show  that  there  is  good 
reason  for  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  still  held  by  us.  To  say 
that  Dr.  Burns  was  an  eloquent  preacher  of  the  gospel — that  he  was 
the  faithful  and  devoted  pastor  of  a  large  congregation,  and  that 
he  was  an  assiduous  and  hard  working  parish  minister,  is  only  to 
express  the  one  half,  and  that  probably  the  lesser  half,  of  his 
labours.  Dr.  Burns  was  something  more  than  an  eminent  clergy- 
man— he  was,  in  the  truest  and  best  sense  of  the  word,  a  citizen  of 
the  town.  He  shrank  from  no  labour,  but  threw  himself  with  the 
whole  force  of  his  character  into  every  good  work.  During  his  long 
residence  among  us  there  was  no  public  question,  no  movement  or 
organization  having  for  its  object  the  social  and  political  ameliora- 
tion of  the  people,  or  the  material,  moral,  or  spiritual  wellbeing  of 
the  community,  which  did  not  command  and  receive  his  eloquent 
advocacy  and  indefatigable  working.  Although  I  am  old  enough 
to  recollect  Dr.  Burns'  settlement  in  Paisley,  I  was  then  too  young 
to  remember  many  of  his  earlier  labours,  but  I  had  ample  opportu- 
nities as  I  grew  up,  however,  to  witness  his  labours  on  behalf  of  all 
our  educational  and  benevolent  institutions.  I  was  early  associated 
with  him  in  the  management  of  Hutcheson's  Charity  School,  and 
for  many  years  he  was  the  moving  spirit  of  the  direction.  He  was 
for  many  years  chairman  of  the  directors  of  our  Infirmary,  and  de- 
voted all  his  characteristic  energy  of  character  to  the  interests  of 
that  important  institution.    We  also  know  the  interest  he  manifested 

*  Provost  Murray,  father  of  Professor  Murray,  of  Queen's  College,  Kingston,  Canada, 
and  uncle  of  Alexander  Smith,  the  poet.  Provost  Murray's  sister  was  married,  and  her 
distinguished  son  b»»ptized,  by  Dr.  Burns.— Ed. 


94  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

on  behalf  of  the  Philosophical  Society,  by  lecturing  to  the  members 
and  by  acting  as  its  president  for  many  years.*  There  is  one  sphere 
of  his  labours  on  behalf  of  this  community  in  connection  with  which 
1  was  perhaps  more  than  any  other  brought  into  contact  with  him. 
Happily  for  our  present  magistracy  and  principal  inhabitants,  they 
know  little  of  the  care  and  anxiety  and  labour  which  devolved  on 
former  magistrates,  when  the  town  suffered  so  much  from  frequently 
recurring  periods  of  depression  of  trade,  which,  by  throwing  our  arti- 
zans  idle,  subjected  them  to  the  severest  privations  and  distresses .  I 
have  no  recollection  of  the  first  of  these  seasons,  which  occurred  in 
181 2  ;  but  1  recollect  well  that  of  1825  and  1826.  My  first  connection 
with  eflbrts  for  the  relief  of  unemployed  operatives  was  in  1837,  and  I 
well  recollect  the  active  labours  of  Dr.  Burns  on  that  occasion  ;  and 
on  a  similar  state  of  matters  in  1841,  1842,  it  was  my  fortune  to  be 
associated  with  the  Doctor  as  members  of  a  deputation  to  London, 
to  press  the  state  of  matters  on  the  attention  of  Government,  and 
to  endeavour,  by  subscription,  to  raise  money  to  relieve  the  starving 
population  of  this  town,  and  I  can  never  forget  the  herculean  exer- 
tions which  our  friend  put  forth  on  that  occasion." 

As  means  of  social  improvement,  Dr.  Burns  laid  much 
stress  on  i^ure  water  and  savings  hanks.  He  had  much 
to  do  with  the  introduction  of  water  into  the  town, 
though  to  the  philanthropic  Dr.  Kerr  (father  of  Dr.  Wm. 
Kerr,  of  Gait,  Canada)  belongs  the  honour  of  founding 
the  Water-works. 

Those  useful  institutions  for  saving  the  earnings  of  the 
poor,  with  which  the  name  of  Dr.  Henry  Duncan,  of 
Ruthwell  (a  special  friend),  is  so  intimately  associated,  he 
strongly  advocated.  To  encourage  the  movement  and 
teach  his  children  hahits  of  economy,  he  deposited  in  the 
first  Savings  bank  a  sum  of  money  to  the  credit  of  each 
of  them.    "We  well  remember  how  proud  we  were  to  re- 

*  For  several  years  he  acted  as  President  of  the  Philosophical  Institution,  now  con- 
nected, we  believe,  with  the  mag-nificent  Free  Library  which  Paisley  owes,  along:  with  a 
beautiful  Public  Garden,  to  her  two  public-spirited  sons.  Sir  Peter  Coats  and  Thomas 
Coats,  Esq.  The  question  has  been  jocularly  asked,  "  What  could  the  'Paisley  bodies' 
do  without  their  Coats?  " 

In  Dr.  Bums'  Note  Book,  March  16, 1869  (during  his  last  visit  to  Paisley),  occurs  the 
foHowinp::— Addressed  Philosophical  Institution.  Retrospect.  Institution  began  1808. 
Addre.>(sed  Dec.  \S\ :,  1813,  1815,  and  often  afterwards,  down  to  near  the  disruption  in 
1843.  Subjects-  Schemes  for  the  Improvement  of  Society,  History  of  Astronomy, Physi- 
cal Science,  Moral  and  Mental  Philosophy,  ou  Taste,  Qeulogy,  &c.,  &c.— £d. 


INTEREST   IN   EMIGRATION.  95 

ceive  the  bank  book  with  our  name  in  it,  of  what  an  ex- 
haustless  fortune  we  regarded  ourselves  as  possessed,  and 
what  an  important  part  of  our  education  it  was  for  us 
thus  early  to  learn  the  lesson  of  saving  for  useful  purposes 
the  money  that  else  might  have  been  squandered  in  sel- 
fishness and  sin. 

His  repeated  presidency  of  emigration  societies,  and 
unwearied  efforts  to  further  their  objects,  formed  another 
phase  of  his  interest  in  the  poor.  Many,  now  useful  and 
honoured  citizens  in  Canada,  Australia,  and  New  Zealand 
received  from  him  their  first  inspiration  to  emigrate,  and 
assistance  in  doing  so.  When,  afterwards,  he  set  the  ex- 
ample himself,  and  was  "roughing  it  in  the  bush,"  on 
many  a  weary  pilgrimage,  he  would  be  saluted  often 
with  the  grateful  greetings  and  hearty  hand-shakings  of 
those  he  had  befriended  a  score  of  years  before.  Often 
when  passing  along  some  lonely  road,  little  expecting  it, 
familiar  forms,  clad  in  comfortable  home-spun,  would  issue 
from  snug  shanties,  and  voices,  whose  tones  called  up 
memories  of  the  past,  would  ring  cheerily  out,  "  Hoo'  are 
ye  Doctor  1  we're  sae  glad  to  see  ye  !" 

There  are  districts  of  Canada  mainly  settled  from  Pais- 
ley and  neighbourhood,  the  hivings  off  at  such  seasons  as 
we  have  referred  to,  with  whose  settlement  he  had  not  a 
little  to  do,  and  where  his  memory  is  embalmed. 

His  identification  with  the  interests  of  the  working 
classes,  and  the  presentation  to  him,  during  so  large  a 
portion  of  his  Paisley  life,  of  what  was  a  "  present  dis- 
tress," pressing  him  on  all  sides,  and  constantly  appealing 
to  his  sympathies,  made  him  alive  to  all  measures,  social 


96  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

and  political,  calculated  to  ameliorate  their  condition.  To 
this  may  be  largely  traced  his  earnest  advocacy  of  fran- 
chise extension  and  of  free  trade,  when  it  was  the  reverse 
of  fashionable  for  clergymen  of  the  Established  Church 
to  connect  themselves  with  such  movements. 

He  was  ever  a  Liberal  in  politics,  though  many  near 
and  dear  to  him  were  on  the  other  side.  And,  while  he 
did  not  descend  to  the  political  arena,  or  mingle  as  a  heated 
partisan  in  the  exciting  fray,  he  did  not  deem  it  incon- 
sistent with  the  sacredness  of  his  office,  or  calculated — ^as 
some  of  his  High  Church  brethren  thought — to  "  rub  ofl 
the  clerical  enamel,"  to  indicate  distinctly  his  political  pre- 
ferences, and  especially  at  imminent  crises  of  his  church 
and  country  to  come  out  boldly,  through  the  press  and 
otherwise,  in  behalf  of  what  he  conceived  to  be  the  cause 
of  truth  and  righteousness.  He  hesitated  not,  even  in 
the  presence  of  Royalty,  to  reveal  honestly  and  plainly 
the  condition  of  the  masses,  and  to  suggest  how  the 
''  troubled  sea"  might  be  set  at  rest.  In  the  course  of  a 
lengthened  interview  with  William  lY.  (when  it  was  said 
*'  the  King  appeared  greatly  taken  with  the  conversational 
powers  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  divine").  His  Majesty 
asked  about  the  state  of  trade  in  Paisley.  The  Doctor 
answered,  "  May  it  please  your  Majesty,  the  trade  in  that 
large  manufacturing  town  is  at  present  very  bad."  "  Can 
you  assign  any  cause,  local  or  otherwise,  for  this  ?"  en- 
quired the  King.  "  Yes,  please  your  Majesty,  it  is  gener- 
ally ascribed  to  the  great  agitation  caused  by  the  Reform 
Bill,  and  we  do  not  look  for  any  improvement  until  it  is 
passed."  "  My  Ministers,"  said  His  Majesty,  •*  must  look 
to  that" 


FKEE  TRADE.      PRINCIPAL   WILLIS.  97 

Dr.  Burns  was  always  a  strong  advocate  of  Free  Trade^ 
and  enemy  of  the  Corn  Laws.  When  the  great  conflict  com- 
menced which  culminated  in  Sir  Robert  Peel's  complete 
change  of  sentiment,  a  conversion  which  the  magnanim- 
ous Premier  frankly  acknowledged,  Dr.  Burns  took  his 
position  beneath  the  banner  on  which  the  names  of  Cobden 
and  Bright  were  inscribed.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Manchester  League.  He  was  the  only  minister  (we  be- 
b'eve)  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  present  at  the  memorable 
banquet  in  honour  of  Richard  Cobden  at  Glasgow. 

In  the  winter  of  184<1  he  delivered,  in  Glasgow,  "the 
seventh  of  the  second  series  of  lectures  to  Young  Men : 
"  On  the  Reciprocal  Duties  of  Employers  and  Employed." 

In  1842  he  lectured  under  the  auspices  of  the  "  Glasgow 
Young  Men's  Free  Trade  Association,"  in  John  Street 
Chapel,  Glasgow,  on  "  Restrictive  Laws  on  Food  and 
Trade  tried  by  the  test  of  Christianity." 

"  I  honour  much  and  know  well,"  is  the  testimony  of  Principal 
Willis,  '^  his  labours  in  more  than  one  department  of  philanthropy, 
beyond  the  range  of  direct  pastoral  work,  though  not  alien  from  it. 
It  was  given  to  him  beyond  many  to  see  the  defects  of  the  Scottish 
poor  law,  defects  which  were  indeed  recognised,  so  far,  by  Assemblies 
after  Assemblies  of  the  church  ;  the  provision  for  the  poor  being 
acknowledged  to  be  in  a  great  measure  illusory  in  numerous  pariBhes 
of  Scotland.  But  the  real  remedy  was  tardily  applied.  Our  de- 
parted friend  contended  for  the  establishing  of  a  legal  provision, 
more  adapted  to  the  changed  circumstances  of  Scotland,  and  for  a 
very  considerable  modification  of  what  was  tenaciously  cherished 
by  some  as  the  Scottish  system ;  though  perhaps  rather  to  be  called 
the  misapplication  to  an  altered  state  of  society  of  an  ancient  scheme, 
which  Knox  and  our  early  ecclesiastics  acquiesced  in,  as  a  necessity 
of  their  times,  rather  than  approved. 

"  The  state  has  rightly,  with  the  general  consent  of  the  Scottish 
mind,  revolutionized  its  scheme  of  providing  for  the  poor.  No 
legislation  in  such  an  interest  can  meet  every  difficulty,  and  abuses 
must  be  watched  against.  But  the  principles  of  the  new  arrange- 
ment, I  verily  believe,  are  in  far  more  harmony  with  a  right  jum- 


98  LIFE   OF  REV.   DE.    BURNS. 

prudence,  and  with  the  laws  of  the  Bible,  than  what  prevailed  for 
a  century  before.  Dr.  Burns  in  pressing  his  views  on  the  public, 
—views  which  I  cordially  supported  along  with  him, — had  to  op- 
pose the  specious  pleadings  of  men  of  no  small  name,  who  set  off 
with  much  eloquence  views  honourable  enough  to  their  warmth  of 
heart,  but  neither  resting  on  a  solid  philosophy,  nor  sustained  by 
legitimate  reas(  nings  from  the  Word  of  God.  .  .  .  Hence,  in  what 
is  now  called  the  old  system,  the  admitted  and  oft  lamented  ineflS.- 
ciency  of  the  Scottish  provision — necessitating,  for  eking  it  out, 
mendicancy  with  all  its  demoralizing  effects  ;  and,  more  serious 
still,  perhaps,  the  withdrawment  from  their  proper  spiritual  vocation 
of  religious  functionaries — an  evil,  this  latter,  seen  and  regretted  by 
none  more  than  by  the  earnest  opponents  of  the  change  which  became 
necessary  ;  though  they  strangely  failed  to  see  that  th(}  cause  of  the 
evil  was  inherent  in  the  very  principle  of  the  system  they  were  so 
eager  to  uphold.  .  .  .  Besides  the  larger  writings  of  Dr.  Burns  on 
this  important  question,  a  small  synopsis  of  his  argument,  in  a  mere 
j&y-leaf ,  came  some  time  ago  into  my  hands  —I  may  have  seen  it 
before,  but  had  forgotten  it — of  which  I  said  to  him,  that  no  abler 
piece  of  reasoning  ever  came  from  his  pen.  .  .  .  Besides  other 
powerful  argumentation.  Dr.  Burns  never  reasoned  more  conclu- 
sively than  when  he  parried  off  the  objection  to  a  poor  rate,  viz  : — 
that  a  regular  statuted  provision,  more  resembling  that  of  England 
than  what  so  long  prevailed  in  Scotland,  tends  to  shut  up  the 
sources  of  private  benelicence.'' 


i 


CHAPTER  YII, 


VISITS  TO   OXFORD  AND   CAMBRIDGE.* 


was  early  in  June,  1812,  and  on  my  way 
from  London  to  Scotland,  I  paid  a  visit  to 
the  University  of  Oxford.  The  son  of  a 
much-respected  clergyman  of  Glasgow  was 
then  studying  at  Baliol  College,  and  as  a 
"  father's  friend"  I  counted  on  a  kind  recep- 
In  this  I  was  not  disappointed.  Mr.  John 
Gibson  Lockhart,  afterwards  the  editor  of  the 
Quarterly  Review  and  the  son-in-law  of  Sir  Wal- 
ter Scott,  received  me  courteously  and  kindly  in 
his  academical  apartments,  and  gave  me  the  in- 
formation which  strangers  commonly  seek  for,  in 
reofard  to  the  varied  halls  of  science  and  learninfi:  consti- 
stituting  the  venerable  "  University  of  Oxford."  Amongst 
other  tilings  demanding  notice,  I  desired  to  stand  on  the 
spot  where,  in  the  days  of  "bloody  Mary,"  stood  the  iron 

*  The  autobiographj-  here  sketches  two  visits  paid  at  different  times  to  Oxford  and 
Cambridfje,  and  furnishes  a  specimen  of  a  number  of  similar  tours,  made  priucipally  iu 
connexion  with  public  duty.— Ed. 


100  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

pillar  to  which  Ridley  and  Hooper  and  Latimer  were 
bound  by  iron  chains,  and,  forgetting  all  their  minor  dif- 
ferences of  sentiment,  breathed  out  their  souls  together 
amid  the  flames  of  martyrdom.  My  friend  placed  me  on 
the  very  spot.  No  martyr's  monument  had  then  been 
reared,  but  none  was  needed.  The  heart  of  England  was 
then  sound,  and  Oxford  had  not  as  yet  taken  any  of  those 
fatal  steps  in  a  retrograde  direction  which  have  since 
thrown  around  her  an  inglorious  notoriety.  Scotland  at 
large,  and  Glasgow  in  particular,  have  an  interest  of  sub- 
stantial value  in  one  at  least  of  the  literary  halls  of  Ox- 
ford ;  and,  over  and  above  this,  the  desire  to  have  their 
young  men  "  sunned  in  the  south,"  has  been  greatly  on 
the  increase  in  the  wealthy  and  aristocratic  families  of 
the  north,  and  the  effect  has,  almost  in  every  instance, 
been  fatal  to  Scottish  patriotism  and  Scottish  presbytery. 
Ritualistic  Episcopacy  has  many  charms  for  young  minds 
not  over-deeply  imbued  with  sacred  associations ;  and  my 
friend,  with  all  his  amiability,  and  all  his  ancient  family 
attachments,  had,  imperceptibly  perhaps  to  himself,  got 
somewhat  cold  to  "  Old  Scotia."  "  Have  you  anything 
in  Scotland  that  can  match  Dr.  Parr  ?"  was  one  of  his 
early  questions.  I  was  somewhat  nonplussed,  probabl}'- 
from  the  feeling  that  as  he  was  as  much  a  Scotsman  as  I 
was,  it  might  perhaps  belong  to  him  as  much  as  to  me  to 
sketch  a  reply ;  nor  could  I  think  of  going  back  to  invoke 
the  venerable  shades  of  an  "  admirable  Crichton"  or  a 
witty  "George  Buchanan."  I  made  the  best  retreat  I 
could,  with  a  few  suggestive  mutterings  of  such  vocables 
of  nomenclature  as  John  Moore,  of  Glasgow,  and  George 
Campbell,  of  Aberdeen.  If  such  men  are  not  so  profound 
in  their  scholarship  as  a  Bentley,  a  Porson,  or  a  Parr,  their 
solid  and  lasting  practical  usefulness  may  give  them  a 
place  in  the  same  galaxy  with  these  brilliant  lights  of  the 
south.  But  our  country  is  of  small  dimensions  compared 
with  England,  and  it  has  not  anything  that  can  compete 
with  the  rich  literary  endowments  of  England.  Perhaps, 
my  best  reply  might  after  all  have  been,  "  I  will  give  you 
a  Parr  when  you  have  given  to  me  three  such  men  in  the 


4 


BISHOP  WILSON  OF   CALCUTTA.  lOl 

department  of  intellectual  philosophy  as  Reid  and  Stewart 
and  Brown. 

After  a  short  but  agreeable  interlude  I  found  myself 
in  the  house  of  a  worthy  dissenting  minister,  the  Rev.  W. 
Hinton,  to  whom  I  had  been  introduced  by  my  venerable 
friend  and  father,  Dr.  Waugh,  of  Wells  Street,  London ; 
and  with  him  traversed  the  classic  walks  of  Magdalen 
College.  "  Look  here,"  said  my  fidus  achates,  pointing 
to  half  a  dozen  sprightly  "  scholars,"  or  "fellows"  perhaps, 
with  something  of  the  paraphernalia  of  college  costume 
about  them,  and  careering  in  company  on  the  well-kept 
walk,  "  see  the  one  on  the  right  of  the  line,  that  is  Daniel 
Wilson,  of  Edmund  Hall,  who  has  often  taken  a  cup  of 
coffee  in  my  humble  dwelling,  but  now  he  is  among  his 
college  confreres,  and  he  will  not  look  our  way."  The 
learned  platoon  soon  wheeled  about,  and  came  not  again 
within  our  immediate  horizon.  But  I  learned  that  the  man 
of  whom  I  got  only  a  glance,  and  who  was  afterwards  the 
uncompromising  advocate  of  a  radical  change,  as  the 
eminently  pious  and  venerated  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  was  of 
dissenting  parentage,  as  not  a  few  of  the  Butlers  and  the 
Tillotsons  of  the  Anglican  Church  have  been ;  and  that 
promising  in  every  way  as  he  even  then  was,  the  very 
breath  of  Oxford  bigotry  and  exclusiveness  withers  and 
benumbs  the  warm  glow  of  an  otherwise  genial  and 
generous  spirit. 

In  1834,  and  on  my  way  to  take  part  in  the  May 
meetings  in  London,  I  spent  a  Sabbath  in  Oxford,  and 
contrived  to  press  into  it  no  fewer  than  four  distinct 
services.  In  the  morning  I  went  to  St.  Mary's  Uni- 
versity Church,  where  live  hundred  of  the  elite  of 
England's  aristocratic  youth  were  congregated  to  hear 
the  learned  Dr.  Cramer,  President  of  New  Inn  Hall. 
He  gave  us  an  able  and  orthodox  vindication  of  the 
genuineness  of  the  first  two  chapters  of  Matthew's  Gos- 
pel against  the  Ebionites  of  the  first  or  second  century, 
and  I  was  curious  to  see  how  he  would  apply  the  subject 
to  the  consciences  and  the  hearts  of  the  many  young  im- 
mortals clustering  around  him.     The  heaving  mountain 


102  '         LIFE   OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

and  the  ridiculus  mus  of  the  Roman  satirist  came 
vividly  to  mind  when  the  learned  orator  drew  his  weighty 
inference,  and  no  other  can  I  now  remember, — "  How  wise 
the  statutes  of  our  venerable  founders  in  excluding  dis- 
senters of  all  classes  from  the  colleges  of  Oxford  I" 
"Ebion,"  poor  man!  belonged  to  that  hated  class,  and 
down  to  1834  his  ghost  seems  to  have  hovered  porten- 
tously between  New  Inn  Hall  and  St.  Mary's. 

Having  some  curiosity  to  hear  read  or  chanted  the 
peculiar  Oxford  liturgy,  I  remained  after  the  congregation 
was  dismissed,  and  listened  for  an  hour  to  the  solemn  and 
slow  dronings  of  a  grave  clerk  in  the  desk,  and  the  quick 
responses,  in  purely  Doric  style,  of  a  plain  tradesman  in 
his  Sabbath  attire,  blue  coat  and  shining  yellow  buttons, 
who  acted  as  fugleman.  The  "  turning  to  the  east,"  and 
the  bowing  at  the  name  of  "Jesus,"  with  other  antics,  the 
worthy  man  did,  I  doubt  not,  go  through  "to  rule;"  but 
as  I  never  heard  or  saw  such  an  exhibition  before  or  since, 
I  cannot  compare  him  with  any  other  actor,  so  that  he 
must  "stand  alone  in  his  glory."  The  most  lengthened 
"  piece"  performed  by  the  clerk  or  curate  in  the  desk,  and 
not  repeated  by  the  fugleman,  was  the  weekly  litany,  or 
form  of  thanksgiving  for  the  "  benefits  and  blessings"  con- 
ferred on  the  colleges  of  Oxford  by  the  heads  or  chancel- 
lors in  "  apostolic  succession,"  from  William  of  Wykeham 
and  St.  Winifred,  some  six  centuries  ago,  to  the  chan- 
cellor for  the  time  being,  "  His  Grace,  Arthur,  Duke  of 
Wellington,  vvhom  may  God  long  preserve !"  There  were 
no  prayers  "  for"  or  "  to"  the  souls  departed,  or  still  present 
in  the  body,  but  the  tedious  "invoice"  of  choice  articles 
successively  exhibited  before  us  sounded  to  me  very  like 
something  of  the  kind.  My  predominant  feeling,  how- 
ever, was,  that  I  was  "  not  keeping  the  Sabbath  holy,"  and 
I  hastened  away  as  fast  as  I  could,  that  I  might  breathe 
in  a  more  healthful  atmosphere.  I  found  it  in  the  small 
but  neat  and  commodious  Congregational  Chapel,  where 
I  knew  there  would  be  service  at  3  p  m.  There  I  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  hear  an  excellent  sermon,  garnished  with 
a  few  well-chosen  anecdotes,  from  that  prince  in  Israel, 


I 
I 

I 


I 


ANGELL   JAMES.      J.   H.   HINTON.  103 

the  now  sainted  Angell  James,  of  Birmingham.  0  what 
a  contrast  betwixt  the  precious  stones  and  gold  and  silver 
of  the  one  place  of  worship,  and  the  wood,  hay  and  stubble 
cf  the  other  ! 

And  now  was  my  voracious  appetite  fully  satiated  1 
Not  quite  ;  for  I  learned  that  the  son  of  my  venerated  old 
friend  Mr.  Hinton,  now  in  glory,  was  to  hold  his  usual 
evening  service  in  his  own  chapel  in  the  city,  and  as  1 
had  heard  that  "Young  Hinton"  had  adopted  some  pecu- 
liar opinions,  I  had  a  wish  to  hear  him.  The  expositions 
and  the  sermon  were  both  evangelical  and  good.  The 
Psalms  of  David  in  our  version  were  sung  to  such  tunes 
as  "  Coleshill"  and  "  Martyrs,"  and  the  whole  congregation 
joined  in  spiritual  earnestness  ;  the  only  peculiarity  in 
that  service  that  struck  me  was  the  devotional  part  of  it, 
and  there  my  leading  emotion  was  amazement.  On  the 
appeal  for  ''intercessory  prayer"  being  put  forth  to  the 
audience,  I  should  say  that  upwards  of  a  dozen  of  written 
papers  were  given  in,  embracing  a  great  variety  of  "  cases," 
adapted  to  social  sympathy,  and  calling  for  believing  re- 
quest to  the  great  Father  of  all.  They  were  all  read  in 
succession  by  the  pastor  as  they  came  in,  and  he  then  ar- 
ranged them  before  his  eyes  on  the  desk,  according  to  a 
method  of  his  own,  and  in  the  course  of  the  prayer  which 
immediately  followed,  not  a  "  case"  escaped  the  intelligent 
eye,  and  the  appropriate  clothing  in  suitable  words,  of 
the  persistent  "  wrestler  with  the  angel  of  the  covenant," 
The  "  cases"  seemed  to  me  to  be  all  more  or  less  becoming, 
and  one  attached  itself  to  my  memory  with  peculiar 
tenacity,  it  may  have  been  from  something  of  personal 
and  patronymical  associations.  It  was  the  earnest  request 
of  a  "  young  female  member,  on  behalf  of  a  beloved  uncle, 
in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  who  had  been  long  troubled 
with  a  constitutional  temper  at  times  unruly  ;"  and  to 
my  mind  there  was  something  truly  picturesque  in  a 
venerable  Celt,  who  had  been  cradled  amid  the  storms  of 
Ben  Nevis,  being  thus  remembered  amid  the  classic  halls 
of  Oxford,  and  by  friends  far  away. 

Independently  of  all  other  considerations,  a  seminary 


104)  LIFE  OF  KEY.  DR.   BURNS. 

where  two  of  the  sons  of  John  Knox  were  educated  and 
rose  to  academic  honours,  can  never  be  uninteresting  to  a 
Scottish  Presbyterian.  I  had  been  repeatedly  at  Oxford, 
but  I  did  not  find  an  opportunity  of  paying  my  respects 
to  the  sister  University  till  the  spring  of  1834.  Being 
acquainted  with  a  student  from  Scotland  then  at  Cam- 
bridge, and  having  been  furnished  with  a  letter  from  a 
clerical  friend  in  London  to  one  of  the  tutors,  I  had  no 
difficulty  in  obtaining  access  to  those  halls  of  learning. 
My  first  wish,  as  expressed  to  friends,  was  to  hear  as 
many  lectures  or  prelections  as  possible  from  such  pro- 
fessors as  might  be  found  so  occupied.  What  was  my 
surprise  when  I  learned  that  such  a  gratification  could 
not  be  enjoyed,  inasmuch  as  none  of  the  ordinary  profes- 
sors were  in  the  habit  of  lecturing  at  all ;  that  all  the  real 
work  in  the  college  was  done  by  the  tutors,  and  that  the 
only  chance  of  hearing  a  professorial  prelection  was  by 
my  going  beyond  the  walls,  and  attending  Professor  Smyth, 
at  his  lecture  on  "  History,"  in  the  "  Medical  School." 
Readily  did  I  embrace  the  opportunity,  and  heard  an  ex- 
cellent discourse  on  the  '*  French  Revolution,"  since  pub- 
lished in  the  author's  work  on  "  Modem  History."  A 
large  attendance  of  gownsmen  of  all  grades  waited  on  the 
learned  orator,  whose  immediate  successors  in  the  chair 
were  the  celebrated  Dr.  Arnold  and  Sir  James  Stephen. 
The  class  was  one  of  those  that  have  been  added  in 
very  recent  times  to  the  original  or  primary  stock ;  and 
probably,  like  other  additions  of  the  same  kind,  had  not 
yet  arrived  at  a  full  and  legitimate  recognition.  Assuredly, 
whatever  be  the  histoiy  or  the  status  of  such  additions, 
they  form  a  very  valuable  improvement  on  the  venerable 
though  perhaps  somewhat  antiquated  platform  of  the 
original. 

The  difficulty  of  hearing  a  proper  lecture  from  the  lips 
of  a  "real  professor"  was  perhaps  increased  by  certain 
examinations  that  were  going  on  in  the  different  depart- 
ments, and  the  information  given  me  regarding  these 
certainly  imparted  to  me  a  very  high  idea  of  the  depth, 
the  accuracy    and  the  fulness  with  which  the  several 


AT  CAMBRIDGE — CHARLES  SIMEON.  105 

branches  of  natural  science,  embracing  the  higher, — per- 
haps I  should  say  the  very  highest, — branches  of  mathe- 
matics, and  the  "  exact  sciences"  at  large,  were  taught 
within  the  recesses  of  that  venerable  alma  mater.  In 
these,  Cambridge  is  understood  to  take  the  precedence  of 
Oxford,  while  the  reverse  may  probably  be  held  true  as 
to  classics.  In  regard  to  that  department  also,  the  son  of  a 
Scotch  professor,  whom  I  found  among  the  students,  told 
me  that  after  going  thro\igh  all  that  was  usually  gone 
through  in  the  classical  curriculum  at  home,  he  found 
when  he  came  to  Cambridge  that  he  was  little  beyond 
elementary  principles.  This  was  said  thirty -four  years 
ago,  and  great  improvements  have  been  introduced  since 
that  time  in  all  our  northern  universities.  One  thing 
was  very  clear  to  me,  that  in  the  departments  of  logic, 
metaphysics,  and  moral  philosophy,  we,  in  Scotland,  were 
far  in  advance. 

The  examination  papers  in  these  departments  were 
presented  to  me,  and  1  examined  them  with  some  care ; 
and  certainly  the  very  surface  character  of  these  docu- 
ments contrasted  wonderfully  with  the  character  of  depth, 
and  elevation  also,  that  marked  other  departments  of 
human  knowledge  perhaps  not  so  closely  related  to  the 
practical  business  of  life.  The  more  I  reflect  on  these 
things,  the  more  am  I  satisfied  that  for  all  really  useful 
purposes  in  the  community  of  human  beings,  our  northern 
colleges,  even  then,  were  better  adapted  for  all  the  ends  of 
general  mental  discipline  and  instruction  than  the  colossal 
halls  of  the  south ;  and  this,  be  it  remembered,  at  perhaps 
a  fourth-part  of  the  price. 

Having  been  introduced  to  the  Rev.  Charles  Simeon, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  Fellows  in  the  University,  I  spent 
part  of  the  evening  in  his  room.  From  him  I  ascertained 
the  matters  of  fact  regarding  the  inadequate  provision 
made  within  the  University  for  the  suitable  training  of 
young  men  for  the  church.  Even  after  all  the  improve- 
ments and  additions  which  later  years  had  witnessed,  the 
deficiency  was  still  very  palpable  ;  and  I  felt  gratitude  to 
the  Great  Father  of  all,  that  such  a  man  as  the  venerable 


106  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

Fellow  of  King's  College  had  been  spared  so  long  to  watch 
over  the  studies  and  the  morals  of  entrants  for  the  minis- 
try. That  excellent  man  has  long  since  been  called  to  his 
rest  on  high,  but  his  place  has  been  well  supplied  by  suc- 
cessors of  the  same  spirit,  who  follow  in  the  same  path  of 
unostentatious  and  unpaid  evangelistic  labour.  For  this 
a  poor  substitute  would  be  found  in  the  prayers  read  and 
the  fine  pieces  of  music  performed  ;  and  yet  this  "  season 
of  prayer,"  or  devotion,  such  as  it  is,  I  attended  with  a 
feeling  of  awe  and  sublime  elevation  of  thought ;  but  alas ! 
I  fear  that  the  daily  unvarying  repetition  of  a  religious 
service,  in  the  noblest  "  unpillared"  chapel  in  England, 
would  have  produced  in  me  a  ritualistic  feeling  of  dead- 
ness  and  formality. 

And  now  what  have  I  got  to  say  of  the  hospitalities  of 
Cambridge  ?  My  friend,  the  learned  tutor  of  Trinity, 
unencumbered  of  course  with  any  domestic  or  social  ap- 
pendages, gave  me  early  advice  of  what  I  had  not  been 
aware  of,  that  an  old  law  was  still  in  baing  which  pro- 
hibited any  stranger,  of  whatever  class  or  creed,  from 
being  admitted  a  guest  at  the  dinner  table ;  "  but,"  said 
he,  "  that  does  not  at  all  interfere  with  our  good  cheer :" 
and  shewing  me  the  ''  bill  of  fare,"  ''  we  held  a  council" 
together  on  the  articles  to  be  selected  for  us,  from  the  as 
yet  untouched  viands  on  the  table  of  the  great  culinary 
hall,  to  which  was  to  be  added  a  bottle  of  claret,  burgun- 
dy, or  champagne,  at  our  pleasure.  Of  course,  as  there 
were  only  two  votes  to  be  given,  mine  was  honoured  with 
the  twofold  character  of  a  deliberative  and  a  casting  one. 
My  taste  was  very  simple,  and  a  veal  cutlet  with  a 
glass  of  sherry  formed  the  ne  'plus  ultra  of  my  choice. 
When  the  repast  was  about  over,  my  friend  said  to  me, 
"  Now,  sir,  though  not  permitted  to  sit  down  at  any  of 
the  tables,  we  may  go  in  and  be  lookers  on."  As  to  the 
fare,  we  were  in  advance  of  the  general  body,  and  I  found 
myself  in  the  course  of  a  few  minutes  mounted  up  to  the 
most  prominent  point  of  the  gallery,  from  whence  I  had 
a  clear  view  of  at  least  four  hundred  literati  giving  all 
becomingr  heed  to  the  wants  of  the  outer  man;  and  I  rather 


CASTE   IX   THE   DINING   HALL.  107 

think  not  one  Berkleyan  among  them.  There  appeared 
to  be  a  regular  hierarchy.  The  body  of  the  large  hall  of 
Trinity,  or  the  "  pit,"  was  crammed  with  gentlemen  com- 
moners ;  on  a  sort  of  elevated  platform  or  dais,  of  perhaps 
six  feet  above,  sat  the  peers  in  solemn  state ;  and  all 
around  us  in  the  gallery  appeared  the  grim  forms  of  the 
poor  "  sizers."  The  viands  served  out  seemed  to  partake 
somewhat  of  the  "pre-established  harmony"  of  Leibnitz, 
with  the  distinctive  class  for  which  they  were  bound. 
The  joints  for  the  peers  were  magnificent,  as  was  the 
dessert :  the  same,  less  so,  for  the  gentlemen  commoners : 
and  as  for  our  next-door  neighbours,  the  poor  "  sizers,"  they 
had  to  exercise  the  virtue  of  patience,  soothed  in  antici- 
pation by  the  hope  that  by  the  kind  forbearance  of  aristo- 
cratic gormandizers,  the  exuvice  which  were  handed  up  to 
them  miorht  be  somethinor  more  substantial  than  mere 
skin  and  bone.  As  for  ray  friend  and  myself,  ten  minutes 
served  for  the  interesting  survey,  and  we  made  our  retreat 
without  waiting  to  see  how  the  vinous  beverage  was  ad- 
justed. We  made  our  retreat  to  the  "  grand  kitchen," 
whose  walls  were  largely  adorned  with  shells  of  turtle, 
the  remains  of  varied  feasts.  The  whole  scene  I  had  wit- 
nessed filled  me  with  ineffable  disgust.  I  wondered  how 
John  Bull,  with  all  his  freaks,  could  tolerate  such  things 
But  John,  though  a  good  sort  of  fellow,  has  got  encrusted 
amid  aristocratic  distinctions  of  rank,  and  is  not  quite  sure 
whether  the  highly-seasoned  roast  beef  of  Old  England 
should  be  subjected  to  the  acerating  processes  of  vulgar 
jaws. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 


AUTHORSHIP. 


T  was  in  the  autumn  of  1825,  my  residence 
with  my  family  for  two  months  in  the 
—  Parish  of  Stevenston,  a  well-known  water- 
ing place  on  the  Firth  of  Clyde,  brought 
me  into  acquaintanceship  with  Miss  Wod- 
row,  the  granddaughter  of  Mr.  Robert 
Wodrow,  of  Eastwood,  well  known  as  the  histo- 
rian of  "  the  sufferings  of  the  Church  of  Scotland," 
and  the  indefatigable  collector  of  many  valuable 
books  and  manuscripts  illustrative  of  the  history 
of  Scotland.  A  large  proportion  of  the  manuscripts 
collected  by  him  had  been  purchased  after  his 
death  by  the  Curator  of  the  Advocates'  Library,  and  by 
the  Senate  of  Glasgow  College ;  and  from  these  stores 
many  valuable  articles  of  historical  information  have  been 
from  time  to  time  obtained  by  different  authors,  and  they 
still  form  a  valuable  repertory,  as  yet  very  partially  ex- 
plored. Miss  Wodrow  gave  me  ready  access  to  what 
remained  in  her  possession  of  the  valuable  memorials  of 


WODROW  PAPERS.      DR.   LANDSBOROUGH.  109 

her  venerable  grandfather.  Out  of  the  dust  and  the  cob- 
webs amid  which  these  had  been  embedded  for  many  years, 
I  succeeded  in  unkennelling  about  sixty  volumes  of  letters 
by  and  to  Mr.  Wodrow ;  lectures  and  other  papers  by  his 
father,  Mr.  James  Wodrow,  the  first  Professor  of  Divinity 
at  Glasgow  after  the  revolution ;  and  many  miscellaneous 
pieces.  After  full  examination  of  these  interesting  docu- 
ments, with  the  assistance  and  advice  of  Dr.  McCrie  and 
Dr.  Andrew  Thomson,  I  transferred  forty  of  the  volumes 
to  the  shelves  of  the  Advocates'  Library,  and  for  these  a 
valuable  consideration  was  allowed  to  the  proprietress.  Of 
these  memorials  much  use  was  afterwards  made  by  myself 
in  my  edition  of  Wodrow's  history,  and  in  various  articles 
published  in  the  Edinburgh  Christian  Instructor;  and 
by  Dr.  McCrie  in  his  series  of  papers  on  "  the  Marrow 
Controversy  "  in  that  periodical,  and  in  his  evidence  before 
the  House  of  Commons,  in  1834,  on  patronage.  Some 
years  thereafter,  the  "Wodrow  Society"  was  formed,  and 
by  them  three  volumes  of  the  "  Wodrow  Correspondence" 
were  published,  besides  other  miscellaneous  pieces ;  and 
by  the  "  Maitland  Club"  were  brought  out,  through  the 
liberality  of  the  Earl  of  Glasgow,  the  three  quarto  volumes 
of  the  well  known  "  Analecta,"  embracing  memorials  of 
daily  occurrences  in  the  life  of  Wodrow,  both  domestic 
and  public,  with  remarks,  and  extending  over  more  than 
thirty  years  of  his  life.  By  these  curious  relics  much 
light  has  been  thrown  on  matters  of  national  and  eccle- 
siastical interest,  and  much  of  the  valuable  treasure  re- 
mains unexhausted,  yea,  not  explored  ! 

The  parish  minister  of  Stevenston  at  the  time  now  re- 
ferred to  was  an  old  fellow-student,  and  thereafter  a  dear 
fellow-labourer  in  the  ministry,  Mr.  (afterwards  Dr.) 
Landsborough,  a  man  of  great  skill  in  natural  science,  and 
particularly  in  botany  and  conchology,  a  man  of  high 
accomplishments,  and  a  pastor  of  zeal  and  devotedness, 
was  removed  from  the  church  below  to  the  church  above, 
and  his  name  and  memory  are  yet  fragrant  on  the  west 
coast  of  Scotland. 

The  mansion  house  of  Ardeer,  the  residence  of  the 


110  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

ancient  family  of  Warner,  a  name  precious  in  the  annals 
of  persecuting  times,  stands  not  far  from  the  manse  of 
Stevenston,  and  one  morning,  when  Mr.  Landsborough 
and  I  had  breakfasted  with  the  Laird,  the  conversation 
happening  to  turn  on  ancient  books,  Mr.  Warner  told  us 
that  in  the  under  flat  of  his  house  were  lying  in  solemn 
repose  not  a  few  relics  of  the  kind,  which  we  might  see  if 
we  had  a  fancy  for  such  things.  The  hint  was  enough. 
We  explored  the  Warner  repositories,  and  found,  among 
other  curiosities,  a  large  collection  of  classics  and  works 
on  theology  from  Holland  and  Germany,  which  had  been 
brought  over  from  the  Continent  by  one  of  the  Warners, 
who  bad  been  compelled  to  fly  to  Holland  in  troublous 
times,  and  who  brought  over  these  works  with  him  on 
his  return  at  the  era  of  the  Prince  of  Orange ;  but  the 
packages  had  never  until  now  been  taken  down.  The 
books  were  in  good  preservation,  and  Mr.  Warner  allowed 
my  friend  and  myself  to  appropriate  to  ourselves  as  many 
as  we  could  carry  in  our  arms,  and  my  own  library  and 
that  of  Knox  College  bear  witness  to  the  spoil  thus  le- 
gally acquired. 

My  labours  in  editing  the  new  edition  of  "  Wodrow's 
History,"  undertaken  by  the  enterprising  bookselling  estab- 
lishment of  Messrs.  Blackie  and  Sons,  Glasgow,  were  co- 
temporary  with  the  incidents  now  recorded.  Had  I  had 
more  leisure,  and  better  facilities  for  such  a  work,  some- 
thing more  worthy  of  the  name  of  Wodrow  and  of  Scot- 
land's church  might  have  been  produced.  I  contributed 
thelifeof  the  author,  the  reply  to  an  Episcopalian  biogra- 
pher of  Archbishop  Leigh  ton,  the  illustrations,  and  the  ap- 
pendix, comprehending  many  valuable  documents.  As  the 
work  was  dedicated  a  century  before  to  King  George  L* 

*  A  copy  of  the  first  edition  had  been  presented  to  George  I.  by  Dr.  James  Fraser,  for- 
merly of  Aberdeen  and  afterwards  of  l.ondon,  and  one  of  Wodrow's  regular  correspon- 
dents. ]t  was  graciously  received,  and  in  a  short  time  a  f^ift  of  £105  sterling  bestowed 
on  the  author.  Says  Wodrow,  in  a  letter  to  his  wife  dated  at  Edinburgh  during  the 
sitting  of  tlie  Assembly,  1725,  "  I  find  a  letter  in  this  post  from  Mr.  James  Fraser,  with 
an  order  for  £100  from  theTreasnry,  and  what  I  own  the  hand  of  Providence  in,  and  hope 
He  will  help  me  to  improve  a  providence  we  did  m  t  lookfor."— Wodrow  Correspondence, 
edited  by  Professor  McCrie.  Vol.  2,  p.  567  ;  of  the  new  edition,  3,  p.  191.  The  copy  of 
the  order  is  given  in  the  appendix  to  the  fourth  volume,  and  the  original  is  among  the 
Wodrow  manuscript  letters. 


INTERVIEW  WITH   KING   WILLIAM  IV.  Ill 

it  was  deemed  "  right  and  proper"  that  William  IV.,  the 
reigning  monarch  in  1834,  should  be  asked  for  permission 
to  dedicate  the  new  edition  to  him.  A  copy  of  the  four 
volumes  was  got  up  in  fine  style,  and  presented  by  me 
personally  to  His  Majesty,  who  accepted  the  gift  readily, 
and  at  once  granted  the  permission  we  craved.  Through 
the  influence  of  our  worthy  member  of  parliament  for 
Paisley,  Mr.  Archibald  Hastie,  and  the  kind  offices  of  Sir 
James  Mackintosh,  I  had  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  access 
to  Mr.  Lushington,  the  Under  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
Home  Department,  and  through  him  to  His  Majesty,  at 
the  Pavilion  at  Brighton.  The  dress,  appearance,  and 
manner  of  His  Majesty  were  just  those  of  a  plain  English 
gentleman.  He  was  "  free  and  easy"  in  his  conversation, 
which  turned  principally  on  two  topics,  very  diverse  from 
each  other, — the  history  of  his  ancestors  of  the  persecuting 
house  of  Stuart,  and  the  reception  of  the  Reform  Bill 
among  the  then  starving  weavers  of  the  "gude  town"  of 
Paisley.  The  conference  was  comprised  within  less  than 
half  an  hour.  I  had  no  difficulty  in  getting  in,  but  I  felt 
some  difticulty  in  getting  out,  for  we  must  never  turn  our 
backs  on  royalty,  and  the  eye  of  an  inmate  of  the  apart- 
ment was  glaringly  dazzled  by  the  tapestry,  and  the 
mirrors,  and  the  other  ornaments  that  adorned  the  walls. 
The  "  Sailor  King"  understood  it  perfectly,  bade  me  good 
morning,  drew  his  arm  chair,  took  hold  of  the  poker, 
began  to  stir  the  fire  (for  it  was  the  month  of  March) ;  in 
the  meantime,  improving  the  opportunity,  I  made  my 
escape.  The  editor  of  a  Glasgow  newspaper  having  got 
possession  of  a  private  sketch  of  this  somewhat  unique 
incident,  published  it,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  myself 
and  my  friends.  But  Colonel  Fox  sent  me  a  message  by 
my  friend  Thomas  Pringle,  the  African  traveller  and  the 
Teviotdale  poet,  to  the  eflect  that  the  King,  worthy  man, 
would  probably  never  see  it,  and  if  he  did  it  would  only 
afford  him  a  hearty  laugh.* 

*  This  "  private  sketch,"  which  was  characterized  as  "  worthy  of  the 
Vicar  of  Wakefield  or  the  Annals  of  the  Parish,"  may  be  inserted  now,  with- 
out aay  breach  of  coutidence  or  violation  of  the  proprieties  : — 


112  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

In  1810,  Dr.  Andrew  Thomson  was  translated  from 
Perth  to  Edinburgh.  He  soon  became  the  chosen  cham- 
pion of  the  Evangelical  party,  and,  till  his  premature  and 
lamented  death,  stirred  the  heart  of  his  country  to  its 
depths.  The  year  following  his  translation,  he  started 
the  Periodical,  into  which  he  infused  so  much  of  his 
own  buoyant  energy  and  burning  enthusiasm,  and  which 
played  no  inconspicuous  part  in  securing  for  his  party, 
then  in  the  weakness  of  comparative  infancy,  a  power  and 

"  His  Majesty  was  sitting  at  a  table,  but  rose  and  returned  my  obeisance 
just  in  the  way  one  gentleman  is  accxistomed  to  do  to  another.^  I  then 
walked  up  to  him  with  my  volumes  in  my  hand,  and  addressed  him  nearly 
:as  follows  :— '  I  have  the  honour  of  laying  before  your  Majesty  a  work  which 
was  published  more  than  a  century  ago,  and  dedicated  to  George  I.  This  is 
the  second  edition,  with  a  life  of  the  author,  notes,  and  other  additions  ;  and 
your  Majesty  has  here  a  specimen  of  the  progress  made  in  typography  in  the 
west  of  Scotland.  The  work  is  a  national  one,  and  has  been  highly  approved 
by  Mr.  Fox,  Mr.  Chalmers,  and  others,  as  a  correct  statement  of  facts, 
illustrative  of  a  very  important  period  of  our  history.  I  have  the  honour  of 
requesting  your  Majesty's  acceptance  of  this  copy,  and  to  return  your  Ma- 
jesty the  best  thanks  of  the  publishers,  and  myself,  as  editor,  for  the_  con, 
descending  manner  in  which  your  Majesty  has  been  pleased  to  permit  the 
new  edition  of  the  work  to  be  dedicated  to  your  Majesty,'  By  this  time  his 
Majesty  got  hold  of  the  volumes,  and  was  busily  employed  examining  the 
title-page,  contents,  plates,  &c.,  with  all  which  he  expressed  himself  well 
pleased.  On  turning  up  successively  the  engravings  of  Sharpe,  Claverhouse, 
Lauderdale,  Carstairs,  &c.,  remarks  were  made  on  each,  and  the  King  seemed 
to  be  very  well  informed  in  their  respective  histories.  '  The  work,'  he  said- 
*  contains,  I  think,  the  history  of  the  persecutions  in  Scotland  in  the  days 
of  Charles  the  Second.'—'  Yes,  please  your  Majesty,  it  is  the  history  of  the 
■eventful  period  from  the  restoration  in  1660  till  the  revolution  in  1688.'—'  A 
very  valuable  record  it  must  be,'  he  added.  After  speaking  a  little  more  upon 
the  subject  of  the  book,  the  King  asked,  '  Pray,  sir,  what  situation  do  you 
hold  in  Scotland  ?'  I  told  him,  '  Please  your  Majesty,  I  am  one  of  the  paro- 
chial ministers  of  Paisley,  so  well  known  for  its  manufactures  ;  and  where, 
I  am  sorry  to  inform  your  Majesty,  there  is  at  present  very  great  distress 
among  the  operatives,  2  or  3000  of  whom  are  out  of  work.'  His  Majesty 
asked  the  causes,  when  I  adverted  to  several,  such  as  the  unsettled  state  of 
the  public  mind,  occasioned  by  the  delay  in  the  settlement  of  the  reform 
question — the  prevalence  of  disease  on  the  Continent,  and  the  restraints  on 
trade  by  quarantine — the  trade  being  overdone  with  us — and  the  periodical  re- 
sults of  speculation,  &c.,  &c.— 'Have  you  many  Irish  in  Paisley,  and  are  they 
mostly  Roman  Catholics  ?'  I  told  him  that  we  had  a  great  many  Irish  fami- 
lies— that  the  greater  part  were  Catholics,  particularly  those  from  the  South 
and  West— that  we  had  a  good  many  Protestants  and  Presbyterians  from  the 
North — that  there  are  many  poor  amongst  them— and  that  we  felt  the  bur- 
den of  supporting  the  poor  of  that  country,  which  has  no  system  of  poor  laws 
for  itself.  His  Majesty  said,  '  That  is  a  great  evil,  and  something  must  be 
done  by  the  Legislature ;  but  they  must  take  time  to  deliberate  on  a  matter 


CONVERSATION  WITH  THE  KING.  113 

a  prestige  that  issued  in  its  final  triumph.  Through 
means  of  the  "  Christian  Instructor"  the  thoughts  and  rea- 
sonings of  his  powerful  mind  were  communicated  to  the 
public,  like  successive  shocks  of  electricity,  stirring  the 
heart  of  the  kingdom  from  its  torpid  lethargy,  and  spread- 
ing dismay  among  his  discomfited  antagonists. 

Nothing  could  show  more  convincingly  the  influence  of 

of  such  consequence.  The  Ministry  are  determined  to  do  nothing  rashly, 
and  they  have  had  many  things  to  occupy  their  thoughts  of  late. '  I  remarked 
that  his  Majesty's  time  must  have  been  for  some  time  past  very  painfully 
engaged  with  these  matters ;  when  he  said,  in  reply,  that  he  personally  had 
not  felt  the  burden  so  much,  but  that  those  who  were  his  advisers  had  cer- 
tainly done  so.  There  was  also  a  good  deal  said  on  the  subject  of  the  state 
of  the  poor  in  England,  the  objections  to  the  theory  and  management  of  the 
poor  laws,  &c.,  and  his  Majesty  shewed  that  he  understood  the  subject  well, 
and  entered  fully  into  the  objections  against  the  system  of  paying  the  price 
of  labour  out  of  the  rates,  and  thus  degrading  the  population  of  England 
into  paupers,  and  representing  those  moneys  as  given  to  the  support  of  the 
poor,  which  are,  in  fact,  appropriated  to  far  different  objects.  '  You  manage 
these  things  better  in  Scotland.'  '  Please  your  Majesty,  our  poor  do  not 
expect  so  much  as  the  English  poor.  I  observed  a  case  in  court,  the  other 
day,  where  the  dispute  lay  between  5s.  a  head  for  each  member  of  the  family 
and  23.,  and  the  judges  decided  as  a  medium  3s.  6d.  In  Scotland,  in  place 
of  12s.  or  15s.  for  this  family  of  poor  applicants,  the  sum  allowed  for  one 
member  of  it  would  have  been  held  quite  sufficient.'  '  In  Paisley,  you  are 
all,  I  presume,  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  ?'  '  Please  your  Majesty,  we  have 
many  Presbyterians,  Dissenters  from  us,  yet  our  Dissenters  differ  from  us 
almost  wholly  on  one  point — the  law  of  lay  patronage.  Our  standards  and 
mode  of  worship  are  the  same.  We  have  also  an  Episcopal  Chapel  in  Pais- 
ley, to  the  building  of  which,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  your  Majesty  was  pleased 
to  contribute  ;  and  I  have  to  inform  your  Majesty,  that  when  I  left  Scotland, 
a  few  weeks  ago,  the  erection  was  in  progress,  and  it  will  be  a  very  great  or- 
nament to  the  town.'  '  Your  people  in  Paisley,  I  think,  are  mostly  engaged 
in  weaving?'  I  told  his  Majesty  that  weaving  was  our  great  staple— that 
about  a  hundred  years  ago  Paisley  began  its  career  as  a  manufacturing  town 
— that  successively  linen,  thread,  silk,  gauze,  and  cotton,  in  all  its  forms, 
had  been  prominent— that  like  Spitalfields  we  feel  deeply  the  depression  of 
trade— yet  that,  unlike  Spitalfields,  we  had  not  so  near  us  the  wealth  and 
resources  of  the  metropolis.  I  noticed,  however,  the  great  kindness  of  the 
London  committee  in  1822  and  1826,  in  contributing  to  our  fund  to  the 
amount  of  £16,000  or  £18,000.  The  King  spoke  of  there  being  no  predispo- 
sition to  riot  either  in  Englishmen  or  Scotsmen,  and  this  led  us  to  notice  the 
causes  of  excitement,  such  as  poverty,  evil  advisers,  bad  publications,  &c. 
After  again  thanking  his  Majesty  for  the  honour  done  me,  and  expressing 
my  fear  of  having  obtruded  too  long  on  his  time,  his  Majesty  replied  very 
graciously,  and  I  retired."  * 

*  My  father  was,  on  another  occasion,  the  bearer  of  a  magnificent  Paisley  shawl  to  our 
beloved  Sovereign,  and  had  an  interview  with  her  mother,  the  Duchess  of  Kent,  in  pre- 
senting it.    It  was  while  viaiting  London,  on  a  mission  for  the  poor.    Of  these  visits,  my 


114  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

this  powerful  organ  of  the  Evangelical  party  than  the 
effort  made  at  the  Assembly  of  ]  820  to  secure  its  con- 
demnation. Turn  a  torch  on  a  frog-pond,  and  you  will 
hear  the  croaking.  It  was  thus  when  the  lamp  of  truth 
flashed  its  light  on  the  stagnant  marsh  of  moderatism. 
When  grossest  instances  of  clerical  delinquency  were 
smoothed  over  as  "alleged  breaches  of  decorum,"  and  minis- 
ters condemned  by  civil  courts  were  covered  by  ecclesias- 
tical manoeuvring,  it  was  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  a 
faithful  and  true  witness,  like  Andrew  Thomson,  felt  ne- 
cessity laid  upon  him  to  cry  aloud  and  spare  not,  and  lift 
up  his  voice  like  a  trumpet.  The  Moderates  winced  under 
the  sharp  lashings  of  his  pen ;  and  Dr.  Bryce,  whom  in  the 
Assembly  of  1838  Dr.  Burns  jocularly  claimed  as  a  vetoist, 
became  the  mouth-piece  of  "  Moderate"  indignation.  His 
resolutions  condemnatory  of  the  Instructor  were  carried 
by  a  majority  of  ONE,  but  no  ulterior  measures  were  taken. 
Dr.  Bryce  and  his  confreres  found  no  reason  to  desire  a  re- 
petition of  such  victories.  Rising  Evangelism,  and  roused 
public  sentiment,  could  not  be  trifled  with,  and  the  great 
guns  from  St.  George's,  Edinburgh,  kept  booming  as  be- 
fore.* 

Four  months  after  my  father's  settlement  in  Paisley, 
and  when  as  yet  personally  a  stranger  to  him,  Dr.  Thom- 


esteemed  cousin,  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Bums,  of  Kirkliston  (then  of  London  Wall),  has  many- 
racy  reminiscences,  e.g.—^ly  father,  entering  the  minister's  seat  with  Dr.  Baird,  after  the 
sermon  had  begun,  whispered  in  the  pastor's  ear  as  he  sat  next  him,  "  What  Moderate  is 
that,  James,  3'ou  have  got  to  preach  for  you  to-day?"  It  turned  out  to  be  a  prominent 
ornament  of  "  that  order"  from  this  side  of  the  water.— Ed. 

J^  "In  the  year  1820,  war  v^as  declared  between  the  Moderates  in  the  church  and  the 
Christian  Instructor.  The  managers  in  the  General  Assembly,  tortured  by  the  trenchant 
periodical,  passed  a  vote  of  censure  upon  it  as  '  highly  injurious  and  calumnious.'  The 
Instructor  enjoyed  the  storm.     If  they  wanted  battle,  they  should  have  it. 

"  Mouth  after  month  the  Instructor  lashed  them.  Assembly  after  assembly  it  kept 
them  in  fear.  The  Evangelical  party  gathered  courage  as  their  champion  dealt  his  tell- 
ing blows."— i>r.  Cunningham's  Li/e,  page  30. 


DR.   ANDREW  THOMSON'S  LETTERS.  115 

son  opened  up  correspondence  with  him  in  the  following 

terms  : — 

"  Edinburgh,  Nov.  11th,  1811. 
"  Dear  Sir, — Though  personally  unacquainted  with  you,  I  know 
so  much  of  your  character  as  to  encourage  me  to  address  a  few  lines 
to  you  on  the  subject  of  the  Christian  Instintctor.  This  work,  of 
the  principles  of  which  I  hope  you  approve,  has  succeeded  tolerably 
well,  considering  the  circumstances  of  the  country  at  the  present 
time,  and  the  opposition  we  have  met  with  from  the  great  bulk  of 
our  moderate  brethren.  But  gi*eater  exertion  and  greater  patronage 
are  still  necessary  to  render  its  circulation  sufficiently  extensive.  I 
beg  therefore  to  solicit  your  kind  and  active  assistance.  Ever  since 
your  establishment  at  Paisley,  in  which  I  sincerely  congratulate 
you  and  your  congregation,  I  have  intended  to  write  to  you  on  this 
point,  but  my  labours  have  been  so  abundant  as  to  make  the  task 
of  writing  letters  both  difficult  and  irksome.  The  delay,  I  flatter 
myself,  will  not  make  you  less  willing  to  comply  with  my  request. 
Your  assistance  may  be  given  in  two  ways  :  first,  by  sending  us 
occasionally  contributions  from  your  own  pen,  which  I  am  confident 
would  be  such  as  to  add  to  the  value  and  respectability  of  our 
work  ;  and  secondly,  by  procuring  subscribers  to  the  magazine.  I 
know  that  in  most  manufacturing  towns,  and  especially  in  such  a 
town  as  Paisley,  the  present  state  of  affairs  is  unfavourable  to  lite- 
rary undertakings.  But  I  know  also  that  in  Paisley  there  are  many 
people  who  are  both  in  easy  if  not  opulent  circumstances,  and  at 
the  same  time  enlightened  friends  of  true  religion.  Among  them, 
I  think,  some  might  be  found  disposed  to  read  and  encourage  such 
a  publication  as  the  Christian  histructor,  were  it  recommended  to 
them  by  a  person  in  whose  piety  and  judgment  they  placed  confi- 
dence. May  I  beg  that  you  will  be  kind  enough  to  use  your  influ- 
ence with  your  friends  and  acquaintances  in  Paisley  and  its  neigh- 
bourhood, to  promote  the  circulation  of  our  magazine  ?  Perhaps 
it  may  be  advisable  to  have  a  bookseller  who  will  be  inclined  and 
have  it  in  his  power  to  forward  these  views.  Be  so  obliging  as  let 
me  know  what  bookseller  or  booksellers  in  Paisley  may  be  con- 
sidered as  best  for  such  a  purpose, — as  having  most  intercourse  in 
the  way  of  business  with  the  religious  world.  With  best  wishes  for 
your  personal  comfort  and  ministerial  usefulness, 
"  I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

"Andrew  Thomson. 

"  P.S.  Might  I  trouble  you  to  send  me  now  and  then  an  account 
of  the  ordinations,  presentations,  licences,  &c.,  that  occur  in  your 
presbytery." 

The  assistance  thus  frankly  sought,  was  freely  rendered. 
In  acknowledgment,  Dr.  Thomson  writes  again  : — 


116  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

''Edinburgh,  Jan.  14th,  1812. 

"My  Dear  Sir, — I  return  you  many  thanks  for  your  kind  exertions 
in  behalf  of  the  Christian  Instructor.  I  am  gratified  by  the  favour- 
able opinion  which  you  entertain  of  the  work  in  general ;  and  not 
only  take  in  good  part,  but  feel  grateful  for,  the  remarks  you  have 
made  on  some  parts  of  its  execution.  Nor  must  1  forget  to  acknow- 
ledge  the  very  acceptable  communications  which  you  have  sent  for 
insertion.  This  is  the  very  way  in  which  I  wish  to  be  treated  by 
my  friends.  It  is  the  way,  however,  in  which  I  am  treated  by  very 
few.  One  says,  '  I  like  your  publication  very  well,  and  shall  re- 
commend it,'  but  he  never  procures  one  subscriber.  Another  says  : 
'Your  magazine  does  not  come  up  to  my  ideas  of  such  a  work;' 
and  that  is  just  what  he  would  say  though  the  work  were  absolutely 
perfect.  A  third  says  :  '  The  Instructor  is  tolerably  good,  but  then 
it  has  faults  which  must  counteract  its  success  ;'  and  he  very  kindly 
leaves  us  to  perish,  without  pointing  out  these  faults,  or  telling  us 
how  they  might  be  remedied.  And  a  fourth  exclaims  most  valiant- 
ly, '  Go  and  prosper,  only  get  better  communications  and  more  of 
them  ;'  but  never  lifts  his  pen  to  give  me  the  least  assistance  in 
one  way  or  another.  It  gives  me  real  pleasure  to  find  that  you 
have  avoided  all  these  errors,  and  that  you  are  a  substan  ial,  acute, 
and  honest  friend  to  the  Instructor.  What  has  been  done  in  Pais- 
ley, through  your  patronage  and  that  of  Baillie  Carswell,  has  far 
exceeded  my  most  sanguine  expectations.  How  mvich  might  we 
look  for  from  Glasgow,  were  the  same  zeal  to  be  employed  in  that 
populous  and  opulent  city !  I  agree  perfectly  with  you  in  thinking 
that  our  magazine  should  have  more  of  a  literary  cast  than  it  really 
has,  and  any  papers  that  you  may  contribute  for  the  purpose  of  sup- 
plying that  defect  shall  be  received  with  gratitude.  Your  critical 
remarks  on  Held 's  works  may  perhaps  do  better  to  stand  among  the 
miscellaneous  articles  than  among  the  reviews,  as  the  book  is  not 
sufficiently  modern.  But  if  you  will  be  so  obliging  as  to  send  them 
by  the  first  opportunity,  I  shall  try  to  make  the  best  use  of  them. 
Porteous'  Life  is  in  hand,  and  will  appear  soon.  Let  me  know 
what  particular  subject  you  would  like  to  discuss,  and  I  shall  en- 
deavour to  send  you  a  book  corresponding  to  it  for  review.  The 
number  of  the  Instructor  for  this  month  should  have  been  published 
yesterday,  but  the  printer  has  been  so  ill  that  it  will  not  be  out  till 
to-morrow.  The  copies  for  Paisley  shall  be  despatched  immediately. 
I  intend  to  write  to  Baillie  Carswell,  along  with  the  parcel  ;  but 
lest  I  should  not  find  time  so  soon,  tell  him  that  I  have  re- 
ceived both  his  letters,  and  shall  return  an  answer  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. You  may  be  assured  I  shall  not  be  in  your  neighbourhood 
without  seeing  you,  &c.,  &c. 

"  Andrew  Thomson." 

Thus  was  commenced  an  intercourse  which  was  con- 


I 


THOMSON,   R.    A.    SMIPH,   DODS,   BENNIE,   GRIEKSON.      117 

tinued  with  growing  confidence  and  affection  on  both  sides 
till  Dr.  Thomson's  death. 

Frequently  did  they  assist  one  another  on  sacramental 
occasions.  It  was  on  one  of  these,  and  on  the  Thanksgiving 
Monday,  that  Dr.  Thomson,  whose  musical  attainments 
were  well  known,  was  closeted  for  several  hours  in  our 
house  with  R  A.  Smith,  the  distinguished  cc/mposer,  then 
precentor  in  the  Paisley  Abbey.  At  the  dinner  table.  Dr. 
Thomson  produced,  as  the  result  of  their  joint  commun- 
ings, that  grand  tune  adapted  to  the  24th  Psalm,  and 
commonly  known  as  St.  George's,  Edinburgh.  Dr.  Thom- 
son, during  his  visits  to  Paisley,  contracted  a  liking  for  the 
Abbey  precentor,  and  succeeded  in  securing  him  as  leader 
in  the  service  of  song  in  his  own  metropolitan  cathedral. 

For  twenty  years  Dr.  Thomson  lent  to  the  Instructor 
the  influence  of  his  name  and  genius.  He  was  succeeded 
as  editor  b}^  the  Rev.  Marcus  Dods,  of  Belford,  father  of 
the  present  accomplished  bearer  of  that  name;  a  man  of 
remarkable  attainments,  whose  real  worth  was  known 
only  to  a  comparatively  limited  circle,  but  of  whose 
"  Eternal  Word,"  and  varied  contributions  to  the  literature 
of  theology,  my  father  had  the  very  highest  opinion.  The 
Rev.  Archibald  Bennie,  of  Lady  Tester's,  who  used  to  be 
such  a  favourite  amongst  the  Edinburgh  students,  dis- 
charged the  editorial  duties  for  two  years. 

Dr.  Burns'  contributions  to  the  Instructor  were  very 
numerous  and  highly  prized.  Of  the  benefit  he  derived 
from  articles  penned  twenty-one  years  previously,  the 
eminently  godly  and  gifted  Dr.  James  Grierson,  of  Errol, 
thus  writes  on  Feb.  1,  1835  (inviting  him  to  come  and 
plead  for  the  colonies)  : — 


118  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

"  You  say  truly  that  we  are  not  personally  acquainted,  and  yet  I 
feel  that  I  ought  to  know  you,  as  I  used  when  at  the  logic  class  in 
Edinburgh  often  to  step  into  the  hall  where  you  were  finishing 
your  curriculum,  and  often  appeared  as  a  critic.  Moreover,  I  have 
never  till  now  had  an  opportunity  of  telling  you  that,  though  I  was 
brought  up  in  Calvinistic  principles,  and  was  all  alonsf  attached  to 
them,  yet,  that  two  reviews  written  by  you  and  published  in  the 
Instructor,  in  1814.  were,  together  with  Horsley's  Sermon  on  Pro- 
vidence, the  means  of  settling  my  mind  in  regard  to  the  entire 
consistency  between  Calvinism  and  the  Word  of  God.  Do  come, 
then,  and  see  me,  and  give  my  people  a  Sabbath." 

For  three  years  (1838,  1839,  1840)  my  father  acted  as 
sole  editor.  This  entailed  on  him  a  large  amount  of  labour. 
If,  when  the  month  came  round,  there  was  any  shortcoming 
of  mental  pabulum,  he  had  to  supply  it.  Often  several 
articles  in  each  number  were  contributed  by  him. 

We  well  remember  the  delight  we  used  to  experience 
when  the  parcels  of  new  books  came  in  to  be  reviewed, 
and  the  work  we  used  to  have  at  the  close  of  each  year 
in  the  preparation  of  the  index  of  contents. 

The  title  during  the  period  of  his  editorial  incumbency 
evinced  the  leaning  of  his  heart  towards  the  colonies,  for 
to  the  old  original  title  he  added  that  of  Colonial  Be- 
ligious  Register.  This  department,  which  was  quite 
prominent  in  each  number,  furnished  a  channel  for  con- 
veying a  vast  amount  of  useful  and  important  information, 
with  reference  specially  to  Canada,  but  to  all  our  colonial 
dependencies  as  well. 

Many  testimonials  might  be  given  as  to  the  high  posi- 
tion which  the  Instructor  occupied  under  my  father's  edi- 
torial management.  Its  intercot,  which  for  some  time 
previously  had  been  on  the  wane,  greatly  revived,  and  it 
regained  not  a  little  of  its  ancient  glory. 

Besides  his  contributions  to  the  Instructor  and  other 


FIRST  LITERARY  EFFORT.  119 

periodicals,  which  would  fill  several  volumes,  he  had 
to  do  with  the  editorial  supervision  of  several  impor- 
tant works,  and  a  great  variety  of  other  literary  efforts, 
which  were  very  favourably  received.  Had  the  pressure 
of  parish  and  other  public  duty  admitted  of  his  devoting 
himself  more  to  writing,  he  might  have  secured  for  him- 
self a  high  place  in  the  republic  of  letters. 

The  following  fragment  from  the  Autobiography,  to 
which  evidently  additions  were  intended  to  be  made,  in- 
dicates my  father's  early  mental  bent,  and  describes  his 
first  attempt  at  authorship. 

"  A  Short  Essay  on  the  Study  of  History"  appeared  in 
that  grand  national  repository  for  a  hundred  years,  the 
Scot's  Magazine.  It  was  written  by  me  when  little  more 
than  a  boy,  and  a  first  appearance  in  print  must  be  some- 
what exhilarating  to  an  opening  mind.  It  shewed  the 
bent  of  my  inclinations  thus  early.  The  study  of  church 
history  carried  with  it  to  me  a  peculiar  charm,  for  the 
stones  and  the  dust  of  our  Scottish  Zion  I  instinctively 
loved.  The  six  octavo  volumes  of  Stackhouse's  "  History  of 
the  Bible"  soon  after  came  into  my  hands,  and  their  care- 
ful and  continuous  perusal  directed  my  thinking.  A  good 
deal  of  "learned  nonsense"  perhaps  there  may  be  in  it, 
but  the  work  cannot  be  a  trifling  one  that  engaged  the 
time  and  the  labours  of  two  learned  editors  and  annota- 
tors  from  opposite  points  of  the  compass — a  bishop  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  of  Scotland,  and  the  Presbyterian  head 
of  a  northern  Scottish  university.* 

The  following  is  as  complete  a  list  of  the  works  with 
which  he  had  to  do  as  I  have  been  enabled  to  make  out : — 

1.  An  Essay  on  the  Propagation  of  Christianity  in  the  East,  1813. 

2.  Illustrations  of  Providence  in  Late  Events  ;  a  Sermon,  1814. 

*  Bishop  Gleig  and  Principal  Dewar. 


120  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

3.  A  Letter  to  Dr.  Chalmers,  on  the  distinctive  Characters  of 

Protestantism  and  Popery,  1817. — Price  2s.  6d. 

4.  An  Essay  on  the  Eldership,  1818. — Is. 

6.  Historical  Dissertations  on  the  Poor,  8vo,  1819. — 7s.  6d. 

6.  Trail's  Guide  to  the  Lord's  Table,  with  Life,  &c.,  1820.— 9d. 

7.  Bonar's  Genuine  Religion,  the  best  Friend  of  the  People,  with 

Life,  &c.,  1821.— Is.  6d. 

8.  Active  Goodness  beautifully  Exemplified  in  the  Life  and  Labours 

of  the  Rev.  T.  Gouge,  1821.— Is.  6d. 

9.  Cecil's  Visit  to  the  House  of  Mourning,  with  Introductory 

Essay,  1823.— 7s.  6d. 

10.  Cecil's  Address  to  Servants,  with  Introductory  Essay,  1823.  — Is. 

11.  Henry's  Address  to  Parents  on  Baptism,  with  Life  and  Pre- 

face.— 6d. 

12.  Brown  of  Wamphray  on  Prayer,  with  Life  of  the  Author. — 2s. 

13.  Brown  on  the  Life  of  Faith,  with  Preface,  1825. — 5s. 

14.  Treatise  on  Pluralities,  1824.— 3s.  6d. 

15.  Speech  on  the  Roman  Catholic  Claims,  1825.  — 6d. 

16.  Three  Letters  to  a  Friend  on  the  Moral  Bearings  of  the  Bible 

Society  Controversy,  1827. — Is. 

17.  Sober  Mindedness  ;  a  Sermon  to  the  Young,  1828. — 6d. 

18.  A  Voice  from  the  Scaffold  ;  an  Address  on  the  Execution  of 

Brown  and  Craig,  1829.— 2d. 

19.  The  Gareloch  Heresy  Tried,  1830.— Is.  6d.  bds. 

20.  A  Letter  in  Vindication  of  the  above,  1830. — 6d. 

21.  Wodrow's  History  of  the  Sufferings  of  the  Church  of  Scotland : 

with  Life,  I^otes,   and  Preliminary  Dissertation,   4  vols., 
1830.— £2  8s. 

22.  Jehovah  the  Guardian  of  His  own  Word  ;  a  Sermon  before  the 

Society  in  Scotland  for  propagating  Christian  Knowledge,  1830. 

23.  Memoir  of  the  Rev.  Pliny  Fisk,  Missionary  to  Palestine,  with 

Preface  and  Notes. — 3s. 

24.  Bellamy's  Letters,  and  Dialogues  on  the  Nature  of  Love  to  God, 

Faith  in  Christ,  and  Assurance  of  Salvation  ;  with  Introduc- 
tory Essay. — 23.  6d. 

25.  Religious  Endowments. 

26.  Establishments  Vindicated,  pp.  60. 

27.  Hints  on  Ecclesiastical  Reform,  8vo.  pp.  41. 

28.  Plea  for  State  Churches. 

29.  Scotch  Voluntaryism. 

30.  Plea  for  the  Poor,  8vo.  pp.  36. 

31.  Christian  Patriotism,  1841. 
82.  Episcopal  Liturgy. 

33.  Free  Thoughts. 

34.  More  Free  Thoughts. 

35.  Life  of  Dr.  Stevenson  McGill,  1842,  12mo.  pp.  358. 

36.  Edinburgh  Christian  Instructor  (edited),  1838,  pp.  642  :  1839, 

pp.  483  ;  1840,  pp.  475. 


LIST  OF  WORKS.  121 

37.  Farewell  Sermon,  pp.  22,  1845. 

38.  Jewish  Society,  pp.  40,  1853. 

39.  The  Eucharist,  pp.  24,  3863. 

40.  Halyburton's  Works. 

41.  Anti-Patronage  Catechism. 

A  number  of  these  works  (written  or  edited  by  him) 
went  through  several  editions. 

In  consideration  of  his  literary  and  philanthropic  labours 
he  received  from  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  in  1828, 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  was  also  a  Fellow 
of  the  Royal  Society  of  Edinburgh  and  of  the  Antiquarian 
Society  of  Scotland,  and  had  official  connexion  with  several 
other  literary  institutions. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


CONTROVEESIES. 


R.  CHALMERS  possessed  much  of  the  spirit 
of  the  pious  and  amiable  Dr.  Doddridge. 
—  They  were  both  extremely  candid  and  un- 
suspecting, endowed  with  the  temper  of 
large  charity  and  liberality,  and  hence  they 
were  often  in  danger  of  being  misled  by  imposing 
plausibility.  It  was  in  the  spring  of  18  L8  that 
^  Dr.  Chalmers  was  asked  to  plead  for  the  Hibernian 
Society,  and  he  preached  and  published  his  sermon 
on  that  occasion  under  the  title  of  "  The  Doctrine  of 
SJ/  Christian  Charity  applied  to  Religious  Differences." 
The  tendency  of  that  discourse  appeared  to  me  to 
be  dangerous  to  the  best  interests  of  the  Protestant 
xjhurches,  and  I  was  induced  to  pen  and  print  a  letter  to 
the  distinguished  author  on  the  distinctive  features  of 
Popery  and  Protestantism.  Of  this  letter  I  sent  a  copy 
to  the  Doctor,  and  soon  received  from  him  the  following 
reply: 


DR.   CHALMERS — m'GAVIN'S  "  PROTESTANT  "         123 

"  Glasgow,  March  21,  1818. 

*'  Dear  Sir, — I  have  received  from  you  a  copy  of  your  work  and 
return  you  many  thanks.  I  am  at  present  very  much  engrossed  with 
other  matters,  but  hope  when  I  am  enabled  to  resume  the  subject  that 
I  shall  have  leisure  lor  a  full  attention  to  your  arguments.  In  the 
meantime  I  rest  assured  that  your  whole  performance  is  characterized 
by  that  spirit  of  the  Gospel  which  if  infused  (and  why  should  it  not?) 
into  our  every  difference,  would  disarm  controversy  of  its  sting,  and 
reduce  it  to  a  calm  and  profitable  contest  of  the  understanding. 
**  I  am,  my  dear  Sir, 

"  Yours,  with  much  regard, 

"  Thomas  Chalmers'." 

The  views  of  Dr.  Chalmers  were  examined  and  contro- 
verted about  the  same  time  by  Dr.  Thomson,  in  the 
Christian  Instructor,  and  in  some  instances  with  con- 
siderable asperity ;  nevertheless,  it  does  not  appear  that 
these  controversial  "  passages  at  arms,"  ever  interrupted 
the  friendship  which  bound  us  all  tocjether  ;  so  that  here, 
for  once  at  least,  the  calm  philosophical  thinker  may  rest 
assured  that  the  odium  theologicum  had  no  place. 
"Whether  the  Doctor  ever  found  time  to  redeem  his  pledge 
to  resume  the  discussion  of  the  points  at  issue  I  never 
ascertained.  I  don't  recollect  that  we  ever  touched  on 
the  subject  in  private  conversation,  and  certain  it  is  that 
the  obnoxious  piece  that  gave  occasion  to  the  skirmish, 
has  appeared  again  and  again  among  the  printed  works 
of  the  distinguished  author,  and  so  far  as  I  can  see  with- 
out the  slightest  alteration.  Mr.  Wm.  McGavin,  of  Glas- 
gow, once  told  me  that  it  was  the  attentive  perusal  of  my 
letter  which  led  him  to  commence  his  weekly  periodical 
called  The  Protestant ;  a  work  which,  perhaps,  more  than 
all  others  on  the  Romish  controversy  in  later  times,  has 
contributed  to  enlighten  the  popular  mind  of  Scotland 
on  the  errors  and  delusions  of  "  the  man  of  sin." 

On  one  occasion  after  this  the  subject  of  Popery  was 
fully  discussed  in  the  Synod  ol  Glasgow  and  Ayr,  in  con- 
nection with  the  pending  Emancipation  Bill.  On  that 
occasion  Dr.  Chalmers  took  part  in  the  discussion,  and 
pleaded  strongly  for  a  full  equalization  of  rights  between 
Protestants  and  Papists  in  Ireland.     But  the  voice  of  the 


124  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

whole  west  of  Scotland  was  strong  against  all  furthei 
concessions,  and  the  advocates  of  the  measure  in  the 
Synod  were  left  in  a  small  minority. 

In  the  same  year,  nearly  on  the  same  occasion,  it 
fell  to  me  to  plead  at  the  bar  of  the  Assembly  in  favour 
of  an  overture  from  our  Synod  for  a  day  of  "  special 
thanksgiving,"  on  account  of  the  tri-centenary  of  the 
Protestant  Reformation.  Greatly  to  the  surprise  of  my 
friends  and  myself,  the  best  men  in  the  Assembly,  and  the 
staunchest  supporters  of  Evangelical  truth,  set  themselves 
against  us  ;  not  certainly  from  any  disinclination  to  the 
thing,  or  any  want  of  gratitude  for  the  blessings  of  the 
Reformation,  but  from  their  dislike  to  the  ecclesiastical 
appointment  of  working-days  for  special  thanksgiving. 
They  did  not  draw  the  distinction  betwixt  the  fixing  of 
a  Good  Friday  to  be  permanently  kept  as  a  day  of  holy 
rest  equally  with  the  Sabbath,  and  the  mere  occasional 
proclamation  of  an  observance  of  the  kind  on  an  occur- 
rent  Providential  call. 

As  for  the  position  assumed  by  the  Moderate  party  in 
that  instance,  I  recollect  only  one  specimen  of  argument 
on  their  part  against  us  "  Whigs  of  the  West,"  and  it  was 
received  with  calm  thought  and  seeming  acquiescence  on 
all  sides.  If  propounded  eight  years  after,  it  would  have 
been  met  with  hisses,  groans,  and  peals  of  laughter.  Mr. 
John  Wightman,  of  Kirkmahoe,  a  facetious  and  good- 
humoured  man,  but  a  keen  devotee  of  the  Moderate  party, 
sagely  clenched  his  reasonings  with  this  unique  finale: 

"  Moderator, — Reformation  is  a  very  good  word,  and 
perhaps  it  may  denote  a  very  good  thing ;  but,  sir,  we  live 
in  evil  times,  and  you  have  only  to  clip  off"  the  last  two 
syllables  of  the  word  and  it  becomes  a  term  of  fearful 
import''  The  thing  took,  the  members  of  the  court  be- 
gan to  " grue"  and  our  overture  was  consigned  to  the 
"  tomb  of  the  Capulets,"  and  yet,  after  all,  Johnny 
Wightman  was  not  generally  thought  to  be  the  Solomon 
of  the  Assembly. 

In  the  life  of  my  brother  of  Kilsyth,  the  services  of 
1788,  on  the  centenary  of  the  "glorious  Revolution,"  are 


ANTI-POPERY  CONTROVERSY.  125 

particularly  noted,  and  then  it  does  not  appear  that  Dr. 
Erskine  and  his  friends  opposed  the  appointment.  I  am 
inclined  to  think  that  evil  is  often  done  undesignedly  by 
pushing  sound  principles  to  an  extreme,  or  making  of 
them  an  unsuitable  application. 

Dr.  Burns  delivered  the  annual  discourse  against 
Popery  under  the  Hamiltonian  foundation,  for  which  he 
received  an  elegant  copy  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

In  local  courses  of  lectures  on  the  same  subject,  he 
always  bore  his  full  share.  He  aided  in  giving  direction 
to  Charles  Leckie's  mind  towards  a  field  on  which  he  was 
to  win  fresh  laurels. 

He  had  thoroughly  mastered  the  genius  of  Popery,  and 
subsequently  made  its  rise  and  progi-ess  a  specialty  in  his 
professorial  lectures. 

In  the  evening  of  his  days  he  entered  the  arena  of  Papal 
controversy  in  opposition  to  Dr.  Cahill.  The  latest  of 
his  literary  contributions  was  on  the  Transubstantiation 
dogma.  It  reveals  great  accuracy  in  historical  delinea- 
tion, and  keen  critical  acumen.  There  is  also  a  frankness 
and  fairness,  an  impartiality  and  charity  about  it,  which 
won  the  admiration  even  of  Romanists  themselves.  It  is 
rare  for  any  of  the  Papal  dignitaries  to  come  out  in  reply, 
Dut  the  tractate  on  the  Eucharist  was  deemed  of  suffici- 
ent importance  to  draw  forth  a  prominent  Roman  Catho- 
lic Archdeacon,  who,  while  he  tried  ineffectually  to  meet 
the  arguments,  lauded  the  spirit  and  tone  of  bis  oppon- 
ent's production.* 

*  Though  known  to  live  (as  the  noble  Argyle  said  he  died)  "  with  a  heart-hatred  ot 
Popery,"  my  father  was  always  on  a  friendly  footing  with  Romanists.  During  his  visits 
to  Glengarry  they  were  very  kind  to  him.  A  recent  number  of  the  Montreal  Witness 
(Feb.  8,  1872)  contains  the  following  anecdote,  which  it  describes  as  a  "  perfectly  true 
one."  , "  When  the  late  Vicar-General  Hay,  of  Toronto,  was  on  his  death-bed,  he  su«- 
oeeded  in  sending  a  message  to  the  late  Dr.  Bums,  who  at  the  time  lived  opposite  the 


126  LIFE  OF  EEV.  DR.  BURNS. 

Gra\e  consequences  often  result  from  trivial  causes. 
Robert  Haldane,  the  spiritual  father  of  Merle  D'Aubign^ 
and  the  coterie  of  noble  men  who  have  formed  the  life's 
blood  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  France  and  Switzerland, 
happened  to  leave  an  umbrella  at  the  headquarters  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  Earl  street,  London. 
In  that  simple  incident  lay  the  germ  of  a  controversy 
which  raged  fiercely  for  years,  in  which  combatants  of 
first-class  mental  calibre  took  part,  and  with  which  re- 
sults momentous  and  wide-spread  were  wrapt  up.  Re- 
turning next  day  to  claim  his  property,  he  got  into  con- 
versation with  parties  in  the  ofiice,  who  informed  him 
that  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Society  to  incorporate  the 
Apocrypha  with  those  copies  of  the  Scriptures  which 
were  circulated  in  Continental  and  Eastern  lands,  so  as 
to  render  them  more  palatable  to  the  adherents  of  the 
Greek  and  Roman  churches. 

This  admixture  of  the  "  words  of  the  Lord  which  are 
pure  words,  as  silver  tried"  with  "  reprobate  silver"  that 
had  not  the  ring  of  the  true  metal  and  the  image  and 
superscription  of  the  King,  roused  his  honest  soul.  He 
withstood  them  to  the  face,  because  they  were  to  be 
bbmed. 

Foremost  amongst  the  opponents  of  this  compromising 
policy  was  the  minister  of  St.  George's,  Edinburgh. 

"  He  drove  home  to  the  mind  of  the  Protestant  world 

Roman  Catholic  Bishop's  Palace,  when  he  was  dying,  asking  the  latter  to  come  and  see 
him,  '  as  a  neighbour,  as  a  tellow-counuyman,  and  as  a  dying  man.'  The  Doctor  was 
not  at  home  when  the  message  came,  but  as  soon  as  he  was  informed  of  it  he  went  over 
to  the  palace.  He  was,  however,  told  there  that  Father  Hay  could  not  then  see  him,  as 
he  was  labouring  under  a  fit  of  coughing.  The  second  time  the  Doctor  called  he  was 
debarred  from  going  into  the  presence  of  the  dying  man  by  the  excuse  that  he  was  asleep. 
Soon  after  he  had  to  go  on  a  missionary  tour,  but  before  he  returned  Father  Hay  had 
passed  into  the  eternal  world."  —Ed. 


APOCiWPHA  CONTllOVERSY.  127 

the  conviction  that  the  Bible  must  be  purified  from  this 
remaining  taint.  It  ought  to  have  been  accomplished  by- 
Luther;  its  accomplishment  will  preserve  for  ever  the 
name  of  Andrew  Thomson."  Much  of  human  infirmity 
entered  into  the  conflict  on  both  sides.  "  The  House  of 
the  Lord  was  filled  with  smoke."  But  there  were  both 
truth  and  beauty  in  the  remark  of  Thomson  to  Haldane  : 
— "  All  of  human  infirmity  that  now  obscures  this  great 
work  will  pass  away  like  smoke,  but  the  flame  will  con- 
tinue to  burn  and  prove  a  beacon  to  distant  posterity." 

From  his  well  understood  principles,  as  well  as  his  close 
intimacy  with  Dr.  Thomson,  it  might  be  conjectured 
what  side  Dr.  Burns  would  take,  and  that  with  him,  on  a 
question  of  this  kind,  neutrality  would  be  impossible. 
In  the  26th  volume  of  the  Ght^tian  Instructor  (that  for 
1827)  he  has  three  letters  (filling  thirty -seven  closely- 
printed  pages)  addressed  to  a  "  Friend,"  on  the  "  moral 
bearings  of  the  Bible  Society  controversy." 

In  introducing  them  Dr.  Thomson  says: — "We  have 
much  pleasure  in  laying  before  our  readers  the  following 
letter  from  Mr.  Burns  to  his  friend.  The  discussion  which 
it  contains  is  very  important  and  very  seasonable,  ably 
conducted,  and  deserving  of  serious  consideration.  Our 
excellent  correspondent  may  be  assured  that  we  shall  be 
most  happy  to  insert  his  communications  on  the  two  re- 
maining topics  which  he  has  yet  to  handle." 

As  he  has  himself  noticed  elsewhere,  on  the  very  first 
appearance  of  Dr.  Burns  as  a  Commissioner  in  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly,  the  Plurality  question  came  up.     It  was  iD 


128  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

1813,  in  connexion  with  the  Ferrie  case.*  Dr.  Ferrie, 
when  Professor  of  Civil  History  at  St.  Andrews,  had  re- 
ceived a  presentation  to  the  parish  of  Kilconquhar,  twelve 
miles  distant.  The  Presbytery  declined  settling  him  un- 
less he  promised  to  resign  his  professorship.  He  refused 
— and  the  Assembly  of  1813,  by  the  small  majority  of 
five,  supported  him  in  this  refusal,  and  reversed  the  Pres- 
bytery's decision. 

In  1814,  however,  the  General  Assembly  passed  a 
Declaratory  Act  against  plurality  of  offices,  as  inexpedi- 
ent in  itself,  and  inconsistent  with  the  genius  of  the  Church 
of  Scotland.  An  issue  was  raised  by  the  ultra-Moderates, 
who  were  vexed  at  this  concession  to  rising  Evangelism, 
to  the  effect  that  such  legislation  was  unconstitutional, 
inasmuch  as  the  Barrier  Act  had  not  been  complied  with, 
which  required  a  reference  to  Presbyteries. 

The  Declaratory  Act  was  not  however  rescinded  by  the 
Assembly  of  1815.  The  Moderates  continued  to  com- 
plain, and  in  1816  a  new  Act  similar  to  that  of  1814  was 
introduced  by  Dr.  Hill,  which  passed  the  ordeal  of  the 
Presbyteries,  secured  the  approval  of  the  Assembly  of 
1817,  and  became  a  permanent  law  of  the  Church.  This 
rendered  illegal  any  union  of  offices,  involving  non-resi- 
dence in  the  parish. 

In  1823,  on  the  death  of  Principal  Taylor,  of  Glasgow 
University,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Macfarlane,  of  Drymen,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  vacant  principalship,  and  soon  after  to  the 
charge  of  St.  Mungo's  parish  in  Glasgow.  The  Presby- 
tery, by  a  large  majority,  declared  the  presentee  "  un- 

*  Son-in-law  to  Principal  McCortnick  of  St.  Andrews,  and  father  of  Mr.  William  Ferrie, 
formerly  a  Minister  of  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church.— Ed. 


PLURALITY  CONTROVERSY.  129 

qualified"  to  accept  the  latter  appointment  because  of  the 
incompatibility  of  the  two  offices.  The  Synod,  by  a  much 
smaller  majority,  affirmed  the  decision  of  Presbytery,  but 
the  General  Assembly  of  1824,  by  a  large  majority  rever- 
sed both  decisions,  and  ordered  Principal  Macfarlane  to  be 
inducted  into  the  parish. 

It  was  this  case  which  brought  out  Drs.  Thomson  and 
Otialmers  in  the  fulness  of  their  strength,  and  which 
occasioned  the  publication  of  Dr.  Burns'  work,  entitled 
"  Plurality  of  offices  in  the  Church  of  Scotland  examined. 
Glasgow  :  Chalmers  and  ColUns,  1824."* 

The  composition  of  a  work  of  three  hundred  pages  in 
little  over  a  month  was  a  marvellous  feat.  But  he  was 
anxious  to  have  it  out  for  the  Assembly — and  shut  him- 
self closely  up  for  these  weeks — and  accomplished  it. 

A  serious  illness  was  the  result  of  this  undue  strain  on 
his  powers,  and  the  excitement  of  the  Assembly  which 
followed. 

*  Immediately  on  its  appearance  in  April,  1824,  Dr.  Thomson,  in  the  num- 
ber of  the  Instructor  for  that  month,  said  of  it  : — "  This  volume  was  put  in 
our  hands  just  as  we  were  about  to  furnish  the  printer  with  copy  of  religi- 
ous intelligence,  and  we  immediately  read  it  with  the  view  of  being  able  to 
give  our  opinion  of  its  merits  in  the  present  number.  Our  perusal  has 
satisfied  us  that  it  is  a  work  of  great  excellence.  It  is  full  of  important 
facts  and  able  argumentation,  and  bears  upon  the  subject  of  pluralities  in 
general,  and  of  Ur.  McFarlane's  plurality  in  particular,  in  such  a  manner  as 
in  our  apprehension  to  set  both  questions  completely  at  rest. 

"We  recommend  it  earnestly  to  all  our  readers,  whether  they  are  on  the  one 
side  or  on  the  other. 

"  Those  who  are  hostile  to  union  of  offices  will  find  their  principles  at  once 
enlightened  and  confirmed  by  its  discussion  ;  and  those  who  are  favourable 
to  such  a  union  will  see  reason,  abundant  reason,  to  adopt  very  different 
views  on  this  topic  from  those  which  they  have  hitherto  entertained. 

"  We  really  cannot  express  how  much  we  feel  indebted  to  Mr.  Bums  for 
his  able,  temperate  and  conclusive  performance.  It  does  much  credit  both 
to  his  understanding  and  his  feelings,  to  his  diligence  in  research,  and  to  his 
power  of  applying  his  information  to  the  cause  for  which  he  contends. 
And  we  are  certain  that  it  must  prove  highly  useful  to  all  who  take  an  in- 
terest in  the  question  of  pluralities  in  our  church,  and  whose  minds  are  not 
totally  blinded  by  selfishness  or  axaHtiou.''— Christian  Instructor,  April, 
1824. 


130  LIFE  OF  KEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

In  that  Assembly,  the  proceedings  of  which  on  the 
Plurality  question  were  separately  published,*  his  work 
was  an  oft-quoted  authority.  The  review  of  the  debate 
in  the  number  of  the  Instructor  for  August,  1825,  says  : 
— "  To  this  work  many  references  were  made  by  speakers 
on  both  sides,  in  the  course  of  the  debate.  Of  these, 
some  have  been  omitted  in  the  printed  Report,  but  we 
give  the  following  as  a  specimen.  '  In  investigating  this 
subject  I  have  followed  a  reverend  gentleman  (Mr.  Burns), 
to  whom  the  Church  is  much  indebted  for  his  researches, 
but  I  have  chosen  to  verify  his  references  for  myself,  and  I 
have  found  them,  in  every  instance,  perfectly  accurate." — 
Speech  of  Robert  Thomson,  Esq.,  Advocate,  p.  44  **  I 
bear  testimony  to  its  erudition  and  deep  research,  and  the 
general  accuracy  of  the  Statutes  and  Acts  of  Assembly 
which  have  been  brought  forward." — Speech  of  the  Rev. 
A.  Fleming,  of  Neilston,  p.  142.  The  Reviewer  adds  : — 
"  That  the  praise  bestowed  on  the  work  by  this  pleader 
should  have  been  measured,  was  not  to  be  wondered  at, 
when  we  recollect  that  the  professed  object  of  his  speech 
(as  of  Dr.  Nichols),  was  to  attempt  a  refutation  of  the 
work." 

To  the  author's  speech  in  the  Assembly  frequent  allu- 
sions are  also  made — as  "  See  this  fully  illustrated  in  Mr. 
Bums'  speech."  "  The  cry  of  Infidelity  has  been  most 
fully  discussed  in  the  speeches  of  Dr.  Thomson  and  of  Mr. 
Burns." 

The  book  and  the  speech  ahke  were  regarded  as  mas- 
terly and  exhaustive. 

*  Review  of  the  Report  of  the  Debate  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land, on  the  overtures  anent  the  Union  of  OflBces,  May,  1825,  Edinburgh,  8vo.  pp.  vi 
189.    Price,  3s.  (id. 


CAMPBELL   OF   ROW.  131 

In  our  College  days,  as  on  Sabbath  morning  we  wend- 
ed our  way  to  St  John's,  Glasgow,  to  hear  good  Dr. 
Brown,  or  his  acceptable  assistant  Mr.  Grant  (now  of  Ayr), 
we  used  to  pass  a  plain  but  solid  building,  where  ministered 
to  a  small  audience  John  Macleod  Campbell — formerly  of 
Row,  Dumbartonshire — an  earnest,  holy  man,  though  mis- 
taken. He  had  come  under  the  spell  of  the  noble  but 
erratic  Edward  Irving,  whose  wild  vagaries  were  for  a 
lamentation,  and  whose  weak-minded  disciples,  outrival- 
ling  the  extravagances  of  their  master,  were  playing  fan- 
tastic tricks  before  high  heaven  !  The  faithful  pastor  of 
the  sequestered  parish  on  the  lovely  Gareloch  did  not  go 
the  length  of  the  London  enthusiasts — but  he  believed  in 
universal  pardon,  and  the  revival  of  primitive  miracu- 
lous powers,  and  became  involved  in  other  errors — which 
were  borne  with  for  three  or  lour  years — but  which,  at 
last,  led  to  his  trial  before  the  Presbytery  of  Dumbarton, 
in  June,  1830,  and  to  his  deposition  by  the  General  As- 
sembly the  following  year. 

When  Dr.  Andrew  Thomson  was  told  that  Dr.  William 
Cunningham  was  to  be  settled  at  Greenock,  as  assistant 
and  successor  to  Dr.  Scott  of  the  Mid  Parish,  he  exclaim- 
ed, "  Good !  he'll  be  a  capital  fellow  for  knocking  the 
Row  heresy  on  the  head." 

Similar  was  the  estimate  which  he  had  formed  of  Dr 
Burns,  as  his  eulogistic  reviews  of  his  writings  on  the 
same  subject  testify.  Chief  of  these  was  the  "  Gareloch 
Heresy  tried  ;"  an  elaborate  tractate  of  88  pages,  which 
rapidly  passed  through  three  editions. 

It  drew  forth  rejoinders  from  "  Anglicanus"  (123  pages) 


132  LIFE  OF   REV.   DR.   BCJRNS. 

and  from  a  layman  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  to  the  latter 
of  whom  Dr.  B.  published  a  "  Reply,"  of  which  the  In- 
structor says  : — ''  The  '  Reply'  is  a  work  of  extensive  re- 
search, and,  although  consisting  of  no  more  than  sixty 
pages,  and  costing  only  a  '  sixpence,'  forms  a  thesaurus  of 
which  every  student  of  theology  should  be  possessed." 

Curiously  enough  the  worthy  minister  of  Gairloch  in 
Rosshire,  who  was  orthodox  to  the  back-bone,  took  it  into 
his  head  that  the  soundness  of  his  theology  was  called  in 
question,  and  wrote  to  that  effect.  This  led  to  the  inser- 
tion in  the  "  Reply"  of  the  following  postscript : — 

"  When  I  thought  of  levelling  my  piece  among  the  wild  fowl  on 

*  the  Gareloch,'  it  never  once  occurred  to  me  that  the  reverbera- 
tion of  the  report  would  be  heard  to  such  a  distance  as  the  hills  and 
the  glens  of  Ross-shire,  and  yet  '  true  it  is  and  of  verity'  that  the 
peaceful  flock  of  the  Parish  of  Gairloch,  E-oss-shire,  have  been 
sadly  annoyed  with  it  ;  and  their  worthy  pastor  has  resolved  on 
this  day  (23rd  February),  to  commence  an  action  against  the  poach- 
er on  the  principle  of  the  game  laws.  Of  the  Rev.  James  Russel  I 
know  nothing  personally,  but  I  have  read  many  of  his  letters  in  the 
Gaelic-School  Reports,  and  I  have  always  held  him  in  esteem  as  a 
worthy  man  ;  and  sorry  am  I  that  by  a  mere  confusion  of  names  I 
should  incidentally  have  given  him  one  moment's  uneasiness,  or 
rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  draw  out  at  great  length  the  vindi- 
cation of  an  orthodoxy  which  was  never  questioned  by  me.  If  any 
thing  shall  be  thought  necessary  to  repair  the  damage  done,  I  am 
ready  most  willingly  to  make  the  following  declaration  when  duly 
called  on  in  the  proper  court. 

"  Be  it  known  to  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  the  arm  of  the 
Clyde,  called  '  the  Gareloch,'  in  Dumbartonshire,  is  not  the  same 
thing  with  the  parish  called  '  Gairloch,  in  Ross-shire  ;'  that  '  the 
Rev.  John  M.  Campbell  of  Row,'  is  not  the  same  person  with  the 
Rev.    James  Russel,    minister   of  Gairloch  ;   and  that  the  terms 

*  Helensburgh'  and  '  Port  Glasgow,'  are  not  to  be  interpreted  ac- 
cording to  the  Linlathan  code  of  criticism  ;  but  mean,  literally — 
'Helensburgh'  and  'Port  Glasgow.' 

"  I  apprehend  that  the  whole  mischief  has  been  occasioned  by  a 
misspelling  of  the  nanie.  The  parish  is  uniformly  spelled  Gair- 
loch. The  lake  is  as  uniformly  spelt  Gareloch.  The  proper  ortho- 
graphy has  been  adopted  on  the  title-page  of  the  present  pamphlet, 
and  the  publisher  will  attend  to  the  correction  in  future. 


GARELOCH  HERESY — VOLUNTARY  CONTROVERSY.   ]  33 

"  The  thing  might  perhaps  have  been  designated  as  the  '  Ro-vf 
Heresy,'  but  afraid  that  my  old  friend  Mr.  Story,  of  Roseneath, 
might  feel  himself  overlooked,  I  thought  it  best  to  adopt  a  desig- 
nation which  mi.,dit  comprehend  both  sides  of  that  beautiful  arm  of 
the  Clyde,  and  therefore  called  it,  very  harmlessly  at  the  moment 
— *  The  Gareloch  Heresy.'  " 


Dr.  Marshall,  of  Kirkintilloch,  sounded  the  tocsin  of 
Voluntaryism  in  his  sermon  on  "  Ecclesiastical  Establish- 
ments Considered,"  delivered  before  "  the  Glasgow  Asso- 
ciation for  propagating  the  Gospel,  in  connexion  with 
the  United  Secession  Church."  Mr.  Ballantyne,  of 
Stonehaven,  had  published  "  a  Comparison  of  Dissent- 
ing and  Established  Churches,"  which  supplied  the  more 
notable  divine  with  some  of  his  ammunition.  Little 
notice  was  taken  of  these  assaults  by  the  Establishment 
till  1833,  though,  during  the  interval,  the  country  was 
dotted  with  "  Voluntary  Church  Associations,"  and  ec- 
hoed the  sound  of  battle  from  afar.  In  that  year  the 
forces  on  each  side  mustered,  and  a  general  action  com- 
menced. For  several  years  the  conflict  was  keen.  It 
developed  some  noble  chivalry  and  splendid  controver- 
sial ability,  though  marked  and  marred,  as  was  inevitable, 
by  not  a  little  of  that  wrath  of  man  which  worketh  not 
the  righteousness  of  God,  and  of  that  envying  and 
strife  which  are  the  parents  of  confusion  and  every  evil 
work. 

The  pulpit,  the  platform,  the  press,  were  all  enlisted. 
Sermons,  lectures,  addresses,  debates  were  the  order  of 
the  day.  There  was  a  snow-storm  of  pamphlets.  On  the 
Establishment  side  alone,  it  is  said,  that  when  the  con- 
flict was  at  its  height,  the  Collins  establishment  sent  forth 


134  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS.      - 

monthly  fifty  thousand  tracts.  Seven  magazines  lent 
their  aid  on  one  side  or  the  other. 

It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  Dr.  Burns  would  be  an 
uninterested  spectator.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  accept 
the  challenge  of  the  doughty  knight  of  Kirkintilloch, 
who  had  rung  forth  the  Philistine's  cry,  "  Give  me  a  man 
that  we  may  fight  together." 

"  The  Religious  Establishment  of  Scotland  Vindicated" 
appeared  in  1830 — a  sermon  of  57  pages,  preached  on 
October  12th,  before  the  Synod  of  Glasgow  and  Ayr,  at 
Irvine,  and  "  published  at  the  request  of  the  Synod,"  on 
motion  of  his  old  friend  Dr.  William  Hamilton,  of  Strath- 
blane,  seconded  by  Dr.  Wightman,  corresponding  mem- 
ber from  the  Synod  of  Dumfries. 

Subsequently  appeared  in  succession  a  "  Lecture  on  Re- 
ligious Endowments,"  delivered  in  the  High  Church,  and 
published  "  under  the  superintendence  of  the  Church  of 
Scotland  Society"  of  Paisley.  "  A  plea  for  State  Churches, 
in  reply  to  the  Rev.  Archibald  Baird  ;"  "  Scottish  Volun- 
taryism, the  Atheist's  Ally,"  a  "  letter  to  the  Rev.  William 
Smart,"  etc.,  etc.  These  all  attracted  much  attention  at 
the  time,*  but,  like  the  multifarious  and  prolific  literature 
of  this  controversy  in  general,  they  have  ceased  to  excite 
much  interest  among  men,  and  have  become  the  property 
of  moths. 

Dr.  Burns  was  no  intemperate  partisan.  He  was  no 
blind  and  bigoted  defender  of  all  that  pertained  to  the 

*  "The  Doctor,  in  a  most  spirited  and  powerful  letter,  demonstrates  the  truth  of  his 
assertion.  He  gives  Mr.  Smart  a  thorough  and  merited  castigation.  Dr.  Burns* 
pamphlet  is  remarkably  worthy  of  universal  perusal.  Like  all  the  works  of  the  same 
author,  it  gives  proof  of  great  acuteness  and  extensive  reading.  Mr.  Smart  will  have 
the  good  sense  not  to  attempt  a  reply."  This  estimate,  by  reviewers  on  his  ewn  side,  of 
the  last  mentioned  brochure,  reflects  that  formed  of  the  others. — Ed. 


DRS.   BAIRD   AND   SMART — CHARLES  LECKIE.         V65 

"  venerable  Establishment."  He  was  fully  alive  to  her 
errors  and  defects,  and  in  the  spirit  of  a  true  reformer, 
bent  all  his  energies  to  the  setting  in  order  the  things  that 
were  wanting.  His  "  Essay  on  the  Duties  of  the  Elder- 
ship" and  "Hints  on  Ecclesiastical  Reform/'  furnish 
ample  evidence  of  this. 

Nor  were  private  friendships  interfered  with  by  the 
keenness  of  public  debate.  Baird  and  Smart  were  '*  foe- 
men  worthy  of  his  steel" — men  of  fine  personal  presence 
and  genial  social  qualities.  When  in  the  clash  of  intel- 
lectual gladiatorship,  they  ran  tilt  against  each  other,  it 
was  "  Greek  meeting  Greek" — but  they  were  always  fast 
friends,  and  lived  in  love.  In  works  of  common  interest, 
such  as  Bible,  Tract  and  other  Evangelistic  and  Reform- 
atory movements,  they  cordially  co-operated. 

Mutual  tokens  were  interchanged.  One  of  the  most 
valued  treasures  in  my  library  is  a  ponderous  volume  of 
"  Mastricht's  Theology," — "  presented  to  the  Rev.  Robert 
Burns,  D.  D.,  as  a  small  token  of  sincere  friendship  by 
Archibald  Baird." 

The  Voluntary  Controversy  gave  rise  to  a  number  of 
practised  professional  debaters  who,  not  connected  with 
the  regular  army,  did  considerable  execution.  Prominent 
amongst  these  was  Charles  Leckie,  of  Scoto-Irish  parent- 
age, a  plain  working-man  in  a  Barrhead  cotton-mill.  Of 
quick  natural  parts,  sharp  as  a  needle,  lithe  and  supple  in 
his  physical  and  mental  build ;  amid  the  hum  of  the 
factory,  and  the  din  and  dust  of  the  spindles,  his  had 
been  the  "  pursuit  of  knowledge  under  difficulties."  Dr. 
Burns  was  one  of  the  first  to  discover  and  develop  his 


136  LIFE  OF  REV.   BR.   BURNS. 

powers.  Leckie  was  a  Eeformed  Presbyterian,  brought 
up  at  the  feet  of  that  noble  theologian,  Andrew  Syming- 
ton. For  six  years,  but  a  stone  wall  separated  our  house  in 
Oakshawhead  from  the  Cameronian  church  and  manse. 
We  often  worshipped  there.  Our  families  were  on  the 
most  intimate  footing.  In  that  "  School  of  the  Prophets," 
a  very  plain  upper  room,  the  pastor  of  St.  George's  was 
often  found.  He  counted  Dr.  Symington's  six  weeks 
course  better  far  than  the  six  months  of  his  day.  Leckie 
thus  was  thrown  in  his  way,  and  Barrhead  being  so  near, 
he  often  came  in  to  ^ee  us.  My  father  aided  him  by 
counsel  and  otherwise  in  the  publication  of  his  "  Scrip- 
ture References" — a  larger  and  fuller  work  than  Dr. 
Chalmers'  on  the  same  theme — and  encouraged  his  early 
efforts.  With  a  voracious  appetite  for  books  and  a  most 
retentive  memory,  accompanied  with  great  coolness  and 
keenness,  he  proved  a  formidable  debater,  and  with  that 
chivalrous  hero,  Macgill  Crichton,  scoured  the  country  in 
many  an  ecclesiastical  foray.  We  remember  distinctly 
his  discussions  with  "  citizen  John"  Kennedy,  for  nights 
in  succession,  in  the  old  High  Church. 

"  His  debating  power  was  quite  marvellous.  His  ready  wit  and 
brilliant  repartee  came,  perhaps,  from  his  Irish  blood  ;  but  he 
drove  home  the  rivets  of  his  arguments  like  a  Scot  of  the  Scots. 
He  was  a  slightly  made  man,  of  middle  height.  His  features  were 
small  and  regular,  his  complexion  dark,  and  his  coal-black  hair 
stood  straight  up  from  his  compact  forehead.  A  working  man  him- 
self, he  could  deal  with  meetings  of  the  working  classes  as  no  other 
man  in  Scotland  could  do.  He  encountered  many  a  stormy  scene, 
battling  with  the  fierce  democracy,  but  his  good  humour  was  never 
ruffled,  and  his  cool  self-possession  never  failed.  He  was  a  gentle, 
happy,  humble-hearted  Christian.  The  Established  Church  found 
one  of  its  most  effective  defenders  in  this  remarkable  cotton-spin- 
ner.    Some  of  his  public  debates  lasted  for  three,  and  some  of  them 


LECKIE'S  debates — CHURCH  CONTROVERSY.         137 

for  ten,  consecntive  evenings.     Sometimes  the  eager  crowd  sat  on 
till  gray  daylight  streamed  in  upon  them."* 

The  sixth  great  controversy  in  which  Dr.  Burns  took 
part,  was  that  which  rent  the  Church  in  twain. 

From  its  magnitude  and  importance,  we  must  devote 
to  it  a  distinct  chapter,  in  which  we  shall  again  enjoy  the 
aid  of  his  own  pen,  which  has  failed  us  during  most  of 
this  one. 

*Lif«  of  William  Cuniiirufham,  D.  D.,  pp.  91-2. 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  TEN  YEARS    CONFLICT. 


R 


SOMERVILLE,  of  Jedburgh,  in  his  Auto- 
biography (p.  86)  thus  speaks :  "  So  far 
from  believing  secession  and  schisms  to  be 
evils,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  they  have 
been  productive  of  beneficial  effects  with 
respect  to  the  Ecclesiastical  Establishment, 
as  well  as  the  more  important  interests  of  religion." 
He  goes  on  to  adduce  the  usual  illustrations,  in 
this  relation,  of  the  agency  of  Providence  in  over- 
ruling rivalships  for  ultimate  good.  We  should 
be  thankful  that  it  is  so,  and  especially  that, 
during  the  darkest  period  of  Scotland's  Church 
History,  the  Secession  Churches  were  the  means  of  main- 
taining the  steady  light  of  evangelical  truth  in  many 
parts  of  the  land  that  would  otherwise  have  been  aban- 
doned to  all  the  horrors  of  spiritual  despotism  and  spiritual 
death. 

I  have  not  a  doubt  as  to  the  truth  of  the  averment  that 
has  been  frequently  made,  and  certainly  it  cannot  be  too 


GOLDEN  OPPORTUNITIES  LOST.         139 

frequently  remembered,  that  all  the  miseries  which  con- 
firmed despotism  on  the  one  hand,  and  unbridled  licentious- 
ness on  the  other,  have  brought  on  nations  may  be  traced 
to  the  criminal  neglect  of  those  most  deeply  interested  in 
them  to  seize  the  proper  opportunity  of  relief;  to  lay  hold 
of  circumstances  and  events  in  the  ordinary  course  of 
things  that  might,  had  their  voice  been  listened  to  in 
proper  time,  have  been  the  means  of  first  alleviating  and 
then  removing  most  grievous  calamities.  When  the  fa- 
vourable moment  is  thus  lost,  it  is  seldom  recovered.  The 
oppressing  or  oflfending  party  becomes  stronger  and  strong- 
er, the  suffering  party  becomes  weaker  and  weaker,  for 
impartial  men  are  ever  ready  to  ask  the  question  :  Why 
did  3'ou  not  seize  your  favourable  opportunity  when  you 
had  it  ?  The  lengthened  controversies  in  Scotland  about 
reform  in  the  State,  and  the  unpleasant  position  of  things 
at  present  (1867)  in  England  on  subjects  and  issues  pre- 
cisely similar,  may  suggest  suitable  illustrations  of  my' 
meaning.  Precisely  the  same  view  may  be  taken  of  the 
state  of  things  in  the  Established  Church  of  Scotland 
when  "the  ten  years'  conflict"  began.  A  finer  opportu- 
nity never  presented  itself  before  of  obtaining  redress  of 
the  grievance  of  Patronage, — either  by  actual  removal,  or 
by  a  substantial  bridling  or  muzzling  (not  by  "  muflUng," 
as  was  done)  the  troublesome  monster, — than  was  presented 
in  1833  and  1834,  when  a  movement  was  successfully 
made  in  the  House  of  Commons  to  have  the  subject  fairly 
canvassed.  No  doubt  there  were  various  motives  ac- 
tuating diflferent  parties  in  the  matter;  and  after  all, 
an  effective  and  final  remedy  might  not  have  been  secured. 
But  certainly  the  Church  should  have  seized  the  opportu- 
nity, and  lent  all  that  influence  to  the  "  reform"  movement 
which  she  had  been  giving,  and  continued  to  give  to  the 
plan  of  "  extension."  One  great  benefit  incidentally 
resulted  from  that  movem.ent.  I  mean  the  setting  aside 
by  Mr.  Colquhoun's,  or  rather  Mr.  Alexander  Dunlop's  bill, 
of  the  claims  of  parochial  patrons  to  the  nominations  of 
ministers  to  all  new  churches,  whether  endowed  or  unen- 
dowed, on  assuming  the  rank  of  parochial  charges.     The 


140  LIFE   OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

General  Assembly  had  no  difficulty  in  plying  the  civil 
authorities  for  aid,  by  public  grants,  for  new  churches  ; 
and  why  she  should  have  hesitated  to  tell  her  mind  on 
the  far  more  vital  question  (certainly  also  the  more  popu- 
lar one)  of  internal  and  constitutional  reform,  is  one  of 
those  questions  which  I  never  could  answer  in  any  way 
that  did  not  affect  seriously  her  moral  bearings,  in  regard 
to  that  political  partizanship  from  which  every  church 
that  has  succumbed  to  it  has  invariably  suffered. 

Dr.  McCrie,  in  his  admirable  and  well-timed  appeal  in 
1833,  on  the  duty  of  the  Church  to  petition  the  Legislature 
for  the  instant  abolition  of  Patronage, — an  appeal  which 
wanted  only  his  name  to  it  to  have  given  it  all  the  weight 
which  anything  coming  from  such  a  quarter  must  have 
had — makes  this  remark :  "  Time  was,  and  it  has  not  long 
gone  by,  when  such  a  proposal  would  not  have  been 
listened  to  in  our  supreme  court,  when  it  would  have 
been  difficult  to  find  a  person  possessed  of  sufficient  nerve 
even  to  move  such  a  proposal."  The  remark  is  well 
founded.  But  to  do  justice  to  the  memory  of  friends  both 
clerical  and  lay,  all  of  whom  I  rather  think  are  now  num- 
bered with  the  dead,  T  must  state  a  fact  or  two  which 
came  immediately  under  my  own  notice,  a  good  many 
years  before  1833.  There  was  a  fine  lay  movement  in 
Glasgow  for  the  removal  of  the  grievance  of  patronage, 
headed  by  such  excellent  men  as  Mr.  Henry  Knox,  Mr. 
John  Robertson,  Mr.  John  Wright,  and  others;  and  a 
pretty  voluminously  signed  appeal  was  got  up  and  present- 
ed to  the  General  Assembly.  The  friends  were  certainly  at 
a  loss  to  find  at  once  a  clerical  member  of  the  house  who 
would  boldly,  and  in  the  face  of  frowns  and  hootings,  pre- 
sent the  deed  in  open  house  and  advocate  it  when  it  came 
up  in  due  order.  At  length  they  fixed  on  Dr.  William 
Hamilton,  of  Strathblane,  father  of  Dr.  James  Hamilton, 
of  London,  a  name  precious  in  literature  and  theology. 
One  morning,  on  coming  up  to  the  Assembly,  I  met  my 
friend  carrying  a  pretty  large  roll  under  his  arm,  and  I 
asked  him  what  it  was.  "  The  root  and  branch  petition," 
said  he,  "  against  patronage."     Though  all  m}^  days  an 


ROOT  AND   BRANCH  PETITION — TWO   MISTAKES.       141 

anti-patronage  man,  I  was  not  quite  "  clear'  as  to  whether 
the  time  was  come  for  a  movement  of  the  kind  ;  and  not 
being  a  member,  of  course  I  could  not  help  him.  But,  oh  I 
how  I  often  lamented  that  Thomson  was  gone,  that  McCrie 
was  not  within  the  church,  and  that  Chalmers,  although 
both  wise  and  calm,  struggled  so  long  with  the  hydra  be- 
fore he  saw,  as  at  length  (and  alas !  too  late)  he  did,  that 
patronage  was  a  power  for  evil  not  to  be  regulated,  but 
put  down. 

Since  1830  it  has  been  my  decided  conviction,  and  the 
longer  I  live  is  the  conviction  deepened,  that  in  two  in- 
stances of  great  magnitude  as  respects  the  future,  our 
Scottish  Establishment  failed  egregiously  in  performing 
her  duty  to  her  people.  The  one  is,  in  that  she  overlooked 
the  great  question  of  internal  reform  for  the  sake  of  simple 
extension  ;  and  the  second  is,  that  the  Evangelical  party, 
after  they  gained  the  majority,  did  not  sympathize  with 
the  ascendancy  of  the  advocates  of  political  reform  in  the 
State.  Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  evil  that  arises  from 
clergymen  taking  part  in  politics,  it  is  beyond  all  question, 
that,  whether  they  do  so  or  not,  a  Cliurch  as  established 
by  law  is,  of  necessity,  so  linked  with  the  Government  of 
the  country,  as  to  render  it  an  object  of  very  great  moment 
that  harmony  between  them  shall  be  carefully  maintained. 
But  we  all  know  full  well  that  from  time  immemorial 
there  has  been  an  irreconcilable  difference  betwixt  the 
two  parties  in  the  State,  the  friends  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  conservators  of  things 
as  they  are,  on  the  other.  And  who  can  now  doubt  of 
the  fact  that  the  Evangelical  party  in  the  Church  of 
Scotland  were  never  privileged  to  bask  in  the  smiles  of 
dominant  Toryism  ?  The  Church  should  have  been  more 
alive  to  the  mighty  vantage  ground  she  had  acquired  by 
the  passing  of  the  Reform  Bill — should  have  rallied  round 
the  warm  and  honest-hearted  friends  of  that  measure — 
should  have  moved  with  unbroken  ranks  in  the  direction 
of  vital  reform  ;  and,  when  the  first  gleam  of  hope  for  a 
century  had  dawned  on  her,  should  have  demanded,  if 
not  tlie  literal  abolition  of  patronage,  at  least  a  practical 


142  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

relaxation  of  its  iron  grasp.  Well  do  I  recollect  the  com- 
munication made  to  the  anti-patronage  committee  of 
Paisley  by  our  member,  Sir  Daniel  Sandford,  that  Govern- 
ment were  favourably  disposed  to  such  a  change  of  the 
statutes  regarding  patronage  as  would  have  placed  the 
appointment  of  ministers  on  a  largely  popular  basis.  In 
March,  1834,  I  was  a  member  of  two  deputations  to  Earl 
Grey,  then  Prime  Minister — once  on  an  appeal  against  an 
obnoxious  clause  in  what  has  been  usually  called  Mr. 
Colquhoun's  Bill,  for  freeing  all  new  erections  from  the 
grasp  of  the  patrons  of  parishes — and  again  when  our 
member,  Sir  Daniel  Sandford,  introduced  us  to  his  lord- 
ship as  the  bearers  of  various  petitions  from  the  west  of 
Scotland  for  the  abolition  of  patronage.  On  the  first  oc- 
casion we  were  handed  over  by  Lord  Grey  to  Lord 
Brougham,  then  Lord  Chancellor,  and  we  succeeded  to  the 
utmost  extent  of  our  wishes.  In  regard  to  the  second, 
everything  in  his  lordship's  bearing  to  us  was  in  harmony 
with  our  utmost  aims,  and  all  that  appeared  wanting  was 
merely  the  expressed  view  of  the  church  herself.  Of  the 
friends  present  on  these  occasions  two  besides  myself  sur- 
vive— Mr.  Dunlop,  M.P.  for  Greenock,  and  Mr.  Andrew 
Johnston,  then  M.P.  for  the  Fife  Burghs  :  the  others  were 
Mr.  Thomson,  Sir  Andrew  Agnew,  Sir  D.  Sandford,  Mr. 
James  Ewing,  M.P.,  for  Glasgow,  and  Mr.  A.  Hastie,  M.P. 
for  Paisley. 

The  sudden  and  unexpected  event  of  Dr.  Thomson's 
death,  on  February  the  9th,  1831,  was  a  sad  blow  to  the 
progress  of  enlightened  reform,  as  the  sequel  soon  shewed. 

It  was  in  the  Assembly  of  1832  that  the  question  of 
popular  rights  in  the  election  of  ministers  was  first  tried, 
on  an  overture  for  enquiry  into  the  history  and  the  prac- 
tical working  of  the  dominant  system  of  Patronage,  and 
"  the  paper  named  a  Call,"  set  side  by  side  with  each  other. 
The  overture  was  dismissed  as  unnecessary,  but  the  ice 
was  now  broken,  and  the  question  came  up  in  the  follow- 
ing year.  Though  not  a  member  of  that  Assembly,  I  was 
one  of  those  who  were  invited  to  meet  in  the  house  of 
Lord  MoncriefF,  for  private  consultation  on  the  subject,  a 


LORD   MONCRIEFF — THE  VETO  LAW.  145 

few  days  before  the  time  fixed  for  the  discussion.  Having- 
learned  from  Dr.  Cunningham  that  the  law  officers  of  the 
Crown,  though  favourable  to  some  change,  were  averse  to 
our  touching  the  subjects  either  of  patronage  or  of  calls, 
and  had  advised  us  to  be  satisfied  with  a  negative  or  a 
veto  properly  regulated,  I  declined  attending  the  meeting, 
and  communicated  respectfully  to  Lord  Moncriefi*  my 
reason  for  doing  so.  I  held,  as  I  still  do,  that  the  method 
of  a  direct  and  positive  "  call"  from  the  people  had  many 
advantages  over  that  of  a  negative  or  a  veto,  and  more- 
over that  it  had  ancient  constitutional  usage,  and  not  a 
few  legal  decisions,  in  its  favour.  Many  were  of  the  same 
opinion ;  but  as  it  was  resolved  by  a  large  majority  of  the 
friends  of  popular  rights  in  the  Assembly  to  go  on  with 
the  matter  in  the  shape  recommended,  the  greater  part  of 
our  friends  voted  on  that  side ;  a  small  majority  of  twelve 
turned  the  scale  against  us,  but  we  augured  well  for  1834, 
when  the  same  measure  was  triumphantly  carried  by  a 
majority  of  forty-seven.  In  1833  the  question  of  direct 
anti-patronage  was  also  tried,  and  here,  alas  I  we  sustained  a 
blow,  the  more  severe  as  being  inflicted  by  ourselves.  The 
regular  Moderates  sagaciously  saw  that  we  were  at  vari- 
ance among  ourselves.  They  did  not  need  to  put  forth 
all  their  strength,  and  a  milk-^nd-water  motion  made  by 
one  of  our  ownreforming  friends  was  carried  over  a  minority 
of  thirty-three,  which  was  all  that  then  openly  rallied 
around  the  anti-patronage  standard.  It  was  not  till  1842 
that  an  anti-patronage  measure  was  moved  for,  and  car- 
ried by  a  large  majority ;  but  alas  !  it  was  too  late.  The 
favourable  moment  had  been  lost,  and  never  could  be  re- 
gained. Dr.  McCrie  was  sadly  grieved  at  the  issue  of 
the  overture  of  1833,  so  different  from  what  he  had  ad- 
vised in  his  very  able  pamphlet  on  the  subject,  and  so 
different  from  what  in  all  probability  Dr.  Andrew  Thomson 
would  have  advocated. 

While  these  things  were  going  on  in  the  supreme  court 
of  the  Church,  Sir  George  Sinclair,  and  the  other  friends 
in  the  House  of  Commons  favourable  to  popular  rights, 
moved  for  a  committee  of  enquiry  into  the  working  of  the 


144  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

patronage  system  in  Scotland  since  its  re-enactment  in 
1712.  There  is  no  reason  to  question  the  sincerity  of  the 
movers  of  this  measure  in  their  wish  to  aid  and  assist  the 
Scottish  Church,  at  a  time  when  the  desire  for  social  and 
political  reform  was  so  strong,  and  especially  in  Scotland. 
I  do  not  say  that  all  the  friends  of  this  measure  were  mtjn 
determined  to  put  patronage  down  at  all  hazards.  I  think 
the  very  reverse.  But  I  see  no  reason  to  charge  on  the 
measure  the  character  of  insincerity.  The  great  error  lay 
in  the  friends  of  ecclesiastical  reform  in  Scotland  not 
seconding  it ;  and  even  the  General  Assembly  itself  ought 
to  have  given  it  a  public  sanction,  and  recommended  to 
the  ministers  and  members  to  give  their  evidence  in  the 
committee,  if  called  on  to  do  so.  There  seemed  to  be  a 
truckling  to  Toryism — at  all  events  a  jealousy  of  the  keener 
or  more  radical  Whigs.  The  scarecrow  of  an  apprehended 
overthrow  of  the  Church  Establishment,  at  the  beck  of 
voluntaryism  and  of  high  church  prelacy  combined,  was 
held  out  to  terrify  the  timid.  Dr.  Chalmers  and  many  of 
the  best  friends  of  ecclesiastical  reform  kept  aloof;  but 
the  Macfarlanes,  the  Cooks,  and  theWhighams*  of  shaking 
moderatism  saw  the  crisis  as  it  was,  and  took  their 
measures  accordingly,  and  with  great  practical  wisdom. 
There  is  good  reason  for  thinking  that  Dr.  Chalmers  was 
friendly  to  the  proposal  of  a  parliam.entary  committee  to 
enquire  into  the  state  of  matters  in  Scotland  with  regard 
to  patronage.  Yea !  there  is  good  evidence  that  he 
strongly  advised  it,  and  was  induced  to  change  his  opinion, 
solely  in  deference  to  Lord  Moncrieff.  How  it  was  that 
a  senator  of  such  talents  and  knowledge  of  all  the  bear- 
ings of  the  case,  became  so  afraid  of  any  proposal  to  discuss 
a  question  more  closely  connected  with  Scotland's  best 
wishes  and  interests  than  all  the  "bones  and  sinews"  of 
the  reform  question  in  civil  polity,  it  is  not  easy  to  con- 
jecture.    I  am  inclined  to  think  that  his  mind  was  still 

*  One  of  the  most  effective  speeches  delivered  by  my  father  in  the  General  Assembly, 
during  '.he  Church  controversy,  was  in  reply  to  Mr.  Whig^ham,  an  eminent  legal  func- 
tionary. It  was  published  in  pamphlet  form,  along  with  speeches  of  Dr.  Candlish  and 
Earle  Monteith,  and  forms  a  favourable  specimen  of  a  great,  variety  of  similar  addresses 
delivered  by  him  in  the  various  Church  Courts  and  at  public  meetings  on  the  absorbing 
iieme.— Ed. 


LORD  MONCRIEFF  ON  PATRONAGE.  145 

influenced  more  or  less  by  the  views  thrown  out  by  his 
illustrious  father  in  the  appendix  to  his  Life  of  Dr.  Er- 
skine,  regarding  the  reluctance  of  the  Church  to  agitate  a 
change  in  the  patronage  law.  But  surely  times  were  won- 
derfully changed  from  1814  to  1834. 

If  Sir  Harry  had  lived  to  the  latter  of  these  dates  the 
cast  of  his  mind  would  have  led  him  to  long  for  a  search- 
ing review  of  the  whole  subject;  not  indeed  with  a  fore- 
gone conclusion  as  to  a  "root  and  branch"  measure,  but 
certainly  with  the  hope  of  such  vital  changes  in  the  law 
as  would  have  made  it  work  in  harmony  with  the  rights 
and  interests  of  the  people.  Lord  Aloncrieff  leaves  us  at 
no  loss  as  to  his  views  of  this  subject  when  he  says,  in  his 
reply  to  question  1332  in  the  Report  on  Patronage,  "  In 
my  opinion,  if  the  law  of  patronage  is  put  under  proper 
check  or  control,  it  is,  in  the  present  state  of  society  in 
Scotland,  perfectly  adequate  and  safe  for  the  attainment 
of  the  great  object  of  every  such  power  of  nomination, 
without  ever  being  converted  from  its  proper  character  of 
a  sacred  trust  into  the  means  of  serving  the  interests  of  the 
patron  himself" 

I  have  never  been  able  to  see  how  the  Church  can  retain 
her  spiritual  independence  in  any  shape  so  long  as  the 
present  patronage  laws  are  in  force.  The  patron  is  not 
within  the  Church  or  in  any  way  responsible  to  her.  He 
stands  at  the  door  of  her  every  church  and  effectually 
defies  her  jurisdiction.  It  does  not  appear,  indeed,  that 
the  Church  did  at  the  period  of  receiving  her  charter  in 
1592  consider  the  law  as  it  then  stood,  or  was  ordinarily 
interpreted,  as  an  invincible  bar  in  the  way  of  her  accept- 
ing the  benefits  of  a  civil  establishment ;  and  yet,  even  so 
placed,  she  pressed  for  its  removal.  We  adopt  a  "  muffling  " 
measure  of  our  own  to  keep  things  as  they  are,  in  place 
of  asking  at  once  a  legislative  enactment  for  our  people, 
and  yet  we  resolve  to  stand  by  our  spiritual  independence. 
Where  is  the  consistency  here  ? 

In  connexion  with  the  attendance  of  witnesses  on  the 
Commons'  Committee  on  Patronage,  I  may  note  a  little 
incident  in  which  Dr.  McCrie  was  the  main  party. 


146 


LIFE  OF  KEV.   DR.   BURNS. 


Going  into  the  library  of  the  House  one  day,  I  met  tl 
Doctor  in  the  lobby,  when  he  said  to  me,  "  Would  you 
like  to  see  the  '  Booke  of  the  Universal  Kirke,'  "  which 
he  had  fully  examined.  Nothing  could  have  given  me 
more  pleasure  at  the  time  than  such  a  proposal.  "  Come 
this  way,"  said  the  Doctor,  and  he  led  me  to  a  desk  where 
sat  one  of  the  clerks  of  the  House,  who  had  the  sacred 
deposit  under  lock  and  key.  That  gentleman  had  no 
sympathy  with  us  in  our  feelings  at  all,  and  while  we 
were  gazing  on  and  "  gloating  over"  the  venerable  volumes, 
he  broke  out  into  this  objurgatory  soliloquy  :  "  May  a  fire 
from  heaven  burn  all  you  and  your  books  and  your  Uni- 
versal Kirks  ! "  We  laughed  heartily  at  the  ebullition  of 
Puseyite  venom  on  the  part  of  this  disciple  of  Laud,  but 
little  did  we  then  think  that  the  quasi  prediction  would 
be  fulfilled  in  October  following,  by  a  conflagration  which 
soon  reduced  the  committee  rooms  and  all  their  contents 
to  ashes.  Till  1860  I  had  a  lingering  hope  that  the  vener- 
able MS.,  so  long  kept  back  nefariously  from  its  owners, 
and  at  length  placed  almost  in  their  grasp,  might  in  some 
way  or  other  have  escaped  the  flames.  In  1860,  a  visit 
with  my  worthy  friend  Professor  Lorimer,  of  the  Presby- 
terian College  of  Theology,  to  the  rooms  of  Zion  College 
library,  dispelled  for  ever  all  my  hopes. 

I  have  always  looked  back  on  the  part  I  took  in  the 
Commons'  Committee  of  1834  on  Patronage  with  perfect 
complacence.  There  were  three  points  in  particular  on 
which  I  think  that  my  labours  in  London  at  that  time 
were  of  some  service  to  the  interests  of  truth.  In  the 
first  place,  I  got  access  to  the  records  of  Parliament,  and 
thoroughly  verified  the  impression  long  prevalent  that 
the  proceedings  of  both  houses  of  Parliament  in  regard  to 
the  Patronage  Act  of  1712  were  originated  in  political 
discontent,  and  pushed  on  with  reckless  and  indecent 
haste.  In  the  second  place,  I  was  more  minute  and  lull 
than  any  other  witness  on  the  anti-patronage  movements 
of  the  Church  from  1712  to  the  period  of  the  famous 
"  Schism  Bill"  of  1767,  which  Principal  Robertson,  by  a 
small  majority,  succeeded  in  consigning  to  a  "  committee 


MR.  BELL  AND  NON-INTRUSION.  147 

of  oblivion,"  in  opposition  to  the  motion  of  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon  that  the  overture  should  be  sent  down  to  presby- 
teries. In  the  third  place,  with  the  help  of  a  clever  young 
English  barrister,  incidentally  brought  in  my  way,  and 
who  was  curious  to  know  what  I  intended  to  say  to  their 
"  high  mightinesses,"  I  discussed  at  great  length  the  pro 
and  the  con  as  regards  the  famous  Veto  Act,  which  had 
not  been  passed,  but  which  was  carried  triumphantly 
several  weeks  after  in  the  General  Assembly.  Some  lead- 
ing members  of  the  anti-patronage  committee  felt  that 
the  successful  issue  of  the  motion  of  Lord  Moncrieff  oil 
that  occasion  superseded  farther  action  on  their  part,  and 
the  committee,  which  certainly  deserved  better  treatment 
at  our  hands,  forthwith  dissolved.  Tn  addition,  Principal 
Cunningham  repeatedly  told  me  that  he  felt  himself  per- 
fectly satisfied  with  the  reason  assigned  by  me  for  holding 
that  the  Act  of  1690  was  in  no  sense  a  patronage  act,  but 
rather  a  well-regulated  method  of  popular  election. 

It  was  in  the  fall  of  1839  that  the  non-intrusion  commit- 
tee circulated  an  official  account  of  the  progress  of  the  work 
on  which  they  were  engaged.  The  title  of  the  piece  is, 
"  The  State  of  the  Case,"  and  it  has  the  authority  of  Dr. 
Chalmers  and  of  all  the  members  of  the  committee  at- 
tached to  it.  Just  about  a  year  after,  Mr.  Bell,  Procura- 
tor of  the  Church,  made  his  famous  speech  in  the  Commis- 
sion of  the  Assembly,  on  the  then  position  of  the  Church, 
and  while  defending  ably  the  cause  of  non-intrusion,  he 
shewed  keen  sensibility  on  the  subject  of  anti-patronage, 
a  fearful  monster  which  had  then  begun  to  hold  up  its 
head,  "  hirsute  and  horrent,"  before  the  public ;  for  Dr. 
Candlish,  Dr.  Cunningham,  Mr.  Maitland  Makgill,  and 
hundreds  of  other  men  of  mark  in  the  Church,  had  now 
come  under  a  bond  or  engagement  to  see  patronage  torn 
up  root  and  branch.  In  these  varied  movements  great 
ability  was  shewn,  and  most  satisfactory  defences  of  the 
Church  put  forth.  Such  of  us  as  had  always  been  anti- 
patronage  men  did  of  course  go  readily  along  with  the 
tide,  now  beginning  to  flow  in  the  right  direction ;  but 
we  could  not  but  feel  that  it  was  rather  too  late.     The 


148  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DR.   BUllNS. 

auspicious  moment  was  in  1834,  when  the  Commons' 
Committee  on  Patronage  was  sitting,  and  when  Dr. 
McCrie  was  yet  spared.  The  Church  had  not  then  learned 
what  she  found  out  in  1842,  that  patronage  was  not  a 
boon  liable  to  abuse  and  requiring  to  be  regulated,  but  an 
evil  to  be  put  down.  Moreover,  there  had  been  too  much 
crouching  to  the  Tories,  and  too  much  scolding  of  the 
Whigs. 

It  was  not  until  1842  that  the  Church  assumed  her 
proper  position  on  the  anti-patronage  principle.  Prior  to 
the  assembly  of  that  year  a  great  meeting  was  held  in  the 
West  Church  of  Edinburgh,  when  bold  resolutions  for  the 
abolition  of  patronage  were  passed,  and  the  anti-patronage 
standard  was  fairly  unfurled.  The  meeting,  of  whose 
proceedings  I  have  even  at  this  distance  of  time  (1867)  a 
very  clear  remembrance,  was  a  most  harmonious  and  en- 
thusiastic one.  It  paved  the  wsij  for  the  great  battle  in 
the  Assembly  of  1842,  where  the  late  lamented  Principal 
Cunningham  took  the  lead,  and  when  the  combined  army 
composed  of  the  "  Moderates"  and  the  "middlemen"  was 
overthrown.  MTiat  I  always  lamented  was  that  this  was 
the  very  first  occasion  on  which  the  Church  had  assumed 
her  ancient  protest  against  the  fatally  experienced  evils 
of  patronage.  By  this  time  also  the  Evangelical  party, 
which  had  nobly  gained  and  firmly  maintained  the  ascen- 
dancy in  the  General  Assembly,  was  broken  in  upon  by  a 
third  party,  known  by  the  name  of  the  "  Forty,"  who  in 
their  first  movement  seemed  to  be  sincere  and  honest,  but 
whose  ulterior  proceedings  were  sadly  prejudicial  to  the 
great  cause  at  issue,  by  dividing  our  ranks,  and  giving  to 
Sir  James  Graham  and  other  wily  politicians  a  plausible 
advantage,  of  which  they  failed  not  to  avail  themselves. 

It  becomes  a  fair  and  a  very  interesting  question,  what, 
in  all  probability,  would  have  been  the  result  had  the 
Scottish  Church  joined  issue  with  the  friends  of  anti- 
patronage  measures  legitimately  pursued  ?  For  my  own 
part,  I  never  had  any  doubt  upon  it  in  my  own  mind.  I 
am  far  from  thinking  that  the  law  of  patronage  would 
have  been  repealed  root  and  branch,  but  am  clear  that 


THE  FORTY.  149 

most  eifective  popular  checks  would  have  been  laid  on  by 
law,  and  patronage  would  have  lost  entirely  its  character 
as  a  marketable  commodity.  Any  approved  measures  for 
Scotland  would  in  all  probability  have  been  followed  up 
by  similar  measures  on  behalf  of  the  now  distracted  Church 
of  England,  and  the  alliance  between  Church  and  State 
regulated  on  principles  far  more  in  harmony  with  the  theory 
of  internal  jurisdiction  and  spiritual  independence.  Vol- 
untaryism, as  a  system  of  national  or  of  public  procedure 
and  action,  would  have  gone  down,  and  Moderatism  would 
have  "  conclusively "  obtained  a  mortal  blow.  Even  the 
Veto,  with  all  its  cumbrous  habiliments,  wrought  well  for 
the  ten  years  of  its  existence  as  a  regulating  law.  During 
its  continuance,  many  of  the  men  who  became  afterwards 
leaders  in  the  Disi'uption  were  brought  into  the  Churcl . 
Much  as  I  disliked  the  measure,  because  it  stood  in  the 
way  of  something  better,  I  never  had  anything  in  common 
with  those  professed  advocates  of  the  call  and  of  anti- 
patronage  who,  in  spite  of  neither  of  these  having  been^ 
got,  and  just  because  they  have  not  been  gained,  remain 
within  the  Establishment. 

Had  there  been  no  such  body  as  the  "  Forty,"  as  they 
styled  themselves,  and  had  the  ministers  of  the  Establish- 
ment, especially  those  who  called  themselves  "  Evangeli- 
cal," stood  firmly  to  their  post,  matters  would  in  all  pro- 
bability have  ended  otherwise  than  they  did.  But  after 
all,  let  us  remember  that  "  God's  thoughts  are  not  as  our 
thoughts,  nor  His  ways  as  our  ways." 

Looking  back  to  1843,  may  we  not  say,  "  What  hath 
God  wrought !"  Looking  at  institutions  worn  out,  it 
may  be,  partly  by  original  defects  in  their  construction,  and 
partly  by  the  abuses  and  sins  of  men,  let  us  hope  and  pray 
for  better  times  ;  and  in  the  meantime  let  us  adopt  the 
language  of  the  inspired  apostle  and  say,  "  O  the  depth  of 
the  riches,  both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of  God ! 
How  unsearchable  are  His  judgments,  and  His  ways  past 
finding  out." 

Never  had  he  a  busier  summer  than  that  which  fol- 


150  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

lowed  the  Disruption.  Nor  was  he  ever  happier  in  his 
work.  The  glorious  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God  was  in 
an  unusual  measure  enjoyed.  Released  from  the  crush- 
ing nightmare  that  had  sat  on  them,  and  from  the  shackles 
whose  iron  had  begun  to  enter  their  souls,  many  felt 
in  these  happy  halcyon  Disruption  times,  a  lightsomeness, 
a  buoyancy,  an  enthusiasm,  before  unknown. 

By  a  singular  coincidence,  during  the  interval  oi 
nearly  a  year  which  elapsed  before  the  handsome  new 
church  was  opened,  those  who  followed  him,  and  they 
formed  an  overwhelming  majority  of  his  congregation, 
worshipped  in  the  "  Old  Laigh  Kirk,"  in  which  thirty- 
two  years  previously  he  had  been  ordained,  and  where  he 
had  spent  the  first  years  of  his  ministry.  It  was  a  new 
era,  and  he  seemed  (in  common  with  many)  to  receive  a 
fresh  baptism  of  the  Spirit,  so  that  his  word  was  with 
power. 

Such  cheering  missives  reached  us  every  now  and  then 
that  memorable  summer,  at  our  "Hermitage"  retreat,  as 
the  following : — 

"Camphill,  Paisley,  August,  1843. 

"  My  Dear  Robert, — Our  church  is  now  contracted  for,  and 
will  go  on  immediately.     It  is  to  cost  £1,200. 

'' We  had  noble  work  here  on  Sabbath  last — 3,000  people  are 
calculated  to  have  heard  a  sermon  at  the  tent,  and  the  church  was 
also  crowded.  There  were  1,500  communicants.  All  went  on  with 
wonderful  solemnity,  and  the  crowds  listened  with  apparent  delight 
' — much  precious  seed.  sown.  May  the  dew  and  rain  of  heaven 
descend  to  refresh  the  thirsty  ground !  My  action  sermon  was 
Bev.  vii.  13-end.  Mr.  MacNaughton's—' Awake  O  Sword!'  My 
evening  sermon  on  John  iv.  11.  Uncle  preached  in  the  tent  at  the 
South  Church  too,  and  in  the  *  Old  Low'  on  Monday  night,  when 
we  had  a  Thaiiksgwmq  and  a  thousand  auditors. 

"  Remember  me  affectionately  to  the  ladies,  and  thank  Miss  Ann, 
in  name  of  Charles  Leckie,  for  the  valuable  present." 


UNITED  COMMUNION  SERVICE.  151 

The  above  seems  to  have  been  a  United  Communion 
Service — in  which,  at  least,  the  Free  High  and  Free 
St.  George's  participated.  The  "Tent"  was  brought 
into  requisition;  and  seated  on  the  green  sod  that  roofed 
the  sepulchres  of  loved  ones  long  departed,  with  moss- 
covered  monuments  on  every  side,  and  the  memories  of 
other  days  crowding  thick  upon  them,  they  sang  the  oft- 
repeated  song  of  deliverance,  and  held  communion  with 
the  God  of  their  fathers,  who  seemed  to  come  nearer  to 
them  than  aforetime. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


GLASGOW  COLONIAL  SOCIETY.* 

HE  society  originated  with  Dr.  Bums.   Seve- 
ral considerations  contributed  to  form  and 
to   foster  his   interest   in  Colonial   evan- 
gelization.    His  younger  brother,  George, 
had  at  an  early  period  in  his  ministry,  been 
settled  at  St.  John,  New  Brunswick,  where  for 
fifteen  years  he  wielded  a  powerful  influence  for 
good. 

The  dark  days  of  1816  and  1820  had  sent  forth 
many  worthy  weavers  from  Paisley.  Dire  necessity  drove 
them  from  the  mother-land  to  seek  shelter  and  sustenance 
in  the  wilds  of  Canada.     Roughing  it  in  the  bush,  they 


*  Chronologically,  the  "  Colonial  Society"  should  have  come  in  earlier ;  hut  as  it  is  sr 
Intimately  connected  with  my  father's  New  World  life,  I  thinlc  it  preferrable  that  if 
should  appear  immediately  before  his  first  visit  to  America  and  his  subsequent  remova 
thither. — Ed. 


APPEALS  FOR   CANADA.  155 

found  ample  provision  for  the  life  that  now  is,  but  as 
regards  the  higher  provision  for  the  life  that  is  to  come> 
they  "  began  to  be  in  want." 

Appeals,  coming  time  and  again  from  parties  closely 
connected  with  his  own  pastoral  charge,  wrought  upon 
one  whose  ear  was  ever  acutely  sensitive  to  the  crj^  of 
misery,  and  whose  whole  soul  beat  in  sympathy  with  the 
wants  and  the  woes  of  the  poor.  The  emigrant's  cry  was 
to  him  like  the  beckoning  Macedonian  to  the  Apostle  of 
the  Gentiles  in  his  Troas  chamber. 

Although  he  did  not,  as  yet  feel,  that  the  "  come  over 
and  help  us"  was  addressed  to  him  personally,  he  felt 
that  necessity  was  laid  upon  him  at  least  to  do  what  in 
him  lay  to  send  others. 

In  1824  he  conferred  with  a^few  friends,  but  the  Plu- 
rality Controversy  came  on  for  a  season  to  monopolize  his 
regards,  and  the  severe  and  protracted  illness  which  fol- 
lowed the  publication  of  his  Plurality  volume — the  result 
of  the  intense  mental  strain  which  its  rapid  preparation 
occasioned — delayed  the  immediate  carrying  out  of  his 
cherished  project. 

The  Rev.  James  Marshall,  then  settled  in  Glasgow, 
afterwards  of  the  Tolbooth,  Edinburgh,  son-in-law  of 
Legh  Richmond,  subsequently  a  minister  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  was  one  of  the  early  friends  of  the  Colonies  with 
whom  he  conferred. 

On  the  15th  April,  1825,  the  Society  was  formed  at  a 
large  and  influential  meeting,  held  in  the  Trades'  Hall, 
Glasgow.  The  chair  was  occupied  by  the  Right  Honour- 
able George,  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  G.  C.  B.,  "Captain-Gen- 


154  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

€ral  and  Governor-in-Chief  in  and  over  the  British  Pro- 
vinces and  Dependencies  in  North  America,"  who  became 
Patron  of  the  Society,  and  was  always  its  faithful  friend. 
At  this  meeting,  Dr.  Burns  propounded  his  plan,  which 
met  with  general  acceptance.     He  was  at  once  appointed 
principal  Secretary — a  post  which  he  filled  with  universal 
approval  during  the  fifteen  years  of  the  Society's  active 
existence,  till  in  184)0,  it  merged  in  the  Colonial  Scheme 
of  the  Church  of  Scotland.     At  difierent  times  he  had 
associated  with  him  such  men  as  Drs.  Scott,  of  Greenock, 
Beith,  Stirling  (then  of  Hope  St.  Gaelic  Church,  Glas- 
gow), Welsh,  Edinburgh  (then  of  St.  David's,  Glasgow), 
Geddes,  of  St.  Andrew's,  Henderson,  of  St.  Enoch's,  Glas- 
gow, and  James  Marshall.     But  though  all  of  them  ren- 
dered efficient  aid,  on  him  always  lay  the  chief  respon- 
sibility ;  and  the  truth  of  the  following  kindly  utterance 
of  one  of  them,  (Dr.  Henderson)  in  proposing  the  grateful 
acknowledgments  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Free 
Church  of  Scotland,  in  1.857,  on  occasion  of  Dr.  Burns' 
first  appearance  there,  after  his  settlement  in  Canada,  was 
conceded  bv  all : 

' '  I  want  particularly  to  draw  attention  here,  to  the  fact,  which 
many  know  as  well  as  myself,  but  which  in  the  course  of  time  some 
may  not  know,  that  we  have  had  before  us  this  evening,  the  father 
of  the  w  hole  Colonial  Missionary  enterprise. 

"  In  1825,  before  the  Church  had  contemplated  any  operation  of 
the  kind,  our  venerable  friend  (Dr.  Burns),  borne  on  in  the  ex- 
uberance of  his  zeal  and  interest  on  behalf  of  our  expatriated 
breth  ren,  instituted  what  at  that  time  was  known  by  the  name  of 
the  North  American  Colonial  Society,  and  the  labours  of  that  Society 
lay  upon  his  shoulders.  I  lent  a  little  help  to  him,  in  a  kind  of 
secondary  capacity  for  several  years  after  I  went  to  Glasgow,  but 
had  nothing  else  to  do  with  it ;  and  this  has  made  me  fully  aware 
of  the  great  debt  of  obligation  under  which  the  colonies  of  Britain, 
«ast  and  west,  have  been  laid  by  this  venerable  man.     I  cannot 


MINISTERS  TO  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN   COLONIES.      155 

4iit  think  this  Assembly  will  feel  that  he  is  entitled  to  a  warm  re- 
ception, when  they  see  him  coming  here  in  his  old  age,  with  almost 
iinabated  vigour,  and  certainly  unabated  zeal,  prosecuting  the 
«ame  good  work." 

It  was  not  long  till  the  Society  secured  the  confidence 
of  the  churches,  and  across  the  mighty  deep,  many  long- 
ing eyes  were  directed  towards  it.  From  all  the  North 
American  colonies  cases  of  destitution  were  pressed  on 
its  notice. 

Many  excellent  ministers  were,  through  means  of  the 
Society,  settled  in  all  the  Provinces.  In  one  year  eight 
were  settled  over  fixed  charges  and  nine  sent  out  as 
Missionaries.  The  seventh  report,  presented  in  April, 
1833,  mentioned  "fourteen  ministers  sent  forth  in  the 
course  of  as  many  months." 

By  this  time,  an  interest  was  awakened  throughout  the 
Church,  so  that  young  men  of  more  than  ordinary  pro- 
mise "wiUingly  ofiered  themselves."  Amongst  **the 
rest,  Dr.  Candlish,  who,  at  the  time  of  his  application  to 
the  Society,  was  acting  as  assistant  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Gregor,  of  Bonhill,  Dumbartonshire."  * 

He  was  appointed  to  Ancaster,  but  circumstances  pre- 
vented his  going. 

We  may  speculate  as  to  what  this  eminent  man  might 
have  been  had  his  destiny  been  the  quiet  Canadian  vil 
lage,  instead  of  the  most  prominent  position  in  the  Scot- 
tish metropolis. 

But  "  aU  this  cometh  forth  from  the  Lord  of  Hosts  " 


*  Some  time  previous  to  Dr.  Caudlish's  application,  Dr.  Cunningham  had  been  settled 
at  Greenock,  as  assistant  and  successor  to  iJr.  Scott  of  the  Mid  Parish.  Old  Kilpatrick 
had  become  vacant.  Meeting  a  friend  one  day,  Dr.  Cunningham  said; — "I  mean  to 
try  for  Kilpatrick  to  keep  out  a  Moderate,  of  the  name  of  Caudlish,  who  is  assistant  to 
the  minister  of  JBorihiil."— -Dr.  Cunniiiyham's  Life. 


156  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

"  who  appointeth  tlie  bounds  of  our  habitation,"  and  who 

is  "wonderful  in  counsel  and  excellent  in  working." 

"We  subjoin  the  main  portions  of  the  letters  of  Dr. 

Candlish : — 

"  BoNHiLL,  30th  March,  1833. 
*'  Rev.  Dr.  Bums, 

*'  Rev.  Sir. — Knowing  the  interest  which  you  take  in  the  settle- 
ment of  Christian  churches  in  British  North  America,  I  take  the 
liberty,  though  a  stranger,  of  addressing  you  on  the  subject.  I  am 
disposed  to  regard  that  country  as  an  interesting  field  of  ministerial 
labour,  and  as  I  understand  that  at  present  there  seems  to  be  a 
call  for  additional  labourers  there,  I  beg  to  express  my  desire  of  serv- 
ing the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  in  any  part  of  his  vineyard  where 
a  fair  opening  may  appear,  and  my  willingness  accordingly,  to 
accept  of  any  appointment  which  may  hold  out  the  reasonable  pros- 
pect of  professional  usefulness  and  respectability.  I  have  been  a 
preacher  of  the  Gospel  now  for  about  live  years,  during  nearly  four 
of  which  T  have  been  regularly  engaged  in  the  discharge  of  pulpit 
duty,  and  latterly  of  parochial  duty  also,  as  an  assistant  in  Glas- 
gow, and  in  my  present  situation.  I  hope,  therefore,  that  I  maybe 
in  some  measure  warranted  in  my  wish  of  forming  a  more  inti- 
mate and  permanent  connection  with  a  congregation  of  my  own. 

"  Should  you  deem  this  application  worthy  of  notice  and  encour- 
agement, you  will  not,  I  am  persuaded,  find  any  difficulty  in  mak- 
ing the  necessary  inquiries,  as  to  character  and  qualifications. 
Meantime  it  may  be  sufficient  to  mention  the  name  of  Dr.  Smyth, 
of  St.  George's,  Glasgow,  as  a  person  to  whom  I  am  well  known.  I 
shall  be  glad  to  receive  any  information  which  you  may  have  to 
communicate,  and  to  attend  to  any  suggestions  which  you  may 
nake. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be.  Rev.  Sir, 

"Yours,  very  respectfully, 

"  Robert  S.  Candlish, 
"  Assistant  to  the  Minister  of  Bonhill.'' 


"BoNHiLL,  13th  April,  1833. 

"Rev.  Sir, — Since  I  saw  you  yesterday  I  have  been  consider- 
ing what  you  said,  relative  to  the  appointment  to  Ancaster,  and  1 
think  it  may  be  proper  before  anything  more  is  done  in  the  matter,, 
to  explain  my  views  to  you  more  fully  than  I  was  quite  prepared 
to  do  at  the  time.  The  appointment  seems  in  many  respects  a  suit- 
able one,  more  especially,  as  I  understand  it  to  hold  out  a  reason- 
ably distinct  promise  and  prospect  of  being  fixed  and  permanent. 
I  confess,  that  at  present,  occupying  a  situation  in  the  church   at 


CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  DR.  CANDLISH.      157 

lixjme,  which,  however  humble,  yet  affords  me  the  opportunity  of 
regular  professional  employment  in  the  duties  of  a  parish,  I  should 
not  feel  myself  either  called  upon  or  indeed  at  liberty  to  go  to  Can- 
ada in  the  character  of  a  general  missionary,  and  to  wait  when 
there,  for  a  call  from  a  particular  congregation  ;  though  knowing 
the  want  of  ministers  and  the  urgency  of  many  congregations,  I 
should  scarcely  hesitate,  if  not  professionally  engaged  already,  on 
the  encouragement  afforded  by  your  Society  to  do  so.  I  think, 
however,  it  must  be  obvious,  that  being  fully  occupied  in  the  care 
of  a  parish  and  congregation  here,  I  should  be  unjustifiable,  as 
well  in  point  of  duty  as  of  prudence,  were  I  to  resign  my  present 
employment  without  some  security  of  being  immediately  employed 
as  a  minister  in  the  same  way. 

"  This  I  contemplated  in  my  former  letter  to  you,  when  I  ex- 
pressed my  willingness  to  accept  of  any  appointment  which  held 
out  the  prospect  of  professional  usefulness  and  respectability.  In 
so  far,  therefore,  as  the  appointment  in  question  is  not  of  a  vague 
nature,  it  better  suits  my  views  than  any  of  those  recently  made. 
1  will  state  to  you,  however,  candidly,  a  probable  difhculty  which  I 
see  in  the  way  of  my  accepting  the  appointment,  should  it  be  offered 
to  me.  The  willingness  which  I  have  expressed  to  serve  the  Church 
and  the  Head  of  the  Church  abroad,  is  not  the  result  of  a  hastily 
formed  resolution  on  my  part,  (for  I  have  previously  and  deliber- 
ately looked  on  Canada  as  a  very  important  and  promising  field  of 
ministerial  labour,  and  one  having  peculiar  claims  on  the  attention 
of  our  church,)  but  the  announcement  of  it  will  be  sudden  as  re- 
spects my  friends.  Now  1  am  not  disposed  to  take  so  important  a 
step  in  life,  in  a  hurried  or  seemingly  precipitate  manner  ;  and  1 
very  much  fear  it  will  not  be  possible  for  me  now  to  make  the 
necessary  arrangements  for  leaving  this  country  before  the  season 
is  too  far  advanced,  or  in  sufficient  time  for  occupying  the  situation 
in  view.  Besides  that,  circumstances  of  a  private  nature  would 
make  an  abrupt  departure  very  inconvenient,  some  regard  is  plain- 
ly due  to  my  engagement  and  situation  as  assistant  here.  Though 
not  bound  to  remain  for  any  definite  period,  I  am  unwilling  sud- 
denly to  desert  my  post ;  and  there  are  considerations  which  make 
me  feel,  that  by  leaving  this  place  immediately  and  without  some 
little  preparation,  I  should  not  only  put  the  minister  to  very  seri- 
ous inconvenience,  but  materially  incommode  and  perhaps  injure 
the  congregation.  I  have  received  great  kindness  from  Mr.  Gregor 
and  it  would  ill  become  me  to  do  any  thing  in  this  affair  without 
consulting  as  far  as  possible  his  feelings.  I  know  that  he  will  be 
averse  to  part  with  me,  and  I  should  wish  that  he  had  such  previous 
notice  of  my  intention  as  might  enable  him  better  to  dispense  with 
my  services.  I  may  mention  too,  that  within  these  few  months  I 
have,  with  Mr.  Gregor's  concurrence,  begun  to  adopt  measures  for 
the  more  effectual  discharge  than  hitherto  of  parochial  duty  here, 
and  I  feel  myself  in  some  degree  bound  to  see  these  measures 


158  LIFE  OF    REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

earned  into  effect,  at  least  so  far  as  to  prevent  them  falling  to  the 
ground  in  the  event  of  my  going  away.  The  works  and  plans 
which  I  have  begun  I  should  like  to  leave  in  such  a  state  that  any 
one  coming  in  my  place  may,  without  difficulty,  take  them  up. 
These  reasons  may  require  my  continuing  here  for  some  time  longer^ 
and  may  render  it  impossible  for  me,  with  propriety,  to  leave  my 
present  charge,  before  the  summer  is  pretty  well  over.  At  least,  I 
think  it  fair  to  state  they  will  weigh  with  me  considerably  in  de- 
liberating upon  my  call  to  go  abroad  sooner. 

'  *  I  wished  to  make  known  my  disposition  to  forward  by  my  per- 
sonal exertions  the  aim  of  your  excellent  Society.  That  disposi- 
tion I  still  retain,  and  I  am  prepared  accordingly  to  give  all  serious 
attention  to  any  proposal  that  may  be  made  to  me.  If,  therefore, 
after  the  explanation  I  have  given,  you  should  be  disposed  to  re- 
commend me  as  a  fit  person  for  the  situation  in  question,  I  will 
fairly  estimate  its  advantages  and  recommendations,  and  will  not, 
without  some  sufficient  reason  of  duty  or  necessity,  hastily  decline 
it.  But  at  the  same  time,  it  is  for  you  to  judge  from  the  circum- 
stances which  I  have  stated,  how  far  it  may  not  be  expedient  to 
suggest,  for  the  present  appointment,  some  other  individual  more 
disengaged  than  I  am,  and  better  prepared  for  an  immediate  depar- 
ture. Only  I  trust  you  will  believe  that  my  purpose,  though,  f  i  om 
necessity,  it  may  be  deferred  for  a  while,  is  not  on  that  account 
abandoned,  and  that  I  am  not  the  less  inclined  on  any  subsequent 
occasion,  if  I  shall  be  at  liberty  to  look  abroad  for  employment,  to 
consider  the  claims  of  our  countrymen  in  the  colonies. 

"  In  the  meantime,  I  have  thought  it  right  to  send  you  this  full 
statement,  in  justice  to  you  and  to  myeelf,  as  well  as  to  the  gentle- 
man with  whom  the  appointment  rests,  that  he  may  not  lose  time 
and  opportunity  by  relying  upon  aid  from  a  quarter  where,  per- 
haps, he  might  be  unavoidably  disappointed. 

*'  I  have  to  request  your  excuse  for  the  trouble  which  I  give  you, 
and  your  candid  interpretation  of  what  I  have  said  and  written. 
You  will  give  me  credit  I  hope,  for  sincerity  at  least,  and  for  an 
honest  desire  not  to  be  misunderstood. 

"  With  gratitude  to  you  for  the  kind  and  cordial  reception  which 
you  gave  me. 

*'  I  remain,  Rev.  Sir, 

*'  Very  respectfully  yours, 

''Robert  S.  Candlish." 

The  Rev.  Henry  Gordon,  of  Gananoque,  narrates  a  visit 
to  Paisley  "  on  occasion  of  his  application  to  the  Society." 
"  Having,  along  with  Wm.Turnbull  Leach  (now  a  minister 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Canada),  been  designated  by 


REV.   H.   GORDON,  OF  GANANOQUE.  15^ 

the  '  Glasgow  Colonial  Society*  as  missionaries  in  Upper 
Canada,  and  on  the  15th  July,  1833,  been  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Haddington,  we  visited  Dr.  Burns  at  his 
house  in  Paisley,  and  in  his  official  capacity  as  Secretary 
enjoyed  close  intercourse  with  him.  I  was  impressed  by 
the  affability  of  his  manner,  the  vigour,  vivacity  and 
freshness  of  his  mental  powers  ;  the  graceful  ease  of  hi» 
conversation.  But  that  which  most  deserved  admiration 
and  which  was  most  congenial  to  the  objects  of  the  visit, 
was  the  devotedness  with  which  he  had  given  himself  to 
the  interest  of  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom  in  the  British 
Colonies.  The  one  thing  into  which  your  father  threw 
his  remarkably  active  mind,  was  to  have  an  active  part 
in  the  diffusinfic  Christ's  name,  and  His  truths  in  their 
purity,  over  Britain's  Colonial  territory.  Even  now  that 
I  am  writing,  methinks  I  see  the  joy  on  his  face,  when, 
from  the  large  map  of  Canada,  fixed  on  the  walls  of  his 
study,  he  pointed  out  to  Mr.  Leach  and  myself  the  topo- 
graphy of  Canada  with  such  painstaking  particularity 
of  description,  as  that  we  almost  believed  that  we  were 
actually  there,  choosing  our  location.  That  Canada  had 
even  then,  i.  e.,  in  1833,  a  large  space  and  no  mere  corner 
in  his  heart,  was  too  manifest  to  admit  of  concealment. 
But  little  did  I  then  know  to  what  this  interest  in  Can- 
ada's truest  well-being  would  grow." 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Alexander  has  furnished  me  with  a 
copy  of  the  commission  he  received  from  the  Colonial 
Society,  on  the  2nd  June,  1834.  It  guarantees  him  £100  a 
year — and  closes  with  "  and  so,  may  his  labours  be  bless- 
ed, and  his  health  preserved  by  the  Head  of  the  Church.'* 


160  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

Mr.  Alexander  gives  a  graphic  account  of  his  journey, 
in  which  the  suffering  of  shipwreck  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Moira,  near  Belleville,  comes  in  as  a  prominent  incident. 
He  hastened  forward  to  Cobourg  to  succeed  the  Rev. 
Matthew  Miller,  a  remarkable  man  sent  out  by  the  Soci- 
ety in  July,  1833,  who  was  drowned  in  the  Bay  of 
Quints,  in  February,  1834. 

The  Eighth  Report  of  the  Society,  submitted  by  Dr. 
Bums,  on  the  10th  March,  1885,  speaks  of  the  "Directors 
having  designated  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Bayne  and  Anderson 
as  missionaries  to  the  Upper  Province,  and  these  gentle- 
men they  cannot  but  consider  as  a  valuable  accession  to 
the  roll  of  colonial  labourers." 

Had  the  Society  done  no  more  than  donated  to  Canada 
two  such  men  as  John  Bayne  and  Matthew  Miller,  its 
labours  would  not  have  been  in  vain.  But  others  besides 
those  named — such  as  Rintoul,  Roger,  Reid,  Stark,  Mc- 
Gill,and  many  like  minded,  hold  honorable  place  on  its  roll. 

The  secretaryship  was  no  sinecure.  The  selection  and 
sending  of  missionaries ;  the  correspondence  with  them  ; 
the  attendance  at  the  meetings  of  committee  ;  the  advo- 
cacy of  the  Society's  claims  in  pulpit  and  on  platform ; 
the  collecting  tours  in  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland — 
and  a  multiplicity  of  nameless  duties,  devolved  on  Dr. 
Burns  a  vast  amount  of  labour.  The  following  letters  to 
Dr.  Welsh,*  will  give  a  glimpse  of  the  kind  of  work  he 
had  to  do,  and  a  specimen  of  many  kindred  communica- 
tions ; — 

Dr.  David  Welsh,  then  of  St.  David's,  Glasgow,  afterwards  Professor  of  Ecclesiasti 
ca  History  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  who,  as  retiring  Moderator  tabled  the 
Protest  on  the  memorable  18th  May,  1843.  He  was  one  of  the  earlier  colleagues  of  Dr. 
Burns  in  the  secretaryship.— Ed. 


HIGHLAND  TRIP.      MR.    CLARK.  161 

"  Aberdeen,  Sept.  3,  1830. 

**  My  Dear  Sir, — Your  patience  will  be  nearly  exhausted  by  my 
silence,  if  it  has  not  given  place  to  a  sympathising  concern,  lest  your 
colleague  Secretary  should  have  been  swallowed  up  in  the  Caledonian 
Canal,  or  mayhap,  in  the  more  terrific  whirlpools  of  Corrievrekin. 
No  !  I  have  been  preserved  amid  my  journeyings  and  voyagings 
—minus  only  my  voice — which  left  me  in  consequence  of  a  bad 
cold  caught  in  or  about  Loch  Lochy,  by  sleeping  all  night  on  the 
sofa  of  the  cabin,  and  without  any  covering. 

* '  It  prevented  me  from  preaching  at  Inverness,  on  the  forenoon 
of  Sabbath,  as  designed.  Our  cause  was  ably  and  powerfully 
pleaded  by  my  friend,  Mr.  Clark,  who  is  much  respected  in  Inver- 
ness, and  from  whom  we  received  much  attention.  I  tried  to  preach, 
or  something  like  it,  in  the  evening,  and  collected  well.  We  had 
also  a  public  meeting  in  the  church  on  Monday  evening,  when  I 
entered  more  at  large  into  details,  and  collected  again.  This  will 
issue  in  the  appointment  of  a  permanent  committee  of  correspond- 
ence, and  I  have  not  the  smallest  doubt  that,  from  the  interest 
excited,  and  the  spirit  which  I  saw  at  work  in  our  favour,  Inverness 
will  be  a  most  important  auxiliary  to  us.  I  could  have  spent  a 
month  at  least,  preaching  every  day,  and  if  you  had  been  with  me 
we  could  have  done  much  more  than  we  did,  but  a  fair  commence- 
ment has  been  made,  and  nearly  £40  realized. 

"  I  went  on  to  Tain,  and  although  I  did  not  preach,  I  got  from  Dr. 
Mcintosh,  £40,  as  a  donation  from  the  Northern  Missionary  Society, 
and  the  promise  of  permanent  aid.  A  good  deal  of  information 
also  from  him,  regarding  candidates.  He  is  a  warm  friend  to  our 
Society,  and  a  most  judicious  and  valuable  adviser.  I  saw  also 
Messrs.  Carment,  of  Rosskeen,  and  Flyter,  of  Alness,  who  are  very 
friendly  ;  visited  the  garrison  at  Fort  George,  and  arranged  for  a 
sermon  in  the  chapel,  by  Mr.  Clark,  when  it  is  expected  the 
officers  and  men  will  give  a  day's  pay.  Many  of  them  have  been  in 
America,  and  almost  all  of  them  have  friends  there.  We  had  a 
sermon  and  collection  at  Forres,  by  Mr.  Clark,  as  I  had  to  come 
on  to  Elgin,  in  the  splendid  church  of  which  I  preached  on  Wed- 
nesday, and  collected  £5 — small — but  large  for  that  cold  place. 
The  clergy  very  languid.  The  only  person  whom  I  found  at  all 
anxious  to  serve  us,  was  the  editor  of  the  Elgin  Courier,  who  pro- 
mised to  advocate  our  cause  by  the  insertion  of  intelligence  at  any 
time.  This  may  be  of  use.  Here  I  hope  to  do  some  good,  as  also 
at  Peterhead  and  Fraserburgh. 

"  Dundee  and  Perth  will  also  be  visited.'' 

The  notices  in  the  foregoing  letter  of  his  trip  to  the 
North  of  Scotland,  suggests  another  at  a  subsequent  date 
to  the  South.     It  was  one  of  the  pleasantest  of  all  his 

L 


162  LIFE   OF  KEV.    DR.    BURNS. 

journeys,   and   rendered   memorable   by  his  association, 
during  it,  with  Dr.  Chalmers. 

In  June,  1838,  he  received  from  Sir  Andrew  Agnew^ 
the  following : — 

"  LocHNAw  Castle, 
*'Stkankaer,  7th  June,  1838. 

"  Rev.  Dr.  Burns.  Dear  Sir, — Your  avowed  attachment  ta 
the  best  interests  of  the  Colonies,  prompts  me  to  make  a  request  of 
you  at  this  time .  Doctor  Chalmers  has  kindly  promised  to  visit  u» 
here  immediately  on  his  return  from  France  (God  willing).  It  is 
an  old  engagement  of  many  months  standing,  and  which  he  has 
repeatedly  ratified.  His  object  is  to  awaken  from  sleep  our  torpid 
country,  by  giving  repeated  addresses  on  Church  Extension  and 
the  other  schemes  of  the  General  Assembly. 

' '  In  order  to  make  as  lively  an  impression  as  possible  on  the 
minds  of  our  people,  I  am  very  desirous  of  seeing  at  the  same  time, 
all  the  several  schemes  personated  by  the  living  eminent  divines  of 
the  national  church — and  I  would  pray  you  to  personate  the  Colo- 
nies !  It  would  give  Lady  Agnew  and  me  much  pleasure  if  you 
would  honour  us  with  a  visit  here. 

' '  A  steamboat,  (the  Lochryaii)  arriving  every  Friday,  (in  12 
hours  from  Glasgow, j  at  Stranraer,  would  land  you  within  six 
miles,  and  there  a  carriage  would  be  in  readiness  to  bring  you  up. 
Dr.  C.  expects  to  be  here  the  end  of  July — but  of  this  more  particu- 
larly I  shall  make  it  my  business  to  let  you  know  when  I  hear  from 
him  again.  Only  let  me  beg  yon,  in  the  meantime,  to  have  the 
goodness  to  give  a  general  assent  to  my  scheme,  and  let  me  hope 
that  you  will  yourself  take  a  part  therein.  The  necessity  which 
exists  amongst  us,  for  some  such  enlivening  proceeding,  I  will  not 
attempt  to  describe.  You  are  yourself,  I  doubt  not,  well  aware  of 
the  state  of  the  case  ;  and  I  confidently  look  to  your  helping  hand 
for  benevolent  aid. 

'*  Trusting  that  you  will  pardon  the  liberty  which  I  have  taken^ 
''  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

**  Yours  very  faithfully, 

"Andrew  Agnew." 


This  kind  invitation  Dr.  Burns  accepted,  though  he  had 
some  hesitation  about  the  "Combination"  scheme. 
Whereupon  Sir  Andrew  wrote  again  : — 


SIR  ANDREW  AGNEW.      VISIT  TO  LOCHNAW.         163 

"LOCHXAW  CASTLT5, 

"Stranraer,  16tli  July,  1838. 

"  My  Dear  Sir, — You  are  very  kind  in  so  cordially  expressing 
your  willingness  to  give  us  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  here. 

"  There  is  much  force  in  what  you  say  regarding  the  difficulty  of 
pleading  more  than  one  of  the  four  great  schemes  of  the  church  at 
the  same  time.  But  on  the  other  hand,  it  has  been  found  that 
where  an  interest  in  any  one  scheme  has  been  awakened,  atten- 
tion is  the  more  easily  called  to  all  the  others.  A  general  awaken- 
ing is  what  we  desire.  How  that  is  to  be  done  can  be  best  told, 
when  we  have  felt  our  way  a  little  more.  The  Church  Extension 
cause  is,  as  yet,  but  partially  understood,  and  would  need  all  the 
aid  which  it  can  receive  from  its  Rev'd.  champion  and  his  friends. 

"  As  to  the  Colonies,  we  have  largely  contributed  towards  the 
augmentation  of  their  population,  and  there  are  few  families 
amongst  us  where  a  chord  would  not  vibrate,  if  touched  by  the 
Master's  hand.  Nor  must  this  be  your  only  visit  ;  having  found 
out  your  way,  and  discovered  that  steam-power  has  brought  U3 
to  your  very  d  lor,  you  will  admit  the  responsibility  which  now 
lies  upon  you  to  make  our  latent  energies  marketable,  by  making 
Stranraer  a  suburb  of  Paisley.  Let  us  have  a  spiritual  as  well  as  a 
temporal  benefit  from  the  new  facilities  of  intercourse. 

"  Hoping  to  be  enabled  very  soon  to  have  the  pleasure  of  writing 
more  distinctly  as  to  the  day  of  Dr.  Chalmers'  coming, 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

* '  Yours  very  faithfully, 

"  Andrew  Agnew." 

On  the  31st  July,  Sir  Andrew  writes  a  third  time,  inti- 
mating that  the  week  from  the  19th  to  the  26th  August 
had  been  agreed  upon,  and  urging  Dr.  Bums  to  take  part 
with  Dr.  Ch-Umers  "in  this  awakening."  Dr.  Chalmers' 
journal  testifies  what  a  week  of  unalloyed  enjoyment  it 
was.  Dr.  Burns  was  accompanied  by  one  of  the  members 
of  his  family.  He  had  a  peculiar  pleasure  in  meeting 
with  the  Pi-esbytery  of  Stranraer.  In  1799,  that  Presby- 
tery had  licensed  his  brother  William,  "  the  Pastor  of 
Kilsyth,"  who  had  been  tutor  to  Sir  James  Hay,  of  Park, 
Glenluce. 


164  LIFE   OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

In  1885,  this  presbytery  published  an  address  to  the 
congregations  within  its  bounds,  warmly  eulogising  the 
efforts  of  the  Colonial  Society  and  commending  it  to  their 
confidence  and  support.  The  very  name  too  of  the  pious 
and  patriotic  Baronet,  whose  munificent  hospitality  he 
was  enjoying,  was  of  itself  a  passport  to  their  hearts  and 
homes.* 

I  am  not  aware  that  any  represented  the  other  schemes 
of  the  church,  but  Sir  Andrew  accompanied  the  represen- 
tatives of  Church  Extension  and  the  Colonies  in  a  pil- 
grimage stretching  over  two  weeks,  with  a  loving  interest 
and  hearty  enthusiasm,  which  riveted  them  to  him  in  the 
bonds  of  a  deathless  friendship. 

It  was  at  this  time  also  Dr.  Burns  formed  the  acquaint- 
ance of  General  McDowell,  of  Stranraer,  who  became  a 
fast  friend  of  the  Colonies,  and  from  whose  library  the 
shelves  of  more  than  one  Canadian  college  were  richly 
replenished.  The  correspondence  of  the  old  veteran  with 
Dr.  Burns,  was  terminated  only  by  his  death. 

Dr.  Macintosh  McKay,  who  subsequently  evinced  his 
sympathy  by  devoting  the  maturity  of  his  powers  to 
Colonial  service,  lent  early  to  the  Society  the  benefit  of 
his  eflicient  advocacy.     He  writes   to   Dr-  Burns  from 

*  The  founder  of  the  Agnew  family  came  over  with  William  the  Con- 
queror.^ The  Parliamentary  Act  of  1661,  which  confirms  the  family  in  the 
possession  of  its  rights  and  privileges,  quaintly  describes  them  as  having 
Been  enjoyed  "  past  allmemorie  of  man."  But  though,  as  descended  from 
the  Agnews  of  Normandy  and  the  de  Courcys  of  Kingsale,  (Premier  Baron 
of  Ireland,)  there  flowed  in  his  veins  the  blood  of  two  of  the  most  ancient 
and  honourable  families  in  the  Kingdom,  no  heart  beat  more  truly  than  that 
of  the  chivalrous  Champion  of  the  Sabbath,  in  sympathy  with  the  senti- 
ment :— 

"  Howe'er  it  be,  it  seems  to  me 
'Tis  only  noble  to  be  good  : 
Kind  hearts  are  more  than  coronets, 
And  simple  faith,  than  Norman  blood."— Ed. 


DR.   MACKAY.      CANADIAN  COLLEGE.  165 

Dunoon,  February,  1836,  complaining  of  the  indifference 
of  a  leading  town,  which  was  destined,  afterwards,  to 
witness  special  divine  manifestations,  and  whose  response 
to  the  fine  sermons  of  himself  and  colleague,  reached  the 
magnificent  aggregate  of  £13  5s.  5Jd. 

"  I  am  inclined  to  say  :  '  I'll  gang  nae  mair  to  yon  toon.' 

"  The  Ladies'  Society  of  Perth  extends  over  the  entire  county. 
Would  it  not  be  a  grand  matter  if  the  ladies  of  every  Highland 
county  would  be  stirred  up  to  form  a  similar  association. 

"  I  trust  some  plan  will  be  formed  to  draw  together  an  Associa- 
tion of  Ladies  in  Glasgow,  similar  to  Mrs.  McKay's  in  Edinburgh* 

"  The  church  must  put  on  a  bolder  attitude,  and  arouse  itself  to 
energy  in  the  missionary  cause  at  home  and  abroad.  Some  united, 
concentrated,  powerful  movement  must  be  made  all  over  the  church* 
The  Colonies  must  not  be  neglected.  I  am  quite  certain  that  if  minis- 
ters will  do  their  duty,  the  people  will  do  theirs.  Some  plan  musi 
be  matured  at  next  General  Assembly  for  the  forming  of  every 
parish  into  an  Auxiliary  and  Missionary  Society  for  Home  and 
Foreign  purposes. 

"  At  all  events  I  am  quite  clear  about  one  thing — that  you  ought 
to  get  charge  as  convener  of  that  committee  of  the  Assembly  on 
Colonial  Churches,  at  the  head  of  which  the  venerable  Princi- 
pal has  slept  for  some  years  back.  I  trust,  my  dear  sir, 
you  will  continue  having  your  heart  encouraged  and  your  hands 
strengthened  of  God,  to  plead  and  speed  forward  the  cause  of  pre- 
cious, perishing  souls.  Many,  I  doubt  not,  are  the  blessings  on 
your  head  already,  from  hundreds  and  thousands  of  our  brethren 
in  America,  for  what  you  have  already  done.  All  our  friends  in 
the  East  country  are  loud  in  their  commendations  of  your  labours 
of  love,  and  may  these  be  increased  and  favoured  abundantly." 


The  first  published  suggestion  of  a  Presbyterian  Col- 
lege for  Canada  that  we  can  discover,  is  in  the  Third 
Annual  Report  of  the  Glasgow  Colonial  Society,  drawn 
up  by  Dr.  Burns,  and  presented  by  him  at  the  Anniver- 
sary, held  on  the  22d  April,  1829,  twelve  years  prior  to 
the  passage  of  the  Royal  Charter  which  formally  ushered 
it  into  existence,  and  three  years  prior  to  the  first  move- 
ment of  the  Canadian  Church.     In  his  Report  of  the  fol- 


166  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

lowing  year,  (27th  April,  1830,)  Dr.  Burns  returns  to  the 
subject  thus  : — "The  Colonies  seem  particularly  to  stand 
in  need  of  institutions  sacred  to  the  great  business  of  the 
general  and  theological  education  of  young  men,  natives 
of  the  Colonies  themselves,  who  might  thus  be  trained  up 
from  time  to  time  for  the  service  of  the  sanctuary." 

The  first  Synod  of  Canada,  held  in  1831,  seems  to  have 
passed  without  any  allusion  to  the  matter.* 

At  the  second  Synod,  held  in  Kingston,  commencing  on 
the  2nd  and  closing  on  the  4th  August,  1832,  the  subject 
of  Theological  Education  was  introduced  by  Mr.  Rintoul. 
This  Synod  was  presided  over  by  Dr.  Mathieson,  of  Mon- 
treal, and  attended  by  twelve  ministers  and  three  elders. 

In  1839,  a  Bill  was  obtained  from  the  Local  Legislature 
to  establish  a  college  in  connexion  with  the  Church  ot 
Scotland,  under  the  title  "  St.  Andrew's  College  of  Can- 
ada." It  vested  in  the  Rev..  Messrs.  "W. Rintoul,  A.  Gale, 
W.  T.  Leach,  R.  McGill,  J.  Cruickshank,  H.  Urquhart, 
and  twelve  lay  members  of  the  church,  the  right  of 
holding  "  Lot  No.  32,  in  the  3rd  Concession  S.  of  Dundas 
street,  in  the  Township  of  Trafalgar,"  purchased  with 
£500  stg.,  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Toronto,  for  the  establishment  of  a  college,  by  Sir  Wm. 
Seton,  of  Pitmeden,  Bart.;  and  200  acres  of  land,  being  Lot 
No.  4,  in  the  5th  Concession  of  the  Township  of  Nissouri,'* 
donated  for  the  same  purpose  by  the  Hon.  William 
Morris.  The  name  was  changed  to  "  The  University  at 
Kingston,"  altered  still  further  to  "  Queen's  College  at 

*  The  Abstract  Minutes  of  1831,  covering  four  small  pa^es,  contrast  strikingly  with 
the  184  well  filled  pages  of  our  "Acts  and  Proceedings"  in  1871.  These  minutes  aru  % 
mirror  reflecting  the  relative  progress  of  the  church  these  forty  years. 


queen's  and  dalhousie  colleges.  167 

Kingston,"  when  on  the  16th  October,  1841,  a  Royal 
Charter  took  the  place  of  the  Provincial  Act. 

With  the  establishment  of  this  institution,  Dr.  Burns 
had  much  to  do,  and  to  the  formation  of  its  library  he 
^ave  very  freely  from  his  own. 

He  had  copious  correspondence  on  the  subject  with  the 
Hon.  William  Morris,  Alexander  Gillespie,  Esq.,  and  Rev. 
Messrs.  Rintoul,  McGill,  Machar  and  others. 

When  in  1840,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cook  and  Mr.  Rintoul 
went  home  as  a  deputation  in  its  behalf,  he  rendered  them 
most  efficient  aid. 

Dr.  Burns  took  special  interest  also  in  "  Dalhousie 
College,"  Halifax.  In  18:^8,  he  was  in  search  of  a  Presi- 
dent for  it,  and  applied  to  the  Rev.  Marcus  Dods,  of  Bel- 
ford,  father  of  the  Rev.  Marcus  Dods,  of  Glasgow,  whom 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  Lower  Provinces  recently 
endeavoured  to  secure  as  their  Professor  of  Theology. 

The  following  is  one  of  the  letters  in  a  correspond- 
ence which  seems  to  have  terminated  unfavourably  : — 

"  Belford,  ITth  March,  1828. 

*'  You  seem  to  me  to  be  in  pursuit  of  the  philosopher's  stone. 
Where  in  these  degenerate  days  do  you  hope  to  find  a  man  posses- 
sed of  all  the  qualifications  that  you  require  1  In  some  of  the  things 
you  mention  I  am  much  rusted.  The  rust,  however,  might  by  a 
little  scouring  rub  ofi.  But  of  one  of  them,  Chemistry,  I  have  just 
sufficient  knowledge  to  enable  me  to  put  a  proper  quantum  of  salt 
in  my  kale.  If  this  hiatus  valde  dejlendus  in  my  mental  furniture 
should  not  form  an  insuperable  bar  to  any  further  negotiation,  I 
certainly  am  not  disposed  to  put  the  proposal  lightly  away.  But 
in  tne  meanwhile,  if  the  above  defect  be  not  fatal,  I  should  like  to 
have  some  more  particular  information  with  regard  to  the  College, 
of  the  existence  of  which  I  had  not  previously  heard.  I  do  not  feel 
much  disposed  to  leave  this  place  for  a  distant  land. 

'*  Yet  my  reluctance  would  readily  yield  to  aught  that  I  might  con- 
sider a  call  of  Providence,  or  to  the  prospect  of  greater  usefulness. 
With  thanks  for  your  offer  of  recommendation  and  best  wishes." 


168  LIFE   OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

We  had  copied  out  eighty  pages  of  Colonial  correspond- 
ence which  we  are  compelled  to  omit. 

These  were  culled  from  seven  large  quarto  MS.  volumes 
into  which  my  father  collected  the  greater  part  of  his 
Colonial  letters. 

In  three  thoroughly  characteristic  epistles,  Dr.  Mathie- 
son  finds  vent  for  the  Scottish  exile's  longings,  and  his 
strong:  attachments  for  the  ''Kirk."  He  ridicules  the 
Episcopalian  proclivities  of  a  certain  class.  He  deplores 
the  deadening  influence  of  ministerial  secularities,  sighs  at 
times  for  a  quiet  country  parish  in  his  loved  native  isle, 
and  gives  expression  to  breathings  after  the  higher  Chris- 
tian life. 

Dr.  McGill  relates  his  settlement  in  Niagara,  is  severe 
on  High  Church  grasping,  and  handles  as  it  deserved,  the 
notorious  ecclesiastical  census  of  a  certain  deceased  prelate. 
He  propounds  a  scheme  for  raising  $120,000  for  Queen's 
College,  and  pleads  for  two  professors,  "  the  best  in  braid 
Scotland," 

The  letters  of  the  Rev.  William  Rintoul  are  very 
numerous,  dating  from  his  leaving  Maryport  onwards,  and 
reflect  his  earnest  spirit.  As  pastor  in  Toronto  and  Streets- 
ville,  and  for  a  time  Superintendent  of  Missions,  he  pleads 
most  meltingly  for  increased  supplies  to  meet  the  preva- 
lent spiritual  destitution.  As  one  of  the  first  Colonial 
ministers  who  moved  in  the  matter  of  the  college,  he  gives 
special  prominence  to  it,  specifying  Dr.  Cooke,  of  Belfast, 
and  Dr.  Burns  as  suitable  men  to  fill  the  post  of  first 
Principal. 

The  Rev.  John  Clugston,  of  Quebec,  long  acted  as  the 


COLONIAL   CORRESPONDENTS.  169 

faithful  agent  of  the  Colonial  Society  for  Eastern  Canada^ 
and  was  a  most  valuable  and  voluminous  correspondent. 
His  letters  are  full  of  matter  respecting  his  department  of 
the  field,  noticing  the  arrival  of  many  missionaries  who 
always  found  counsel  and  comfort  under  his  hospitable  roof. 
He  has  graphic  touches  on  the  doings  of  Dr.  Harkness ; 
the  Canadian  Rebellion;  the  obnoxious  rectories;  Lord 
Durham,  &c.,  with  an  occasional  burst  of  honest  indigna- 
tion at  high-handed  Episcopal  assumptions. 

The  Rev.  George  Romanes,  afterwards  Professor  in 
Queen's  College,  gives  many  interesting  details  of  his  mis- 
sionary experience,  places  the  East  before  the  West,  and 
speaks  in  favour  of  an  order  of  circuit  preachers. 

The  Rev.  P.  C.  Campbell,  M.  A.,  now  Principal  of 
Aberdeen  University,  in  a  beautifully  distinct  hand,  fur- 
nishes a  very  minute  and  instructive  account  of  his  travels, 
and  of  the  position  and  prospects  of  the  church,  lit  up 
here  and  there  by  fiery  flashes  at  the  insult  offered  by  the 
then  Solicitor  (jeneral  (Hagerman)  to  Scotland  and  Scot- 
land's Church. 

Dr.  Machar,  whose  name  is  yet  fragrant  in  Kingston, 
returns  thanks  for  files  of  The  Witness  and  "  Chests 
of  Books ;"  commends  Dr.  Cook  and  Mr.  Rintoul,  the 
College  Delegates,  to  home  sympathy  and  support,  and 
expresses  a  decided  preference  for  a  Principal  and  Profes- 
sors from  the  old  country,  in  opposition  to  my  father's  not 
less  decidedly  expressed  conviction  that  the  selection 
should  be  made  from  Canada. 

The   Hon.  William   Morris,*  is  the  most  voluminous 

*  Brother  of  the  Hon.  James,  and  father  of  the  Hon.  Alexander  Morris.  In  one  of 
his  many  letters  he  remarks,  "Our  family  left  Paisley  in  1801."  He  possessed  many 
most  estimable  qualities,  and  proved  ever  a  true  friend  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 


1  70  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

of  the  lay  correspondents.  His  letters  abound  in  interest 
— bearing  principally  on  Queen's  College ;  the  efforts  to 
pass  the  Local  Acts,  and  to  obtain  the  Royal  Charter,  the 
importance  of  the  preparatory  education,  and  of  securing 
first-class  men,  his  published  letter  to  Principal  Macfar- 
lane  and  Dr.  Burns,  with  occasional  references  to  the 
vexed  questions  of  the  Clergy  Reserves  and  the  Rectories. 

Mr.  Alexander  Gillespie,  of  Gillespie,  Moffatt  &  Co., 
indicates  by  his  letters  a  peculiar  interest  in  Colonial 
Presbyterianism.  He  encloses  correspondence  with  Lord 
John  Russell,  about  securing  a  Government  grant  to  the 
-college,  recommends  application  to  Governor  General 
Thompson;*  is  delighted  with  the  union  with  the  United 
Synod,  and  counsels  maintaining  friendly  relations  with 
the  Synod  of  Ulster. 

On  this  last  subject  there  is  a  fine  letter  from  Dr.  Kirk- 
patrick,  of  Dublin,  who  pleasantly  recalls  Dr.  Burns'  pres- 
ence at  his  Ordination  in  St.  Mary's  Abbey,-|-  in  1829, 
along  with  Dr.  Heugh,  of  Glasgow,  as  Delegates  from  the 
Scottish  Missionary  Society.  He  speaks  of  the  healthy 
spirit  of  the  Irish  Church  since  the  cutting  out  of  the 
Unitarian  cancer,  her  interest  in  missions,  her  looking  to 
Canada  as  a  field,  and  the  desire  of  a  cordial  understand- 
ing, which  was  fully  reciprocated,  with  the  Glasgow  Colo- 
nial Society. 

Among  old  country  correspondents  may  be  named  the 
Rev.  James  Marshall,  who  speaks  of  the  Glasgow  brethren 
as  waiting  for  my  father's  recovery  from  the  severe  illness 

*  Afterwards  Lord  Sydenham. 

t  Dr.  Kilpatrick's  colleague  in  Dublin  for  many  years  was  the  late  Dr.  James  Carlile, 
the  former  competitor  of  my  father  for  the  Low  Church,  Paisley,  who  was  succeeded  by 
Dr.  John  Hall,  now  of  New  York. 


DRS!   SCOTT,   WELSH,  HENDERSON,  ETC.  171 

of  1824,  that  he  might  make  the  first  move  in  connexion 
with  the  formation  of  the  Society. 

The  venerable  Dr.  Scott,  of  Greenock,  eulogised  so 
warmly  by  Dr.  Cunningham,  who  acted  for  some  time  as 
his  colleague,  was  one  of  the  early  Secretaries  of  the  Soci- 
ety. He  encloses  letters  from  John  Gait,  the  celebrated 
author,*  respecting  preachers  from  Scotland — dwells  on 
the  kind  of  men  required — the  difficulty  in  getting  them, 
and  the  importance  of  exceeding  prudence  in  the  selec- 
tion. 

Dr.  Welsh,  the  leader  on  the  Disruption  day,  when 
Minister  of  St.  David's,  Glasgow,  acted  as  a  Secretary  of 
the  Society  for  some  time,  and  these  volumes  contain  a 
number  of  his  letters,  as  also  of  Principal  Lee,  of  Edin- 
burgh, Principal  Macfarlane,  of  Glasgow,  Dr.  Patrick 
Macfarlane,  of  Greenock,  Dr.  Macdonald,  of  Ferintosh, 
Fraser,  of  Kirkhill,  Kennedy,  of  Killearnan  and  Red- 
<5astle,  and  a  host  of  others.  Elect  ladies  also,  who  felt  a 
deep  interest  in  the  Colonies,  such  as  the  Lady  Mary 
Murray,  and  Mrs.  Mackay,  of  Rockfield. 

The  estimate  formed  of  the  gratuitous  services  rendered 
by  Dr.  Burns  to  the  Colonies  in  connexion  with  this 
Society,  may  be  judged  from  two,  out  of  many,  testi- 
monies. 

In  a  letter  received  from  Dr.  Henderson  (of  date, 
Glasgow,  28th  September,  1871,)  Dr.  Burns'  quondam 
associate  in  the  Secretaryship,  that  accomplished  veteran 
in  the  service,  says  : — 

"1  was  never  gifted  as  Dr.  Burns  was,  with  a  strongly  retentive 
memory,  and  now  in  my  age  much  of  what  was  committed  to  it  has 

*  Father  of  Sir  A.  T.  and  of  Judge  Gait. 


172 


LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


faded  from  it  ;"  T  am  glad  however  to  have  the  opportunity  to  ex- 
press my  distinct  conviction,  strongly  held  and  often  expressed, 
that  among  Scotsmen,  Dr.  Burns  is  entitled  to  be  regarded  as  the 
greatest  benefactor  (spiritually)  to  the  Presbyterian  people  of  Can- 
ada, and  the  founder  of  her  Presbyterian  Church. 

**  Before  the  institution  of  the  Colonial  scheme  by  the  Church  at 
home,  or  about  1833  or  '34,  there  were  50  ministers  or  thereby  in 
Nova  Scotia,  and  about  30  in  Canada  (of  the  Church  of  Scotland). 
These  were  mainly  the  fruits  of  the  operations  of  the  North  Ameri- 
can Colonial  Society,  of  which  Dr.  Bums  was  the  life  and  soul. 
At  that  time  the  missionary  spirit  had  hardly  began  to  awake  in 
the  Established  Church. 

*'  The  time  and  pains  taken  in  this  work  by  Dr.  Bums  cannot 
be  told.  Besides  his  labours  in  this  Glasgow  Society,  on  behalf  of 
the  American  Colonies,  he  stirred  up  an  interest  in  the  good  cause 
in  the  church  courts — moving  overtures  in  the  Synod  of  Glasgow 
and  Ayr,  which,  being  carried  there,  Principal  McFarlane  intro- 
duced to  the  Assembly  ;  and  on  his  motion,  the  Colonial  scheme  was 
adopted,  and  thereupon  the  Glasgow  Colonial  Society  superseded. 

"  Most  of  us  felt  that  on  the  ground  of  ability,  zeal,  and  prepara- 
tion of  every  kind  for  the  office.  Dr.  Burns  was  entitled  to  the 
honour  of  the  convenership  of  the  committee.  Some  of  the  best 
friends  of  the  Society  looked  upon  the  appointment  of  Principal 
McFarlane  to  this  office  instead,  as  alike  ungenerous  and  unwise. 
Dr.  Burns  himself  took  no  affront,  but  continued  as  a  member  of 
the  Assembly's  Committee  to  take  the  same  interest  and  to  spend 
the  same  energy  in  the  service  of  the  Assembly's  scheme,  as  he  had 
done  in  the  Glasgow  Society. 

''  I  have  stated  this,  being  aware  that  some  time  ago,  the  claim 
was  put  forth  by  a  minister  of  the  Established  Church,  to  the 
origination  of  the  Colonial  as  also  of  the  Foreign  Mission  scheme. 

"  The  truth  is  precisely  as  I  have  here  stated  it.  In  regard  to 
both  schemes,  the  case  is  precisely  similar.  Dr.  Inglis  moved  the 
Assembly  to  the  institution  of  the  Indian  Mission.  Principal  Mc- 
Farlane moved  there,  as  I  have  said,  the  adoption  of  the  Colonial 
scheme,  but  a  "  Scottish  Missionary  Society"  and  a  "  Glasgow 
Colonial  Society,"  stood  outside  the  General  xlssembly,  the  results 
of  private  Christian  faith  and  zeal ;  and  if  they  did  not  knock 
for  admission,  year  after  year,  did  not  do  so  because  they  had 
often  been  neglected  or  refused,  and  had  been  shown  no  sign  of 
willingness  to  open  to  them.     This,  I  believe,  is  the  simple  truth.'* 

The  Eev.  Dr.  Beith,  of  Stirling,  who,  like  Dr.  Hender- 
son, was  one  of  the  most  honoured  Moderators  of  the  Free 
Church  of  Scotland,  and  the  immediate  predecessor  of  Dr. 
Cunningham  in  the  office,  was  also  for  two  years  (1825-7,) 


DR.   BEfTH   OF  STIRLING.  173 

associated   with    my    father    as    Colonial    Secretary  of 
the  Society. 

In  a  very  interesting  letter  from  Dr.  Beith,  (dated 
Stirling,  November  20th,  1871,)  he  says  :— 

"  Your  father  was  the  very  life  and  soul  of  the  enterprise.  1 
acted  very  much  as  his  sub.  If  he  did  not  himself  write  all  the 
letters  (and  they  were  very  many,)  which  our  work  required,  he 
always  indicated  to  me  by  jottings  on  letters,  what  required  to  be 
answered,  or  by  various  hints,  when  any  correspondence  was  not  in 
answer,  the  nature  of  the  communications  which,  on  such  occasions, 
were  to  be  made  to  friends  abroad  and  at  home.  The  late  Mr. 
Richard  Kidston  was  the  practical  man  on  our  committee. 
His  intimate  acquaintance  with  our  American  Colonies,  and  especi- 
ally with  those  parts  of  the  country  which  engaged  our  attention 
and  called  forth  our  energies,  eminently  qualified  him  to  be  our 
guide  and  adviser.  He  was  at  the  time  immersed  in  the  cares  and 
the  toils  of  an  extensive  business,  but  he  never  was  absent  from 
our  Council  board  when  the  business  of  the  Society  was  to  be  done. 
Your  father's  confidence  in  Mr.  Kidston  was  unbounded.  I  am 
not  aware  that  we  ever  had  reason  to  think,  that  we>  on  any  occa- 
sion srred,  when  we  yielded  our  convictions  to  the  views  of  Mr. 
Kidston. 

"The  wonderful  facility  with  which  your  father  wrote  often 
amazed  me.  So  did  the  quantity  of  matter  which  flowed  from  his 
pen.  I  have  no  record  of  the  amount  of  the  correspondence  which 
occurred  during  the  years  I  acted  with  him,  but  I  know  it  was  very 
great. 

"Dr.  Welsh  became  my  successor  on  my  leaving  Glasgow  for  a 
parish  in  the  Highlands.  He  used  to  compare  notes  with  me. 
His  impressions  of  the  incessant,  irrepressible  and  productive  activi- 
ty of  Dr.  Burns,  were  quite  in  accordance  with  mine. 

"  A  few  years  ago  your  father  paid  me  at  Stirling  a  most  gratify- 
ing visit  of  two  or  three  days.  Among  other  subjects  on  which  we 
conversed,  was  our  intercourse  with  each  other  in  the  Colonial 
Society. 

"  All  the  world  knows  and  has  heard  of  the  wonders  of  his  mem- 
ory— a  memory,  as  Dr.  Guthrie  once  said  to  me,  approaching  the 
divine  -  but  the  experience  I  had  of  its  power  on  this  occasion  far 
surpassed  all  my  previous  conceptions.  Numerous,  almost  innu- 
merable as  the  letters  had  been  which  he  wrote,  or  which  I  wrote 
by  his  instructions,  during  the  years  of  our  coUeagueship,  he 
seemed  to  remember  them  all  ;  the  dates  en  which  they  were 
written — the  persons  to  whom  they  were  addressed — the  subjects 
they  discussed — and  the  results  which  followed  in  the  case  of  everj' 
■one  of  them.     As  for  me,  I  could  recall  no  more  than  simply  that  I 


174!  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

had  been  engaged  with  him,  as  T  have  narrated ;  that  generally,  but 
none  of  the  details. 

"  A  poor  widow  woman  of  my  congregation  had  a  son  who,  about 
twenty  years  before  this  visit  of  your  father  to  me,  had  emigrated 
to  Canada  with  his  wife  and  one  or  two  children .  She  had  heard 
from  him  once  or  twice  after  his  arrival  in  Toronto  or  Montreal — 
but  he  had  ceased  to  write  to  her,  and  though  she  had  repeatedly 
addressed  letters  to  him,  she  had  had  no  reply.  She  heard  of  your 
father's  being  with  me.  She  came  modestly  to  entreat  me  to  speak 
to  Dr.  Burns  ;  perhaps  he  knew  something  of  her  son  and  of  his 
family.  I  introduced  her  to  him  after  asking  his  consent.  He  re- 
ceived her  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  affability.  She  told  her 
story.  He  put  some  questions  referring  to  the  communications 
she  had  had  from  her  son — his  personal  appearance,  handicraft, 
&c.  After  a  pause  of  a  few  minutes,  he  came  out  with  a  flood  of 
information  to  the  poor  woman.  He  knew  her  son  for  he  had  been 
of  his  congregation  for  a  time.  He  knew  his  wife,  all  their  chil- 
dren, their  names.  He  told  all  about  their  present  condition,  and 
the  occupations  of  those  who  had  gone  out  from  their  father's  house 
— everything.  The  poor  woman's  heart  overflowed  with  thankful- 
ness. She  often  afterwards  spoke  to  me  of  the  '  comfort  Dr. 
Burns  had  given  her. ' 

"  I  saw  less  of  Dr.  Burns  on  the  occasion  of  his  last  visit  ta 
this  country  than  on  the  occasion  of  his  previous  visit.  On 
one  of  the  Sabbaths  during  the  Assembly,  1857  (I  think), 
we  preached  as  colleagues  for  Dr.  Clason.  We  afterwards  dined 
together  at  his  house.  They  were  both  my  seniors  by  several 
years.  Their  conversation  led  them  back  to  the  scenes  and  exploits^ 
of  the  days  of  other  times.  Dr.  Olason's  memory  was  good,  but  it 
was  not  to  be  compared  with  that  of  Dr.  Burns.  For  him — he  re- 
membered every  text  of  every  sermon  he  had  preached  in  his 
earliest  days — and  all  the  way  down.  He  remembered,  moreover, 
all  that  he  had  ever  heard  from  our  host,  who  seemed  not  a  little 
gratified,  and  not  a  little  inclined  to  draw  largely  on  the  stores  of 
your  father's  marvellous  recollections  of  the  past.  It  was  to  me  a 
pleasant  and  a  profitable  evening. 

"  Of  course  you  know  how  much  your  father  was  the  friend  of 
Dr.  Andrew  Thomson,  and  how  much  he  was  his  coadjutor  in 
public  matters — how  much  he  aided  in  the  great  Evangelical  move- 
ment which  distinguished  the  beginning  of  this  century.  That 
matter  does  not  belong  to  me  herj. 

"  With  much  desire  for  your  success  in  the  work  with  which  you 
are  engaged,  and  with  expressions  ox  profound  respect  and  regard 
for  the  memory  of  your  father. 

"I  am,  very  faithfully  yours, 

"  Alex'r  Beith." 


4 


CHAPTER  XII. 


"VISIT  TO  THE  UNITED   STATES  AND   CANADA  IN 
1844.       • 


HE  Churches  in  America  were  not  slow  in 
sending  fraternal  gi-eetings  to  their  new- 
born sister  in  Scotland,,  and  kind  offers  of 
substantial  aid.  It  was  therefore  deemed 
advisable,  at  an  early  day,  to  send  a  depu- 
tation to  the  New  World.  Dr.  Burns  was  asked 
to  join  Dr.  Cunningham,  of  Edinburgh,  who 
had  preceded  him,  on  this  mission.  His  devoted 
nephew,  on  being  asked  when  he  could  start  for 
China,  significantly  pointed  to  his  portmanteau^ 
and  said,  "  To-morrow."  He,  too,  was  "  ready  to  depart 
on  the  morrow."  The  first  insertions  in  his  "  Journal  of 
my  Visit  to  America"  run  thus  : 

"  Thursday,  Jan.  2,  1844.— Wenfc  from  Kilsyth  to  Edinburgh,  to 
see  friends,  and  to  hear  Dr.  Chalmers  lecture.     Heard  him  twice. 


176  LIFE   OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

Visited  the  College,  Dr.  C.  carried  the  resolution  of  the  committee 
of  that  morninj?.     Dr.  C.  had  hinted  it  before. 

*'  3rd. — Settled  matters  ;  came  west ;  attended  congregational 
«oiree  in  the  evening,  and  made  it  known. 

"  4th. — Arranged  supplies  ;  made  necessary  calls  ;  to  Glasgow  ; 
ticket  in  mail  to  Liverpool. 

"5th.— Setoff." 

On  the  eve  of  his  sailing  we  received  the  following  : 

"Liverpool,  Monday,  8th  Jan.,  1844. 
"  About  to  embark  at  12,  with  good  hopes.     Sabbath  spent  agree- 
;ably  here,  preaching  twice,  &c.     Let  us  often  meet  at  the  throne 
of  our  gracious  Father.     I  am  well,  thank  God."  jHi 

The  voyage  was  long,  but  not  unpleasant.  Two  old 
residents  of  Montreal  were  his  fellow-passengers;  and 
through  one  of  them  we  have  learned  how  useful  and 
pleasant  he  was  on  shipboard.  She  has  shewn  me  a  copy 
of  his  Life  of  Dr.  McGill  with  which  he  presented  her  as 
they  parted,  bearing  a  kindly  address. 

Now,  again,  the  autobiography  comes  to  our  aid. 

Dr.  Cunningham  was  appointed  a  deputy  to  the  Ameri- 
-can  Churches  on  behalf  of  the  building  fund  of  the  Free 
Church  of  Scotland  in  the  end  of  1843,  the  year  of  the 
memorable  "  disruption."  On  my  reaching  New  York  or. 
the  7th  of  February,  1844,  I  found  that  he  had  spent  two 
weeks  in  that  city,  had  preached  in  various  churches,  had 
addressed  different  public  meetings,  and  had  organised  an 
effective  committee  for  obtaining  subscriptions  from  the 
friends  of  the  Free  Church.  With  that  committee  I  had 
a  most  agreeable  conference  on  the  day  after  my  arrival, 
and  advocated  the  cause  in  two  of  the  largest  churches  on 
the  Sabbath  following.  In  the  meantime  I  received  a 
letter  from  Dr.  Cunningham,  then  at  Philadelphia,  urging 
me  to  come  on  immediately,  so  as  to  aid  him  at  a  great 
public  meeting  in  that  city,  fixed  for  the  Tuesday  follow- 
ing. Leaving  New  York  on  Monday  morning  by  train,  I 
spent  the  greater  part  of  that  day  and  the  following  at 
Princeton,  with  our  excellent  friends  Drs.  Alexander,  Mil- 


4 


THE   PRINCETON  DIVINES.      SOUTHERN   VISIT.        177 

ler,  and  Hodge.     As  I  was  the  guest  of  the  first  of  these 
eminent  men,  we  had  much  conversation  together  on  the 
subject  of  our  visit  to  America.     Dr.  Cunningham  had 
been  with  the  Princeton  friends  for  several  days,  and  they 
had  assisted  him  in  his  arrangements.    My  venerable  host 
told  me  that,  in  addition  to  the  plan  drawn  out,  he  thought 
that  Dr.  Cunningham  had  limited  himself  rather  too  much 
in  his  range  of  visits,  and  named  a  variety  of  large  and 
wealthy  cities  in  the  South  which  ought  not  to  be  over- 
looked.    It  did  not   appear   that  Dr.   Cunningham  had 
specially  noted  the  slave  element  as  a  hindrance  in  the 
case.     Neither  did  I ;  for  besides  trying  to  obtain  contri- 
butions to  our  cause,  I  felt  a  great  desire  to  bear  a  testi- 
mony in  our  own  way  against  a  great  national  sin,  and  it 
seemed  to  me  ver}^  necessary  that  we  should  see  something 
of  the  character  of  the  system  to  which  we  were  opposed ; 
indeed  my  "testifying  processes"  began  that  very  after- 
noon, for  in  my  note  book  of  that  date  there  stands  the 
question  put  by  me  to  my  venerable  host,  "  What  is  tho 
reason,  Dr.  A.,  why  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church 
has  relinquished  its  former  testimony  against  slavery  V* 
And  the  answer  follows  :  "  Sir,  slavery  is  a  political  insti- 
tution, with  which  the  Church  has  nothing  to  do."     My 
very  decided  answer  on  the  opposite  side  led  to  a  keen 
but  friendly  discussion  on  several  points  at  issue ;  but  in. 
was  never  hinted,  either  by  my  kind  friends  or  myself, 
that  our  views  on  slavery  would  interpose  a  bar  in  the 
way  of  our  paying  a  visit  to  the  wealthy  cities  of  the 
South,  that  we  might  preach  the  gospel  in  the  various 
pulpits  that  might  be  put  at  our  service,  and  let  the 
hearers  throw  their  dollars  into  the  plate  without  any 
questions  being  asked  by  us  or  by  any  one  else.    The  ques- 
tion of  casuistry  involved  in  this  view  of  the  matter  did 
not  present  itself  either  to  Dr.  Cunningham  or  myself  till 
about  ten  days  after,  when  a  good  part  of  our  collecting 
work  was  over  in  the  cities  of  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore, 
and  the  idea  of  a  "  raid"  upon  the  South  was  again  mooted. 
Dr.  Cunningham  was  much  set  against  it,  but  I  was  sup- 
ported in  my  views  of  the  case  by  our  friend  the  Rev.  Geo. 

M 


178  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

Lewis,  another  deputy  who  had  just  arrived,  and  whose 
admirable  volume  of  "  Impressions"  ought  to  be  carefully 
studied  by  every  one  who  takes  an  interest  in  these  mat- 
ters. The  doctor  uniformly  held  that  we  had  just  one 
thing  to  aim  at,  and  that  was  to  obtain  aid  to  our  build- 
ing fund.  He  was  moreover  of  opinion  that  our  zeal  in 
"testifying"  would  not  be  valued  highly  by  our  kind 
cousins  ;  and  moreover  there  was  something  hazardous  in 
the  thing.  I  dare  say  he  was  right ;  but  my  way  of  rea- 
soning, be  it  right  or  wrong,  lay  here — that  the  advocacy 
of  the  slave  system  was  by  no  means  confined  to  the  South ; 
that  in  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  I  had 
found  more  keenness  on  the  wrong  side  than  we  were  likely 
to  meet  with  in  the  South ;  that  the  links  of  connexion 
between  the  middle  states  and  the  South  on  this  questio 
vexata  were  very  strong ;  that  we  were  not  entitled  to  ad- 
vance indiscriminate  charges  against  the  very  mixed 
population  of  a  whole  country  ;  and  that  our  friendly  re- 
monstrances and  suggestions  might  be  of  some  service  in 
strengthening  and  cheering  many  of  the  citizens  both  in 
the  North  and  in  the  South  who  sighed  for  a  better 
system.  From  jottings  in  my  note-book  I  see  that  on  my 
return  to  New  York  two  excellent  an ti -slavery  men- — 
Messrs.  Tappan  and  Jocelyn — called  on  me,  and  asked  of 
mean  explanation  of  our  proceedings  in  the  premises; 
and  that  such  was  the  substance  of  my  reply  to  them. 
After  all,  we  did  not  penetrate  far  into  the  South,  and 
our  receipts  from  that  quarter  did  not  exceed  a  fifth  of 
the  gross  amount ;  and  much  kindness  did  we  experience 
there.  With  many  excellent  men,  both  clerical  and  lay,  did 
we  meet ;  and  our  "  Naphtalis,"  or  "  feats  of  quiet  witness 
bearing,"  did  not  at  all  interfere  with  a  scathless  retreat. 
Dr.  Cunningham  and  I  were  together  as  deputies  from 
the  beginning  of  February  till  the  beginning  of  April. 
Our  proceedings  were  of  course  marked  by  considerable 
uniformity,  but  great  was  the  variety  of  character,  both 
national  and  Christian,  that  met  our  eyes.  Dr.  Cunningham 
has  furnished  a  fine  vidimus  of  the  results  of  his  visit  to 
the  States  in  the  admirable  article  from  his  pen  in  the 


4 


DR.  RAINY  IN  CUNNINGHAM'S  LIFE.  179 

January  number  of  the  North  British  Review  for  1845. 
I  may  just  add,  that  in  all  our  arrangements  for  public 
meetings  and  addresses,  we  always  placed  the  Principal 
in  the  foreground  as  the  vigorous  and  successful  ex- 
pounder of  "  Acts  of  Parliament  "  and  "  claims  of  right." 
But  he  generally  unbended  when  he  paid  a  tribute  to 
worthy  "  Janet  Frazer,"  and  the  "  Crook  in  the  Wa'".  On 
such  occasion  the  starched  features  of  our  dear  American 
friends  were  pleasantly  relaxed  into  something  not  unlike 
a  laugh  by  the  exciting  contrast  betwixt  the  out^^^oings  of 
a  massive  intellect  and  the  playings  of  fancy  around  the 
circle  of  a  "  good  story." 

Dr.  Kainy  touches  thus  on  these  "  testifying  processes," 
in  the  deeply  interesting  Life  of  Principal  Cunningham  : 

•*  Dr.  Bums  was  associated  with  Dr.  Cunningham  during  a  large 
part  of  their  operations. 

"  Any  one  who  knew  the  Doctor,  so  full  of  knowledge,  so  pro- 
nounced in  judgment,  so  instantaneous,  copious,  and  unintermit- 
tent  in  utterance,  so  prompt  to  give  voice  to  the  precise  reactions 
which  the  impressions  of  the  moment  caused.  Any  one  who  knew 
how  little  he  dreamt  of  giving  offence,  and  how  much  he  enjoyed  a 
tilt  with  any  apparently  objectionable  person  or  idea,  may  conceive 
the  situation.  Such  a  man — his  mind  full  of  the  animation  of  those 
days  and  of  the  excitement  of  travel — coming  into  the  midst  of  a 
society  new  to  him,  where  many  things  were  unexpected,  aiJ  all 
more  or  less  strange,  was  sure  to  have  plenty  of  thoughts.  As  at 
home,  so  in  America,  he  was  always  ready,  in  public  and  private, 
to  tell  his  auditors  all  he  thought  of  their  ways  and  their  institu- 
tions, great  and  small  ;  and  this  in  a  flow  of  rounded  sentences  so 
finished,  plentiful,  and  epigrammatic,  that  his  hearers  must  have 
thought  he  had  spent  his  whole  voyage  across  the  Atlantic  in  con- 
cocting them.  I  have  seen  a  letter  from  Dr.  Burns,  in  which  he 
notes  that  his  *  testifying  processes '  began  on  the  very  day  he  ar- 
rived at  Princeton.  He  reports  also  that  Dr.  Cunningham  did  not 
consider  '  testifying '  to  be  any  part  of  their  appointed  work,  nor 
likely  to  be  highly  valued  by  our  American  cousins.  It  turned  out, 
however,  as  he  intimates,  that  his  efforts  in  this  line  did  not  prove 
to  have  any  tendency  to  produce  serious  embarrassment. 

"  The  source  of  this  was  simply  that  immense  constitutional 
eagerness  which  was  closely  connected  with  some  of  Dr.  Burns'  best 
gifts  and  aptitudes  for  service.  As  age  tamed  it  down,  not  quench- 
ing what  it  chastened,  it  left  that  venerable  old  man,  whose  ap- 
pearances in  extreme  old  age  in  recent  General  Assemblies  were 


180  LIFE   OF  KEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

surpassed  only  by  his  appearances  in  the  pulpit :  the  zeal  for  his 
Master's  cause  and  gospel  absorbing  and  ennobling  all  the  man,  and 
the  wonderful  stream  of  utterance  coming  more  manifestly  than  ever 
from  a  pure  heart,  and  a  good  conscience,  and  faith  unfeigned."* 

One  of  Dr.  Burns'  pastoral  letters  will  serve  to  show 
liow  faithfully,  during  his  absence,  he  kept  his  attached 
flock  apprised  of  his  doings. 

"Philadelphia,  14th  Feby.,  1844. 

"  Deae  Christian  Friends, — It  becomes  me  to  acknowledge  the 
mercy  of  our  God  in  my  preservation,  both  on  the  wide  ocean  and 
on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware.  We  had  gales  of  strong  wind  and 
what  is  called  squally  weather  for  a  week,  when  hovering  on  the 
Banks  of  Newfoundland  ;  and  the  snow  and  frost,  and  intense  cold, 
since  I  began  my  journeyings  in  these  parts,  are  somewhat  different 
from  what  I  had  been  used  to  at  home  ;  but  the  weather  on  the 
whole  has  been  dry  and  healthy,  and  I  never  felt  more  vigorous. 
Since  I  reached  New  York  on  Thursday  last  I  have  enjoyed  the 
privilege  of  joining  in  and  assisting  at  the  communion  of  the  Supper 
of  our  Blessed  Lord,  in  one  of  the  principal  Presbyterian  churches 
of  that  city,  and  of  addressing  in  the  evening  a  very  large  congre- 
gation in  another  of  the  churches,  belonging  to  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church  ;  and  of  preaching  the  same  truths  which  my  predeces- 
sor Witherspoon  proclaimed  on  the  spot,  at  Princeton  College, 
where  that  eminent  man  so  long  edified  and  instructed  those  under 
his  care.  In  the  course  of  an  hour  or  two,  on  Monday  afternoon, 
a  large  congregation  of  ministers,  and  professors,  and  students,  and 
of  the  people  at  large,  were  brought  together.  It  was  easy  to 
gather  them  on  the  shortest  notice,  for  there  had  been  there  for 
some  time  past  a  deep  religious  impression,  a  revival  of  the  best 
kind,  and  on  the  most  approved  principles  ;  and  I  preached,  not 
on  the  church  question  (for  they  had  already  got  that  from  my 
friend  Dr.  Cunningham,  and  collected  500  dollars),  but  on  Romans 
xv.  29  :  "  When  I  come  to  you,  I  will  come  in  the  fulness  of  the 
blessing  of  the  gospel  of  Christ." 

**  The  College  is  a  noble  institution,  and  so  is  the  Seminary  for 
theology  adjoining.  I  heard  my  friend  and  correspondent.  Dr. 
Charles  Hodge,  Professor  of  Divinity  there,  author  of  the  Exposition 
of  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  examine  one  of  the  finest  classes  of  stu- 
dents I  ever  saw,  on  the  all-important  doctrine  of  justification  ;  and 
my  intercourse  with  the  President  and  Drs.  Millar,  Alexander,  &c., 
was  most  agreeable.  ' '  Are  they  not  a  noble  class  of  men  ?"  said 
Dr.  Cunningham.  And  yesterday,  when  we  met  for  the  first  time 
on  this  side  the  great  waters,  my  impression  was,  and  is,  that  they 
were  so  ;  and  that  the  educational  institutions  of  Princeton,  with 


Dr.  Cmwingham'a  Life,  pp.  210-12. 


4 


PRINCETON.      WITHERSPOON.  181 

their  seventeen  professors  and  tutors,  most  of  them  eminent  in 
literature  and  theology,  form  one  of  the  finest  nurseries  for  the 
American  churches.  I  stood  by  the  grave  of  Witherspoon,  and 
read  the  Latin  inscription  on  his  tomb.  1  was  in  his  manse  and  in 
his  study,  and  occupied  a  chair  which  he  took  with  him  from  his 
house  at  the  head  of  Lady  Lane,  Paisley.  I  saw  the  original  draw- 
ing of  his  picture,  which  is  quite  diflferent  from  the  engraving  I 
have  in  Paisley  ;  and  old  Dr.  Grreen,  his  venerable  pupil,  and  his 
successor  in  the  presidency,  tells  me  that  the  one  I  saw  here  is  the 
true  likeness.  With  his  grandchildren,  and  great-great-grand- 
children, three  generations,  I  have  had  a  great  deal  of  intercourse. 
Many  questions  about  Paisley  did  they  put  to  me,  and  I  promised 
to  see  them  again,  if  at  all  in  my  power.  I  came  to  this  great  city 
yesterday  (Tuesday),  and  we  have  had  a  full  meeting  yesterday, 
and  a  sermon  to-night,  in  the  large  and  beautiful  church  of  which 
Dr.  Bethune,  the  grandson  of  Mrs.  Graham,  formerly  of  Paisley, 
and  whose  life  you  all  know,  is  pastor.  It  is  midnight.  To-morrow 
we  go  to  Baltimore,  where  two  Sabbaths  must  be  spent ;  and  then 
we  go  to  Washington,  where  Congress  is  sitting,  and  before  whom 
we  are  expected  to  preach. 

**  This  is  a  noble  country,  and  the  public  institutions  of  this  large 
city  are  unrivalled  in  the  world.  I  have  seen  most  of  them  to-day, 
and  in  one  of  the  best  of  them  (the  Penitentiarj^)  I  found,  as  under- 
superintendents,  two  Paisley  men,  one  of  whom  I  had  assisted  aa 
an  emigrant  about  two  years  ago.  Another  of  these  emigrants 
came  to  hear  me  last  night,  a  weaver,  who  is  getting  on  remarkably 
well.  There  is  much  true  godliness  here,  and  in  New  York ;  but  I 
rather  think  that  the  work  of  God  prospers  more  in  the  smaller 
places,  like  Princeton,  than  in  these  large  cities.  I  preach  here 
again  on  Friday  three  times,  at  New  York  one  Sabbath,  and  then 
on  Monday  again. 

"  It  will  delight  me  to  hear  that  you  are  regularly  supplied  with 
gospel  ordinances,  and  that  the  collections  for  the  missionary 
schemes  of  the  church  are  regularly  made.  Bear  with  me  if  I  be 
not  home  before  May,  for  Canada  I  must  visit,  and  it  is  at  present 
not  so  easily  got  at. 

"May  the  Lord  bless  you  and  keep  you,  and  all  the  families  of 
the  congregation.  May  He  cause  His  face  to  shine  on  you  and 
on  your  friends. 

"  From  your  affectionate  Pastor, 

"RoBT.  Burns. 

"P.S.  Please  read  this  to  the  congregation,  and  to  any  of  the 
parishioners,  and  to  Mr.  Crichton."* 

*  Mr.  Thomas  Crichton,  bom  in  1761,  died  in  November,  1844  ;  father  of  the  General 
Kirk  Session  in  Paisley,  and  friend  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  whose  life  he  wrote  in  the  Chris- 
tian Instructor.  He  was  a  remarkable  man.  He  aided  Dr.  Burns  in  several  literary  en- 
terprises.   A  long  letter  of  his,  dated  14th  of  December,  1824,  with  which  his  excellent 


182  LIFE   OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

He  found  many  warm  friends  in  America.  The  friend- 
ships even  of  college  days  were  revived. 

He  wrote  thus  from  the  elegant  home  of  his  comrade 
in  the  race  of  love  and  forgiveness  forty  years  previously 
in  Edinburgh, — the  same  kind,  conscientious  John  Cod- 
man  whom  he  helped  to  exemplify  the  precept,  "  let  not 
the  sun  go  down  upon  your  wrath." 

"  Dorchester,  near  Boston, 

''  30th  March,  1844. 

'^  My  Dear  Robert, — You  are  not  forgotten  by  me.  From  day 
to  day  we  meet,  I  trust,  in  the  presence  of  the  Hearer  of  Prayer, 
and  at  that  gracious  mercy-seat  which  is  equally  accessible  from  all 
points  and  from  all  distances.  I  have  heard  repeatedly  of  you  and 
William,  and  I  write  you  both  by  this  mail.  It  will  cost  you  the 
postage,  for  I  cannot  pay  it  here, — all  the  postage  taken  on  this  side 
is  a  cent ;  in  other  words,  a  halfpenny  ! 

*'  I  trust  your  studies  have  been  going  on  prosperously.  Before 
I  can  be  home  with  you,  the  1st  of  May  will  be  over,  and  all  prize 
matters  will  be  over  too  ;  but  whether  you  be  successful  or  not,  the 
benefit  of  the  exercise  is  of  itself  a  reward. 

"  Yesterday  Dr.  Codmantookme  to  Cambridge,  three  miles  from 
the  city,  to  visit  the  University  of  Harvard,  a  noble  institution, 
where  I  saw  a  very  fine  library,  and  some  interesting  MSS. ,  with  a 
copy  of  the  Bible  in  the  Indian  language,  translated  by  John 
Eliot,  the  celebrated  apostle  of  the  American  Indians,  whose  place 
of  labour  was  within  three  miles  of  Dorchester,  where  I  now  am. 

"  We  visited  also  the  Cemetery  of  Mount  Auburn,  a  very  inter- 
esting place,  like  the  Necropolis  of  Glasgow,  but  ten  times  as 
large. 

"  I  have  yet  other  lions  in  the  city  to  see,  but  yesterday  we  met 
at  the  house  of  Governor  Armstrong  (at  dinner)  no  less  than  the 
real  living  lion  of  this  country,  the  celebrated  Daniel  Webster,  un- 
doubtedly the  first  man  of  the  States,  a  very  pleasant  and  intelli- 
gent man.  We  had  also  the  whole  of  the  Supreme  Judges,  and  a 
number  of  the  clergy,  &c. — a  most  sumptuous  and  splendid  enter- 
tainment. 

"I  am  staying  with  my  old  class-fellow  at  Edinburgh  College, 
Dr.  Codman,  who  lives  in  great  style  here,  for  he  is  a  wealthy  man 
and  much  respected.  I  preach  for  him  to-morrow,  and  twice  in 
the  city." 

Bon  in  Paisley  favoured  us,  aided  the  Colonial  Society  at  its  start.  With  another  son, 
John,  who  settled  in  Cajiada  in  1820,  my  father  used  of  ten  to  sojourn  when  "roughing  it 
In  the  busb." 


THE   INDIAN.      HARVARD.      DR.   BLAGDEN.  183 

Referring  to  this  visit  to  Boston,  the  Rev.  George 
Lewis  says  : 

"  I  was  much  amused  with  Dr.  Codman's  account  of  the  ex- 
amination to  which  my  colleague,  Dr.  Bums,  subjected  one  of  the 
Indian  teachers  paid  by  the  Scottish  Society  for  the  propagating 
Cliristian  Knowledge.  Desirous  of  beginning  at  the  beginning,  and 
ascertaining  the  Indian  teacher's  elementary  knowledge,  the  doctor 
asked  gravely,  *  Who  was  Nicodemus  V  The  Indian,  thinking  ho 
was  in  jest,  answered,  with  Indian  gravity,  '  A  great  warrior  !'  Yet, 
to  the  no  small  surprise  of  the  doctor,  he  seemed  afterwards  per- 
fectly to  understand  the  distinction  of  President  Edwards  between 
moral  and  physical  inability."  * 

In  August,  18G8, 1  visited  Harvard  University.  The 
venerable  custodian  of  the  hundred  thousand  volumes  of 
its  noble  library  asked  me  to  insert  my  name  in  the 
visitors'  book.  He  looked  at  it,  then  at  me,  and  asked  if 
I  was  related  to  Dr.  Burns,  of  Toronto.  I  told  him  who 
I  was.  He  then  said,  "  Over  twenty  years  since,  that 
gentleman  visited  this  place,  and  donated  to  us  some  valu- 
able contributions.     I  wish  I  had  more  of  them." 

Meeting  at  the  same  time  with  Dr.  Blagden,  the  patri 
archal  senior  pastor  of  the  "  Old  South,"  of  revolutionarj^ 
fame,  I  found  his  recollection  equally  distinct.  He  spoke 
most  warmly  of  my  father's  appearances  in  his  church 
and  the  other  leading  city  churches,  and  of  the  deep  im- 
pression produced. 

The  celebrated  Dr.  Bethune,  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church,  then  in  Philadelphia,  when  he  preached  for  me 
at  St.  Catharines,  shortly  before  his  much  lamented  death, 
spoke  similarly  of  his  visit  to  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love. 
Dr.  Henry  Boardman,  also  of  that  city,  when  we  met  him 
two  years  ago  at  Chicago,  and  others  whom  we  have  met 

*  Impressions  of  America,  p.  388. 


184  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

during  our  residence  in  the  United  States,  gave  kindred 
testimony. 

In  his  Familiar  Letters,  Dr.  J.  W.  Alexander  (then 
Professor  at  Princeton,  afterwards  of  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Church,  New  York),  thus  writes  of  Dr.  Burns'  visit : 

"Pbinceton,  February  20th,  1844. 
"  The  Scotch  delegates  thicken  upon  us  :  we  have  had  Rev.  Dr. 
Burns,  and  Elder  Ferguson,  and  are  daily  expecting  Lewis,  who 
has  arrived  at  New  York.  Burns,  you  know,  is  in  Witherspoon^s 
pulpit  at  Paisley  ;  he  has  been  settled  there  thirty-three  years.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  learned  men  in  Scotland  :  has  edited  Halybur- 
ton's  works,  Wodrow's  History,  and  is  author  of  Memoirs  of  Pro- 
fessor McGill.  Burns'  manner  in  the  pulpit  (gesture  excepted)  is 
more  outre  than  Cunningham's.  But  his  sermon  was  noble,  rich, 
original,  scriptural,  and  evangelical ;  and  in  diction,  elegant ;  and 
his  closing  prayer  was  seraphic." 

"Princeton,  March  22nd,  1844. 
"  Dr.  Burns  has  been  here,  and  in  spite  of  my  prejudices  I  must 
Bay  he  preached  on  Wednesday  evening  one  of  the  very  noblest 
discourses  I  ever  heard.  The  text  was  from  Zee.  xiii.  7,  **  Awake, 
O  sword,"  &c.  It  was  teeming  with  scripture,  but  even  the  most 
familiar  texts  were  made  brilliant  by  their  setting  and  connexion." 
—Vol.  i.,  388-391. 

Three  years  afterwards  we  find  this  notice  of  a  subse- 
quent visit : 

"May  8th,  1847. 

"  Dr.  Burns,  of  Toronto,  left  town  this  evening,  after  a  sojourn 
of  two  or  three  days.  He  goes  to  Halifax,  about  a  new  theological 
school  there,  I  think  he  has  more  exactness  and  extent  of  know- 
ledge, and  a  greater  outpouring  of  it  in  vehement  and  often  affec- 
tionate disccurse,  than  any  man  I  ever  met,  unless  I  except  Chan- 
cellor Kent,  whom  he  resembles  in  his  contempt  for  all  conven- 
tionalities. "—Vol.  ii.  68. 

Very  large  sums  were  collected  by  the  deputies  from 
many  parts  of  the  United  States  for  the  treasury  of  the 
Free  Church. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  McCosh,  President  of  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  writing  from  Princeton  (6th  Jan.,  1872),  adverts 


PRESIDENT  M'COSH.     CANADA.  185 

to  the  impression  produced  by  his  visit  there,  of  the  tra- 
ditions respecting  it,  of  "  how  he  preached  an  admirable 
sermon,"  &c.  Then,  reverting  to  their  first  and  last  in- 
terviews, he  says  :  "  I  met  him  first  at  Dr.  Guthrie's,  where 
I  was  amazed  at  his  activity.  He  was  up  long  before 
me,  and  at  two  or  three  meetings  before  breakfast.  I  saw 
him  at  Brechin  in  the  autumn  of  1868,  when  he  was  so 
deeply  interested  in  the  sketches  he  was  preparing  of  men 
and  events  in  the  Church  of  Scotland." 

The  Deputies  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland  were 
urged  to  include  Canada  in  their  programme.  Among  the 
documents  that  have  come  into  our  hands  are  lengthened 
communications  signed  by  Mr.  John  Redpath,  as  chair- 
man, and  Mr.  D.  Fraser  (now  Eev.  D.  Fraser,D.D.,  London), 
as  secretary  of  a  committee  in  Montreal,  as  well  as  by  a 
number  of  weU-known  office-bearers  and  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  churches  there.  A  sketch  of  the  projected 
tour  is  appended.  Circumstances  prevented  Dr.  Cunning- 
ham from  complying  with  this  earnest  invitation.  Dr. 
Burns  accepted,  and  gave  two  months  of  unremitting  toil 
to  the  provinces. 

Dr.  Burns  entered  Canada  by  Niagara,  where  he  was 
met  by  Messrs.  McGill  and  Gale.  His  first  meeting  was 
at  Toronto,  on  the  evening  of  the  10th  of  April ;  his  last 
was  at  Halifax  on  the  3rd  of  June.  The  interval  was 
crowded  with  a  ceaseless  succession  of  sermons,  speeches, 
conferences,  and  receptions.  He  visited  the  leading  cities 
and  towns  in  the  provinces,  and  everywhere,  from  aU  the 
Protestant  denominations,  met  with  the  most  cordial  re- 
ception.    By  the  representatives  of  several  of  them,  and 


186  LIFE   OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 


,„     -LrM 


by  deputies  from  different  Presbyterian  congregations,  he' 
was  waited  on  and  presented  with  addresses,  most  frater- 
nal towards  himself  personally,  and  the  cause  he  advocated. 
'Among  others,  a  body  of  Indians  was  in  attendance,  who 
greeted  him  heartily,  and  whose  "  talk,"  couched  in  the 
true  Indian  style,  wound  up  thus  eloquently  : — "  May 
your  sky  be  always  clear  I  May  your  council  fire  never 
be  extinguished  !  May  the  smoke  of  it  ascend  till  rolling 
ages  cease  to  move."  ^1 

Of  this  visit  the  venerable  Mr.  Smart  writes  :  ^{ 

"  Dr.  Burns'  visit  as  a  deputation  from  the  Free  Church  of  Scot- 
land was  of  singular  benefit  to  the  Province.  Delegates  from  the 
greater  part  of  the  churches  in  these  parts  met  Dr.  Burns  at  Brock- 
ville  and  Prescott  to  confer  \vdth  him  as  to  the  future  proceedings 
of  the  Church  in  Canada.  His  reception  was  most  enthusiastic. 
He  was  escorted  from  Brockville  to  Prescott  by  a  long  train  of  men 
on  horseback,  and  men,  women,  and  children  in  all  kinds  of  wag- 
gons and  carriages,  so  that  when  the  procession  was  joined  by  that 
from  Prescott,  it  extended,  it  was  said,  for  upwards  of  half  a  mile. 
In  fact  his  reception  in  this  part  of  Canada  was  like  a  military 
triumph. 

"At  Brockville  and  Prescott  public  breakfasts  were  given,  and 
the  doctor  gave  interesting  sketches  of  the  history  of  the  Church 
of  Scotland,  and  a  good  many  anecdotes  of  the  disruption  in  Scot- 
land. 

"  Dr.  Burns  had  a  wonderful  memory.  At  a  dinner  of  ministers 
and  friends  at  Mr.  Smart's  the  docter  surprised  us  by  his  mention- 
ing the  date  of  my  own  ordination,  and  remarked  both  of  our 
ordinations  were  inserted  in  the  same  month  of  the  Evmigelioal 
Magazine. 

"  The  doctor  related,  among  other  things,  his  first  visit  to  Lon- 
don, where  he  met  at  Mr.  Hardcastle's  with  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  Missionary  Society  of  London.'' 

The  Kev.  Thomas  Alexander,  then  of  Cobourg,  speaks 
thus  of  the  visit : 

"  When  your  father  came  out  as  a  deputy  to  this  country  I  rejoiced 
at  it,  as  I  knew  that  Canada  did  not  bulk  very  largely  in  the  eyes 
of  Presbyterians  at  home,  for  I  had  been  home  in  1841,  and  could 
not  induce  a  single  preacher  to  come  out.     I  was  with  your  father 


I 


REVS.  T.  ALEXANDER  AND  H.  GORDON.      187 

a  good  deal,  and  had  much  pleasant  intercourse  with  him.  When 
the  Synod  met  at  Kingston,  before  our  disruption,  I  remember 
going  with  him  to  the  Governor,  to  ascertain  his  mind  in  regard  to 
the  Government  grant,  should  our  Church  carry  out  our  resolution 
to  follow  the  example  of  the  Free  Church  at  home.  He  told  us 
that  if  we  were  unanimous  all  our  privileges  would  be  confirmed  ■, 
but  if  any  remained  they  could  claim  them.  We  told  this  to  the 
Synod,  but  some  of  them  were  afraid  of  losing  the  loaves  and  fishes. 
Now  there  was  no  need  of  disruption  in  this  country.  All  we  had 
to  do  was  to  drop  the  words  'mi  connexion  with  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land,' for  we  were  independent  in  our  actions  of  the  mother  church, 
and  besides,  we  had  passed  resolutions  approving  of  the  step  the 
Free  Church  had  taken.  But  the  majority  would  not  venture,  and 
so  about  twenty-tliree  of  us  broke  off,  and  organized  the  Canada 
Presbyterian  Church.  God  has  certainly  prospered  His  OAvn  cause, 
and  the  services  of  your  father  and  other  deputies  helped  it  on. 
These  were  glorious  times. " 

Mr.  Gordon,  of  Gananoque,  gives  similar  testimony, 
and  adds: 

* '  I  may  here  introduce  a  pleasant  little  episode  illustrative  of  the 
happy  effects  of  the  social  and  genial  nature  of  a  pastor  on  his  flock, 
among  many  proofs  of  the  affectionate  impressions  left  on  the  minds 
of  settlers  in  Canada  who  had  been  connected  with  your  father's 
congregation  at  Paisley,  which  travelling  much  gives  occasion  to 
discover.  One  of  those  warm-hearted  women,  whom  I  happened  to 
know,  came  to  him,  when  he  was  in  Kingston,  with  the  gift  of  a 
huge  piece  of  maple  sugar,  that  was  sufficient  to  sweeten  the  tea  of 
a  log-house  family  for  a  month  perhaps.  The  doctor  was  too  well 
acquainted  with  the  effects  of  refusal  on  a  simple,  loving  heart  not 
to  accept  the  kindness.  But  after  the  donor  had  gone,  a  grave  con- 
sultation was  held  by  us  respecting  the  disposal  of  the  sugar.  Your 
father's  desire  was  to  take  it  with  him  to  Scotland,  as  a  large  and 
fine  specimen  of  Canadian  life  in  the  woods.  But  a  difficult  prob- 
lem started  up,  which  was  this — how  to  convey  the  specimen. 
*  Where  there's  a  will  there's  a  way,'  as  goes  the  old  proverb.  The 
doctor's  travelling  trunk  was  pretty  large,  but  then  it  was  already 
so  stuffed  that  it  almost  baffled  ingenuity  itself  to  get  room  for  it. 
Then  if  the  warm  weather  should  come  on  before  the  great  Atlantic 
was  crossed,  was  there  not  a  danger  of  its  melting,  and  injuring 
much,  expensive  clothes  ?  Upon  a  careful  calculation  of  the  time 
that  had  to  run  in  the  voyage,  that  fear  was  silenced.  But  when  the 
actual  work  oi stowing  this  ponderous,  rebellious,  unmanageable  piece 
of  sugar  came  we  were  all  but  to  our  wit's  end.  But  here  again  the 
all-precious  adage,  '  where  there's  a  will  there's  a  way,'  came  to  our 
help.     Not  having  much,  if  any,  of  a  Hogarth's  pictorial  genius  to 


188 


LIFE   OF  REV.    DR.   BURNS. 


make  life-like  photographs  of  scenes  strange  as  is  the  actor  man 
himself,  but  just  gravely  to  impress  the  importance  and  value 
of  perseverance  in  a  good  cause,  I  may  just,  in  simple  unadorned 
narrative  of  truth,  state  that  by  your  father's  getting  in,  with  all  the 
weight  of  his  solid  body,  pressing  on  the  contents  of  the  trunk,  and 
then  tramping  with  all  his  might,  and,  poor  as  I  am  in  bulk,  by  my 
also  sitting  on  the  parts  of  the  clothes  most  unmanageably  projecting 
and  hindering  the  locking  of  the  trunk,  as  the  only  make-weight  he 
could  get  the  use  of,  this  most  troublesome  lump  of  sugar  was  got 
into  some  safe  hiding-place,  and  conveyed  across  the  seas  ;  and  the 
consolation  for  all  the  toil  and  vexation  is  in  the  hope  that  it 
sweetened  some  cups  of  tea,  enlivened  innocently  some  of  the  social 
gatherings  at  Paisley,  brought  God's  kind  bounties  to  Canada  before 
the  eye,  and  your  father's  kind,  loving  consideration  in  bringing  it 
so  far  to  give  pleasure." 

Mr.  Lewis  says,  with  reference  to  this  visit  to  Canada : 

"  I  had  many  opportunities  of  witnessing  the  good  effects  of  the 
visit  of  Dr.  Burns.  The  doctor  was  prepared,  by  his  former  con- 
nexion with  the  Glasgow  Colonial  Society,  for  coming  hither,  and 
his  visit  was  hailed  by  the  Scottish  settlers  with  unfeigned  pleasure. 

'^  In  reply  to  the  appeal  of  Dr.  Burns,  the  Canadas  contributed 
above  £2,000  to  the  Free  Church, — plain  indication  that  the  heart 
of  the  people  is  toward  us,''* 


A  few  extracts  from  the  "  Journal"  my  father  kept  of 
his  visit  to  America  (especially  to  the  South  and  the 
Provinces)  may  here  be  introduced  : 

"1844.  Feb.  21st. — At  Baltimore  ;  good  progress;  meeting  in 
the  evening,  collection  $400  ;  kindness. 

"  22nd. — Arranged  for  the  South,  George  Lewis  arrived  ;  sent 
for.  Dr.  Breckinridge,  bold  man,  funny.  Washington's  birthday 
this  ;  went  up  to  top  of  the  monument — of  solid  marble,  beautiful, 
tasteful,  simple  ;  statue  of  Washington  on  the  top  like  Knox's  ; 
resignation  of  his  command  ;  the  paper  in  his  hand  was  shot  away 
by  a  young  fellow  who,  in  a  frolic,  said  to  his  companions  that  he 
thought  he  could  fire  through  it ;  he  did  so.  Splendid  view  of  the 
city  ;  at  least  three  places  where  slaves  are  or  were  kept  for  sale. 
Medical  school  or  college.  Healthy  town  ;  police  poor,  as  in  all 
the  towns  ;  bad  streets  ;  well  supplied  with  water.  Labourers  a 
dollar  and  quarter  per  day  ;  live  well ;  no  squalid  poverty. 

*'24th. — Methodist  churches,  13,000  communicants,  4,000  of 
these  blacks,  20  black  preachers.  At  tea  at  Mr.  Kelso's  (the  gen- 
tleman who  gave  us  $1000)  ;  had  a  delightful  meeting — represen- 
tatives of  Presbyterians  of  America,  Methodists,  German  Lutherans, 


Impressions,"  pp.  366-7. 


4 


BALTIMORE.   PETERSBURG.  189 

German  Reformed,  and  of  the  Free  Church,  very  interesting  men. 
Bishop  Waugh,  Kurtz,  &c.  Had  exposition  of  chapter,  and  prayer. 
This  the  plan  among  the  Methodists. 

26th. — Met  in  the  morning  with  twenty  Methodist  preachers  and 
ministers.  Dr.  Cunningham  present ;  questions  put  ;  arranged  to 
hear  a  black  preacher  ;  prejudice  among  the  Methodists  against 
them.  Mr.  Cullman,  the  leader  of  the  blacks  ;  4,000  blacks  in 
communion  in  Baltimore  alone ;  9,000  whites.  20,000  blacks  in  all 
in  this  city  ;  3,000  of  them  slaves.  Gen.  Ross  slain  at  East  Point ; 
his  body  sent  to  Halifax,  and  interred  in  St.  Paul's  Churchyard. 

"  27tli. — At  Bishop  W.'s  large  party,  heard  of  the  arrival  of  the 
venerable  Bishop  Soule,  after  a  journey  of  7,000  miles,  attending 
eleven  conferences,  and  appointing  to  stations  1,300  preachers. 

"  March  2nd. — Went  to  Petersburgh.  Mr.  Foote,  agent  for  the 
Foreign  Missions.  Crossed  the  James  river,  saw  the  seat,  or  part 
of  it,  of  old  Powhatan,  the  father  of  Pocahontas,  whose  blood 
flows  in  the  veins  of  many  of  the  best  families  in  Virginia.  John 
Randolph,  of  Roanoke.  Most  of  the  old  Glasgow  and  English 
families  before  the  Revolution  gone.  "  Our  old  kingdom  of  Vir- 
ginia" most  Tory.  Barren  land  ;  lumberers  ;  swamp.  Chatted 
with  one  who  told  me  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of 
North  Carolina ;  like  a  dog-breaker,  or  a  second  to  Pratt  in  Dickens' 
Chuzzlewitt ;  dirty  shirt,  red  necktie,  poor  drover  ;  conversed  ; 
*  You  represent  the  district  or  county  V  '  Yes,  1  expect  so. '  *  Are 
there  divisions  V  '  Great ;  two  parties,  but  Whigs  carry.  Governor 
is  Hon.  T.  W.  Morehead.  Poor  land,  poor  settlers  ;  rear  a  little 
wheat  or  corn,  but  chiefly  slaves  ;  slaveholder  myself,  and  have 
just  been  at  P.,  with  five  men  and  two  women,  my  own  ;  put  them 
in  the  waggon,  with  goods,  eighty-five  miles  from  Halifax,  on  the 
R .  Roanoke  ;  highest,  a  boy  of  20,  for  £130  ;  lowest,  an  old  negro, 
for  £40.  In  all,  made  £720  ;  pretty  fair  :  bought  them  for  two- 
thirds  six  months  ago  ;  labour  and  tolerably  fed — good  trade  !  In 
the  market  early  this  morning,  no  food,  fifteen  minutes'  job ;  twenty- 
eight  present,  but  one  of  them  goes  to  the  corporation  of  the  city. 
Every  day,  from  10  till  4,  at  the  Bell  Tavern,  two  places  open  to 
anyone  to  look  at.  Separate  man  and  wife  and  cliiidren  ;  but  he 
does  not  do  this.'     Favourite  argument. 

"  March  3rd. — Saw  the  process  of  tobacco  manufacture  in  all  its 
stages,  from  the  field.  &c.  About  100,  young  and  adults,  men,  women, 
boys,  and  girls,  all  busily  employed  ;  most  of  the  women  free,  and 
a  number  of  the  men  Cslaves)  are  married  to  free  women  ;  in  that 
case  the  children  are  free.  These  workers  (free)  make  from  Is.  to 
2s  a  day.  The  slaves,  if  married,  go  to  their  wives  and  families  at 
night.  Work  from  sunrise  to  sunset  in  summer,  and  till  eight 
o'clock  in  the  winter  ;  easy  work  ;  many  of  the  slaves  happy, 
and  the  masters  kind  ;  not  allowed  to  be  taught  to  read,  nor  to 
meet  in  any  place  after  eight  at  night,  and  no  black  man  allowed 
to  preach  or  address,  except  by  special  license,  and  then  constables 


190 


LIFE  OF  KEV.   DK.  BURNS. 


attend,  to  hear  whether  he  agitates  or  not.  A  black  man  marrying 
or  having  intercourse  with  a  white  woman  is  liable  to  death  !  Late- 
ly, a  man  for  killing  his  negro  by  1000  lashes  was  sentenced  to  two 
years'  imprisonment  !  39  lashes  allowed  ;  cowhide  very  severe. 
A  Methodist  leader  is  one  of  the  chief  auctioneers  !  A  Baptist 
preacher,  who  had  denounced  slavery  from  the  pulpit,  was  stripped, 
whipped,  tarred  and  feathered.  Lynch  law  strictly,  this  ;  also  in 
the  South,  but  prohibited  in  Virginia.  Whipping  only  legal  on  the 
upper  part  of  the  body,  but  this  often  evaded.  Men  and  their 
wives  and  children  often  separated  ;  much  distress.  The  country 
slaves  worse  treated  and  most  numerous  ;  domestic  slaves  generally 
well  treated.  Demoralizing  effects  of  slavery  very  manifest  on  the 
very  manners  of  the  people  :  style  of  preaching  affected  by  it. 

"  March  5th. — Came  to  Richmond.  Met  Mr.  Hoge,  who  ac- 
companied me  to  the  Church  Hill,  at  Castle  Hill,  where  the  old 
Indian  chief  Powhatan,  the  father  of  Pocahontas,  was  supposed 
to  have  dwelt.  Splendid  view  of  the  James  River  ;  thought  of 
former  days  ;  scenes  on  the  spot  where  Richmond  now  stands.  Met 
Bishops  Jones  and  Mead  ;  good  men.  Saw  Governor  Macdonell ; 
intelligent  man  ;  conversed  on  civil  and  religious  polity,  traced  the 
conduct  of  the  Dukes*  to  the  system  of  England  ;  entails  ;  establish- 
ment ;  England  subjugated  rehgion  to  the  ends  of  civil  government, 
and  made  religion  (or  the  church)  a  mere  political  machine.  We 
(Americans)  seek  to  infuse  the  spirit  of  Christianity  into  all  our  in- 
stitutions, and  thus  make  it  leaven  the  mass.  An  Establishment 
here  bad,  no  need  of  it ;  but  it  does  not  follow  that  the  rulers  of 
the  earth,  in  their  public  capacity,  can  do  nothing  for  God  and  His 
cause,  or  that  they  ought  to  do  nothing.  Such  men  a  blessing.  He 
came  to  Mrs.  Forbes'  next  night,  and  took  some  of  the  ladies  with 
him  in  his  carriage  to  hear  the  lecture.  The  theatre  burnt,  1811. 
A  church  on  its  site.  60  burnt.  A  monument.  Saw  the  sale  room, 
Belle  Tavern  ;  the  auctioneer  and  two  or  three  more  walked  about ; 
twelve  or  so  slaves,  men,  women,  and  children,  all  looking  stout, 
well  dressed,  waiting  for  company  ;  man,  respectable  appearance, 
very  dull,  came  that  day  from  Brownsville  county,  forced  by  his 
master  to  repudiate  his  wife,  that  he  might  be  sold  without  encum- 
brance !  A  woman,  too,  member  of  Baptist  church  in  the  place, 
husband  in  the  country,  separated  from  her,  and  he  to  be  sold,  shed- 
ding tears,  but  very  intelligent  and  manly  ;  suspicion.  Came  away  ; 
saw  the  cashier.  Dined  at  Mr.  Styles'.  Camp  meeting  ;  anxious, 
seats  defended  :  Presbyterians  seldom  try  them  ;  the  Methodists  do ;, 
gave  them  an  account  of  '  Speaking  to  the  question ; '  greatly  inte- 
rested. Saw  Mr.  W.,  an  English  clergyman,  not  a  Puseyite,  real 
minister,  but  irregular.  Dr.  P.  a  slave  defender  ;  lady  denied  the 
cowhide  ;  five  slaves  in  Dr.  P.'s,  all  white.     'God  bless  you,  sir,' 


*  Probably  the  Dukes  of  Buccleuch,  Sutherland,  and  others,  who,  at  the  tune,  were 
refusing  sites  for  Free  Churches. — Ed. 


I 


SLAVEKY.      WASHINGTON.      PRESIDENT.  191 

lamented  the  want  of  opportunity  of  instruction.  Old  Mammy- 
fine  old  creature.  Curse  of  Ham,  the  favourite  argument  ;  mys- 
tery of  Providence  ;  cut  our  throats  ;  Paul's  '  Let  every  servant  ;* 
all  politics  ;  Dr.  P.  a  democrat  or  locof  oco .  Many  of  the  clergy  of 
the  Presbytery.  Visit  to  Scotland.  Rage  at  the  abolitionists  as- 
the  cause  of  retarding  their  progress. 

*'  March  6th  — Came  to  Fredericksburg,  spent  two  days.  Same 
arguments  for  slavery ;  violent ;  ignorance  ;  African  apprentices  ; 
East  Indies  ;  Popery  ;  shake  off  the  dust  ;  religion  did  not  prospei' 
for  long;  now,  revivals.  Saw  Captain  Howe  and  Mr.  Pollock, 
farmer  ;  bad  land  ;  slavery  against  it  ;  tobacco  scourge  ;  fine  land 
on  the  Rappahannock,  near  Dalhousie.  Reid  and  Matheson  not 
liked  by  any  of  the  clergy  ;  L.  and  M.  declared  they  would  not 
speak  to  them. 

"March  9th. — To  Washington;  Alexandria;  battle  of  White- 
house  ;  saw  the  spot  where  Rioss  was  and  his  companion  ;  Washing- 
ton Capitol. 

"March  10th.  Preached,  Zech.  xiii.  7  ;  Mr.  Knox's  in  the  after- 
noon, Rom.  iv.  17  ;  evening,  Rom.  xv.  30.  Delightful  singing  in 
the  forenoon  and  evening. 

"Washington,  March  10. — Two  ministers  in  Congress.      J.  Q, 

Adams.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graham.    Mr.  P ;  sensible  man  ;  Col. 

Stone's  reply  on  education  ;  enquire  at  New  York  about  Maryland 
not  making  any  effort  for  paying  their  debts.    Two  parties ;  levelling 

democracy  ;  Mr. saw  fifty  negroes  chained  together  on  their 

march  to  Virginia  ;  not  five  who  would  vote  for  abolition  ;  bad  influ- 
ence on  ministers  and  the  young  ;  shut  their  eyes  ;  infidelity  on  the 
throne  ;  little  effect  of  preaching  in  the  Congress  Hall ;  ministers 
study  too  much,  and  do  too  little  ;  too  wide  a  gap  between  reli- 
gion and  civil  matters  ;  death  of  Bertrand,  who  was  here  lately. 
La  Fayette,  a  great  friend  ;  Harrison  ;  Clay,  the  greatest ;  won- 
derful affection  for  titles  ;  hereditary  honours  ;  singular  combina- 
tion of  pride  and  hatred  of  all  British  distinctions.  Oregon  ques- 
tion ;  dined  with  Mr.  and  Mrsl  S ;  near  relations  of  Mrs 

Graham,  of  New  York. 

"March  11th.  Introduced  to  the  President  (Tyler)*;  tall  gen- 
tleman ;  talked  familiarly  for  some  little  time  on  the  church  ques- 
tion ;  Establishments  ;  went  to  the  Capitol  again  ;  yesterday  had 
heard  J.  Q.  Adams,  and  to  day  the  Senate  on  Oregon  ;  heard 
Mr.  Buchanan,  Senator  of  Penn.,  and  Mr.  Crittenden,  of  Ken- 
tucky ;  talented  speakers  ;  great  dignity.  Went  to  the  House  of 
Representatives,  but  great  confusion  ;  question  on  Oregon,  not 
very  honourably  brought  in  ;  negociation  is  going  on,  yet  they  de- 
fend it,  because  it  is  not  exactly  the  same  question  ;  national  im- 
morality ;  repudiation   palliated  by  the  religious  people  ;  slavery 

*  President  John  Tyler,  formerly  Vice-President,  who  succeeded  General  Harrison  on 
the  4th  of  April,  1841 ;  one  month  after  Gen.  H.'s  entering  upon  office.  He  continued 
in  the  presidential  chair  till  4th  of  March,  1845. — Ed. 


192 


LIFE  OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 


in  same  way.  G.  and  his  books  not  only  tolerate,  but  defend  it. 
On  your  principles  it  would  be  sinful  to  do  it  away.  Colonization 
Societies,  not  an  Emancipation  scheme,  but  the  reverse.  The 
great  argument  is  the  good  treatment,  only  comparative  ;  same 
with  horses  ;  no  education  ;  no  regular  attendance  at  worship.  In 
Brazil  the  laws  are  good,  but  they  are  not  executed  in  favour  of 
slavery,  and  the  slaves  in  a  most  debased  condition.  The  state  is 
bad  ;  the  negroes  are  of  a  cheerful  and  happy  temperament.  So 
in  Brazil,  and  there  they  are  more  severely  treated — see  Dr. 
Walsh's  account  of  Brazil.  Saw  John  Watson,  the  Attorney-Gene- 
ral and  his  lady ;  heard  also  the  pleadings  in  the  Supreme  Court ; 
saw  four  Judges,  Judge  ,  &c.  ;  loud  pleader ;  water  ;  te- 
dious.    Evening  meeting  in  Dr.  L.'s. 

"13th. — At  Alexandria;  saw  Mount  Vernon;  poor  house; 
cemetery  not  worthy ;  met  C  ;  present  from  the  Govern- 
ment offices ;  addressed  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Conference ; 
three  bishops  present  ;  very  friendly ;  collected ;  bad  roads  ; 
preached  in  the  evening  in  Dr.  A.'s,  Isa.  Ixii,  11,  Standard. 

"  15th. — Disappointed  in  the  morning  ;  to  Baltimore  ;  left  this 
fine  family  ;  came  to  Baltimore  in  the  evening ;  saw  Mr.  Morris 
and  Mr.  Smith,  and  family. 

"  16th. — Came  on  to  Philadelphia,  and  preached  next  day  ;  1st, 
for  Mr,  Machlin,  on  Acts  viii. ,  26,  to  the  end  ;  2nd,  for  Mr.  Board- 
man,  on  Rom.  xiv.,  17  ;  3rd,  for  Dr.  Cuyler,  on  Rev.  i.,  17,  18. 
Gilbert  Tennant's  Church,  inscription  on  him ;  see  Dr.  Cuyler's 
letter  ;  labours  of  G.  Tennant  and  his  brother  William,  whose 
scene  of  labour  was  New  Jersey  (Dr.  A.'s  account)  ;  pass  near  it 
on  the  way  to  Princeton  ;  also  Crossweeksung  ;  scene  of  David 
Brainerd's  labours.     Anecdote  of  William  Tennant. 

"Philadelphia,  18th. — Saw  the  almshouse.  1700  souls,  nine- 
tenths  Irish,  Germans  too,  very  barbarous  and  uncivilized  ;  very 
far  below  the  poor  blacks  ;  bad  affair  ;  accounts  not  well  kept ; 
not  a  proper  thing  to  encourage  dependence  on  alms.  Sheds  at 
Montreal  better.  No  religion.  Roman  Catholics.  Girard  Col- 
lege, sad  throwing  away  of  money  ;  each  pillar  $15,000  ;  fine 
masonry.  Anti-christian.  The  Mayor :  '  My  party  tells  me  I  must 
either  accept  of  a  place,  such  as  this,  or  be  laid  on  the  shelf.  May 
be  cast  off,  but  lay  our  account  with  this.  My  son  carries  on  my 
business.'  Agrees  with  me  as  to  the  almshouse.  Too  far  from  the 
city,  ladies  cannot  visit.  Went  to  Wilmington  in  the  evening, 
preached  and  collected. 

"  19th. — Evening  at  Princeton  ;  preached  to  students  on  Zech. 
xiii.,  7th. 

"  20. — Heard  Dr.  Miller.  Pulpit  eloquence,  three  students 
read  ;  allowed  to  criticize  each  other  ;  asked  if  the  people  of  Scot- 
land sat  at  prayer  !  long  prayers  ;  Dr.  M valuable  man,  easy 

and  interesting.     Condemned  the  slow  and  drawling  and  feckless 
manner  of  speech  in  clergy.     Dr.  Alexander  on  new  school,  able 


ELIZABETH,   NEWAKK,   NEW  YORK,   NEWHAVEN.        193 

view  of  tlie  atonement.  Dr.  Wardlaw  he  had  not  seen,  spoke  to 
him  on  conditions ;  fund  of  information. 

"21. — Came  on  to  Elizabethtovvn  and  Newark. 

"March  22. — Neat  and  elegant  town  of  Newark.  Last  year 
sad  speculation  on  the  extension  of  the  city,  everything  neglected 
for  this,  returning  now,  after  great  loss.  Rash  spirit  of  adventure; 
*  never  mind,  begin  at  once,  quick.'  Elizabethtown,  favoured  spot, 
700  members  ;  revivals  often.  Dr.  Magee,  anecdote,  he  deserved 
it,  for  his  book  is  good  !  Dr.  Nesbit ;  remarks  apply.  Dr. 
Witherspoon  ;  land  speculation,  great  good  to  America. 

"  New  York,  24th.— Preached  in  Dr.  Stark's,  Dr.  McLeod's,Dr. 
Dewitt's,  Lafayette  Place.  Questioned  by  Mr.  Tappan  and  Mr. 
Jocelyn  about  asking  money  from  the  Southern  States  ;  price  of 
blood ;  cuts  too  deep  ;  cotton  ;  the  produce  of  slave  labour  and  sugar, 
too  !  American  character  :  1. — Eager  pursuit  of  wealth  ;  keen, 
shrewd  people ;  calculating,  inventing  schemes  of  wealth  ;  mat- 
ter-of-fact men  ;  grave  ;  not  a  smile.  2nd — Political  parties  :  two 
parties,  democracy  rules  all ;  popular  opinion,  worst  part  of  the 
people  ;  all  public  offices  have  been  and  are  controlled  by  these 
parties  ;  public  good  neglected  for  party  ends.  3rd — Conceit. 
4th — Constant  rage  after  novelty,  want  of  accuracy. 

"  25th. — Went  to  New  Haven,  Drs.  Duncan  and  Reid  ;  beautiful 
views  of  the  sound.  Blackwall,  rampart  and  battery.  Orphan- 
house  and  farm  schools.  Beautiful  bay  of  New  Haven,  lovely  city. 
State  house,  churches,  Yale  College,  new  library,  minerals.  Dr. 
Silliman  not  at  home.  Journal  of  Science  to  be  discontinued, 
Dr.  Day,  Dr.  Taylor  Goodwin.  Trumbull's  pictures,  caves  of  the 
Regicides  ;  Quarterly  Review. 

"  27th. — Set  off  for  Boston,  arrived  next  day.  Dr.  Codman,  his 
case.  Dorchester,  old  times  renewed.  Best  library,  history  of 
Harvard  by  President  Quincy.  Massachusetts,  historical  collec- 
tions regarding  the  work  of  God  among  the  Indians.  Samuel 
Willard,   pastor  of  the   South   in  Boston,    and  Vice-President  of 

Harvard,    died   1707.     History  of  D published  by  L and 

Prince,  1726,  in  Boston,  one  of  the  first  folios  printed.  Pember- 
ton  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  the  doctrine  of  justification. 
Limited  atonement  seems  to  have  been  making  ground  in  his 
day  ;  clear  views  of  election,  page  282.  The  covenant  of  redemp- 
tion, as  to  the  articles  with  those  of  the  Gospel  covenant,  as  to 
its  eternal  dispensation. 

"  March  31st. — Sabbath  forenoon,  Dorchester,  Rom.  xiv.,  17. 
Afternoon,  Dr.  Edward  Beecher's,  Rom.  xv.,  30.  Evening,  Mr. 
Phelps,  Rev.  i.,  17,  18.     Dr.  Beecher,  of  Cincinnati,  father  of  Dr. 

B .     Dr.   B ,  senr.,  did   much  good  in  Boston,  went 

to  the  west  to  elevate  it  ;  refused  all  offers  of  removal. 

"  April  1st. — Spent  some  hours  at  Harvard  College.  See  notes 
separate.* 

*  These  we  have  not  discovered. — Ed. 

N 


194 


LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BCTRNS. 


'^  April  2nd. — Went  to  Lowell,  the  Paisley  of  America  ;  9,000 
factory  girls,  200,000  dollars  of  theirs  in  the  Pr.  Bank.  The 
Magazine.  Improvement  circles,  good  appearance,  healthy, 
daughters  of  farmers,  three  to  five  years,  wash  three  times  a  day. 
Each  has  her  looking  glass  ;  not  five  cases  of  immorality  in  a  year. 
Most  respectably  married,  decidedly  moral ;  not  the  wish  of  the 
Supertintendent  to  train  up  a  manufacturing  population.  Saw 
the  splendid  carpet-weaving  machine,  invented  by  Bigelow,  of 
Boston,  very  clean.  The  Merrimack  a  noble  stream.  30  or  40,000  : 
spoke  in  Mechanics'  Hall.  All  publications  ;  noble  schools,  three 
large  Universalist  churches.  Saw  Dr.  Woods  at  Andover.  Fine 
library,  14,000  volumes,  One  manuscript  of  the  Greek  Testa- 
ment, 13th  century.  Noble  piece  of  ground,  endowment  very 
moderate.  Saw  Messrs.  Smith  from  Brechin,  excellent  people. 
Mr.  Dow,  great  advantage  of  emancipation.  Saw  many  Paisley 
folks  of  the  name  of  Wilson  or  Millar,  or  Halden. 

"3rd. — To  Salem.  Preached  from  Rom.  xv.,  28.  Witches 
1692.  See  the  pious  !  Records  of  moral  justice,  1639-40.  First 
church  set  up  here  ;   Unitarians. 

"Boston,  4th. — Heard  Daniel  Webster. 

"5th. — Fast-day  by  Governor  Briggs.  Sadly  abused.  See 
newspapers.  Poor  attendance.  Preached  twice,  Dr.  Sharp's,  Dr. 
Blagdon,  John  iv.,  13.  Meeting  in  the  evening,  all  spoke, 
crowded, 

"  Monday,  8th. — Schenectady,  Amsterdam,  Utica,  Rome, 
Syracuse,  Rochester,  Batavia,  Buffalo.  No  conveyance  to  Nia- 
gara, From  elevation  on  inn  saw  Canada,  both  lakes.  Preached 
for  Mr.  Lori.  Saw  kind  friends,  also  enquired  for  the  woman, 
whose  house  was  spared  by  General  Rial,  by  a  cup  of  tea. 
Stands  still.  Woman  alive,  keeps  an  inn,  but  also  had  daughters 
who  sewed. 

"April  10th. — Steamer  down  to  Niagara  town   and  Toronto. 

Disappointed  last    night  at  N ;  met  Messrs.    McGill    and 

Gale. 

"  April  10. — On  to  TonoifTo.  Met  many  friends  ;  conveyed 
to  inn,  afterwards  to  church  ;  pretty  large  meeting,  addressed, 
arranged  for  Friday. 

"  11th. — Went  to  Hamilton.  Indians  with  John  Jones,  brother 
of  Peter.  Met  at  Credit  River ;  address ;  man  of  intelligence.  Saw 
afterwards  Kerr,  the  Chief  of  the  Five  Nations,  a  half-breed,  but 
married  the  daughter  of  the  younger  Brant  (Life),  an  elegant 
woman.  Interesting  meetings  at  Hamilton  at  three  and  seven. 
Many  addresses  from  various  bodies  of  Christians.  Not  so  many 
Presbyterian  congregations  as  should  have  been.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Campbell,  Mr.  Crooks,  Ferguson,  Kerr,  who  took  me  round  the 
height,  Dundas,  Ancaster.  Noble  facilities  of  trade  to  the  West. 
All  the  towns  on  the  Ontario  well  settled.     Good  prospects. 

"12th.— Returned  to  Toronto.     Meeting  successful.    St.  An- 


JOURNAL   IN   CANADA.  195 

drew's  church.  Badly  off;  noble  station.  '  College  ;  an  awful 
job,  letters  on  it  (see  book). 

*' 13th. —Went  to  York  Mills.     Saw  Mr.    S ;  poor  man, 

promised  aid,  but  failed.  Impressed  with  sense  of  importance  of 
Toronto.  Met  in  Canadian  Institute  at  twelve.  Respectable 
meeting  ;  Messrs.  Roaf,  Lillie,  &c.,  good  men.  Mr.  Rintoul  left, 
dined  in  Judge  McLean's. 

"  14th. — Preached  in  St.  Andrew's,  Independent  and  Metho- 
dists ;  large  audiences,  much  room  for  an  efficient  ministry. 

*'15th. — Breakfast.  Fine  opportunity  ;  much  interest  excited} 
left  for  Cobourg  by  steamer,  accompanied  by  friends  from  steamer  ; 
free  passage.  Captain  friendly  and  intelligent.  A  fine  assembly 
at  Cobourg.     Went  to  church,  and  preached  ;  introduced  subject. 

"16th. — Met  at  eleven,  full  meeting,  many  addresses,  £190 
collected.  Afternoon,  at  five,  at  College,  £5  additional.  The 
students  ;  Dr.  Ryerson.  Sabbath  school  at  three,  £3 ;  seventy 
scholars. 

*'  17th.— At  Grafton.  £8  Fast  day  ;  evening  at  Cobourg  ;  large 
assembly. 

"  18th. — Breakfast,  Lambert's  Inn  ;  went  on  to  Kingston,  noble 
sail.  Bay  of  Quinte  ;  death  of  poor  Millar,  monument  in  church, 
inscription.  Mr.  McDowall's  place  ;  approach  to  St.  Lawrence 
river. 

.  "  19th. — Landed  in  the  morning.  Active  committee  met  me  ; 
waited  on  the  Governor,  kind,  intelligent ;  had  been  tampered 
with  ;  no  right  to  stop  the  salaries  of  Boyd  and  Smart.  Respon- 
sible Government.  Hopkirk,  Assistant  Secretary.  Evening 
meeting,  good.  Saw  in  the  forenoon  Messrs.  Liddell,  Machar, 
&c.,  here. 

'*  20th. — Breakfast ;  dined  at  Mr.  Hopkirk's  ;  spoke  in  the 
evening,  at  Meth. 

"21st. — Forenoon,  afternoon,  and  evening,  in  so  many  churches, 
Richie,  Lillie,  &c.  Much  kindnes§,  went  out  to  the  country 
fatigued. 

"22nd. — Set  sail  for  Brockville  ;  H.  Gordon  left  me  at  Gan- 
anoque  ;  the  lake  of  Thousand  Islands,  1,300  of  them  ;  met  at 
Brockville  ;  large  meeting,  the  Sherifi"  in  the  chair. 

"  23rd. — On  to  Prescott  ;  cavalcade  met ;  address.  Crane,  M.P., 
presided.  Seven  churches,  not  shanties  ;  Messrs.  Boyd  and 
Smart  vindicated  themselves  ;  went  over  to  Ogdensburg ;  small 
audience,  £7  ;  nice  church  ;  a  Judge  who  spoke  of  going  home  ; 
liberal  views. 

"24th. — Breakfast   at  Prescott;    went  on  to   Cornwall,  from 

Osnabruck  to  C bad  roads  ;  sail  delightful ;  good  meeting, 

£17  17s  ;  met  here  the  French  and  Protestant  minister,  Lapel- 
leterie  (see  his  journals,  &c,). 

"25th. — Mr.  H.  accompanied  me  by  land  to  Lancaster,  Glen- 
garry House  ;  in  last  Mc  D died  lately  ;  part  of  the  property 


196 


LIFE   OF  REV.    DR.   BURNS. 


entailed,  but  the  family  extinct,    in   a  manner  ;    painful  event, 

death  of  a  young  woman ;  meeting  at  L ;  300  acres,  church 

on  it,  four  miles  off  another  ;  no  collection  ;  Glengarry  an  impor  - 
tant  post  ;  visited  a  Scotch  farmer  on  the  way  ;  very  comfortable  ; 
Indian  lands,  100  acres,  good  ;  one  dollar  and  half  bushel  of 
wheat ;  Scotch  farmers  needed  ;  noble  land. 

*'  26th.— Went  on  with  Mr.    McL ,  Coteau  du  Lac,  five  or 

six  miles  of  good  road  ;  a  swamp  ;  passed  the  boundary  of  Upper 
and  Lower  Canada  ;  soon  see  the  difference  ;  Canadians,  a  simple 
class  ;  200  years  ago,  more  priests  ;  excellent  farmers  ;  no  spur  to 
excel ;  cascades  by  coach  ;  bad  roads  ;  timber  used  ;  steam  to 
Lachine,  Indian  settlement,  Caughnawaga ;  saw  a  squaw,  bad 
w^eather  ;  Scotch  church  at  Lachine;  got  to  Montreal;  Mr.  E.'s 
child  gone  ;  went  to  Mr.  Redpath's  ;  zealous  friends  ;  required  to 
preach  at  seven  ;  American  church  filled  ;  addressed,  Wilkes, 
Girdwood,  &c.,  with  many  laymen  of  piety;  evening  meeting  in 
Mr.  Dougall's  ;  addresses  on  Temperance,  £250  subscribed. 

"  27th. — Funeral,  Dr.  Mathieson  addressed. 

"  28th.— Meeting  in  Mr.  Esson's,  Mr.  Strong's,  and  the  Metho- 
dists, all  crowded.  i 

"29th. — Saw  Mrs.  Kerr,  the  cathedral ;  Mr.  Osgood's  school.    | 

"  30th. — Ride  round  the  mountain  ;  meeting  at  Mr.  Ferrier's, 
address  by  Canadian  missionary. 

"May  1st. — At  Mr.    Esson's;    marriage,   Mr.  R to  Miss 

C . 

*'2nd. — Breakfast;  went  down  to  Quebec;  scenery,  parish 
churches,  Beloeil,  Bishop  of  Nancy's  cross,  Jesuits. 

"4th. — Visit  to  Montmorenci  and  Lorette,  Indians,  Popery. 
Preached  in  the  evening  in  the  Methodists';  met  many  excellent 
people. 

"5th. — Preached    in    Mr.     Clugston's,     Mr.    Atkinson's,    Dr. 

Cook's  ;  not  crowded.     Saw  Messrs.   Gibb  and  Munn,  frank 

for  Mr.  Guthrie  or  Mr.  Begg  ;  another  for  Dr.  Chalmers,  from  R. 
Carter,  New  York.  Visited  Mr.  Hale's  Sabbath  school ;  taught 
class  ;  five  sects  ;  Miss  Gore. 

"  6th. — Breakfast.  Much  interest ;  set  off  at  five  ;  Bishop  on 
board 

"  7th. — Could  not  go  to  the  Grande  Ligne  from  weather  ;  met 
friends  at  breakfast  in  Mr.  Orr's.     Saw  Mr.  Davidson  ;  must  have 

a  Theological  School ;    conference  with  C about  Academy  ; 

each  denomination  has  one,  why  not  we  ? 

"  May  13th. — Newburyport  by  railway.  Saw  Mr.  Whitefield's 
skull,  handled  it  ;  inscription  ;  see  Reid  ;  flat  skull,  but  broad  ; 
noble  high  forehead  ;  not  in  order  ;  the  church  just  as  when  the 
great  man  occupied  it,  large  but  plain  ;  a  neat  chapel  adjoining  ; 
lecture  room.     Employed  all  day  in  getting  my  articles  on  board 

the  steamer,  and  seeing  friends  at  Dorchester,  Dr.  C- and  his 

family  ;  much  pleasure  in  the  visit. 


1 


JOURNAL   IN   NOVA  SCOTIA,   ETC.  197 

"  15th. — Came  back  to  Boston. 

*'  16th. — Set  sail  with  letters  on  board  to  Dr.  C ,  Dr.  Lord, 

and  Mr.  A.  Ferrier,  at  Union  town. 

*'  17th. — At  sea  ;  employed  in  reading  and  writing  varions 
articles. 

"  18th. — Came  to  Halifax  at  six  a.m.  Saw  Mr.  Robb  and  other 
friends,  who  prevailed  on  me  to  remain  till  next  steamer  ;  agreed 
to  do  so,  and  wrote  a  letter  to  my  congregation  ;  met  friends  at 
breakfast  and  after.  Appeal  to  the  trustees  and  others,  who 
agreed. 

"  19th. — Preached  in  the  morning  in  St.  Matthew's  ;  afternoon, 
in  the  New  Methodist  ;  and  evening,  in  St.  John's,  crowded 
houses,  except  the  morning. 

"  20th. — Preached  at  Dartmouth  at  eleven  in  the  forenoon,  and 
in  the  evening  in  St.  John's  ;  public  meeting. 

"  21st. — Address  in  the  evening  to  the  Young  Men's  Association, 
Rode  out. 

"22nd. — Preached  in  the  Baptist  from  Rom.  xv.,  30. 

"23rd,— Set  off  for  Pictou  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robb  ;  dreary- 
road,  one  hundred  miles  ;  one  beautiful  spot,  Truro  ;  Dr.  Mac^ 
gregor. 

""  24th. — Saw  various  triends  ;  went  over  to  New  Glasgow  ;  held 
a  meeting  in  the  afternoon  ;  Mr.  ISIacrae. 

"25th. — Returned  to  Pictou  ;  addressed  in  the  evening  in  St, 
Andrew's. 

"  26th. — Preached  in  the  forenoon  in  St,  Andrew's,  from  Acts 
viii. ,  26,  and  afternoon  at  New  Glasgow ;  evening,  in  Mr.  Ma- 
cauley's. 

"  27th. — Went  on  to  Prince  Edward  Island  ;  friends  there  had 
sent  the  steamer  ;  beautiful  island  ;  Charlottetown  ;  preached  in 
Methodist,  and  Mr.  Robb  addressed. 

•'  28tli. — Visited  the  country  ;  fertile,  no  large  trees,  nor  marks 
of  fire,  as  on  the  road  from  Halifax  to  Pictou  ;  held  a  meeting  in 
the  evening  ;  Mr.  Stewart  and  Mr.  Farquharson  preached  in  dif- 
ferent places  in  Gaelic. 

"  29th. — Made  calls  ;  preached  again  ;  meeting  of  congregation, 
no  doubt  of  their  all  joining  the  Free  Church,  but  great  difficulty 
about  dispensing  with  Gaelic. 

"30th. — Returned  to  Pictou,  and  held  a  meeting  in  the  even- 
ing. 

"  31st. — Returned  to  Halifax  by  coach. 

"June  1st,  Saturday. — Engaged  variously;  dined  with  the 
Speaker. 

"2nd. — Sabbath,  preached  in  forenoon  in  Baptist,  Dan.  xi.,  10  ; 
afternoon,  at  Dartmouth  ;  evening,  in  St.  John's. 

"  3rd, — Public  breakfast  at  hotel  ;  set  sail  at  twelve,  in  the 
'  Britannia' ;  eighty  passengers  ;  many  friends  ;  one  Catholic 
priest. " 


198  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

On  the  8rd  of  June  he  left  Halifax  in  the  steamship 
Britannia,  and,  after  a  favourable  voyage,  reached  home, 
having  been  absent  over  five  months.  His  attached  flock 
received  him  joyfully. 

Free  St.  George's  Church,  an  elegant  edifice,  had  been 
erected  while  he  was  gone,  and  been  opened  for  divine 
worship  by  Dr.  Thomas  Guthrie. 

The  Colonial  Committee,  to  whom  he  furnished  an 
elaborate  report,  specially  bearing  on  his  visit  to  the 
Provinces,  expressed  in  the  heartiest  manner  their  acknow- 
ledgments for  his  services ;  and  the  illustrious  Chalmers 

wrote  thus : 

*'  Edinburgh,  July  16,  1844. 

"  My  Dear  Sir, — I  regret  much  that  I  did  not  meet  you.  I  was 
in  the  country  (Burntisland)  at  the  time  you  were  in  Edinburgh. 

* '  I  have  had  repeated  testimonies  from  America  of  your  great 
ficceptance,  and  the  deep  impression  that  you  made  there.  I  have 
Baid  to  many  that  we  could  not  have  sent  out  a  more  efficient  repre- 
sentative than  yourself.  I  feel  very  grateful  for  your  important 
services,  and  for  the  full  acqaittal  you  have  made  of  your  generous 
undertaking. 

*'  Ever  believe  me, 

"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  Yours  very  truly, 

*' Thomas  Chalmers." 

On  his  return,  he  was  besieged  for  addresses  on  America 
and  the  colonies.  To  his  power,  yea  and  beyond  his 
power,  he  complied.  Much  important  information  was 
communicated  and  interest  awakened.  Among  other 
places,  he  was  invited  to  Tay mouth  Castle,  and  for  a  week 
received  much  munificent  hospitality  from  the  Marquis 
and  Marchioness  of  Breadalbane. 

It  was  in  connexion  with  this  visit  we  received  the  fol- 
lowing : 


MARQUIS  AND  MARCHIONESS  OF  BREAD ALBANE.      199 

"  Taymouth  Castle,  Saturday,       Oct.,  1844. 

"  My  Dear  Robert, — I  wrote  you  from  Perth  rather  hurriedly, 
and  I  am  happy  now  to  let  you  and  Willie  know  of  the  progress  I 
have  been  making  since  leaving  the  '  fair  city. '  I  came  to  Dun- 
keld  by  the  mail  coach  from  Perth,  and  then  got  the  mail  gig  up 
to  Kenmore,  which  is  a  distance  of  twenty-four  miles.  On  my 
arrival  at  Kenmore  I  found  a  card,  in  the  handwriting  of  the  Mar- 
chioness of  Breadalbane,  inviting  mo  to  dinner  at  seven  o'clock, 
and  to  stay  at  the  Castle. 

"  I  have  been  here  since  Thursday  afternoon,  and  have  enjoyed 
much  kindness. 

"  The  ceremony  of  laying  the  foundation  stone  took  place  yes- 
terday, and  it  went  off  very  successfully.  The  rooj  of  the  church 
is  on,  and  yet  the  foundation  was  not  laid  till  yesterday  at  twelve 
o'clock.  A  small  hole  had  been  left  in  the  east  corner  wall,  and 
within  that  hole  the  box  containing  the  documents  was  placed,  and 
the  whole  closed  up  again.  The  ladies  of  the  congregation  had 
subscribed  for  a  silver  trowel,  which  was  presented  to  the  Mar- 
chioness, along  with  a  mallet  and  rule,  and  with  these  instruments 
her  ladyship  most  methodically  and  scientifically  went  to  woik, 
putting  in  the  lime  with  the  trowel,  measuring  the  stone  and  pro- 
portions of  the  whole  with  the  rule,  and  hammering  the  whole 
lown  with  the  mallet.  All  these  articles  are  now  lying  in  the 
library,  beside  where  I  am  now  writing.  The  members  of  presby- 
tery were  present.  The  Moderator  presided.  The  Marquis  read 
the  reply  by  the  Marchioness,  and  her  address,  which  were  excel- 
lent, and  both  will  be  published  in  the  Witness.  It  fell  to  me  to 
give  the  prayer,  and  afterwards  we  adjourned  to  the  Timber  Church, 
where  I  preached  a  short  sermon  (Rom.  xiv.  17)  and  gave  an  Ameri- 
can-Highland address  on  the  state  of  the  Gael  in  those  lands,  and 
the  general  state  of  the  Colonies  and  the  Republic  of  America. 
There  was  a  large  assembly,  and  the  Marquis  remained  from  twelve 
to  four  o^clock,  his  lady  retiring  at  the  end  of  the  foundation  ser- 
vice. We  had  several  persons  of  consideration  present  with  us, 
particularly  a  Captain  Mackenzie,  who  had  been  the  fellow -prisoner 
with  Lady  Sale  in  the  dungeon  at  Caboul,  and  whom  the  Affghan 
chief  (Dost  Mohammed)  ordered  more  than  once  to  be  '  shot  away' 
from  the  mouth  of  a  cannon  ;  when,  as  the  captain  remarked,  '  there 
was  not  the  slightest  occasion  for  anything  of  the  kind.'  He  and  his 
lady  are  religious  people,  and  took  a  great  interest  in  what  went 
on.  The  cause  of  the  Free  Church  prospers  here  under  the  power- 
ful patronage  of  these  distinguished  persons  the  Marquis  and  Mar- 
chioness. We  have  daily  worship,  when  the  whole  servants,  &c., 
are  assembled.  I  am  to  preach  all  day  to-morrow  at  Kenmore, 
and  in  the  evening  at  Aberfeldy.  On  Monday  I  go  to  Killin  to 
address  a  meeting,  and  the  Marquis  accommodates  me  with  carriages 
+o  all  these  places.     I  am  busy  most  of  this  day  rummaging  through 


200  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

his  extensive  library ;  and  ranging,  when  the  day  allowed,  in  the 
splendid  domain." 

The  generous  host  and  hostess  at  Taymouth  Castle 
treated  Dr.  Burns  with  ths  greatest  kindness  and  con- 
sideration, and  hearing  incidentally  of  an  important 
change  contemplated  in  his  domestic  relations,  bestowed 
on  him  in  parting  an  elegant  and  substantial  token  of 
their  regard.* 

He  attended,  as  corresponding  member,  the  Synod  of 
Dumfries,  enjoying  delightful  intercourse  with  Dr.  Henry 
Duncan  and  other  old  friends.  He  became  the  bearer,  at 
the  same  time,  of  gold  spectacles  and  sundry  other  keep- 
sakes, which  our  kindhearted  American  cousins  had  sent 
to  worthy  Janet  Fraser,  whose  "  not  fearing  the  wrath'' 
of  the  "  bold  Buccleuch"  set  her  name  almost  alongside 
that  of  the  redoubtable  Jenny  Geddes,  the  heroine  of  the 
cutty-stool.  The  remainder  of  the  year  was  filled  up  to 
the  utmost,  and  it  closed  most  auspiciously  with  his  mar- 
riage, on  the  12th  of  December,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bell 
Bonar,  daughter  of  Thomson  Bonar,  Esq.,  of  the  Grove, 
near  Edinburgh,  and  niece  of  his  early  friend  and  coun- 
sellor at  Cramond. 

*  In  her  beautifully  natural  "  Journal  of  Life  in  the  Highlands,"  our  beloved  Sovereign 
thus  touchingly  refers  to  a  visit  paid  two  years  earlier  to  Taymouth  : 

"  I  revisited  Taymouth  last  autumn,  on  the  3rd  of  October,  from  Dunkeld  (incognita), 
with  Louise,  the  Dowager  Duchess  of  AthoT^is,  and  Miss  Macgregor.  As  we  could  not 
have  driven  through  the  grounds  without  asking  permission,  and  as  we  did  not  wish  to 
be  known,  we  decided  upon  not  attempting  to  do  so,  and  contented  ourselves  with 
getting  out  at  a  gate  close  to  a  small  fort,  into  which  we  were  led  by  a  woman  from  the 
gardener's  house  near  to  which  we  had  stopped,  and  who  had  no  idea  who  we  were. 

"  We  got  out,  and  looked  from  this  height  dovni  upon  the  house  below,  the  mist  ha\ing 
cleared  away  suificiently  to  show  us  everything,  and  then  unknown,  quite  in  private  I 
gazed — not  withoxit  deep  emotion — on  the  scene  of  our  reception  twenty-four  years  ago 
by  dear  Lord  Breadalbane  in  a  princely  style,  not  to  be  equalled  in  grandeur  and  poetic 
effect.  Albert  and  I  were  then  only  twenty-three,  young  and  happy.  How  many  are 
frone  that  were  \vith  us  then  !    I  was  very  thankful  to  have  seen  it  again. 

"  It  seemed  unaltered.— 1866." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


TEANSLATION   FROM  PAISLEY  AND  SETTLEMENT 
IN  CANADA. 


■^jr 


R.  BURNS  had  scarcely  got  home  from  his 
American  tour  when  overtures  were  made 
""  to  him  from  Canada.     Montreal  and  To- 
ronto vied  with  each  other  in  the  effort  to 
secure  his  services.     In  the  former  city  he 
had  many  warm  friends.     The  friendship  of  that 
"  Israelite  indeed,"  Mr.  James  Court,  he  had  gained 
several  years  previously.      He,  with  Mr.  James 
^^!ri^  R.  Orr — that  seraphic  spirit, — and  Mr.  John  Red- 
path,  a  man  of  many  sterling,  noble  qualities,  and 
others  like  minded,  pleaded  with  him  to  return.     A  few 
extracts  may  be  given  from  two  of  the  letters  of  Mr. 
Redpath,  who  conducted  the  correspondence  : 


202  LIFE  OF   EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

"Montreal,  28th  May,  1844. 

"  "We  have  been  busily  employed  during  the  last  few  days  in  pre- 
paring a  memorial  to  the  Convener  of  the  Colonial  Committee  for 
a  minister  and  an  evangelist.  The  names  we  mention  are  the  es- 
teemed deputy  who  has  just  visited  us,  Mr.  Tweedie,  and  Mr. 
McDonald.  Any  one  of  them  form  the  types  thereof  ;  and  W.  C. 
Burns  for  the  Evangelist,  to  make  the  tour  of  Canada,  from  which  we 
expect  the  greatest  benefit.  We  have  not  named  any  other  person 
for  this  trust,  as  he  is  the  man  to  whom  all  eyes  are  directed,  as 
being  peculiarly  qualified  for  such  a  great  and  important  mission.  I 
got  a  portrait  of  you  out  of  the  Scottish  Pulpit  (a  capital  likeness), 
got  it  framed,  and  took  it  home,  to  the  great  gratification  of  Mrs.  R. 
and  all  my  family,  the  youngest  of  whom  knew  it  immediately,  and 
said  :  '  Tliat  is  Dr.  Burns.'  I  mention  this  little  anecdote  to  remind 
you  that  you  are  kept  in  warm  remembrance  at  Terrace  Bank." 


"  Terrace  Bank,  27th  July,  1844. 

*'  It  gave  me,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  your  friends  in  this  place, 
very  great  pleasure  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival  on  your  native  shore, 
■SbB  an  answer  to  our  earnest  prayers.  Mr.  Fraser  wrote  you  by  last 
mail,  with  the  account  of  the  Disruption  which  has  taken  place  in 
the  Synod  of  Canada,  and  you  will  get  by  this  mail  a  more  particular 
account  of  it  in  the  Banner.  They  have  gone  through  the  sifting 
process.  I  will  not  say  that  those  who  have  come  through  are  all 
*  wheat'  and  the  others  all  '  chaff.' 

"  The  committee  here  are  doubting,  hoping,  fearing,  the  result 
•of  their  application,  but  they  have  still  a  hope  that  if  all  fails,  and 
if  there  is  no  man  of  fitting  gifts  to  be  had,  that  our  own  dearly 
beloved  doctor  will  say,  '  Here  am  I,  send  me.'  Great  things  are 
expected  from  Montreal,  but  nothing  need  be  expected  till  God 
sends  us  a  man  acording  to  his  own  mind  ;  for  what  can  we  do 
without  a  preacher  1 

"  I  think  a  good  University  might  be  formed  here,  in  which  the 
other  evangelical  bodies  might  take  part,  each  one  having  their  own 
theological  chair.  I  think  the  Congregationalists  and  Baptists 
would  readily  join,  and  the  Secession  body  will  no  doubt  now  join 
the  adherents  of  the  Free  Church  principles  at  once.  The  com- 
mittee have  had  a  special  prayer-meeting  since  your  departure,  for 
the  purpose  of  supplicating  the  great  Head„of  the  Church  that  He 
would  look  favourably  on  our  application,  and  send  us  a  man  suitable 
to  His  mind  and  will.  Some  of  them  are  consoling  themselves  that 
you  will  really  come  in  case  of  necessity  ;  but  I  can  scarcely  dare 
to  hope,  from  what  you  intimated  to  me  about  your  own  people  : 
but  I  may  safely  say  that  none  would  be  more  welcome,  for  wherever 
Jim  have  been  you  have  gained  golden  opinions,  and  nowhere  more 
so  than  in  this  city." 


TORONTO.      REASONS.  203 

Toronto  also  put  forth  its  claims.  During  his  visit  he 
laad  been  greatly  impressed  with  its  central  and  command- 
ing position.  Soon  after  his  visit,  an  influential  body  of 
people  left  St.  Andrew's  Church  (Church  of  Scotland)  and 
formed  a  union  with  the  congregation  of  the  Rev.  James 
Harris,  who  had  faithfully  laboured  in  Toronto  since  1820. 
Mr.  Harris  retired,  and  the  new  organization — under  the 
title,  "  Knox's  Church,  Toronto," — joined  in  a  united  and 
tirgent  call  to  Dr.  Burns  to  become  their  pastor.  They 
•sent  home  their  strong  reasons,  and  these  were  accompa- 
nied by  the  following  reasons  from  the  Colonial  Committee 
<xf  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland : 

* '  i.  The  vast  extent  and  resources  of  Canada,  the  amazing  rapidity 
with  wliich  its  popiihition  is  increasing,  and  generally  its  rising  iui- 
portance,  point  out  the  propriety  of  its  being  supplied  with  the 
45ervices  of  ministers  of  zeal,  ability,  and  piety. 

"  II.  The  peculiar  circumstances  in  which  the  brethren  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Canada  have  been  placed  in  consequence  of 
tlie  disruption,  render  it  exceedingly  desirable  that  they  should 
■eujoy  the  presence  of  a  minister  of  experience  from  Scotland — more 
■especially  one  who  is  fully  acquainted  with  the  systems  which  have 
been  pursued  in  this  country  for  organizing  congregations  and  for 
the  sustentation  of  the  ministry. 

"  III.  While  the  call  to  Toronto  attests  the  strength  of  the  Pres- 
byterian interest  in  that  city,  both  as  regards  numbers  and  wealth, 
ihis  call  must  be  viewed  as  connected  with  the  nomination  which 
Dr.  Burns  has  received  to  the  Chair  of  Theology  at  Toronto  ;  and 
while  the  duties  of  both  offices  must  be  discharged,  for  a  time  at 
least,  by  the  same  individual,  the  learning,  ability,  readiness,  and 
untiring  energy  of  Dr.  Burns  point  him  out  as  possessing,  in  an 
•eminent  degree,  the  rare  qualifications  which  are  necessary  for  so 
arduous  a  service. 

*'  IV.  The  reception  which  Dr.  Burns  has  already  met  with  in 
•Canada,  indicates  the  cordiality  with  which  he  will  be  welcomed, 
iind  affords  the  most  pleasing  prospects  of  the  success  Avhich  would 
attend  him  in  that  great  and  rising  country . 

"  For  the  Colonial  Committee, 

"J.  A.  Balfour,  Jun., 

"  Secretary. 

**  Edinburgh,  13th  January,  1845." 


204  LIFE   OF   REV.   DE.   BURNS. 

The  chairman  of  the  congregational  meeting  of  Knox's 
Church,  which  sent  him  the  call,  was  Mr.  Isaac  Buchanan, 
now  of  Hamilton,  and  a  tried  friend  of  the  church  in 
many  ways.  In  one  of  his  letters,  of  date  24th  July, 
1844,  the  following  passage  occurs : 

"  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  express  the  deep  feeling  of  anxiety 
entertained  by  every  member  of  the  congregation,  that  you  may 
come  among  us,  having  in  view  not  only  their  own  edification  and 
eternal  interests,  but  looking  to  it  as  vitally  important  to  the  inte- 
rests of  the  infant  church,  that  we  secure  the  advantage  of  the  great 
knowledge  and  experience  which  you  possess,  especially  at  her  out- 
set." 

Others  thus  earnestly  wrote  : 

'*  What  are  we  to  do  ?  The  Lord  can  raise  up  labourers  in  his 
vineyard,  and  relieve  us  from  our  sad  difiiculty  and  distress.  But 
is  his  hand  not  pointed  to  the  Free  Church  in  Scotland,  and  does 
his  voice  not  say,  '  Help  your  brethren  in  Canada,  and  help  them 
immediately.'  Dear  Doctor,  by  your  love  to  the  glorious  cause  in 
which  you  are  engaged,  by  your  regard  for  the  souls  of  men  perish- 
ing for  lack  of  knowledge,  although  professedly  hearing  Presbyte- 
rian ministers,  send  us  help.  Come  yourself  ;  you  know  our  wants  ; 
you  know  our  localities.  Our  infant  church  must  take  up  high  and 
holy  ground.  It  is  only  from  that  eminence  that  we  can  fight  the 
Lord's  battles. 

"  We  earnestly  hope  that  you  will  come  to  open  Knox's  Church, 
and  not  be  later  than  the  twelvemonth.  None  will  do  but  you  ; 
for  the  people  have  all  made  up  their  minds  about  it." 

To  these  earnest  appeals,  after  mature  and  prayerful 
consideration.  Dr.  Burns  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  lend  a 
favourable  ear.  So  soon  as  his  mind  was  made  up  he 
broke  it  at  once  to  his  attached  people — endeavoured  to 
get  them  to  see  the  matter  in  the  light  he  did  him- 
self, and  to  aid  them  all  in  his  power  in  securing  a  suitable 
successor.  It  was  a  great  trial.  His  handsome  new  church 
had  been  opened.  It  was  fast  filling  up.  He  had  resumed 
work  after   several   months'  absence  with  great  enthu- 


DECIDING  FOR  CANADA.  205 

siasm.   His  home,  over  which  the  dark  shadow  had  rested, 

was  graced  and  gladdened  by  the  presence  of  one  who,  for 

the  remainder  of  his  days,  was  to  prove  in  every  sense  a 

help  meet  for  him.     The  congregation  in  its  new  relation 

seemed  dearer  to  him  than  ever.     But  while  cords  of  love 

so  tender  bound  him  to  home,  the  claims  of  Canada  were 

so  borne  in  upon  him  that  his  heart  was  fixed,  and  he  felt 

that  he  must  not  be  disobedient  to  the  heavenly  vision. 

When  once  his  resolution  was  formed,  he  never  hesitated. 

It  was  about  this  time  we  received  from  him  such  notes 

as  the  following : 

"Paisley,  Nov.,  1844. 

"  I  saw  Dr.  Cunningham  at  Dr.  Abercrombie's  funeral.  I  would 
advise,  as  he  does,  attendance  at  Dr.  Chalmers'  lectures.  I  would 
not  wish  you  to  hurt  your  health,  and  we  must  not  tempt  Provid- 
ence by  overtasking  ourselves.  May  all  your  studies,  whether 
secular  or  sacred,  be  conducted  in  the  spirit  of  humility  and  the 
fear  of  God." 

*'Dec.,  1844. 

"  If  I  go  to  Canada,  which  is  very  likely,  Mr.  Macnaughtan*  ad- 
vises you  to  take  another  year  of  the  home  advantages  before  cross- 
ing— a  very  good  idea,  perhaps.  I  am  anxious  that  you  should  confer 
your  services  as  a  preacher  of  the  glorious  gospel  on  the  virgin  soil 
of  Canada,  where  every  footmark  tells,  and  where  a  new  empire 
and  a  flourishing  church  will  yet  be  reared.  I  leave  it,  however,  to 
yourself,  requesting  only  that  you  may  not  allow  your  mind  to  be 
pre-occupied  by  the  well-meant  but  injurious  remonstrances  of 
friends  who  know  nothing  of  Canada,  and  whose  views  are  narrowed 
by  circumstances." 

*' Paisley,  December,  1844. 
"  Saturday  evening. 

"  I  am  favoured  with  your  letter,  and  return  you  many  thanks 
for  its  contents.  You  are  very  busily  engaged,  and  in  the  noblest 
of  all  pursuits.  May  strength  be  given  you  for  the  successful  prose- 
cution of  your  studies,  and  may  the  blessing  of  the  God  of  truth  go 
with  you.  Your  Professors  are  all  able  men,  and  the  church  is  blest 
in  having  such  instructors  to  guide  her  rising  hopes.  I  must  be  in 
for  a  week  or  so,  to  hear  the  lectures  and  to  confer  with  professors 
on  the  best  means  of  teaching  theology.  My  nomination  as  Profes- 
sor of  Divinity  in  Canada  will  require  me  to  enter  immediately  on 

*  The  Rev.  John  McN.,  of  Belfast,  then  of  High  Church,  Paisley. 


206  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

its  duties,  and  an  address  to  the  students  at  Toronto  may  probably 
be  the  first  thing  that  it  may  necessary  for  me  to  print.  They  are 
under  the  charge  of  Mr.  King  at  present  ;  and,  though  few  in 
number,  are  very  pr<^mising.     I  must  set  about  a  Library  for  them. 

"  Your  cerliacatea  from  the  Duke  have  come  back  this  day  only. 

"  I  must  have  some  days  hard  work  with  you  when  you  come 
out,  on  the  themes  and  exercises  of  all  the  classes." 

On  the  "Presbytery"  day,  his  devoted  brother,  the 
"  pastor  of  Kilsyth,"  thus  wrote  : 

'' Kilsyth,  Feby.  5th,  1845. 

"  Dear  Robert, — This,  I  believe,  is  a  day  of  importance  in  your 
history  and  that  of  the  Church.  We  consider  the  event,  however, 
as  already  certain,  as  far  as  human  things  can  be,  and  that  you 
leave  your  native  shores  and  engage,  if  the  Lord  will,  in  important 
labours  in  another  hemisphere.  May  all  be  well  with  you,  your 
beloved  partner  and  your  family,  and  flock  left  and  to  be.  We 
shall  often  be  remembering  you  at  the  throne  of  grace.  May  all 
be  eminently  promotive  of  His  glory  whose  we  are,  and  I  trust 
whom  we  desire  to  serve." 

The  formal  loosing,  which  his  own  unalterable  decision 
rendered  inevitable,  was  effected  in  the  most  kind  and 
considerate  way.  The  regards  and  regrets  of  his  minis- 
terial brethren  were  expressed  in  the  most  fitting  terms,, 
and  embodied  in  a  suitable  deliverance.  Seven  weeks  in- 
tervened till  the  embarkation.  These  were  crowded  with 
multifarious  work — the  needed  preparations,  the  gather- 
ing of  books  for  the  college,  the  consulting  with  the  Edin- 
burgh professors,  the  farewells  to  friends,  the  aiding 
his  attached  flock  in  obtaining  a  faithful  pastor,  and 
the  dealing  out  to  them,  by  private  visitations  and  in  his 
public  ministrations,  such  counsels  as  their  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances required.  He  had  previously  despatched  a 
fervent,  fatherly  letter  to  the  students  at  Toronto.  As 
the  ties  were  being  loosed  which  bound  him  to  his  old, 
his  heart  went  out  toward  his  new  home. 


FAREWELL   MEETINGS.  207 

The  College  was  a  special  care.  With  prodigious  energy 
he  set  about  collecting  for  the  library;  and,  mainly  from 
his  own  shelves  and  those  of  brethren  and  friends,  he  col- 
lected between,  two  and  three  thousand  volumes ;  to  whici* 
from  time  to  time,  in  after  years,  he  made  many  ad« 
ditions.* 

The  farewell  meeting  was  an  overpowering  demonstra- 
tion. Brother  ministers  and  friends  from  Glasgow  and 
other  places  were  present,  and  were  lavish  in  their  ex- 
pressions of  esteem.  All  sections  of  the  congregation  and 
community  joined  heartily  in  their  generous  testimonies. 
The  substantial  tokens  were  numerous,  and  (one  of  them 
especially)  of  great  pecuniary  value. 

The  "farewell  sermon"  was  preached  in  St.  George's- 
Free  Church,  on  the  afternoon  of  Sabbath,  the  23rd  oi 
March,  from  2  Cor.  xiii.  11  :  "  Finally,  brethren,  farewell. 
Be  perfect,  be  of  good  comfort,  be  of  one  mind,  live  ia 
peace,  and  the  God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be  with  you." 
The  crowd  so  compact  as  to  form  a  living  pavement,  over 
which  one  could  have  walked ;  the  sea  of  up-turned  faces^ 
now  sparkling  under  the  sun-bKnks  of  the  past,  then 
surging  under  the  swell  of  deep  emotion ;  the  memories 
recalled,  the  associations  clustering  round,  the  thirty-three 
years  looking  down  on  them,  the  "  cloud  of  witnesses,'" 

*  In  addition  to  the  many  volumes  given  from  his  owti  shelves,  near  relatives  contri- 
buted 500  volumes.  Ur.  Chalmers,  Sir  David  Brewster,  Dr.  Keith,  Dr.  Hetherinj.'ton, 
Dr.  Wm.  Brown,  and  others,  presented  complete  sets  of  their  works.  Messrs.  Collins, 
and  Blackie  &  Son,  Gla^ow,  and  A.  Gardiner,  Paisley,  contributed  donations  of  t)ooks- 
more  or  less  numerous  and  valuable.  Dr.  Black,  formerly  of  Aberdeen,  presented  the 
splendid  Paris  Polyglot.  General  Macdowal,  of  Stranraer  (whose  acquaintance  Dr. 
Burns  had  formed  during  his  visit  with  Dr.  Chalmers  to  Sir  Andrew  Agnew),  presented 
from  his  fine  theological  collection  230  volumes.  The  Free  Church  Colonial  Committee 
furnished  Dr.  Burns  with  £150,  with  which  he  made  many  valuable  purchases. 

Associated  with  Mr.  Black,  now  of  Manitoba,  we  made  the  first  catalogue  of  Knox's 
College  Library,  which  then  embraced  over  3,000  volumes,  the  most  of  which  were  the 
result  of  this  special  effort  made  by  my  father  when  on  the  eve  of  starting  for  his  new 
home. 


f 


208  LTFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

combined  to  render  it  a  season  much  to  be  remembered. 

One  extract,  from  the  closing  portion  of  this  discourse,  is 

all  that  we  can  give  : 

"  The  period  of  my  ministry  embraces  a  generation  of  human 
beings.  Of  those  who  were  office-bearers  and  members  in  full 
communion  at  the  time  of  my  settlement,  a  fraction  only  survives. 
Of  those  whose  names  stand  on  the  '  lists'  appended  to  the  '  call' 
then  addressed  to  me,  two  only  remain.  Many  who  were  then 
the  children  and  youth  of  families  committed  to  my  charge,  have 
since  grown  up  and  occupy  important  stations  in  society.  The 
number  admitted  by  me  to  communion  at  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  sacramental  occasions  falls  little  short  of  thirteen  hundred 
individuals,  being  nearly  the  ordinary  number  of  communicants 
twice  told.  Of  these  several  hundreds  had  been  catechumens  at 
the  weekly  classes  for  religious  instruction,  and  over  many  of  these 
I  have  had  cause  to  rejoice.  In  the  course  of  my  ministry  God  has 
permitted  me  to  go  through  the  whole  of  the  New  Testament  in  the 
form  of  expository  lectures,  together  with  the  evangelical  types 
and  prophecies,  and  the  larger  part  of  the  history,  of  the  Old.  My 
aim  has  ever  been  to  unfold  to  you  the  mind  of  the  Spirit,  and  to 
commend  to  every  sinner  the  grace  of  the  Divine  Redeemer.  We 
have  walked  together  amid  the  rich  pastures  of  Zion,  and  iiiy— 
humble  aim  has  been  to  direct  you  to  the  Chief  Shepherd."  9| 

Our  passage  was  taken  in  the  ship  Erromanga,  a  new 
vessel  just  built  for  the  firm  of  James  E,.  Orr  &;  Co.  Cap- 
tain James  Kelso,  an  excellent  Christian  man,  brother-in- 
law  of  the  proprietors,  and  himself  a  member  of  the  firm, 
commanded  for  the  last  time  before  retiring  from  the  sea. 
On  Saturday,  March  29  th,  we  set  sail,  many  friends  having 
*'  accompanied  us  to  the  ship."  The  previous  night  was 
spent  in  a  precious  prayer-meeting,  in  the  Rev.  J.  J. 
Bonar's  church.  Dr.  Keith,  the  celebrated  writer  on 
prophecy,  took  part,  and  his  weighty  words  lent  a  peculiar 
charm  to  that  Greenock  gathering.  The  six  weeks' 
voyage  had  the  usual  "  lights  and  shadows"  which  chequer 
life  on  the  ocean,  but  was,  on  the  whole,  a  season  of  much 
enjoyment.     We  had  some  severe  storms,  but  only  once 


J 


LIFE  ON  THE  OCEAN.      W.   C.   BURNS.  209 

were  we  in  serious  danger.  Sweeping  merrily  along  be- 
fore a  favouring  breeze,  one  dark  night,  we  ran  into  a 
great  field  of  ice.  The  crashing,  grating  sound  started  us 
from  our  hammocks.  For  thirty  hours  we  were  girdled 
with  floating  masses,  and  were  afterwards  told  that,  but 
for  the  good  ship  having  been  constructed  of  the  strong- 
est material,  the  consequences  might  have  been  fatal. 
Many  books  of  interest  were  read ;  Pictet's  Theology,  in 
French,  was  studied;  a  good  deal  of  writing  was  got 
through  with.  Amongst  other  things,  the  farewell  sermon,* 
which  had  been  delivered  from  notes,  was  fully  written 
out  on  board  ship,  and  afterwards  printed  at  Toronto. 

On  Friday,  the  9th  of  May,  we  reached  Quebec.  The 
first  to  welcome  us,  as  we  stepped  on  shore,  was  our  now 
sainted  relative,  W.  C.  Burns,  who  had  complied  with  the 
earnest  wishes  of  his  uncle  and  the  Montreal  friends, 
by  coming  out  on  an  evangelistic  tour  a  little  ahead 
of  us.f 


*  "  Circumstances  having  put  it  out  of  my  power  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  friends 
at  Paisley,  that  I  should  print  my  Farewell  Sermon  before  leaving  Scotland,  I  have  en- 
deavoured to  follow  out  that  wish  by  devoting  part  of  my  leisure  time  on  the  voyage  to 
the  preparation  of  the  manuscript  for  the  press  at  Toronto.  My  design  is  to  send  it  to 
my  much-loved  brethren  and  friends,  as  a  small  token  of  remembrance  endeared  by  dis- 
tance. The  wide  Atlantic  now  separates  me  from  those  to  whom,  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  I  stood  in  the  relation  of  pastor,  and  whose  best  interests  are  stil)  near  my  heart. 
While  I  write  these  lines,  the  waves  of  the  mighty  deep  are  rolling  around  us.  We  are 
entering  the  great  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  A  few  days  are  expected  to  brmg  us  within 
sight  of  some  of  the  most  magnificent  displays  of  the  majesty  of  God.  Already  have  we 
witnessed  his  wonders  in  the  great  deep.  Hitherto  He  hath  held  us  in  the  hollow  of  His 
hand.  Amid  the  howling  of  the  storm,  and  the  crashing  of  icebergs,  we  have  been  merci- 
fully preserved.  The  prayers  of  our  ship's  company  have  regularly  ascended  with  united 
voice  before  the  throne,  morning  and  evening  ;  and  in  these  we  have  remembered  our 
friends  at  home,  as  they,  we  believe,  have  remembered  us.  May  He  who  sitteth  on  the 
floods  reign  in  their  hearts  and  in  ours.  May  His  testimonies,  which  excel  in  faithful- 
ness, be  our  united  inheritance  in  this  the  house  of  our  pilgrimage  ;  and  may  His  omni- 
potent grace  establish  in  each  heart  and  perfect  that  '  holiness  which  becometh  His  hou3« 
for  ever.'"— Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  May  1st,  12,ib.— Prefatory  Note  to  Sermon. 

t  One  of  Dr.  Burns'  last  literary  employments  was  to  write  the  record  of  that  Adslt, 
■which  forms  Chapter  X.  of  the  deeply  interesting  memoir  of  that  apostolic  missionary, 
by  the  gifted  and  honoured  brother  who  has  so  soon  followed  him  to  glory.  His  sojourn 
in  Canada  extended  over  two  years.  Wherever  he  went  he  left  "footprints."  In 
many  parts  of  the  backwoods  eyes  will  yet  fill,  and  hearts  heave,  and  voices  become 
•olemn  and  tender,  wheu  his  name  is  spoken.— £0. 


210  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  BURNS. 

It  was  the  Friday  of  the  Communion  season  when  we 
reached  Quebec.  His  old  correspondent,  the  Rev.  John 
Clugston,  of  St.  John's  Church,  asked  him  to  aid  in  the 
service ;  so  he  was  into  work  at  once,  foreshadowing  thus 
at  the  start,  his  New  World  life,  which  from  its  commence- 
ment to  its  close  was  "  in  labours  more  abundant." 

My  brother  and  I  kept  by  the  ship.  Father  and  mother 
followed  us  on  Monday  by  steamboat,  reaching  Montreal 
about  the  same  time  with  us. 

The  few  days  of  our  sojourn  in  Montreal  were  spent 
with  kind  friends,  "  some  of  whom  remain  unto  this  pre- 
sent, while  others  have  fallen  asleep."  The  Rev.  John 
Bonar,  then  of  Larbert,  had  come  out  to  supply  for  a 
season  the  faithful  band  who,  for  years  prior  to  their 
enjoying  a  stated  ministry,  were  favoured  with  the  tem- 
porary ministrations  of  some  of  the  choicest  spirits  of  the 
Free  Church.  These  were  the  days  of  the  wooden  struc- 
ture which  preceded  the  present  Cotd  Street  Church,  and 
which  was  a  Bethel  and  a  Peniel  to  many.  Dr.  Burns 
was  associated  with  Mr.  Bonar  in  the  inauguration  of  this 
tabernacle.  Some  of  the  students  happening  to  be  in 
Montreal,  conferences  were  had  with  them.  The  follow- 
ing Sabbath  was  spent  at  Kingston,  where  a  full  tale  of 
work  awaited  him,  and  an  enjoyable  intercourse  was  re- 
sumed, which  our  subsequent  eight  years'  settlement  there, 
extended. 

We  reached  Toronto  in  the  City  of  Toronto,  under  the 
kind  care  of  Captain  Thomas  Dick  (who  has  ever  since 
proved  a  faithful  friend),  full  of  gratitude  to  that  loving 
Hand  which  held  the  ocean  in  its  hollow,  and  us  on  its 


INDUCTION.      TEMPERANCE.  211 

bosom,  and  which  brought  us  safely  through  perils  of 
waters  to  our  desired  haven. 

The  induction  into  the  charge  of  Knox  Church  took 
place  on  the  23rd  of  May. 

On  the  afternoon  of  that  day  the  Presbytery  was  en- 
tertained at  dinner  in  the  Eagle  Hotel,  Wellington  Street, 
on  which  occasion  Dr.  Burns  publicly  and  formally  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  temperance  movement.  Though 
strictly  temperate  in  his  habits,  he  had  hitherto  been 
what  is  known  as  a  "moderate  drinker."  But  becoming 
increasingly  convinced  of  the  enormous  evils  of  intemper- 
ance, especially  in  a  young  country  whose  character  was 
in  process  of  formation,  as  weU  as  of  the  power  of  minis- 
terial example,  he  determined  to  identify  himself  with  a 
cause  then  decried  by  many,  and  to  make  the  memorial 
entertainment  connected  with  his  settlement  the  occasion 
of  announcing  his  change. 

On  Sabbath,  the  25th,  he  commenced  his  pulpit  labours. 

The  news  of  his  safe  arrival  gave  great  joy  to  his  old 
flock.     Their  feelings  found  expression  thus  :* 

"  Paisley,  ISth  June,  1845. 

"  Your  highly  esteemed  and  much  valued  favours  of  10th  and  12th 
of  May  came  duly  to  hand.  The  members  of  the  congregation 
were  exceedingly  delighted  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival,  together 
with  Mrs.  Bums  and  your  family,  and  all  that  were  with  you  in 
the  ship.  Your  letters  were  read  at  the  deacons'  court ;  and  the 
one  to  the  congregation  was  read  at  the  prayer-meeting  and  after- 
wards from  the  pulpit.  At  the  meeting,  prayer  was  offered  up,  and 
special  thanks  given  to  Almighty  God  for  the  protection  afforded 
you,  and  for  carrying  you  through  all  the  dangers  of  the  deep,  and 
landing  you  in  safety  at  your  desired  haven.  It  must  have  been  a 
season  of  rejoicing  to  you  all  that  you  were  so  soon  permitted, 
after  landing,  to  enjoy  a  communion  Sabbath,  enhanced  by  the 
striking  coincidence  of  its  being  the  same  Sabbath  of  our  commu- 

*  From  Clerk  of  Session. 


212  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

nion,  and  that  we  were  engaged  in  the  same  sacred  ordinance.  It 
is  a  matter  of  great  thankfulness  to  your  people  here  that  you  were 
strengthened  and  enabled  to  engage  in  your  Master's  service,  and 
to  proclaim  the  good  tidings  of  salvation  to  so  many  thirsty  souls 
in  that  land  whither  you  have  been  called  in  the  providence  of  God. 
You  will  now  be  settled  as  pastor  of  another  congregation,  and  the 
union  formed  in  obedience  to  the  command  of  the  great  Head  of 
the  Church  cannot  fail  to  be  abundantly  blessed.  Our  prayer  to 
Him  is  that  He  will  hallow  the  sacred  union  thus  formed,  and  that 
you  will  be  long  spared  to  be,  as  you  have  hitherto  been,  a  faithful 
ambassador  of  Christ,  an  honoured  instrument  in  the  hand  of  God 
in  training  young  men  for  the  ministry,  in  promoting  the  spiritual 
well-being  of  many  souls,  and  bringing  many  Ho  the  knowledge  of 
the  truth  as  it  is  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.' 

' '  After  you  left  this  a  sadness  came  over  us  ;  we  felt  we  had  ex- 
perienced a  loss  which  our  Saviour  only  could  supply.  The  im- 
portant day  of  the  induction  of  your  successor  arrived.  After  all 
the  various  steps  had  been  gone  through,  and  the  call  unanimously 
given  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomson,  the  Presbytery  appointed  Friday, 
13th  of  June,  for  his  settlement  as  our  pastor.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Hutcheson  preached,  Mr.  Salmon  addressed  the  congregation  in 
defence  of  the  principles  of  the  Free  Church ;  Mr.  Forester  pre- 
sided, and  laid  the  injunctions  on  pastor  and  people.  The  proceed- 
ings were  all  of  the  most  interesting  and  solemn  kind  :  and  your 
valuable  labours,  as  pastor  of  this  congregation  for  the  long  period 
of  thirty-four  years,  were  prominently  brought  to  view.  We  were 
all  much  pleased  with  your  brother,  Mr.  Burns,  of  Kilsyth,  being 
present.  At  the  dinner  on  Friday  Mr.  Thomson  made  beautiful 
allusions  to  your  pastoral  labours  ;  and  in  his  discourse  on  Sabbath 
he  dwelt  much  on  his  own  weakness,  and  that  he  came  amongst  us 
with  fear  and  much  trembling,  when  he  thought  of  the  responsibi- 
lity of  the  charge,  on  succeeding  one  of  such  powerful  talents, 
energy,  and  activity. 

"  We  had  also  invited  Mr.  King,  of  St.  Stephen's,  Glasgow,  to 
be  present  at  the  dinner  and  soiree.  He  interested  us  all  very 
much  when  he  detailed  the  particulars  of  the  state  of  Toronto,  and 
the  cordial  welcome  you  would  there  receive  from  an  immense 
number  of  warm  friends.  The  audience  were  perfectly  overjoyed 
when  your  name  was  mentioned,  and  the  prospect  of  comfort  to 
yourself  and  family  in  your  new  sphere  of  usefulness,  in  the  mag- 
nificent country  in  which  you  are  now  dwelling." 

This  affectionate  remembrance  of  him  was  shared  in  by 
many  besides  his  own  people.  The  old  family  physician. 
Dr.  McKechnie,  who  to  great  skill  in  his  profession  added 
a  warm  and  generous  heart,  and  who  had  not  seen  it  to 


OLD  PAISLEY  FRIENDS.      DR.  JAMES  BUCHANAN.      213 

be  his  duty  to  follow  his  old  pastor  into  the  Free  Church, 

sends  him  a  valuable  token  of  regard,  designating  it  as 

"  from  a  friend  who  has  long  esteemed  him  for  his  worth, 

who  has  always  admired  him  for  his  talents,  and  who 

now  venerates  him  as  a  faithful  and  devout  pastor." 

Sherifi'  Campbell,*  too,  who,  like  the  worthy  "old  doctor," 

leraained  behind  in  the  Establishment,  and  whom  we 

were  wont  to  look  up  to  in  our  boyhood  as  the  very  beaw 

ideal  of  a  judge  and  a  gentleman,  thus  writes  on  the  30th 

of  December,  1845  : 

**  You  mention  that  you  do  not  regret  the  step  you  have  taken 
in  going  to  Canada,  and  I  am  very  glad  of  it,  and  trust  that  you 
never  will.  In  that  large  field  your  active  benevolence  will  find 
much  to  do,  and  will  take  delight  in  doing  it  ;  and  I  shall  receive 
with  much  satisfaction  any  accounts  that  tell  of  your  welfare." 

This  strong  attachment  of  his  dear  old  Paisley  friends 

continued  to  the  last.     In  18G4  one  of  them  (Mr.  A.  R. 

PoUok),  writing  to  him,  says  : 

"  In  Paisley,  yours  is  quite  a  household  name,  and  fondly  da 
many  speak  of  their  past  experience  with  you.  Dr.  A.  S.  Patter- 
son was  telling  me  that  he  is  nowhere  so  popular  as  in  Free  St. 
George's  here,  for  he  recals  you  to  so  many  still  in  the  congrega- 
tion, and  that  thus  he  shines  in  that  pulpit  with  a  borrowed,  but 
not  unwelcome,  lustre." 

This  chapter  may  fittingly  close  with  the  first  communi- 
cation received  by  Dr.  Burns  from  the  then  Convener 
of  the  Colonial  Committee  of  the  Free  Church,  Dr.  James 
Buchanan,  who,  as  a  native  of  Paisley,  had  once  enjoyed 
Dr.  Burns'  ministry,  and  whose  model  pastorates  at  North 
Leith  and  Edinburgh,  and  well-known  writings,  have 
made  his  name  so  familiar  : 

*  Father-in-law  of  Dr.  Begg,  of  Edinburgh,  who,  as  minister  of  the  Middle  Parish, 
Paisley,  was  one  of  my  father's  colleagues,  with  whom  soon  after  his  arrival  in  Canada 
the  pleasant  intercourse  of  bygone  days  was  resumed. 


214  LIFE  OF  KEV.  DR.    BURNS. 

"  Edinburgh,  30th  June,  1845. 
"  My  Dear  Dr.  Burns, — It  gives  me  very  great  pleasure  to  find 
ihat  the  first  letter  which  I  am  required  to  write  as  Convener  of  the 
Colonial  Committee  must  be  one  of  congratulation  to  you  on  your  in- 
duction into  the  charge  of  Toronto,  which,  important  as  it  is  in  itself, 
is  doubly  so  when  viewed  as  a  central  and  commanding  position 
whence  an  evangelical  influence  may  emanate  over  the  whole  of 
Canada.  We  look  forward  with  much  interest  and  sanguine  hopes 
to  your  future  labours  in  that  interesting  field,  and  it  will  be  our 
fervent  prayer  that  both  in  your  pastoral  charge  and  your  academic 
-chair  you  may  enjoy,  as  heretofore,  a  rich  blessing  from  on  high, 
and  that  you  may  have  many  precious  souls  given  to  you  as  your 
crown  of  joy.  It  is  impossible,  I  think,  to  over-estimate  the  im- 
portance of  your  present  position,  whether  considered  with  refer- 
ence to  the  existing  state  of  Canada,  or  the  future  prospects  of  the 
church  in  that  country  :  and  it  is  a  source  of  heart-felt  satisfaction 
to  us  all  that  one  so  eminently  qualified  in  point  of  talent,  and 
learning,  and  piety,  has  been  found  willing  to  devote  himself  to 
ihe  work  of  training  up,  by  precept  and  example,  a  band  of  native 
ministers  for  the  supply  of  its  spiritual  wants. " 


% 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


PASTORATE  IN  TORONTO. 


L^ 


m 


<^ 


■K 


R.  BURNS  was  pastor  of  Knox's  Church,  Tor- 
onto,  from   May,    1845,   till  June,    1856. 
~~  These  eleven  years  embraced  a  vast  amount 
of  varied  work. 

During  part  of  the   time  he  combined 

professorial  with   pastoral  duty.      The   students 

oijiU     were  on  his  heart  from  the  outset,  and  he  never 

// y \\  ceased  to  feel  the  warmest  interest  in  their  welfare. 

Hjjy/  To  Pluralities,  however,  he  was  always  decidedly 

opposed,  and  the  junction  in  his  case,  he  counted 

"  good"  only  "  for  the  present  distress." 

Whenever  the  college  staff  was  sufficiently  reinforced 
to  admit  of  it,  he  laid  his  account  with  a  separation. 

To  the  pulpit  of  his  new  charge  he  brought  substantial- 
ly the  same  qualities  which  gave  him  so  commanding  a 


216  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

position  in  his  old.  His  discourses,  even  those  most 
hastily  prepared,  ever  bore  marks  of  clearness  of  thought, 
correctness  of  diction,  and  cogency  of  reasoning.  They 
were  delivered  with  the  earnestness  and  unction  which 
always  characterized  him.  The  Scottish  "Lecture"  re- 
tained its  own  place.     His  sermons  were  often  in  course. 

He  was  faithful  and  systematic  in  his  visiting  as  he  had 
ever  been. 

The  Sabbath  School  was  very  dear  to  him.  The  pecu- 
liar liking  which  children  always  had  for  him,  showed  the 
warm  seat  which  they  held  in  his  own  heart. 

To  his  Bible  Class  he  brought  the  weight  of  his  matur- 
ed experience  and  the  wealth  of  his  extensive  knowledge. 

He  loved  to  have  young  men  visit  him. — and  was 
ingenious  in  devices  for  their  benefit.  The  minutes  of  the 
earlier  Young  Men's  Associations  of  the  church,  which 
have  come  under  our  notice,  give  evidence  of  this. 

He  established  "  Mutual  Improvement  Circles,"  which 
were  not  confined  to  his  own  congregation. 

Dr.  Burns  was  unanimously  appointed  Moderator  at 
the  first  meeting  of  Synod,  after  his  arrival  in  the  Pro- 
vince, which  was  held  in  Cobourg,  in  June. 

He  opened  the  meeting  in  Hamilton  the  following  year, 
with  a  discourse  on  the  "  Headship  of  Christ."* 

During  the  summer  succeeding  his  arrival,  he  was 
much  engaged  as  Convener  of  the  committee  appointed  by 
the  Synod  to  visit  all  the  congregations  of  the  church. 
He  took  a  large  share  of  the  work  himself     The  results 

*  At  the  time  of  the  Union  in  1861,  the  Moderatorship  was  gracefully  conferred  on  a 
venerable  and  revered  representative  of  the  body  which,  numerically,  was  the  smaller — 
but,  the  year  following,  the  honour  was  with  exceeding  cordiality  tendered  to  Dr.Bums, 
who,  however,  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  decline.— Ed. 


VISITS  TO  THE  CHURCHES.  217 

are  recorded  in  some  fifty  or  sixty  MS.  books,  which  are 
deposited  in  the  library  of  Knox  College.  An  abstract 
embodying  these,  with  important  recommendations,  was 
subsequently  submitted  by  him,  and  ordered  to  be  pub« 
lished. 

Immediately  on  his  arrival  in  Canada,  Dr.  Burns  began 
those  periodical  visits  to  the  churches,  which  formed  such 
a  prominent  feature  of  his  New- World  life.  His  mission- 
ary spirit  found  full  scope  both  in  the  "  bush"  and  in  the 
"  clearings"  of  his  adopted  land. 

Let  a  few  out  of  many  testimonies  to  the  beneficial 
effects  of  these  visits  suffice. 

The  Rev.  J  ohn  W.  Smith,  of  Grafton,  formerly  a  faith- 
ful missionary  in  Ireland,  writes : — 

"  He  was  often  at  Grafton,  generally  in  company  with  his  loving 
partner.  He  was  present  on  at  least  four  communion  seasons  dur- 
ing my  ministry,  besides  other  visits. 

"  His  presence  was  hailed  with  joy,  and  our  communion  seasons 
were  times  of  refreshing  and  comfort.  There  was  something  in  his 
hallowed  and  comforting  intercourse  in  the  household  peculiar  to- 
himself.  He  was  pleased  with  everything — the  slightest  attention 
from  the  humblest  was  noticed  in  the  kindest  manner — the  young- 
est in  the  house  loved  him — delighted  to  serve  him,  and  remember 
with  delight  something  Dr.  Bums  said  or  did,  that  has  left  a  favour- 
able impression.  He  knew  all  the  aged,  must  see  them  every  time 
he  came,  and  when  any  of  his  aged  friends  were  removed,  betweea 
his  visits,  he  soon  missed  their  presence.  He  entertained  a  strong 
affection  and  great  respect  for  the  elders,  and  had  always  some 
word  of  encouragement  for  them.  He  was  the  Christian,  and  Chris- 
tian minister,  wherever  he  went,  and  the  most  indifferent  soon  felt 
they  were  in  the  presence  of  a  man  of  God.  We  loved  him  tenderly 
here,  and  just  when  removed  we  had  the  prospect  of  another  visit. 

"  He  did  for  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  British  Provinces- 
what  no  other  man  could  do.  We  owe  much  to  him  under  God . 
He  loved  his  church — he  knew  every  comer  of  the  church,  and 
his  life  was  bound  up  in  the  success  of  the  cause  of  God  in  the 
Dominion." 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Wardrope,  formerly  of  Ottawa,  now 


218  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

of  Guelph,  the  first  student  licensed,  and  ordained  after  the 
•disruption  in  Canada,  describes  the  part  which  Dr.  Burns 
took  at  his  settlement,  and  a  portion  of  the  tour  with 
the  programme  of  which  it  was  connected  :- — 

"  Dr.  Bums'  first  visit  to  Ottawa,  (then  Bytown,)  was  in  August, 
1845.  That  visit  was  embraced  in  a  plan  which  he  forwarded  to 
me  at  Kingston,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  which  I  had  been  doing 
some  mission  work  for  a  week  or  two  at  that  time.  A  synopsis  of 
his  plan  may  be  interesting,  as  showing  the  extraordinary  amount 
of  work  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  undertaking — and  I  may  safely 
add,  of  accomplishing. 

"  'Leave  Toronto,  Wednesday  6th,  by  steamer  ;  make  direct  for 
Brockville  ;  preach  there  on  the  arrival  of  the  boat  on  Thursday, 
and  at  Prescott  on  the  evening  of  that  day.  Friday,  preach  at 
Edwardsburg,  and  any  other  place  that  may  be  near  enough  to  be 
overtaken  on  the  same  day.  Set  out  for  Kingston  on  Saturday, 
stopping  at  Gananoque  to  preach  there.  Then  make  for  Kingston, 
where  three  appointments  may  be  made  for  the  Sabbath  ;  two  in 
in  the  city,  and  one  wherever  required  in  the  neighbourhood. 
Leave  on  Monday  by  canal,  for  your  ordination  at  Bytown,  on 
Wednesday,  the  13th,  Then  proceed  to  Perth  ;  am  sorry  that  I 
■cannot  go  to  Osgoode  also  ;  but  could  I  not  take  Belleville  on  my 
way  home  ?  I  must  be  in  Toro7ito  for  Sabbath,  the  17th.  Try  and 
make  the  best  of  the  above.  Improve  on  the  plan  any  way  you 
please  ;  but  keep  the  leading  features  in  view,  securing  a  meeting 
for  Perth,  where  I  have  promised  to  preach.' 

"  We  met  at  Kingston,  on  Monday,  the  11th  August,  and  set  out 
for  Bytown  by  steamer.  Of  necessity,  the  Monday  and  Tuesday 
were  days  of  rest.  But  the  doctor  enjoyed  the  rest — I  was  almost 
about  to  say — as  much  as  he  enjoyed  his  work.  The  islands,  the 
bays,  the  curious  nooks,  the  beautiful  scenery,  the  strange  mean- 
derings  of  the  route  ;  all  arrested  his  attention  and  excited  his 
admiration.  My  wife  has  often  remarked  that  she  can  never  for- 
get the  family  worship,  the  intercourse,  all  the  varied  enjoyments 
of  these  delightful  days.  The  other  passengers  seemed  to  appreci- 
ate them  as  highly  as  we  did  ;  for  he  had  a  word  of  kindness  and 
of  instruction  for  all.  And  the  words  were  so  appropriate  to — in 
fact  suggested — by  the  scenes  through  which  we  were  passing,  that 
they  could  hardly  fail  to  be  remembered.  For  instance,  at  a  par- 
ticular spot  in  one  of  the  little  lakes,  where  a  stranger,  looking 
ahead,  could  see  no  outlet  for  the  boat,  he  said  :  *  There  we  have 
an  illustration  of  faith.  We  can  see  no  way  through  among  the 
rocks  and  the  overhanging  foliage  ;  but  we  have  faith  in  the  pilot ; 
we  believe  that  he  knows  the  way,  and  can  bring  us  through. ' 
From  this  text  he  took  occasion  to  preach  a  short  open-air  sermon 


FIRST  VISIT  TO  OTTAWA.  219 

on  the  blessedness  of  tnist  in  Him  who  guides  His  people  amid  all 
the  perplexities  of  life,  and  at  last  brings  them  in  '  through  the 
gates  into  the  city.'  As  to  myself,  in  view  of  my  ordination  which 
had  been  appointed  for  Wednesday,  I  had  addressed  to  me  in  the 
same  colloquial  style,  at  intervals  and  in  more  quiet  comers,  a  brief 
course  of  lectures  on  *  Pastoral  Theology.' 

"  We  reached  Bytown  on  Tuesday  evening,  and  I  remember,  as 
if  it  was  but  yesterday,  our  conversation  which  was  just  brought 
to  a  close  as  we  steamed  down  the  *  deep  cut.'  He  was  speaking  of 
various  texts  ;  and  with  that  openness  which  so  characterized  his 
intercourse  with  young  ministers,  was  asking  me  from  which  of 
them  he  should  preach  on  the  following  morning.  Several  had 
been  set  aside  ;  and  the  choice  was  at  last  narrowed  down  to  these 
two  :  Rom.  xv.  29,  '  When  I  come  to  you,  I  shall  come  in  the  ful- 
ness of  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  ;'  and  Tsa.  Ixii.  10, 
*  Go  through,  go  through  the  gates  ;  prepare  ye  the  way  of  the 
people  ;  Cast  up,  cast  up  the  highway  ;  gather  out  the  stones  ;  Lift 
up  a  standard  for  the  people.' 

*'  The  latter  of  these  was  finally  chosen  ;  and  both  text  and  ser- 
mon are  spoken  of  by  many  of  the  people  in  Ottawa  unto  this  day. 
The  services  connected  with  the  ordination  on  Wednesday,  were 
conducted  in  the  stone  building  on  Sparks  street,  then  the  Wes- 
leyan,  and  now  St.  Andrew's  Roman  Catholic  Chapel.  On  Wed- 
nesday evening,  the  doctor  preached  again  in  the  same  place,  from 
Song  of  Solomon,  ii.  10,  13.  All  the  passages  that  have  been 
referred  to,  will  be  recognized  by  many  as  having  occupied  promi- 
nent places  among  his  favourite  texts.  It  is  needless  to  say  how 
highly  his  preaching  was  appreciated  at  Bytown  and  elsewhere  ; 
but,  it  is  much  to  be  able  to  add,  that  he  gained  the  affection  and 
esteem  of  those  with  whom  he  was  brought  into  immediate  contact, 
not  less  by  his  whole  spirit  and  deportment  than  by  his  preaching. " 

The  following  from  himself  foreshadows  similar  work : — 

"  Toronto,  25th  May,  1846. 

*'  On  the  14th  June,  I  open  the  church  at  Binbrook  and  then  go 
down  to  Belleville  and  Kingston,  to  look  after  both  places.  My 
Owen  Sound  visit  I  delay  till  August  or  so.  Mr.  McTavish*  will  do 
much  good  alone  just  now,  and  his  visit  will  pave  the  way  for  one 
from  me  after. 

"  You  are  expected  to  begin  at  Niagara,  on  the  21st.  Mr.  Nis- 
bet  goes  down  the  way  on  the  7th,  and  labours  six  weeks,  Mr. 
Esson,  also,  about  the  middle  of  June,  and  my  day  at  Fredericks- 
burg, &c. ,  will  be  the  21st.  The  Islands  will  also  come  under  my 
notice.  A  trip  to  Amherst  and  Wolfe  Islands  may  do  for  The 
Becord,  or  for  the  first  number  of  our  new  paper  if  it  goes  on." 

*  Now  of  Woodstock. 


220  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

Though  the  ocean  rolled  between,  he  forgot  not  his  old- 
world  friends.  To  his  college  companion,  the  Rev.  James 
Clason,  of  Dalzell,  between  whom  and  Codman,  the  young 
American,  he  had  acted  forty  years  before  the  part  of 
"  peacemaker,"  he  thus  writes  : — 

"  Toronto,  C.  W.,  24th  January,  1846. 

'*My  Dear  Sir, — You  are  one  of  the  oldest  friends  I  have  in 
the  world,  perhaps  the  very  oldest — and  I  must  not  even  seem  to 
forget  you  ;  but  our  intercourse  has  not  depended  on  me  altogether, 
otherways  you  might  have  had  reason  to  tax  me  with  forgetf ulness. 

"  I  have  one  near  me  who  is  a  good  amanuensis,  and  she  has 
been  my  secretary  on  many  occasions.  I  do  not  wish,  however,  to 
devolve  on  her  the  whole  business  of  correspondence,  and  more 
especially  in  the  case  of  such  old  confreres  as  you  and  I.  Many 
considerations  of  an  interesting  kind  rise  to  view,  when  we  look 
back  on  bygone  years — and  another  year  has  been  seen  by  us  both, 
while  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  our  Heavenly  Father  have  followed 
us  all  our  days.  A  good  many  months  have  passed  away  since  our 
arrival  in  this  far  land,  and  I  can  now  form  some  idea  of  what  a 
residence  in  Canada  is.  J  do  not  repent  my  voyage  across  the 
great  ocean,  nor  do  I  feel  that  I  did  wrong  in  breaking  asunder  so 
many  tender  and  endeared  ties. 

"  A  wide  field  of  usefulness  spreads  before  me  here,  both  as  a 
pastor  and  as  a  teacher.  I  have  just  finished  (Saturday,)  one  of 
my  most  interesting  weekly  exercises,  with  22  students — two  hours 
of  prayerful  searching  of  the  Scriptures  on  cases  of  conscience  and 
visitation  of  the  sick — for  we  take  up  Pastoral  Theology  on  Satur 
day  ;  while  two  hours  each  other  day  is  devoted  to  Systematic 
Theology  and  Church  History. 

*  *  Three  months  have  been  employed  by  me  in  this  way  ;  and 
whatever  may  be  the  style  of  the  execution,  assuredly  the  work 
itself  is  most  important  and  valuable  ;  more  so  than  anything  that 
ever  before  engaged  my  mind. 

'*  The  regular  lecturing  and  preaching  on  Sabbath  go  on  also,  and 
here  I  find  the  labours  and  preparations  of  former  years  of  great 
use  to  me. 

**  A  large  Bible  Class  also  takes  up  two  hours  of  Sabbath,  and 
Mrs.  Burns  has  upwards  of  30  young  women  regularly  at  her's. 

"  The  missionary  work  is  over  and  above,  and  a  large  part  of 
my  time  during  summer  was  occupied  in  that  way.  When  Dr. 
Willis  returns  from  the  Lower  Province  to  take  my  class  and  pulpit 
for  three  or  four  weeks,  I  expect  to  get  away  on  a  tour  beyond 
Lake  Simcoe — the  latest  settled  townships,  and  almost  all  Scot- 
tish ;  as  usual,  entirely  neglected.     It  is  to  my  mind  revolting  in 


DESTITUTION.      DISCOURAGEMENT.  221 

the  extreme  to  witness  such  palpable  proofs  as  I  have  seen,  of  the 
heartlessness  of  the  churches  at  home.  It  is  wonderful  that  there 
should  be  so  much  Christianity  in  Canada  as  there  is,  considering 
the  treatment  our  countrymen  have  received  and  are  receiving  at 
this  moment ;  for,  alas  !  not  one  minister  has  been  sent  out  as  yet 
by  tlie  Free  Church  to  this  Province,  and  every  mail  has  carried  to 
the  committee  most  earnest  appeals.  If  such  a  man  as  your  neigh- 
bour, Mr.  Buchan,*  would  come  to  this  land  (and  he  is  just  the 
man),  he  would  do  incalculable  service  ;  but  men  very  inferior  to 
him  every  way,  if  they  are  persons  of  real  piety  and  liveliness, 
would  do  great  good. 

"Some  hopeful  lads  are  at  the  Hall,  but  years  ought  to  elapse 
before  they  go  forth,  and  what  is  the  church  to  do  in  the  meantime? 
Vacancies  must  be  filled  up,  with  such  as  we  can  get.  The  patience 
of  the  people  is  exhausted,  and  Scotsmen  you  know  mill  have  minis- 
ters. We  have  above  thirty  stations  in  this  one  Presbytery  of  Tor- 
onto to  supply,  and  Mr.  Rintoul  and  I  are  the  only  ministers  ;  our 
young  men  are  therefore  sent  forth  as  catechists,  and  this  interrupts 
their  studies.  I  feel  myself  sinking  under  the  burden,  more  how- 
ever, from  discouragement  and  disappointment,  than  want  of 
strength. 

"  The  conduct  of  the  home  churches  is  what  I  complain  of ;  here 
every  encouragement  is  given. 

"  Not  one  of  us  has  had  any  sickness — not  an  hour's  illness — it  is 
the  finest  climate  in  the  world. 

*'  Young  Robert  is  fairly  launched  as  a  preacher,  nor  are  we 
without  tokens  for  good. 

"'  In  new  songs,  we  are  called  to  bless  and  magnify  His  name 
who  is  all  in  all. 

"  Please  remember  us  to  all  enquiring  friends. 

*'  Most  afibctionately  yours, 

*'  Robert  Burns." 

After  labouring  two  years  successfully  in  Toronto,  he 
had  a  season  of  discouragement.     He  thus  writes  : — 

*'  My  discouragement  preyed  so  much  upon  me,  that  when,  in 
March,  1847,  I  thought  of  a  visit  to  Nova  Scotia,  to  help  the 
churches  there  and  in  New  Brunswick,  in  their  sad  destitution,  it 
occurred  to  me  that  possibly  my  services  might  be  transferred  to 
another  colonial  field.  In  May  following,  my  son  was  licensed, 
and  with  the  not  unnatural  feelings  of  a  parent,  I  entrusted  my 
pulpit  and  my  charge  to  him  for  two  months. 

"  On  this  occasion,  besides  an  affectionate  address  and  present  of 
books  to  Mrs.  Burns,  from  her  senior  Bible  class,  the  following 

*  Tne  late  Rev.  Wm.  Buchan,  of  Hamilton,  Scotland, 


222  LIFE  OF  EEV.  BR.   BURNS. 

document,  signed  by  some  hundreds  of  sitters  and  members  in  the 
church,  was  put  into  my  hands  : — 

"May,  1847. 
"  The  memorial  of  the  undersigned  members  and  adherents  of 
Knox's  congregation,  respectfully  sheweth — 

*'  That  we  have  with  the  deepest  regret  heard  mooted  the  ques- 
tion of  your  leaving  the  congregation  for  some  other  sphere  of  use- 
fulness. 

* '  Under  the  strong  conviction  that  that  event,  were  it  now  to 
take  place,  would  seriously  impair  the  present  prosperous  condition 
of  the  congregation,  if  not,  indeed,  as  it  is  to  be  apprehended, 
wholly  endanger  its  existence,  we  are  most  anxious  to  avail  our- 
selves of  every  means  within  our  power,  to  induce  you  to  relinquish, 
if  you  should  have  formed  any  intention  of  leaving  us.  So  much 
of  what  is  favourable  in  our  present  position,  both  in  the  congrega- 
tion and  in  the  Church  to  which  we  belong,  is  attributable  to  your 
ability  and  untiring  energy,  that  the  apprehension  of  losing  the 
advantage  of  these  qualities  at  the  present  time  is  alarming.  We 
cannot  doubt  that,  to  an  unbiassed  judgment  fairly  considering  the 
whole  case,  it  will  manifestly  appear  that  your  translation  from 
among  us  would  be  attended  with  consequences  disastrous  to  our 
ecclesiastical  and  congregational  interests. 

"  We  therefore  desire  to  express  our  earnest  hope  that  a  serious 
consideration  of  the  welfare  of  the  congregation  will  impress  upon 
your  mind  the  conviction  that  it  is  your  highest  duty  to  continue 
to  devote  your  eminent  talents  to  the  labours  of  your  present 
charge  ;  and  we  fervently  pray  that,  by  the  blessing  of  the 
Almighty,  you  may  be  long  spared  to  spend  a  happy  life  among  us 
as  our  most  highly  esteemed  pastor." 

This  earnest  appeal  weighed  with  him  to  remain  in 
Toronto.     He  goes  on  to  say  : — 

"In  the  course  of  my  three  months'  absence  from  Toronto,  I 
visited  the  States,  and  collected  and  purchased  a  thousand  volumes, 
for  the  College  Library  of  Halifax ;  supplied  Halifax,  Pictou^ 
Prince  Edward's  Island,  and  the  city  of  St.  John,  New  Brunswick , 
with  preaching  on  Sabbaths  a»d  week-days,  to  a  greater  or  les» 
extent ;  visited  nearly  all  the  families  of  the  Free  Church  in  the 
two  cities  of  both  Provinces  ;  obtained  a  subscription  of  £1000  for 
the  erection  of  Chalmers'  Church  in  Halifax  ;  opened  the  Mechan- 
ics' Institute  as  a  temporary  place  of  worship  in  St.  John,  N.  B. , 
and  organized  the  nucleus  of  the  Free  Church  congregation  thei  e. 
All  this,  with  kindred  labours  of  a  similar  kind  before  and  since,  I 
looked  on  and  still  look  on  as  a  donation,  if  not  in  money,  at  least 
in  work  (which  is  the  same  thing)  from  the  Christian  members  of 
Knox's  Church,  Toronto,  to  their  more  destitute  fellow-membera 


BURNING  OF  OLD  CHURCH.      ERECTION   OF  NEW.        22S 

of  the  body  of  Christ.  Two  years  after,  I  made  a  shorter  visit  to 
Nova  Scotia,  and  opened  the  new  church  in  Halifax,  then  under 
the  ministry  of  my  esteemed  co-pastor  once  in  Paisley,  Mr.  Forres- 
ter, now  the  Chief  Superintendent  of  Education  for  Nova  Scotia. 
* '  While  I  was  in  Halifax,  in  1847,  the  temporary  erection  called 
Knox's  Church,  in  this  city,  was  burnt  to  the  ground." 

We  well  remember  the  "  burning."  Having  been  ap- 
pointed supply  during  father's  absence,  our's  was  the  last 
voice  heard  in  the  old  edifice.  The  last  sermon  preached 
in  it  was  on  Sabbath  evening,  the  31st  May,  1847. 

The  Sabbath  following  we  met  in  St.  Andrew's  Church, 
which  was  kindly  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  congrega- 
tion, who  subsequently  engaged  the  Temperance  Hall. 

Dr.  Burns  returned  with  as  great  rapidity  as  his  engage- 
ments in  the  Lower  Provinces  would  permit. 

Within  six  weeks  after  his  return,  the  foundation  was 
laid  of  the  present  stately  structure. 

A  sentence  of  his  comprehensive  address  on  this  occa- 
sion contained  the  germ  of  what  was  known  as  the  Mare 
Magnum  controversy,  in  which  some  of  his  United  Presby- 
terian brethren  took  friendly  issue  with  him.  It  was  con- 
ducted with  spirit  and  ability  on  both  sides.* 

He  kept  closely  by  his  post  while  the  work  went  on. 
Nothing  occurred  to  mar  it.     We  were  soon  receiving 

such  notes  as  these  : — 

''Toronto,  26th  May,  1848. 
"  We  are  getting  on  successfully,  the  vane  on  our  spire  having 
been  put  up  on  Wednesday  last,  and  towering  aloft  over  all  other 
erections  of  the  kind  in  the  city.  We  are  in  great  danger  of  getting 
VAIN  of  it.  These  are  externals,  but  they  are  of  importance  in 
their  relative  connexions.     Our  church  is  now  nearly  ready  for 

*  To  one  of  the  leading  champions  on  the  U.  P.  side,  he  once  said  (when  this  old  con- 
troversy was  recalled),  "  I  did  not  agree  with  your  letters  at  all,  but  you  treated  me  like 
a  gentleman."  For  such  intellectual  gladiatorship  he  had  a  strong  liking.  In  a  keen 
ar^'ument  on  some  great  principle  he  was  in  his  element ;  and  though  in  the  warmth  of 
debate  he  would  not  unfrequently  say  or  write  severe  things,  he  was  ever  quick  to  make 
the  amende,  and  slow  to  resent  any  fancied  or  real  wrong. 


224  LIFE  OF   REV.   DR.    BURNS. 

being  opened.  We  have  fixed  the  height  of  the  pulpit,  and  in  a 
few  weeks  all  will  be  completed,  Mr.  Bonar's  letter  will  show  you 
how  things  are  as  to  the  deputies. 

"I  am  thinking  of  writing  Dr.  McGillivray,  and  Mr.  Bayne,  of 
Gait,  who  may  both  preach  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  July,  and  the 
evening  diet  would  fall  to  myself. 

*'  The  only  subjects  on  which  a  diflference  of  opinion  is  likely  to 
prevail  at  Synod,  will  be  the  sustentation  fund  and  the  college. 
Both  are  well  worthy  of  serious  consideration.  It  is  rather  curious 
both  subjects  seem  to  be  agitating  our  friends  of  the  Free  Church 
at  home  also. 

*'  A  rival  college  at  Aberdeen  would  not  be  a  bad  thing  ;  the  evils 
of  monopoly  are  great. 

*'  I  have  just  completed  my  visits  to  all  the  Common  Schools  of 
the  city,  and  the  report  is  in  to-day's  Banner.  There  will  be  con- 
troversy about  it  of  course." 

"  Toronto,  11th  July,  1848. 

"  Our  opening  is  just  at  hand.  We  are  already  in,  i.  e.,  below, 
having  commenced  in  the  basement  floor,  Sabbath  before  last. 
Thus,  we  are  gathering.  Our  "  Laigh  Kirk"  is  crammed.  We 
now  take  in  200  or  300  more  than  before,  and  our  collections  show 
it.  I  am  kept  busy  just  now  by  the  Academy  examinations,  and 
-as  IVIr.  Gale  is  laid  up  by  sickness,  so  much  devolves  on  me. " 

*<  Toronto,  15th  August,  1848. 

"  Our  opening  is  fixed  now  for  the  3rd  of  September.  Mr.  Pat- 
terson (of  Tranent),  the  deputy,  is  to  be  up  to  preach,  and  pos- 
sibly another  (one  of  our  own  men). 

"  I  would  have  preferred  a  week-day  for  the  opening,  but  this 
could  hardly  be,  from  secular  considerations  and  engagements. 

"  We  had  a  large  congregational  meeting  last  night  for  arranging 
the  plan  of  an  extraordinary  collection  on  the  3rd.  The  plan  we 
have  adopted  is  : — 

"  '  The  distribution  of  blank  tickets  to  each  family  of  the  congre- 
gation, on  which  the  name  of  each  member  (parents,  children, 
domestics,  &c.,)  is  inscribed.  These  family  gatherings  to  be  laid 
up  for  the  3rd,  and  put  into  the  plate  on  that  day.' 

' '  Of  course,  although  you  are  not  now  an  inmate  with  us  here, 
we  still  look  upon  you  as  a  member,  and  I  would  like  to  have  in- 
scribed on  my  card  the  names  of  all  our  members." 

The  new  church  was  opened  at  the  time  fixed,  Sept.  3rd. 
The  Rev.  J.  Patterson,  of  Tranent,  deputy  from  the  Free 
Church  of  Scotland,  preaching  in  the  forenoon  and  even- 
ing ;  Dr.  Bums  in  the  afternoon. 


PARISH  WORK  IN  1850.  225 

A  few  extracts  from  the  many  letters  to  his  devoted 
partner,  when  we  visited  Scotland  together  in  1850,  may 
suffice  to  give  same  idea  of  the  work  of  these  years  : — 

"  I  tnist  that  all  goes  well  with  you — a  kind  Providence  watch- 
ing around  you — friends  happy  to  see  you,  and  the  light  of  our 
Father's  countenance  shining  on  your  soul. 

"  I  rather  think  you  will  not  return  to  Church  street  again.  I 
have  taken  another  house  in  York  street.  The  accommodation  will 
not  be  much  greater  than  at  present,  but  there  are  many  more  con- 
veniences— the  house  more  elegant  every  way — near  the  College, 
not  farther  from  church,  and  only  ten  dollars  more  of  rent.  We* 
get  possession  to-morrow,  but  the  rent  dates  from  October  1st.  I 
have  been  at  home  the  last  four  Sabbaths,  and  am  keeping  up  the 
classes  as  well  as  J  can .  Your  young  folks  meet  only  occasionally. 
We  had  a  pretty  good  meeting  on  Monday  eight-days,  but  the  night 
was  very  wet ;  we  got  nearly  five  pounds,  which  I  will  set  down 
to  account. 

"  Mr.  Lyal*  leaves  us  for  Nova  Scotia  in  a  few  weeks ;  he  preaches 
for  me  this  evening  (Thursday).  You  will  think  I  am  getting  rich 
on  marriages  ;  for  three,  I  got  17  dollars.  You  see  what  you  are 
losing  by  being  away.  I  fear  these  dollars  will  have  fled  before 
you  come  home.  They  will  cover  the  flitting,  and  this  belongs  to 
your  department  you  see. 

"  Say  to  Robert,  the  supplies  will  be  duly  attended  to.  The 
opening  is  fixed  for  the  first  Sabbath  of  November,  and  by  me  ;  this 
only  conditional.  I  will  take  charge  four  Sabbaths.  May  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Good  Lord  be  with  you.     I  am  wearying  for  next  mail. 

"My  visit  to  Hamilton  and  the  West,  occupied  me  nearly  three 
weeks.  The  voyage  up  and  down  Lake  Erie,  (nearly  300  miles,) 
from  Bufialo  to  Detroit,  by  the  splendid  steamer  Mayflower, 
was  very  delightful  and  healthful.  I  did  not  find  the  state  of 
matters  at  Amherstburgh  just  as  I  would  have  wished,  but  we  have 
done  our  duty,  and  truth  must  triumph  in  the  end.  It  was  on 
Saturday  morning  1  got  home,  and  preached  all  last  Sabbath.  I 
endeavoured  to  improve  the  solemn  events  which  had  taken  place 
on  both  sides  of  the  great  Atlantic — the  death  of  President  Taylor 
and  Sir  R.  Peel. 

"  I  am  busy  in  the  work  of  visitation,  taking  the  afternoon  and 
evening,  which  makes  it  more  pleasant  than  the  warm  forenoon. 

"  A  pleasing  event  is  the  probable  accession  of  Mr.  McLachlan, 
the  Cameronian  minister,  to  our  body.  He  has  made  his  formal 
application  to  the  Presbytery,  and  unquestionably  will  be  received. 

' '  We  have  had  pleasant,  and  I  think  profitable  prayer-meetings, 
and  good  attendance  on  the  Lord's  Day.  Let  us  hope  good  is 
doing. " 

*  Professor  Lyal,  then  of  Knox  College,  now  of  Nova  Scotia. 
P 


226 


LIFE  OF  KEY.   DR.  BUKNS. 


In  the  extensive  Saugeen  District  which  was  juet  "be- 
ginning to  be  settled  in  1851,  he  thus  indicates  his  inter- 

*  5th  August,  1851. 

"  You  will  not  be  altogether  pleased  with  my  depriving  you  of 
Mr.  Duncan,  at  your  late  solemn  season  of  fellowship.  The  truth 
is,  there  seemed  a  loud  call  on  us  to  send  a  missionary  to  those 
Huron  lands,  whose  spiritual  state  was  so  affecting ;  and  the  nephew 
of  the  Crown  Commissioner,  (McNab,)  just  setting  out  to  explore 
and  organize  the  settlements,  and  a  religious  man,  anxious  to  help 
on  our  cause,  presented  an  opening  not  to  be  rejected  by  us." 

In  1851  he  secured  for  over  300  of  the  71st  Highland 
Light  Infantry  the  right  to  worship  God  according  to  their 
consciences.  That  right  had  not  been  conceded  before. 
It  was  claimed  that  the  Established  Churches  of  the 
Empire  had  the  exclusive  privilege  of  ministering  to  the 
soldiers.  Dr.  Burns  disputed  that  claim.  The  authorities 
were  at  first  disposed  to  insist.  Ked  tape  seemed  likely  to 
carry  the  day.     But,  after  a  persistent  efibrt,  he  succeeded. 

The  men  were  marched  to  the  church  of  their  attach- 
ment. The  unflinching  advocate  of  their  rights  minis- 
tered to  them  for  over  a  year  without  fee  or  reward.  In 
addition  to  the  Sabbath  services  he  regularly  held  a 
prayer-meeting  amongst  them.  Many  a  lonely  toilsome 
walk  he  had  to  the  distant  barracks,  and  without  the  re- 
motest expectation  of  salary,  which  went  in  another 
direction.  We  had  the  same  regiment  under  our  care  the 
following  year,  and  a  noble  body  of  men  they  were — but 
we  were  more  kindly  treated  by  the  powers  that  be. 

When  they  left  Toronto  they  presented  their  friend 
with  a  splendid  gold  watch  and  chain,  and  a  warm  hearted 
address. 

To  anything  bearing  on  the  eldership  he  was  specially 


ELDERSHIP.      DR.   DUFF.  227 

partial.  He  had  himself  written  and  published  much  on 
the  subject,  and  counted  an  eflicient  body  of  elders  the 
sheet-anchor  of  the  church. 

"  Toronto,  5th  February,  1853. 

"Your  papers  on  the  eldership  are  valuable  and  well  timed.  I 
wish  we  could  get  a  supply  of  really  good  elders.  They  are  invalu- 
able. 

*'  Death  is  making  ravages  at  home  among  my  old  friends,  and 
the  loss  of  such  men  as  McLaggan,  Sievewright,  &c. ,  must  be 
deeply  felt." 

Two  months  afterwards  he  had  to  part,  in  circumstances 

peculiarly  sad,  with  one  of  his  best  elders  and  dearest 

friends : 

"  Toronto,  April,  1853, 
"  Our  excellent  friend,  Mr.  John  Burns,   took  his  departure 
yesterday  to  a  better  world.     Our  grief  is  deep  ;  the  loss  is  great ; 
the  widow  and  family  much  to  be  sympathized  with.''* 

Within  a  single  year  John  Burns,  of  Toronto,  John 
Eraser,  of  London,  and  James  R.  Orr,  of  Montreal,  three 
of  the  noblest  elders  in  our  church,  to  whom  he  was  specially 
attached,  were  not  suffered  to  continue,  by  reason  of  death. 

Eighteen  hundred  and  fifty -four  was  to  him  an  annua 
Tnirahilis — a  wonderful  year,  in  consequence  of  the  visit 
of  the  Apostle  of  India — a  blessed  avatar  to  this  entire 
continent. 

The  provincial  arrangements  devolved  on  him,  and  he 
went  about  them  with  his  whole  heart. 

"  Toronto,  10th  April,  1854. 
*'It  is  my  intention  to  go  down  with  Dr.  Duff  to  Cobourg  and 
to  Kingston,  but  I  cannot  stay  over  the  Sabbath  ;  at  least  I 
would  like  to  return  by  Saturday  morning,  my  single  object  being 
to  pay  respect  to  a  distinguished  man  and  esteemed  friend.  The 
doctor  accepts  your  invitation  of  course.     He  has  been  with  ua 

*  As  agent  of  the  church  and  editor  of  the  Record  Mr.  Bums  was  singularly  useful. 
When  cut  ofif  in  mid-time  of  his  days,  linked  with  such  noble  compeers,  many  cried, 
"  Help,  Lord,  for  the  godly  man  ceasetb,  for  the  faithful  fail  from  amoa%  th«  children 
of  men." 


228  LIFE   OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

eince  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  and  our  house  is  still  an  inn. 
Yesterday,  we  had  noble  work  of  it,  and  such  an  audience  I  fancy, 
as  was  never  seen  here  or  in  Canada  before.     Many  went  away. 

"  This  day  he  addresses  the  students  of  the  three  halls,  at  4,  and 
we  have  a  social  meeting  in  the  evening.  To-morrow  the  great 
meeting  takes  place  in  the  Wesleyan  Chapel,  and  on  Wednesday, 
we  have  the  breakfast  in  the  St.  Lawrence  Hall.  The  doctor  is 
greatly  overwrought,  and  yet  he  spoke  yesterday  with  great  vigour 
till  near  6  o'clock,  and  many  solemnly  interesting  truths  he  brought 
before  us.  W.  Lyon  Mackenzie  and  Charles  Lindsay  stood  at  his 
right  hand  on  the  pulpit  stairs  all  the  time.  We  made  collections 
for  the  missions  as  you  should  do,  but  the  crowd  was  against  our 
success.  We  mean  to  spend  two  hours  at  Cobourg,  on  Wednesday, 
Captain  Colcleugh  having  kindly  agreed  to  pause  j  thus  we  may  not 
be  with  you,  till  breakfast  time.'' 


i 


The  satisfaction  of  the  distinguished  visitor  was  ex- 
pressed in  many  ways,  and  when  about  to  leave  on  the 
20th  April,  of  that  year,  he  writes  from  Montreal : — 

"  And  now  I  cannot  leave  Canada  without  saying  how  thankful 
I  feel  to  God  for  even  this  short  visit.  Above  all,  my  dear  old 
friend,  and  father  beloved  in  the  Lord,  allow  me  to  express  to 
yourself  and  dear  Mrs.  Burns,  the  joy  of  heart  which  I  experienced 
in  meeting  and  conversing  with  you,  and  the  gratitude  of  heart  I 
shall  ever  cherish  for  all  your  uncommon  kindnesses  towards  my- 
self. The  Lord  recompense  you  both  a  hundred-fold  !  Excuse 
haste,  and  believe  me  ever,  «■ 

"  Affectionately  yours,  ■■ 

**  Alexander  Duff." 

Six  years  afterwards,  during  which  the  country  of  his 
love  and  labour  had  passed  through  a  reign  of  terror — 
writhing  in  throes,  which  ushered  her  into  a  new  and  nobler 
life — Dr.  Duff,  acting  as  the  mouthpiece  of  the  mission- 
aries, who  from  the  ends  of  the  earth  sounded  out  to 
Christendom  the  summons  to  prayer,  thus  wrote  : — 

"  Calcutta,  8th  August,  1860. 

**  My  Dear  Dr.  Burns,— Often,  often,  do  I  think  of  my  visit  to 
Canada,  and  of  the  warm  hearts  I  met  with,  from  London  on  the 
West,  to  Montreal  on  the  East. 

"  Since  then  great  events  have  transpired  in  many  lands.     But 


I 


DR.   DUFF.      DR.   GUTHRIE.  229 

in  a  Christian  point  of  view,  the  most  memorable  are  the  great  re- 
vivals of  religion  in  America,  Ireland  and  other  lands. 

"  How  intensely  we  have  been  longing  for  a  shower  in  this  dry 
and  parched  land,  the  Lord  knows  !  That,  to  a  greater  extent  than 
heretofore,  the  spirit  of  prayer  has  been  stirred  up,  is  undoubted. 
But,  oh  !  how  feeble  are  our  prayers  and  all  our  efforts  !  Remem- 
bering, however,  that  we  ought  always  to  pray  and  not  to  faint,  we 
wish  to  persevere  and  to  *  give  the  Lord  no  rest'  till  He  arise  in 
His  glory  and  in  His  majesty,  and  shine  before  all  nations. 

'' The  enclosed  invitation  will  explain  itself.  Copies  of  it  have 
been  sent  to  all  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  should  the  object  com- 
mend itself  to  you  and  your  friends,  you  will  kindly  give  it  cur- 
rency through  the  religious  papers  and  magazines  of  the  Canadas. 
Oh  !  that  the  Lord  would  rend  His  heavens  and  come  down  !  Let 
that  be  our  unceasing  prayer  ! 

''  Things  here,  to  all  outward  appearance,  have  settled  down,  but 
not  so  in  reality. 

"  There  is  an  under-ground  rumbling  which  betokens  men'a 
minds  to  be  ill  at  ease.  But  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigns. 
That  is  our  happy  assurance.  And,  whatever  be  the  trials  in  store 
for  His  church  and  people,  the  issue  will  be  glorious,  for  the  mouth 
of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it.  To  Mrs.  Burns  and  all  friends  in  To- 
ronto and  elsewhere,  my  warmest  remembrances,  and  believe  me 
ever, 

'*  Yours  very  affectionately, 

.    ''Alexander  Duff." 

On  my  father  also  devolved,  several  years  afterwards, 
the  making  of  the  arrangements  for  Dr.  Guthrie's  expect- 
ed visit  to  Canada — arrangements,  which,  to  the  regret  of 
all,  had  to  be  abandoned  on  receipt  ol  the  following  : — 

"  Copley  House,  Thornton  Hough, 

"  Cheshire,  15th  April,  1867. 

"  My  Dear  Dr.  Burns, — You  will  probably  have  heard  before 
this  reaches  you,  that  I  left  the  Scotia  at  Queenstown,  hors  de  com' 
hat,  not  through  sea  sickness,  but  suffering  from  my  old  heart 
malady.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  describe  my  feelings,  but  they 
were  not  new  to  me.  I  had  endured  the  same  horrible  sensations 
on  a  night  voyage  aboard  a  steamer,  two  years  ago,  when  passing 
from  Geneva  to  Leghorn.  On  that  occasion,  I  resolved  I  would 
never  pass  another  night  at  sea,  so  long  as  there  was  a  carrier's  cart 
rumbling  along  the  road.  I  was  so  anxious  to  undertake  and  go 
through  the  American  enterprise,  in  the  hope  that  I  might  do 


230  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  BURNS. 

Bomething  to  draw  the  churches  and  countries  nearer  to  each  other, 
that  I  cast  all  warnings  behind  me.  We  had  a  capital  passage  to 
Qtieenstown,  so  far  as  the  ship  was  concerned.  The  Scotia  never 
eeemed  to  feel  herself  out  of  the  dock.  I  would  have  endured 
other  two  or  three  such  nights,  but  I  could  not  bear  the  prospect 
of  12  or  14  of  them,  and  unless  I  got  away  at  Queenstown,  I  knew 
there  was  no  other  escape  ;  and  I  embraced  it,  almost  as  glad  as  the 
Israelites  when  the  Red  Sea  opened  them  a  means  of  escape,  and 
the  way  to  the  other  shore.  However,  at  the  suggestion  of  some 
kind  Americans,  I  let  Charles  go  on — very  much  delighted  he  was 
ihat  he  also  was  not  doomed  to  disappointment. 

*'  He  will,  I  hope,  be  turning  up  in  Toronto,  and  I  am  sure  he 
will  find  no  lack  of  kindness  so  long  as  he  is  with  you  and  Mrs. 
Burns.  This  is  a  sore  disappointment  to  Ann  as  well  as  to  me — 
l)ut  it  just  afibrds  another  illustration  of  the  adage  '  man  pro- 
poseth  and  God  disposeth.' 

"So  we  must  just  hope  to  see  you  and  Mrs.  Burns  among 
iDurselves  again.  We  would  welcome  you  both  with  much  joy. 
JVIay  the  Lord  richly  bless  your  and  her  abundant  labours. 

"Ever  yours  affectionately, 

"Thomas  Guthrie." 

These  were  Tabor  visions  and  visits.  He  had  other 
experiences  as  well.     Thus  : 

"February  14th,  1856.  Confined  by  severe  inflammation  of 
side  till  Sabbath,  24th  February,  when  I  preached  all  day.  Phil, 
ii.  12-19  ;  Isaiah  vi.  27. 

"Feb.  27th.  Lists  made  up  of  communicants,  25.  Pleasing 
prayer-meeting. 

"  The  Communion  was  dispensed  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  March, 
Mr.  Inglis,  of  Hamilton,  aiding. 

"Action  Sermon,  Rev.  xix.  7,  8. 

"  From  that  day,  for  five  weeks,  I  was  laid  up  by  a  severe  bilious 
complaint,  but  through  much  mercy  was  restored,  and  after  being 
on  five  Sabbaths  in  succession,  absent  from  my  pulpit,  was  enabled 
on  the  third  Sabbath  of  April,  to  take  part  in  the  public  service, 
and  on  April  27th,  I  preached  forenoon  on  Judges,  vi.  13,  '  O  my 
Lord,  &c.'  Since  May  4th,  have  been  able  for  all  duties,  including 
Bible  Class.  Up  to  this  day.  May  24th,  I  have  been  engaged  in 
calh  on  members  of  the  church  and  on  others,  in  health  and  in 
Bickness, " 

The  preceding  brief  extract  from  his  day-book  records 
the  severest  sickness  he  ever  had,  "  for  indeed  he  was  sick 
nigh  unto  death,  but  God  had  mercy  on  him." 


SUFFERING  AND  SUCCOURING.  231 

It  followed  one  of  the  most  trying  periods  in  his  per- 
sonal and  public  history,  when  his  mind  was  on  a  constant 
strain  and  his  heart  knew  its  own  bitterness. 

He  notes  but  the  simple  facts,  without  a  word  of  com- 
ment.    His  vindication  came  from  an  unexpected  quarter. 

One  of  the  two  parties  who  formed  the  immediate 
occasion  of  the  trouble,  wrote  on  November  17,  1856,  to  a 
friend,  during  what  proved  to  be  his  last  illness : 

*'  Dr.  B.  and  I  were  good  friends  at  last.  He  came  to  see  me  fre- 
quently. If  I  had  seen  matters  then  as  I  do  now,  I  should  have  often 
said  :  '  Get  thee  behind  me  Satan.'  I  was  under  a  most  powerful 
influence,  with  much  malice,  backbiting  and  lying,  which  I  could 
not  perceive  in  the  mist  around  me.  I  hope  the  Lord  will  pardon 
all  connected  with  that  matter. " 

To  the  widows  of  ministers  his  sympathies  flowed  out 
very  warmly.  A  minister  once  filling  posts  of  honour  and 
usefulness  in  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland,  had  "  erred 
through  wine,  and  through  strong  drink  was  out  of  the 
way." 

Fleeing  his  native  country  he  took  refuge  in  Canada. 
We  found  him  one  day  in  the  Toronto  House  of  Industry 
— a  haggard,  woe-begone  looking  object. 

He  left  soon  after,  no  one  knew  where,  but  there  was 
strong  reason  to  believe  him  dead.  In  the  interests  of  the 
poor  widow  in  Scotland  he  took  up  the  case.  He  adver- 
tised freely  in  the  papers ;  corresponded  for  long  with 
Insurance  Companies  in  which  the  party  had  life  policies, 
and  with  the  managers  of  the  Free  Church  Widows'  Fund. 
At  last  he  got  evidence  which  was  deemed  satisfactory, 
that  the  unhappy  man  had  been  found  on  the  doorstep  of 
a  ti^vern,  speechless  through  intemperance,  was  taken  to 
the  Hospital,  and  soon  after  died.    At  different  times  it 


232  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 


I 


seemed  as  if  he  would  fail  in  his  benevolent  design; 
but  he  kept  persistently  at  it,  till  he  had  collected  each 
missing  link,  and  formed  a  chain  of  evidence  which  was 
irresistible. 

The  Insurance  Companies  paid  the  amounts,  and  Pro- 
fessor Macdougall,  professor  of  Moral  Philosophy  in  the 
Edinburgh  University,  and  convener  of  the  Free  Church 
Widows'  Fund,  wrote  thus  : — 

"Edi^^  BURGH,  6  Clarendon  Crescent, 

"  12tli  May. 

"  I  received  your  obliging  reply  yesterday,  just  as  I  was  starting 
for  our  annual  meeting.  It  will  gratify  you  to  learn  that  the  Trus- 
tees have  unanimously  voted  to  Mrs.  ,  the  full  annuities  for 

the  current  year. 

Before  the  Widows'  Fund  of  our  church  was  established 
he  took  up  individual  cases  as  they  occurred.  In  con- 
nection with  one  of  these  we  received  this  reminder  : — 

"  Toronto,  31st  Dec.  1850. 

"  I  rather  think  you  had  moved  long  ago  in  favour  of  the  H. 
Fund.  We  are  anxious  to  get  the  whole  collected  and  put  into  one 
sum,  for  the  purpose  of  investment  for  behoof  of  the  family. 

' '  A  new-year's-gift  thus  bestowed  will  not  be  lost.  A  boon  to 
the  widow  and  fatherless  will  receive  a  blessing.  Try  and  gather  a 
little,  and  send  it  up  to  me  as  soon  as  possible,  that  the  sum  may  be 
completed  and  invested  at  interest." 

Often  did  he  thus  cause  the  widow's  heart  to  .sing  for 

joy- 

The  repetition  of  such  instances  impressed  on  him  the 
need  of  a  general  provision.  He  was  familiar  with  the 
working  of  Life  Insurance  Companies.  With  the  "  Scot- 
tish Amicable"  he  was  long  connected,  and  for  many  years 
was  chairman  of  its  Paisley  board.  In  the  working  of 
the  funds,  both  in  the  Established  and  Free  Churches,  for 


widows'  fund,  gananoque.       23^ 

the  widows  and  orphans  of  deceased  ministers,  he  was 

thoroughly  versed.      When  the  matter  was    mooted  in. 

Canada,  he  took  it  heartily  up.     Those  who  initiated  the 

movement  found  him  a  willing  worker. 

On  one  of  several  tours  in  its  behalf,  he  writes  to  King- 

ston  to  us  : — 

**  Montreal,  August  1851. 

"  We  are  coming  on  very  successfully  with  our  collections  on  be- 
half of  the  Widow's  Fund.  St.  Gabriel  street,  already  £153  ;  Cote- 
street,  £192  10s.  I  think  we  shall  make  out  £450  or  £500  from 
both.  1  expect  to  go  down  to  Quebec  on  Friday,  and  Mr.  Walker, 
of  Newton-Stuart  has  come  up  to  assist  Mr.  Fraser  on  Sabbath. 
This  day  (Fast  Day,)  falls  to  me.  I  am  counting  on  being  with, 
you  on  the  12th,  and  you  will  circulate  the  address  when  you  please, 
notifying  also  on  Sabbath  first  my  intention  of  submitting  it  to  the 
practical  regards  of  the  congregation.  I  am  counting  also  on  Am- 
herst Island,  on  the  14th,  and  Picton  and  Belleville  as  proposed. 
You  will  send  circulars  and  a  note.     All  this  if  the  Lord  will." 

Rev.  Henry  Gordon,  of  Gananoque,  accompanied  him. 
during  part  of  one  of  these  tours,  and  was  with  him  also  on 
his  first  visit  to  Ottawa.  Linking  the  two,  with  a  glance 
at  his  last  visit  to  Gananoque,  he  says ; — 

"  The  next  intercourse  with  your  father  which  I  enjoyed,  was  in 
the  summer  of  1845,  I  think,  when  he  came  to  Canada  as  pastor  of 
Knox's  Church,  Toronto,  with  the  determination  to  devote  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  to  the  interests  of  the  Church  of  Canada,  and 
in  Canada,  the  land  of  his  adoption,  to  leave  his  bones  ;  which  he 
did — but  not  before  the  good  Lord  had  given  him  about  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  and  not  much  less  than  the  period  assigned  for  a  gen- 
eration, to  do  his  Canadian  work,  which  was  carried  on  with  little 
or  no  interruption,  in  continuously  sustained  vigour  and  elasticity 
of  mind,  almost  to  the  last  hour. 

"  When  he  came  to  spend  a  considerable  portion  of  the  Christ- 
mas holidays  of  1867  with  me,  the  limbs  indeed  gave  tokens  that 
the  outward  house  was  tending  to  decay,  but  declension  in  mental 
vigour  in  the  pulpit  was  very  little  visible,  and  on  the  occasion  of 
collecting  at  my  house  some  of  his  old  Paisley  acquaintances,  and 
a  good  many  others,  giving  a  pretty  fair  representation  of  the  Gan- 
anoque community,  the  American  part  inclusive ,  there  was  so  little 
lack  of  that  vivacity  so  characteristic  of  Dr.  Burns,  that  at  the 
close  of  this  social  gathering,  I  was  thanked,   as  one  by  one  they 


284  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

wished  good  night,  for  having  given  them  the  opportunity  of  meet- 
ing so  pleasing  a  specimen  of  a  cheerful,  entertaining,  instructive 
old  age. 

* '  But  to  take  up  the  thread  of  my  narrative.  It  was  on  the 
occasion  of  Dr.  Burns'  coming  to  Ottawa,  then  called  By  town,  to 
preside  at  the  ordination  of  my  m^uch  valued  friend,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Wardrope,  that  on  coming  to  the  spot  where  travellers 
land,  the  face  so  well  and  so  long  known,  and  which  seemed  to 
say,  '  T  love  the  work  on  which  I  have  come,'  was  recognized  by 
me,  and  the  well-known  voice  thus  greeted  me  : — '  Mr.  Gordon,  1 
am  glad  to  see  you  ;  I  have  seen  your  missionary  pony  and  Mr. 
Hepworth  on  it,  and  I  am  glad  he  is  using  it  for  missionary  work ;' 
alluding  to  my  friend,  Mr.  Hepworth,  a  gratuitous  labourer  in  the 
Lord's  vineyard,  nearly  if  not  altogether,  and  who  surpasses  the 
fame  of  Goldsmith's  Country  Parson,  '  passing  rich  with  forty  pounds 
a  year  j'  for  I  can  attest  that  my  friend  has  been  engaged  in  volun- 
tary evangelical  labours,  in  a  circuit  of  perhaps  30  miles  in  circum- 
ference, since  1846,  and  30  dollars  a  year  would  be  a  fair  average 
estimate  of  his  income,  perhaps  less.  He  has  acquired  an  art,  not 
known  in  our  days,  of  living  without  money. 

"  Your  father  preached  a  good  many  discourses  at  Ottawa,  and 
many  belonging  to  dijfferent  denominations  were  hearers.  The 
comments  of  a  person  with  whom  I  was  not  acquainted,  but  who 
entered  frankly  into  conversation  with  me,  (I  do  not  think  that  he 
belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,)  comes  to  my  mind,  and  were 
to  this  effect : — '  That's  the  preacher  fitted  to  do  much  good — 
sound,  lively,  but  no  wlld-^re  about  him.'  His  visit  to  Ottawa  left 
these  impressions  on  the  brethren  and  congregations  of  our  church, 
that  the  Lord  had  sent  a  man  of  preaching  qualifications,  of  those 
active  and,  in  a  good  sense,  flexible  social  habits,  suited  to  a  young 
rising  country  of  mixed  races. 

"  I  had  a  good  deal  of  intercourse  with  your  father,  in  his  jour- 
neying labours  in  behalf  of  the  schemes  of  the  church  ;  in  particu- 
lar, at  the  time  of  founding  '  The  Widow's  Fund.'  I  went  round 
with  him  in  my  own  locality  and  somewhat  in  Brockville,  and  was 
struck  with  the  zealousness,  cheerfulness  and  knowledge  of  human 
nature  with  which  he  went  about  it.  I  remember  that,  in  visiting 
a  widow  lady,  whose  son,  a  farmer,  happened  to  be  absent,  we 
came  into  the  house  after  a  journey  from  Kingston,  on  one  of  these 
cold  sharp  days,  not  a  little  tending  to  the  sharpening  of  physical 
powers — it  being  about  4  o'clock,  p.  m. ,  and  not  having  dined. 
The  Canadians'  serve-all  tea,  butter  such  as  we  find  at  farmers' 
houses,  and  cakes,  that  kind  we  never  saw  in  Scotland,  crullers  I 
think  they  call  ihem,  were  among  them ;  but,  as  far  as  I  can  remem- 
ber, the  common  help  at  all  times,  ham,  was  awanting — well,  abun- 
dance of  all  this  was  soon  seen  spread  out  on  the  table — and  another 
strong  proof  was  added  to  the  innumerable  proofs  before,  that 
alcohol  is  not  needed  for  raising  the  spirits. 


IN  THE  COTTAGE.      LOKD   DALHOUSIE.  235 

"  For  altho'  your  father  in  his  constitutional  temperament  was 
generally  lively,  1  think  that  I  never  saw  a  more  generous,  copious 
outflow,  than  when  partaking  of  that  kind  woman's  repast,  and 
praise  of  the  cakes  (not  so  dangerous  as  praises  to  our  poor  imper- 
fect fellow  creatures,)  was  not  spared.  Your  father's  kindly  way 
with  the  people  had  won  ihis  woman's  heart,  and  her  remark  to  me 
was  '  dear  me,  I  was  in  trouble  that  I  had  sae  unco  puir  a  table  for 
the  Doctor,  but  his  fine  homely  way  made  me  soon  forget,' — a 
S3Sson  for  the  stiff  and  stately  ones.  This  stiffness  is  often  an  ex- 
crescence which  needeth  the  knife." 

My  beloved  old  friend  recalls  a  marriage  feast  fresh  in 
my  recollection,  when  my  father  (as  was  not  unusual),  did 
the  honours  of  the  table.  Reverting  next  day  to  the  dis- 
play by  him  of  the  very  feature  which  came  out  in  the 
Gananoque  cottage,  the  mother  of  the  bride,  in  the  exuber- 
ance of  her  feelings,  exclaimed,  putting  a  strong  accent  on 
the  second  syllable  of  "  comfortable,"  and  giving  a  little 
variation  to  the  first  : — '^  Oh,  but  the  doctor  was  the 
confortable  man  that  nicht." 

To  lend  a  helping  hand  to  ingenuous  youth  commenc- 
ing life,  was  a  real  pleasure  to  him.  Many  applications 
he  made  to  men  in  business,  and  sometimes  to  those 
high  in  power,  in  their  behalf.  Thus,  for  a  young  man 
in  no  way  related  to  him,  he  applied  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment when  the  present  Earl  of  Dalhousie  (then  Mr.  Fox 
Maule),  was  in  office,  and  received  from  his  lordship  a 
reply,  an  extract  from  which  will  be  found  interesting : 

"  War  Office, 

"  nth  January,  1849. 
"I  received  your  letter  some  few  days  since,  and  am  rejoiced  to 
hear  that  it  has  pleased  God  to  prosper  you  in  the  land  where  you 
are  placed.  The  prosperity  of  His  Church  is  at  all  times  a  source  of 
deKght,  but  that  of  the  portion  of  it  with  which  we  are  connected, 
is  peculiarly  so.  Your  college  beats  that  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  England  in  its  numbers,  and  I  trust  will  be  sufficient  to 
supply  preachers  of  the  Gospel  to  our  North  American  Colonies, 


236  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

without  drawing  away  from  the  old  country  such  men  as  yourself. 
I  read  with  great  interest  the  account  of  Knox's  Church,  and  I  am 
happy  to  see  that  you  agree  with  me  in  opinion,  that  beauty  of 
structure  of  the  House  of  God,  is  not  inconsistent  with  purity  of 
devotion  to  God  himself.  T  have  been  in  Toronto  many  years  since, 
but  my  visit  was  hurried,  and  the  condition  of  the  place  at  that 
time,  left  no  great  impression  of  its  advantages  in  my  mind.  It 
must  be  greatly  altered  since  then,  and  it  would  gratify  me  more 
than  I  can  say,  were  I  able  to  revisit  that  loved  haunt  of  my  youth, 
from  Quebec  to  Niagara. 

"  To  come,  however,  to  the  marrow  of  your  note,  I  fear  that  M's. 
son  can  receive  little  help  from  me. 

' '  People  are  apt  to  think  that  because  a  man  is  in  power,  he  can 
get  anything.  It  is  exactly  the  reverse.  Unless  you  have  it  in 
your  own  department,  you  have  less  chance  than  the  humblest  sup- 
porter of  Government.  Moreover,  every  step,  at  present,  is 
towards  reduction,  and  so  my  difficulty  is  insurmountable. 

"  I  regret  to  return  so  ungracious  an  answer  to  your  request, 
which,  however,  I  am  glad  you  have  been  induced  to  make,  as  it 
has  given  me  the  pleasure  of  hearing  of  your  doings  and  yourself. " 

He  was  often  the  "  afflicted  man's  companion"  In  the 
chamber  of  sickness  his  visits  were  peculiarly  prized.  He 
knew  how  to  speak  a  word  in  season  to  those  who  were 
weary.  In  the  morning  of  his  ministry  he  had  learned 
obedience  by  the  things  which  he  suffered,  and  thus  ob- 
tained an  aptness  to  teach  those  occupying  forms  in  the 
same  school,  its  severe  though  salutary  lessons. 

''  31st  Dec.  1850. 
"  We  have  been  in  painful  anxiety  these  days  past,  regarding  our 
beloved  Rebecca.  Every  hour  we  are  expecting  a  telegraphic  an- 
nouncement. If  the  dear  suflerer  is  still  present  in  the  body,  let 
her  know  from  us  that  we  constantly  remember  her  at  the  heaven- 
ly throne — that  we  desire  her  spiritual  advancement  and  joy — that 
we  commend  her  in  faith  to  Him  in  whom  she  trusts,  and  that  we 
sympathize  most  tenderly  with  the  afflicted,  and  we  fear,  by  this 
time,  bereaved  husband.  My  dear  partner  would  write  at  length, 
were  it  not  that  the  last  intelligence  seemed  to  be  the  prelude  of  an 
hourly-expected  fatal  announcement.  Assure  the  Messrs.  G.  that 
all  the  wishes  and  hints  in  their  letters  will  be  most  punctually  at- 
tended to,  and  that  our  house,  whether  by  day  or  by  night,  is  at 
their  service.  May  the  God  of  all  grace  be  with  the  interesting 
sufferer,  and  at  even-time — may  there  be  light !" 


SYMPATHY.      MK.   CLASON.  237 

To  his  life-long  friend,   Mr.    Clason,   he  wrote   thus 

sympathisingly,  when  "the  desire  of  his  eyes  was  taken 

away  with  a  stroke"  : — 

'<  Toronto,  5th  May,  1848, 

"  My  Dear  Old  Friend, — Your  late  painful  trial  in  the  loss  of 
your  beloved  partner,  demands  a  token  of  sympathy  from  me,  and 
I  willingly  offer  it.  We  had  heard  through  various  channels  of 
dear  Mrs.  C.'s  illness,  but  had  not  anticipated  a  fatal  result.  We 
have  since  learned  the  particulars  from  mutual  friends  in  Edin- 
burgh, and  yet  a  detail  of  them  from  yourself  or  Rebecca,  (when 
you  can  bring  your  mind  to  it,)  will  be  to  us  most  agreeable,  more 
especially  as  regards  interests  more  sacred  and  solemn  than  those 
of  the  body  and  the  termination  of  a  life  temporal.  What  we  have 
heard  in  this  respect  is  so  pleasing,  as  just  to  excite  a  desire  to  hear 
more.  In  the  meantime,  we  offer  our  united  condolence.  We  have 
met  with  you  often  at  the  heavenly  throne,  and  commended  all 
your  concerns  into  the  hands  of  our  common  Father,  praying  that 
divine  support  may  be  imparted  in  this  your  time  of  need,  and  that 
all  things  may  be  made  to  work  together  for  your  good.  We  sympa- 
thize with  you  in  the  removal  of  one,  so  many  years  your  compan- 
ion in  this  vale  of  tears,  and  the  sharer  of  your  joys  and  sorrows  ; 
and  we  sympathize  with  each  and  all  the  members  of  your  family 
on  the  breaking  of  a  tie  betwixt  them  and  her,  so  tender  and  so 
endearing.  You  and  I  have  often  been  called  to  minister  consola- 
tion to  others  ;  now  you  are  called  to  test  the  value  df  that  conso- 
lation in  your  own  experience  ;  and  I  can  say  from  personal  know- 
ledge in  circumstances  similar,  that  never  does  the  Gospel  which 
we  preach  commend  itself  more  to  the  understanding  and  to  the 
heart,  than  when,  amid  bereavements,  it  lays  open  its  blessed  foun- 
tains of  comfort  and  of  joy.  Many  lessons  also  will  spring  out  of 
the  retrospect  of  the  past,  while  the  hope  of  a  re-union  in  a  better 
land  is  sweetly  soothing. 

"  Amid  your  growing  infirmities — for  both  you  and  I  must  think 
of  these  while  we  feel  them — the  new  tie  to  heaven  thus  formed  in 
your  case,  will  be  at  once  comforting  and  strengthening,  and  your 
closing  days  may  be  among  your  brightest.  It  is  now  upwards  of 
forty  years  since  you  and  I  used  to  exchange  letters,  and  our  period 
of  sacramental  intercourse  has  been  not  greatly  short  of  this,  and 
without  interruption  from  any  cause  of  an  uijpleasant  nature . 

"  It  was  just  this  week,  twelve  months  ago,  when  enjoying  for  the 
first  and  last  time,  fellowship  in  communion  with  our  old  friend  at 
Dorchester,  near  Boston,  we  had  you  and  yours  before  us,  and 
many  recollections  of  other  times.  He  is  gone,  and  you  and  I  must 
be  getting  our  houses  in  order,  for  the  knell  is  striking  for  us  both. 
Oh,  my  dear  friend,  there  is  indeed  a  reality  in  the  things  of  God, 
and  in  the  solemnities  of  a  coming  world  ;  a  reality,  which  such 


238  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

events  as  the  present  presses  more  strongly  upon  us.  May  we  grow 
in  experimental  acquaintance  with  the  truths  we  have  so  long  been 
honoured  to  preach,  and  may  we  exemplify  their  spirit  more  than 
we  have  hitherto  been  enabled  to  do.  My  partner  will  accompany 
this  with  a  few  lines  to  R.  My  son  is  with  us  at  present,  (from 
Kingston,)  and  I  go  down  to  take  his  pulpit  on  Sabbath.  T  have 
had  many  causes  of  gratitude  in  Robert,  who  has  early  been  called 
into  the  vineyard,  and  whose  field  is  large  and  inviting." 

Travelling  four  years  ago  in  a  distant  part  of  the  State 
of  Wisconsin,  we  chanced  to  be  entertained  by  one  who 
had  served  during  the  late  American  war  as  a  brave  Com- 
modore. 

After  dinner,  his  wife  mentioned  that  for  a  season  they 

had  sojourned  in  Toronto,  under  the  ministry  of  Dr, 
Burns.  A  very  promising  daughter  left  behind  at  school 
had  fallen  sick  and  died.  She  spoke  with  a  beating  heart 
and  swimming  eyes  of  his  assiduous  attentions,  and 
showed  me  a  long  letter  written  by  him  to  her  (dated 
August,  1850,)  directed  to  her  Western  home,  in  which  he 
tenderly  broke  to  her  the  sad  intelligence,  and  conveyed 
words  of  counsel  and  comfort. 

Nor  did  he  lose  in  Toronto  his  Paisley  character  of  the 
"friend  of  the  'poor^  He  was  ready  to  distribute,  willing 
to  communicate.  No  one  can  enumerate  his  benefactions, 
for  "not  letting  the  left  hand  know  what  the  right  hand 
doeth"  was  fully  acted  out  by  him. 

"  His  warm  friend,  Alexander  McGlashan  (says  one  who  knew 
him  well),*  occasionally  blamed  the  good  doctor  for  being  more 
generous  than  his  means  could  ajfford,  and  as  they  often  went  about 
together.  Dr.  Burns  sometimes  adopted  measures  to  prevent  his 
friend  knowing  the  extent  of  his  liberality.  On  one  occasion  they 
visited  a  widow  with  whom  the  doctor  sympathised  in  her  need, 
and  when  leaving  the  house  he  left  a  glove,  saying  to  Mr.  McGlas- 
han when  about  to  enter  the  carriage,  that  he  had  left  it.     Then, 

*  Rev.  R.  WaUace,  West  Church,  Toronto. 


GENEROSITY.      PUBLIC  SPIRIT.  23& 

returning  alone,  he  placed  an  envelope  in  the  hand  of  the  widow 
containing  twenty  dollars," 

*'I  have  met  him  on  his  missionary  tours  (continues  the  same 
kind  friend),  which  were  frequent,  preaching  daily,  or  almost  every 
day,  and  presenting  to  the  people  where  he  stayed  the  '  Memoirs 
of  McCheyne,'  volumes  of  sermons,  such  as  *  Burder's  Village 
Sermons,'  and  other  works  that  he  thought  would  advance  the  in- 
terests of  godliness  among  the  people.  In  order  to  this  he  spared 
no  expense  and  grudged  no  outlay.  He  truly  despised  the  un- 
righteous mammon,  and  followed  his  Master's  admonition,  '  make 
friends  to  yourselves  of  the  mammon  of  unrighteousness.'  He  was 
noted  for  the  generous  liberality  with  which  he  aided  new  and  weak 
congregations  and  mission  stations  ;  in  several  instances  encourag- 
ing them  to  purchase  pulpit  Bibles  by  contributing  freely  to  that 
object,  as  well  as  to  the  erection  of  new  churches.  On  one  occa- 
sion, after  he  had  preached  at  a  missionary  station,  the  treasurer 
offering  him  five  dollars  to  pay  his  expenses  from  Toronto,  he  asked, 
*  What  is  this  ?'  Being  told  that  it  was  to  meet  his  expenses,  he 
took  out  a  five-dollar  bill,  and,  putting  it  on  the  other,  said  to  the 
treasurer,  '  add  this  to  it,  and  get  a  pulpit  Bible.'" 

Be  it  remembered  too,  that  he  was  quite  dependent  on 
his  salary.  But  he  would  stint  himself  for  other's  good. 
He  gave  to  feel. 

In  the  'public  questions  which  agitated  his  adopted 
country  he  felt  a  deep  interest.  His  extensive  correspond- 
ence as  Secretary  of  the  Colonial  Society  made  him  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  these.  The  vexed  subjects  of  the 
Clergy  Reserves  and  Rectories  had  not  to  be  studied  by 
him  for  the  first  time  on  his  arrival.  "With  their  nature 
and  bearings  he  was  perfectly  familiar,  and  he  entered  at 
once  the  lists  as  an  accomplished  athlete,  in  a  contest 
which  was  ere  long  to  eventuate  in  triumph.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  feelings  which  the  "liberal  spirits"  of  the  day 
cherished  towards  the  "Star  Chamber,"  under  whose 
crushing  despotism  the  country  had  groaned. 

By  speecnes  and  letters,  by  joining  in  deputations  and 
otherwise,  he  aided  those  faithful  men,  who  had  been  so 
long  fighting  the  hydra  of  bigotry  and   exclusiveness, 


240 


LIFE  OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


which  had  been  feeding  on  the  fat  of  the  land,  and  to 
whose  voracious  maw,  truckling  politicians  were  ready  to 
sacrifice  the  dearest  interests  of  their  country. 

A  few  years  saw  it  in  its  death- throes,  and  none  rejoiced 
more  than  he  in  its  dissolution. 

In  1847-8  he  published  in  the  Banner  a,  series  of  letters 
to  the  Earl  of  Elgin,  the  Governor  General,  on  the  liberal- 
izing of  the  University  at  Toronto,  the  non-partition  of 
the  University  Fund,  and  the  introduction  of  important 
improvements  into  the  course  of  study. 

In  September,  1849,  he  printed  in  the  Montreal  Witness, 
in  a  similar  way,  some  suggestions  of  a  practical  nature, 
which  met  the  approval  of  members  of  the  Government. 
The  bill  of  the  Hon.  Robert  Baldwin  covered  the  whole 
ground  which  he  had  sketched.  The  main  points  for 
which  he  and  others  had  contended  were  secured  with  an 
unanimity  that  failed  not  to  excite  surprise. 

With  the  political  leaders  on  both  sides  he  was  intimate, 
as  also  with  the  then  Governor,  (Lord  Elgin,)  whose  cause 
he  warmly  espoused  at  a  period  when  he  considered  him 
unjustly  treated. 

Dr.  Burns  had  a  remarkable  insight  into  human  charac- 
ter. On  various  occasions  during  his  Canadian  life,  he 
was  under  the  painful  necessity  of  exposing  the  base  and 
baseless  pretensions  of  parties  who  professed  to  be  the 
agents  of  certain  religious  and  benevolent  societies.  On 
two  of  these  occasions  he  was  subjected  to  much  trouble 
and  annoyance,  and  knew  what  it  was  to  be  "  persecuted 
for  righteousness  sake." 

He  was  ever  a  warm  friend  of  Israel,  and  every  well- 


JEWISH  SOCIETY.      LUBLIN.  241 

designed  and  well-directed  effort  for  Jewish  Evangeliza 
tion  met  his  cordial  approval.  But,  convinced  of  the  un- 
reliability of  some  of  the  accredited  agents  of  a  certain 
Jewish  Society  in  New  York,  he  "  withstood  them  to  the 
face  because  they  were  to  be  blamed."  They  made  re- 
peated visits  to  Canada  between  1850  and  1853,  and 
carried  away  from  an  over-credulous  public  considerable 
sums  of  money. 

The  revenue  of  the  society  in  a  single  year  rose  occasion- 
ally to  fourteen  thousand  dollars.  Some  of  the  best  men 
about  New  York  allowed  their  names  to  be  put  forward 
among  the  office  bearers,  with  an  easy  trustfulness,  which, 
however  amiable  and  kindly,  Dr.  Bums  felt  not  to  be 
right. 

He  wrote  and  spoke,  and  put  himself  to  great  labour 
and  expense,  to  convince  them  of  their  error.  He  travelled 
to  New  York  to  make  enquiry  on  the  spot ;  and  published 
in  a  pamphlet  of  forty  pages,  a  scathing  exposure. 

The  result  was,  that  those  who  formed  the  elegant 
frontispiece  to  the  society,  convinced  of  its  hollo wness, 
withdrew,  and  the  whole  institution  soon  after  went  down 
"  unwept,  unhonoured  and  unsung." 

No  sooner  had  one  Hebrew  bubble  exploded  than 
another  rose  on  the  surface. 

One  Lublin,  who  professed  to  be  a  Hungarian  Jew, 
sought  to  palm  his  pretensions  upon  the  religious  public 
of  Toronto,  in  April,  1853 — and  too  successfully  for  a  sea- 
son. Dr.  Burns  stood  all  but  alone  amongst  his  brethren 
in  the  belief  that  the  man  to  whom  they  were  opening 
their  arms  and  their  pulpits  was  an  arrant  impostor.  He 
had  successfully  practised  on  the  gullibility  of  many, 
Q 


242 


LIFE  OF  EEV.   DE.   BURNS. 


when  Dr.  Burns  handed  him  over  to  the  police,  but  the 
legal  evidence  not  being  deemed  sufficient,  he  was  let  go. 

So  soon  as  he  got  out  of  the  clutches  of  the  law,  he  im- 
mediately disappeared,  and  was  afterwards  discovered  to 
be  a  scoundrel  of  the  worst  class. 

This  was  a  dark  epoch  in  Dr.  Burns'  history — but  "my 
God  will  stand  by  me  and  the  cause  of  rectitude  will  tri- 
umph"— was  his  resolute  language,  and  soon  he  found  that 
"  unto  the  upright  there  ariseth  light  in  the  darkness." 
The  triumph  in  both  instances  was  so  signal,  that  his  fel- 
low citizens  of  all  shades  of  sentiment  gave  expression  to 
their  respect  and  gratitude,  and  a  magnificent  gold  medal, 
and  a  handsome  sum  of  money,  presented  by  a  large  and 
influential  deputation,  headed  by  Dr.  Ormiston,  were  the 
substantial  expressions  of  it.* 

Many  other  illustrations  of  his  skill  in  "  trying  the 
spirits"  might  be  adduced.     As  for  example — the  case  of 

the  Roman  Catholic  Priest  L ,  a  pretended  convert — 

who  had  excited  considerable  interest  and  sympathy  in 
the  city.  A  public  meeting  was  to  be  held  in  Toronto  to 
hear  this  celebrity.  In  the  forenoon  of  the  day  of  the 
meeting,  he  called  to  get  Dr.  Burns'  name  on  the  list  of 
friends,  and  after  some  conversation,  presented  a  very 
formidable-looking  diploma,  or  something  of  the  kind,  as 
his  credentials. 

*  The  inscription  on  the  Gold  Medal  was  this  : 

"  Veritas  Vincit  (Family  motto), 

"Presented  to  the  Rev.  Robert  Bums,  D.D.,  of  Knox's  Church,  Toronto,  by  a  lar^e 
body  of  citizens  and  others,  as  a  token  of  respectful  esteem,  and  in  testimony  of  his 
faithfulness  and  zeal  in  the  cause  of  Truth,  in  having  on  various  occasions  detected  im- 
postures practised  on  the  public ;  and  more  especially  of  his  exalted  moral  courage  under 
peculiarly  embarrassing  circumstances,  in  having,  notwithstanding  the  most  unscrupu- 
lous conduct  of  volunteered  abettors,  successfully  frustrated  and  exposed  the  audacious 
career  of  the  accomplished  impostor  and  swindler,  Lublin,  a  pretended  Hungarian 
nobleman,  Moravian  Bishop  and  convert  from  Judaism,  and  an  agent  of  the  '  New  York 
American  Society  for  meliorating  the  condition  of  the  Jews.'    Toronto  January,  1854. 


5 


J 


IMPOSTUEES  EXPOSED.   PROGRESS.       243 

Dr.  Burns  read  a  little  of  it,  and  then,  turning  to  his 
visitor,  said  :  "  Sir,  there  are  many  bad  things  at  Rome, 
but  there  is  good  Latin  I  That  never  came  from  the  Vati- 
can as  you  say."  The  fellow,  wincing  under  the  startling 
rebuke,  withdrew,  and  left  the  city  as  fast  as  he  could. 

Referring  on  one  occasion  to  eight  kindred  instances, 
some  of  them  applications  for  admission  to  the  ministry, 
when  his  keenness  of  discernment  did  good  service  to  the 
interests  of  religion  and  morality,  he  said  :  "  In  every  one 
of  these  cases  I  happened  to  know  just  a  little  more  than 
my  brethren  knew,  and  while  they  complained  of  me  at 
first  for  my  '  rashness,'  our  church  (but  for  this)  would 
have  been  far  more  corrupt  than  it  is,  by  reason  of  foreign 
admixtures." 

As  to  the  results  of  his  pastorate  in  Toronto,  a  brief 
statement  of  his  own  may  be  given  : — 

"  Of  the  progress  of  the  congregation,  since  the  com- 
mencement of  my  ministry,  the  following  table  of  admis- 
sions of  members  may  give  some  idea. 

A  Communion  List  of  Knox's  Church,  extracted  from  the  Session 
Record^  this  10th  December,  1855. 
Roll  as  it  stood  on  23rd  May,   1845,  the  day  when  Dr. 


A  dm 


Burns  was  inducted 

215 

itted  in  Sept.  1845,  First  C 
*'  Feb.  1846—48. 

ommunion    

80 

Sept.  1846—23 

71 

"         ''  Feb.  1847—38. 

Sept.  1847— 34 

72 

"  Feb.  1848—33. 

Sept.  1848—18 

51 

"  Feb.  1849—40. 

Sept.  1849     51 

91 

"         "  Feb.  1850— 74. 

Sept.  1850—21 

95 

*'  Feb.  1851-55. 

Sept.  1851—25 

80 

"         "  Feb.  1852—25. 

Sept.  1852—34 

59 

"  Feb.  1853—39. 

Sept.  1853—30 

69 

"  Feb.  1854—37. 

Sept.  1854—70 

107 

"        "  Feb.  1855—35. 

Sept.  1855—39 

74 

1064 
Being  an  average  of  about  80  per  annum. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


PROFESSORSHIP. 


.^ 


R.  BURNS  visited  Kington  as  delegate  from 
the  Free  Church  of  Scotland  on  Friday  and 
■"  Saturday,  the  19th  and  20th  of  April,  1844!. 
On  the  7th  of  March,  1842,  Queen's  College, 
had  been  opened,  with  Thomas  Liddell,  D.D. 
of  Lady  Glenorchy's,  Edinburgh,  as  Principal,  and 
the  Rev.  P.  C.  Campbell,  M.A.,  as  Professor  of  Clas- 
sical Literature  and  Belles  Lettres  (now  the  Very 
Rev.  Principal  Campbell,  of  Aberdeen).  Seven 
theological  students  were  in  attendance  at  the 
time  of  Dr.  Bums'  visit.  Six  of  these  waited  upon  him, 
intimating  their  intention  of  separating  from  the  Estab- 
lished Church  of  Scotland  and  of  connecting  themselves 
with  the  Free  Church.* 

*  The  names  of  these  six  students  were,  we  believe,  Angus  McColl,  John  McKinnon, 
Robert  Wallace,  Lachlan  McPherson,  Thomas  Waxdrope,  and  Patrick  Gray. 


I 


KNOX   COLLEGE.      MR.   GALE.  ^4iO 

In  July,  1844,  the  disruption  in  Canada  occurred.  The 
new  body  took  the  old  name,  "  The  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Canada,"  dropping  simply  the  words  "in  connexion 
with  the  Church  of  Scotland."  In  the  Fall  following,  Knox 
CoUege  was  established.  The  Rev.  Andrew  King,  M.A., 
of  Glasgow,  afterwards  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Halifax,  who  had  come  out  as  a  delegate,  was  induced  to 
remain  over  the  winter,  and  to  act  as  interim  Professor  of 
Theology  and  Hebrew.  With  him  was  associated  the 
Rev.  Henry  Esson,  M. A.,  as  "  Professor  of  Mental  and  Moral 
Philosophy,  Classics,  and  General  Literature."  The  college 
was  opened  on  the  8th  of  November,  1844,  with  fourteen 
students.  For  a  time  it  dwelt  "  in  tents,"  shifting  from 
James  street  to  Adelaide  street,  in  smaU  unadorned  edi- 
fices ;  then  to  something  better,  in  what  forms  part  of  the 
present  Queen's  Hotel;  thence  to  its  present  quarters, 
which  it  is  hoped  will  give  place  by  and  by  to  a  build- 
ing more  in  accordance  with  the  advancing  spirit  of 
the  age  and  the  increased  wants  and  resources^  of  our 
church. 

We  have  already  noticed  that  Dr.  Bums  for  a  time  com- 
bined the  professorship  with  the  pastorate.  His  first 
communication,  after  deciding  for  Canada,  was  to  the  stu- 
\  dents.  So  soon  as  he  arrived  he  commenced  arrangements 
for  their  benefit.  He  prevailed  on  the  Rev.  Alexander 
Gale  to  devote  a  month  to  the  preparation  for  winter 
work  of  those  who  had  remained  in  the  city.  He  laid 
great  stress  on  the  preliminary  training, — on  what  he 
denominated  "grinding," — and  that  gentleman  kindly 
undertook  this  duty. 


246 


LIFE  OF   IlEV.   DK.   BURNS. 


"  Hamilton,  Tuesday,  Sept.,  1845. 
"  Mr.  Gale,  at  my  request,  agrees  to  take  charge  of  the  students 
for  one  month,  and  to  reside  at  our  house,  where  the  students  will 
meet  with  him  for  at  least  three  hours  a  day,  for  exercises  in  lan- 
guages and  philosophy.  Mr.  Gale  is  well  qualified  in  every  way 
for  this  work,  and  I  hope  that  the  young  men  will  profit  much 
under  his  tuition.  He  will  also  preach  for  me  on  the  10th.  I  need 
scarcely  say  that  we  rely  on  your  paying  all  attention  to  Mr.  Gale's 
comfort. " 

We  were  privileged  to  enjoy  the  teachings  of  that  ami- 
able and  accomplished  man,  with  the  little  band  that  had 
gathered  some  weeks  before  the  commencement  of  the 
session  in  the  humble  tenement  in  James  street,  which 
formed  the  cradle  of  Knox  College.  His  fatherly  counsels, 
and  the  exercises  upon  "  Watts  on  the  Improvement  of  the 
Mind,"  and  kindred  text-books,  were  of  lasting  benefit. 

In  those  days,  when  Upper  Canada  College  was  largely 
under  High  Church  influence,  and  our  public  school  sys- 
tem was  but  in  its  infancy,  feeling  the  importance  of  a 
preparatory  school  as  a  feeder  to  the  college,  Dr.  Burns 
urged  strongly  the  establishment  of  such  an  institution. 
Toronto  Academy  was  the  result.  He  drew  up  the  cir- 
cular regarding  it,  and  acted  as  chairman  of  the  board. 
Mr.  Gale  was  made  Principal  of  the  Academy,  and  Profes- 
sor of  Classical  Literature  in  Knox  College.  Associated 
with  him  were  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  Wightman  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Henning.  Both  boarding  and  day  schools  were 
conducted  with  distinguished  ability,  and  proved  a  great 
blessing.  When  the  public  educational  institutions  were 
placed  on  a  footing  in  accordance  with  the  views  of  our 
church,  the  Toronto  Academy,  which  had  satisfactorily 
served  its  end,  was  discontinued. 
In  the  higher  female  education,  Dr.  Bui^ns  also  felt  a 


4 


FEMALE   EDUCATION.      ''GRINDING."  247 

deep  interest.     He  prevailed  on  Christian  ladies  of  sound 

principles  to  open  seminaries,  which  might  be  an  offset 

against  those  well-known  establishments  to  which  parents 

of  lax  notions  are  too  prone  to  send  their  daughters  at  an 

age  when  the  character  is  most  susceptible  of  impressions, 

and  the  mind  receives  a  set. 

''Toronto,  Aug.  26,  1853. 

"  The  S are  now  fairly  embarked.     Perhaps  Kingston  may 

bring  a  few  boarders.  We  have  embraced  the  range  of  the  evan- 
gelical churches,  and  they  seem  hearty.  These  Popish  and  Puseyite 
seminaries  are  eating  out  our  vitals.  Female  seminaries,  if  properly 
conducted,  and  on  sound  evangelical  principles,  will  exercise  a 
commanding  influence  on  the  churches  and  on  the  community — a 
subject  of  far  greater  importance  than  many  suppose. 

"  I  send  you  a  letter  from  Dr.  Guthrie,  that  you  may  let  Mr.  O. 
and  others  see  the  light  in  which  the  thing  is  regarded  in  Scot- 
land." 

Dr.  Burns  served  in  the  college  till  the  arrival  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Willis  as  permanent  professor  and  Principal.  His 
prelections  embraced  Church  History  and  the  Evidences  of 
Christianity,  with  occasional  lectures  in  cognate  depart- 
ments. He  had  a  good  deal  of  "  grinding"  in  the  elemen- 
tary branches,  and  was  ready  to  set  his  mind  in  any  direc- 
tion where  he  felt  there  was  a  want. 

On  the  matter  of  "  preparatory  training"  he  laid  gi'eat 
stress,  and  published,  in  1848,  a  lengthened  document  ex- 
planatory of  his  views.  These  did  not  meet  at  the  time 
with  that  measure  of  favour  which  he  desired,  but  they 
were  subsequently  carried  out,  substantially,  in  the  tutorial 
arrangements.  Such  supplementary  provision  for  ground- 
ing in  the  elements  was  needed,  at  the  period  of  his  per- 
sistent advocacy,  to  a  degree  which,  with  our  present 
improved  educational  advantages,  we  cannot  fully  appre- 
ciate. 


248  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

After  Dr,  Willis  had  entered  on  the  duties  from  which 
he  has  recently  retired  with  a  record  of  over  twenty  years' 
honorable  service,  Dr.  Burns  at  intervals  rendered  efficient 
aid  as  occasional  professor. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  1856,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
chair  of  Church  History  and  Apologetics,  and  loosed  from 
the  pastorate.  A  few  extracts  from  his  diary  thereafter 
may  be  given ; 

**  June  24th. — Over  to  St.  Catharines;  drew  the  address  on 
college  buildings. 

"  27th. — Examined  books  on  church  history. 

**  July  29th. — Have  now  got  six  lectures  on  the  Evidences  ready, 

"Aug.  8th.— At  Guelph  ;  collected  £22  for  CoUege. 

"  10th. — Hamilton,  forenoon,  Judges  vi.  13,  Gideon  ;  evening, 
6.30,  Dundas. 

*'  11th. — Making  calls  with  Mr.  Walker,  collecting. 

"  12th. — Went  down  to  Wellington  Square,  preached  on  2  Cor. 
V.  21 ;  at  Waterdown  at  7,  on  Rom.  xv.  39. 

'*  13th. — At  Cummingsville,  on  Luke  xxiii.  46. 

*'  ]4th. — Collected  of  money,  £90  ;  but  the  amount  of  subscrip- 
tion is  £175. 

"  15th. — Dundas  ;  subscription  £20  ;  arrangements  made  for 
collecting. 

"  16th. — At  Gait ;  preached  forenoon  and  evening,  2  Cor.  iii.  18. 

"  19th. — Set  off  for  Doon  ;  sermon  at  7.  New  Hope  omitted — a 
pity. 

"  21st.— At  Berlin  and  Woolwich. 

*'  24th.— Preached  at  Fergus,  2  Cor.  v.  21 ;  and  Elora,  1  Peter 
iv.  18,  '  Scarcely  saved.' 

"26th. — Preached  at  Mount  Forest,  forenoon  and  evening; 
rising  place  ;  conversed  about  the  site  ;  agreed  to  enquire  about  it. 

"  27th. — At  Durham,  church  roofed  ;  shall  they  sell  ?  examined 
the  ten  acres  ;  preached,  Rom.  vii.  9  ;  addressed  on  College  ;  keen 
contest  about  M.  P. 

"  28th. — Dangerous  ride  up  to  the  Sound. 

"  29th. — To  Collingwood  ;  church  matters  there  going  on  well.'* 

In  September  we  find  him  preaching  and  addressing  at 
Grimsby,  Clinton,  Niagara  Falls,  St.  Catharines,  Port  Dal- 
housie,  Niagara,  Woodstock,  Innerkip,  Ingersoll,  London 
Lobo,  Williams,  Komoka,  Westminster,  &;c. 


I 


I 


3 


COLLEGE  LABOURS.      BURSARIES.  249 

**  October  Ist. — Delivered  (opening)  lecture  on  the  Literature  of 
the  Christian  Ministry — large  attendance  ;  good  many  students 
Coming." 

To  the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  the  seminary  he  brought 
an  enthusiasm  which  never  flagged.  Looking  out  for 
students,  gathering  books  for  the  library  or  curiosities  for 
the  museum,  influencing  friends  to  establish  bursaries 
and  scholarships,  collecting  subscriptions  for  the  college 
buildings,  securing  works  of  standard  theology  for  stu- 
dents at  reduced  rates,  and  commending  the  institution 
in  every  way  he  could  to  the  sympathies,  the  prayers, 
and  the  liberality  of  the  church. 

In  its  behalf  he  undertook  a  journey  to  Great  Britain 
in  the  summer  of  1857,  in  company  with  the  Rev.  Donald 
Fraser,  then  of  Montreal,  afterwards  of  Inverness,  and 
now  of  London,  himself  a  graduate  of  the  institution.  It 
was  his  first  visit  since  leaving  his  native  shores,  and  his 
appearance  and  advocacy  on  the  floor  of  the  Free  Church 
General  Assembly  awakened  much  interest.  A  consider- 
able amount  of  money  was  collected,  and  much  advantage 
in  various  ways  accrued  to  the  institution.  Latterly  he 
made  a  specialty  of  the  bursary  fund,  establishing  a  bur- 
sary himself,  Mrs.  Bums  founding  another,  and  several 
relatives  and  friends  following  their  example.* 

*  My  father  always  set  a  high  value  on  bursaries  or  scholarships  as  aids  to  deserving 
students.  The  obtaining  of  these  he  made  a  specialty  in  his  efforts  for  the  college.  On 
one  occasion,  in  Scotland,  he  made  an  effort  in  this  direction  in  behalf  of  a  member  of 
his  own  family ;  for  with  his  limited  income  and  open-handed  charity  it  was  not  easy  to 
make  the  '*  ends  meet."  An  omitted  portion  of  his  autobiography  refers  to  this.  "  Forty 
years  had  rolled  away,  and  three  peers  in  succession  had  occupied  the  ducal  chair  of 
the  palace  at  Hamilton,  when  it  came  into  my  mind  to  make  a  slight  experiment  on  the 
memory  and  the  heart  of  a  Scottish  nobleman  to  whom  of  course  I  was  totally  unknown. 
My  son  Robert,  formerly  of  St.  Catharines,  now  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  U.S.,  was  in  1842 
commencing  his  studies  in  theology  at  Glasgow  College.  The  Hamilton  bursaries  are 
'  golden'  ones  ;  and  a  gift  worth  the, taking  is  surely  worthy  of  being  asked.  I  amused 
myself  penning  a  letter  to  the  duke,  when  at  the  palace,  stated  the  facts  of  the  case,  my 
father's  claims,  and  my  son's  standing  at  college ;  sending  at  the  same  time  my  friend 
Professor  Buchanan's  high  certificate.    Ten  days  brought  me  an  answer  from  the  duke's 


250  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  BURNS. 

The  circulation,  at  half  price,  of  Dr.  Cunningham's  work? 
which  he  accomplished  on  a  large  scale  among  the  stu- 
dents, was  a  gieat  boon.  This  he  was  enabled  to  do 
through  the  generosity  of  several  gentlemen,  specially  of 
Mr.  Joseph  McKay,  of  Montreal,  who  had  previously  done 
so  much  to  defray  the  expenses  of  preachers  coming  to 
Canada. 

Through  a  similar  arrangement  "Mosheim's  Church 
History  "  and  other  works  were  secured  for  a  trifle.  Many 
young  men  on  their  settlement  in  charges  received  dona- 
tions of  books  from  him. 

He  was  frank,  generous,  and  kindly  in  his  intercourse 
with  his  students.  To  the  stiffness  and  starchedness  of 
magisterial  authority  he  was  ever  a  stranger.  The  punc- 
tilious etiquette  which  stands  on  its  dignity,  and  insists 
on  ceremonious  deference  to  its  exacting  behests,  he  could 
not  away  with. 

To  empty-headed  conceit  when  accompanied  by  flip- 
pant impertinence  he  would  show  no  mercy.  A  shallow 
youth,  desiring  to  annoy  him  by  unearthing  a  buried 
controversy,  asked  him  if  he  could  let  him  have  a  copy 
of  a  long-forgotten  pamphlet,  which  he  had  issued  during 
the  heat  of  it — he  replied  "  No  !  but  I  once  published  a 
discourse  on  'Young  men  exhort  to  be  sohev'minded,' 
and  if  you  come  across  a  copy,  I  would  advise  you  to 
study  it." 

A  student    being  examined  before   Presbytery,  who 

confidential  adviser,  that  his  grace  had  considered  and  respected  my  claim,  and  that  my 
presence  at  Hamilton  was  immediately  called  for.  With  a  light  and  joyous  heart  I 
obeyed  the  summons.  An  offer  of  three  years  at  thirty  guineas  or  two  years  at  fifty  were 
in  my  choice,  and  the  deliberations  were  pleasantly  going  on,  when  the  trying  event  of 
the  disruption  of  the  church  took  place  ;  and  I  and  my  son,  with  every  expression  of 
latitude  to  our  noble  patron,  respectfully  declined  the  proffered  boon." 


ANECDOTES.  251 

was  not  distinguished  for  his  profundity,  was  asked  by 
him  :  "  Where  was  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith 
compiled  ?"  He  received,  in  a  hesitating  tone,  the  reply — 
"  I  suppose  dii Edinburgh,  Doctor !"  He  would  not  smile  on 
such  occasions,  though  the  scenes  were  sometimes  ludic- 
rous in  the  extreme.  Tired  with  the  inaccurate  answers 
of  another  who  aspired  to  a  student's  position  in  Knox 
College,  he  pointed  to  a  folio  copy  of  "Brown's  Self-Inter- 
preting Bible"  on  the  table,  and  asked  "  What  does  self- 
interpreting  mean  ?"  "It  means,  sir"  (was  the  sage  re- 
sponse), "  John  Brown's  Bible,  interpreted  hy  himself — 
meaning,  sir,  that  it  was  himself  that  done  it  1" 

Another  who  had  launched  out  into  a  prayer  of  pro- 
digious dimensions,  had  to  be  stopped  by  the  associate  of 
the  Doctor,  though  at  his  suggestion,  to  prevent  their 
losing  the  conveyance  which  was  to  carry  them  to 
another  appointment. 

One  of  the  Synod  bores,  no  longer  in  this  country  (and 
there  were  a  very  few  such),  had  taken  the  floor,  and 
was  descanting  in  grandiloquent  style  on  the  Headship  of 
Christ  over  the  nations — reaching  the  climax  of  his  ora- 
tory in  the  scene  of  the  Gadarene  "Pork  Sellers." 
Thoroughly  tired  out  by  his  windy  wordy  vapouring, 
the  Doctor  rose,  and  said — "  Moderator,  I  am  amazed 
that  this  venerable  Court  can  listen  to  such  balderdash" 
The  orator  was  confounded.  Floundering  about,  he 
exclaimed — "  Moderator,  I  don't  know  where  I  was  last." 
"  You  were  among  the  SwiNE,"  replied  the  Doctor.  The 
caustic  response  took  amazingly,  and  did  the  delinquent 
good. 

But  these  cases  of  seeming  severity  were  exceptional 


252  LIFE  OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

His  general  bearing  was  genial  and  kind.  He  loved  story- 
telling. His  fund  of  anecdotes  was  inexhaustible.  An 
overflowing  treasury  of  incidents  and  illustrations,  with 
first-rate  conversational  powers,  made  him  the  best  of 
company.  The  puckering  of  the  lips,  the  sparkling  of 
the  eyes,  and  the  wreathing  of  his  countenance  with 
smiles,  would  be  the  precursors  of  some  happy  hit,  which 
would  convulse  the  company,  or  "  bring  down  the  house." 
He  never  deemed  it  a  sin  to  laugh,  or  considered  that 
there  was  the  remotest  connexion  between  godliness  and 
gloom.  He  generally  looked  on  the  "  sunny  side,"  and 
found  the  joy  of  the  Lord  to  be  his  strength. 

He  was  ever  ready  to  tender  advice,  when  asked,  to 
students,  in  the  prosecution  of  their  studies,  or  to  young 
ministers,  amid  the  struggles  and  difficulties  of  their  early 
ministry. 

"  I  cannot  look  round  my  study  (writes  one  of  them,  who  speaks 
for  many),  without  my  eye  falling  upon  some  book,  or  manu- 
script, or  manual,  that  is  closely  identified  with  his  personal 
and  fatherly  counsel  and  advice.  So  accessible,  so  frank,  and  so 
painstaking,  that  every  moment  found  him  engaged  with  some 
one  or  other  of  the  students,  in  private,  helping  them  out  of 
either  personal  or  educational  difficulties." 

A  few  extracts  may  be  given  from  his  correspondence, 
illustrative  of  this.  They  exhibit  his  views  on  Pastoral 
Theology — a  department  to  which  he  was  specially 
partial — and  into  which,  occasionally,  he  loved  to  turn 
aside,  though  it  came  not  directly  within  the  range  of 
his  professorial  duties  : 

"Toronto,  15th  Nov.,  1847. 

"  With  regard  to  pasiora?  visits  they  are  not  easily  managed  so 
as  to  be  edifying,  and  nothing  has  given  me  more  concern  than 
the  conviction  that  I  have  not  succeeded  in  making  them  so    use- 


1 


PASTORAL   HINTS.  253 

ful  as  I  would  have  wished.  My  second  visitation  of  all  the 
families  in  Knox's  Church  is  just  closed  ;  upwards  of  two  hun- 
dred— and  far  greater  pleasure  has  attended  it  than  on  the  first 
round.  This  has  arisen,  partly  from  my  getting  better  acquainted 
with  the  people,  and  partly  from  an  impression  on  my  mind 
that  things  are  advancing  with  us  as  to  personal  and  family  reli- 
gion. The  impression  also,  on  the  part  of  the  persons  visited,  has 
been,  I  learn,  more  pleasing  and  salutary.    Our  church  is  crammed. 

"  One  plan  will  not  suit  for  all  cases.  Where  there  are  a 
number  of  young  persons  and  domestics  I  mingle  a  good  deal  of 
catechizing,  with  direct  address  to  the  parents,  and  prayer. 
Where  there  are  mostly  adults  I  try  to  converse  with  each  on 
the  state  of  religion  in  their  own  minds,  &c.,  basing  this,  how- 
ever, generally,  on  a  suitable  passage  of  Scripture,  read  and 
spoken  from,  the  exposition  going  first,  and  occupying,  perhaps, 
ten  minutes.  It  is  very  difficult  to  get  persons  to  open,  or  to 
converse  freely  at  all  on  religion.  In  that  case  I  do  not  urge 
very  much,  but  address  earnestly  and  affectionately. 

*'  The  different  classes  I  always  speak  to  separately ;  not  in  dif- 
ferent rooms,  indeed,  but  insulating  them,  as  it  were,  and 
pointing  out  the  duties  and  snares  and  responsibilities  of  each. 

"  Half  an  hour  to  each  family.  Notice  sent  before.  Twelve 
visits  a  day.  I  generally  enquire  after  the  family  library — 
Bibles,  Testaments,  Catechisms,  Confessions  of  Faith — and  re- 
commend a  Commentary,  such  as  the  Tract  Society  one,  and  pay 
particular  attention  to  the  question  as  to  Family  Worship. 
Here  there  is  much  to  distress.  Some  have  it  on  Sabbaths  ; 
some  once  a  day ;  many,  never.  My  greatest  difficulties  have 
arisen  from  this  quarter,  and  you  will  find  it  so,  too.  The  duty, 
however,  is  far  more  attended  to  with  us  than  formerly.  Re- 
commend the  District  Prayer-Meetings.  These  are  better,  and 
distribution  of  good  tracts  is  useful,  along  with  the  visits,  al- 
though I  have  not  done  much  in  this  way.  The  education  of  the 
children  and  the  religious  state  of  the  servants  always  noticed  : 
domestics  of  whatever  denomination  always  present  and  conversed 
with.  In  the  case  of  Roman  Catholics,  no  controversy,  but 
warm  appeals  in  regard  to  the  Word,  the  work  of  Christ,  the 
danger  of  looking  anywhere  for  salvation  except  to  Christ,  the 
solemn  prospects  of  Death  and  Judgment,  and  the  folly  and 
madness  of  dependence  on  man. 

"  Gathering  pupils  for  male  and  female  Bible  classes  and 
Sabbath  schools  always  attended  to.  Thus  there  is  a  mutual 
feeding,  as  it  were.  Great  carelessness  I  find,  however,  in  these 
things.  Your  Sabbath  school,  by  being  re-modelled  under  your 
own  eye,  will  be  improved.  Our  Bible  classes  please  me  much. 
Keep  regular  books  of  visits ;  parents'  name  ;  profession ;  each 
child  ;  communicant  or  not  ;  servants  ;  denomination  ;  remarks, 
&G.     These  hints  may  be  of  some  use,  but  they  are  hurried" 


254  LIFE  OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

Toronto,  March  13,  1848. 

*/ 1  sympathize  with  you  on  the  difficulties  you  must  have  felt 
on  the  subject  of  admission  to  sealing  ordinances.  I  have  felt 
them  all  my  days,  and  they  are  increasing  every  day  with  me. 
My  opinion  is,  that  time  and  forbearance,  and  painstaking,  with 
much  prayer,  are  the  only  means  of  conquering  them.  Both  you 
and  I  have  sort  of  safety  valves  ;  and  yet,  1  am  always  sorry 
when  persons,  tired  of  my  efforts  for  their  good,  go  away.  Our 
standard  has  been  greatly  raised,  and  is  rising.  The  whole  system 
of  our  Free  Church,  if  properly  acted  out,  will  issue  in  this.  The 
style  of  preaching,  too,  will  affect  it,  and  above  all,  private  com- 
muning and  earnest  appeals." 

*'  Toronto,  19th  July,  1848. 

"  There  is  no  peculiar  difficulty  in  the  case  of  discipline  which 
you  bring  before  me.  After  communing  on  your  part  with  the 
parties,  they  must  both  appear  before  the  Session,  and  make  con- 
fession of  their  guilt.  They  are  then  rebuked,  and  appointed  to 
converse  with  two  members  of  Session,  who  are  understood  to 
satisfy  themselves,  not  only  of  their  apparent  penitence,  but  of 
the  regularity  and  consistency  of  their  walk  and  conversation.  On 
a  favourable  report  to  the  Session,  the  parties  are  admonished, 
and  prayed  with,  and  suitably  exhorted  as  to  their  future  conduct. 
They  are  thus  held  to  be  absolved  from  the  scandal,  and  re-ad- 
mitted (if  members  before)  into  fellowship.  If  not  previously 
members,  they  may  then,  one  or  both,  be  received  (after  due 
examination),  and  enjoy  the  privileges  of  the  church.  This  was 
our  uniform  practice  in  Scotland.  No  case  has  come  under  my 
notice  in  Canada.  Much  depends  on  the  symptoms  of  penitence 
and  steadiness  of  walk  since  marriage.  I  have  seen  us  keep  back 
parties  for  months  and  longer,  because  they  exhibited  no  other 
symptom  than  merely  a  fixed  determination  to  have  baptism  at  all 
hazards.  From  your  account  of  the  case,  there  seems  to  be  no 
danger  in  this  instance,  and  I  hope  and  pray  that  the  blessing  of 
the  Great  Head  may  rest  on  this,  apparently  your  first  call  to  a 
faithful  and  godly  discipline." 

"Toronto,  7th  Jan.,  1850. 

"  I  am  so  much  occupied  with  my  Church  History  and  Normal 
School  attendance,  in  addition  to  all  my  other  duties,  that  I  have 
scarcely  a  moment  for  extra  work.  We  have  heard  that  you  have 
taken  possession  of  your  basement  floor  as  a  temporary  place  of 
worship.  In  our  basement  I  had  two  months  public  labour  in 
preaching,  prior  "to  the  opening  of  the  church,  and  these  two 
months  were  to  me  very  sweet  ;  large  crowds  of  hearers,  all  near 
me,  and  the  impression  on  the  whole,  more  in  unison  with  my 
feelings  than  since  our  entry  into  the  greater  place. 

"May  souls  be  converted  to  God  by  your  ministry  !    May  your 


ADVICE  TO   YOUNG  MINISTERS.      PROF.   YOUNG.        *2o.> 

humble  place  of  assembling  be  a  birthplace  for  precious  immortal 
spirits  ! 

"  I  feel  no  discouragement  from  anything,  except  myself ,  and  I 
believe  that  causes  in  ourselves  are  specially  the  obstacles  in  our 
way. 

"  I  should  be  sorry  if  anything  like  depression  should  affect  you 
in  your  private  or  public  labours.  Any  tendencies  this  way  must 
be  guarded  against,  and  we  have  much  in  our  own  power.  Let  us. 
simply  rely  on  strength  beyond  our  own,  while  we  are  diligent  in 
the  use  of  all  means. 

"  In  quickness  of  utterance  I  was  considered,  when  a  young 
minister,  to  be  faulty,  and  after  my  first  visit  to  London  I  began 
to  imitate  the  solemn  pace  of  the  Evangelical  clergy  of  England, 
when  a  letter  was  sent  me,  complaining  of  my  "teasing  slow- 
ness," and  entreating  me  to  go  back  to  my  former  rapidity.  '*  In- 
medio  tutissimus  ibis. " 

' '  Simplicity  of  manner  is  of  great  importance  also.  But  these 
ire  the  externals.  Still,  they  are  of  value.  Oh  !  to  be  able  ta 
choose  acceptable  words  !  and  to  carry  Divine  truth  to  the  minds- 
of  our  hearers  in  a  way  somewhat  suitable  to  its  Divine  character, 
and  the  awful  responsibilities  it  involves  !" 

"Knox  College, 

Friday,  April,  1861. 

"  We  have  now  got  the  labours  of  the  Session  brought  to  a  close^ 
Our  final  examinations  were  very  full,  and  on  the  whole  successful. 
But  the  charm  of  the  close  was  Professor  Young's  expose  of  the- 
Oxford  Essays,  a  very  able  and  eloquent  piece,  which  I  regret  to 
say,  he  refuses  to  publish.  I  lent  him  the  book,  and  recommended 
the  theme  to  his  attention  ;  and  his  compliance  with  my  urgent 
request  was  to  me  very  gratifying,  and  the  style  of  its  accomplish- 
ment still  more  so.  The  subject  had  necessarily  engaged  much  of 
my  own  attention  in  my  evidence  class.  That  class  I  would  like 
Professor  Young  to  take  charge  of,  as  the  state  of  my  eyesight 
renders  it  very  difficult  for  me  to  peruse  fully  all  I  would  need  to- 
examine  on  the  new  phases  of  Infidelity. 

Dr.  Burns  had  lectures  fully  \mtteii  out,  but  his 
general  practice  was  to  prelect  from  elaborate  notes.  He 
emphasized  the  passages  which  he  intended  the  students 
to  take  down,  repeating  them  slowly  and  distinctly,  so- 
that  no  one  need  mistake  the  meaning.  He  was  a  good 
catechiser.     His  questions  at  the  close  of  each  Session,  to 


256  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

which  written  replies  were  required,  were  very  clear  and 
exhaustive. 

His  Church  History  course  embraced  the  Old  Testa- 
ment in  condensed  form,  with  a  vidimus  of  Church  His- 
tory proper,  selecting  certain  epochs  for  fuller  elaboration, 
with  occasional  dissertations  on  cognate  topics.  He  did 
not  believe  it  was  his  province  to  be  a  mere  chronicler  of 
dates  and'  facts,  or  a  delineator  of  ecclesiastical  battles. 
With  the  prominent  controversies  he  made  the  students 
sufficiently  familiar,  often  enunciating  the  principle :  "  If 
you  wish  to  refute  an  error  trace  it  to  its  source."  He 
would  indicate  without  illustrating,  directing  to  the 
sources  of  information  instead  of  going  into  all  the 
minute  details,  erecting  finger  posts  or  mile  stones  for  the 
travellers  along  the  pathway  of  knowledge,  rather  than 
being  by  their  side  at  every  step.  He  supplied  seeds  of 
thought  and  spurs  to  mental  effort. 

His  lectures  on  Apologetics  partook  also  of  this  cha- 
racter. With  the  tactics  of  the  old  opponents  of  the 
truth  he  was  thoroughly  versed.  Having  been  from  his 
youth  a  devourer  of  books,  and  retaining  the  habit  to 
the  last,  he  was  intimately  acquainted  also  with  the 
modern  modes  of  attack.  He  was  abreast  of  what  is 
called  ''the  advanced  thought"  of  the  times — though 
often  sorry  that  his  increasing  defect  of  vision  precluded 
his  reading  more  of  the  teeming  productions  of  the  press. 
He  was  well  aware,  however,  that  many  of  the  present 
instruments  of  assault  on  the  citadel  of  our  faith  were 
but  the  spent  shot  of  former  battles — the  ancient  cannon 
re-moulded  and  re-mounted  that  have  been  spiked  times 


4 


MONTREAL  COLLEGE.  257 

without  number,  and  even  turned  on  the  retreating  foe. 
He  was  generous  in  his  treatment  of  honest  and  sincere 
doubters,  but  with  the  sophistical  lucubrations  of  pre- 
tentious sciolists  he  had  no  patience. 

His  interest  in  Knox  College  remained  unabated.  All 
through  his  last  visit  to  the  old  country  it  was  on  his 
heart.  He  spoke  for  it  in  the  General  Assembly,  and  in 
private  circles.  He  also  published  a  circular  on  those  de- 
partments in  which  aid  was  specially  required. 

The  last  letters  he  wrote  were  to  its  Principal  and  to 
Dr.  MacVicar  of  the  sister  institution.  Between  the 
two  Colleges  he  always  endeavoured  to  maintain  the 
most  friendly  relations.  He  strongly  advocated  the 
claims  of  the  Montreal  College,  and  did  what  he  could 
for  its  benefit. 

In  the  report,  submitted  by  him  on  July  9, 1844,  to  the 
Colonial  Committee  of  the  Free  Church,  of  his  visit  to 
the  Provinces  of  British  North  America,  he  thus  writes  : 

"  Were  a  Theological  Institution  set  up  there  (Montreal)  under 
the  charge  of  the  ministers  of  our  church  in  the  chief  cities  of  that 
province,  it  would  not  only  receive  nearly  all  the  young  men  at 
present  under  the  charge  of  Queen's  College,  Kingston,  but  large 
accessions  from  the  districts  around.  A  circumstance  of  which  I 
was  not  previously  aware  demonstrates  the  facility  with  which 
Theological  Seminaries  may  be  instituted,  and  even  kept  in  effi- 
cient operation.  At  Toronto,  at  Cobourg,  and  at  Montreal,  I  found 
.institutions  of  this  kind  belonging  to  Methodists,  Independents, 
and  Baptists  maintained  ;  not  on  the  plan  of  expensive  and  im- 
posing baildings,  to  meet  the  eye  and  nothing  more,  but  on  the 
plan  of  an  able,  a  learned,  and  a  truly  humble  and  pious  agency, 
adapted  to  the  wants  of  a  young  country,  and  kept  up  at  a  mode- 
rate cost.  One  thing  is  certain,  that  the  want  of  regularly  organ- 
ized plaas  of  Theological  training,  adopted  at  an  early  period  of 
the  settlements  in  Nonh  America,  was  an  evil  whose  consequences 
are  developing  themselves  even  to  the  present  day." 

The  last  article  he  penned  was  with  reference  to  Knox 


258  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

College,  and  it  was  a  striking  coincidence,  which  was 
noticed  by  many,  that  the  Institution  within  whose  walls 
so  much  of  his  time  was  spent,  and  for  whose  interests 
he  laboured  and  prayed  so  earnestly,  became  the  scene  of 
his  last  illness  and  death. 

The  testimony  of  one  of  the  earliest  students  of  the 
College,  may  fittingly  terminate  this  chapter : 

'*  There  is  no  department  of  our  work  in  which  Dr.  Bums  took 
a  deeper  interest  than  the  training  of  young  men  for  the  ministry. 
He  soon  made  himself  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  wants  of 
our  Canadian  church,  and  his  sagacious  mind  clearly  perceived 
that  the  main  hope  of  our  church  was  in  raising  up  a  native  minis- 
try, men  brought  up  in  the  country,  feeling  at  home  here,  and 
both  understanding  and  sympathizing  with  the  peculiar  circum- 
stances of  the  people.  Hence,  he  devoted  himself  with  character- 
istic zeal  and  energy  to  the  establishment  of  Knox  College  for  the 
theological  training  of  our  students  for  the  holy  ministry.  Be- 
sides doing  so  much  to  collect  a  library  for  that  institution,  and 
devoting  himself  with  untiring  industry,  at  a  very  advanced  period 
of  life,  to  the  instructon  of  young  men  in  his  own  department,  he 
also  took  the  deepest  interest  in  the  personal  welfare  of  all  the 
young  men  attending  the  classes,  enquiring  after  their  circum- 
stances, providing  help  for  the  needy,  and  conversing  with  them 
on  the  state  of  their  hearts,  endeavouring  to  impress  on  their 
minds  the  greatness  and  grandeur  of  the  work  to  which  they  were 
looking  forward,  and  especially  the  necessity  of  being  entirely  con- 
secrated to  the  service  of  Christ.  Deeply  convinced  himself  that 
an  "earnest  ministry"  was  the  want  of  our  times,  he  did  much, 
both  by  his  own  example,  and  by  his  instruction,  conversations  and 
prayers,  to  give  to  our  church  the  priceless  boon  of  such  a  minis- 
try." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


MISSIONARY  LABOURS. 

R.  BURNS  rejoiced  in  being  a  missionary  at 
large.  His  labours  in  the  mission  field 
were  distributed,  at  intervals,  throughout 
the  entire  year. 

In  the  matured  glories  of  "  the  Fall"  he 
took  great  delight.  The  mild  and  mellow  "  In- 
dian summer,"  with  its  gauze-like  haze  overhang- 
ing the  landscape,  the  genial  air,  the  varying 
tints  of  the  trees,  the  gorgeous  tapestry  of  nature, 
presented  a  fairy  scene  on  which  he  loved  to  gaze. 
To  the  winter  sleigh  tour  he  was  specially  partial.  It 
became  a  standing  institution  with  him.  He  loved  to 
visit  the  churches,  to  see  how  they  did,  especially  in  the 
new  townships  where  men  are  "  famous  according  as  they 
lift  up  their  sharp  axes  upon  the  tall  trees."  In  many  a 
forest  cathedral  the  stump  of  a  tree  served  for  a  pulpit, 


260  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.    BURNS. 

the  canopy  of  heaven  for  a  sounding-board,  while  his 
clear,  sonorous  voice  carried  the  notes  of  salvation  to  the 
utmost  limit  of  the  thronging  multitude,  and  amid  throb- 
bing hearts  and  trembling  voices  and  tearful  eyes,  there 
ascended  the  sacrifice  of  praise.  That  familiar  verse  found 
a  new  meaning : 

"  Lo,  at  the  place  of  Ephratah, 
Of  it  we  understood  ; 
And  we  did  find  it  in  the  fields 
And  city  of  the  wood," 

Without  regard  to  chronological  order  or  geographical 
position,  some  extracts  may  be  given  from  a  mass  of  cor- 
respondence devoted  to  these  missionary  tours  : 

Knox  College,  Toronto,  Dec,  1859. 

"  We  are  just  oufc  from  our  joint  devotional  and  hortatory  meet- 
ing with  all  the  students,  the  Doctor  and  I  dividing  the  work  with 
Professor  Young. 

"  We  go  oflf  for  Osprey,  Artemesia,  and  three  other  northern 
townships,  to-morrow  morning  by  the  Northern  Railway,  and  two 
Sabbaths,  with  the  intervening  week-days,  will  be  devoted  to  mis- 
sion work,  I  say  we,  for  my  dear  partner  goes  with  me  for  the 
first  time  on  a  sleigh  excursion  to  any  distance,  and  I  trust  that  no 
evil  will  befall  us,  and  that  by  preaching,  visiting,  and  distributing 
books  and  tracts,  some  good  may,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  be  done. 

"  Quebec,  Aug.,  1863. — Arrived  at  this  ancient  historic  capital. 
I  have  had  one  Sabbath-day's  labours  in  Chalmers'  church,  and 
warm  as  the  weather  is,  I  have  stood  my  work  well.  To-morrow 
evening  I  preach  at  the  "  Cove,"  and  on  Thursday  in  the  church, 
the  ordinary  week-day  service,  and  I  am  arranging  with  Mr.  Clark 
for  our  united  missionary  labour  in  the  neighbourhood.  The 
communion  is  fixed  for  the  second  Sabbath  in  September,  and  after 
that  I  expect  to  come  direct  home,  as  the  Sabbath  I  mean  to  give  to 
Montreal  will  be  before  that,  and  after  Mr.  Redpath's  return  from 
England.     I  find  I  will  have  a  good  deal  of  time  on  my  hand  here, 

for  my  preparations  for  winter.     Mr.  C has  a  great  collection 

of  old  and  valuable  books,  and  there  are  also  public  libraries  that 
are  accessible.  Thus,  I  will  be  at  no  loss  for  useful  employment 
in  my  own  direct  line  of  study.     There  is  also  a  reading-room  at 

my  command  for  papers  and  reviews  and  magazines.     Miss  B 

has  picked  up  a  Scotch  gowan  among  the  bushes,  at  the  back  of  the 
house,  and  I  send  it. 


a 


QUEBEC  AND  VICINITY.      MR.    CLARK.  261 

"  I  am  getting  on  very  comfortably  with  my  work,  only  rather 
little  to  do.  Last  Sabbath  was  spent  at  a  small  Scottish  settle- 
ment, fourteen  miles  to  the  north,  and  among  the  hills.  The 
place  reminded  me  much  of  the  hills  of  Perthshire,  and  the 
scenery  around  is  nearly  Dunkeld  over  again.'* 

The  Rev.  W.  B.  Clark,  of  Quebec,  thus  interestingly 
writes  of  his  labours  in  that  region : 

"Quebec,  28th  Nov.,  1871. 

"  Tt  was  in  the  summer  of  1863  that  your  father  visited  me  at 
Quebec,  and  assisted  me  efficiently  both  in  my  own  pulpit,  and  by 
missionary  operations  in  the  neighbourhood.  He  remained  for 
about  six  weeks  altogether,  but  during  that  period  had  to  make  a 
journey  to  Ontario,  and  was  absent  from  us  one  Sabbath.  Hia 
visit  was  a  source  of  great  enjoyment  to  myself  and  family,  and  I 
am  sure  we  all  profited,  both  intellectually  and  spiritually,  from 
his  company. 

"  During  this  period  Dr.  Burns  visited  Stoneham,  where  we 
have  still  a  small  station  among  the  mountains,  about  seventeen 
miles  north  of  Quebec.  He  visited  Lorette  also,  an  Indian  vil- 
lage, where  a  small  remnant  of  the  Huron  tribe  still  reside,  and 
preached  to  a  few  Scotch  people  who  are  occupied  at  the  paper- 
mill  there.  He  also  visited  Portneuf,  and  spent  one  of  the  Sab- 
baths among  the  Scotch  settlers  there. 

"  It  was  his  earnest  desire  to  visit  the  stations  on  the  Kennebeo 
road  ;  but  as  there  was  no  public  conveyance  of  any  kind  to  that 
remote  district,  and  the  difficulty  of  travelling  a  distance  of  nearly 
ninety  miles  very  considerable,  I  opposed  his  going,  a  good  deal 
to  his  annoyance,  and  arranged  that  Mr.  Crombie,  then  of  Inver- 
ness, should  spend  two  Sabbaths  in  the  Kennebec  district,  while  I 
occupied  his  pulpit  in  Inverness  ;  the  Doctor  officiating  for  me  on 
one  of  these  Sabbaths,  and  somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Quebec  on  the  other. 

"  On  the  13th  of  September  it  was  our  communion  in  Quebec, 
when  the  Doctor  preached  the  action  sermon,  with  great  power  and 
efiect,  from  Revelation  i.,  18.  I  do  not  think  his  pulpit  power 
was  in  any  degree  diminished,  even  at  the  advanced  period  of  life 
which  he  had  reached  then.  He  was  feeble  on  his  legs,  and  was 
glad  to  get  hold  of  my  arm  when  walking,  but  when  he  ascended 
the  pulpit  all  the  vigour  of  youth  seemed  to  return. 

' '  He  was  a  laborious  man  even  then  ;  and  T  admired  the  indus- 
try with  which  he  collected  information  for  his  college  lectures 
and  some  literary  work  with  which  he  was  then  engaged.  With  a 
view  to  this  he  availed  himself  of  the  rich  stores  of  material  in  the 
Laval  University,  a  Roman  Catholic  institution,  where  he  was 
kindly  received,  and  aff'orded  all  facilities  of  reference,  by  the  re- 
spected librarian  of  that  institution. " 


262  ^        LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

At  this  time  he  spent  two  Sabbaths  in  Montreal,  which 
he  often  visited,  and  of  which  he  writes  : 

"  A  visit  to  the  commercial  capital  of  our  Province  (as  Montreal 
unquestionably  is)  is  always  interesting,  and  peculiarly  so  in  a 
moral  and  religious  view.  The  city  is  rapidly  on  the  increase  in 
population  and  wealth.  Its  near  vicinity  to  the  States,  its  valu- 
able railway  communication  with  Portland,  its  ocean  intercourse 
with  Britain,  and  its  many  mercantile  and  commercial  advantages 
give  it,  with  almost  moral  certainty,  the  prestige  of  the  "  New 
York  of  the  North."  Alas  !  it  is  the  stronghold  of  Popery  ;  and 
yet  Protestantism  is  nominally,  let  us  hope  really,  on  the  increase. 

"  The  Protestant  Church  is,  generally  speaking,  in  a  healthy 
state  ;  and  the  friends  of  Christ,  though  sectionally  divided,  love 
one  another.  There  are  able  ministers  in  all  the  churches,  and 
there  have  been  of  late  pleasing  revivals ;  and  the  noble  Institution 
of  McGill  College,  under  the  superintendence  of  an  accomplished, 
liberal-minded,  and  pious  Principal,  aided  by  a  thoroughly  quali- 
fied staff  of  Professors,  is  a  prominently  pleasing  feature  ■  in  the 
moral  picture.  The  Grande  Ligne  Mission,  and  the  Institute  at 
Pointe  aux  Trembles,  are  refreshing  exceptions  to  the  general 
apathy  of  Protestants  in  Canada  to  the  claims  of  the  numerous 
victims  of  a  degrading  superstition. 

"  The  British  commercial  mind  in  this  city  is  highly  enlight- 
ened, and  intelligence  on  all  subjects  of  mercantile  and  interna- 
tional interest  is  steadily  diffusing  itself  among  all  classes  in  the 
community." 

"London,  Ontario,  Monday,  April,  1864. — Not  quite  so  lazy 
this  morning  ;  up  at  seven,  and  feel  refreshed  with  sound  sleep. 
What  thanks  do  we  owe  to  the  Great  Keeper  of  Israel,  who  never 
plumbers  nor  sleeps.  I  preached  twice  yesterday  from  Rom.  v.  7, 
and  2nd  Thes.  i.  ]  0  ;  attended  also  the  Bible  class  and  Sabbath 
school,  and  addressed  both  ;  well  attended  they  all  are.  In  my 
last  I  quite  forgot  to  refer  to  what  you  say  about  a  call  from  Mr. 

H .     In  reply,  I  say  this  :    On  the  subject  of  the  Immaculate 

and  Supernatural  Conception  of  the  blessed  Redeemer,  there  never 
was  any  difference  of  opinion  in  the  Roman,  Greek,  or  Protestant 
Churches  ;  but  as  the  worship  of  Saints,  and  particularly  of  the 
Virgin  Mary,  advanced  in  the  Church  of  Rome,  from  the  fifth  cen- 
tury downwards,  there  appeared  a  great  wish  to  secure  for  Mary 
the  same  prerogative  as  belonged  to  her  blessed  and  divine  Son, 
namely,  perfect  freedom  from  the  taint  of  original  sin.  By  many- 
Popes  and  by  many  Councils,  attempts  were  made  to  have  this 
declared  an  article  of  faith  in  the  Church,  but  without  success.  No 
agreement  could  be  come  to,  and  the  Council  of  Trent  itseK  was 
compelled  to  abandon  the  attempt.  At  length,  about  nine  or  ten 
years  ago,  the  present  Pope,  Pio  Nono,  with  his  Cardinals,  who 


LONDON.      KINCARDINE.      ORILLIA.  263 

are  his  sworn  advisers  or  privy  councillors,  solemnly  enacted  it  as 
a  dogma  of  the  Holy  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  so  it  remains. 

''  I  think  if  you  will  look  in  the  library  for  Edgar's  Variations  of 
Popery,  you  may  find  something  about  it." 

Then  follows  an  extemporized  picture  of  his  book-case, 
and  the  whereabouts  of  "  Edgar"  marked : 

"I  paid  a  visit  on  Saturday  to  Huron  College,  and  spent  an  hour 
very  agreeably  with  Archdeacon  Hellmuth,  who  is  also  Principal 
and  Professor  of  Divinity.  It  is  a  very  promising  Institution,  and 
the  building  superior  to  ours. 

"Orillia,  July  4th,  1866. — How  I  wished  to  have  had  you  all 
with  us  on  the  voyage  and  at  the  sermon  !  We  had  a  company  of 
thirteen  in  all  from  the  Manse,  and  from  Mr.  Paterson's,  and  we 
were  two  hours  on  the  Couchiching  Lake,  in  a  small  pinnace  belong- 
ing to  Mrs.  P .  The  place,  Rama,  is  seven  miles  to  the  north- 
east, and  there  the  minister  (Mr.  Brooking,  W.  Meth.)  met  us.  We 
took  our  pic-nic  with  us,  and  enjoyed  it  on  the  green  grass  near  the 
church,  which,  with  its  beautiful  spire,  stands  on  the  loftiest  part  of 
the  ground.  At  two  p.m.  we  met  in  church  for  public  worship,  and 
had  a  large  congregation,  fifty  being  Indians.  I  preached  by  an 
interpreter,  who  happened  to  be  the  Indian  schoolmaster,  and  who 
seemed  to  be  really  in  earnest.  It  is  not  easy  to  preach  by  an  in- 
terpreter, and  yet  I  learn  that  nearly  aU  the  Indian  missionaries 
do  so.  Dr.  O'Meara  being  an  exception.  The  prayers  are  all  in 
English,  and  7iot  interpreted,  most  of  the  natives  having  as  much 
English  as  lets  them  enter  somewhat  into  the  solemnity  of  a  devo- 
tional service.  We  collected  seven  dollars  to  help  them  to  get  a 
bell.  We  returned  by  eight  p.m.  in  safety,  after  as  pleasant  a  day 
as  I  have  ever  spent.  It  was  an  interesting  sequel  to  the  holy 
communion  on  Sabbath,  a  season  of  joy,  and  let  us  hope,  of  profit. 
To-day  we  go  on  to  Medonte,  and  there,  and  at  Oro,  the  same  in- 
teresting service  will  be  gone  through  as  here  and  at  Beaverton. 

"  I  forgot  to  say  that  on  Monday  evening  was  the  anniversary  of 
the  Orillia  Bible  Society,  when  we  had  grand  speechifying  and  a 
fine  band,  Mr.  Dallas  in  the  chair.  I  am  in  perfect  health  ;  my 
limbs  strong,  and  fourteen  public  appearances,  with  twelve  differ- 
ent subjects  of  address,  have  not  at  all  disabled  me." 

"Kincardine,  July,  1867.— Constant  engagements,  both  in 
preaching  and  hearing,  have  rendered  it  impossible  for  me  to  find 
the  time  or  even  the  place  for  penning  letters.  Now,  the  morning 
dawns  upon  me  between  four  and  five,  bright  and  lovely,  after 
rather  a  sleepless  night,  for  I  had  the  whole  English  work  yesterday 
morning,  noon,  and  night,  to  carry  out,  and  by  the  rich  mercy  of 
our  Heavenly  Father,  have  found  the  promise  amply  fulfilled 
as  on  many  occasions  before  :  "  As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength 


264  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DK.   BUENS. 

be."  What  a  delightful  communion  season  we  have  had  !  How 
you  would  have  enjoyed  a  really  Highland  Sacrament !  The 
church  crammed  as  full  as  it  could  hold,  and  1,500  in  the  Grove, 
about  a  mile  distant.  There  the  Gaelic  preaching  went  on,  and 
there  the  tables  were  spread  under  the  canopy  of  Heaven,  nicely 
covered  with  fine  white  linen,  and  a  nice  tent  erected  for  the  min- 
ister, &c. 

"  All  was  deeply  solemn,  and  conducted  with  beautiful  order 
and  quietness.  Mr.  Fraser  tells  me  that  it  was,  in  every  part,  an 
exact  specimen  of  a  Ross  or  Inverness-shire  communion,  for  in  the 
Highlands  no  church  could  hold  the  multitudes  that  assemble 
from  all  quarters — sometimes  to  the  number  of  10,000  or  12,000. 
Friday  was  devoted  as  usual  to  what  is  called  "speaking  to  the 
question,''  and  Professor  Caven  and  1  enjoyed  wonderfully  four 
hours  hearing  in  an  unknown  tongue,  amazed  that  we  could  so 
easily  enter  into  the  sentiments  and  feelings,  without  understand- 
ing the  language  of  the  people. 

"  It  was  a  genuine  specimen  of  the  thing,  and  Mr.  Fraser  pre- 
sided with  great,  propriety,  and  I  am  told,  by  those  who  hnew  ih© 
language,  that  not  an  unsuitable  idea  or  word  was  introduced — 
for  eig-iit  experienced  "  men"  spoke  at  greater  or  lesser  length, 
and  much  to  the  purpose,  the  text  being  John  iii.  3,  and  the 
signs  and  evidences  of  regeneration  distinctly  brought  out.  We 
both  spoke  also  in  English,  after  being  told  of  the  leading  topics 
that  had  come  under  review.  To-day  I  rest,  Mr.  Caven  taong  my 
place  in  English,  and  Mr.  Grant,  of  Ashfield,  in  Gaelic. 

"  To-morrow  I  go  north  to  Tiverton  and  North  Bruce,  and  every 
day  has  its  meetings — one  or  more — sermons,  pic-nics,  and  my 
visit  will  also  be  helpful  to  five  sacramental  occasions. 

"Jan.  1868. — The  Artemesia  falls,  seventy  feet  in  height,  are 
beautiful,  and  our  station  at  the  mills  there,  is  in  fact,  our  best. 
I  had  ninety  hearers  on  Tuesday  evening,  and  the  miller,  Mr. 
Hislop,  is  earnest  and  active  in  our  behalf.  The  '  City  of  Euge- 
nia,' indeed,  is  only  on  paper  as  yet,  but  there  are  a  good  many 
settlers  in  and  around,  mostly  Presbyterians  of  the  '  old  kirk,' 
who  are  flocking  to  join  us  ;  a  number  of  them  from  Paisley. 
'  Inkerman-street'  is  about  a  mile  long,  and  graced  by  two  small 
cottages  ;  one  of  them  is  inhabited  by  an  old  emigrant  from  Pais- 
ley, of  the  name  of  Macbraine.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beattie  are  within 
six  miles,  and  our  meeting  again  in  one  of  the  most  romantic  spots 
in  Canada  is  very  pleasing. 

"  The  numerous  memorabilia  of  former  visits  in  1859, 1861,1862, 
and  1863,  and  especially  of  the  one  when  you  accompanied  me,  are 
very  numerous  and  very  pleasing,  such  as  the  books  to  the  Kin- 
ners,  the  Psalm-book  to  the  Winters,  &c.  William  and  Elizabeth 
Klnner  are  both  in  full  communion,  and  Adam  promises  well. 

' '  Yesterday  I  preached  in  the  house  of  Mr.  P to  about  forty, 

including  children,  and  the  old  woman  is  still  as  blind  as  she  was 


OTTAWA.      GLENGARRY.  265 

in  1841,  and  as  keen  as  ever  to  come  down  to  Toronto  to  '  get  her 
eyes  pulled  out  and  put  in  again,'  but  still  averse  to  any  experi- 
ment in  the  way  of  operation. 

To  these  extracts,  which  are  principally  from  letters  to- 
Mrs.  Burns,  may  be  added  the  reminiscences  of  several 
esteemed  brethren  in  whose  districts  he  itinerated.  With 
reference  to  his  last  visit  to  Ottawa,  the  same  kind  friend 
(Mr.  Ward^'ope),  who  detailed  an  earlier  visit,  adds  : 

"  So  far  as  I  know,  he  was  then  about  seventy-five  years  of  age  ;; 
yet,  as  in  days  that  had  long  gone  by  his  much  loved  three  services 
on  the  Sabbath  were  undertaken. 

"  He  preached  in  Knox  Church,  Ottawa  (which  name  had  then 
superseded  the  name  of  Bytown),  from  1st  Cor.  iii.  21-23.  '  All 
ihings  are  yours,  &c.'  In  the  afternoon  he  preached  in  Nepean, 
whither  I  accompanied  him.  The  place  of  meeting  was  the  build- 
ing occupied  by  the  Presbyterian  church  under  the  pastoral  care 
of  the  Rev.  I.  L.  Gourlay  ;  and  his  subject  was  *  Family  Wor- 
ship,' a  theme  on  which  he  loved  to  dwell.  When  the  service  was 
concluded,  it  was  within  little  more  than  an  hour  of  the  time  ap- 
pointed for  Ihe  evening  meeting  in  Ottawa,  and  we  had  six  miles 
to  drive  He  was  a  little  tired,  but  could  not  forego  the  antici- 
pated pleasure  of  preaching,  and  so  he  requested  me  to  drive  on, 
before  and  open  the  meeting,  in  the  hope  that,  by  a  more  leisurely 
drive  to  the  city,  he  would  be  quite  recruited.  I  did  so,  and  in  his 
hope  he  was  not  disappointed.  For,  when  he  had  got  into  the 
pulpit  at  the  close  of  the  second  singing,  he  was  able  to  preach, 
with  all  his  wonted  vigour.  His  subject  was  "Christ  appearing 
in  the  presence  of  God  for  us  ;"  and  the  discourse  was  listened  to 
with  attention,  corresponding  in  some  good  degree  to  the  earnest- 
ness wit  h  which  it  was  delivered.  When  he  had  concluded,  there^ 
were,  in  many  hearts,  thoughts  too  deep  to  be  lightly  uttered — 
thoughts  of  Jesus,  the  glory  of  whose  mediatorial  work  the  preacher 
had  sought  to  set  forth.  But  yet  about  the  preacher  himself,  some 
who  had  heard  and  known  him  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  could 
not  withhold  the  remark  '  When  he's  ance  in  the  poopit  he's  as 
gude  as  ever.' 

"  I  was  present,"  writes  the  Rev.  Daniel  Clarke  (formerly  of 
Indian  Lands),  in  the  Free  Church  of  Lochiel,  in  1848,  "  when  he 
preached.  The  church  was  without  doors  and  windows.  The  text 
was  '  If  our  Gospel  be  hid,  it  is  hid  to  them  that  are  lost.'  The 
discourse  was  indeed  very,  very  impressive,  and  listened  to  with 
very  marked  attention.  I  believe  it  did  much  good.  It  produced 
good  effects  in  many,  some  of  whom  still  remain,  and  their  good- 
ness does  not  appear  to  be  like  the  morning  cloud  or  the  early  dew 


266  LIFE  OF  KEY.   DR.   BURNS. 

that  passes  away.  I  invited  him  to  Indian  Lands.  The  expecta- 
tion of  seeing  and  hearing  him  drew  together  an  immense  crowd. 
I  believe  the  like  had  not  been  in  the  Indian  Lands  before  that 
time  or  since. 

"  After  this,  the  worthy,  greatly  beloved  and  venerable  Doctor 
paid  visits  to  Glengarry,  when  I  had  not  the  pleasure  and  privilege 
to  meet  him." 

There  was  no  spot  in  the  province  my  father  loved  so 
much  to  visit  as  Glengarry.  The  Rev.  D.  Gordon,  who 
for  so  many  years  laboured  most  faithfully  in  that  region, 
writes  thus  regarding  these  visits : 

"Among  the  most  distinct  and  pleasant  of  the  pictures  furnished 
from  an  experience  of  twenty  years  as  a  minister  are  those  of  '  sac- 
rament weeks'  in  Glengarry  ;  and  of  these  weeks,  some  of  the  most 
delightful  reminiscences  are  those  of  your  sainted  father. 

' '  I  think  I  may  safely  say  that  the  respect  and  esteem  with  which 
he  was  regarded  by  all  the  Free  Church  Presbyterians  of  Glengarry 
amounted  to  a  kind  of  enthusiasm.  He  knew  it  was  so  in  Indian 
Lands  with  both  minister  and  people.  His  first  visit  during  my 
residence  there  was  in  the  summer  of  1854,  on  the  occasion  of  our 
communion.  I  remember  on  one  of  the  days,  the  Gaelic  and  Eng- 
lish portions  of  the  congregation  were  thrown  together  at  his  re- 
quest, and  he  preached  in  the  tent  in  the  woods  to  about  2000  people. 

"  He  was  in  one  of  his  very  happiest  moods,  and  preached  with 
great  freshness  and  power  ;  and  I  believe  there  are  not  a  few  of 
his  hearers  that  day  who  could  now,  after  the  lapse  of  seventeen 
years,  give  you,  not  the  '  text'  alone,  but  some  precious  *  notes'  of 
the  sermon,  and  perhaps  name  the  Psahns  that  were  sung  on  the 
occasion. 

"  That  communion  week  was  an  Elim  in  the  wilderness  journey  of 
some  of  the  Lord's  people  among  us  ;  and  to  lengthen  out  the  en- 
joyment of  it,  many  of  them  followed  him  to  Lochiel  the  next 
week,  where  he  was  to  assist  at  the  same  solemn  service. 

"  Speaking  of  this  visit,  in  a  letter  dated  21st  of  August,  Dr. 
Bums  says,  '  I  look  back  on  my  visit  to  Glengarry  with  peculiar 
relish  ;  much  have  I  enjoyed  it,  and  my  warmest  wishes  and  most 
'ardent  prayers  are  with  you  and  your  fellow-labourers  in  that  in- 
teresting field.' 

"  His  next  visit  was  in  1858,  and  in  replying  to  my  letter  asking 
his  assistance,  his  only  stipulations  were,  that  he  should  have  plenty 
of  work  to  do — that  after  the  five  days'  service  in  Indian  Lands  he 
might  go  to  Lochiel  sacrament,  and  thence  to  Vankleek  HiU.  He 
says  :  '  You  are  at  liberty  to  arrange  for  me  up  to  Aug.  4th,  when 
I  must  wend  my  way  homewards,  or,  it  may  be,  farther  east.'  On 
the  Sabbath  referred  to  (the  third  Sabbath  of  July)  he  preached 
one  of  the  most  powerful  sermons  I  ever  heard,  from  John  xix .  30. 


I 


INDIAN  LANDS.      LOCHIEL.      COMMUNIONS.  267 

The  people  seemed  much  impressed.  On  the  Wednesday  following 
we  accompanied  him  to  Lancaster,  where,  by  previous  arrangement, 
he  was  to  assist  the  Rev.  J.  Anderson  at  the  communion.  Many 
of  our  people  came  to  join  in  the  service,  a  distance  of  twenty-four 
miles  ;  and  some  of  them  felt  themselves  well  repaid  for  the  journey 
in  hearing  one  sermon,  from  the  2nd  chapter  of  the  Song,  10-13  verses. 

' '  On  May  24th,  1865,  Dr.  Bums  again  writes  :  '  I  have  a  great 
desire  to  pay  a  visit  to  Glengarry  this  summer,  but  I  fear  that  your 
arrangements  for  the  communion  may  not  comport  with  my  pre- 
vious engagements.  It  so  happens  that  the  third  and  fourth  Sab- 
baths of  June  are  already  taken  up  with  sacramental  duties  in  the 
west  ;  yea,  also  Sabbath,  July  2nd.  Thus  it  is  that  the  first  day  I 
can  offer  to  be  with  you  is  Sabbath,  the  9th  of  July.  Will  this  do  ? 
Could  you  make  such  an  arrangement  as  would  allow  me  to  asssist 
at  two,  or  even  three,  sacramental  occasions  ?  say,  at  Lochiel,  or 
Lancaster,  or  any  other  place  where  the  communion  may  not  have 
been.  I  don't  mean  to  be  at  the  Synod,  but  will  reserve  my 
strength  for  Glengarry.  I  have  certainly  a  wish  to  see  something 
of  the  good  work  that  has  been  going  on  among  you.' 

' '  In  tracing  the  pleasant  impressions  of  these  communion-weeks 
to  their  source,  however,  I  find  that  they  are  due  quite  as  much  to 
the  social  Christian  intercourse  with  your  revered  father  as  to  his 
pulpit  services. 

"  I  remember  as  distinctly  as  if  it  were  yesterday,  being  greatly 
struck  with  his  appearance  and  manner  as,  coming  out  of  his  room, 
he  gave  or  responded  to  the  salutations  of  the  morning.  That  air 
of  genial  content  and  devout  cheerfulness  spoke  of  a  serenity  and  a 
joy  in  the  deep  places  of  the  heart,  with  which  the  world  might  not 
intermeddle. 

"  His  conversation  in  the  family,  at  the  table,  and  in  the  other 
intervals  of  public  duties  was  a  great  treat  to  us  all ;  and  more 
than  once  the  time  at  the  breakfast  table  was  lengthened  out,  quite 
unconsciously,  to  more  than  two  hours. 

*'  We  will  ever  entertain  a  vivid  remembrance  of  one  of  these 
occasions,  when  the  old  man  seemed  to  grow  young  again,  as  he  gave 
us  a  graphic  and  minutely  detailed  account  of  the  beginning  of  the 
Kilsyth  revival.  I  think  I  can  hear  yet  the  ring  in  his  voice  as  he 
repeated  the  message  brought  to  him  in  the  manse  by  his  sister, 
'  Robert,  Robert,  come  to  the  church — the  days  of  Cambuslang  are 
back  again  !' 

' '  We  often  sought  to  turn  the  conversation  to  this  or  that  passage 
of  the  Word,  that  we  might  have  the  benefit  of  his  opinion  in  re- 
gard to  them,  and,  indeed,  I  have  met  with  few  from  whose  familiar 
conversation  so  much  might  be  learned." 

The  Rev  James  Cameron,  of  Chatsworth,  writes  thus 
of  his  visits  to  the  Owen  Sound  region,  vividly  narrating 
a  thrilling  incident  which  nearly  cost  him  his  life  : 


268  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

"  He  visited  these  parts  many  times,  in  summer  and  in  winter, 
when  the  country  was  almost  a  wilderness,  and  after  it  became 
settled  and  covered  with  Presbyterian  churches.  With  perhaps 
one  exception,  nothing  can  be  said  of  these  visits  to  us  but  what 
may  be  said  of  his  ministrations  in  scores  of  cases,  somewhat  simi- 
lar, from  the  Atlantic  to  Lake  Huron.  He  came  brimful  of  happi- 
ness and  kindness,  of  zeal  and  of  sermons.  His  progress  through 
the  country  had  in  it  something  of  the  nature  of  a  triumphal  march 
or  an  episcopal  visitation.  Crowds  of  all  countries  and  religions 
came  to  hear  him  preach,  and  after  the  service  he  held  a  kind  of 
a  levee,  at  which  there  appeared  to  present  their  respects  people 
whom  he  had  married  nearly  half  a  century  ago  in  Scotland ;  others 
whom  he  had  baptized  ;  others  whom  he  had  admitted  to  member- 
ship or  office  in  his  former  city  congregations  ;  with  lots  of  newer 
and  younger  Canadian  friends  who  had  seen  him  or  heard  him  or 
heard  about  him  in  out-of-the-way  places,  and  felt  therefore  that 
he  had  a  right  to  know  them.  And  the  good  old  man  knew  them 
all  in  a  fashion  of  his  own,  not  by  sight,  but  by  their  voices  and  his 
wonderful  memory,  and  the  quickness  and  perception  that  is 
generally  given  to  those  whose  vision  is  defective.  But  I  sketch 
here  a  picture  of  no  unusual  occurrence. 

"  A  remarkable  incident,  however,  occurred  on  one  occasion  ; 
and  this  constitutes  the  exception  to  which  I  have  referred.  Your 
father  had  fulfilled  his  engagements  in  Owen  Sound,  where  the 
Rev.  Mr.  McKinnon,  who  has  gone  to  his  rest,  was  then  pastor,  and 
had  set  out  for  Durham.  When  within  six  or  seven  miles  of  Dur- 
ham, the  waggon  in  which  he  was  travelling  drew  up  in  front  of  a 
little  wayside  inn,  that  the  horses  might  be  watered.  That  the 
animals  might  drink  more  freely,  the  driver  had  removed  their 
bridle.  The  day  was  hot,  and  to  shield  himself  from  the  sun  Dr. 
Bums  raised  his  umbrella,  when  the  animals,  now  destitute  of 
blinkers,  took  fright,  and  with  their  bits  hanging  before  their  col- 
lars, and  their  reins  draggling  in  the  dust,  they  ran  away  over  what 
the  editor  of  our  Becord,  in  a  notice  of  the  event,  calls  '  the  rough- 
est road  we  ever  travelled.'  The  road  is  now  as  fine  a  road  as  there 
is  in  the  Province,  and  over  it  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Burns  travelled  after- 
wards in  a  covered  carriage  and  pair,  when  he  pointed  out  to  Mr. 
Cameron,  of  Priceville,  and  myself  the  spot  where  the  horses  came  to 
bay  ;  but  at  that  time  it  was  a  horrid  piece  of  road.  There  were 
on  it  an  abundance  of  stumps  and  stones,  ruts  and  mud-holes,  and, 
worse  than  all,  a  '  piece  of  corduroy,'  notorious  among  the  '  cordu- 
roys' of  the  Garafraxa  for  its  badness.  For  nearly  two  miles  the 
maddened  brutes  ran  without  slackening  speed.  The  old  man 
made  a  feeble  attempt  to  check  the  horses  ;  his  seat  flew  from 
under  him,  and  he  sank  down  and  lay  prostrate  in  the  bottom  of 
the  waggon.  He  was  perhaps  unaware  that  straight  in  front  of 
him,  and  in  dangerous  nearness,  lay  the  Rocky  Saugeen  River,  with 
its  steep  banks  and  ricketty  bridge,  and  abrupt  curve,  which  always 


REMARKABLE  ESCAPES.  269 

required  steady  and  cautious  driving.  Had  the  horses  taken  the 
river,  he  could  not  have  escaped  ;  but  when  within  half  a  mile  of 
the  dangerous  spot,  they  suddenly,  and  with  none  to  check  or  guide 
them,  turned  to  the  right,  and  walked  into  a  fence  comer  beside 
two  hemlock  logs,  which  were  pointed  out  to  me  as  still  existing, 
last  week,  by  Mr.  MacKechnie,  into  whose  house  Dr.  Bums  was 
taken  after  the  runaway.  In  the  bottom  of  the  waggon  were  found 
his  gold  watch  and  communion  tokens  scattered  about,  but  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  bruises,  he  himself  was  unhurt ;  and  after  a 
little  repose  he  went  forward  to  Durham  and  preached  that  very 
evening  to  an  audience  that  listened  to  him  as  one  that  had  almost 
come  from  the  dead." 

On  another  occasion,  at  the  Rouge  Hill,  the  stage  in 
which  he  was  travelling  upset.  He  fell  undermost ;  pas- 
sengers and  luggage  came  down  on  him.  Had  it  not 
been  for  the  great  "  strength  of  his  chest,  and  God's  kind 
interposition,"  he  remarked,  he  might  have  been  killed. 
Sometimes  his  experiences  of  travel  partook  of  the  ludic- 
rous. He  was  nearly  shot  on  one  occasion  for  a  bear ! 
He  was  driving  with  a  friend  through  a  snowstorm,  when 
something  went  wrong  with  the  harness.  They  were  pass- 
ing a  farm-house  "  in  the  bush,"  and  while  his  companion 
went  for  a  bit  of  rope,  my  father,  dressed  in  his  huge 
bearskin  coat  and  cap,  and  with  immense  hairy  gloves  on 
his  hands,  stepped  forward  in  the  snow,  and  began  feeling 
the  harness.  The  woman  of  the  house,  commg  to  the 
■door  and  looking  out  through  the  falling  snow,  discerned 
the  strange  object,  and  cried  out  that  a  bear  had  attacked 
the  horse.  The  man  came  running  out  with  his  gun,  and 
was  taking  a  sight,  when  he  burst  out  with  a  loud  guf- 
faw, and  cried,  "  Tuts  wumman,  that's  Dr.  Burns." 

Dr.  Ormiston,  now  of  New  York,  mentioned  to  me 
his  being  associated  with  him  once  at  a  country  church 
opening.      On   a   bitter  winter  morning,   entering   his 


270  LIFE  OF  KEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

chamber  to  see  if  he  was  up,  he  found  the  window  blown 
open,  the  snow  drifting  on  the  coverlet,  and  the 
water  in  the  basin  frozen  hard.  My  father  was  shivering 
in  the  blankets,  but  bearing  the  inconvenience,  which 
would  have  disturbed  beyond  endurance  many  younger 
brethren,  with  philosophic  patienceand  Christian  resig- 
nation. With  the  thermometer  sometimes  far  below 
zero,  amid  the  pelting  storms  that  assailed  him  in  his 
Christmas  sleigh  journeys,  he  had  often  to  "  endure 
hardness,"  and  to  put  to  practical  proof  the  question 
"  Who  can  stand  before  His  cold  ?" 

Once  going  along  the  Northern  Railway,  the  snow  and 
ice  so  impeded  his  course  that  he  had  to  spend  the  whole 
night  in  the  cars,  some  respected  Wesleyan  Methodist 
brethren  being  his  fellow-travellers.  One  or  two  of  the 
cars  rolled  down  a  steep  embankment,  but  he  mercifully 
escaped.  In  the  grey  of  early  dawn  his  faithful  friend 
and  former  precentor,  Mr.  John  Eoss,  came  several  miles 
along  the  track  on  a  hand-car,  and  took  him  to  his  desti- 
nation, where  his  appointments  were  fulfilled  as  if  nothing 
had  happened. 

In  February,  185S,  when  travelling  along  the  Gara- 
fraxa  road  we  visited  a  shanty  on  the  road-side  where  he 
had  repeatedly  stopped.  It  consisted  of  a  single  apart- 
ment of  the  very  plainest  description,  and  in  somewhat 
dilapidated  condition,  within  which  were  huddled,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  family,  pigs  and  poultry,  bags  and  barrels, 
and  all  sorts  of  farming  implements  and  provisions.  But 
beneath  the  coarse  home-spun  in  these  lowly  shielings, 
there  beat  hearts  of  loyalty  to  Christ,  and  love  to  his 


MR.  JOHN  GUNN,  OF  BEAVERTON.  271 

servant ;  and  he  was  never  happier  than  in  front  of  the 
blazing  log-fire,  or  when  partaking  of  the  homely  fare 
which  such  true-hearted  hospitality  supplied.  Mr.  John 
Gunn,  of  Beaverton,  one  of  our  most  devoted  elders,  who 
was  with  him  in  many  of  his  earlier  tours,  bears  fre- 
quent testimony  to  this.  He  tells  of  how  cheerfully  he 
endured  annoyances,  and  never  wearied  working.  He 
speaks  of  his  great  frankness  and  affability  with  the  people. 
Coming  into  the  house  after  preaching,  he  would  gene- 
rally say — "  Well,  Mr.  Gunn,  any  remarks  1" 

Having  alluded,  in  one  of  his  discourses,  to  mercy  as 
God's  "darling"  attribute  (a  favourite  expression  with 
him),  Mr.  G.  asked  him  one  day  if  there  was  any  "  pet 
attribute  in  the  character  of  God."  He  then  poured  forth 
in  earnest  affectionate  discourse,  an  explanation  of  the 
expression. 

Mr.  Gunn  (in  a  recent  conversation  we  had  with  him), 
dilated  with  delight  on  the  prominence  which  my  father 
gave  in  his  preaching  to  the  pure  simple  Gospel,  and  how 
it  melted  the  hearts  and  opened  the  hands  of  the  people. 
He  spoke  of  regions  where  the  liberality  of  the  people 
would  flow  out  at  the  stroke  of  his  rod  in  fourfold  larger 
measure  than  when  the  rock  was  struck  by  many  others. 
"  The  Doctor,"  exclaimed  he,  "  could  get  a  couple  of  dol- 
lars from  people  who  would  give  half  a  dollar  to  others. 
He  came  to  one  place  in  the  country  where  the  people 
were  so  pressed  that  I  thought  they  would  give  little  or 
nothing,  and  they  gave  him  a  hundred  and  twenty  dollars 
for  Home  Missions."  He  mentions  how  bent  my  father 
was  on  carrying  out  his  engagements.      K  he  made  an 


272  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DK.   BURNS. 

appointment  he  must  fulfil  it  at  all  hazards.  On  one 
occasion  he  had  arranged  to  go  from  Beaverton  to  Orillia. 
Mr.  G.  told  him  he  could  not  go.  My  father  suspected 
that  it  was  a  scheme  of  the  worthy  elder  to  detain  him. 
Mr.  G.  pointed  to  the  sky  and  to  the  lake.  The  storm 
was  such,  as  the  day  advanced,  that  it  would  have  been 
tempting  of  Providence  to  attempt  the  journey.  Most 
reluctantly  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  it.  He  would 
call  the  family  together  for  exhortation  and  prayer  be- 
fore leaving ;  then,  in  parting  with  them,  he  would  often 
add  to  kind  expressions  of  interest  in  their  welfare — "  I 
hope  to  see  some  of  these  lads  at  the  College." 

"  He  watched  the  walls  of  our  Zion,"  was  one  of  Mr. 
Gunn's  quaint  expressions  regarding  him.  ''  Three  or  four, 
I  remember,  he  succeeded  in  keeping  out  from  the  minis- 
try of  our  church,  who  would  have  disgraced  it."  He 
mentioned  certain  instances  where  the  parties  turned  out 
drunkards.  One  of  them  was  on  the  eve  of  settlement 
at  a  country  place  not  far  from  the  city,  and  the  people 
were  not  a  little  disconcerted  at  the  obstacles  thrown  in 
his  way.  To  make  up  for  their  disappointment  Mr.  G. 
assures  me  that  my  father  ofiered  to  give  them  supply 
every  Sabbath  afternoon  for  a  whole  year  for  nothing. 

When  engaged  in  his  customary  sleighing  tour  during 
the  Christmas  holidays  of  1867-8,  he  was  suddenly 
summoned  home  by  what  proved  the  fatal  illness  of  my 
beloved  brother  "William,  a  rising  barrister  in  Toronto, 
and  office-bearer  in  Knox  Church,  whose  sun  "went  down 
at  noon"  on  the  4th  January,  1868. 

My  father  being  beyond  reach  of  railway  or  telegraph. 


William's  fatal  illness.  27o 

in  the  back  townships,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Burns,  now  of 
Perth,  kindly  consented  to  go  after  him.  He  made  up  to 
him  far  in  the  interior,  when  just  starting  for  more  dis- 
tant settlements.  That  esteemed  friend,  whose  kindness 
at  this  sad  domestic  epoch  we  can  never  forget,  writes  re- 
garding it : 

''  His  first  question,  quite  unsuspicious  of  the  cause  of  our  meet- 
ing, was  :  '  Have  you  been  preaching  in  this  neighbourhood  V  Being 
told  that  the  iUness  of  his  son  William  was  the  reason,  he  imme- 
diately prepared  for  a  return  to  Toronto.  And  now  was  seen  the  in- 
fluence of  what  appeared  conflicting  duties  and  his  high  regard  for 
his  promise.  It  had  been  arranged  that  he  should  visit  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Milligan,  of  Douglas,  on  his  way  to  Fergus,  where  he  was  to 
preach  for  Mr.  Smellie  ;  and  while  on  his  way  to  Orangeville  he 
was  in  great  trouble  about  the  disaj^pointment  of  these  brethren. 
More  than  once  he  felt  inclined  to  fulfil  his  engagements  with  them, 
and  return  to  Toronto  on  the  Monday  following.  When,  however, 
it  was  urged  upon  him  that  the  dangerous  condition  of  his  son  de- 
manded his  immediate  return,  his  whole  fatherly  feeling  seemed 
aroused,  and  after  a  few  searching  questions  he  turned  full  round 
and  said  :  '  Have  you  told  me  the  worst  ?  Is  Willie  still  living  V 
And  these  questions  he  frequently  repeated  on  the  journey  home. 

"  Arriving  at  Orangeville,  the  time  taken  up  in  changing  horses 
was  spent  in  taking  a  little  refreshment,  and  in  sending  word  to 
those  who  were  expecting  him,  feeling  himself  bound  in  honour  to 
do  all  in  his  power  to  prevent  disappointment. 

"  On  the  way  from  Orangeville  to  Brampton  his  mind  seemed  to 
be  constantly  occupied,  now  minutely  relating  the  circumstances  con- 
nected with  his  own  sickness  some  years  previous,  and  noting  points 
of  resemblance  between  his  own  case  and  that  of  his  son,  he  would 
become  hopeful  that  a  vigorous  frame  might  be  able  to  throw  off 
the  disease  ;  and  again,  after  a  lapse  of  silence,  during  which  he 
was  evidently  thinking  of  the  deeper  things  of  the  soul,  he  would 
speak  feelingly  of  the  spiritual  well-being  of  his  son,  more  than 
once  committing  him  to  the  care  and  love  of  a  covenant-keeping  God. 

"Arriving  at  Brampton  in  the  evening,  after  all  the  regular  trains 
had  passed,  we  were,  by  the  kindly  interest  of  the  station-master, 
to  whom  the  case  was  presented  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pringle,  taken  on 
a  freight-train  to  Toronto,  where  we  were  landed  at  the  west  end  of 
the  freight-yard,  narrowly  escaping  an  accident  from  a  locomotive 
on  another  track.  After,  with  some  difficulty,  making  our  way  to 
the  street,  we  proceeded  slowly  (for  the  Doctor  was  much  fatigued) 
towards  William  street,  and  as  we  drew  near  the  house  he  became 
violently  agitated.     In  a  whisper  he  asked  me,  while  clinging  to 


274  LIFE  OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

me  very  closely,  *  Do  you  see  a  light  in  Willie's  room  ?  Do  you 
think  he  is  alive  ?  Is  there  any  sign  at  the  door  ?'  While  stand- 
ing at  the  door,  when  the  servant  intimated  that  he  still  lived,  his 
whole  feelings,  roused  to  the  utmost,  burst  forth  in  the  cry,  '  Praise 
the  Lord  !'  when,  being  led  into  the  parlour,  he  sank  into  a  chair, 
thoroughly  exhausted,  having  sustained  a  day's  travel  and  anxiety 
under  which  many  a  younger  man  would  have  sunk." 

There  were  certain  missionary  enterprises  of  our  church 
with  which  Dr.  Burns  had  specially  to  do. 

As  convener  of  the  "  Ked  River"  committee,  he  had  the 
principal  share  in  planting  Presbyterianism  in  that  inter- 
esting settlement.  First  formed  by  the  Earl  of  Selkirk,  in 
1812,  it  has  had  a  history  than  which  romance  can  fur- 
nish nothing  more  thrillingly  eventful.  These  hardy  and 
.  heroic  settlers  passed  through  many  martyrdoms.  The 
fire,  the  famine  and  the  sword  did  their  worst  against 
them.  But  these  they  felt  not,  so  much  as  the  long  con- 
tinued deprivation  of  ordinances  administered  according 
to  the  time-honoured  usages  of  their  fathers.  As  they 
went  out,  scarce  knowing  whither  they  went,  it  was  fully 
expected  that  a  faithful  Highland  pastor  would  accompany 
them,  but  this  arrangement  failed.  For  many  years, 
weary,  wistful  eyes  were  directed  athwart  the  mighty 
ocean,  and  ever  and  anon  they  hoped  "  their  eyes  would 
see  their  teacher,"  but  "  the  vision  tarried." 

Some,  disheartened  by  delay,  left  the  "  old  paths,"  but 
many  held  fast  the  profession  of  their  faith  without 
wavering,  "  mid  perils  of  waters,  mid  perils  of  the  wilder- 
ness, mid  perils  of  robbers,  mid  perils  among  false  bre- 
thren, mid  weariness  and  painfulness  and  watchings  often, 
and  hunger  and  thirst,  and  cold  and  nakedness." 

His  whole  soul  went  out  lovingly  towards  them,  and 


RED   RIVER  MISSION.      HOPE  DEFERRED.  275 

when  in  1850  the  clamant  case  was  transferred  from 
the  Home  Church  to  the  Canadian,  he  determined  not  to 
let  it  drop  till  the  melting  prayer  of  these  worthy  settlers 
was  granted.  In  this  he  was  nobly  seconded,  especially 
by  Mr.  Rintoul  and  Mr.  John  Burns.  Dr.  Bonar  also, 
the  indefatigable  convener  of  the  Colonial  Committee  of 
the  Free  Church,  gave  him  every  encouragement. 

Mr.  Ballenden,  a  leading  officer  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  offered  free  transit  for  a  minister. 

After  many  disappointments,  which  made  some  faint- 
hearted ones  ready  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  my  father 
had  the  satisfaction  of  writing  Mr.  Ballenden  on  the  8th 
May,  1851  :— 

"  1  beg,  in  name  of  our  committee,  to  say  that  we  have  every 
reason  to  rely  on  a  missionary  of  approved  character  being  pre- 
pared to  embark  by  the  caravans  from  St.  Anthony's  Falls,  about 
the  beginning  of  July  next ;  and  in  this  confident  hope,  we  request 
of  you  to  make  for  our  missionary  the  arrangements  to  which  you 
referred  in  conversation  with  Mr.  Rintoul,  at  Montreal.  In  the  name 
of  the  members  of  our  Synod,  who  have  been  consulted  with  on 
the  present  occasion,  I  feel  myself  authorized  to  give  this  pledge, 
and  to  return  you  our  hearty  thanks  for  the  deep  interest  you  have 
taken  in  this  important  matter. " 

In  this  hope  he  was  again  on  the  eve  of  being  disap- 
pointed. With  fields  white  at  home,  our  means  of 
supply  limited,  and  our  missionary  spirit  only  beginning 
to  flow  out  towards  the  regions  beyond,  it  was  difficult  to 
get  any  suitable  person  to  look  at  this  distant  and  desti- 
tute region. 

It  was  in  such  circumstances  I  received  from  him  the 
following : — 

*'  Toronto,  2nd  July,  1851. 

"  We  are  perplexed  somewhat  about  the  Red  River  case.  Mr. 
McK.  wishes  to  go,  but  his  people  oppose.     I  rather  think,  how- 


276  LIFE  OF  REV.    DR.   BURNS. 

ever,  that  we  will  send  him.  I  have  got  from  a  traveller  here, 
(Paul  Kane,)  who  was  guide  to  Sir  J.  Richardson  over  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  the  fullest  information  as  to  the  case.  There  are  2,000 
Highlanders  still,  and  many  Indians  and  half-breeds  besides, 
among  whom  a  missionary  would  labour. 
"  We  asked  J.  Black,  but  he  refuses." 

A  month  after  the  penning  of  this  note,  he  had  the 
great  satisfaction  of  securing  the  Kev.  John  Black's 
consent.  After  a  solemn  designation,  he  went  forth  to 
the  field  where  for  over  twenty  years  he  has  laboured  so 
successfully. 

On  the  7th  August,  he  wrote  my  father  from  Galena, 
which  he  reached  after  a  break-neck  journey  of  over 
three  days  from  Chicago — missing  the  deputation  that 
had  come  a  thousand  miles  to  meet  him. 

On  the  29th,  Mr.  Alexander  Ross,  the  father  of  the 
Presbyterian  cause  in  the  settlement  writes : — 

"Your  letter  had  no  sooner  got  here  with  the  news  of  a  minis- 
ter's coming,  than  the  Presbyterian  party  held  a  meeting.  At  this 
meeting  steps  were  taken  and  immediately  executed  to  secure  a 
large  lot,  and  commence  the  erection  of  a  church  and  manse,  and 
the  opening  of  a  school. 

' '  These  were  the  steps  taken  previous  to  the  return  of  the  party 
from  St.  Peter's,  yesterday,  as  already  stated,  with  the  account  of 
*  no  minister. '  You  can  easily  imagine  the  state  of  our  feelings  at 
the  disappointment.  Relying,  however,  on  the  confidence  we 
place  in  your  letter,  we  see  no  just  reason  yet  to  despair.  We 
therefore  mean  to  sustain  the  move  that  has  already  been  made, 
and  follow  it  up  with  all  the  energy  and  means  in  our  power. " 

Hope  deferred  made  their  hearts  sick  ;  but  though  the 
vision  tarry,  they  wait  for  it,  hoping  against  hope. 

Mr.  Black  very  providentially  overtook  Governor  Bam- 
say,  of  Minnesota,  who  was  going  with  an  escort  to  Pem- 
bina, and  under  his  pilotage  and  protection,  enjoying  the 
utmost  kindness  and  courtesy,  he  entered  the  settlement, 


MR     BLACK.      SIR  GEORGE  SIMPSON.  277 

and  writes  on  the  21st  September,  of  his  hearty  recep- 
tion. 

For  many  years  he  was  our  solitary  sentinel  at  this 
distant  outpost,  till  we  had  the  pleasure  of  commissioning 
Mr.  Nisbet,  another  early  alumnus  of  Knox  College,  to 
join  him  ;  and  all  who  have  entered  the  field  since  have 
been  from  the  same  fruitful  Institution. 

My  father  at  one  time  entertained  the  idea  of  visiting 

the  "  Red  River"  country.     With  reference  to  this,  Mr. 

Black  wrote : — 

♦'  KiLDONAN  Manse,  April  10th,.  1858. 

"Rev,  and  very  Dear  Sir, — It  is  truly  gratifying  to  myself 
and  to  many  others  here  to  be  informed  of  your  still  robust  health, 
and  seemingly  undiminished  activity  in  body  and  mind.  May  you 
be  long  preserved  to  serve  the  Lord  in  helping  to  lay,  broad  and 
deep,  the  foundations  of  a  truly  Scriptural  church  in  our  young 
and  interesting  country  !  We,  last  year,  expected  some  one  to  visit 
us,  and  I  gave  five  pounds  to  a  man  to  take  a  horse  to  bring  him — 
but  no  one  came.  James  Ross  mentions  that  you  sometimes  speak 
of  it.  Now,  we  would  be  most  delighted  to  see  you  and  to  hear 
your  voice  in  our  church,  but  I  fear,  at  your  advanced  age,  you 
would  find  the  journey  too  severe.  As  far  as  Crow  Wing,  you 
could  come  easily  and  comfortably,  but  after  that,  the  road  leads 
through  a  perfect  wilderness — woods  and  swamps,  creeks,  rivers,  &c., 
requiring  much  toil  and  exposing  to  some  dangers,  besides  the  dis- 
comforts of  sleeping  in  a  tent  and  living  in  a  way  to  which  you  are 
not  accustomed.  Still  there  is  no  man  whom  I  should  like  so  well 
to  see  here,  and  none  whose  visit,  I  am  persuaded,  would  be  of 
such  advantage  to  the  church." 

Though  he  had  all  the  heart  for  it,  he  yielded  to  the 
advice  of  friends  who  regarded  such  a  perilous  and  pro- 
tracted journey  as  unadvisable  at  his  time  of  life. 

After  Mr.  Black  had  been  two  years  at  Red  River,  and 
when  there  was  fear  of  his  withdrawal,  Sir  George  Simp- 
son, Governor  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  who,  all 
along  took  a  warm  interest  in  the  mission,  wrote  to  Dr 
Burns,  urging  his  continuance : — 


278  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

"  Hudson's  Bay  House, 

*'  Lachine,  5th  Sept.  1853. 

*' During  his  short  residence  at  Red  River,  Mr,  Black  proved 
himself  eminently  qualified  for  the  peculiar  duties  of  that  remote 
station,  as,  while  he  was  an  able  and  zealous  minister  and  upholder 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  he  avoided,  himself,  and  checked  in 
his  congregation,  that  spirit  of  sectarian  rivalry  which  is  apt  to 
prevail,  and  to  be  productive  of  so  much  evil  in  small  communities, 
and  in  other  respects,  apart  from  his  sacred  duties,  his  conduct  was 
always  judicious,  and  he  was  admitted  on  all  hands  to  be  a  very 
useful  member  of  society.  Under  these  circumstances  I  am  very 
anxious,  if  possible,  to  make  sure  of  his  return,  and  as  an  induce- 
ment to  that  end,  and  at  the  same  time,  as  an  evidence  of  personal 
esteem  for  Mr.  Black,  I  am  willing,  on  behalf  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  to  add  to  the  stipend  he  may  receive  froiji  the  Presby- 
terian congregation,  the  sum  of  £50  (fifty  pounds,)  sterling  per 
annum.  As  the  season  is  rapidly  advancing,  and  travelling  on  the 
plains  after  the  present  month  will  be  very  difficult,  you  will  ex- 
cuse me  if  I  urge  this  matter  on  the  immediate  consideration  of  the 
Synod  and  yourself." 

Mr.  Black  continued  at  Red  River,  and  continues  still 
< — the  father  of  the  Presbyterian  church  there.  A  second 
missionary  went  forth  to  join  him,  and  another,  and 
another.  The  mission  to  the  Cree  Indians  of  the  Saskat- 
chewan, 400  miles  from  Red  River,  grew  out  of  it;  a 
mission  in  which  Dr.  Burns  felt  a  peculiar  interest,  and 
with  which  Mr.  Nisbet,  brother  of  the  devoted  Samoan  mis- 
sionary and  Mr.  Black's  "  true  yoke-fellow,"  is  so  honour- 
ably associated.  And  now.  Red  River  has  come,  as  the 
Province  of  Manitoba,  into  the  great  British  North  Ameri- 
can family  of  colonies,  with  a  bright  future  in  store  for 
it;  and  our  church  has  a  flourishing  Presbytery  there, 
with  Synodical  powers,  and  a  rising  college,  and  all  the 
requisite  machinery  for  doing  its  part  in  "  going  up  to 
possess  the  land ;"  promising  thus  to  bring  to  pass  what 
is  written, — "  though  thy  beginning  be  small,  thy  latter 
end  shall  greatly  increase." 


BUXTON   MISSION.      MR.   KING.  279 

My  father  had  an  unquenchable  hatred  of  slavery.  It 
was  intensified  by  his  intimate  relations  with  Dr.  Andrew 
Thomson,  who  was  the  chief  champion  of  the  Scottish 
emancipationists.  He  loved  to  dilate  on  the  memorable 
meeting  in  Edinburgh,  when  that  noble  man  rose  in  a 
distant  part  of  the  hall,  and  in  a  speech  of  thrilling  power, 
turned  the  tide  against  the  "  gradual"  party.  "  Give  me 
the  hurricane,  rather  than  the  pestilence,"  the  winged 
words  whicli  formed  its  climax,  shot  like  a  lightning  flash 
through  the  land,  and  rung  as  by  a  thunder  peal,  the 
knell  of  British  slavery.  He  wrote  and  spoke  much 
on  the  subject.  With  the  friends  of  the  Negro  in 
Europe  and  America  he  had  a  close  intimacy.  Thomas 
Pringle,  the  African  explorer,  poet  and  philanthropist, 
was  very  dear  to  him  ;  and  some  leading  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends  he  highly  esteemed.  Hence  his  re  ■ 
peated  references  to  the  question  in  connexion  with  his 
visit  to  America.  To  the  apologists  of  the  system  he  found 
it  hard  to  give  any  quarter. 

It  was  to  be  expected  therefore,  that  when  an  "  Anti- 
Slavery  Society"  was  organized  in  Canada,  he  would  be 
active  among  its  officers,  and  that  when  a  movement  was 
inaugurated  to  establish  an  asylum  for  the  fugitives  from 
slavery,  and  to  ameliorate  their  social  and  spiritual  condi- 
tion, it  would  receive  his  warmest  sympathy  and  support. 

In  1848-9,  a  large  tract  of  land  was  purchased  in  the 
township  of  Raleigh,  near  Chatham,  which  secured  at  a 
low  rate  comfortable  and  happy  homes  for  several  hun- 
dreds of  these  children  of  sorrow.  The  Rev.  William  King, 
M.A,  the  "  Clayton"  of  Mrs.  Stowe's  "  Dred,"  has  favoured 


280  ,        LIFE   OF   REV.    DR.    BURNS. 

US  with  the  following  narrative  of  this  benevolent  enter- 
prise, whose  projector  he  was  honoured  to  be,  and  of  my 
father's  connexion  with  it. 

*'  I  first  became  acquainted  with  the  late  Dr.  Burns  in  November, 
1846,  when  I  landed  in  Toronto  as  a  missionary  from  the  Free 
Church  of  Scotland.  The  Doctor  called  on  me  at  the  Welling- 
ton hotel,  to  inform  me  that  the  boxes  containing  my  books 
and  clothing  had  arrived  safe  from  New  York,  from  which  place  I 
had  forwarded  them  to  Toronto  to  the  Doctor's  care.  He  then 
kindly  invited  me  to  go  to  his  house,  and  remain  until  I  should  get 
my  appointments  from  the  Toronto  Presbytery,  but  as  I  had  only 
a  few  days  to  remain  in  the  city  I  wished  to  get  myself  brushed  up 
after  my  long  voyage  and  journey  (having  visited  Louisiana,  after 
landing  in  New  York,  before  I  went  to  Canada)  ;  I  thus  preferred 
remaining  at  the  hotel,  and  declined  his  kind  offer.  During  the 
winter  of  1846  and  the  spring  of  1847  we  often  met  on  missionary 
duty.  In  April,  1847,  I  received  a  letter  from  the  South,  request- 
ing me  to  go  there  as  executor,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  the 
estate  of  my  late  father-in-law.  It  became  necessary  for  me  then 
to  divulge  a  secret  which  I  had  kept  in  my  own  breast  up  to  that 
time,  namely,  that  I  was  a  slave-owner,  and  that  I  must  go  South  to 
give  them  their  freedom,  as  the  legal  difl&culty  that  formerly  stood 
in  the  way  was  then  removed .  This  statement  fell  like  a  bomb-shell 
in  the  midst  of  the  Presbytery,  and  made  quite  an  explosion.     Mr 

E was  furious,  Mr.  R othenvise  calm,  was  quite  excited. 

The  Doctor  and  Mr.  Gale  saw  the  difficulty  of  my  position  at  once, 
and  asked  me  how  long  I  had  been  a  slave-owner.  I  said  '  since 
3842.'  '  Did  the  Free  Church  know  that  you  were  a  slave-owner/ 
enquired  the  Doctor  !  I  said  '  no,  I  did  not  think  it  necessary  to 
inform  the  Presbytery  of  Edinburgh  who  licensed  me,  as  the  views 
of  the  Free  Church  announced  in  the  General  Assembly  of  ]  845, 
by  Doctors  Candlish  and  Cunningham,  were  the  same  as  I  held, 
that  slavery  per  se  was  not  a  sin  :  that  the  relation  of  master  and 
slave  was  not  necessarily  sinful  ;  but  the  burden  of  proof  rested 
with  the  master,  to  show  that  the  power  which  he  possessed  was 
not  abused,  but  was  used  for  the  best  interests  of  the  slave.  This 
was  my  position ;  I  owned  a  number  of  slaves,  but  could  not  set 
them  free.  There  were  legal  difficulties  in  the  way,  and  when 
these  were  removed  I  could  not  manumit  them  in  Louisiana. 
No  planter  at  that  time  could  manumit  his  slaves  and  leave 
them  in  the  State.  He  was  bound  to  remove  them  beyond  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Southern  States.  This  I  was  then  prepared  to 
do,  and  I  informed  the  Presbytery  that  I  intended  bringing  them 
to  Canada.  But  as  I  was  about  to  leave  the  Province  for  a  time, 
I  would  resign  the  commission  which  I  held  from  the  Free  Church 
into  the  hands  of  the  Presbytery,  with  the  understanding  that 


VISIT  TO  UNITED   STATES  WITH  MR.   KING.  281 

when  I  returned  again  to  Canada  with  my  slaves,  I  would  resume 
the  connection,  and  labour  as  their  missionary. 

* '  I  left  in  May,  1847,  for  Louisiana,  and  returned  in  May  follow- 
ing with  the  slaves  that  I  had  set  free.  The  Doctor  was  the  first  ta 
meet  me  on  my  arrival  in  Toronto,  and  from  that  time  till  his 
death,  he  took  a  warm  interest  in  the  coloured  population  of  Can- 
ada. In  June,  1848,  I  brought  the  spiritual  destitution  of  the 
coloured  people  in  Canada  before  the  Synod,  then  met  in  Toronto. 
A  committee  was  appointed  by  the  Synod  to  mature  a  plan  for  a 
mission  ;  the  Doctor  was  on  that  committee,  took  an  active  part, 
and  in  the  following  year  the  Buxton  mission  was  established.  At 
the  same  time  the  Fugitive  Slave  Bill  was  passed  by  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States,  which,  in  the  fall  of  1849,  sent  5,000  fugitive 
slaves  into  Canada,  stripped  of  everything  but  life,  without  a  friend 
and  without  a  home,  and  for  whose  soul  no  man  cared.  In  the 
spring  of  1850,  the  report  had  reached  the  friends  of  the  slave  in 
the  United  States,  of  what  the  Free  Church  in  Canada  was  doing  for 
their  social  and  moral  improvement.  A  committee  in  Pittsburg  in- 
vited the  Doctor  and  me  over  in  November,  1850,  to  tell  them  what 
we  were  doing  in  Canada  for  the  fugitives.  It  was  in  November 
we  visited  Pittsburg,  and  as  there  were  few  railroads  in  those  days, 
travelling  was  not  so  pleasant  at  that  season  of  the  year,  especially 
as  part  of  the  journey  had  to  be  made  across  Lake  Erie  ;  and  about 
200  miles  of  it  through  rugged  mountain  scenery,  in  the  old  fash- 
ioned stage-coach,  with  leather  straps  for  springs.  On  that  journey, 
and  the  labours  that  followed  it,  the  Doctor  gave  full  proof  of  his 
power  of  endurance,  and  of  his  missionary  zeal,  which  never  abated 
till  the  close  of  his  life.  We  left  Buffalo  on  Wednesday  evening, 
in  a  steamer  for  Erie,  where  we  arrived  at  three  o'clock  on  Thurs- 
day morning.  The  night  was  stormy,  and  we  slept  but  little,  most 
of  the  passengers  being  sea-sick.  On  our  arrival  at  Erie,  the  stage 
was  waiting  to  take  the  passengers  going  to  Pittsburg.  We  had 
barely  time  to  take  a  hasty  breakfast,  and  twelve  of  us  were  pack- 
ed inside  the  stage,  where  we  were  to  remain  for  two  days  and  two 
nights,  the  time  generally  required  to  cross  the  mountains  and 
reach  Pittsburg.  During  the  first  day  we  got  along  tolerably 
well,  but  as  night  came  on,  cold  and  wet,  the  rain  falling  during 
the  night  in  torrents,  the  Doctor  and  I  tried  to  sleep  some,  as  we 
had  got  but  little  the  night  before,  but  the  jolting  of  the  convey- 
ance over  the  rough  roads  was  such  that  we  found  it  impossible. 
Early  on  Friday  morning  we  reached  the  summit  of  the  mountain 
range,  and  breakfasted  at  the  mountain  house,  a  place  that  was  as 
cold  and  cheerless  as  the  mountain  itself.  The  passengers  were  not 
in  a  very  good  humour,  and  expressed  their  dissatisfaction  in  terms 
not  very  agreeable  to  the  landlord.  The  house  was  cold,  the  vic- 
tuals were  cold,  and  there  was  nothing  comfortable  about  the  place. 
The  Doctor  alone  was  cheerful,  praised  the  beef-steak  and  tea,  of 
both  of  which  we  had  an  abundance.      The   passengers  became 


282  LIFE  OF  KEY.   DK.   BURNS. 

more  reconciled,  and  by  the  time  we  were  ready  to  start  all  appeared 
in  better  humour.  The  remaining  part  of  our  journey  lay  among 
the  hills  that  form  the  western  slope  of  the  Alleghany  mountains. 
The  valleys  were  studded  with  villages  and  well  cultivated  ;  a 
Presbyterian  population  having  settled  at  that  part  of  Pennsylvania 
at  an  early  period,  and  made  to  themselves  comfortable  homes. 
The  village  church,  with  its  spire  rising  in  the  midst  of  a  cluster  of 
trees,  could  be  seen  as  we  passed  along.  The  rain  had  ceased,  the 
sun  began  to  shine,  and  the  Doctor  kept  the  passengers  in  good 
humour  with  his  remarks  on  the  scenery,  and  pleasant  conversation. 
The  day  passed  pleasantly,  and  at  night  we  were  informed  that  we 
would  reach  Pittsburg  by  three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  This  was 
glad  news  to  the  passengers,  and  especially  to  the  Doctor  and  my- 
self, who  had  scarcely  got  any  sleep  since  we  left  Toronto  on  Wed- 
nesday morning,  unless  what  we  could  get  in  the  stage  going  over 
rough  mountain-roads.  We  arrived  at  Pittsburg  a  little  after 
three  o'clock  on  Saturday  morning  ;  went  to  bed  four  hours  ;  were 
up  and  breakfasted  at  seven.  Visited  during  the  day  all  the  minis- 
ters in  Pittsburg,  and  made  arrangements  each  to  preach  three 
times  on  Sabbath.  Everywhere  we  went,  the  ministers  of  all  de- 
nominations gave  us  a  warm  reception,  with  but  one  exception, 

and  that  was  Dr.  R ,  of  the  New  School  Presbyterians.     He 

declined  to  have  anything  to  do  with  us.  He  had  been  Moderator 
of  the  General  Assembly  at  its  last  meeting,  and  had  taken  his 
stand  against  any  discussion  of  the  question  of  slavery.  The 
Doctor  argued  the  question  with  him,  and  said  that  we  were  not 
going  to  lecture  on  slavery,  although  we  held  strong  views  on  that 
subject,  but  it  was  not  to  discuss  these  that  we  had  come  to  Pitts- 
burg. '  We  come,'  said  the  Doctor,  '  to  tell  you  what  we  are  doing 
to  improve  the  social  and  moral  condition  of  those  coloured  per- 
sons who  have  found  an  asylum  in  Canada.  We  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  law  in  the  United  States  that  drives  them  to  Canada  ;  our 
object  is  to  give  them  homes,  give  them  the  Bible  and  the  capacity 

to  read  it.'     Dr.  II refused  his  pulpit  even  on  that  ground,  and 

-as  we  rose  to  leave  he  expressed  the  hope  that  we  would  not  think 
hard  of  him  for  refusing  his  pulpit.  The'Doctor  simply  remarked 
that  we  could  not  form  a  favourable  opinion  of  a  minister  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  who  would  refuse  his  pulpit  to  advocate  the 
cause  of  giving  the  Bible  to  those  who  have,  by  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  been  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  learning  to  read 
it.  On  Sabbath  the  Doctor  preached  three  times  to  crowded 
houses  ;  on  Monday  we  held  a  public  meeting  in  one  of  the  largest 
churches  in  the  city,  which  was  well  filled.  The  Doctor  preached 
every  night  during  the  week,  and  three  times  on  the  following 
Sabbath.  All  the  Professors  of  the  three  Theological  Institutes 
generally  attended  ;  the  Doctor  was  in  high  spirits,  and  spoke  with 
power  and  eloquence.  One  of  the  Professors  remarked,  on  coming 
out  one  evening  from  hearing  one  of  the  Doctor's  eloquent  ser- 


PITTSBURG.      BRITAIN,  1860.  283 

nions,  '  Well,'  said  he,  '  we  have  had  delegations  here  from  Ire- 
land and  Scotland,  but  none  of  them  ever  preached  and  spoke  on 
the  platform  with  the  power  and  eloquence  of  Dr.  Burns. '  The 
result  of  the  visit  was  a  handsome  subscription  for  the  mission, 
and  a  fine-toned  bell,  sent  expressly  for  Buxton,  and  paid  for  by 
the  coloured  people. 

"  In  the  summer  following  our  visit  to  Pittsburg,  the  Doctor 
spent  a  week  with  me  at  Buxton,  where  he  preached  on  Sabbath, 
and  during  the  week  he  visited  Chatham,  Tilbury,  and  most  of  the 
mission-stations  in  the  west.  From  that  time  till  1857  the  Doctor 
frequently  visited  me  at  Buxton.  On  one  of  these  visits,  in 
1853,  he  dispensed  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  received  a  number  of 
communicants  for  the  first  time.  One  of  these  was  a  woman  named 
Lydia,  with  three  of  her  children,  who  had  escaped  from  North 
Carolina.  She  had  never  been  baptized,  and  the  Doctor,  after  the 
manner  of  the  Apostle,  baptized  Lydia  and  her  household  ;  the 
first  household  that  he  had  ever  baptized  during  his  public  minis- 
try. In  April,  1860,  the  Doctor  and  I  visited  Scotland  and  Eng- 
land in  behalf  of  the  Buxton  Mission,  where  we  collected  most  of 
the  money  that  built  the  mission-church.  The  Doctor  was  to  at- 
tend the  Tercentenary  of  the  Reformation,  and  was  frequently  sepa- 
rated from  me  ;  and  as  we  had  only  three  months  to  remain,  and 
most  of  the  time  were  in  Scotland,  we  only  visited  London,  Man- 
chester and  Liverpool,  in  England.  We  agreed,  on  visiting  Scot- 
land, that  I  was  to  make  all  arrangements,  and  the  Doctor  was  to 
speak  when  I  called  on  him.  The  interval  between  my  meetings 
tne  Doctor  filled  by  preaching  and  visiting  his  friends.  It  was  a 
season  of  great  enjoyment  both  to  him  and  me." 

When  home  with  Mr.  King,  in  1860,  in  the  interest  of 
the  Buxton  Mission,  in  addition  to  addressing  the  Free 
Church  Assembly  and  other  public  bodies  in  Scotland 
and  England,  he  appeared  before  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ireland,  and  met  with  a  very 
warm  reception.  Following  so  closely  the  "  year  of  grace," 
he  had  the  opportunity  of  marking  the  influence  of  the 
mighty  revival- wave  that  had  swept  over  the  land. 

When  in  London,  he  had  an  interview  with  Lord 
Brougham.  He  conferred  also  with  the  Portuguese  Am- 
bassador, on  the  slave  trade.  The  pecuniary  result  of 
this  visit  was  over  four  thousand  dollars  for  the  mission. 


284  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

With  many  other  home-mission  enterprises  Dr.  Burns 
had  to  do — occasionally  too,  with  the  stated  supply  of 
congregations  during  important  eras  in  their  history.  He 
supplied,  during  a  large  part  of  two  years,  Georgetown  and 
Limehouse,  some  30  miles  distant  from  Toronto.  Such 
services  were  always  freely  rendered,  to  his  power,  yea, 
and  beyond  his  power. 

His  connexion,  for  a  similar  period,  with  one  of  the 
Toronto  churches,  may  be  briefly  dwelt  on,  as  illustrating 
this  side  of  his  character. 

For  several  years  Dr.  John  Taylor,  (formerly  of  Auch- 
termuchty),  had  ably  and  faithfully  served  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Canada,  as  her  Professor  of  Theo- 
logy. Conjoined  with  the  professorship  was  the  pastorate 
of  the  Gould  Street  Church  in  Toronto.  A  few  months 
previous  to  the  auspicious  union  of  the  churches.  Dr. 
Taylor  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  return  to  his  native  land. 

The  congregation  (which  had  erected  an  elegant  struc- 
ture on  an  eligible  site),  was  in  comparative  infancy  and 
burdened  with  a  heavy  debt.  Its  very  existence  was  im- 
perilled. 

Dr.  Burns  was  asked  to  aid  in  the  emergency.  He  at 
once  consented,  and  by  two  years  of  unsalaried  and  un- 
ceasing service,  he  tided  the  struggling  cause  through  its 
difficulties.  The  remuneration  which  he  would  else  have 
earned  he  insisted  on  going  to  the  reduction  of  the  debt. 
Under  his  energetic  leadership,  the  wavering  band  of 
faithful  ones  was  rallied,  their  flagging  spirits  were  roused ; 
re-inforcements  came,  the  debt  was  diminished;  and  the 
way  prepared  for  the  settlement  of  the  faithful  and  devoted 


GOULD   STREET  CHDRCH.      LOWER  PROVINCES.       285 

pastor,  under  whose  earnest  ministry  the  congregation 
has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  best  in  the  body.  In  many 
ways  the  Gould-street  people  showed  their  appreciation 
of  his  disinterested  labours  ;  and  when  they  insisted  on 
his  acceptance  of  a  very  handsome  sum  of  money,  he 
took  it,  to  gratify  them,  but  only  to  invest  most  of  it  in 
the  form  of  a  bursary  for  Knox  College. 

He  often  visited  the  Lower  Provinces. 

In  Nova  Scotia  he  had  to  do  with  the  founding  of  the 
College,  and  of  Chalmers'  Church,  Halifax. 

The  long  and  honourable  connexion  of  his  younger 
brother  George  with  New  Brunswick,  drew  him  specially 
towards  it  Thence  he  received  his  first  strong  impulse 
to  Colonial  life  and  labour. 

To  Prince  Edward  Island,  that  "  garden  enclosed," 
which  will  be  ever  linked  with  the  name  of  the  father  of 
our  beloved  Queen,  he  w^as  specially  attached. 

Mrs.  Mackay,  of  Rockfield,  a  noble  woman,  was  the 
foundress  of  Presbyterianism  in  Cape  Breton.  She  con- 
sulted with  Dr.  Burns  all  the  time,  and  was  guided  by 
his  advice. 

The  seven  large  volumes  of  Colonial  correspondence 
which  he  gathered  have  far  more  of  her  letters  than  of 
those  of  any  other  single  correspondent.  The  glimpses 
which  they  give  of  the  inner  life  of  the  Island  thirty  or 
forty  years  ago,  enhance  our  estimate  of  the  importance  of 
that  great  religious  awakening,  of  which  it  has  recently 
been  the  scene. 

This  interesting  region,  whose  spiritual  welfare  he  had 
so  long  consulted,  he  had  peculiar  pleasure  in  visiting. 


286  LIFE  OF  KEV.   DR.   BUENS. 

He  visited  Newfoundland  in  1858.  The  intercourse 
he  had  with  the  Rev,  M.  Harvey,  who  is  securing 
for  himself  a  prominent  place  among  Colonial  literati, 
and  with  Lady  Bannerman,  the  excellent  wife  of  Sir 
Alexander  Bannerman,  then  Governor  of  the  Island,  was 
specially  refreshing. 

Lady  Bannerman,  writing  Mrs.  Bums  in  1860,  records 

her  impressions  : — 

"St.  John's,  Newfoundland,  1860. 

"  It  is  a  pleasure  to  find  that  you  and  Dr.  B,  have  so  afi'ectionate 
a  recollection  of  the  short  visit  you  paid  to  Newfoundland.  All 
who  had  the  happiness  of  meeting  or  of  listening  to  the  earnest 
and  talented  instructions  of  the  Doctor,  have  reason  to  remember 
the  refreshment  of  such  an  arrival  amongst  us,  and  will  gladly  hail 
your  return.'- 

In  another  letter  Lady  B.  writes  : 

"  I  was  much  instructed  by  the  last  sermon  Dr.  B  preached  here, 
(All  things  are  yours,  &c.,)  few  days  pass  without  my  remembering 
some  part  of  it.  Had  I  been  as  well  acquainted  with  the  force  and 
fulness  with  which  he  is  enabled  to  teach  Gospel  truth,  as  I  ought 
to  have  been,  this  would  not  have  been  the  only  sermon  I  would 
have  listened  to  from  him  ;  but  now  I  can  only  mourn  over  the  lost 
opportunity,  and  hope  I  may  some  day  have  the  privilege,  I  unwit- 
tingly failed  to  secure,  brought  again  within  my  reach. 

"  I  shall  not  forget,  if  we  are  spared,  the  kind  hint  Dr.  Bums 
gave  me  to  show  our  catholicity  of  spirit,  by  occasionally  attending 
other  branches  of  the  Protestant  Church.  I  have  thought  that 
when  our  appointed  minister  had  prepared  a  portion  for  each  one 
of  his  flock,  it  would  be  unkind  and  discouraging  to  seek  for  spiri- 
tual food  from  another ;  but  there  are  times  when  he  may  be  absent, 
when  I  may  follow  the  friendly  advice." 

Amongst  other  regions  outside  his  own  province,  which 
he  visited,  we  must  not  lose  sight  of  Chicago  and  the 
great  West. 

Between  March,  1867  and  April,  1870,  I  was  first  pas- 
tor of  the  First  Scotch  Presbyterian  Church  in  Chicago, 


CHICAGO.      ELMIKA.      MONMOUTH.  287 

connected  with  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church.  My 
father's  visit  lasted  a  month,  in  August,  1867.  He  enjoy- 
ed amazingly  the  stir  and  enterprise  of  Chicago.  He  was 
bent  on  seeing  every  object  of  interest — nothing  seemed 
to  escape  him.  None  would  have  joined  more  sincerely 
in  the  general  lamentations  over  the  colossal  catastrophe 
which  has  overtaken  this  marvel  of  the  West.  Many 
Scotchmen,  and  Americans  too,  richly  enjoyed  the  services 
he  conducted  at  the  Metropolitan  Hall,  the  Memorial 
Methodist  Church,  and  in  other  places. 

Always  enthusiastic  in  his  admiration  of  the  Gael — he 
determined  to  visit  the  little  colony  of  faithful  Highland- 
ers, 140  miles  from  Chicago — where  we  have  enjoyed 
many  precious  seasons  of  fellowship.  He  took  charge  of 
the  communion  there,  and  it  recalled  many  kindred  scenes 
in  Canada,  in  which  he  had  taken  part. 

At  this  time  we  visited  Monmouth  College, and  enjoyed 
the  hospitality  of  its  worthy  president.  Dr.  Wallace. 

When  he  returned  from  this  tour,  he  visited  my  former 
flock  at  St.  Catharines,  and  for  over  an  hour  he  talked  to 
them  about  it,  recounting  with  amazing  accuracy  of  state- 
ment and  minuteness  of  detail  every  incident.  As  one  of 
my  old  friends  said :  "  he  shut  his  eyes  and  gave  us  a 
perfect  photograph." 

In  bringing  the  church  of  his  attachment  to  its  present 
advanced  position,  Dr.  Bums  bore  his  full  share. 

**  It  was  his  happiness  to  oreaJi  ground  in  many  a  district  which 
has  since  borne  abundant  fruit,  and  in  others  to  revive  what  was 
weak  and  ready  to  die — his  exuberant  energy  and  resolute  will 
serving,  in  not  a  few  cases,  to  rally  the  friends  of  Presbyterian  order 
in  districts  where  he  found  them  weak  and  disheartened.  The 
country  was  ripe  for  such  a  labourer  when  he  came  to  it,  and  he 


288 


LIFE  OF  KEV.   DR.   BURNS. 


saw  aiid  seized  the  opportunity,  preaching  far  and  near,  undeterred 
by  distances  and  severities  of  weather,  which  many  persons  of  much 
younger  years  would  have  hesitated  to  encounter.  In  this  way  he 
contributed,  we  are  safe  in  saying,  more  than  any  other  individual, 
to  give  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  Province,  the  wide  in- 
fluence for  good  which  it  holds  to-day."  * 

*  Sermon  preached  in  Gould  Street  Church,  Toronto,  on  the  23rd  of  August,  1869,  by 
Rev.  John  M.  Kmg,  M.  A, 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


MISSIONARY   SKETCHES. 


K  BURNS  kept  copious   "jottings    by  the 
way,"  in  his  day-books. 

The  following  brief  notice  of  a  Canadian 
"  Paisley"  is  a  specimen  :  this  "city  of  the 


'      woods"  has  made  rapid  progress  since  : 


'*  1864.— August  6th,  Tth,  8th.    Paisley.    Preached  four 
times  ;  two  stations,  eight  miles  distant ;  180  communi- 
cants ;  ten  years  since  settlement,  not  less  than  500  in  the 
village,  sixteen  miles  from  Southampton ;  thirty-four  from 
(p^jj    Owen    Sound  ;     sixteen  from    Walkerton.      Communion 
I  twice  a  year    in  the  village  ;   five  prayer-meetings    con- 

nected with  the  congregation  ;  five  Sabbath  schools,  and  a 
Bible-class  ;  pupils,  150  in  all  ;  one  common  school,  100  ;  a 
first-class  teacher ;  $2,000  for  a  building  ;  one  Episcopal ;  one 
Kirk  ;  one  Free  ;  two  Methodist  ;  a  Temperance  Lodge,  improved 
as  to  Temperance  ;  progressive  advancement,  fourfold  in  four 
years  ;  Muir,  an  old  Paisley  weaver  of  71,  was  at  my  ordination  in 
1811." 


290 


LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


After  his  missionary  excursions,  my  father  was  in  the 
habit  generally  of  writing  out   fuller  notices.     From  a 
mass  of  material  of  this  description  we  make  several  se- m 
lections :  W 

"Toronto,  29th  Aug.,  1845. 

"  On  my  way  to  London  I  preached  or  addressed  meetings  at 
three  places — Dundas,  St.  George  (Dumfries),  and  Gait.     Owing  to 
the  wetness  of  the  night  the  attendance  at  the  first  of  these  was 
smaller  than  it  would  have  been  ;  but  judging  from  what  I  saw,  I 
would  say  that  the  congregation  of  our  friend  Mr.  Stark  seem  to  be 
decided  in  their  principles,  and  united  as  one  man.     At  St.  George 
I  occupied  the  pulpit  of  Mr.  Roy,  a  worthy  minister  of  the  United 
Secession  Church,  who  preaches  here  and  at  Brantford  every  Sab- 
bath.    At  Gait  the  meeting  was  a  very  crowded  one,  and  it  was 
manifest  that  the  interest  felt  in  the  debate  a  few  weeks  before, 
between  Dr.  Liddell  and  Mr  Bayne,  had  whetted  the  appetite  of 
the  people  to  hear  a  little  more  about  the  principles  of  the  Free 
Church.    The  town  of  Gait  is  the  chief  place  in  the  tow^nship  of 
Dumfries  ;  beautifully  situated  in  a  valley  on  the   Grand  River ,^  1 
and  possessing  great  capabilities  of  increase.     The  township  is  four-IHI 
teen  miles  square,  and  the  land  nearly  all  arable  ;  a  large  propor- 
tion of  it  being  cleared,  and  of  the  finest  quality.     The  position 
occupied  by  a  minister  so  talented  as  Mr.   Bayne  is  a  very  impor-^g 
tant  one,  and  his  congregation  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  influ-JI 
ential  in  Canada .  m  I 

"  On  my  way  to  the  west,  I  had  also  an  opportunity  of  paying  a 
visit  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Christie,  at  Flamborough,  a  venerable 
minister  of  the  United  Secession  Synod  of  Canada,  whose  strength 
has,  for  fourteen  years  past,  been  spent  in  the  work  of  evangelistic 
effort,  and  who  has  been  the  instrument  of  planting  a  number  of 
congregations.  On  his  arrival  in  the  district,  without  a  friend  to 
direct  him.  Providence  led  him  into  conversation  with  a  plain  man 
who  was  breaking  stones  by  the  w^ay-side,  and  whose  judgment  and  . 
piety  were  of  considerable  avail  to  him.     Of  the  knoll  or  rising 

ground  which  then  caught  his  eye,  Mr.  C said,   "there  is  the 

proper  spot  for  a  house  of  worship."     On  that  spot  his  church  was 
soon  thereafter  reared,  and  his  then  unknown  acquaintance  has  been 
for  years  an  elder  in  the  congregation.     With  the  brother  of  this . 
worthy  minister,  formerly  of  Edinburgh,  now  a  very  extensive] 
proprietor  of  some  of  the  finest  land  in  the  township  of  Dumfries, 
we  spent  a  few  days.    It  was  the  throng  of  harvest.     Many  reapei 
we  found  at  work,  all  men  of  suitable  strength  and   skill  in  tho^ 
exercise  ;  among  the  rest  an  Indian  chief  and  several  of  his  tribe, 
with  intelligence  and  activity  in  all  respects  equal  to  the  rest :  and 
Jiere  I  saw  what  I  had  it  not  in  my  power  to  witness  for  many 


3s,a| 

3r3^l 

hoB 


4 


HOKOURABLE  ADAM  FERGUSSON.  291 

years — ^the  master,  the  family,  the  domestics,  and  the  reapers  all 
congregated  in  one  large  company  at  eveiiin*^  worship,  while  the 
early  hour  of  five  in  the  morning  witnessed  the  same  assembly 
similarly  engaged,  prior  to  the  commencement  of  the  work  of  the 
day.  With  Mr.  Christie  and  his  labourers,  prompt  payment, 
healthful  and  abundant  provision,  and  entire  abstinence  from 
spirituous  liquors,  are  the  standing  rules,  and  the  blessed  effects 
are  palpable  to  every  eye. 

"  Whenever  I  have  been  called  to  address  a  congregation  on. 
these  visits,  I  have  made  it  a  rule  first  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  the 
grace  of  God  to  sinful  and  dying  men  ;  and  thereafter,  if  it  ia 
deemed  proper  in  the  circumstances,  to  address  the  hearers  on 
their  duties  as  a  congregation  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

"  Among  the  respectable  Scottish  proprietors  whom  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  meeting  in  the  vicinity  of  Hamilton,  I  must  be  allowed 
to  particularise  the  Honourable  Adam  Fergasson,  of  Woodhill, 
who  settled  with  his  family  in  Canada  West  twelve  years  ago,  and 
whose  patriotic  efforts  for  the  improvement  of  the  colony  are  ex- 
actly what  might  have  been  expected  from  the  enlightened  public 
spirit  he  ever  manifested  in  his  native  land.  His  communication^ 
to  the  Highland  Society  of  Scotland  (afterwards  embodied  in  a 
volume  for  the  public)  are  very  valuable.  He  has  presented  me 
with  a  copy  of  the  second  edition  of  this  work,  inscribed  to  the 
library  of  our  Free  Church  College  here,  and  in  his  letter  to  me 
he  modestly  speaks  of  the  work  as  '  belonging  to  a  day  that  has 
past,  and  if  looked  into  now'  says  he..  '  it  can  only  claim  notice 
as  affording  a  pleasing  and  a  cheering  record  of  the  advances  we 
have  made  in  the  last  ten  or  twelve  years.'  Well  may  he  add,  from 
his  own  experienced  observation  :  '  I  see  no  reason  to  shrink  from 
the  sentiment  of  '  Spero  meliora.^ 

' '  My  visit  to  London  soon  convinced  me  that  the  pious  habits  of 
the  Christians  of  Ross  and  Sutherland  had  accompanied  the  emi- 
grants from  these  counties,  who  are  settled  in  large  numbers  in  and 
around  that  place.  A  day  had  been  set  apart  during  the  previous 
week  for  solemn  humiliation,  and  its  public  and  private  services 
had  been  waited  on  by  large  and  attentive  audiences.  On  Friday 
there  had  been  held  an  experience  meeting  for  '  speaking  to  the 
question'  as  it  is  called,  and  several  aged  and  pious  Highlanders 
had  entered  into  subjects  of  spiritual  and  practical  theology  with 
the  depth  and  unction  of  a  Baxter  or  a  Bates.  Saturday  was  ush- 
ered in  with  early  prayer-meetings  ;  at  eleven  we  had  public  ser- 
vice in  English  and  in  Gaelic,  the  evening  also  being  devoted  to 
prayer-meetings.  On  Sabbath  the  spacious  Scots  Church  was 
packed  with  English  hearers,  while  one  of  the  Methodist  Chapels 
accommodated  the  Gaelic  part  of  the  congregation  till  three  o'clock, 
when  they  got  possession  of  the  church,  and  the  communion  ser- 
vice in  Gaelic  went  on.     The  singularly  affecting  strains  of  the 


292  LIFE  01?    KKV.    Dli.    BURNS. 

music  of  the  Gael,  their  slow  and  oantioua  approach  to  the  table, 
and  the  whole  solemnity  of  the  scene  brought  forcibly  to  my  mind 
what  I  had  of ':en  heard  of  but  never  saw,  the  sacramental  scenes  of 
Ferintosh  and  Kirkhill.  The  evening  service  was  in  English  ;  but 
on  Monday  we  had  both  English  and  Gaelic.  Our  excellent  friend, 
Mr.  McKenzie,  of  Zorra,  took  the  entire  charge  of  the  Gaelic  de- 
partment, and  a  large  number  of  his  people  came  in  to  join  in  the 
service.  His  services  in  this  district,  along  with  those  of  Mr. 
McMillan,  of,  Williams,  and  Mr.  Allan,  of  Stratford,  have  been 
eminently  blest.  Nor  must  I  omit  to  notice  the  debt  of  gratitude 
we  owe  to  Mr.  John  Eraser,  of  the  Bank*,  who  by  his  own  almost 
unaided  eflforts  has  kept  together  the  congregation  in  London — 
conducting  public  worship  both  in  English  and  Gaelic,  with  faithful 
and  judicious  exposition  of  Scripture,  and,  in  every  way  that  sound 
judgment  can  dictate,  building  up  the  Church.  O,  that  our  breth- 
ren of  the  Free  Church  at  home  had  just  seen  for  once  what  I  have 
seen  of  these  interesting  assemblages  of  an  industrious,  well-con- 
ditioned and  pious  peasantry  from  the  hills  and  dales  of  Caledonia  ! 
They  would  need  no  pleading  further  to  send  us  over  a  few  of  their 
Macdonalds,  and  Erasers,  and  Stewarts  to  occupy  such  a  noble 
fteld.  Nor  let  it  be  supposed  that  the  English  part  of  the  popula- 
tion here  is  less  interesting  than  the  Gaelic.  There  is  great  need  of 
the  ministrations  of  the  gospel  to  all  classes.  Indeed  for  the  town 
of  London  an  able  and  acceptable  English  minister  is  perhaps  of 
more  importance  at  present  than  a  Gaelic  one  ;  but  St.  Thomas, 
Eckfrid,  Mosa,  and  other  settlements  in  the  district  are  almost 
wholly  Gaelic,  and  these  warm-hearted  Highlanders  are  really  hun- 
gering and  thirsting  after  the  bread  and  water  of  life.  Would  the 
Free  Church  only  send  us  just  now  were  it  only  one  Gaelic  minister, 
of  power  and  popular  gifts,  we  might,  with  the  aid  of  Mr.  Eraser, 
and  the  occasional  visits  of  the  Gaelic  ministers  from  other  town- 
ships, *'  get  along'  pretty  well,  as  the  men  of  the  United  States  say. 
But  if  these  townships  are  left  much  longer  without  help  in  either 
language,  one  of  the  finest  openings  of  a  missionary  character  in 
the  world  is  closed  perhaps  for  ever. 

''  Prior  arrangements  required  my  leaving  London  on  my  return 
on  Monday  evening.  My  regret  is  that  I  had  not  another  Sabbath 
for  the  visit.  London  may  be  considered  as  the  centre  of  a  noble 
country,  equal  in  extent  to  the  whole  lowlands  of  Scotland,  and  in 
agricultural  resources,  far  superior.  I  felt  a  great  desire  to  go 
along  through  the  whole  of  the  districts  of  Lake  Erie  round  to 
Goderich,  knowing  as  i  did,  that  there  are  masses  of  our  country- 
men there  who  would  have  given  me  a  hearty  welcome.  The 
round  Presbyterianism  of  our  Free  Church  is  the  very  thing  that 
these  districts  require,  along  with  good  schools,  to  form  a  great 
country.     Deeply  also  do  I  lament  that  our  Deputies  from  Scot- 


*  Father  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Frascr,  of  London.    He  died  within  a  few  years  after,  uui 
lersally  regretted.— Eo, 


I 


KINGSTON.      RIDEAU   CANAL.  293 

land  have  kept  so  far  to  the  east.  The  finest  parts  of  Canada  have 
not  been  reached  by  them  as  yet.  May  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church  speedily  send  forth  standard  bearers,  to  display  the  banner 
of  his  cross  and  crown  in  those  goodly  lands !" 

"  Toronto,  Sept.  17,  1845. 

**  The  second  Sabbath  of  August  I  spent  in  Kingston,  preached 
three  times  on  the  Lord's  day,  besides  giving  a  discourse  on  Saturday 
evening,  specially  addressed  to  the  members  of  the  congregation.  At 
that  period  there  was  every  reason  to  hope  that  Mr.  King  would 
have  been  among  his  affectionate  friends  in  that  place,  and  that 
matters  would,  under  his  faithful  ministry,  go  on  prosperously.  The 
disappointment  in  this  respect  must  be  injurious  to  the  religious 
state  of  that  congregation,  and  every  effort  must  be  made  both  by 
the  Presbytery  and  Synod  and  Home  Mission  Committee,  to  carry 
on  the  supplies  vigorously  in  that  important  station,  in  hope  that 
the  Free  Clmrch  may  yet  be  induced  to  send  forth  one  of  her  sons 
duly  qualified  for  occupying  a  place  so  influential.  I  left  Kingston 
on  Monday  morning  by  the  Rideau  Canal.  The  scenery  was  new 
to  me.  At  first  the  mud  and  the  marsh  were  not  particularly  at- 
tractive, but  that  part  of  the  scene  was  soon  succeeded  by  some- 
thing more  picturesque  and  inviting.  All  at  once  we  seemed  to  be 
transported  to  the  far  west  regions  of  the  States,  where  deep  waters 
and  leafless  trees  of  varied  size  and  height  growing  up  out  of  the 
wide  waste  of  waters,  seemed  so  many  masts  of  ships  under  the  sea  } 
and  the  only  sound  heard  being  that  of  our  steamer,  as  she  made 
her  turnings  and  windings  in  a  narrow  but  deep  stream  through 
the  dense  forest,  reminded  us  of  the  first  invasion  of  an  unknown 
land.  But  the  broad  expanse  of  the  Rideau  Lake,  with  its  clusters 
of  islands,  was  peculiarly  gratifying  to  the  eye  ;  and  the  massive 
works  at  '  Jones'  Falls'  gave  us  a  very  high  idea  of  the  skill  and 
enterprise  which  had  been  embarked  in  this  mighty  national  under- 
taking— the  Rideau  Canal.  Our  excellent  Free  Church  chairman 
at  Montreal,  Mr.  Redpath,  who  superintended  the  execution  of 
these  vast  works,  was  present  to  my  mind  ;  and  I  felt  grateful  to 
that  gracious  Disposer  who  had  given  to  such  a  man  the  great  ele- 
ments of  doing  good — ample  means  and  an  enlarged  heart. 

Bytown  is  a  most  important  station  for  our  Church  to  occupy, 
The  Free  congregation  here  is  not  at  present  very  large,  but  it  is 
composed  of  the  very  best  materials.  They  have  got  their  neat 
place  of  worship  well  advanced,  and  with  everj'  prospect  of  a 
vigorous  eldership,  the  interests  of  the  congregation  will  be  success- 
fully consulted,  while  our  excellent  young  friend,  their  pastor, 
will  have  his  hands  strengthened  by  an  attached  people.  The 
meetings  which  were  held  in  connexion  with  this  settlement  were 
very  pleasing,  and  the  aitectionate  greeting  he  received  from  Chrif^- 
tian  fellow-labourers  of  different  denominations  was  a  feature  in 


294 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 


the  case  not  to  be  overlooked.  May  the  Chief  Shepherd  bless  his 
own  cause  in  this  rising  locality.  The  magnificence  of  nature,  com- 
bined with  great  beauty,  mark  the  splendid  falls  in  its  vicinity,  and 
filled  me  with  admiration.  May  the  wonders  of  grace  be  seen  here 
also  with  an  impressiveness  still  more  captivating  ! 

"  At  Beckwith  and  Ramsay  I  had  the  pleasure  of  addressing 
large  congregations,  united  and  prosperous.  At  the  former,  a  call, 
signed  by  240  members  and  adherents,  had  been  drawn  out  in  favour 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  McMillan,  of  Cardross.  This  call  was  committed 
to  my  charge,  and  is  now,  I  trust,  in  the  hands  of  my  excellent 
friend,  Dr.  James  Buchanan,  of  the  Free  Church  College,  Edin- 
burgh, to  be  by  him,  and  the  Committee  of  which  he  is  chairman, 
put  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  McM.  At  the  latter  of  these  places,  a 
call  was  in  the  course  of  signature  in  favour  of  the  Rev.  W.  G. 
Johnston,  late  of  Pittsburg.  Thus  both  congregations  are  in  a 
matured  and  settled  state — perfectly  able  to  support  the  Gospel 
creditably,  and  presenting  most  promising  situations  for  laborious 
and  effective  ministers.  The  rising  village  of  Carleton  Place,  too, 
was  not  overlooked.  An  hour's  noticcj  brought  out  a  respectable, 
though  not  a  large,  audience  ;  among  whom  I  was  privileged  to 
jneet  with  a  few  very  pious  Presbyterians. 

''  The  township  of  Ramsay  is  almost  wholly  Presbyterian.  Of 
pix  hundred  families  in  it,  I  am  informed  that  five-sixths  are  either 
Scotch  or  Irish,  and  decidedly  Presbyterian  and  Free.  A  large 
proportion  of  Beckwith  is  Gaelic  ;  many  of  the  settlers  are  from  the 
Marquis  of  Breadalbane's  country  ;  and  all  of  them  more  or  less 
flourishing.  The  kindness  I  met  with  in  both  of  these  townships 
disposes  me,  irrespective  of  all  higher  considerations,  to  repeat  my 
visit. 

"  Lanark  had  not  been  put  into  my  list  at  all.  This,  however, 
was  no  reason  why  I  should  not  pay  my  respects  to  my  old  friends, 
whom  I  had  known  of  old  in  that  place  ;  and,  short  as  was  the 
notice,  we  had  a  tolerable  audience.  An  adjoining  settlement, 
called  Middleton,  I  visited  also,  and  preached  to  about  two  hundred 
in  the  open  air.     Here  I  met  with  such  warm-hearted  men  as 

Messrs.  P and  R ,  and  others,  whose  intelligence  and  piety 

cheered  me. 

"  Perth  demands  all  that  we  can  do  for  it.  The  congregation  here 
have  built  a  Free  Church,  most  advantageously  situated.  Here  I 
spent  the  Sabbath — preached  three  times  to  crowded  audiences,  and 
on  Monday  held  a  church  meeting,  at  which  the  Member  of  Parlia- 
ment for  the  County  of  Lanark,  Mr.  Cameron,  a  member  of  the 
Free  Church  at  Port  Sarnia,  presided  ;  and  where  the  very  best 
spirit  prevailed.  There  are  here  a  number  of  sensible  and  active 
Mders  and  others,  who  take  a  lead  in  the  congregation,  and  the 
cause  would  prosper  exceedingly  could  a  young  evangelist,  of  talent 
and  piety,  be  obtained  as  pastor.  A  central  situation  like  this  will 
diffuse  a  healthful  influence  all  around. 


i 


DALHOUSIE.  295 

"  Th'!  Dalhousie  District  was  to  me  personally  very  interesting. 
There  1  met  with  not  a  few  whom  I  had  seen  and  known  twenty- 
five  years  before  in  Renfrewshire,  and  whose  circumstances  now 
contrasted  most  favourably  with  their  situation  then.  It  is  won- 
derful what  may  be  effected  by  industry,  sobriety,  and  content- 
ment, even  when  physical  disadvantages  are  very  great.  The  land 
here  is  far  from  being  the  best,  and  the  distance  from  markets 
great,  while  the  roads  are  bad.  And  yet,  it  was  refreshing  to  find, 
that  our  industrious  and  well-behaved  people  of  the  west  of  Scot- 
land had  come  on  amazingly  well.  A  fine  spirit  prevails  among 
them.  Sobriety  is  prevalent,  and  they  are  what  may  be  called  a 
religiously  disposed  class.  The  library  of  St.  Andrew's  Hall,  I  had 
the  opportunity  of  examining,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  read- 
ing habits  which  that  Institution  has  cherished,  have  proved  salu- 
tary in  promoting  intelligence  and  sound  morals.  The  number  of 
volumes  is  nearly  ]  ,000,  but  they  are  mostly  old  and  worn  out,  a 
good  sign  of  the  proper  use  which  has  been  made  of  them.  I 
preached  in  that  hall,  and  at  another  station  in  Dalhousie  proper. 
The  Free  Church  decidedly  predominates,  and  a  stafl'  of  nine  Elders 
is  a  very  good  commencement.  There  are  three  stations  which  will 
form  together  one  charge.  The  site  for  a  Manse  on  the  beautiful 
lake  of  Mississippi,  was  pointed  out  to  me,  and  the  people  are  both 
able  and  willing  to  support  a  minister.  A  more  promising  station 
for  an  active  pious  labourer,  cannot  be.  I  undertook  to  have  the 
Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  dispensed  among  them  in  the 
course  of  the  season. 

"Of  Brockville,  Prescott,  and  Gananoque,  I  need  not  particu- 
larly speak.  I  visited  and  preached  at  each,  and  held  conferences 
with  the  sessions  at  each,  the  results  of  which  are  on  record.  To 
the  kind  friends  in  these  places  I  owe  many  thanks  ;  may  they  and 
theirs  prosper  in  the  best  sense  !  I  regretted  I  could  not  visit  South 
Gower,  one  of  the  largest  of  our  congregations  ;  neither  could 
I  visit  Edwardsburgh  and  the  adjoining  settlements  ;  but  it  gave 
me  pleasure  to  learn  that  there  was  a  good  prospect  of  the  ordina- 
tion of  pastors  over  these  congregations  soon.  Mr.  Boyd,  of  Pres- 
cott, has  long  laboured  among  them  in  the  way  of  occasional  visits, 
and  he  wiU  feel  gratified  in  seeing  them  comfortably  settled  under 
pastors  of  their  own. 

"  In  the  Bathurst  District,  I  found  a  peculiar  attention  had  been 
paid  to  the  cultivation  of  sacred  music.  The  singing  delighted  me, 
and  my  associations  led  me  back  to  the  earnest  and  '  grave  sweet 
melody'  of  the  IQlsyth  audience,  inspired  by  the  revival  of  reli- 
gion in  that  place.  The  practice  of  sacred  music  I  found  to  be  one 
of  the  relaxations  in  which  the  people  took  much  delight.  Long 
may  such  be  the  relaxation  which  pleases  !  St.  Andrew's  Hall  was 
expressly  built  for  what  is  technically  called  a  spree  on  St.  Andrew's 
day.  That  is  now  past.  The  Temperance  Society  has  gained  its 
laurels  here,  as  everywhere  in  Canada,  and  the  voics  of  psalms  is 
the  music  that  now  fills  the  place. '^ 


296 


LIFE   OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


''  Toronto,  22nd  Nov.,  1849. 

"  Immediately  after  the  celebration  of  the  holy  ordinance  of  our 
Lord's  Supper  in  Knox's  Charch,  in  the  beginning  of  September,  I 
resolved,  in  humble  dependence  on  God,  to  carry  out  my  intention 
of  a  missionary  tour  to  Canada  East,  Nova  Scotia,  and  New  Bruns- 
wick. In  much  mercy  I  have  been  enabled  to  do  so,  and  eight 
Sabbaths,  embracing  nine  weeks,  were  devoted  to  the  work.  Every 
colonial  minister  must  be,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  a  missionary ; 
and  the  time  devoted  to  the  mission  field  is  by  no  means  lost,  even 
to  the  congregation  more  immediately  his  own.  A  missionary 
spirit  is  favourable  to  active  effort  in  every  way  ;  and  an  affectionate 
flock  will  lose  nothing  by  extra  evangelistic  labours  on  the  part  of 
their  pastor. 

"  The  Free  Church  congregation  of  Cote  Street,  Montreal,  has 
always  had  a  peculiar  claim  on  our  church.  Its  members  were  the 
first  who  raised  the  standard  of  the  protesting  Church  of  Scotland 
in  the  colonies,  and  they  have  continued  to  grasp  it  with  an  un- 
flinching hand.  They  erected,  at  great  expense,  years  ago,  an  ex- 
cellent and  commodious  place  of  worship,  with  lecture-room,  Bible 
class-rooms,  and  accommodation  for  week-day  schools.  The  Free 
Church  at  home  has  supplied  them,  from  time  to  time,  with  faithful 
ministers,  in  the  character  of  deputies,  who  have  remained  for 
periods  of  from  three  to  six  months  each.  With  all  the  inconve- 
niences inseparable  from  frequent  change  of  ministers,  the  congre- 
gation has  never  lost  a  member  by  desertion  ;  and  it  is  at  present 
in  as  flourishing  a  state  as  at  any  time  since  its  first  opening  in  May, 
1845.  Its  staff  of  elders  and  deacons  comprises  a  band  of  faithful 
men,  characterized  by  sound  judgment,  elevated  piety,  and  active 
habits.  The  number  of  members  exceeds  200.  An  addition  of  twelve 
was  made  at  the  communion  on  the  24th  September  last ;  and  I 
have  not  the  least  doubt  that  were  a  talented  and  laborious  pastor 
settled  permanently  amongst  them,  the  increase  would  be  rapid. 
It  is  not,  however,  to  mere  numbers  that  the  office-bearers  look. 
They  prize  a  godly  discipline  ;  and,  in  carrying  out  this  principle, 
they  have  set  an  example  which  all  churches  would  do  well  to 
imitate.  I  found  not  the  smallest  difficulty  with  them  on  this  head. 
Our  views  accorded  well ;  and  I  was  not  conscious  of  any  difference 
in  the  practical  carrying  out  of  these  views  in  the  congregation  of 
Ejiox's  Church,  Toronto,  or  of  Cote  Street,  Montreal. 

"  The  deputy  who  had  laboured  last  among  them  was  the  Rev. 
James  Lewis,  of  Leith,  one  of  the  most  talented  and  eloquent 
ministers  of  the  Free  Church.  The  effects  of  his  preaching  and  of 
his  visits  were  very  visible  in  the  state  of  the  congregation.  My 
prayer  has  long  been  that  God  would  put  it  into  the  heart  of  some 
such  godly  minister  to  come  over  and  help  us,  not  in  the  way  of 
occasional  and  limited  residence,  but  as  a  fixed  pastor,  '  to  take  part 
with  us  in  this  ministry.'  It  is  to  my  mind  one  of  the  most  per- 
plexing mysteries  in  human  character,  and  in  the  movements  of 


FRENCH  CANADIAN   MISSIONARY   SOCIETY.  297 

churches,  that  the  finest  of  all  fields  for  evangelistic  and  mission 
effort  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  should  have  so  long  escaped  the 
notice  of  men  and  of  churches  who  stand  first  unquestionably  in 
apostolic  zeal.  In  the  city  of  Montreal,  Satan  has  pre-eminently 
his  seat.  The  whole  province  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  finest 
of  the  preserves  of  the  man  of  sin.  Everything  in  the  political 
department  is  working  into  his  hands,  and  the  churches  of  the 
Reformation  seem  respectfully  quiescent. 

**Four  out  of  eight  Sabbaths  were  devoted  to  Montreal — one  of 
these  the  communion  Sabbath.  On  these  seasons  I  look  back  with 
singular  pleasure — they  were  refreshing  and  gladdening.  In  the 
meetings  of  the  Sabbath  school  and  of  the  Bible-classes,  I  saw  the 
germ  of  growing  prosperity  to  the  congregation.  In  the  services  at 
the  wharf  too,  and  on  board  the  Erromanga  and  Montreal ;  in  the 
visit  to  '  Pointe  aux  Trembles  ;'  in  the  weekly  prayer-meetings 
and  lecture,  and  in  other  occasional  exercises,  a  deputy  to  this 
place  sees  at  once  the  freshening  field  of  his  labours,  and  the  extent 
of  influence  which  they  command. 

**  In  the  operations  of  the  '  French  Canadian  Missionary  Society^ 
the  members  of  Cot^  Street  take  a  deep  interest.  The  society  is 
catholic,  and  liberal  in  its  basis  ;  and  since  its  commencement  in 
1839  its  operations  have  been  characterized  by  energetic  harmony. 
A  day  devoted  to  the  institution  for  boarding  and  educating  young 
habitants  of  both  sexes,  was,  to  my  friends  and  me,  very  delightful. 
The  place  is  about  eight  miles  below  the  city — beautifully  situated  on 
the  banks  of  the  river — a  large  brick  erection,  capable  of  accommo- 
dating upwards  of  one  hundred  pupils  ;  and  a  hundred  acres  of  the 
finest  land  attached.  With  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tanner,  with  the  teachers 
of  the  different  departments,  and  our  excellent  friend,  Mr.  John 
Blaak,  who  occupies  a  most  important  department  in  the  society, 
we  had  much  agreeable  intercourse.  The  examinations  were  con- 
ducted both  in  English  and  French  ;  and  we  left  the  Institute  with 
a  deep  impression  of  its  value,  and  of  the  paramount  duty  of  Pro- 
testant ministers  and  members  looking  specially  after  it.  The 
superintendent  of  the  farm,  Mr.  Symington,  from  Johnston,  near 
Paisley,  soon  hailed  me  as  an  old  acquaintance.  He  has  already 
introduced  Scotch  improvements  in  the  system  of  agriculture.  A 
well-written  appeal  wliich  he  drew  up,  soon  brought  from  Mr. 
Playfair,  of  Glasgow,  and  other  friends,  an  ample  supply  of  imple- 
ments of  the  best  kind.  The  stouter  boys,  with  one  or  two  of  their 
teachers,  were  busy  making  a  drain  round  the  premises,  and  we 
felt  as  if  translated  to  the  Lane  Manual-labour  College  at  Cincin- 
nati. 

"  While  at  Montreal,  it  was  proposed  that  a  missionary  visit 
should  be  paid  to  Vankleek  Hill,  and  Lochiel,  in  Glengarry.  Four 
days  of  the  first  part  of  a  week  were  devoted  to  this  ;  and  our 
valued  friend,  Mr.  James  11.  Orr,  lately  returned  from  Jamaica 
with  renovated  health,  accompanied  me.     We  sailed  up  the  Ottawa 


298  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

in  the  regular  steamer,  sixty  or  seventy  miles — and  a  magnificent 
«cene  it  is — as  far  as  St.  Andrew's,  where  we  landed,  and  travelled 
l)y  car  to  Lachute  (or  Jerusalem,  as  the  new  Popish  nomenclature 
calls  it),  where  our  worthy  brother,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Henry,  is 
settled.  It  is  quite  a  rural  district,  Scottish  in  its  aspect,  and  most 
of  its  inhabitants  Scottish.  On  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which 
we  left  the  city,  we  had  sermon  and  address  in  Mr.  Henry's  church, 
and  to  a  respectable  congregation  of  his  people.  On  all  such  occa- 
sions, it  is  the  best  plan  to  declare  to  the  people,  first,  the  simple 
truths  of  the  glorious  gospel,  and,  having  done  so,  to  exhort  them 
in  a  separate  address  on  their  special  duties  as  church  members, 
with  appeals  to  our  distinctive  principles.  This  last  is  not  in  every 
case  necessary,  but  in  no  case  should  the  direct  preaching  of  the 
gospel  to  perishing  sinners  be  neglected.  Visits  of  this  nature  tend 
to  strengthen  the  hands  of  the  minister,  while  they  cheer  and  en- 
courage his  people. 

"At  St.  Andrew's,  we  observed,  rising  near  the  Roman  Catholic 
■Chapel,  a  large  building,  which  we  learned  was  intended  as  a  Popish 
College  or  seminary — one  of  many  such  erections  all  over  Lower 
Canada.  They  are  all  more  or  less  under  the  influence  of  the 
Jesuits,  and  exert  a  power,  of  no  slight  kind,  in  strengthening  the 
hold  which  the  Papacy  has  over  the  minds  of  the  people. 

Next  day  we  crossed  the  Ottawa,  and  after  a  journey  of  some 
thirty  or  forty  miles  in  all,  reached  Vankleek  Hill,  a  place  which 
brings  many  pleasing  associations  with  it.  It  is  a  village  in  the 
ivest  of  the  township  of  West  Hawkesbury,  eight  miles  south  from 
the  Ottawa  river,  containing  about  three  hundred  inhabitants, 
many  of  them  originally  of  German  or  Dutch  extraction.  In  the 
village  there  is  a  steam  grist-mill,  several  factories,  and  not  a  few 
symptoms  of  progressive  advancement.  The  Presbyterians  here 
and  in  the  neighbourhood  generally  adhere  to  us,  and  we  had  a 
good  attendance  at  church  in  the  afternoon,  of  persons  not  only 
from  the  village,  but  from  the  country  round.  We  went  in  the 
•evening  to  see  the.  manse  which  had  been  built  for  Dr.  Macgillivray, 
when  he  resided  here  as  deputy  from  the  Free  Church,  and  the 
people  cherished  the  hope  of  his  becoming  their  pastor.  Although 
that  able  minister  did  not  see  it  to  be  his  duty  to  remain  with  the 
congregation  here  or  at  Lochiel  permanently,  his  residence  and  his 
labours  among  them  were  eminently  useful,  and  of  both  a  most 
grateful  remembrance  will  long  be  cherished.  It  is  proper  also  to 
state  that  in  Canada  and  the  United  States  Dr.  Macgillivray,  by 
his  energetic  appeals,  collected  £200,  of  which  £80  have  been  ap- 
propriated to  the  erection  of  the  church  at  Lochiel,  £20  granted  to 
Lancaster  and  Dalhousie  Mills  congregations,  the  rest  devoted  to 
Vankleek  Hill,  and  applied  in  part  to  the  purchase  of  a  glebe  and 
the  finishing  of  the  manse  ;  the  residue  being  reserved  for  building 
.a  new  church,  which  may  become  necessary.  It  is  but  justice  to 
notice  these  valuable  efforts  of  my  worthy  friend,  at  whose  manse 


LOCHIEL.      HIGHLANDERS.       '  299 

(to  be)  we  called,  surveying  its  comfortable  but  tenantless  apart- 
ments ;  admiring  the  deep  grove  within  which  it  is  embedded  ; 
marking  out  the  precise  spot  for  the  '  manse  garden ;'  and  thinking 
of  Dr.  Paterson,  and  the  fascinating  pages  of  his  enchanting  book, 

"  Lochiel  is  eight  miles  south-west  of  Vankleek  H  ill,  and  at  twelve 
o'clock  next  day  we  found  ourselves  there,  surrounded  by  seven 
hundred  brawny  Highlanders,  assembled  within  the  rising  stone 
walls  of  their  large  and  handsome  erection,  and  listening  for  three 
hours  to  the  message  of  salvation,  in  the  delivery  of  which  I  was 
most  thankfully  aided  by  the  valuable  assistance  in  Celtic  of  our 
faithful  catechist  and  missionary,  Mr.  Alexander  Cameron,  and  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Clark,  of  Indian  Lands,  a  godly  man,  of  primitive 
simplicity,  who,  with  piety  and  prudence,  combined  with  some 
good  measure  of  Highland  tact,  has  for  years  held  up  single-handed 
the  banner  of  truth,  and  borne  the  brunt  of  many  a  residuary  on- 
set.    He  had  come  to  meet  us  upwards  of  twenty  miles. 

'  *  It  was  a  very  small  part  of  Glengarry  I  had  it  in  my  power  to 
visit.  There  are  in  all  four  large  and  populous  townships,  besides 
the  Indian  reserve  on  which  Mr.  Clark  is  located.  The  district 
teems  with  Highlanders,  the  descendants  of  those  worthy  men  who, 
seventy  years  ago,  fought  the  battles  of  loyalty  on  the  American 
soil.  It  was  here  that  my  young  relation,  Mr.  W.  C.  Burns,  now 
in  China,  had  many  of  his  most  delightful  tokens  of  success.  A 
considerable  number  of  Gaelic  ministers,  from  the  Free  Church  of 
Scotland,  also  visited  this  district,  and  their  labours,  with  those  of 
Dr.  Macgillivray,  have  left  the  best  effects.  This  last  summer,  Mr. 
Alexander  Cameron,  student  in  theology,  has  laboured  successfully 
as  a  Gaelic  missionary  in  Vankleek  Hill  and  Lochiel,  and  on  his 
return  to  college  a  few  weeks  ago,  Mr.  John  Ross,  lately  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Toronto,  has  agreed  to  give  his  valuable  ser- 
vices during  the  winter.  My  visit  to  these  places  brought  me  into 
acquaintance  with  many  of  our  friends  of  whom  I  had  often  heard, 
such  as  Mr.  Cattanach,  Mr.  Neil  Stewart,  Mr.  Buchanan,  and 
others,  for  whom  I  pray  that  the  blessing  of  the  Most  High  may 
rest  in  rich  abundance  on  them  and  on  their  families. 

' '  On  our  return  next  day  we  again  crossed  the  Ottawa,  at  St. 
Andrew's,  and  after  a  very  weary  journey  of  many  miles,  reached 
St.  Eustache,  a  place  well  known  in  the  annals  of  the  late  rebellion 
in  Lower  Canada.  The  marks  of  the  balls  on  the  doors  and  win- 
dow-shutters of  some  of  the  houses,  were  pointed  out  to  us  as 
melancholy  memorials  of  fearful  events.  The  Popish  eh  irch,  which 
had  been  burnt  to  the  ground  with  many  miserable  beings  who  had 
taken  refuge  within  its  walls,  has  been  rebuilt,  and  its  double 
towers  or  spires,  with  their  tin  roofs,  catch  the  eye  at  a  consider- 
able distance.  Here,  and  at  Ste.  Therese,  we  were  in  the  midst  of 
the  settlements  of  the  old  habitans,  and  we  could  not  but  mark  the 
contrast  betwixt  the  husbandry  to  which  we  had  been  accustomed, 
and  that  of  these  poor  people,  whose  situation  seems  to  be  very 


300  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

little  changed  from  that  of  their  ancestors  two  centuries  ago.  The 
state  of  the  roads  and  the  agriculture,  indicated  that  we  were  not 
in  the  midst  of  British  settlers.  The  influence  of  Popery,  even  on 
the  external  circumstances  of  men,  was  seen  in  palpable  contrast 
with  that  of  Protestantism,  I  felt  somewhat  as  I  did  when  tra- 
velling in  Virginia,  where  the  withering  efi'ects  of  the  system  of 
slavery  are  seen  in  the  very  blasting  of  the  fields,  as  well  as  in  the 
degradation  of  man,  '  the  growth  that  dwindles  there.'  Near  Ste. 
Therese  we  saw  a  large  stone-building  of  four  stories  in  height, 
which  we  were  told  was  a  college  and  boarding-house,  under  the 
control  of  the  Jesuits.  Here,  education,  after  the  fashion  of 
Popery,  is  given  to  upwards  of  eighty  young  men,  with  board,  at 
a  remarkably  cheap  rate.  The  driver  of  our  car  told  us  that  his 
three  sons,  lads  somewhat  advanced,  were  kept  and  educated  there, 
in  a  style  which  he  considered  the  best,  at  fifteen  dollars  per 
month,  for  the  whole.  The  education  given,  I  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve, is  superficial,  at  least,  in  so  far  as  the  communication  of  real 
knowledge  is  concerned  ;  but  I  doubt  not  that  attention  is  paid  to 
the  comfort  of  the  inmates.  It  is  the  interest  of  the  concern  not 
-  to  be  wanting  in  this  respect ;  and  the  college  has  good  endow- 
ments from  those  lands  which,  to  a  prodigious  extent  in  this  Pro- 
vince, belong  to  the  Romish  church.  The  temptations  ofi'ered  to 
lax  Protestants  are  thus  very  numerous,  and  we  fear  that  from  this 
cause,  and  from  the  frequent  intermarriages  betwixt  Protestants 
and  Roman  Catholics,  the  career  of  pernicious  error  is  much  ad- 
vanced. 

"  In  both  St.  Eustache  and  Ste.  Therese,  there  are  congregations 
and  churches  belonging  to  our  Church .  In  Ste.  Therese,  the  Rev. 
David  Black,  son  of  the  eminently  pious  Mr.  Black,  formerly  of 
Lady  Yester's,  Edinburgh,  has  been  settled  for  a  number  of 
years ;  and  in  St.  Eustache,  we  have,  since  the  disruption,  had 
from  time  to  time,  a  missionary  and  catechist  settled.  Mr. 
Swinton,  formerly,  and  Mr.  William  Maclaren,  this  last  sum- 
mer, both  students  of  Knox's  College,  have  been  very  accept- 
able. Our  friends  rent  the  church  for  a  nominal  sum, 
and  it  may,  perhaps,  be  looked  on  now  as  substantially  their 
own :  at  least,  they  are  not  likely  to  be  disturbed  in  the 
possession  of  it.  How  important  such  a  station  as  this  !  The 
Scottish  settlers  may  not  indeed  be  very  numerous  in  the  district, 
but  they  are  very  influential,  and  rapidly  on  the  increase.  If  our 
Church  had  it  in  ils  power  to  plant  here  and  there,  in  these  Lower 
Provinces,  faithful  men,  and  were  these  faithful  men  also  qualified 
to  go  among  the  French  settlers,  and  talk  to  them  in  their  own 
tongue,  and  distribute  suitable  tracts  among  them,  much  good 
would  unquestionably  be  done.  Several  of  the  agents  of  the 
French  Canadian  Society  are  settled  at  stations  in  this  neighbour- 
hood. One  of  them  has  lately  been  asked  to  ofiiciate  in  the  parish 
church,  in  place  of  the  cur^  whom  the  bishop  had  sent,  but  who 


MONTREAL   TO   BOSTON.  301 

was  unacceptable  to  the  people.  An  aged  priest  has  also  been 
lately  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  is  labouring 
amid  much  discouragement.  Thus  we  see,  that  were  faithful  and 
consistent  men  here  and  there  among  the  habitants,  they  would  have 
a  wide  sphere  of  usefulness,  not  only  among  their  own  countrymen, 
but  among  the  natives  also,  whose  prejudices  would  dissolve  away 
amid  the  genial  influences  of  kind  treatment  and  disinterested  pas- 
toral faithfulness. 

'*  On  our  return  to  Montreal  we  crossed  the  '  Isle  Jesu,'  and  saw 
its  four  parish  churches.  When  within  eight  miles  of  the  city,  we 
passed  a  village  in  which  we  noticed  a  specimen  of  the  completeness 
to  which  the  ecclesiastical  establishment  of  the  Popish  Church  in 
these  lands  is  carried.  In  one  clump,  we  saw  an  elegant  parish 
church,  a  parsonage  or  rectory,  male  and  female  seminaries,  with  a 
nunnery  and  maison  de  Dieu.  No  place  in  the  Lower  Province  is 
more  than  four  miles  from  a  parish  church.  So  carefully  has 
Popery  watched  over  its  interests  !  Indeed,  the  wealth  of  the 
Papacy  in  this  Province  is  immense.  The  annual  rates  levied  from 
property  in  the  Island  of  Montreal,  alone,  exceed  £30,000  !  Great 
efforts  have  been  made  during  last  session  of  Parliament,  to  grant 
incorporating  charters  to  the  Jesuits,  who  hold  property  in  land  ; 
and  it  is  thought  that  soon  one-half  of  the  real  property  of  the 
country  will  be  theirs.  This  is  a  fearful  prospect  as  regards  the 
civil  and  religious  liberties  of  Canada. 

"  Toronto,  Jan.  1850. 

"  My  journey  from  Montreal  to  Boston  was  rendered  doubly 
pleasing  by  my  having  as  my  travelling  companion  Mr,  James 
Court,  of  Montreal,  Treasurer  to  the  French  Canadian  Mission, 
who  was  on  his  way  to  the  States,  to  plead  with  the  friends  of  evan- 
gelical truth  in  behalf  of  that  important  institution.  We  left  Mon- 
treal at  twelve  (noon)  on  Monday,  September  24,  and  reached 
Boston  next  day  at  eight  o'clock  p.m.,  having  rested  on  Wednesday 
in  Burlington.  The  sail  along  Lake  Champlain  has  many  attrac- 
tions, and  not  a  few  interesting  associations  to  recommend  it  ;  and 
the  journey  from  Burlington  to  Montpelier  (by  coach)  opened  up 
to  us  many  beautiful  scenes  of  hill  and  dale,  reminding  us  forcibly 
of  Perthshire  and  some  part  of  the  Inverness  Highlands.  Vermont, 
New  Hampshire,  and  Massachusetts,  were  the  three  States  through 
which  we  passed  by  railway  ;  and  the  agricultural  and  pastoral 
character  of  the  first  two  of  these,  with  the  rapidly  rising  manufac- 
turing prospects  of  the  third,  were  in  different  ways  abundantly 
interesting.  The  Merrimack  is  a  noble  stream.  For  public  works, 
Manchester  already  rivals  Lowell,  and  the  town  of  Lawrence — so 
named  after  the  '  Lord  of  the  Manor,'  the  Hon.  Abbot  Lawrence, 
Ambassador  from  the  States  to  Great  Britain — already  numbers 
seven  thousand  souls  ;  while  all  the  three  present  clear  evidence  of 


302  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

the  prodigiously  rapid  rate  with  which  towns  and  cities  grow  in 
these  States,  and  form  indications  of  the  future  ascendancy  of  the 
American  Union  as  a  manufacturing  country.  In  Boston  we  stayed 
at  the  Marlborough  Hotel,  where  we  had  the  pleasure  of  witnessing, 
what  I  regret  to  say  is  too  rare  in  such  cases,  the  assembling  of  the 
household,  morning  and  evening,  for  family  worship.  This  is  the 
law  of  the  house,  as  it  is  at  the  Delavan  Hotel,  in  Albany  ;  and 
these  two  establishments  are^  especially  on  this  account,  entitled  to 
the  friendly  countenance  of  religious  men,  while  in  accommodations 
of  a  more  ordinary  kind  they  are  fully  equal  to  the  most  respectable 
establishments  in  both  cities. 

"  I  was  accompanied  on  board  the  British  steamer  Canada,  next 
day,  by  my  friend  Mr.  Court,  who  soon  after  left  for  Montreal. 
The  interest  of  the  scene  usual  on  these  occasions  was  increased  by 
the  circumstance  of  the  embarkation  of  Mr.  Lawrence,  the  Ameri- 
can Ambassador  to  Great  Britain.  He  is  a  descendant  of  the  pil- 
grim fathers — a  man  of  high  honour  and  respectability — who  has 
raised  himself  by  his  own  talent  and  perseverance  to  the  possession 
of  five  million  of  dollars,  and  has  lately  given  seventy  thousand  of 
these  to  the  endowment  of  a  chair  of  engineering  and  mechanics  in 
Harvard  University.  I  was  introduced  to  him  by  an  old  Paisley 
parishioner,  Mr.  Lawson,  now  at  the  head  of  a  large  carpet-manu- 
factory in  Lowell.  We  had  much  agreeable  conversation  during 
the  sail  from  Boston  to  Halifax,  and  in  the  accuracy  of  the  infor- 
mation furnished  by  the  American  Ambassador,  on  all  subjects,  I 
had  every  reason  to  place  the  most  implicit  confidence. 

"  On  m.j  arrival  at  Halifax,  on  the  evening  of  the  day  after 
leaving  Boston,  the  hearty  welcomes  of  many  well-known  friends 
were  blended  with  the  pleasing  associations  of  former  visits,  and  I 
soon  found  myself  at  home  with  my  excellent  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Forrester,  whose  house  was  my  comfortable  abode  during  my  stay 
in  the  city.  The  next  day,  Friday,  was  employed  in  visiting  some 
of  the  active  friends  of  the  church  in  and  near  the  city,  and  in 
making  arrangements  for  the  opening  of  Chalmers'  Church  on  the 
14th  current.  A  commodious  building  presented  itself  to  my  view 
in  the  very  centre  of  the  city,  among  whose  prominent  ornaments 
the  handsome  spire  most  legitimately  counts.  The  interior  presents 
a  compact  and  well-arranged  provision  made  for  the  comfortable 
accommodation  of  seven  hundred  sitters  ;  and  the  proofs  of  judg- 
ment, liberality,  and  good  taste  in  the  tout  ensemble,  reflected  much 
credit  on  the  members  of  the  congregation.  We  held  a  devotional 
meeting  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  Academy,  in  the  evening,  when 
various  matters  were  adjusted  in  the  view  of  the  important  services 
we  had  in  prospect. 

Arrangements  having  been  duly  made  for  a  missionary  tour  in 
the  eastern  settlements  and  in  Prince  Edward's  Island,  Mr.  For- 
rester and  I  left  Halifax  on  Saturday  morning,  by  coach,  for  Truro, 
a  beautiful  settlement  of  old  standing,  about  sixty  miles  eastward. 


PICTOU.  SOS 

Here  we  made  arrangements  for  sermon  on  my  return,  and  passed 
on  to  Londonderry,  where  we  found  the  Rev.  John  Munro,  ordained 
missionary  of  the  district,  waiting  for  us,  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Maclean,  a  lay  friend,  whose  services  on  this  and  other  occasions 
were  to  us  very  valuable.  Mr.  Forrester  went  on  to  Pugwash  or 
Waterf  ord,  and  I  remained  at  Wallace.  We  had  travelled  this  day 
nearly  one  hundred  miles,  and  the  mercy  of  a  faithful  God  preserved 
us.  Next  day  our  services  were  divided  amongst  the  settlements 
at  Wallace,  Gulfshore,  and  Waterford  j  and  the  attendance  at  all 
these  places  was  very  encouraging. 

"  On  Monday  and  Tuesday  we  held  meetings  at  all  these  places, 
and  also  at  New  Annan  and  Earlton,  and  the  town  of  Pictou,  where 
the  principles,  proceedings,  and  prospects  of  the  I'ree  Church  of 
Scotland  were,  more  or  less  fully,  illustrated  in  connexion  with  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  to  perishing  sinners.  The  whole  land  was 
spread  out  before  us  as  a  wide  field  of  missionary  labour,  and  we 
felt  deeply  the  want  of  suitable  labourers.  Mr.  IVIunro  has  been 
engaged  very  usefully  in  part  of  this  field,  for  nearly  a  year,  as  a 
Gaelic  missionary.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Stewart,  Sutherland,  and 
Campbell  occupy  large  districts  in  the  range  of  Pictou,  and  are  de- 
servedly esteemed  by  the  people  to  whom  they  minister.  My  old 
friend,  Mr.  Stewart,  1  found  waiting  my  arrival  at  Pictou,  and  on 
Wednesday  I  accompanied  him  to  New  Glasgow,  where  a  portion 
of  his  congregation  assembled.  After  sermon  and  address  on  their 
appropriate  duties,  we  re-crossed  the  harbour,  and  preached  in  the 
evening  to  an  excellent  congregation  in  the  town  of  Pictou.  The 
Free  church  there  occupies  a  commanding  position,  and  will  be, 
when  completed,  a  commodious  building.  Of  it,  and  of  the  church 
at  West  River,  and  perhaps  one  or  two  more  in  course  of  erection, 
I  may  remark  that  some  help  from  the  friends  of  colonial  churches 
would  be  highly  desirable,  as  the  great  body  of  adherents  to  our 
cause,  in  these  places,  are  in  humble  circumstances,  and  a  succes- 
sion of  unfortunate  harvests  has  crippled  sadly  their  resources.  In 
the  district  of  Pictou,  the  great  body  of  the  people  are  our  warm 
friends,  and  they  cannot  be  fewer  than  from  twelve  to  fifteen  thou- 
sand souls.  Six  Gaelic  ministers  would  be  required  here  in  addition 
to  those  already  settled,  and  there  are  numerous  Highland  settle- 
ments to  the  east  and  west  of  Pictou  entirely  destitute.  A  finer 
missionary  field  there  cannot  be.  Ministers  of  the  Presbyterian 
Synod  and  others  have  indeed  done  much  to  supply  the  spiritual 
destitution,  but  still  the  harvest  is  very  plenteous.  May  the  great 
Lord  send  forth  faithful  men,  who  may  be  able  to  teach  the  people 
in  their  own  tongue  the  wonderful  things  of  God. 

"  It  was  arranged  that  Mr.  Munro  and  I  should  go  to  Prince 
Edward  Island  ;  Mr.  Forrester,  who  had  accompanied  us  thus  far, 
returning  to  Halifax.  On  Thursday,  we  went  by  steamer  to  Char- 
lottetown,  a  distance  of  seventy  miles.  Unfortunately,  the  letters 
giving  notice  of  our  intended  visit  had  not  reached,  and  thus  no 


S04 


LIFE  OF   REV.   DR.    BURNS. 


arrangement  for  missionary  work  had  been  made.  In  the  circum- 
stances, we  made  the  best  of  it ;  Mr.  Munro  setting  off  to  visit  his 
countrymen  in  different  settlements,  from  ten  to  thirty  miles  distant 
from  Charlottetown ,  while  I  remained  in  the  capital  of  the  Island, 
and  in  its  neighbourhood,  till  Monday.  I  had  two  opportunities  of 
preaching  in  Charlottetown  on  the  Lord's  Day,  by  the  kindness 
of  the  Methodists  and  the  Baptists  ;  and  at  three  o'clock  in  a  chapel 
about  seven  miles  out  of  town,  which  seems  to  be  common  to  differ- 
ent evangelical  bodies,  we  had  a  crowded  audience.  At  this  place 
also  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  my  excellent  friend,  the 
Hon.  Charles  Young,  who,  five  years  ago,  welcomed  Mr.  Robb  and 
me  as  deputies  from  the  Free  Church,  and  rendered  us  most  valu- 
able services.  It  has  often  been  to  me  a  matter  of  deep  regret  that 
the  suggestions  of  that  gentleman,  at  that  period,  had  not  been 
promptly  acted  on.  The  whole  island  was  then  ready  to  welcome 
us,  and  an  effective  minister  located  at  Charlottetown  would  have 
been  the  centre  of  Free  Church  influence,  and  of  sound  evangelical 
truth  through  the  colony.  As  matters  have  been,  and  are,  our  in- 
terest in  the  island,  except  among  the  Gaelic  people,  is  not  exten- 
sive ;  and  those  friends  of  the  Redeemer  who,  five  years  ago,  or 
since,  were  thirsting  for  the  water  of  life,  have  gone  away  from  us 
in  different  directions.  As  to  the  Scottish  Establishment  in  the 
island,  however,  it  is  in  religious  feeling  and  character  below  zero. 
One  young  man,  from  Ireland,  had  hovered  among  the  residuaries 
here  for  a  whole  year,  keeping  up  something  like  a  Sabbath-day's 
meeting  in  St.  James's  Church,  but  doing  nothing  effective  in  the 
way  of  ministerial  duty  ;  and  a  Gaelic  minister  of  some  talent,  who 
had  been  with  them  for  a  year  and  a  half  after,  did  not  appear  to 
have  altogether  repaired  the  injury  that  had  been  done.  A  mis- 
sionary from  the  Free  Church  (Mr."  Mclntyre)  had  laboured  faith- 
fully among  Lis  Highland  countrymen,  but  Charlottetown  had  not 
been  supplied. 

Monday  and  Tuesday  having  proved  very  wet,  serious  obstacles 
were  interposed  in  the  way  of  the  projected  missionary  visits  to 
Belfast  and  Murray  Harbour ;  but  Mr.  Munro's  perseverance  and 
zeal  overcame  many  difficulties,  and  at  my  request  he  agreed  to  remain 
a  month  in  the  island,  the  Presbytery  sanctioning  this  arrangement, 
and  Mr.  Sutherland,  of  Earlton,  agreed  to  succeed  him  for  the 
same  length  of  time.  Both  of  these  gentleman  had,  by  former 
visits,  done  most  effective  service  to  the  cause  in  the  island,  as  had 
Mr.  Forrester,  Mr.  Stewart,  and  Professors  King  and  Mackenzie, 
of  Halifax  Free  College.  Indeed  the  brethren  of  the  presbyteries 
of  Pictou  and  Halifax,  could  not  have  done  more  for  the  island 
than  they  have  done,  consistently  with  other  calls.  The  great 
error  has  been  in  the  want  of  a  resident  minister  of  our  church 
at  Charlottetown,  as  the  centre.  That  place  has  at  least  five 
thousand  inhabitants,  and  many  of  these  are  Presbyterians  of 
Scotland  and  of  Ireland,  who  would  have  combined  with  us  readily. 


I 


PRINCE  EDWARD'S  ISLAND.      CAPE  BRETON.         305 

Of  the  Gaelic  population  in  the  island,  amounting  to  many  thou- 
sands, we  have  a  very  strong  hold,  and  their  attachment  to  our 
principles  is  based  on  something  better  than  mere  expediency.  Mr. 
Mclntyre,  the  Free  Church  Gaelic  missionary  in  the  island,  has 
proved  himself  a  faithful  and  successful  labourer  ;  but  he  had  left 
some  time  before,  for  Cape  Breton,  and  from  the  state  of  his 
health,  it  is  feared  that  he  may  not  be  able  to  resume  his  labours 
in  Prince  Edward.  It  was  to  me  matter  of  regret  that  want  of 
time  put  it  beyond  my  power  to  follow  him  to  Cape  Breton  ;  but  I 
rejoice  in  the  favourable  aspect  of  the  cause  there,  and  in  the  good 
effected  by  a  late  visit  of  our  active  and  energetic  brother,  Mr.  For- 
rester. Let  us  hope  that  the  call  addressed  to  Mr.  McLeod,  of 
Logie,  will  be  favourably  responded  to  by  that  esteemed  minister. 
The  accession  of  such  a  man  is  just  what  is  needed  to  cheer  the 
hearts  of  the  worthy  pastors  who  have  been  labouring  long,  amid 
many  difficulties,  ajid  who  are  earnestly  desirous  of  the  presence 
and  countenance  of  one  so  well  fitted  to  be  at  once  their  fellow- 
labourer  and  their  guide.  The  enlightened  efforts  of  Mrs.  Mackay, 
of  Edinburgh,  have  told  most  successfully  on  this  interesting  field. 
K-eflection  on  what  this  Christian  lady  has  been  honoured  to  accom- 
plish for  churches  and  schools  in  Cape  Breton,  must  be  to  her  own 
mind  matter  of  lively  gratitude,  as  assuredly  it  is  subject  matter  of 
thankfulness  to  not  a  few  who  will  prove  her  joy  and  crown  in  the 
great  day. 

"  While  in  Prince  Edward,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  hearing 
from  Captain  Nelmes,  of  Bermuda,  the  particulars  of  the  death  of 
Mr.  Morrison,  and  the  present  position  of  the  Free  Church  in  that 
island.  Mr.  Morrison,  and  Mr.  Struthers,  of  Comwallis,  were  the 
first  ministers  whom  the  Glasgow  Society  designated  to  the  Colo- 
nies, in  1826.  Mr.  Struthers  is  still  spared,  after  years  of  useful 
labour  both  in  Demerara  and  Nova  Scotia.  Mr.  Morrison  laboured 
first  at  Dartmouth,  and  in  the  Acadian  School  of  Halifax,  but  lat- 
terly he  was  for  a  series  of  years  minister  of  the  Scotch  Church 
in  Bermuda,  and  the  notices  I  received  of  his  pastoral  faithful- 
ness, were  very  satisfactory.  With  the  advice  and  aid  of  the  Free 
Church  Colonial  Committee,  at  Edinburgh,  he  lately  went  to  Trini- 
dad, partly  for  the  recovering  of  his  health,  and  partly  to  assist  in 
the  settlement  of  a  Free  Church  minister  in  that  island.  In  much 
feebleness  he  was  enabled  to  discharge  that  duty,  and  he  returned 
to  his  post  in  safety,  but  not  with  any  perceptible  benefit  of 
health.  He  lingered  for  a  short  time  under  complicated  sufferings, 
and  died  in  hope,  amid  the  prayers  and  regrets  of  an  attached 
people,  who  were  cheered  by  his  dying  testimony,  as  they  had  been 
edified  by  his  pastoral  labours.  Application  has  been  made  to  the 
Free  Colonial  Committee  for  a  successor  to  Mr.  Morrison,  and  let 
us  hope  that  a  station  so  very  important  will  not  be  left  long  desti- 
tute of  a  settled  minister. 

''On  my  way  from  Prince  Edward  Island  I  had  an  agreeable 


306  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.    BURNS. 

meeting  with  the  Presbytery  at  Pictou,  when  various  matters  re- 
garding supplies  for  different  stations  were  settled.  Along  with 
Mr.  Sutherland  I  went  on  to  Rogers  Hill,  Earlton,  and  Truro. 
Unfortunately,  circumstances  prevented  me  from  fulfilling  my  en- 
gagement at  the  first  of  these  places,  where  a  large  congregation 
had  assembled  at  the  hour  which  had  been  fixed.  At  the  church 
of  Earlton,  embedded  in  the  centre  of  a  grove  without  any  dwell- 
ing near,  we  had  a  large  meeting  ;  and  it  was  very  gratifying  to  me 
to  meet  personally  with  some  venerable  Highlanders  who  had  been 
amongst  my  earliest  correspondents  as  Secretary  of  the  Glasgow 
Society,  and  whom  in  this  sense,  I  had  long  known.  These  patri- 
archs of  the  bush  presented  to  me  fine  specimens  of  the  '  men'  of 
the  parishes  of  Sutherland  and  Ross.  Thirty  years  ago  they  had 
been  '  cleared  off'  from  their  patrimonial  domains,  and  had  wept 
as  they  beheld  for  the  last  time  the  sepulchres  of  their  fathers. 
Many  severe  difficulties  had  they  to  overcome  in  their  first  settle- 
ment in  the  wilderness  ;  but  God  has  befriended  them  when  men 
were  unkind,  and  they  now  present  gratifying  spectacles  of  suc- 
cessful colonization.  Mr.  Sutherland,  the  son  of  one  of  these 
hoary  veteran  Christians,  studied  at  Edinburgh  College,  and  is 
now  the  spiritual  pastor  of  his  kinsmen  and  his  countryinen  in  the 
pilgrimage  to  Zion.  Earlton  was  like  many  other  places  left  long 
unoccupied  by  a  regular  minister,  but  the  good  men  of  the  old 
land  were  the  '  holy  seed'  here,  and  by  their  powerful  efforts  here 
religion  was  kept  not  only  alive,  but  in  a  healthful  and  thriving 
state,  while  not  a  few  fields  that  had  been  occupied  by  licentiates 
of  churches  were  withered. 

"At  Truro — long  highly  favoured  by  a  succession  of  excellent 
ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  still  enjoying  many  pri- 
vileges— we  had  a  successful  meeting  in  the  Baptist  chapel  in  the 
evening.  It  was  the  time  of  the  sitting  of  the  Assizes,  and  the 
respected  Judge,  with  Crown  Counsel  and  other  official  gentlemen, 
closed  the  labours  of  their  circuit,  by  attendance  on  the  preach- 
ing of  the  gospel  in  the  unassuming  but  comfortable  meeting- 
house. 

"  It  was  on  Sabbath  the  1 4th,  according  to  appointment,  *  Chal- 
mers' Church,'  as  the  new  edifice  has  been  designated,  was  opened 
for  public  worship.  At  all  the  three  meetings  we  had  large  and 
respectable  audiences.  The  part  of  the  services  allotted  to  me 
embraced  the  morning  and  evening  meetings  ;  and  Mr.  Forrester, 
pastor  of  the  church,  officiated  in  the  afternoon,  delivering  a  most 
appropriate  discourse  on  the  character  of  the  good  Centurion,  who 
had  shewn  his  love  to  the  nation  of  Israel  by  *  building  a  Syna- 
gogue.' The  collections  this  day  exceeded  £100.  Much  praise  is 
due  to  the  members  of  this  congregation  for  the  liberality  they 
have  shewn  in  carrying  on  and  completing  the  building.  The  Free 
Church  has  now  taken  up  its  right  position  in  the  centre  of  the 
populous  city.     St.  John's  Church,  at  Dutchtown,  will,  however, 


I 


HALIFAX  COLLEGE.   DR.  WILKES.        307 

be  still  kept  up  as  a  place  of  worship,  and  may  the  blessing  of  the 
Great  Head  rest  on  both. 

"  It  was  interesting  to  find  in  Halifax  a  well  appointed  literary 
and  theological  seminary  for  the  training  of  young  men  for  the 
ministry.  As  the  classes  had  not  met,  I  had  not  an  opportunity 
of  meeting  with  the  students  as  a  body,  but  with  five  or  six  1  had 
intercourse,  and  my  impression  of  their  abilities  and  piety  was 
exceedingly  favourable.  I  have  learned  since  returning  home  that 
eighteen  have  enrolled  in  the  preparatory  and  theological  depart- 
ments, and  the  able  prelections  of  Professor  King  and  his  coad- 
jutors will,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  tell  favourably  upon  them.  In 
Halifax  as  in  Toronto,  the  same  impediments  will  be  found  to  arise 
from  the  defective  state  of  elementary  education  in  the  province. 
Canada  is  decidedly  in  advance  of  Nova  Scotia,  both  in  normal 
schools  and  in  common  ones  ;  and  I  rather  think  in  district  gram- 
mar seminaries  also.  The  friends  of  education  in  that  province 
are  perfectly  aware  of  this,  and  the  question  of  academies  and 
schools  will  be  a  vital  one  in  the  Legislature.  But  whatever  issues 
may  be  arrived  at,  assuredly  the  members  of  the  Free  Church  at 
Halifax  must  keep  their  institution  in  vigorous  operation.  Perhaps 
there,  as  here,  there  may  be  some  danger  of  aiming  all  at  once  at 
too  perfect  an  organization.  In  the  infancy  of  all  churches,  one  or 
two  really  efiective  instruments  have  been  compelled  to  do  the 
work  which  may,  in  a  more  matured  state  of  a  church,  be  spread 
over  a  number.  Assuredly  the  very  existence  of  Free  Presbyte- 
rianism  both  in  Canada  and  the  other  provinces,  hangs  upon  right- 
ly constituted  and  successfully  conducted  seminaries  in  Toronto 
and  in  Halifax. 

"^  On  Monday  and  Tuesday  we  had  public  services  in  Halifax, 
and  at  Dartmouth  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  bay  ;  and  on  Wed- 
nesday evening  a  crowded  audience  assembled  in  Chalmers'  Church 
to  listen  to  an  exposition  of  the  distinctive  principles  of  the  Free 
Church.  On  this  occasion,  Professor  Kang  acquitted  himself  with 
all  his  well  known  talent  and  tact ;  and  the  effect  of  the  meeting 
on  both  friends  and  foes  were  unquestionably  good. 

"After  enjoying  much  agreeable  fellowship  with  kind  friends,  I 
bade  adieu  to  them  and  to  Halifax  on  Thursday  for  Windsor,  on 
my  way  to  St.  John,  N.  B.  Whom  should  I  find  in  the  coach  as 
my  fellow-traveller  but  my  respected  friend  the  Rev.  Henry 
Wilkes,  of  Montreal,  on  his  way  from  England,  having  left  Liver- 
pool by  the  steam-packet  on  Saturday  se'nnight.  The  details  of  his 
visits  to  England,  Scotland,  Switzerland,  and  France,  were  to  me 
exceedingly  interesting.  We  stopped  together  a  night  at  Windsor, 
and  next  day  set  sail  for  St.  John  by  the  steam  vessel  that  plies  on 
the  Bay  of  Fundy.  We  reached  the  city  by  the  morning  of  Satur- 
day, very  early — betwixt  two  and  three  a.m. — and  found  Mr, 
Thompson,  Dr.  Miller,  and  other  friends  waiting  for  my  arrival. 


S08  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

"From  Saturday  to  Tuesday  I  had  the  gratification  of  enjoying  in 
St.  John  much  agreeable  intercourse  with  our  friends  of  the  Free 
Church,  and  others  also  like-minded  in  the  essential  matters  of 
Christ's  kingdom.  On  Sabbath  we  had  three  services  :  in  the  old 
Methodist  church,  Germain  street  ;  in  the  temporary  Free  Church, 
St.  Stephen's  Hall  ;  and  in  the  Centenary  Church  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodists.  To  that  body  we  are  under  great  obligations  for  their 
readiness  in  accommodating  us  with  the  use  of  their  places  of  wor- 
ship. On  Monday  evening  there  was  held  what  was  announced  as 
a  meeting  of  the  'Evangelical  Alliance,'  in  St.  Stephen's  Hall, 
^when  brethren  of  at  least  four  different  denominations  met  in  fel- 
lowship, and  when  Mr.  Wilkes  favoured  the  meeting  with  refresh- 
ing details  of  his  visits  to  Britain  and  the  Continent.  Malan, 
Merle  D'Aiibigne,  Gaussen,  and  other  eminent  men  of  the  Evange- 
lical school  of  the  Continent  were  brought  visibly  before  us. 
Sketches  of  evangelistic  eflfort  were  given,  and  many  practical  les- 
sons inculcated.  Nor  did  the  St.  John  friends  listen  with  any 
appearance  of  indifference  to  the  details  which  were  given  them 
regarding  the  progress  of  the  Gospel  among  the  churches  of 
Canada. 

"  To  my  mind,  St.  John  possesses  a  peculiar  interest.  In  1817, 
my  brother,  now  at  Corstorphine,  was  settled  as  the  first  minister 
of  St.  Andrew's  Scots  Church  in  that  city,  then  with  a  population 
of  ten  thousand — not  one-third  of  its  present  magnitude.  Those 
whom  he  baptized  are  the  men  and  women  of  the  present  genera- 
tion. A  few  of  the  more  aged  settlers,  then  on  the  active  and  busy 
scene,  remain  ;  and  their  reminiscences  of  other  days  were  to  them 
and  to  me  very  affecting.  The  Scots  Church  has  had  many  occu- 
pants since  the  departure  of  its  first  pastor,  and  now  it  is  presided 
over  by  a  minister  lately  sent  out  by  the  Establishment.  The 
Free  Church,  after  overcoming  many  obstacles,  has  now  for  its 
pastor  the  Rev.  John  Thomson,  formerly  of  Alnwick,  Northum- 
berland,^ a  faithful,  talented,  and  acceptable  minister  of  Christ. 
The  foundation  of  the  new  church  had  been  laid  about  six  weeks 
before  my  visit,  and  it  has  already  been  roofed.  Its  position  is 
commanding,  and  when  the  elegant  fabric  is  completed,  it  will 
accommodate  at  least  a  thousand  hearers.  The  Sabbath  schools 
and  classes  are  in  a  flourishing  state.  On  the  whole  the  prospects 
of  our  brethren  in  St.  John  are  exceedingly  encouraging.  It  is 
proper  to  add  that  in  the  city  there  has  been  for  five  years  past, 
another  Presbyterian  congregation  in  connection  with  us,  under 
the  ministry  of  an  active  and  energetic  clergyman,  the  Rev.  Robert 
Irvine. t  My  earnest  prayer  is,  that  both  congregations  may  have 
entire  fellowship  with  each  other  while  they  seek  the  glory  of  the 
common  Lord. 


*  Now  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Thomson,  of  New  York, 
+  Now  Rev.  Dr.  Irvme,  of  Augusta,  Georgia. 


PORTLAND.      PAYSON.      BOSTON.      QUEBEC.  309 

**  It  was  on  Tuesday,  October  22nd,  I  left  the  commercial  capital 
of  New  Brunswick,  and  came  by  steamer  to  Portland.  The  sail 
through  the  Bay  of  Fundy  and  the  islands  that  lie  between  the 
British  and  American  possessions,  is  exceedingly  line.  Portland 
is  a  large  and  prosperous  city  of  the  State  of  Maine,  and  when  the 
railway  from  Montreal  to  Portland  is  completed  (probably  in  two 
years)  this  will  become  the  great  line  of  communication  with  Cana- 
da and  the  United  States.  1  had  spent  some  hours  at  Portland  on 
my  visit  two  years  ago  to  New  Brunswick,  and  part  of  that  time  I 
passed  within  the  walls  and  in  the  pulpit  of  the  church  which  was 
for  years  honoured  in  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Payson.  I  remembered 
Dr.  Andrew  Reed,  and  the  expression  of  the  worthy  elder  to  him, 
when  pointing  to  the  pulpit  he  said,  emphatically,  '  That  is  the 
place,  sir,  where  Payson  prayed  !'  '  I  was  struck,'  says  Dr.  R. 
*  with  this  remark.  It  gave  me  Payson 's  peculiarity  in  an  instant. 
I  had  thought  that  whatever  might  have  been  his  power  as  a 
preacher,  it  was  greatest  in  prayer.  I  was  now  sure  of  it.'  Our 
countryman,  Dr.  Carruthers,  is  now  the  successor  of  Dr.  Payson, 
but  as  he  was  from  home,  I  had  not  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
him. 

' '  Boston  is  about  one  hundred  miles  from  Portland,  but  the  rail- 
way car  brought  me  up  in  the  course  of  four  hours.  After  stop- 
ping a  night  again  at  the  Marlborough,  I  left  the  city  next  day  by 
the  Fitchburg  line,  and  reached  Burlington  (partly  by  coach),  at 
eleven  p.m.  As  we  were  too  late  for  the  steamer  for  St.  John's,  I 
was  detained  a  day  at  Burlington,  and  did  not  reach  Montreal  till 
Saturday  morning.  Having  supplied  the  pulpit  of  Cote  Street  on 
Sabbath,  and  visited  and  addressed  the  Sabbath  schools,  an  oppor- 
tunity was  given  me  of  examining  the  male  and  female  Bible 
classes  on  Monday,  and  of  meeting  with  the  Home  Mission  Com- 
mittee of  the  Presbytery.  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  were  nearly 
taken  up  in  the  sail  from  Lachine  to  Kingston,  and  after  spending 
a  day  among  our  kind  friends  in  the  quondam  capital  of  Canada, 
we  reached  Toronto  safe  and  sound  on  the  morning  of  Friday.  lu 
a  journey  of  three  thousand  miles  or  upwards,  one  is  exposed  to 
many  casualties,  and  our  gratitude  cannot  be  too  ardent  to  Him 
who  holdeth  our  goings." 


'*  Toronto,  Dec.  1852. 
**  The  history  of  our  church  in  Quebec  is  connected  with  inter- 
esting associations.  In  1802,  the  religion  of  Quebec,  nominally 
considered,  was  divided  into  two  parts.  The  genius  of  Popery 
brooded  over  the  one,  and  that  of  rationalism  or  Unitarianism  over 
the  other.  A  few  friends  of  the  Redeemer  felt  a  longing  for  some- 
thing more  in  harmony  with  evangelical  truth,  and  a  small  Congre- 
L,ational  church  was  formed.     The  London  Missionary  Society  sent 


310  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

out  a  minister  to  this  pagan  city,  and  serious  religion  flourished  for 
a  season.  The  prudence  of  the  missionary,  however,  was  not  equal 
to  his  zeal,  and  he  got  into  difficulties.  The  cause  of  civil  and  re- 
ligious liberty  was  well  nigh  crushed  by  the  overwhelming  influence 
of  the  high  church  bigotry  of  the  Anglican  hierarchy.  David  Dale, 
and  a  few  like-minded  men  in  the  city  of  Glasgow,  interposed  ; 
and  the  services  of  these  noble  men  will  never  be  forgotten  in  the 
annals  of  the  Protestant  Church  in  Quebec, 

"  The  first  missionary  was  followed  by  a  succession  of  good  men, 
and  one  of  these,  Mr.  Francis  Dick,  a  native  of  Monifeith,  Forfar- 
shire, Scotland,  and  at  one  time  settled  in  Montrose,  deserves 
special  notice.  A  plain  Scotchman,  and  with  few  attractions  of 
eloquence,  Mr.  Dick  grasped  the  standard  of  Zion  with  a  firm  hand, 
and  kept  it  flying  on  the  citadel  for  years.  Many  rallied  around 
it,  and  the  recollections  of  those  days  are  fresh  and  fragrant  still. 
In  the  course  of  providence,  Mr.  Dick  was  called  to  leave  America, 
to  minister  to  the  Scotch  inhabitants  of  Hamburg,  where  he  occu- 
pied the  same  pulpit  with  Dr.  Merle  D'Aubigne,  then  a  young  and 
promising  evangelist,  and  since  that  day  the  world-renowned  his- 
torian of  the  Reformed  Churches. — One  church  was  allotted  for  the 
Scotch,  the  Germans,  and  the  French  ;  and  these  two  pious  minis- 
ters divided  the  services  betwixt  them.  Mr.  Dick  returned,  after 
many  years,  to  his  native  land,  and  died  not  long  ago,  at  Cavers, 
where  that  noble-minded  and  truly  catholic  gentleman,  James 
Douglas,  had  been  for  years  his  patron  in  everything  that  was 
good  in  missionary  effort. 

"  About  twenty-five  years  ago,  the  plan  of  connecting  the  Con- 
gregational church  with  the  Presbyterian  Establishment  of  Scot- 
land was  devised  ;  the  Rev.  John  Clugston  became,  in  this  new 
ecclesiastical  position,  its  first  pastor,  and  St.  John's  became  a 
stronghold  of  evangelical  truth.  The  pious  and  pains-taking  minis- 
try of  Mr.  Clugston  is  an  era  of  no  ordinary  interest,  in  the  religi- 
ous annals  of  Quebec. 

"  I  spent  nearly  seven  weeks  in  the  city  and  in  the  Lower  Pro- 
vince. The  congregation  I  found  to  be  considerably  dispirited, 
by  a  succession  of  painful  disappointments  in  their  attempts  to  get 
a  minister.  The  circumstances  of  the  last  of  these  had  been  really 
disastrous.  Still,  the  members  and  adherents  are  cherishing  hope 
that  the  Church  at  home  will  yet  take  pity  upon  them,  and  com- 
mission an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament,  to  occupy  this 
first-rate  station  in  the  visible  church  of  the  Redeemer.  Ifc  is  need- 
less to  disguise  it.  An  ordinary  man  will  not  do  for  Quebec.  If 
the  thing  is  properly  managed,  the  new  Free  church  of  that  city 
will  become  a  noble  rallying  point,  otherways  it  will  be  a  monument 
of  folly.  It  is,  indeed,  a  lovely  gem  ;  but  a  congregation  of  eight 
hundred  is  not  easily  raised  in  Quebec.  It  is  right  that  our  friends, 
both  in  Canada  and  Scotland,  should  know  this.     The  obstacles  in 


J 


QUEBEC.      METIS.      MEKLE  D'AUBIGNE.  311 

the  way  of  success  are  great,  and  nothing  short  of  commanding 
talent  and  untiring  zeal  will  conquer  them. 

But  this  is  only  one  view  of  the  case.  The  Free  church  of  Que- 
bec ought  to  take  the  lead  of  the  evangelical  community  ;  and  what 
a  field  of  usefulness  is  opened  to  its  future  ministers.  In  a  popula- 
tion of  nearly  50,000,  the  number  of  nominal  Protestants  is  a  small 
fraction  of  the  whole,  and  yet,  under  an  able  and  pious  pastor,  the 
influence  of  such  a  ministry  must  tell  over  the  city  and  Province  to 
an  incalculable  extent.  The  near  presence  of  a  cunning,  skilful, 
and  all  but  overwhelming  foe  consolidates  the  Protestant  mind, 
harmonizes  jarring  elements,  and  secures  evangelistic  union. 

"  The  lateness  of  the  season  put  it  quite  out  of  my  power  to  visit 
Metis,  the  remotest  of  our  settlements  to  the  east.  But  it  so  hap- 
pened that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pasche,  the  teacher  and  his  wife,  lately 
appointed  by  Knox's  College  Missionary  Association  to  occupy  the 
station,  reached  Quebec,  on  their  way  down,  exactly  at  the  same 
time  with  me,  and  thus,  on  the  Wednesday  after  my  first  Sabbath 
in  the  city,  we  held  a  meeting  specially  on  their  account.  The 
weather  was  very  unfavourable,  and  thus  the  attendance  was  not  so 
good  as  it  would  have  been.  But  the  meeting  was  an  interesting 
one.  Mr.  Pasche  gave  an  address  in  French,  which  was  interpret- 
ed by  Mr.  Hadden,  one  of  the  elders.  Special  prayer  for  the  mis- 
sion was  offered  up,  and  an  appeal  in  its  favour  made  to  the  audi- 
ence. Next  day  we  had  pleasant  intercourse  in  private  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Pasche,  and  my  impression  is,  that  they  are  admirably 
qualified  for  the  situation  they  are  called  to  fill.  It  is  partly  educa- 
tional and  partly  of  a  missionary  character  ;  and  amid  many  difl&- 
culties,  and  the  great  opposition  which  may  be  looked  for  from  the 
priests,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  a  good  beginning  has  been  made. 
The  acquisition  of  the  whole  seigniory,  upwards  of  30,000  acres,  by 
our  friends  the  Messrs.  Ferguson,  of  Montreal,  is  highly  favourable 
to  the  progress  and  success  of  any  measure  having  in  view  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  cause  of  Christ.  In  connection  with  this  station, 
I  could  not  but  think  with  melancholy  interest  on  the  fact,  that  it 
was  on  his  way  to  visit  Metis,  in  August,  1851,  our  excellent  friend 
Mr.  Rintoul  was  called  home  to  his  Father's  house  on  high. 

"  While  in  Quebec,  a  visit  to  the  friends  of  the  French  Canadian 
Mission  of  Montreal  was  paid  by  their  newly  appointed  agent,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Clark.  It  was  a  refreshing  season.  The  public  meeting 
held  in  the  Methodist  church  was  admirably  attended  ;  many  heart- 
stirring  appeals  on  the  subject  of  Popery  and  missions  made  ;  and 
a  handsome  collection  of  nearly  £60  realised.  Quebec  ought  to  be  a 
stronghold  of  that  Mission.  A  French  Protestant  minister  of  abil- 
ity and  zealous  piety  ought  to  be  located  here.  The  idea  of  such  a 
a  man  as  Merle  D'Aubign^,  the  great  historian  of  the  Reformation, 
being  settled  as  pastor  of  the  Free  church  in  Quebec,  and  Presi- 
dent of  a  Protestant  Seminary  for  training  young  men  for  the 


312  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

ministry,  in  the  Lower  Province,  caught  my  fancy  ;  and  most  will 
say  it  was  a  dream  of  the  night.  I  do  not  think  so.  That  distin- 
guished man  preaches  well  in  all  the  three  languages,  English, 
French  and  German  ;  and  if  he  desired  to  add  a  volume  to  his 
valuable  history,  I  know  not  a  finer  topic  than  the  history  of  reli 
gion  in  Lower  Canada.  That  Province  was  the  scene  of  reforming 
and  evangelistic  efforts  in  other  days,  though  crushed  by  the  over- 
whelming influence  of  Popery.  '  The  influence  of  the  Vatican;'  it 
is  remarked  by  a  late  historian  of  the  Province,  and  a  Roman  Catho- 
lic, 'was  opposed  to  the  prosperity  of  a  colony  whose  real  interests 
Italy  did  not  understand.' 

'*  One  of  the  out-stations  which  were  visited,  from  Quebec,  was 
Port  Neuf ,  on  the  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  about  thirty  miles  up 
from  the  city.  There  are  here  about  twenty  families,  chiefly  Scotch, 
and  connected  with  an  extensive  paper  mill,  belonging  to  Messrs. 
Macdonald  &  Co.,  Quebec.  Mr.  Macdonald  has  also  lately  acquir- 
ed the  entire  seigniory.  He  is  a  warm  friend  of  our  church,  and 
his  ready  and  liberal  kindness,  with  that  of  his  partner  in  the  con- 
cern, and  Mr.  Miller,  and  others,  has  been  the  means  of  keeping 
up  an  interest  in  this  locality,  for  years  past,  highly  favourable  both 
to  education  and  religion.  Mr.  Young,*  one  of  the  students  at 
Knox's  College,  is  at  present  engaged  as  teacher  of  the  school  in 
the  place,  and  he  conducts  worship  on  Sabbaths  and  at  other  times  ; 
the  same  place  serving  both  as  school-house  and  chapel. — His  labours 
are  justly  appreciated.  The  accommodation  is  excellent.  The  day 
school  is  well  attended,  and  the  Sabbath  classes  are  in  a  prosperous 
state.  I  received  much  kindness  from  Mr.  Miller,  with  whom  I 
stayed  four  days.  We  had  two  meetings  for  worship,  and  the  at- 
tendance was  good.  Although  the  number  of  Scotch  families,  in 
the  immediate  vicinity,  is  not  very  great,  there  are  scattered  here 
and  there  in  the  district  round,  a  considerable  number  of  Presby- 
terians, partly  Scotch  and  partly  from  the  north  of  Ireland.  A 
faithful  missionary  or  catechist  settled  here,  might  be  the  means  of 
getting  together  a  considerable  congregation,  and  the  moral  and 
religious  influence  of  a  spiritual  community,  amid  the  darkness 
which  broods  around,  cannot  fail  to  prove  highly  beneficial.  The 
acquisition  of  a  seigniory  by  an  enlightend  Protestant,  is  an  event 
of  no  inconsiderable  moment  in  the  prospective  history  of  Lower 
Canada. — The  proximity  of  this  settlement  to  Quebec,  and  its  easy 
access  from  that  city,  would  render  the  superintendence  of  it,  by 
an  able  minister  settled  there,  a  matter  of  no  difficult  accomplish- 
ment. A  snow-storm  detained  me  a  day  longer  than  I  intended  at 
Port  Neuf ,  but  I  did  not  regret  it,  as  it  gave  me  an  opportunity  of 
visiting  the  most  of  the  families,  and  of  holding  agreeable  inter- 
course with  Mr.  Young  on  his  literary  studies." 

*  Now  Rev.  Alex.  Young,  of  Montreal. 


ST.   SYLVESTER.      LEEDS.  31 S 

"January  25th,  iy53. 

"  It  was  on  Wednesday,  November  17,  I  went  by  steamer  to  St. 
Nicholas,  a  port  on  the  south  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  about 
ten  miles  above  Quebec.  It  was  in  the  afternoon  we  embarked,  and 
a  few  miles  only  of  the  land  journey  could  be  overtaken  that  night. 
My  guide  was  a  worthy  son  of  Erin,  who,  with  his  sleigh,  had  been 
sent  down  some  fifty  miles  expressly  for  me,  and  without  any  notice 
of  the  wishes  or  expectation  of  the  people,  farther  than  just  an 
order  to  '  bring  me  up. '  This  is  always  to  me  the  best  proof  of  a 
desire  to  obtain  the  services  of  a  missionary  ;  and  when  at  all  practi- 
cable I  make  it  a  rule  always  to  comply  with  hints  so  broad  and  so 
intelligible,  and  I  never  yet  had  cause  to  repent  doing  so.  We 
stayed  aU  night  at  a  house  of  refreshment,  nine  miles  up  the  coun- 
try, where  the  privilege  of  evening  and  morning  domestic  worship 
was  enjoyed.  In  the  surrounding  district,  however,  only  three 
Presbyterian  families  are  to  be  found,  and  these  are  at  considerable 
distances  from  each  other.  Passing  on  next  day  southward,  we 
soon  got  beyond  the  range  of  French  Popery,  and  in  the  Township 
of  St.  Sylvester  came  into  contact  with  about  twenty  families, 
mostly  from  the  north  of  Ireland.  In  the  house  of  one  of  these 
families  (Mr.  Woodside'sj  we  made  our  arrangements  for  preach- 
ing ;  my  guide  going  on  before  me  to  give  the  due  notices  as  fully 
and  effectively  as  in  the  circumstances  was  practicable.  After  par- 
taking of  the  kind  hospitality  of  the  worthy  family,  I  was  conveyed 
two  miles  further  to  the  church  of  St.  Sylvester,  adjoining  to 
which  is  the  house  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heddle,  and  their  family, 
originally  from  Shapinshay  in  Shetland,  but  for  many  years  resi- 
dent partly  in  Quebec  and  partly  in  St.  Sylvester. 

''  With  this  worthy  Christian  family  I  stopped  for  the  night,  and 
in  the  afternoon  notices  were  sent  round  for  sermon  next  day  (Fri- 
day,) at  12.  A  congregation  of  about  fifty  assembled — as  large  a 
number  as,  in  the  circumstances,  could  have  been  expected.  The 
usual  services  were  gone  through — a  sermon  preached,  and  a  con- 
gregational meeting  for  conference  thereafter.  On  Saturday,  a  simi- 
lar meeting  was  held  at  Mr.  Ross's,  seven  or  eight  miles  fui-ther  on, 
and  in  the  township  of  Leeds,  and  here  the  number  of  hearers  was 
about  the  same.  (Of  the  probable  amount  of  the  regular  congrega- 
tion in  such  places,  however,  it  would  be  wrong  to  judge  from  an 
occasional  and  transient  visit,  not  duly  announced.  There  is  no 
doubt  whatever,  that  were  an  acceptable  pastor  settled  in  Leeds 
and  St.  Sylvester,  these  two  stations  would  produce  good  congrega- 
tions on  the  Lord's  Day,  while  the  pastor  could,  with  perfect  ease, 
supply  both.  Mr.  Ross  is  father-in-law  to  our  excellent  friend  Mr. 
Swinton,  now  at  St.  Louis  de  Gonzague,  but  formerly  the  catechist 
and  missionary  in  Leeds,  where  his  labours  are  remembered  with 
much  affection.) 

''My  Sabbath  services  were  divided  betwixt  the  two  stations  in 


314 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DK.   BURNS. 


Leeds,  one  at  Lambie's  mills,  and  the  other  seven  miles  distant, 
and  in  a  school-house  at  Mr.  Reid's.  The  substantial  place  of 
worship  at  the  former  was  well  filled  by  an  attentive  and  serious 
looking  congregation,  of  probably  more  than  two  hundred;  and  from 
eighty  to  one  hundred  were  assembled  in  the  other  place.  These 
four  stations  of  Leeds  and  St.  Sylvester  would  form  together  one 
manageable  charge,  and  they  are  fully  ready  to  receive  a  minister. 
— The  past  services  of  such  faithful  young  men  as  Messrs.  Swinton, 
Alexander,  McLaren  and  Murray,  *  have  been  duly  appreciated.  The 
earnestness  and  the  skiKul  propriety  with  which  the  praises  of  God 
were  sung  in  these  localities,  as  well  as  in  those  of  Inverness, 
formed  a  pleasing  feature  as  an  index  of  pious  feeling,  and  a  proof 
of  congregational  organization.  Sabbath  schools  and  Bible  classes 
also  appear  to  have  been  successfully  conducted, 

^'  In  St.  Sylvester  and  Leeds  the  number  of  families  adhering  to 
us  cannot  be  fewer  than  one  hundred  and  twenty.  But  there  are 
out-fields  which  must  not  be  overlooked. 

"There  are  Frampton,  Broughton,  and  Kennebec  road,  in  all 
five  stations  at  least,  and  upwards  of  one  hundred  avowedly  Pres- 
byterian families,  but  scattered  at  varied  distances  over  a  large  ex- 
tent of  country.  In  connexion  with  a  fixed  pastor  at  Leeds  and 
St.  Sylvester,  a  lay  missionary  or  catechist  for  these  appendages, 
would  be  of  great  value.  On  the  Kennebec  road,  the  Rev.  Simon 
Eraser,  now  of  McNab,  laboured  for  some  years  ;  and  our  friend, 
Mr.  Angus  Macintosh,  now  in  Scotland,  in  one  of  his  zealous 
mission  tours,  first  brought  to  light  the  existence  of  settlements 
of  Presbyterian  families  at  the  other  places,  who  had  been  many 
years  without  the  knowledge  or  the  spiritual  aid  of  the  Church 
whose  children  they  were.  In  regard  to  temporal  support  for  a 
gospel  ministry,  there  will  be,  as  there  has  been,  some  difficul- 
ty ;  but  there  can  be  no  question  as  to  the  call  of  duty  address- 
ed to  us,  to  look  after  those  children  of  our  people  and  of  our 
Church,  now  scattered  abroad. 

"On  Monday,  22nd,  I  went  on  to  Inverness,  where  I  preached 
that  day  and  the  next  day  in  the  same  place,  and  at  the  same 
hour,  to  congregations  of  betwixt  eighty  and  a  hundred.  On 
both  occasions  a  conference  was  held  after  sermon,  and  every 
encouragement  held  out  to  the  people  to  keep  together,  and  to 
wait  for  more  regular  supply.  The  number  of  families  in  Inver- 
ness belonging  to  us,  professedly,  cannot  much  exceed  fifty,  and 
they  are  for  the  most  part  Gaelic.  To  show  their  real  desire  to  ob- 
tain a  minister,  they  have  built  a  nice  manse  in  a  convenient  situa- 
tion.    My  two  days'  intercourse  with  these  excellent  people,  was 


Messrs.  Swinton,  now  in  United  States  : 
McLaren,  of  Ottawa ; 
Alexander,  of  Baptist  Church,  Brantford 
Murray,  of  Grimsby. 


1 


EASTEKN  TOWNSHIPS.      LIBRAKIES.  315 

of  the  most  pleasing  kind.  Much  intelligence  and  warm-hearted 
piety  met  my  observation.  I  was  greeted  with  real  Christian  affec- 
tion, and  left  them  with  the  full  impression,  that  a  pious  young 
minister,  having  the  Gaelic  language,  would  find  in  this  township 
a  most  promising  field  of  useful  labour.  In  looking  into  the  libra- 
ries of  the  families  with  whom  I  stay,  I  am  often  delighted  to 
find  in  their  proper  places  of  influence,  some  of  the  standard  works 
of  our  most  venerated  authors  ;  and  here,  I  found  that  several  pious 
colporteurs  from  the  United  States  had  given  extensive  circulation 
to  new  and  cheap  editions  of  the  works  of  the  Flavels,  and  the 
Chamocks,  and  the  Baxters,  and  the  Howes,  of  the  justly  vene- 
rated Christian  authorship  of  other  days  ;  and,  moreover,  that  these 
visits  of  young  men,  most  of  them  aspirants  to  the  ministry  in  the 
Presbyterian  churches  of  America,  had  been  in  other  respects 
pleasing  and  salutary.  Here  also  I  found  some  promising  speci- 
mens of  attainment  both  in  family  and  congregational  singing. 
Need  I  add,  that  both  in  Leeds  and  Inverness,  there  is  much  physi- 
cal beauty  to  meet  the  traveller's  eye  ;  while  the  '  falls  of  Inver- 
ness' remind  me  of  similar  scenery  in  other  lands.  — Disappointed 
was  I  to  be  told,  that  the  river  on  which  these  '  falls'  were,  was  not 
called  the  JVess  (as  I  anticipated,)  but  the  'Thames.'  This,  how- 
ever, did  not  take  from  the  beauty  of  the  scene. 

*' Richmond  and  Melbourne  are  seventy  miles  from  Montreal — 
nearly  half  way  to  Quebec — on  the  line  of  the  great  railway 
now  in  progress  from  Montreal  to  Portland  in  Maine,  U.  S. 
They  are  on  the  river  St.  Francis,  a  beautiful  stream,  of  consider- 
able flow,  and  admirably  adapted  for  public  works. 

' '  I  spent  one  Sabbath  in  this  interesting  locality,  and  preached 
four  times  on  the  Lord's  day  and  Monday.  To  the  friends  in  Dan- 
ville, Richmond  and  Melbourne,  I  am  under  obligations  for  their 
great  kindness.  Their  pleading^s  for  a  resident  evangelical  minis- 
try shall  not  soon  fade  from  my  memory.  God  grant  that  such  an 
invaluable  blessing  may  soon  be  enjoyed  ;  and  then  shall  the  spiri- 
tual graces  of  the  lovely  district  more  than  vie  with  its  physical 
beauties  and  commercial  capabilities. 

"  Had  it  been  in  my  power  to  have  devoted  at  least  one  month  to 
missionary  labours  in  the  eastern  townships,  I  might  have  obtained 
some  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  field  and  the  religious  condition  of 
its  inhabitants.  A  whole  season  would  be  needed  to  do  anything 
like  justice  to  such  a  work  ;  and  yet  I  know  not  a  missionary  tour 
which,  if  properly  prosecuted  by  a  minister  of  Christ  of  due  ex- 
perience and  energy,  would  be  of  more  avail  to  the  cause  of  Christ 
and  the  interests  of  his  Church  in  this  western  world.  The  supe- 
riors of  these  townships  are,  properly  speaking,  th6  shareholders 
of  the  American  Land  Company  of  London,  and  there  are  among 
them,  and  occupying  stations  of  infliience,  those  who  have  felt 
the  power  of  the  truth  in  their  own  minds,  and  know  the  value 


316 


LIFE  OF  liEV.   DR.   BUENS. 


of  religion  to  the  well-being  of  a  community,  even  in  a  temporal 
point  of  view.  Will  no  apostolic  man  be  sent  out  from  the  capital 
of  the  British  empire,  who,  with  the  weight  of  influence  which  that 
Company  could  cotnmand,  and  the  far  loftier  influence  of  zealous 
and  enlightened  Christianity  in  his  heart,  in  his  sermons,  and  in 
his  whole  career,  would  devote  six  months  to  an  enterprise  which 
would  almost  to  a  certainty  issue  in  the  permanent  'lifting  up  of  a 
standard'  for  the  people  inhabiting  one  of  the  finest  portions  of  the 
habitable  globe  ?  O  that  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  England 
would  think  of  this,  and,  making  common  cause  with  us  in  Canada, 
send  us,  for  a  season,  one  of  their  ablest  champions  of  the  faith, 
accompanied  by  one  of  their  pious  lay  members — say  a  Nisbet,  or  a 
Barbour,  or  a  Gillespie.  'The  thing  would  pay' — ah,  that  it  would 
— not,  it  may  be,  in  the  sordid  dross  of  this  world,  although  there 
is  gold  in  that  land  too — but  in  the  durable  riches  of  the  kingdom 
that  cannot  be  moved." 

"  Knox  College, 

"  ToKONTo,  Oct.  15,  1858. 

' '  It  had  been  for  years  my  wish  to  visit  Cape  Breton  and  New- 
foundland, that  I  might  thus  complete  my  survey  of  the  religious 
state  of  the  British  provinces  of  North  America.  In  the  course  of 
events,  the  summer  recess  from  College  duties  put  it  in  my  power 
to  carry  my  plan  into  execution.  The  first  two  months  of  the  re- 
cess of  ]858,  April  and  May,  were  devoted  to  the  supply  of  the 
pulpit  of  Knox's  Church,  Toronto,  now  filled  up  by  the  accession  to 
the  list  of  Colonial  ministers  of  a  tried  and  faithful  pastor.  June 
and  July  were  occupied  by  Synod  duties  ;  by  visits  to  Durham  and 
the  West  ;  and  by  sacramental  engagements  in  Glengarry.  These 
last  formed  a  repetition  of  what  it  had  been  my  privilege  to  enjoy 
four  years  before  ;  and  I  look  back  on  both  occasions  with  singular 
relish.  While  the  associations  with  the  settlement  of  Glengarry,  or 
the  Eastern  District  of  Canada  West,  are  invested  with  a  historical 
prestige  peculiarly  interesting,  these  older  branches  of  our  Colonial 
Empire  present  to  the  members  of  our  Free  Church  a  scene  at  once 
captivating  and  encouraging.  They  form  a  stronghold  for  evangeli- 
cal truth.  Our  congregations  there  have  been  gathered  together 
and  organized  on  the  best  principles.  The  standard  set  up  is  a 
high  one  ;  and  the  thousands  who  rally  round  it  seem  to  be  actu- 
ated by  the  best  spirit.  In  more  than  one  instance  has  their  sin- 
cerity been  severely  tested.  They  now  enjoy  the  ministrations  of 
six  or  seven  faithful  men  whom  they  love^  and  their  fields  and  dense 
forests  bear  testimony  to  the  vitality  cf  that  power,  which  can  con- 
gregate hundreds,  and  even  thousands,  to  listen  to  the  Gospel  sound. 

"  It  was  on  the  2nd  of  August  we  sailed  from  Portland,  U.  S., 
for  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia  ;  and  it  was  on  October  2nd, 
exactly  two  months  after,  we  left  Portland  for  Toronto,  on  our  re- 


I 


J 


NEW  BRUNSWICK  AND  NOVA  SCOllA.  317 

turn.  In  addition  to  my  special  objects,  I  had  hoped  to  spend 
some  time  in  the  east  and  south  districts  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  in 
the  city  of  St.  John's,  N.  B.  It  has  been  matter  of  deep  regret  to 
me  that  the  engagements  prospectively  made  behoved  to  be  broken 
up,  and  intercourse  with  these  interesting  fields  suspended  for  the 
present.  In  the  old  Acadian  settlements  the  aspect  of  our  sister 
church  is  exceedingly  promising  ;  and  the  city  of  St.  John's,  N.  B. , 
can  never  cease  to  live  in  my  memory,  as  the  scene  of  fifteen  years' 
labour  of  a  very  near  relative  of  my  own,  whose  name  is  yet  fresh 
and  fragrant  there,  although  the  majority  of  those  who  enjoyed  his 
ministry  in  earlier  or  in  later  life  have  not  been  suff'ered  to  remain 
by  reason  of  death.  In  1817,  when  he  first  settled  in  St.  Andrew's 
Church  J  as  in  some  sense  the  pioneer  of  the  Colonial  staff,  the  city 
had  its  ten  thousand  inhabitants  ;  now  its  citizens  fall  not  much 
short  of  four  times  that  number.  The  history  of  Presbyterianism 
in  that  city  has  been  somewhat  chequered  ;  but  the  Free  Church 
now  numbers,  in  and  around,  four  congregations  ;  and  the  prospect 
is  at  present  more  cheering  than  it  has  ever  been.  The  brethren 
have  lately  been  visited  by  the  deputies  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Ireland,  and  we  in  the  Colonies,  always  prize  such  visits  as  re- 
freshing and  edifying. 

"  Passing  by  steam  through  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  we  reached  Wind- 
sor, N.  S  ,  by  six  in  the  morning  of  August  3rd,  and  arrived  at 
Halifax,  by  railway  45  miles,  early  in  the  forenoon.  Our  arrival 
was  hailed  with  much  cordial  kindness  by  the  worthy  family  whose 
hospitality  we  enjoyed  during  our  stay  in  the  city  ;  and  a  whole 
host  of  old  and  much  attached  friends  clustered  around  us,  all  vying 
with  one  another  in  their  offers  of  friendship.  The  congregation  of 
Chalmers'  Church  I  found  in  a  healthy  state  under  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Rev.  John  Hunter,  who  succeeded  Dr.  Forrester,  on 
the  appointment  of  that  gentleman  to  the  superintendentship  of 
Education  in  the  Province.  We  had  much  agreeable  intercourse 
with  Mr.  Hunter,  as  also  with  Professors  King  and  Lyall,  of  the 
Free  College,  and  Mr.  MacKnight,  the  Hebrew  tutor,  who  has  also 
the  pastoral  charge  of  Dartmouth.  My  earnest  wish  and  prayer 
are,  that  the  health  of  all  these  gentlemen  may  be  preserved  in 
vigour,  and  that  their  important  labours,  in  the  several  departments 
allotted  to  them,  may  be  crowned  with  goodly  success.  Great  hopes 
are  entertained  of  an  union  being  consummated  between  the  two 
branches  of  the  Presbyterian  body  which  seem  to  approximate 
nearest  to  each  other  in  sentiment ;  but  whatever  may  be  the  issue 
of  this  matter,  there  is  much  in  the  condition  of  the  Free  Church 
of  Nova  Scotia  to  fan  the  zeal  and  concentrate  the  energies  of  its 
members.  The  college  has  been  eminently  successfiil  in  sending 
forth  promising  young  men  into  the  field  ;  and  one  pleasing  feature 
in  my  late  tour  has  been  the  opportunity  given  me  of  holding  in- 
tercourse with  a  considerable  number  of  the  ministers  who  have 
been  the  first  fruits  of  an  Institution  so  valuable. 


318 


LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


"  One  Sabbath  I  spent  at  Halifax,  on  my  way  to  Newfoundland, 
and  another  on  my  return.  I  had  also  an  opportunity  of  visiting 
and  addressing  the  Sabbath  School  of  Chalmers'  Church  ;  and  on 
the  Tuesday  after  the  first  of  these  Sabbaths,  we  enjoyed,  in  com- 
mon with  many  friends,  a  pleasant  social  meeting  of  the  teachers 
and  pupils  of  all  the  schools  in  connection  with  the  Free  Church  ; 
embracing  those  of  Chalmers'  Church,  Dutchtown  and  Dartmouth. 
Between  two  hundred  and  three  hundred  pupils  attended.  Ad- 
dresses suitable  to  the  occasion  were  delivered  by  ministers  and  lay 
friends.  A  corresponding  member  from  Cornwallis,  70  miles  dis- 
tant, attended,  taking  a  lively  interest  in  the  meeting ;  and  the 
occasion  was  gratifying  to  the  elastic  minds  of  the  young,  as  well 
as  to  the  more  matured  feelings  of  their  seniors.  This  rural  fete 
took  place  in  a  grove,  not  many  minutes  distant  from  the  city. 

"  On  Friday  morning,  August  13th,  we  sailed  for  Newfound- 
land in  the  steamer  Osprey,  one  of  the  vessels  connected  with  the 
Cunard  line,  and  which  pays  a  fortnightly  visit  to  that  Island  from 
Halifax,  calling  at  Sydney,  C.  B.,  on  her  way  to  and  from.  Our 
voyage  of  600  miles  was  prosperous ;  Captain  Sampson  being  atten- 
tive to  his  passengers,  and  all  on  board  anxious  to  promote  each 
other's  comfort.  We  spent  Sabbath,  15th,  at  sea,  and  had  public 
worship  on  board,  when  all  the  Protestant  portion  of  the  inmates- 
of  the  vessel  gave  devout  attendance.  On  Monday,  we  were  sail- 
ing along  the  strong  iron-bound  coast  of  Newfoundland,  and  at 
four  o'clock  of  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  we  landed  at  St,  John's, 
the  capital  of  the  island  ;  passing  through  the  picturesque  '  nar- 
rows,' as  the  entrance  is  called,  and  announcing  by  the  successive 
booming  of  our  ship's  brass  cannon  the  arrival  of  Her  Majesty's 
mail  at  this  the  most  venerable  of  her  Colonial  possessions.  The 
Bay  of  St.  John's  is  just  one  of  perhnps  sixty,  round  the  coast 
of  the  island,  characterized  by  the  like  features  of  security  from 
storms  and  invasions.  The  choice  of  it  for  the  capital  was  made 
three  centuries  ago,  and  nothing  has  occurred  to  render  the 
wisdom  of  the  selection  questionable.  It  is  at  once  safe  and  com- 
modious, its  waters  deep,  and  its  position  relatively  to  the  island 
as  a  whole,  and  its  bearing  on  the  home  connections  with  the  East, 
just  what  might  be  desired.  The  wharf  w^as  covered  by  hundreds, 
serenading  the  entrance  of  the  Osprey,  and  welcoming  friends  and 
visitors.  Among  the  rest  we  soon  saw  the  face  of  our  excellent 
friend,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Harvey,  who  with  several  members  of  his  con- 
gregation including  the  kind-hearted  editor  of  a  '  Tri-weekly,'  gave 
us  a  right  hearty  welcome.  Not  many  minutes  elapsed  ere  we 
realized  from  our  own  experience,  what  we  knew  from  report  before, 
that  Newfoundland  and  St.  John's  were  proverbial  for  kindness 
and  hospitality. 

**  Newfoundland  was  discovered  by  Cabot,  in  1497,  and  its  his- 
tory is  associated  with  such  eminent  names  as  those  of  Gilbert, 
Raleigh,  and  Lord  Bacon  ;  and  this  last  sage,  on  being  asked  his 


I 


NEWFOUNDLAND.      DR.   H.  M'LEOD.  319 

opinion  of  the  mineral  resources  of  the  island,  gave  it  as  his  impres- 
sion that  the  best  of  all  its  minerals  were  the  cod  and  the  seals. 
The  company  of  which  his  Lordship  was  a  director,  did  nothing  to 
explore  the  internal  resources  of  the  island  ;  but  an  American  As- 
sociation has  within  these  few  years  done  something,  and  promises 
to  do  more  for  developing  that  valuable  treasure.  Mr.  Cormack, 
in  1822,  traversed,  in  company  with  a  single  Indian,  the  central 
parts  of  the  island,  and  from  his  statements,  which  I  have  just 
perused,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  resources  in  agriculture, 
in  minerals,  in  fisheries,  and  in  woods  abounding  with  deer,  have 
been  as  yet  scarcely  touched,  Mr.  Page  has  also  favoured  me  with 
the  '  Geological  Report'  by  JVIr.  Jukes,  the  sketches  in  which 
form  a  rich  repast  to  those  who  are  conversant  with  such  researches . 
I  do  not  dwell  on  those  topics,  but  I  venture  an  inference — Let  the 
island  remain  in  our  exclusive  possession,  and  let  our  rulers  at 
home  settle  with  France  and  America  as  best  they  may,  only  let  us 
keep  what  we  have. 

* '  It  is  more  than  thirty  years  ago  since  a  church  in  connection 
with  the  Scotch  Establishment  was  set  up  in  St.  John's.  The  num- 
ber of  resident  settlers  of  the  Presbyterian  denomination  had  con- 
siderably increased,  and  the  congregation  was  organized  under  the 
Rev.  Donald  Frazer,  whom  they  called  from  Lunenburg,  N.  S'. 
At  the  time  of  the  disruption,  great  efforts  were  made  to  retain  the 
whole  in.  connection  with  the  Church  of  Scotland  ;  but  a  series  of 
circumstances  in  the  providence  of  God,  led  to  the  formation  of  the 
present  Free  Church.  The  attention  of  the  Home  Colonial  Com- 
mittee and  of  the  Presbytery  of  Halifax  was  early  called  to  the  help 
of  the  struggling  society,  and  by  the  correspondence  and  personal 
visits  of  ministers,  and  of  the  Home  Colonial  Committee,  matters 
were  brought  into  a  promising  state.  Dr.  McLeod,  now  of  Cape 
Breton,  was,  on  his  return  voyage  as  a  deputy  of  the  church  at 
home,  shipwrecked  on  the  coast,  and  this  event  was  over-ruled  for 
good.  He  remained  for  six  weeks  in  St.  John's,  and  was  eminent- 
ly useful  in  giving  information  and  advice,  while  the  congregation 
was  consolidated  and  cheered  by  his  preaching  and  his  visits.  Two- 
thirds  of  the  people  adhered  to  our  principles,  and  they  brought 
along  with  them  the  piety,  and  the  sound  views,  and  the  strict  dis- 
cipline which  constituted  the  main  elements  of  a  flourishing  Chris- 
tian society.  The  congregation  had  to  struggle  with  difficulties, 
arising  from  the  loss  of  property  and  other  causes  ;  but  they  have 
stood  firm  to  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer — having  reared  a  very  neat 
and  commodious  place  of  worship,  admirably  located,  and  filled  by 
a  united  body  of  sincere  and  affectionate  fellow- worshippers.  For 
six  years  they  have  flourished  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev. 
Moses  Harvey,  formerly  of  Maryport,*  in  Cumberland, — a  gentle- 
man who  seems  highly  qualified  for  the  situation  he  occupies,  by 

*  This  English  seaport  gave  also  to  Canada  the  Rev.  William  Rintoul,  one  of  her  most 
useful  ministers. 


320  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

talents  and  acquirements  which  command  respect,  by  a  piety  at 
once  Tinaflfected  and  warm,  and  by  a  measure  of  prudence,  good 
sense,  and  sound  judgment  rarely  exemplified.  Besides  his  pulpit 
labours,  and  pastoral  visits,  and  Sabbath  schools  and  classes,  Mr.  H. 
has  been  in  the  habit  of  delivering,  during  the  winter  season,  short 
courses  of  lectures  on  subjects  of  a  general  nature,  but  bearing  on 
religion,  such  as — the  connection  of  science  with  revelation  ;  the 
discoveries  of  Layard  and  others  ;  the  poetry  of  the  heathens  ; 
and  on  these  subjects  he  has  edified  and  instructed  his  own  people 
and  many  others,  by  publishing  as  well  as  delivering  these  valuable 
prelections. 

*'  Of  the  two  Sabbaths  spent  in  Newfoundland,  one  was  given  to 
St.  John's  and  the  other  to  Harbor  Grace  ;  and  these  are  the  only 
Free  churches  as  yet  in  the  island.  In  addition,  I  preached  in  St. 
John's  on  two  week-evenings,  and  addressed  the  classes  both  on  a 
Sabbath  and  on  a  week-day  evening,  after  a  very  pleasant  'gather- 
ing of  the  clans,'  on  the  grounds  adjoining  the  residence  of  the 
minister.  With  the  leading  families  of  the  congregation  our  inter- 
course was  frequent  and  of  the  most  friendly  character.  We  can- 
not look  back  on  the  days  we  spent  among  these  intelligent  and 
liberal-hearted  people,  without  the  most  grateful  recollections. 
Indeed,  it  is  to  the  spontaneous  and  hearty  liberality  of  the  friends 
in  Halifax,  in  St.  John's,  and  Harbor  Grace,  I  am  indebted  for  all 
the  expenditure  incurred  within  the  Lower  Provinces.  The  ex- 
periment which  has  been  made  satisfies  me  that,  whether  a  'federal 
union'  among  the  British  Provinces  is  realized  or  not,  such  an 
union  among  the  churches  is  highly  desirable  ;  and  the  occasional 
interchanges  of  visits  which  would  ensue,  could  not  fail  to  advance 
the  cause  which  is  common  to  them  all. 

"  St.  John's  is  the  seat  of  a  Roman  Catholic  Bishop,  and  Harbor 
Grace  is  the  seat  of  another.  Newfoundland  is  one  of  the  f avoiirite 
preserves  of  Popery.  Of  120,000  inhabitants,  nearly  one-half  are 
Popish  ;  and  of  25,000  in  St.  John's,  18,000  are  votaries  of  Roman- 
ism. This  gives  a  vast  ascendency  to  Popery  in  the  Colony,  and 
its  influence  moulds  the  Legislative  and  Executive,  as  well  as  the 
ProAdnce  generally.  The  present  Governor,  Sir  Alexander  Banner- 
man,  holds  the  reins,  however,  with  a  firm  and  independent  grasp  ; 
and  had  the  Episcopacy  of  the  island  acted  with  the  spirit  of  the 
Sumner,  the  Tait  and  the  Bickersteth  school,  we  might  have  good 
hopes  for  evangelical  Protestantism.  A  monkish  medisevalism  is  a 
poor  set  ofi"  against  the  sternness  of  an  iron  Romanism.  It  is  well 
that  for  thirty  years  the  Methodist  Church  has  been  commendably 
zealous  in  Newfoundland,  and  at  present  the  number  of  its  adher- 
ents is  36,000.  I  know  no  field  where  an  union  of  Protestants 
against  the  common  foe  would  be  more  commendable  ;  and  for  this 
end  the  prayers  of  all  good  men  should  ascend  to  the  heavenly 
throne,  that  evangelical  truth  may  be  maintained  in  purity,  and 
that  scriptural  godUness  may  give  the  tone  to  the  community 


LOUISBOURG.  321 

large.  In  connection  with  these  views,  T  cannot  allow  the  opportu- 
nity to  pass  without  paying  a  slight  tribute  to  the  character  of  Lady 
Bannerman,  whose  moral  excellence  and  consistent  religious  charac- 
ter throw  a  lustre  around  the  influential  station  she  has  been  called 
to  occupy.  Her  sentiments  are  decidedly  evangelical  and  liberal, 
in  the  best  sense  of  these  terms.  She  is  exemplary  in  her  attena 
ance  on  religious  ordinances,  she  takes  the  chief  superintendence 
of  the  Sabbath  school,  in  connection,  not  with  the  Cathedral,  but 
with  the  less  imposing  fabric  which  owns  an  evangelical  ministry. 
She  visits  the  sick  and  afiiicted.  She  distributes  funds,  books  and 
tracts  ;  and  is  the  patroness  of  everything  patriotic  and  Christian. 
Her  religious  influence  and  example  have  already,  here  and  in  other 
places,  been  owned  of  God  for  great  good." 

"Knox  College, 

''Toronto,  Nov.  4,  1858. 

"  Tyre  has  a  name  in  history,  both  sacred  and  civil,  and  the 
ruins  of  Old  Tyre  are  most  graphically  and  characteristically  de- 
scribed in  prophetic  record  as  places  on  which  '  fishermen  would 
spread  their  nets. '  What  the  ruins  of  Tyre  are  in  the  East,  those 
of  the  once  famed  town  and  fortress  of  Louisbourg  are  in  the  West. 
Macgregor,  indeed,  in  his  excellent  history  of  the  British  Colonies, 
imputes  to  '  fanaticism'  the  capture  of  this  city  and  fortress  in 
1745,  because  it  was  the  preaching  of  Whitefield  that  formed  the 
proximate  cause  of  that  bold  undertaking  on  the  part  of  a  few  mer- 
chants and  farmers  of  New  England,  which  humbled  the  pride  of 
France,  and  led  to  the  extinction  of  her  empire  in  North  America. 
The  Colonial  historian  perhaps  had  forgotten  his  own  acknowledg- 
ment elsewhere,  that  the  Jesuits  and  the  'freres '  and  the  St.  Sul- 
pice  '  Sisters'  of  Cape  Breton,  were  the  great  '  bounders  on'  of  the 
poor  Micmacs,  in  their  scalping  experiments  on  defenceless  Eng- 
lishmen. 

"  It  has  been  said  that  the  destruction  of  its  capital  threw  the 
island  beyond  the  limits  of  vision.  It  may  be  so,  for  assuredly 
Britain  has  up  to  this  moment  shut  her  eyes  on  a  colonial  gem, 
compared  with  which  Ceylon  or  Jamaica  are  baubles.  Its  agricul- 
ture and  its  woods  are  most  valuable,  its  minerals  and  fisheries  are 
boundless,  and  its  local  situation,  relatively  to  Europe  and  Ameri- 
ca, makes  it  the  very  Thermopylae  of  the  West.  Its  population  is 
sixty  thousand,  but  its  capabilities  will  suffice  easily  for  ten  times 
that  number.  Down  to  the  close  of  the  American  war,  when  a  few 
loyalists  settled  in  it,  the  island  was  absolutely  ignored  by  the 
mother  country.  It  was  not  till  the  beginning  of  the  present  cen- 
tury that  Cape  Breton  was  thought  of  as  a  field  for  emigration. 
The  first  settlers  were  Scotch  Roman  Catholics  from  Barra,  South 
Uist,  Harris,  and  the  Lewis  ;  and  being  the  first,  they  very  natur- 
ally and  laudably  chose  the  best  of  the  land.     The  eastern  half  of 


322  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


the  island  is  still  theirs,  but  fishing  has  occupied  their  attention 
more  than  agriculture,  and  the  best  of  their  farms  are  mortgaged. 
About  1810  the  '  clearings'  of  the  North  drove  away  many  valuable 
Protestant  families  from  their  loved  native  abodes,  and  for  twenty 
years  successive  colonies  of  these  reached  Cape  Breton,  and  settled 
principally  in  the  south-eastern,  western  and  northern  parts.  At  first 
they  were  poor  and  dispirited  ;  nevertheless  they  have  done,  on  the 
whole,  well,  and  are  now  in  a  fair  thriving  state.  One  fact  is  suffi- 
cient to  show  the  progress  of  the  Island.  In  1832,  when  Macgregor 
published  his  history,  '  one  school'  at  Sydney  is  mentioned  :  now 
(1858)  there  are  about  one  hundred  schools. 

"  It  was  in  1827  my  acquaintanceship  with  the  late  Mrs.  Mackay 
of  Rocklield,  Sutherlandshire,  began.  At  that  time  her  attention 
was  directed  to  the  state  of  the  emigrants  from  her  own  county  to 
Merigomish,  Earlton,  New  Lairg,  and  the  district  around  Pictou, 
Nova  Scotia.  Her  first  efforts  were  directed  to  the  sending  out 
well-selected  libraries  of  religious  books  for  the  use  of  the  settlers. 
The  libraries  thus  formed  were  conducted  on  the  circulating  plan, 
and,  from  some  letters  of  thanks  to  Mrs.  Mackay,  which  I  have 
just  been  perusing,  it  is  plain  that  the  gifts  were  justly  appreciated 
and  profitably  improved.  In  the  view  of  obtaining  the  services  of 
a  few  pious  Gaelic  missionaries,  Mrs.  Mackay  felt  a  desire  to  con- 
centrate her  efforts  and  those  of  her  friends  on  some  one  point ; 
and,  as  many  of  the  northern  emigrants  had  settled  in  Cape  Bre- 
ton, that  island  was  fixed  on  as  a  suitable  field.  So  early  as  1827 
the  Glasgow  Society  had  received  very  affecting  details  of  the 
spiritual  wants  of  the  Island,  and  different  individuals  were  fixed 
on  as  pioneers  in  the  enterprise.  In  all  such  cases  it  is  well  known 
that  the  disappointments  in  the  experience  of  all  Missionary  So- 
cieties, in  the  outset,  are  numerous,  and  it  was  matter  of  great 
satisfaction  when  Mrs.  Mackay  resolved  to  take  '  her  little  island,'  as 
she  called  it,  under  her  care.  This  '  little  island,'nevertheless,  con- 
tains 3000  square  miles.  Its  number  of  settlers  had  been  increasing 
year  after  year,  and  no  evangelical  association  had  as  yet  given  it 
any  place  in  their  benevolent  regards.  The  mission  of  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Farquharson,  in  1833,  was  on  this  account  an  important 
event  in  the  religious  history  of  the  Island.  That  excellent  man 
had  to  encounter  a  host  of  difficulties,  particularly  at  the  outset  of 
his  labours,  but  by  divine  grace  he  was  enabled  to  conquer  them 
all,  and  after  twenty-five  years'  active  and  laborious  missionary 
toil,  he  was  gathered  to  his  fathers  in  peace.  He  was  a  single- 
hearted  devoted  minister  of  the  cross,  and  the  blessings  of  his  at- 
tached flock  will  rest  on  his  widow  and  family., 

"  Mrs.  Mackay  was  spared  to  see  a  very  considerable  number  of 
the  leading  Gaelic  settlements  in  the  Island  taken  up  by  mission- 
aries whom  she  was  mainly  instrumental  in  sending  out ;  and  their 
labours  were  aided  and  encouraged  by  catechists  on  the  itinerating 
plan,  as  in  Scotland ;  by  teachers  ;  and  by  supplying  pious  bookt 


4 


DR.   MACLEOD.  823 

gratuitously  to  them.  The  number  of  leading  stations  now  in 
about  a  dozen,  and  if  these  are  multiplied  by  four,  the  result  may 
give  us  an  idea  of  the  number  of  spheres  of  labour.  The  extent  of 
each  charge  is  great,  as  the  settlers  are  scattered  ;  and  the  demand 
for  additional  churches  and  ministers  is  at  present  very  clamant. 
Three  of  the  more  remote  charges  I  had  it  not  in  my  power  to  visit, 
but  the  two  Sabbaths  I  spent  in  the  Island,  and  the  meetings  held 
successively  at  Sydney,  Myra,  Sydney  Mines,  Bras  d'Or,  Boular- 
derie,  Bedeque,  Cape  St.  Ann,  Wycokoma,  and  Plaster  Cove,  will 
dwell  in  my  remembrance  to  my  latest  days. 

*'  The  arrival  of  Dr.  Macleod,  of  Logic  Easter,  first  as  a  deputy 
from  the  Free  Church,  and  afterwards  as  minister  of  Sydnev,  is 
one  of  the  leading  events  in  the  religious  history  of  the  Island.  A 
man  of  ability  and  experience  was  earnestly  longed  for  by  the 
pastors  already  settled,  and  such  a  one  they  have  had  in  Dr.  Mac- 
leod. By  his  personal  exertions  in  Cape  Breton,  in  Nova  Scotia, 
in  Canada,  and  in  the  United  States,  he  has  succeeded  in  obtaining 
th«  necessary  funds  for  raising  churches  in  several  parts  of  the 
Island.  These  neat  and  commodious  places  of  worship  raise  their 
white  spires  in  all  directions.  Among  these,  at  Myra,  not  far  from 
Louisbourg,  is  a  large  and  handsome,  but  plain  structure,  capable 
of  holding  two  thousand  hearers  ;  and  stormy  as  the  Sabbath  was 
when  Dr.  Macleod  and  I  preached  there,  a  dense  collection  of 
people,  to  the  number  of  fifteen  hundred,  met  us,  gathered,  some 
of  them,  from  the  distance  of  twenty  miles.  Dr.  Macleod  has  six 
churches  under  his  own  immediate  care,  and  assuredly  the  church 
at  home  would  do  well  to  strengthen  his  hands  by  sending  out 
additional  labourers.  In  the  meantime  I  rejoice  that  he  has  in  his 
immediate  locality  two  such  associate  fellow-laborers  as  the  Rev. 
Matthew  Wilson,  the  esteemed  pastor  of  Sydney  Mines  and 
Bras  d'Or,  and  the  Rev.  James  Frazer,  of  Boularderie,  now  the 
oldest  resident  minister  in  the  Island.  Boularderie  is  an  island 
within  the  Island,  eighteen  or  twenty  miles  long  by  four  or  five 
broad  ;  a  spot  characterized  no  less  by  fertility  of  soil,  in  many 
parts,  than  by  its  being  a  stronghold  of  evangelical  truth  and  ex- 
perimental religion.  The  number  of  inhabitants  exceeds  sixteen 
hundred.  With  a  few  exceptions  they  may  be  said  to  be  all  of  the 
Free  Church.  Mr.  Frazer  is  the  only  resident  minister  of  any  de- 
nomination on  the  island,  and  the  number  of  intelligent  '  me?i'  who 
strengthen  his  hands  is  large.  I  preached  to  five  hundred  persons 
on  the  afternoon  of  a  week-day  in  harvest,  and  in  a  lovely  hollow 
encompassed  with  trees,  where  the  communion  had  been  dispensed 
some  weeks  before.  The  scene  was  deeply  interesting,  and  the 
grasp  of  the  hand,  and  the  tear  in  the  eye,  were  unmistakeable 
marks  of  a  hearty  spiritual  welcome. 

"  The  three  churches  at  Wycokoma,  Bedeque,  and  St.  Ann's  Bay 
forming  one  extensive  and  beautiful  vale,  are  supplied  by  three 
excellent  ministers,  Messrs.  Mackenzie,  Macintosh,  and  Ross,  who 


324  LIFE   OF  KEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

had  all  been  students  at  the  Halifax  Free  College,  and  are  now 
fellow-labourers  in  localities  bordering  on  one  another.  We  had 
week-day  services  in  each,  and  the  number  of  hearers  in  two  of 
these  exceeded  four  hundred,  while  in  the  third,  St.  Ann's  Bay, 
it  reached  nearly  nine  hundred.  The  settlements  at  Middle  River, 
North  Cove,  and  St.  Peters,  the  want  of  time  prevented  me  from 
visiting,  and  the  sail  in  an  open  boat  from  Boularderie  to  West  Bay, 
fiixty  miles,  was  so  retarded  by  want  of  wind,  that  the  hour  fixed 
for  service  was  long  passed  before  we  arrived  at  the  place  ;  and  the 
painful  intelligence  met  us,  on  our  reaching  the  house  of  the  intel- 
ligent and  pious  minister,  the  Rev,  Murdoch  Stewart,  that  two 
days  before,  his  barn,  his  horse,  and  his  hay  had  been  burned  to 
ashes  by  the  hand  of  a  deranged  young  man  in  the  vicinity.  We 
passed  the  night  under  the  hospitable  roof  of  the  excellent  minis- 
ter, and  next  morning  he  accompanied  us  twenty-five  miles,  to 
Plaster  Cove,  where  the  Rev.  Mr,  Forbes  labours,  and  where  J.  gave 
my  last  discourse  in  the  Island.  After  enjoying  the  hospitality  of 
kind  friends,  I  crossed  the  Strait  of  Canso,  which  is  here  narrow 
but  extremely  picturesque,  and  went  on  next  day,  sixty  miles,  to 
the  house  of  my  worthy  old  friend,  the  Rev.  John  Stewart,  of 
New  Glasgow.  With  him  and  his  excellent  family  I  stayed  two 
days,  preaching  to  a  good  audience  on  Friday  evening.  The  Sab- 
bath following  was  spent  at  Pictou,  where  we  had  two  crowded 
audiences  and  a  well  attended  Sabbath  school.  On  Monday  I  went 
on  to  Roger's  Hill  and  Salt  Springs,  on  my  way  to  Truro,  preach- 
ing in  both  places.  Wherever  I  have  been  the  people  have  come 
out  well,  even  on  week-days,  although  on  these  later  occasions  the 
pressing  labours  of  harvest  did  sensibly,  as  was  reasonable,  affect 
the  audiences. 

"  At  Truro  we  had  the  pleasure  of  spending  a  few  days  under 
the  hospitable  roof  of  our  esteemed  friends  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Forres- 
ter. Tne  Educational  College  and  Provincial  Training  Establish- 
ment, over  which  Dr.  F.  was  three  years  ago  called  to  preside,  is 
an  honour  and  a  blessing  to  Nova  Scotia.  We  attended,  on  two  suc- 
cessive days,  the  various  examination  and  lecture  meetings,  pre- 
vious to  the  closing  of  the  session.  The  eminently  lucid,  practical 
and  pointed  addresses  and  expositions  of  the  Principal ;  the  apt- 
ness to  teach,  as  well  as  the  science,  exhibited  in  their  varied  de- 
partments, by  the  teachers,  in  English  literature  and  history, 
mathematics,  algebra,  and  the  kindred  sciences,  as  well  as  in  the 
subsidiary  sections  of  physiology,  botany,  geology,  and  agricultu- 
ral chemistry,  to  say  nothing  of  aesthetics,  belles  lettres,  and 
music  ;  and  the  warm,  enlightened,  and  liberal  religious  spirit 
■which  pervaded  all,  accompanied,  as  the  whole  was,  with  encourag- 
ing and  eloquent  appeals  by  Messrs.  Archibald  and  Creelman, 
members  of  the  Legislature  and  Commissioners  of  Education  ;  all 
these  furnished  to  my  mind  a  treat,  intellectual  and  moral,  of  very 
rare  enjoyment.     Truro  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  wealthiest  of  the  ^ 


CAPE  BRETON.  325 

settlements  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  its  prevailing  type  is  Presbyterian- 
ism  of  the  Scottish  Secession  Church.  That  religious  body  has 
lately  erected  a  commodious  Theological  College  in  the  village.  Its 
session  had  just  been  opened,  and  the  venerable  Principal,  Dr. 
Keir,  who  had  given  the  inaugural  address,  was  suddenly  called 
away  by  death,  amid  the  deep  regrets  of  that  section  of  the  Chris- 
tian community  which  had  so  long  enjoyed  his  valued  labours. 

"  On  a  retrospect  of  my  visit  to  Cape  Breton,  my  impressions  as 
to  its  religious  state  are  very  favourable.  Under  the  labours  of  the 
present  faithful  ministers,  those  of  Mr  Farquharson,  lately  removed 
by  death,  and  those  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Maclean,  of  Lewis,  Scotland, 
who  ministered  four  years  in  the  Island,  revisiting  it  afterwards, 
preaching  daily  once  or  more  for  three  months,  and  realizing  *  fruit 
unto  life  eternal' — the  cause  of  Christ  has  remarkably  prospered. 

* '  In  reviewing  the  history  of  the  Free  Church  in  Nova  Scotia 
generally,  a  careful  observer  of  Providence  must  be  struck  with  the 
large  number  of  witnesses  for  the  truth  whom  her  annals  have  pre- 
sented to  us,  as  glorifying  God  in  their  lives  and  by  their  deaths. 
It  is  also  interesting  to  notice  the  representatives  of  varied  classes 
of  witnesses  as  standing  out  in  bold  relief  to  the  eyes  of  the  careful 
observer.  Do  you  desire  a  specimen  of  befitting  qualification  for 
duty,  zeal  in  its  discharge,  and  success  in  the  preliminary  training 
of  young  men  for  the  ministry  ?  The  lamented  Professor  Macken- 
zie, cut  off  in  the  very  dawn  of  his  usefulness,  may  be  honourably 
named.  Do  you  wish  to  see  the  picture  of  a  pious  labourer  who, 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century  or  more,  toiled  in  a  very  unpromising 
field,  but  who  lived  down  his  difiiculties,  and  saw  very  clearly  the 
fruit  of  his  earlier  and  later  toils  ?  We  point  you  to  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Farquharson,  the  pioneer  in  Mrs.  Mackay's  band  of 
pious  heralds  to  Cape  Breton,  and  the  father  of  its  infant  but  prom- 
ising church.  Do  you  desiderate  a  second  specimen  of  the  same 
class  more  recently  ?  You  have  it  in  the  late  Rev.  Murdoch  Suth- 
erland, of  Pictou,  over  whose  early  grave  the  residents  and  visitors 
at  Rothsay,  Scotland,  will  long  shed  a  tear  of  respectful  sympathy. 
Do  you  look  round  for  one  among  the  rising  hopes  of  the  College 
of  Halifax,  ripening  fast  in  attainment  and  already  an  active  and 
successful  missionary,  but  gathered  prematurely  ripe,  as  we  would 
say,  into  the  garner  ?  The  image  of  the  late  Mr.  John  Macdonald 
rises  before  us,  while,  as  one  of  the  great  cloud  of  witnesses  on  high, 
ho  seems  to  beckon  his  surviving  fellow-students  to  catch  his  mantle 
as  he  ascends.  Do  you  desiderate  one  example  out  of  many  on  the 
roll  of  departed  Christian  citizens  who,  amid  diligence,  and  toil,  and 
humble  integrity  in  secular  life,  have  never  lost  sight  of  the  para- 
mount claims  of  the  cross  of  Jesus  ?  I  would  name  the  late  Mr.  J  ohn 
Mcintosh,  of  Halifax,  associated  under  the  ministry  of  the  lamented 
Mr.  Robb  as  one  of  the  early  leaders  in  the  Free  Church  movement 
in  tliat  city,  and  whom  all  its  members  lamentingly  revere  as  the 
very  beau  ideal  of  a  devoted  and  judicious  lay  brother  in  Christ.    In 


326  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

fine,  do  you  look  for  a  pattern  of  Christian  humility,  decided  prin- 
ciple, and  active  usefulness  in  a  female  member  of  the  church,  and 
a  mother  in  Israel  ?  You  may  see  it  in  the  late  Mrs.  Mackenzie, 
of  Pictou,  who  has  so  lately  finished  her  course  of  rare  godliness 
with  triumphant  joy.  With  most  of  these  I  was  more  or  less  ac- 
quainted. Memorials  of  each  have  been  laid  before  the  public,  and 
I  would  deliberately  give  it  as  my  opinion,  that  a  church  within 
whose  orbit  such  a  bright  galaxy  has  been  seen,  cannot  fail  to  be 
honoured  by  her  Head  with  many  additional  evidences  of  his  ap- 
proving smile." 

"Toronto,  18th  October,  1859. 

"  The  third  Sabbath  in  July  having  having  been  fixed  on  for  the 
celebration  of  the  ordinance  of  the  Supper  at  Nottawasaga,  the 
Gaelic  portion  of  duty  was  allotted  to  Mr.  Stewart,  of  Oro, 
and  the  English  to  me.  In  view  of  the  ordinance,  there  were  ser- 
vices at  Sunnidale  on  Thursday,  and  at  the  Scotch  Comers  on  Fri- 
day and  Saturday,  when  there  was  also  an  ordination  of  elders. 
The  Lord's  Day  witnessed  an  assemblage  of  at  least  seven  hundred 
hearers,  the  majority  being  Gaelic-speaking  persons,  and  they  as- 
sembled for  worship  in  a  small  grove  of  trees  near  at  hand  ;  the 
rest  meeting  in  the  newly-erected  but  not  yet  finished  church.  On 
Monday  there  was  service  in  both  languages  ;  and  thereafter,  the 
congregation,  having  elected  Mr.  Hussell  to  the  chair,  passed  a  cor- 
dial vote  of  thanks  to  the  Presbytery  and  to  the  ministers  who  had 
dispensed  among  them  the  bread  of  life. 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  cause  of  religion  and  of  our 
church  in  Nottawasaga  is  greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  James  Mair,  who 
has  for  fifteen  years  discharged  the  duties  of  a  lay  missionary  in 
the  district.  His  public  addresses  in  English  and  Gaelic,  his  visits 
to  the  sick  and  aged,  his  judicious  management  of  private  fellow- 
ship meetings,  and  his  consistent  walk  and  conversation,  have 
contributed  greatly  to  the  maintenance  of  true  godliness  in  the 
locality.  But  his  health  has  been  often  infirm,  and  he  has  felt  the 
burden  to  be  too  much  for  him.  The  church  ought  to  have  inter- 
fered long  ago  in  the  way  of  regular  systematic  organization.  A 
faithful  pastor,  having  both  languages,  ought  to  have  been  there 
settled.  How  this  is  to  be  remedied  now,  is  a  grave  question.  The 
field  is  still  very  wide,  but  the  number  of  our  adherents  is  compa- 
ratively small.  My  impression  is,  that  an  union  would  require  to  be 
formed  betwixt  this  district  and  the  adjoining  stations  in  Sunnidale. 

"In  the  township  of  Osprey,  two  difi'erent  stations  which  had 
been  visited  by  Mr.  Nisbet,*  of  Oakville,  in  March  last,  were  re- 
visited on  the  present  occasion,  and  congregations  varying  from 
fifty  to  four  hundred  assembled  to  hear  the  word.  On  the  last  of 
these  occasions,  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  dispensed 

*  Now  of  the  Saskatchewan  mission. 


OSPKEY.  327 

to  about  sixty  persons,  the  number  of  members  in  the  district  in 
all  being  eighty,  of  whom  seventeen  were  admitted  on  the  present 
occasion  for  the  first  time.  The  day  was  delightful.  Ample  accom- 
modation was  provided  in  a  large  bam,  the  use  of  which  Mr. 
Hunter,  the  proprietor,  though  not  of  our  communion,  granted  us. 
The  occasion  was  every  way  most  solemn  and  impressive.  During 
the  summer,  first  Mr.  Eadie,  and  then  Mr.  McLennan,  Gaelic 
student,  were  employed  as  missionaries  here,  and  their  labours 
have  been  most  acceptable  and  useful.  Indeed,  no  mission  tour 
has  impressed  me  more  deeply  than  this  one  with  a  conviction  of 
the  value  of  a  pious  missionary's  residence  and  labours.  And  this 
was  only  one  illustration  out  of  many.  My  two  months'  mission 
brought  me  into  contact  with  at  least  a  dozen  of  our  promising 
students,  in  difierent  localities,  whose  faithful  labours  were  deser- 
vedly prized.  I  am  satisfied  that  these  labours  interfere  less  with 
the  peculiar  avocations  of  the  student  in  theology  thaij  any  other 
work  that  could  be  assigned  him. 

*'  Osprey,  though  part  of  it  was  surveyed  and  settled  eight  years 
ago,  may  be  considered  as  a  new  settlement,  the  greater  portion 
having  been  occupied  during  the  last  four  or  five  years.  The  open- 
ing of  the  Northern  Railway  made  access  to  it  comparatively  easy, 
and  the  soil,  generally  speaking,  is  good.  A  considerable  number 
of  settlers  from  King,  and  other  localities  near,  have  purchased 
bush  farms,  and  thus  Osprey  is  profiting  by  toils  already  gone 
through,  and  experience  already  acquired.  The  settlers  vied  with 
each  other  in  their  tokens  of  kindness  ;  and  my  earnest  desire  is, 
that  a  faithful  paster  or  itinerating  missionary  may  soon  be  resident 
among  them.  Two  villages,  Singhampton  and  Feversham,  begin 
to  rise  in  the  midit  of  the  forest,  and  the  fact  of  each  having  already 
its  post  oflSce,  and  the  additional  fact  of  a  fine  road  having  been 
opened  up  fromthis  locality  directly  west  towards  Durham  and  Lake 
Huron,  mark  the  prospective  importance  of  a  range  of  country 
which  had  been,  till  very  recently,  shut  out  from  observation.  The 
roads  in  many  of  the  localities  are  still  very  rough.  The  cross-paths 
from  settlement  to  settlement  seldom  admit  of  waggons  of  the  or- 
dinary kind  ;  and  this  obstacle  in  my  way  did,  in  one  instance, 
occasion  a  most  serious  disappointment,  for  which,  however,  I 
afterwards  made  up  by  availing  myself  of  the  kind  services  of  a 
quiet  and  sure-footed  quadruped  of  the  horse  species,  unencum- 
bered with  any  appendage  in  the  shape  of  buggy,  or  cart,  or  waggon 
of  any  kind. 

**  Axtemesia  lies  between  Osprey  and  the  Garafaxa  road,  and  con- 
tains much  good  land  but  recently  occupied.  It  is  crossed  diag- 
onally by  what  is  called  the  Toronto  road,  from  our  city  to  Owen 
Sound,  by  Mono  and  Orangeville,  in  length  about  120  miles.  On  the 
northern  part  of  that  road,  towards  Owen  Sound,  there  are  many 
settlements  of  Scotch  and  Irish  Presbyterians.  I  spent  some  days 
amongst  them,  and  preached  to  attentive  audiences  in  five  crowded 


828  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

school-houses.  The  number  of  persons  in  this  township  who  claim 
membership  with  us,  or  were  ready  to  give  in  their  names  as  ap- 
plicants, was  about  forty,  and  there  seemed  to  be  among  those 
several  pious  and  intelligent  men  who  might  be  set  apart  as  elders 
over  them.  On  submitting  this  matter  to  the  Presbytery  they 
were  so  much  satisfied  in  regard  to  it  as  to  authorize  an  application 
to  Messrs,  Cameron  and  Grant,  of  Sullivan  and  Owen  Sound, 
though  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hamilton,  to  give 
their  assistance  in  organizing  a  congregation,  electing  elders,  and 
dispensing  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper  amongst  them.  All 
this  has  been  done,  and  Artemesia  now  holds  the  rank  of  a  recog- 
nized congregation.  By  a  union  with  some  of  the  adjoining  dis- 
tricts a  pastoral  charge  might  be  formed,  but  it  must  remain  at 
present  as  a  missionary  station.  It  is  a  considerably  older  settle- 
ment than  Osprey,  but  both  the  one  and  the  other  aflTord  painful 
specimens  of  what  meets  a  Canadian  missionary  wherever  he  goes — 
the  evil  that  inevitably  arises  from  the  neglect  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  to  look  after  her  scattered  members  early,  and  to  throw 
over  them  the  shield  of  a  kind  guardianship. 

"  Our  excellent  young  missionary,  Mr.  Eadie,*  by  his  informa- 
tion and  tact,  aided  me  much  in  my  visit  to  Artemesia,  and  it  has 
been  the  result  of  my  experience  in  this  as  in  former  instances, 
that  our  Presbyterian  '  succession,'  in  the  way  of  guides  and 
friendly  helps  knows  no  interruption — no  gaps — for  just  when 
about  to  part  with  Mr.  Eadie  and  other  friends  here,  Mr.  Andrew 
Elliot,  an  intelligent  and  pious  elder  in  the  neighbouring  township 
of  Sullivan  arrived  with  his  substantial  two-horse  waggon,  to  con- 
duct me  to  his  own  newly-erected  mansion  in  Sullivan,  which  his 
family  had  taken  possession  of  the  day  before,  and  of  which  I  hap- 
pened thus  to  be  the  first  visitor  ah  extra.  This  intelligent  gentle- 
man had  come  lately  from  Perth,  C.W.,  whither  his  excellent 
father-in-law,  Mr.  Halliday,  and  other  friends  had  come  in  1815, 
when  Government  chartered  vessels  and  sent  out  the  first  settlers  to 
*  this  Canada.'  These  worthy  representatives  of  the  first  disturbers 
of  the  wolves  and  bears  of  the  forest,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meet- 
ing with  a  few  weeks  after,  when  Mrs.  Burns  and  I  paid  a  visit  to 
Mr.  Duncan  at  Perth,  on  occasion  of  the  dispensation  of  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper.  It  is  exceedingly  interesting  to  con- 
verse with  fresh  and  hale  octogenarians  in  Canada  ;  to  hear  the 
story  of  their  chequered  scenes  in  the  bush,  the  obstacles  they  had 
to  overcome,  and  the  success  with  which  Jehovah  has  blessed  them. 
Of  their  earlier  movements  we,  youngsters,  know  nothing  ;  we 
listen  with  profound  awe  to  the  rehearsals  of  the  men  of  those 
cays,  the  '  jocund'  heroes  of  the  bush,  who  could  not  for  a  season 
boast  of  a  '  team'  to  drive  '  a  field,'  but  who,  from  the  very  first, 
made  the  tall  pine  to  bend  '  beneath  their  sturdy  stroke.'    What  a 

*  Now  Rev.  John  Eadie.  of  Milton. 


OWEN  SOUND.  329 

fine  contrast  the  noble  roads  at  the  *  Scotch  Settlement'  of  Perth 
present  to  the  unbroken  forest  of  1815  ! 

' '  Our  ride  to  Sullivan  led  us  through  a  wild  part  of  Holland 
township,  and  some  melancholy  instances  of  lawlessness  were 
brought  to  my  ears,  impressing  me  with  a  deeper  conviction,  that 
the  churches  of  Christ  have  not  done,  and  are  not  even  now  doing 
their  duty  to  Canada.  There  has  been  too  long  a  sad  disruption 
of  colonization  from  Christianity  ;  and  William  Howitt  has  done 
good  service  to  the  cause  of  both,  by  his  church-reproving  book  on 
that  great  subject.  The  settlement  of  such  men  as  Mr.  Elliott  and 
his  enterprizing  sons  in  such  regions  is  a  public  blessing  ;  and  they 
know  full  well  the  vast  importance  of  a  faithful  ministry  to  a  ris- 
ing colony.  On  Thursday,  July  28th,  the  large  and  substantial 
church  recently  erected  for  the  Rev.  James  Cameron,  the  lately 
ordained  pastor,  was  nearly  filled  by  noon — and  short  as  my 
intercourse  with  the  congregation  necessarily  was,  very  satisfactory 
proofs  on  this  occasion  were  blended  with  those  of  my  former 
visit  a  twelve  month  past,  to  satisfy  me  that  a  fine  vantage  ground 
had  been  gained  ;  and  later  information  satisfies  me  that  the  Owen 
Sound  road  shall  not  be  given  up  to  spiritual  neglect ;  that  the 
wilderness  shall  yet  blossom  like  the  rose  ;  that  here  and  there 
through  a  stretch  of  seventy  miles,  a  standard  shall  be  lifted  up  for 
the  people. 

' '  The  last  Sabbath  in  July  had  been  fixed  on  as  the  communion 
day  at  Euphrasia  and  St.  Vincent.  My  former  visit  to  these  places 
two  years  and  a  half  ago  was  marked  by  unbroken  sleigh  rides  ; 
this  one  exposed  me  to  the  broiling  sun  of  a  Canadian  summer.  It 
is  wonderful  how  the  human  constitution  adapts  itself  to  the  oppo- 
sites.  All  elements  are  under  the  ceaseless  control  of  Him  who 
makes  second  causes  bend  to  liis  pleasure.  My  worthy  friend,  Mr. 
John  Crichton,  junr.,  was  at  my  service  with  his  sleigh  in  the  one 
case,  and  now  he  was  alike  ready  with  his  light  waggon  in  the 
other.  And  what  are  twenty  miles  whether  in  the  summer  heat, 
or  in  the  winter's  cold  ?  We  provide  for  both  ;  and  the  God  of 
the  seasons  protects  us  in  our  going  out  and  in  our  coming  in,  up- 
holding our  goings.  On  the  present  occasion  we  passed  through  a 
rich  country,  marked  here  and  there  by  massy  ridges  of  limestone, 
and  the  sweet  flavour  of  the  hay.  gathering  and  the  waving  of  the 
golden  corn-harvests  ready  for  the  sickle,  blended  pleasantly  to- 
gether. I  did  not  expect  a  large  attendance  at  '  the  Saturday  ser- 
vice', and  therefore  was  not  disappointed.  But  on  Sabbath  we  had 
the  newly-reared  frame  fabric  of  the  church  thoroughly  packed  by 
a  respectable  audience  of  probably  four  hundred.  The  communion 
roll  presented  a  list  of  ninety-one  persons,  and  the  number  who 
convened  at  the  table  on  the  present  occasion  exceeded  sixty.  I 
preached  four  times  in  connection  with  the  holy  ordinance,  and  on 
the  evening  of  Monday  a  well-attended  prayer-meeting  was  held  in 
the  house  of  Mr.  Walter  Story,  where  also  the  ordinance  of  bap- 
tism was  dispensed. 


330  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  BURNS. 

"On  August  2nd,  a  pleasant  steam  sail  of  thirty  miles  from 
Port  Meaford,  brought  me  to  the  town  of  CoUingwood,  where,  and 
at  the  neighbouring  village  of  Nottawa,  Mr.  James  Robertson* 
has  been  labouring  as  missionary  for  a  few  months.  The  station 
was  in  rather  a  depressed  state  when  he  began  his  labours,  but  his 
able  and  indefatigable  ministrations  have  very  considerably  revived 
it.  There  was  a  good  congregation  in  the  evening,  and  my  im- 
pression is  that  ours  is  the  best  attended  place  of  worship  in  the 
town.  It  would  be  matter  of  deep  regret  were  the  station  relin- 
quished. The  prospects  of  CoUingwood  commercially  are  fair  ; 
the  means  of  intercourse  with  Toronto  by  railway  are  easy  ;  and 
the  adjacent  stations  on  different  sides  of  it,  give  to  CoUingwood 
somewhat  of  the  character  of  a  connecting  nucleus. 

' '  After  meeting  with  the  Presbytery  and  giving  in  my  report  of 
stations  visited,  I  remained  a  week  at  home,  and  then,  August 
13th,  entered  on  my  allotted  duties  as  interim  supply  for  two  or 
three  weeks  at  Thorah,  Eldon,  and  Mariposa,  during  the  absence 
of  Mr.  MacTavish  at  the  Red  River  colony.  Two  Sabbaths'  sup- 
ply was  given,  and  a  third  by  exchange  with  Mr.  Gray  of  Orillia. 
The  intermediate  week-days  were  more  or  less  occupied  by  preach- 
ing visits  to  the  different  stations.  The  attendance  on  all  these 
occasions  was  good,  and  my  impressions  of  the  extent  and  value 
of  the  field  occupied  by  Mr.  MacTavish  were  so  deepened  by 
actual  observation,  that  I  almost  longed  for  his  speedy  return, 
that  he  might  address  his  own  people  in  their  much  loved  native 
tongue ;  for  although  I  was  ably  aided  by  interpreters,  the  great 
deficiency  could  not  but  be  painful.  Many  evidences  1  had  that 
the  good  work  of  God  was  progressing  within  that  wide  district. 
The  men  of  intelligence  and  of  gifts  for  prayer  and  exposition  of 
scripture  are  numerous  ;  they  are  ready  on  all  occasions  to  give 
valuable  help,  and  the  numerous  prayer-meetings  kept  up  by  them 
are  opportunities  and  means  of  much  spiritual  good.  On  its  ordi- 
nary day  the  weekly  prayer-meeting  was  held  in  the  church  at 
Mariposa  at  eleven  o'clock,  in  the  midst  of  the  very  throng  of 
harvest.  It  was  amazing  to  find  more  than  two  hundred  present, 
and  of  these  07be-half  at  least  were  men. 

"  The  energetic  and  pious  pastor  has  since  returned,  after  en- 
during a  good  many  hardships  and  paying  a  truly  acceptable  visit 
to  a  colony  long  isolated  from  the  rest  of  the  world,  and  now  about 
to  become  the  primary  element  of  a  scheme  of  extended  and  suc- 
cessful colonization. 

"  A  limited  notice  of  my  visit  to  the  east  is  all  that  now  remains 
of  my  two  months'  mission  record.  Allusion  has  already  been  made 
to  Perth,  and  that  town  has  certainly  increased  a  third  since  my 
last  visit  in  1848,  and  the  erection  of  a  handsome  new  church  and 
tower  very  recently,  is  one  proof  among  others  of  the  progress  of 

*  Now  Rev.  J.  Robertson,  of  Paris. 


OTTAWA.  331 

our  church  under  Mr.  Duncan's  ministry.  The  communion  sea- 
son [Sept.  11th],  was  a  very  delightful  one  ;  and  we  were  profit- 
ably prepared  for  it  by  our  Christian  intercourse  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mackinnon,  formerly  of  Owen  Sound,  now  of  Beckwith.  The 
week-day  congregation  there  exceeded  three  hundred.  Opportuni- 
ties were  also  given  me  of  preaching  at  Ramsay,  at  Dalhousie,  at 
St.  Andrew's,  at  Lanark,  and  in  Mr.  Aitkin's  church  at  Smith's 
Falls.  Remembrances  of  our  visit  last  year  to  Nova  Scotia  were 
also  brought  fresh  to  our  minds  by  agreeable  intercourse  with 
Professor  King  and  Mrs.  King,  of  Halifax,  whom  we  met  on  a 
visit  to  friends  at  Ramsay.  Such  unexpected  occasions  of  friendly 
Christian  intercourse  on  the  highway  of  life,  are  pleasing  and 
edifying, 

"  On  our  way  to  Ottawa  by  Brockville  and  Prescott,  we  met 
with  much  kindness  from  Mr.  Sherwood,  the  Sheriff  of  the  district, 
and  had  agreeable  intercourse  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,  of  Brock- 
ville. After  spending  a  night  and  part  of  two  days  with  our 
worthy  friend,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Melville,  at  Spencerville,  we  reached 
the  '  city  of  Ottawa,'  at  two  o'clock  on  Friday,  Sept.  16th,  where 
we  were  met  by  Mr.  Wardrope,  and  conducted  in  safety  to  the 
*  Manse.'  In  the  absence  of  Mrs.  W.,  who  happened  to  be  on  a 
visit  to  her  relations  in  Kingston,  we  met  with  every  attention 
from  Mr.  W.,  while  Mr,  Durie  and  other  friends  shewed  us  much 
kindness.  The  evening  of  the  day  of  our  arrival  happened  to  be 
the  time  fixed  for  a  public  meeting  of  the  friends  of  the  London 
Religious  Tract  Society,  and  thus  we  had  an  opportunity  of  lis- 
tening to  the  eloquent  appeals  of  Dr.  Davis,  the  secretary,  and  of 
meeting  with  ministers  of  different  denominations,  and  hearing 
some  of  them  address  the  meeting.  Saturday  was  in  part  devoted 
to  a  seeing  of  the  falls,  and  other  prominent  features  of  this  an- 
ticipated capital  of  the  British  empire  in  Canada.  The  locality 
presents  the  complete  prestige  of  a  noble  city,  and  if  '  Rupert's 
Land,'  in  whole  or  in  part,  is  added  to  the  Canadas,  the  position 
of  the  capital  will  be  at  once  central  and  safe. 

"  On  Sabbath  the  18th,  I  preached  twice  at  Ottawa,  to  fine  con- 
gregations, in  Mr.  W.'s  church,  and  once  at  Nepean,  nine  miles 
distant,  a  branch  of  Mr.  Gourlay's  charge.  The  other  branch, 
Aylmer,  I  visited  on  Monday,  and  in  Mr.  G.'s  absence,  Mrs.  G. 
had  made  such  judicious  arrangements  that  an  audience  of  more 
than  one  hundred  assembled  in  the  Town  Hall,  and  listened  atten- 
tively to  the  preaching  of  the  word.  After  passing  a  night  under 
the  pastor's  hospitable  roof,  we  set  sail  next  morning  on  the  Otta- 
wa, and  enjoyed  a  pleasant  voyage  of  fifty  miles,  interrupted  only 
by  three  miles  of  portage  by  a  primitive  sort  of  horse  railway. 
Next  day  the  Presbytery  of  Ottawa  met  for  the  ordination  of  Mr. 
Wm.  Lochead,  to  the  ministry  of  Renfrew  ;  and  assuredly  it  was 
something  new  to  find  here  an  assemblage  of  ten  ministers  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  to  conduct  for  the  first  time  the  solemn  rites 


332  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

of  ordination  according  to  the  forms  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
It  was  laid  on  me,  as  the  senior  minister,  to  preach  and  give  the 
ordination  prayer,  and  Messrs.  Mackinnon  and  Simon  Fraser,  of 
McNab,  presided  ably  in  the  other  departments.  All  was  con- 
ducted with  due  solemnity.  Indeed,  all  my  experience,  whether 
in  the  old  country  or  the  new,  fails  to  produce  an  instance  of  ordi- 
nation to  the  ministry  conducted  with  greater  external  order,  and 
more  marked  spiritual  savour." 

'*Knox  College.  17th  Dec,  1863. 

*'  1  spent  three  Sabbaths  in  Quebec,  and  as  one  of  these  was  the 
communion  season,  a  pleasing  opportunity  was  presented  of  hold- 
ing Christian  fellowship  with  the  pastor,  office-bearers,  and  mem- 
bers of  Chalmers'  Church.  Mr.  Clark,  formerly  of  Maxwelltown, 
near  Dumfries,  Scotland,  has  been  minister  of  the  congregation 
which  meets  in  this  handsome  edifice,  for  more  than  ten  years.  The 
field  of  labour  is  an  interesting  one  ;  but  ministers  of  Christ  placed 
in  the  very  centre  of  the  stronghold  of  Popery,  have  multiplied 
difficulties  to  struggle  with.  The  moral  atmosphere  all  around  is 
chilled,  while  it  is  surcharged  with  clouds,  heavj'-  and  depressing. 
The  love  of  professing  Protestants  waxes  cold  amid  the  overwhelm- 
ing obtrusions  of  an  imposing  anti-Christian  Hierarchy.  Our  ex- 
cellent friend  feels  this,  and  assuredly  he  and  his  people  are  richly 
entitled  to  all  the  co-operative  assistance  which  the  brethren  can 
render  them.  God  forbid  that  they  should  sink  in  despondence  ! 
They  grasp  the  standard  of  Zion,  and  they  are  honoured  to  display 
from  the  Diamond  rock  a  banner,  because  of  the  Truth. 

*'  The  mission-fields  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Quebec,  are  on  a 
limited  scale  in  regard  to  numbers  of  Scottish  or  Presbyterian  set- 
tlers. The  want  of  a  French-speaking  Evangelical  ministry  is  felt 
by  all  denominations,  and  the  efforts  of  the  Protestant  Church  are 
thus  necessarily  circumscribed  almost  within  the  narrow  range  of 
its  own  adherents.  With  regard  to  Presbyterian  settlements,  the 
following  is  a  list  of  those  I  visited,  lying  at  distances  from  the  city 
varying  from  nine  to  thirty  miles  : — Stoneham — a  beautiful  pasto- 
ral district  or  valley  ;  Beauport  Lake — a  favourite  resort  of  the 
citizens  for  sport  on  the  lake,  or  for  a  summer  residence  ;  the  vil- 
lage of  Lorette,  where  there  is  a  well-known  Indian  settlement ; 
and  the  seigniory  of  Port  Neuf.  From  our  countrymen  in  all  the 
aettlements  I  received  a  hearty  welcome,  and  the  attendance  at  the 
services  was,  perhaps,  as  good  as  from  the  limited  and  scattered 
population,  might  be  expected.  In  two  of  these  places  small 
churches  have  lately  been  erected  through  the  zealous  efforts  of  a 
pious  and  single-hearted  friend  of  religion,  who,  as  agent  of  the 
Bible  Society,  has  much  in  his  power  in  the  way  of  facilitating  in- 
tercourse with  these  out- posts.  At  Port  Neuf  there  had  been  for 
years  a  Scottish  congregation  under  a  regular  pastorship,  but  cir- 


QUEBEC.  3S3 

eiimstances  of  an  adverse  nature,  in  regard  to  the  staple  trade  of 
the  phice,  have  greatly  diminished  the  resident  population. 

"  On  the  different  occasions  of  our  holding  meetings  in  these  places, 
the  audiences  respectively  numbered  from  twenty  to  above  a  hun- 
dred. Small  and  limited  as  these  localities  are,  they  are  important 
points  in  the  map  of  Protestantism.  There  are  difficulties  in  getting 
them  suitably  superintended,  and  visited  with  sufficient  frequency  ; 
but  they  offer  ample  encouragement  to  Christian  ministers  and 
friends  who  kindly  take  an  interest  in  them.  With  *  the  Mother 
Church,'  at  Quebec,  as  the  church  there  may  be  called,  there  are  con- 
nected a  goodly  number  of  "pious  men,  office-bearers  and  others,  who 
are  indefatigable  in  their  evangelistic  efforts  ;  and  while  they  are  led 
on  by  the  pastor  of  Chalmers'  Church,  their  labours  are  counten- 
anced by  the  occasional  visits  of  Christians  of  other  denominations. 
A  zealous  missionary,  resident  in  Quebec,  might  be  the  *  episco- 
pal' visitor  of  each  alternately.  In  winter,  no  doubt,  the  state  of 
the  roads  and  the  intense  cold  may  interpose  serious  obstacles,  but 
zeal  and  a  robust  constitution,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  will  over- 
come them  all.  The  missionary  experience  of  two  years  in  such  a 
field  as  this  would  be  a  noble  preparation  for  a  permanent  pastoral 
charge.  Its  labours  would  break  a  man  into  all  the  habits  of  easy  and 
judicious  spiritual  toil  ;  and  the  presence  of  the  Spirit  of  God  would 
assuredly  not  be  wanting  either  to  him,  or  to  the  subjects  of  his 
anxious  and  loving  care.  This  plan  has  been  adopted  in  years  past, 
and,  in  all  the  settlements,  there  have  been  found,  and  will  be  found, 
persons  in  full  communion  with  our  Church  who  may  be  expected 
from  time  to  time  to  embrace  the  opportunity  of  joining  in  fellow- 
*»hip  wnth  the  church  in  the  city  on  communion  seasons.  A  spiri- 
tual visit  paid  to  one  of  the  settlements  by  the  pastor,  during  my 
residence  in  the  city,  led  to  some  promising  additions  to  the  roll  of 
membership,  and  was  felt  in  other  respects  to  be  a  season  of  re- 
freshing from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 

*'  In  the  programme  of  arrangements,  drawn  up  for  my  guidance, 
two  important  stations  of  an  outlying  description  were  allotted  to 
me  ;  but  the  distance  and  the  heat  of  the  weather  rendered  a  plan 
of  interchange  absolutely  necessary.  Application  was  made  to  Mr. 
Crombie,  the  excellent  minister  of  Inverness,  fifty  miles  distant, 
to  share  with  me  in  the  duties  of  the  Mission  ;  and,  he  having 
readily  complied,  Mr.  Clark  cheerfully  devoted  two  Sabbaths  and 
the  intervening  week  to  supply  for  Mr.  Crombie  at  Inverness  ;  de- 
irolving  on  me  the  charge  at  Quebec  for  the  same  period. 

**  The  worthy  people,  among  whom  Mr.  Crombie  labours,  had 
been  visited  by  me  more  than  ten  years  ago,  when  they  had  not  as 
yet  realized  the  benefits  of  a  regularly  settled  pastorship.  Recol- 
lections of  that  visit  led  me  to  desire  its  repetition  ;  and,  on  my 
-way  from  Montreal  to  Quebec,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  spending 
two  days  at  the  Manse,  and  of  preaching  on  two  several  week-daya 
to  very  encouraging  audiences.     It  was  in  the  very  th^^oag  of  har- 


334  ^fflff  OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

vest,  and  yet  the  people  flocked  willingly  both  at  noon  and  in  the 
evening  to  hear  the  Gospel.  Mr.  Clark  and  I  cordially  concurred 
in  our  estimate  of  the  religious  condition  of  that  interesting  people. 
He  found  the  work  of  God  prospering  among  them.  They  have 
lately  reared  for  themselves  a  handsome  brick  church,  ornamented 
with  a  tower,  and  filled  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  with  a  large  and 
ajQfectionate  congregation. 

"  In  a  spacious  school-house  at  '  WoKe's  Cove,'  belonging  to  Mr. 
Gilmour,  the  great  Quebec  merchant,  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
preaching  on  two  week-evenings,  to  small  but  attentive  audiences. 
The  occasional  local  preaching  here  is  kept  up  by  brethren  of  dif- 
ferent denominations.  At  St.  Foye,  two  miles  from  the  city,  but 
almost  a  suburb  of  it,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  addressing  a  crowd- 
ed meeting  in  the  district  school-house. 

"  My  visit  to  the  city  brought  me  in  contact  with  a  considerable 
number  of  Christian  friends,  office-bearers  of  the  church,  and 
others,  many  of  whom  I  had  known  of  old,  and  with  whom  renewed 
intercourse  was  at  once  sweet  and  profitable.  In  a  city  where 
formality  and  will-worship  predominate  it  is  the  duty  of  all  pious 
Protestants  to  love  one  another,  and  to  strive  together  for  the  faith 
of  the  Gospel.  It  is  now  thirty  years  since  my  correspondence  with 
Christian  friends  in  that  city  commenced,  and  on  the  subject,  ever 
dear  to  them,  of  colonial  evangelization.  Twenty  years  have  well 
nigh  elapsed  since  I  paid  my  first  visit  to  the  '  historic  capital. '  " 

"  Toronto,  September,  1867. 

"  In  the  Autumn  of  1864  I  had  spent  three  weeks  and  as  many 
Sabbaths  in  the  parts  of  our  Province  which  lie  on  the  great  Huron 
Lake,  and  although  it  was  but  a  limited  portion  of  that  territory  I 
could  visit,  I  saw  enough  to  fill  me  with  astonishment  at  the  great 
physical  and  moral  changes  in  the  district,  from  1847  when  I  first 
saw  it  as  one  unbroken  forest,  to  the  time  when  the  same  district 
rose  to  my  view  with  its  millions  of  acres  *  all  taken  up  ;'  Low- 
landers  and  Celts  in  hundreds,  yea  thousands,  settled  peaceably  and 
comfortably  along  road-lines  judiciously  marked  out  ;  and  schools, 
and  churches  provided  to  an  extent  that  augured  well.  My  visits 
to  my  brethren  and  friends  three  years  ago  were  fresh  in  my  mem- 
ory, and  the  names  St.  Helen's,  Kinloss,  Kincardine,  Tiverton, 
Greenock,  Paisley,  Southampton,  Elgin  and  North  Bruce,  had 
taken  familiar  and  firm  hold  of  me,  and  gathered  around  them  a 
multitude  of  sincere  good  wishes  ;  when  in  the  course  of  events  a 
second  opportunity  of  a  visit  opened  to  me.  It  was  readily  em- 
braced ;  and  with  the  exception  of  Paisley  and  Southampton  and 
St.  Helen's,  the  localities  already  named  were  re- visited,  and  suc- 
cessful iDrogress  marked.  In  particular,  I  found  that  Kincardine 
had  obtained  the  services  of  an  able  minister  in  both  tongues,  Mr. 
Fraser,  formerly  of  Thamesford  ;  and  that  a  number  of  excellent 


CHICAGO.  335 

men,  principally  from  our  own  college,  have  been  added  to  the  list 
of  pious  pastors.  The  celebration  of  communion  at  Kincardine,  and 
North  Bruce,  with  the  to  me,  a  Lowlander,  somewhat  rare  ac- 
companiment of  '  the  speaking  to  the  question,'  on  Friday,  brought 
to  mind  what  I  had  seen  years  ago  in  Glengarry,  and  what  I  had 
often  heard  of  at  home  but  never  witnessed.  At  Kincardine  the 
church,  which  has  been  greatly  enlarged  since  1864,  and  the  'grove* 
adjacent,  were  both  occupied  on  the  week-days  and  on  the  Sabbath  of 
the  solemn  occasion.  The  number  of  attendants  in  all  could  not  be 
much  below  2,000.  The  tables  spread,  with  their  pure  white  cover- 
ings, under  the  canopy  of  heaven  ;  the  powerful  appeals  of  men  in 
real  earnest,  and  which  were  conveyed  to  listening  multitudes  in  a 
language  which  distance  of  removal  from  its  native  haunts  render- 
ed even  more  toucliing  ;  mingling  too  with  the  vocal  strains  of  the 
wild  but  sweet  Gaelic  melodies  ;  these  all  blended  together  could  not 
but  produce  a  deep  and  hallowed  impression.  It  was  a  matter  of 
deep  regret  to  me  that  want  of  time  and  other  causes  put  it  out 
of  my  power  to  visit,  as  I  wished,  my  friends  at  Paisley,  Southamp- 
ton, and  Egmondville.  My  previously-fixed  visit  to  Illinois  was 
pressing  upon  me  ;  and  the  arrangements  for  it  admitted  of  no 
change. 

"  It  was  on  Thursday,  August  1st,  we  set  out  for  Chicago,  by  the 
Great  Western  Railway.  We  stopped  that  night  at  London,  in  the 
hospitable  mansion  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chisholm,  whose  kind  atten- 
tions now  as  before  will  never  fade  from  our  remembrance.  From 
Detroit  to  Chicago  the  distance  is  280  miles,  and  the  '  Michigan 
Central'  with  its  comfortable  'Pullman'  dormitories,  brought  us  in 
safety  to  that  large  and  rapidly  growing  city.  The  surface  of  the 
prairies  is  peculiarly  favourable  to  railway  travelling,  and  all  my 
journeys  through  Michigan  and  Illinois,  to  and  from  Chicago,  have 
been  accomplished,  through  the  kind  providence  of  God,  without 
any  untoward  incident. 

"  Till  1830,  Chicago  was  known  only  as  a  depot  for  Indian  furs, 
and  as  a  military  post  for  two  companies  of  the  American  army. 
For  fifteen  years  after  it  began  its  rapid  rise,  its  position  on  the 
prairies  of  Illinois  and  at  the  southern  end  of  Lake  Michigan  was 
anything  but  inviting.  Nevertheless,  during  twenty  years  past,  it 
has  grown  with  amazing  rapidity  till  its  inhabitants  are  estimated 
at  230,000.  It  is  now  the  acknowledged  metropolis  of  the  vast 
North- West.  It  is  the  great  thoroughfare  of  produce  from  all  the 
seven  Prairie  States,  and  particularly  of  com  and  cattle  of  all  kinds. 
Its  streets  are  wide,  well  built  and  paved.  Its  'Wabash'  and 
'Michigan'  avenues,  the  former  four  miles  in  length,  are  superior 
to  anything  in  the  older  cities  of  the  Eastern  States.  Its  manufac- 
tories in  machinery  of  all  kinds,  clocks  and  watches,  and  in  musical 
instruments  of  difi"erent  names,  are  on  a  great  scale.  Its  ingenious 
contrivance  for  obtaining  an  ample  supply  of  pure  water  from  the 
lake,  has  been  executed  within  three  years,  and  at  the  expense 


336  LIFE   OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

of  one  million  dollars.  Its  system  of  ordinary  and  grammar- 
school  education  is  most  complete  ;  and  its  colleges  for  the  higher 
branches  of  education  are  established  on  the  best  principles.  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  being  present  at  the  opening  of  the  Presbyterian 
Seminary  of  Theology,  on  the  5th  of  September,  when  an  excellent 
lecture  was  delivered  by  the  Professor  of  Exegetics,  Dr.  Halsey. 
The  other  Professors,  Drs.  Lord  and  Elliot  are  well  associated  with 
Dr.  H.  as  men  of  learning,  ability  and  worth.  This  seminary  is 
the  fourth  institution  of  the  kind  belonging  to  the  Old  School  Pres- 
byterian body  ;  but  the  other  branches  of  the  Protestant  Church, 
whether  Presbyterian,  Congregational,  Methodist  or  Baptist,  are 
all  provided  with  admirably  appointed  seminaries  ;  and  it  was  to 
my  mind  peculiarly  refreshing  to  find  all  the  larger  distributors  of 
knowledge,  whether  literary  or  religious,  under  a  decidedly  Chris- 
tian influence. 

"  The  population  of  the  city,  as  already  stated,  is  estimated  at 
230,(00,  and  constantly  increasing.  The  number  of  churches,  in- 
cluding all  the  places  that  are  set  apart  for  the  worship  of  God, and 
also  four  Jewish  synagogues,  amount  to  about  120.  Of  the  Chris- 
tian denominations,  the  Methodists  and  Baptists,  under  varied 
modifying  designations,  are  perhaps  the  largest  in  point  of  num- 
bers ;  but  Episcopalians,  Presbyterians,  and  Congregationalists, 
have  each  a  fair  proportion  of  the  inhabitants,  Presbyterianism, 
embracing  the  Old  and  New  Schools,  the  United  Presbyterians,  the 
Dutch  Reformed,  the  Scotch  and  the  Welsh  churches,  with  a  few 
European  sects  of  the  same  type,  claims  twenty-four  congregations 
of  greater  or  less  extent.  All  this  looks  favourably  ;  but  when  we 
come  to  the  question  of  actual  attendance  on  the  public  worship  of 
God,  the  report  to  be  given  is  any  thing  but  pleasing.  I  have  heard 
the  number  of  church  attendants  estimated  at  an  average  of  seven- 
teen thousand  ;  and  well-informed  persons  assured  me  that  this 
was  an  estimate  too  high.  There  are  large  masses  of  citizens  to 
whom  the  habit  of  regular  church-going  is  a  stranger.  The  German 
population  exceeds  sixty  thousand,  and  among  the  professed  ad- 
herents of  both  the  Roman  Catholic  and  Lutheran  communions,  the 
evidence  is  too  marked  and  palpable  that  the  day  of  the  Lord  is 
fearfully  profaned.  That  sacred  season  seems  to  be  given  up  by 
large  multitudes  to  the  varied  forms  of  sinful  indulgence  and  plea- 
surable amusement.  The  friends  of  the  Sabbath,  in  and  around 
the  city,  have  lifted  up  a  noble  protest  against  prevalent  abuses  of 
this  nature  ;  but  alas  !  the  enemies  of  the  Sabbath  have  congregat- 
ed in  larger  assemblies  on  the  other  side,  and  secular  interests  of  a 
local  and  political  character  stand  greatly  in  the  way  of  a  faithful 
execution  of  the  statutes  of  public  law  on  this  vitally  important 
matter.  It  is,  however,  a  favourable  symptom  that  the  friends  of 
evangelical  truth  are  becoming  more  and  more  united  among 
themselves,  and  more  generally  alive  to  the  necessity  and  duty  of 
combined  and  prayerful  effort  on  the  side  of  truth  and  of  godliness. 


I 
I 


SCOTCHMEN  AND  CANADIANS  IN   CHICAGO.  337 

"  Amidst  much  that  is  flagrantly  immoral  and  wicked  in  this 
great  city,  I  believe  that  in  regard  to  active,  energetic,  and  united 
zeal  and  Christian  effort,  Chicago  will  bear  a  favourable  comparison 
with  the  other  large  cities  of  the  Union.  The  formation  of  moral 
and  religious  character  in  a  rapidly  increasing  community,  becomes 
a  subject  of  befitting  thought  to  all  good  men  ;  and  in  this  city  the 
measure  of  the  forms  of  Christian  energy  is  truly  gratifying  to 
the  moral  observer.  A  large  and  united  branch  of  godly  ministers ; 
a  well  conducted  religious  press,  though  as  yet  on  a  limited  scale  ; 
a  compact  and  well-arranged  system  of  Sabbath  schools  ;  young 
men's  associations  for  the  mental  and  spiritual  benefit  of  that  vital 
portion  of  the  community  ;  daily  meetings  for  prayer  and  religious 
coiiference  ;  these  and  similar  agencies  are  all  at  work  in  a  humble 
but  determined  spirit,  and  under  judicious  superintendence. 
Among  leaders  in  such  goodly  undertakings,  the  name  of  Mr. 
Moody  deserves  honourable  and  grateful  notice  ;  and  he  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  goodly  band  of  faithful  coadjutors,  both  clerical  and 
lay. 

*'  There  are  understood  to  be  in  Chicago  at  least  ten  thousand 
Scotchmen  and  Canadians,  and  so  far  as  religion  has  any  concern 
in  the  matter,  they  are  more  or  less  attached  to  the  forms  and  usa- 
ges of  Presbyterianism.  Earnest  and  untrammelled  Calvinistic 
preaching  ;  the  regular  habit  of  pastoral  household  visitation  ;  the 
simple  celebration  of  the  ordinance  of  the  Supper  with  accompanying 
week-day  services  ;  standing  in  public  prayer  ;  vocal  and  congrega- 
tional singing  of  the  praises  of  God  ;  and  the  regular  though  not 
exclusive  use  of  the  authorized  metrical  version  of  the  Psalms  ; 
these  are  the  understood  features  of  Scottish  Presbyterianism  ;  and 
many  pious  persons  in  Chicago  felt  the  want  of  such  a  thing  ;  while 
they  also  longed  for  a  faithful  ministerial  superintendence  that 
might  gather  in  wanderers,  and  seek  after  those  other  Scotch  and 
Irish  Protestants  for  whose  spiritual  interests  no  one  seemed  to 
care.  Hence  originated  '  the  first  Scotch  Church'  in  Chicago.  On 
application  to  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church  a  supply  of  minis- 
ters has  for  some  years  past  been  regularly  sent  them,  chiefly 
through  the  kind  offices  of  the  Presbytery  of  London  ;  and  in  March 
last,  my  son,  formerly  of  Kingston  and  St.  Catharines,  was  induct- 
ed into  the  charge.  In  July  last  a  suitable  piece  of  ground  in  a 
central  part  of  the  city  was  purchased  ;  and  within  less  than  two 
months  a  goodly  fabric  has  been  reared,  the  first  flat  of  which, 
raised  six  feet  above  the  ground  was  so  constructed  as  to  make  a 
commodious  place  of  meeting  for  500  persons.  It  was  opened  on 
the  first  Sabbath  of  September  ;  when  three  public  services  were 
engaged  in  and  all  largely  attended.  It  fell  to  me  to  take  the  larger 
portion  of  the  work  on  the  auspicious  occasion  ;  but  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Bradford,  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  pastor  him- 
self, took  part  in  the  services  ;  on  the  Tuesday  following  a  social 
religious  meeting  was  held,  when  ministers  of  various  denomina- 

W 


838  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

tions,  and  several  distinguished  citizens,  made  suitable  addresses  ; 
the  collections  altogether,  on  occasion  of  the  opening,  being  to  the 
amount  of  one  thousand  dollars.  It  is  expected  that  from  the  com- 
mendable liberality  of  the  members  and  other  friends,  the  church, 
when  finished,  will  not  labour  under  the  burden  of  a  heavy  debt. 

' '  At  the  distance  of  140  miles  from  Chicago,  and  at  about  seven 
from  Kewanee,  a  rising  business  village  on  the  Burlington  railway, 
a  scattered,  but  beautiful  prairie  settlement,  meets  the  eye.  That 
is  Elmira,  where  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  Scotch  families  reside  ; 
mostly  from  the  Highlands  and  islands  of  Scotland  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  years  ago  ;  and  the  greater  part  understanding  their  native 
tongue  far  better  than  the  acquired  Saxon,  which  only  few  have 
arrived  at.  For  the  sake  of  their  children,  however,  and  the  neigh- 
bouring settlers,  English  is  as  necessary  as  Gaelic  in  the  minister 
who  may  be  sent  to  them.  They  have  asked  and  received  accept- 
able supplies  from  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church,  and  mainly  by 
the  kind  ofiices  of  the  Presbytery  of  London.  I  spent  nearly  a 
week  among  these  worthy  settlers,  having  public  worship  for  four 
days  in  succession  largely  attended  ;  and  on  the  intervening 
Lord's  day  the  holy  communion  was  dispensed  to  forty  communi- 
cants. The  people  are  all  in  comfortable  circumstances,  and  well 
able  to  support  a  fixed  ministry,  but  determined  to  have  none 
but  from  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church.  I  found  here  Mr. 
John  Macnab,  the  worthy  representative  of  a  '  regular  apostolic 
succession'  of  pious  Celtic  brethren  from  our  church  ;  and  by  this 
time  he  will  be  succeeded  by  Mr.  Alexander  Mackay,  of  Tiver- 
ton, one  of  my  esteemed  Huron  brethren.  Gf  no  other  '  living 
branch'  of  the  original  Celtic  Church  in  the  States  could  I  hear ; 
but  several  Gaelic  families  at  a  distance  expressed  to  me  their  de- 
sire to  choose  Elmira  as  the  place  of  their  future  abode,  provided 
only  they  could  there  enjoy  the  glorious  Gospel  in  the  language 
which  no  distance  of  time  or  place  renders  less  dear  to  their  hearts. 
The  good  folks  of  Elmira  have  already  built  a  nice  church  and 
manse,  and  the  future  occupant  of  these,  presuming  on  his  being  a 
man  of  the  '  right  kind,'  will  soon  find  himself  placed  in  a  most  de- 
sirable sphere  of  growing  usefulness. 

' '  About  sixty  miles  south  of  Elmira,  and  within  thirty  of  the  great 
Mississippi,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  spending  two  days  with  Dr. 
Wallace,  the  President  of  Monmouth  College,  a  literary  institution 
recently  established  in  connexion  with  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  of  the  States,  or  at  least  under  their  superintendence, 
and  attended  by  upwards  of  three  hundred  students ;  and,  what 
is  rather  uncommon,  both  sexes  are  admitted  to  the  benefits  of 
the  ijrelections  under  very  judicious  rules.  There  is  also  a  theo- 
logical seminary  in  the  same  place,  and  in  the  same  connexion. 
From  all  I  saw  and  heard  of  these  institutions,  and  of  the  men 
who  have  the  charge  of  them,  I  am  led  to  entertain  a  very  high 
opinion  of  their  literary  and  theological  character.     It  is  seven- 


Jl 


DR.  WALLACE.      DR.   PRESSLY.      AURORA.  339 

teen  years  since  I  became  acquainted  with  Dr.  Pressly,  the 
venerable  head  of  the  older  school  of  theology  at  Pittsburg,  in 
the  same  ecclesiastical  connexion.  Some  things  have  recently 
occurred  in  their  synodical  proceedings  and  otherways,  which 
lead  me  to  hope,  that  by  some  modifications  that  involve  no  sacri-' 
fice  of  principle,  the  way  may  be  opened  for  a  cioser  fellowship 
between  us,  and  that  elder  branch  of  the  once  undivided  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Scotland  and  of  Ireland. 

'^  On  my  way  back  from  Monmouth  and  Elmira,  I  stopped  two 
nights  on  a  visit  of  sympathy  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ebbs,  formerly 
of  Paris,  now  of  Aurora,  a  beautiful  rising  town  of  12,000  in- 
habitants. Mr.  Ebbs  is  a  faithful  and  acceptable  minister  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  it  has  pleased  God  to  visit  him  lately 
with  a  very  distressing  domestic  trial  in  the  loss  of  his  only 
son  who  was  drowned  while  bathing  ;  a  most  promising  young  man. 
I  also,  when  in  the  city,  paid  two  visits  to  our  worthy  friend  Mr. 
Duncan,  formerly  of  Perth,  now  at  Evanston,  a  peculiarly  attrac- 
tive sphere  of  pastoral  usefulness,  twelve  miles  from  Chicago,  on 
the  banks  of  the  lake.  In  other  instances,  my  visit  to  Chicago,  and 
to  the  lovely  prairies  of  Illinois,  revived  the  acquaintanceships  of 
other  years,  leaving  on  my  mind  impressions  salutary  and  sweet." 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 


THE  PIONEERS  OF  PRESBYTERIAKISM 
IN  CANADA. 

T  is  not  ours  to  assume  the  part  of  the  Hi 
torian,  yet  it  seems  a  suitable  sequel  to  th( 
record  of  Dr.  Burns'  labours,  to  say  som( 
thing    respecting  the   earlier    History   ol 


Presby  terianism  in  the  region  which  formed  theii 

more  immediate  scene. 
The  Rev.  George  Henry  is  the  first  Presbyterian 

minister  of  whose  ministry  in  Canada  we  can  find 
Sc^jJ  any  record.  Retiring  from  the  post  of  military 
chaplain,  he  settled  in  Quebec  six  years  after  the  trans- 
ference of  the  Province  to  British  rule,  and  from  1765  till 
1784  he  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office  in  full.  He 
died  on  the  6th  July,  1795,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
six.     For  several  years  previously  he  had  been  assisted 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM  IN  CANADA.       841 

by  the  Rev.  Alexander  Spark,  an  alumnus  of  Aberdeen 
University,  who  came  to  Quebec  in  1780,  in  the  capacity 
of  tutor,  was  ordained  in  1784,  received  from  his 
Alma  Mater  the  degree  of  D.D.  in  1804,  and  died  in  1809. 

Dr.  James  Harkness,  from  Sanquhar,  having  been  or- 
dained by  the  Presbytery  of  Ayr  in  Mctrch,  1820,  minis- 
tered in  Quebec  for  fifteen  years — a  man  of  peculiar 
idiosyncracies,  whose  successor  was  the  present  distin- 
guished incumbent  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  the  Rev.  John 
Cook,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  John  Bethune  having  retired  from  the  chap- 
laincy of  the  84th  Regiment,  held  the  first  Presbyterian 
service,  in  Montreal,  on  the  12th  March,  1780.  He  re- 
moved to  Williamstown,  Glengarry,  in  May,  1787,  where, 
aifter  eighteen  years  of  faithful  service,  he  died  on  the 
23rd  September,  1815.  The  present  Episcopal  Dean  of 
Montreal,  and  Bishop  of  Toronto,  were  among  his  sons. 
He  was  succeeded  in  Montreal  by  the  Rev.  John  Young, 
from  Perth,  Scotland,  who  laboured  from  1791  till  his  re- 
moval to  Niagara  (then  Newark)  in  1802.  The  Lord's 
Supper  was  first  administered  by  him  in  Montreal,  ac- 
cording to  the  Presbyterian  form,  on  the  18th  Septem- 
ber, 1791 — ^within  the  RecoUet  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
The  Recollet  Fathers  refused  any  pecuniary  compensation 
from  the  "  Society  of  Presbyterians  "  for  the  use  of  their 
building.  Two  hogsheads  of  Spanish  wine,  containing 
sixty  odd  gallons  each,  and  a  box  of  candles,  amounting 
in  all  to  £14  2s.  4d.,  were  subsequently  donated,  and 
gratefully  received.  The  first  Presbyterian  church,  the 
venerable  St.  Gabriel,  which  still  stands,  was  opened  on 


342  LIFE  OF  EEV.  DR.   BURNS. 

the  7th  October,  1792.     On  the  18th  September,  1803,  the 
Kev.  James  Somerville,  of  the  Scotch  Relief  Church,  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Young  in  the  pastorate  of  this  church.     Onj 
the  day  preceding,  the  first  Presbytery  of  which  any  re- 
cord remains,  was  convened. 

"Montreal,  17th  September,    1803,   the  former  Presbytery  oi 
Montreal  having  been,  by  unfortunate  circumstances,  dissolved,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  John  Bethune,  minister  of  the   Gospel  at  Glengarry, 
Upper  Canada,  formerly  a  member  of  said  Presbytery,  and  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Spark,  minister  of  the  Gospel  at  Quebec,  conceiving  that_— g 
it  would  be  for  the  good  of  religion  to  form  a  connection  and  consti-MJ 
tute  themselves  into  a  Presbytery,  did  accordingly  meet  at  Mon-MI 
treal  this  Seventeenth  of  September,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord,  One 
Thousand  Eight   Hundred  and  Three,  and,  after  prayer,  the  said 
ministers,   together  with  Mr.   Duncan  Fisher,  Elder,   took  their 
seats.     The  Rev.   Mr.  John  Bethune  was  chosen  Moderator,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Alex.  Spark,  Clerk.     Absent,  the  Elder  from  Glengarry 
and  the  Elder  from  Quebec.     The  Presbytery  agreed  that  they  shall 
be  known  and  addressed  by  the  name  and  style  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Montreal." 


The  "former  Presbytery,"  whose  records  were  lost, 
must  have  been  composed  of  Messrs.  Bethune,  Spark,  and 
Young,  together  with  their  Elders.  Nor  are  there  any 
records  of  this  second  Presbytery  save  the  one  quoted. 

Certain  parties  seceded  from  St.  Gabriel  Street  church  in 
1803,  under  the  Rev.  Robert  Forrest,  the  germ  of  the 
present  St.  Andrew's  church.  Mr.  Forrest  left  for  New 
York  the  same  year,  and  was  succeeded  in  1804  by  the 
Rev.  Robert  Easton,  from  Roxburghshire,  who  was  sud- 
denly cut  off  in  1824.  In  1817  the  Rev.  Henry  Esson, 
afterwards  the  accomplished  Professor  in  Knox  College, 
became  assistant  and  successor  to  Mr.  Somerville,  who  died 
in  1837,  leaving  £1,000  for  a  Manse  to  St.  Gabriel  Street 
church,  and  the  same  amount  to  the  Natural  History 
Society  of  Montreal. 


1 


EARLY  HISTORY   OF  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.       343 

Dr.  Edward  Black,  who  arrived  in  Montreal  in  1822, 
was  associated  with  Mr.  Esson  till  1831,  when  St.  Paul's 
congregation  was  formed  under  his  pastoral  oversight. 

In  1798,  the  Classis,  of  Albany,  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church,  sent  the  Rev.  Robert  McDowall  to  labour  in  Can- 
ada. He  proved  a  zealous  and  devoted  missionary  for 
over  forty  years,  dying  in  1841,  at  Fredericksburg.  His 
widow  I  distinctly  remember.  One  of  his  sons  belonged 
to  my  church,  in  Kingston.  Mr.  Gordon,  of  Gananoque, 
writes  thus  of  him — 

**I  was  very  intimate  with  Mr.  McDowall,  of  Fredericksburg, 
who  was  sent  to  Canada  by  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  U.  S. ,  in 
compliance  with  an  application  from  Canada  for  Christian  labourers, 
at  a  time  that  there  were  so  few  of  such  as  the  applicants  wanted, 
(they,  as  I  understand,  being  Presbyterians,)  or  indeed  of  ministers 
of  other  bodies  ;  and  in  our  confidential  conversations  he  told  me 
that  his  missionary  labours  stretched  from  Quebec,  and  below  it, 
I  think,  eastward,  and  Toronto,  then  '  Little  York,'  and  a  small 
insignificant  place,  and  beyond  westward.  He  told  me  that  he  had 
much  acquaintance  and  personal  intercourse  with  Governor  Hunter, 
I  think  he  said  the  first  Governor  sent  to  Canada,  whom  he  spoke 
of  very  favourably,  and  that  if  he,  Mr.  M.,  had  changed  his  church 
and  become  Episcopalian,  the  Governor's  influence  was  all  in  his 
favour.  But  Mr.  M.  was  of  that  single-eyed,  single-hearted  charac- 
ter that  no  temptations  of  a  worldly  nature  could  weigh  with  him 
against  higher  and  more  sacred  considerations.  Mr.  M.'s  heart  was 
always  set  upon  Presbyterian  Union  on  a  right  basis. 

"  I  had  much  enjoyment  in  a  preaching  tour  with  this  devoted 
servant  of  Christ  in  autumn,  nearing  to  winter,  1837,  the  year  that 
our  Canadian  Rebellion  broke  out.  We  preached  in  the  evenings 
either  in  the  same  school-house  or  near  to  each  other,  and  lodged 
with  some  of  this  venerable,  loveable  man's  old  friends  for  the  night, 
and  I  remember  a  laughable  incident  that  one  night  occurred.  A 
man  who  kept  a  tavern,  about  eight  miles  west  of  Kingston  (Tictch, 
I  think,  was  his  name),  and  whose  loyalty  to  Queen  Victoria  had 
been  brought  into  suspicion,  tried  some  shifts  to  redeem  it. 
Instructions  had  just  at  that  time  gone  out  from  Government 
to  have  a  keen  eye  upon  travellers  passing  through  the  country,  as 
it  was  thought  that  spies  of  the  pseudo  patriots,  who  soon  after 
this  made  an  incursion  into  Canada,  were  out  on  their  mischievous 
errands.  Well,  I  was  riding  on  a  light,  beautiful  and  spirited 
horse,  lent  me  by  my  much  esteemed  friend,  Colin  Macdonald, 


344  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.    BURNS. 

brother  to  the  Hon.  John  S.  Macdonald,  whom  you  knew  so  well,  as 
a  suitable  servant  for  moving  about  with  Mr.  McDowall.  I  had 
stopped  at  this  man's  inn  to  bait  the  horse,  and  as  I  wished  to  look 
over  my  notes  for  the  evening's  sermon,  I  said  very  little  to  the 
host  beyond  what  business  required,  and  retired  during  the  feed- 
ing to  a  room.  But  this  zealous  loyalist  had  on  my  departure 
straightway  gone  to  Mr.  Fraser,  Mr.  M.'s  particular  friend,  and  a 
Magistrate,  to  give  him  a  description  of  all  about  the  visible  out- 
ward personality,  of  such  minuteness  as  could  identify,  and  make  it 
safe  to  get  a  warrant  to  lodge  the  suspected  spy  in  any  of  Her 
Majesty's  jails.  Size,  the  peculiar  fitness  of  the  horse,  the  valise 
strapped  behind  it,  the  light-weight  rider  on  it,  all  so  peculiarly 
adapted  for  flight  and  escape,  if  required.  Above  all,  the  dark 
treasonous  taciturnity  that  could  not  look  honest  men  in  the  face. 
So  well  had  this  informant — so  to  the  life — described  the  suspected 
person's  outward  personality,  with  a  view  to  unmistakeable  identifi- 
cation, that  when  Mr.  M.  at  night  introduced  me  to  Mr.  Fraser.  the 
real  so  exactly  answered  to  the  person  previously  described,  that 
Mr.  Fraser  had  enough  to  do  to  refrain  from  a  good  loud  laugh  as 
the  salutation.'* 

The  Session  Records  of  Niagara,  which  date  from  1st 
October,  1794,  tell  of  the  Rev.  John  Dunn,  a  licentiate  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Glasgow,  coming  over  from  Albany, 
where  he  had  ministered  for  some  time.  For  two  years 
he  laboured  in  Stamford  -and  Niagara,  then  left  the  min- 
istry and  became  a  merchant  in  the  latter  place.  In  1803, 
he  perished  with  all  on  board  the  Speedy,  a  vessel  car- 
rying ten  guns,  which  foundered  in  Lake  Ontario.  Mr. 
Dunn  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John  Young,  who  came 
to  Niagara  from  Montreal,  where  he  had  briefly  laboured. 
He  remained  from  1802  till  1804,  when  the  Rev.  John 
Bums,  a  Scotch  Secession  minister,  father  of  Judge  Bums, 
arrived  from  the  State  of  New  York.  He  preached  every 
third  Sabbath  in  Niagara  till  1812,  when  the  second 
American  War  broke  out,  and  the  town  was  reduced  to 
ashes.  He  resumed  in  1815,  combining  with  the  Pas- 
torate the  charge  of  the  District  School,  till  his  death,  in 


NIAGARA.      EASTMAN.      SMART.  345 

1844.  Mr.  Thomas  Creen,  from  the  North  of  Ireland, 
succeeded  him,  who  soon  after  became  Episcopal  Rector 
of  the  place.  In  1827,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Fraser,  of  the  Re- 
lief Church,  Dalkeith,  Scotland,  now  residing  in  Montreal 
(a  vigorous  preacher  still),  fulfilled  a  brief  ministry  in  the 
old  town,  followed  in  1829  by  the  Rev.  Robert  McGill, 
from  Ayrshire,  who  remained  sixteen  years.  In  the  old 
Niagara  district  laboured  long  and  faithfully  "Father 
Eastman,"  as  he  was  generally  called.  He  came  into  the 
Province  from  the  United  States  in  1799  or  1800,  and 
planted  "  seven  churches,"  most  of  which  remain  until  thi3 
present.  We  remember  him  well — his  erect  gait,  and 
springy  step,  and  ringing  voice,  and  warm  hand-clasp — 
though  when  we  knew  him  he  was  totally  blind.  We  joined 
with  some  of  his  spiritual  children  in  laying  him  in  one  of 
the  quiet  churchyards  he  had  marked  out,  when,  "  an  old 
man  and  full  of  years,  he  was  gathered  to  his  Fathers." 

In  1808  or  1809,  Mr.  William  Smart  was  under  training 
for  missionary  service  in  the  West  Indies,  at  Gosport, 
within  whose  useful  institute  many  hopeful  youth  were 
being  brought  up  at  the  feet  of  the  venerable  Bogue.  A 
petition  came  from  the  people  of  Brockville  for  a  minister, 
addressed  to  the  London  Missionary  Society.  Mr.  Smart, 
feeling  that  his  own  countrymen  had  claims,  at  least  equal 
to  the  heathen,  gave  a  favourable  answer.  He  was  or- 
dained in  London,  "  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  in  Eliza- 
bethtown,  U.  C,"  and  commenced  labouring  in  Brockville 
in  1811.  He  planted  the  first  Sabbath  School  in  Canada. 
He  formed  the  first  Bible  Society  in  the  Province  in  1817 
— ^the  first  Missionary  Society  in  1818,  and  the  first  Reli- 


346  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

gious  Tract  Society  in  1820.  Mr.  Smart's  field  of  labour 
stretched  from  Gananoque  to  Osnabruck,  from  ninety  to 
one  hundred  miles  in  length — to  Bastard  (twenty-five 
miles)  and  South  Gower  (thirty-five  miles)  in  rear  of  the 
St.  Lawrence.  In  all  Upper  Canada  there  were  but  two 
Presbyterian  ministers  when  he  came — Mr.  Bethune  and 
Mr.  McDowall.  In  concert  with  Dr.  Boyd,  who  arrived 
subsequently,  he  had  to  do  with  the  planting  of  Presby- 
terianism  in  fourteen  different  places,  all  of  which  have 
now  buildings  of  stone.  He  preached  the  first  sermon  in 
Perth,  with  an  unfinished  store  for  his  church,  and  a  flour 
barrel  for  his  desk.  Eetuming  from  a  missionary  tour  in 
1812,  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  second  American  War, 
a  stray,  spent  twelve-pounder  passed  over  the  neck  of  Mr. 
Smart's  horse,  fell  near  the  fence,  sank  in  and  ploughed 
up  the  ground.  Mr.  Smart  can  look  back  over  sixty  years 
of  honourable  service ;  nor  yet  is  his  eye  dim,  or  his 
natural  force  materially  abated.  Dr.  Boyd,  from  Ireland, 
ordained  in  1821,  has  recently  died  on  a  field  signal- 
ized by  the  indefatigable  labours  of  half  a  century.  The 
Rev.  William  Bell,  in  1817,  followed  the  emigrants  from 
Lanark  and  Renfrewshires,  who  had  settled  in  the  Perth 
district  the  year  before.  He  sailed  on  the  5th  April,  and, 
"  after  fifty-seven  days  of  horrors,"  reached  Quebec.  He 
took  twenty-four  days  to  travel  between  that  city  and  Perth. 
Eight  days  were  spent  between  Montreal  and  Prescott,  with 
batteaux,  oxen,  and  horses.  From  Brockville  he  walked 
most  of  the  way.  His  first  house  consisted  of  log  walls, 
a  roof,  and  a  floor  of  loose  split  basswood  logs  over  a  pool  of 
stagnant  water.     The  closeness  of  the  floor  may  be  under- 


PERTH.      REV.   WILLIAM  BELL.      STRUGGLES.         347 

dood  from  the  fact  that  one  day  one  of  the  children  fell 
through,  and  was,  with  some  difficulty,  rescued  from 
drowning.  There  were  no  partitions.  No  furniture  could 
possibly  be  had.  Dr.  Thom  gave  him  two  boards,  from 
which  he  made  a  table.  His  pastoral  visitation  lay 
through  stumps  and  swamps,  over  fences  and  fords,  mid 
broiling  suns  and  swarming  mosquitoes — fourteen  miles  at 
a  time  along  blazed  tracks,  with  the  occasional  howl  of  the 
wolf  and  hiss  of  the  serpent ;  lodging  in  wretched  hovels, 
sometimes  upset  from  canoes  to  the  danger  of  drowning, 
and,  when  escaping,  having  no  opportunity  of  getting  wet 
clothes  changed. 

Over  a  shocking  road  he  has  to  travel  on  foot  forty- 
two  miles  to  Brockville,  to  get  leave  to  perform  marriage, 
but,  opposed  on  technical  grounds  by  High  Church  offi- 
cials, he  has  to  trudge  back,  and  return  on  foot  three 
months  after  to  the  Quarter  Sessions,  accompanied  by 
seven  members  of  his  church.  He  collects  money  for  a 
school-house,  which  he  occupies  as  a  church.  An  Episco- 
pal clergyman  comes  to  the  settlement.  He  is  uncere- 
moniously ordered  to  give  up  the  school  to  him.  He 
resists  for  a  time,  but  at  last  gives  it  up,  observing  in  his 
Journal :  "  It  is  not  safe  living  in  Rome  and  falling  out 
with  the  Po'pe."  He  is  brought  into  court  and  fined  heavily 
for  trying  to  put  down  Sabbath  desecration.  The  proxies 
of  drunken  parents  demand  "  christening  "  for  a  child.  On 
being  refused,  they  go  off  in  high  dudgeon  to  a  Roman 
Catholic  priest,  who  goes  through  the  ceremony,  for  half 
a  dollar,  in  French,  of  which  they  were  entirely  ignorant. 
The  enraged  father  complains  to  a  magistrate,  and  next 


848 


LIFE  OF  KEV.  DR.   BURNS. 


morning,  after  a  dreadful  night  of  cold,  is  found  stretched 
on  the  snow  a  stiffened  corpse. 

Mr.  Bell's  MS.  Journals,  which  are  very  copious  and 
numerous,  contain  many  similar  incidents,  with  records  of 
journeys  to  Presbytery  meetings,  requiring  from  four  to 
six  days  to  reach  the  place  of  meeting,  perhaps  two  days 
being  spent  in  travelling  on  foot,  and  the  remainder  by 
means  of  horseback,  riding  waggon,  small  boat,  or  sleigh, 
as  the  case  may  be.* 

About  the  same  time  the  Rev.  Joseph  Johnston,  from 
Ireland,  laboured  in  Cornwall,  teaching  also  the  district 
school,  and  was  succeeded,  in  1822,  by  the  Rev.  Harry 
Leith,who  held  the  same  plurality  till  translated,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1826,  to  Rothiemay,  Aberdeenshire,  when  Dr.  Hugh 
Urquhart,  who  had  arrived  in  the  country  in  1822,  came 
into  the  post,  from  which  death  has  just  removed  him. 

In  1818,  the  Rev.  Hugh  Kirkland,  and  in  1820,  the 
Rev.  William  Brunton,  laboured  at  Lachine,  and,  for  five 
years,  from  1821  till  1826,  when  he  was  cut  off  in  his 
prime,  Kingston  enjoyed  a  ministry  of  much  promise  un- 
der the  Rev.  John  Barclay.  The  Rev.  James  Harris,  from 
Ireland,  was  the  first  planter  of  Presbyterianism  in  To- 
ronto.-|- 

The  name  of  Jenkins  must  be  joined  with  the  honoured 
names  of  Bethune,  Bell,  McDowaU,  Eastman,  and  Smart, 
and  others  who,  in  the  early  period  of  our  country's  his- 
tory, served  as  Presbyterian  pioneers. 

*'  Father "  Jenkins,  when  labouring  ^  a  missionary 
among  the  Oneida  Indians,  in  New  York  State,  was  in- 

*  See  in  Appendix  II.  some  interesting  extracts  from  the  journals  of  this  venerable 
man,  kindl3'  furnished  me  by  his  excellent  son,  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  Bell,  of  Clifton, 
t  See  valuable  memorabilia  of  Mr.  Harris  in  Appendix  I. 


I 


FATHER  JENKINS.  349 

duced  to  visit  Scarboro',  in  1820,  a  township  which  began 
to  be  settled  by  emigrants  from  the  south  of  Scotland  in 
1799.  His  field  embraced  the  Townships  of  York,  Mark- 
ham,  Vaughan  and  Scarboro'.  The  Rev.  James  Harris, 
whose  fatherly  address  as  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Toronto,  on  my  receiving  license,  I  will  never  forget, 
thus  writes  me  with  reference  to  Mr.  Jenkins : — 

"  With  respect  to  Father  Jenkins,  I  became  acquainted  with  him 
in  the  fall  of  1820,  a  short  time  after  my  arrival  in  the  town  of 
York,  and  for  many  years  maintained  uninterrupted  ministerial 
communion  with  him.  He  was  a  zealous  and  indefatigable  labourer 
in  the  Master's  cause.  Not  unfrequently  I  accompanied  him  to 
some  of  the  recently-formed  townships  north  of  Toronto,  convers- 
ing with,  and  preaching  the  Gospel  of  Christ  to  many  poor  and 
destitute  settlers,  organizing  congregations,  and  occasionally  dis- 
pensing the  Lord's  Supper.  Such  visits  were  always  cordially  wel- 
comed."* 

The  Rev.  Arch.  Henderson,  who  was  ordained  in  1810, 
came  out  to  Canada  in  July,  1818.  He  belonged  to  the  Asso- 
ciate Synod  in  Scotland.  An  excellent  preacher,  and  a 
faithful  labourer  he  has  proved,  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  some  interesting  facts  in  connection  with  the  early 
history  of  our  church  in  the  East.  Father  of  our  church, 
moderator  of  our  presbytery,  and  now  over  eighty-six,  he 
brings  forth  fruit  in  old  age. 

He  describes  the  rise  of  our  church  in  Montreal  and 
Quebec,  the  ministers  who  came  over  with  Dr.  Mason,  of 
New  York,  and  the  planting  of  Presbyterianism  at  La- 
chute,  where  some  dissentients  from  the  original  congre- 
gation applied  to  the  Kirk. 

The   Rev.    John   McKenzie,  in  1818,    succeeded  the 

*  A  certain  dignitary  ▼  ho,  ecclesiastically,  had  forgotten  his  first  love,  meeting  Father 
Jenkins,  remarked  the  threadbareness  of  his  coat.  Caustically,  yet  courteously,  the  old 
gentleman  replied,  "At  any  rate,  I  thank  God  it  isn't  a  turncoat !" 


350  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

venerable  Mr.  Bethune,  at  VVilliamstown,  and  was  the 
Moderator  of  the  first  Canadian  Synod.  It  was  held  in 
St.  Andrew's  Church,  Kingston,  in  1831,  from  June  8th 
to  13th  inclusive,  and  was  attended  by  fifteen  ministers, 
four  elders,  and  five  commissioners.  The  Synod  agreed  to 
a  division  of  the  church  into  four  presbyteries,  viz.,  the 
Presbytery  of  Quebec,  six  ministers ;  Glengarry,  four  minis- 
ters ;  Bathurst,  four  ministers  ;  and  York  five  ministers.* 

Besides  the  Rev.  Wm.  Rintoul,  M.A.,  who  had  a  few  days 
previously  arrived  at  Toronto  (then  York),  we  find  west 
of  that  city,  belonging  to  the  Church  of  Scotland,  but 
these  four  names,  Alexander  Gale,  M.  A,  Amherstburg ; 
George  Shedd,  M.  A,  Ancaster;  Alexander  Ross,  Aid- 
borough  ;  Robert  McGill,  Niagara. 

A  few  extracts  from  letters  of  an  early  Paisley  emi- 
grant, addressed  to  his  father,  who  used  regularly  to  show 
them  to  Dr.  Burns,  and  to  copy  off  portions,  may  supply 
glimpses  of  the  early  religious  condition  of  Canada,  and 
of  the  influences  which  drew  out  his  sympathetic  nature 
towards  these  distant  and  destitute  settlements  : 

"  Brockville,  Upper  Canada, 

"18th  June,  1820. 

' '  When  we  landed  at  Montreal  the  first  thing  that  struck  our 
attention,  being  the  Sabbath,  was  the  whole  shore  covered  with 
people  fishing,  and  the  market  place  covered  with  stands  of  differ- 
ent kinds  of  goods,  just  the  same  as  it  had  been  a  fair  day,  and  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  town  numerous  parties  going  about  with 
guns,  or  amusing  themselves  with  playing  at  the  ball." 

*  After  lengthened  and  mature  deliberation,  it  was  unanimously  resolved — 
"  That  this  Convention  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  in  connection  with  the  Church  of 
Scotland,  representing  their  respective  congregations,  do  form  themselves  into  a  Synod, 
to  be  called  the  Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Canada,  leaving  it  to  the  vener- 
able the  General  Assembly  to  determine  the  particular  nature  of  that  connection  which 
shall  subsist  between  this  Synod  and  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scotland." 
The  Rev,  John  McKenzie  was  chosen  Moderator  of  the  Synod,  and  the  Rev.  Robert 
McGill,  Clerk. 


I 


CALEDON.      JOHN  CEICHTON's  LETTERS.  351 

*'YoRK,  18th  Sept.,  1820. 

"  I  think  that  religion  is  at  a  low  ebb  in  this  country.  There  are 
very  few  churches  in  it,  and  the  inhabitants  in  general  are  very  de- 
praved. It  is  not  unusual  to  see  them  working  in  their  fields  on 
the  Sabbath  day,  or  going  out  a  shooting.  The  law  does  not  ap- 
pear to  interfere  with  them,  and  therefore  they  do  what  they  plea&e 
on  that  day." 

'''Caledon,  10th  Sept.,  1823. 

*'You  wish  to  know  how  we  spend  the  Sabbath  in  Caledon.  I 
have  therefore  to  inform  you  that  I  and  a  number  of  the  emi- 
grants assemble  at  eleven  o'clock,  forenoon,  in  the  house  of  J.  M. 
The  service  in  which  we  then  engage  commences  with  prayer  and 
praise  ;  a  chapter  of  the  Bible  is  read,  then  one  of  Burder's  village 
sermons,  which  you  gave  me  when  I  came  away,  is  next  read. 
After  this  the  children  are  catechised,  and  the  service  concludes  as 
it  began,  with  prayer  and  praise.  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for 
the  tracts  and  other  useful  pamphlets  you  have  sent  me,  for  they 
are  agreeable  company  to  me  here  in  the  woods. " 


"Caledon,  27th  June,  1826. 

''  You  mentioned  in  a  letter  lately  sent,  that  a  society  has  been 
established  amongst  you  for  sending  out  ministers  and  teachers  to 
the  British  Colonies.  I  heard  a  sermon  preached  about  seven 
weeks  ago,  and  with  the  exception  of  that  opportunity,  I  have  not 
heard  a  sermon  for  the  last  seventeen  months. 

"  When  the  news  of  the  establishment  first  reached  us,  Mr.  S. 
came  to  Caledon  and  called  a  few  of  the  settlers  together,  to  see 
what  means  could  be  adopted  to  get  a  pastor,  through  means  of 
the  society,  when  it  was  resolved  that  Mr.  S.  should  write  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Burns,  Secretary  of  the  Society,  and  to  inform  him  of 
our  situation,  and  I  should  write  to  you,  so  far  to  corroborate  his 
statement,  which  I  accordingly  did.  Among  other  things,  I  men- 
tioned that  the  minister  would  have  to  preach  to  three  townships, 
viz.  :  Esquesing,  Erin  and  Caledon.  I  also  mentioned  that  the 
population  of  Caledon  consisted  of  eighty  families,  chiefly  Presby- 
terians, and  that  the  population  in  Erin  was  nearly  the  same,  and 
the  number  of  families  in  Esquesing  to  several  hundreds,  and  you 
were  requested  to  converse  with  Mr.  Burns  on  the  subject." 

''  Caledon,  ]st  March,  1827. 

"  We  are  as  yet  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  hearing  the  gospel 
regularly  preached.  We  have,  however,  been  lately  favoured  with 
a  sermon,  once  a  month,  by  a  Methodist  missionary,  who  preaches, 
to  us  every  fourth  Sabbath,  in  the  house  of  John  McDonald,  jun. 


352  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURJNS. 

We  are  now  deprived  of  the  labours  of  Mr.  Redpath,*  of  whom  I 
gave  some  account  in  a  letter  I  wrote  to  you  last  January.  He 
was  a  man  of  small  stature,  and  of  a  delicate  constitution,  while 
to  have  undergone  the  fatigue  which  he  underwent  in  spreading 
the  glad  tidings  of  salvation,  would  have  required  a  strong  and 
robust  frame,  and  indeed  one  of  the  best  of  constitutions.  So 
'  wide  was  the  circuit  in  which  he  itinerated,  that  he  could  only  give 
us  a  sermon  once  in  three  months.  All  his  journeys  he  performed 
on  foot,  and  though  the  roads  were  at  some  seasons  of  the  year 
nearly  impassable,  yet  a  word  of  murmuring  or  complaint  he  never 
uttered,  but  endured  all  his  privations  and  hardships  with  manly 
fortitude.  He  was  always  cheerful,  and  when  once  asked,  '  How 
it  was  possible  he  could  get  along,  the  roads  being  so  bad  V  He 
smiled,  and  replied  '  that  they  were  broad  enough,  and  when  a 
place  impassable  came  in  his  way,  he  could  go  round  a  little  space 
in  the  woods.  After  having  itinerated  in  this  manner  for  a  number 
'of  years,  he  at  last  sunk  under  his  labours  and  extreme  fatigue,  and 
died  in  Yonge  Street ;  and,  from  all  accounts  I  have  heard,  of  ex- 
treme exhaustion.  When  on  his  last  circuit  he  did  not  intimate 
his  appointments  as  he  used  to  do,  and  when  last  here,  when  urged 
to  do  so,  he  replied,  'Some  time  after  harvest,'  and  we  were  there- 
fore daily  expecting  him,  when  we  heard  of  his  death.  You  will  not, 
therefore,  be  surprised  when  I  inform  you  that  the  tidings  affected 
us  greatly,  as  we  were  deprived  of  the  labours  of  the  only  minis- 
ter, who  for  a  long  time  had  come  amongst  us .  The  last  sermon 
he  preached  was  from  a  passage  in  the  21  st  chapter  of  Revelation, 
on  the  beauties  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  which  I  was  informed  was 
on  the  day  immediately  preceding  his  death." 


"Caledon,  10th  Oct.,  1828. 

"  We  are  still  as  badly  off  as  ever  with  regard  to  the  preaching 
of  the  Gospel.  I  have  only  heard  five  or  six  sermons  since  I  last 
wrote  you.  All  of  these,  excepting  one,  were  by  Methodists,  and 
that  one  was  by  a  Baptist. 

^'  Several  new  sects  have  arisen  in  the  province  of  late,  spread- 
ing erroneous  doctrines  among  the  ignorant.  One  of  these  sects 
call  themselves  Christians,  and  their  religion  is  a  compound  of  the 
tenets  of  several  others.  Amongst  their  other  errors  they  deny 
the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  they  are  said  to  be  gaining  ground 
in  the  country.  Another  sect,  calling  themselves  Dunkards,  wear 
long  beards.  A  person  of  the  name  of  Wilson  has  started  in 
Yonge  Street,  as  a  leader  of  a  new  sect,  consisting  chiefly  of  fe- 
males. Their  doctrine  and  mode  of  worship  I  am  ignorant  of  ;  but 
I  understand  that  their  progress  has  caused  separation  to  take  place 
in  several  instances  betwixt  husbands  and  wives." 

Mr.  Eedpath  waa  (we  believe)  a  devoted  Congregational  minister. 


THE   emigrants'  CRIES.  353 

The  following  extract  is  written  by  a  friend  of  Mr.  C, 

dated 

"  Ancaster,  lOth  Nov.,  1829. 
"I  saw  at  York  the  other  day  a  minister  sent  out  by  a  Glasgow 
Association  to  Niagara.  He  has  given  great  satisfaction  since  he 
came  to  this  country.  We  much  want  such  men  as  Mr.  McGill. 
Our  Sabbath  day  is  not  generally  spent  as  it  should  be.  The  reli- 
gious and  moral  condition  of  this  people  is  lamentable  ;  but  our 
wants  begin  to  be  known,  and  we  may  hope  that  things  wiU  not 
remain  long  as  they  are  in  this  particular." 

Mr.  C.'s  letters  continue  : 

*'  Caledon,  5th  July,  1830. 

*'  I  received  a  letter  lately  from  a  Mr.  Carruthers,  informing  me 
that  he  had  written  to  Dr.  Burns,  Secretary  of  the  North  American 
Colonial  Society,  proposing  an  extended  scheme  of  Sabbath  school 
usefulness  under  their  patronage,  and  that  he  had  offered  himself 
as  a  travelling  catechist  for  planting,  organizing,  and  strengthening 
Sabbath  school  instruction,  and  I  consider  him  a  person  well  quali- 
fied for  that  office.  If  the  proposed  measure  should  obtain  the 
sanction  of  that  society,  I  think  it  might  be  productive  of  much 
good,  as  it  might  be  the  means  of  establishing  Sabbath  schools  in 
many  places,  where  there  are  at  present  none,  and  of  stirring  up 
those  that  have  already  been  established  to  more  diligence ;  and  it  is 
probable  that  they  might  supply  the  schools  with  religious  tracts, 
of  which  we  stand  in  great  need.  Will  you  be  so  good  as  recom- 
mend this  to  Dr.  Burns,  or  any  of  the  members  of  the  society  with 
whom  you  may  be  acquainted." 

**  Caledon,  June  11th,  1831. 

"In  the  latter  end  of  April  last  we  gave  the  Rev.  Duncan  McMil- 
lan a  call,  which  was  accepted  of,  and  he  was  ordained  on  the  26th 
of  last  month.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Harris,  of  York,  made  the  intro- 
ductory prayer  ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ferguson,  of  West  Gwillimbury, 
preached  the  ordination  sermon  from  2  Cor.  iv.  7  :  *  But  we  have 
this  treasure  in  earthen  vessels,'  &c.  The  Rev.  Mr.  King,  of  Nel- 
son, put  the  questions  to  Mr.  McM.  in  the  usual  form  ;  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Jenkins,  of  Yonge  street,  offered  the  consecrationary  prayer  ; 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Eastman,  from  the  head  of  the  lake,  delivered  the 
charge  ;  and  the  Rev.  A.  Bell,  of  Toronto,  addressed  the  congrega- 
tion in  a  very  impressive  manner.  The  place  of  ordination  was 
about  thirteen  miles  from  Caledon.  It  was  a  fine  day,  and  a  good 
many  went  from  this  neighbourhood,  as  well  as  from  the  neighbour- 
ing townships.  It  was  indeed  a  very  interesting  scene.  There 
were  a  great  many  wet  eyes  in  the  congregation,  and  some  of  the 
clergymen  were  also  observed  shedding  tears.  That  prophecy  was 
then  fulfilled  in  its  most  important  sense,  *  The  wilderness  shall 
blossom  as  the  rose/  &c.  In  this  place,  where  lately  nothing  was 
X 


854 


LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


heard  but  the  howling  of  wolves  and  the  raging  of  the  elements,  is 
now  heard  the  joyful  sound  of  salvation  ;  and  where  the  Indians 
lately  bowed  to  their  imaginary  gods,  the  ambassadors  of  Jesus 
Christ  proclaim  the  triumphs  of  His  cross." 

It  was  amid  such  antecedents  and  surroundings  that 
the  Glasgow  Colonial  Society  was  formed.  How  it 
fulfilled  its  mission  we  have  already  seen.  In  1826,  soon 
after  its  formation,  Dr.  Mathieson,  of  St.  Andrew's  Church, 
Montreal,  thus  eloquently  pleads  for  the  land  to  which  he 
had  recently  come,  in  a  characteristic  epistle : 

"  The  settlers  in  Canada  are  chiefly  Scotchmen ;  and,  do  not  think 
that  the  rigour  of  our  winters  chills  the  warm  feelings  which  charac- 
terise our  countrymen  'at  home.'  Distance  from  'our  dear  own 
native  land '  but  fans  our  native  ardour,  and  makes  to  cling  to  us 
more  tenaciously  all  the  sturdy  but  honest  prejudices  of  Scotchmen. 

''  The  language  of,  the  captive  Jews  by  the  rivers  of  Babylon  is 
the  language  of  many  of  your  countrymen  by  the  rivers  of  Canada, 
when  they  think  on  the  religious  services  in  which  they  were  ac- 
customed to  join  with  t?ieir  fathers  :  '  If  I  forget  thee,  O  Jerusalem, 
let  my  right  hand  forget  her  cunning.  If  I  do  not  remember  thee, 
let  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth.'  Often  does  '  their 
Tiome,' with  all  its  associations  rush  upon  their  recollection.  The 
cottage  where  they  first  received  a  father's  blessing  and  shared  in  a 
mother's  care  ;  the  fireside  group,  where 

*  The  sire  turns  o'er,  wi'  patriarchal  grace,  | 

The  big  ha'  bible ;'  J 

the  country  church,  half  hid  among  the  trees,  whither  they  were 
early  taught  by  pious  care  to  turn  their  steps  ;  and  the  simple  and 
the  sublime  worship  in  which  there  they  joined — all  recur,  and 
place  at  the  disposal  of  a  skilful  minister  of  our  church  a  power 
which  he  might  wield  to  the  noblest  purposes. 

"  But  let  this  generation  pass  away,  and  nothing  be  done  to  keep 
alive  religious  feeling  and  preserve  religious  knowledge,  and  it  is 
clear  this  advantage  must  be  lost.  The  rising  generation  will  grow 
up  in  comparative  ignorance,  and  devoid  of  those  impressions  that 
public  ordinances  are  calculated  to  make  on  the  mind,  and  will 
present  an  untractable  material  both  to  the  philanthropist  and  the 
teaching  of  religion.  May  God  and  the  General  Assembly  and  our 
gracious  King  avert  the  evils  which  are  likely  to  flow  from  such  a 
state  of  society.  Many  of  these  are  Highlanders,  whose  sentiments 
may  be  expressed  generally  in  the  words  of  one  of  their  number 
that  I  met  with  lately  at  the  Sacrament  in  Glengarry  :  '  I  cam© 
into  these  woods,  where  the  foot  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel  had 


i 


DE.  MATHIESON,  OF  MONTEEAL.  355 

never  been.  I  prayed  that  I  might  see  one  minister  of  this  persua- 
sion, in  which  I  was  brought  up,  settled  amongst  us.  I  saw  that. 
I  prayed  for  another  ;  thought  another  would  do  much  good  ;  the 
labour  was  too  much  for  one.  I  saw  another, — but  so  happy  a  day 
as  this  I  never  expected  to  see  in  Canada, — five  ministers  of  the 
Kirk  of  Scotland  in  Glengarry  !' 

*'  It  is  said  of  us  that  we  are  all  very  apt  to  become  Episcopalians 
when  we  come  to  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  This  may  be  true  with 
respect  to  some  of  our  hig  folk  who  wish  to  be  fashionable,  and  our 
little  folk  who  wish  to  be  big  ;  and  among  the  latter  is  your  friend 
McL ,  who  has  renounced  his  church,  and  has  applied  for  Epis- 
copalian ordination,  as  I  am  informed,  '  from  a  conscientious  pre- 
ference to  that  church  !  ! '  But  with  respect  to  the  great  body  of 
the  people,  nothing  can  be  more  false  than  such  a  statement.  Many 
of  them,  it  is  true,  laudably  attend  the  services  of  the  English 
church,  because  there  is  no  other  within  their  reach.  They  (the 
Church  of  England)  have  been  certainly  much  more  zealous  in  at- 
tempting to  plant  themselves  in  Canada  than  our  good  Kirk  has 
been  hitherto  ;  but  the  time  is  not  yet  gone  by,  I  hope,  when  what 
is  lost  cannot  be  retrieved,  but  now  or  never,  I  think,  is  the  time 
both  for  the  Assembly  and  for  individuals  to  exert  themselves,  and 
if  they  do,  I  do  not  despair  biit  very  soon,  and  precisely  from  the 
same  causes,  there  will  be  exhibited  on  the  bosom  of  the  boundless 
forests  of  Canada  many  as  lovely  moral  pictures  as  Scotland  now 
presents  from  the  bosom  of  the  ocean." 

At  an  after  date,  Dr.  Mathieson  closes  another  letter 
thus.  Our  readers  will  not  grudge  the  space  occupied  by 
these  two  selections  from  the  manuscript  volumes  of  colo- 
nial correspondence : 

"  T  would  call  upon  the  people  of  Scotland  generally,  and  the 
clergy  in  particular,  to  bestir  themselves  in  our  behalf.  We  still 
retain  an  ardent  love  for  our  national  church.  We  look  upon  our 
connection  with  it  as  a  link,  and  a  powerful  one,  in  the  mighty 
chain  of  affections  which  unites  us  to  the  beloved  land  we  have 
left.  Her  ordinances  are  viewed  by  many  in  Canada  with  a  regard 
which,  I  am  afraid,  those  who  constantly  enjoy  them  do  not  always 
feel.  The  God  of  their  fathers  is  more  impressively  felt  to  be  their 
God  when  they  sing  to  his  praise  the  same  Psalms  in  which  in  their 
infancy  they  joined  with  their  parents.  The  English  liturgy  may 
be  an  excellent  composition,  and  every  page  of  it  may  be  full  of 
pure  devotion  ;  but  it  does  not,  and  it  cannot,  awaken  in  our  hearts 
the  feelings  which  our  Scottish  worship  calls  up.  It  has  no  share  in 
our  previous  associaiions.  It  calls  up  no  recollections  of  the  solemn 
stillness  of  the  Scottish  Sabbath,  or  the  more  delightful  and  hal- 
lowed sounds  that,  amid  the  glens  and  hollows  of  our  native 


S56  LIFE  OF  EEV.  DR.   BURNS. 

country,  rise  through  the  morning  and  evening  stillness.  The 
plant  may  be  fine,  but  it  is  an  exotic  ;  its  fragrance  may  be  fault- 
less, but  it  is  strange.  It  stands  alone,  unconnected  with  a  single 
recollection,  unless,  indeed,  it  be  this,  that  our  forefathers  were 
persecuted  for  rejecting  it."* 

The  Rev.  George  Cheyne,  who  arrived  in  the  Province  on 
the  5th  of  September,  1831,  subsequently  to  the  meeting 
of  the  first  synod,  has  given  me  some  interesting  jot- 
tings of  the  era  immediately  succeeding  the  organization! 
of  the  society.  He  was  designated  to  "  Amherstburg  or 
any  other  part  of  North  America."  He  went  there,  as 
his  predecessor,  Mr.  Gale,  had  done,  without  any  induc- 
tion service.  In  1832,  travelling  to  synod  at  Kingston, 
he  took  three  days  to  reach  Hamilton,  most  of  the  way 
in  open  lumber- waggons  with  wooden  side-springs,  and 
the  roads  "  corduroy," — little  better  than  an  Indian  track 
in  some  places.  Hamilton  was  an  insignificant  town, 
and  he  had  to  stage  it  to  Niagara,  then  a  place  of  great 
importance,  the  starting-point  of  stages  for  the  West  and 
steamboats  down  the  lake. 

In  the  summer  of  1834  he  visited  Samia,  which  was 
just  commencing — the  surrounding  country  an  unbroken 
forest.  After  a  bitter  cold  night  in  one  of  these  primitive 
houses,  the  worthy  host  caUed  out,  "  Are  you  frozen,  Mr. 
Cheyne  ?  Are  you  frozen  ?"  But  Mr.  C.  was  none  the 
worse.  On  his  way  through  Tilbury  to  Chatham,  then  a 
wilderness,  he  stayed  in  a  shanty  twelve  feet  square,  two 
men,  two  women,  and  some  children  occupying  the  single 
apartment.  All  through  that  western  region,  now  dotted 
with  flourishing  churches,  he  faithfully  proclaimed  to  the 


*  An  interesting  memoir  of  Dr.  Matbieson  has  been  published,  from  the  vigorous  pen 
of  Mr.  James  Croll,  who,  in  so  many  ways,  has  rendered  signal  service  to  the  church  of 
his  attachment. 


I 


UNITED  SYNOD  AND  U.   P.   CHURCH.  357 

scattered  settlers,  amid  many  privations,  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ. 

Other  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  family  laboured 
actively  and  successfully  in  Canada,  with  whose  doings 
then  Dr.  Burns  had  not  directly  to  do,  but  always  fully 
sympathised. 

A  few  faithful  brethren,  chiefly  of  the  Associate  Church 
in  Scotland  and  the  North  of  Ireland,  formed  themselves 
into  the  Presbytery  of  the  Canadas  in  1818,  which,  in 
1820,  became  the  "  United  Presbytery,"  and  subsequently 
the  "  United  Synod  of  Upper  Canada,"  numbering  eighteen 
in  1840,  when  it  merged  into  the  Church  of  Scotland. 

In  September,  1831,  a  foreign  mission  was  determined 
upon  by  the  United  Associate  Synod  of  Scotland,  and 
Canada  selected  as  the  field.  To  the  Church's  caU  for 
volunteers,  responses  came  from  three  faithful  and  devoted 
ministers, — Mr.  Kobertson,  of  Cupar;  Mr.  Proudfoot,  of 
Pitrodie;  and  Mr.  Christie,  of  Holm  in  Orkney.  Their 
sympathies  went  forth  towards  their  expatriated  fellow- 
countrymen,  and  to  live  and  labour  for  their  benefit  they 
left  posts  of  comfort  and  usefulness,  in  compliance  with 
the  call  of  God  and  His  Church.  Bearing  commissions 
from  their  respective  presbyteries,  and  from  Dr.  John 
Brown,  chairman,  William  Peddie,  secretary,  James  Ped- 
dle and  John  Ritchie,  members  of  the  Foreign  Missions 
Committee,  they  set  sail  about  the  beginning  of  August, 
1832.  There  was  an  understanding  amongst  them  that 
Mr.  Robertson  should  labour  in  Eastern,  Mr.  Proudfoot  in 
Western,  and  Mr.  Christie  in  Central  Canada.  Within 
a  month  after  arriving,  the  first  member  of  the  little  band 
was  cut  ofi*  by  cholera.     Mr.  Proudfoot  settled  in  London, 


358  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

where  he  was  counted  worthy  of  double  honour,  discharg- 
ing for  many  years,  till  removed  by  death,  the  duties  of 
an  earnest  pastorate  as  well  as  of  First  Theological  Pro- 
fessor to  the  body  with  whose  settlement  in  the  country 
he  had  so  much  to  do. 

Mr.  Christie,  for  thirty-eight  years,  laboured  faithfully 
at  Flamborough.  On  the  8th  of  September,  1870,  at  the 
ripe  age  of  86,  having  served  his  generation,  by  the  will 
of  God,  he  fell  asleep. 

Such  were  the  heroic  pioneers  who  founded  what  be- 
came the  "  United  Presbyterian  Church "  in  Canada, 
which  has  done  a  noble  work  in  the  land,  and  with  which, 
at  Montreal,  in  June,  1861,  the  Presbyterian  Church  o; 
Canada  formed  so  auspicious  a  union.* 

This  glance  at  the  past  is  well  fitted  to  make  us  "  from; 
this  time  say.  What  hath  God  wrought  ?" 

The  oft  experienced  and  expressed  feeling  of  him  whose 
life  and  labours  we  have  been  attempting  to  delineate,  in 
looking  "before  and  after,"  was,  "The  Lord  hath  done 
great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad." 

The  Canada  Presbyterian  Church  of  to-day  has  808 
ministers  (an  increase  of  20  in  a  year),  30,000  families, 
50,000  communicants,  over  8,000  office-bearers  (including 
Sabbath-school  teachers),  and  church  accommodation  for 
128,210.  During  the  past  year  21  churches  have  been 
erected,  and  11  manses,  the  latter  now  numbering  161,  an 
increase  of  47  in  three  years.  She  has  two  theological 
colleges,  with  150  hopeful  young  men,  either  directly  en- 

*  We  had  hoped  to  have  received  from  a  respected  minister  of  the  former  United 
Presbyterian  Church  a  fitting  record  of  its  most  useful  history,  but  have  not  succeeded, 
and  must  content  ourselves,  for  the  present,  with  this  meagre  notice. 


II 


\ 


PROGRESS  OF  CANADA  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH.      359 

rolled  as  theological  students,  or  in  preparatory  depart- 
ments, having  the  ministry  in  view.  There  is  a  flourish- 
ing widows'  fund,  and  a  fund  for  aged  and  infirm  minis- 
ters. Her  Home  Mission  embraces  122  distinct  fields  (96 
last  year),  these  including  some  700  stations.  Our  Foreign 
Miffiions  are  in  China  and  among  the  Cree  Indians  of  the 
Sa^atchewan,  and  it  is  a  hopeful  symptom  that  the  col- 
lection doubled  during  the  past  year.  The  total  contri- 
buted for  congregational  purposes  during  the  year  was 
$-^03,014 ;  for  the  schemes  of  the  church,  S47,990  ;  for  all 
jurposes  reported,  nigh  half  a  million  dollars. 

With  a  territory  touching  two  oceans,  fitted  to  sustain 
a  population  twenty  times  larger  than  the  four  millions 
DOW  peopling  it,  and  containing  within  it  aU  the  elements 
of  material  prosperity,  our  Church  in  the  Confederated 
Provinces  has  amplest  scope  for  the  exertion  of  her  utmost 
energies. 

Taking  the  Presbyterian  Church  as  a  whole  throughout 
the  Dominion,  it  has  been  stated,  on  reliable  authority, 
that,  numerically,  she  ranks  first  of  all  the  Protestant 
bodies ;  and  taking  the  world-wide  view,  recent  statistics, 
collected  with  care  and  published  authoritatively,  give 
her  the  same  front  rank.  Surely  then  it  behoves  her  to 
do  her  part,  along  with  the  other  sections  of  evangelical 
Protestantism,  in  coming  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against, 
the  mighty,  and  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  her  glorious  Head 
as  in  His  providence  He  says,  "  Enlarge  the  place  of  thy 
tent,  and  let  them  stretch  forth  the  curtains  of  thine  habi- 
tations ;  spare  not,  lengthen  thy  cords  and  strengthen  thy 
stakes,  for  thou  shalt  break  forth  on  the  right  hand  and 
on  the  left." 


CHAPTER  XIX, 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


UE-  readers  will  remember  the  shadow  on  m 
hearth  in  the  morning  of  his  ministry.  Deep 
called   unto   deep,  wave  rolled  in  on  the 
back  of  wave,  yet  though  to  his  feeble 
sense  and  fallible  reason,  it  seemed  as  if 
"all  these  things  were  against  him,"  he  found 
them  among  the  "  all  things  that  worked  together 
for  his  good,"  and  that  there  was  a  blessed  "  after- 
ward," when,  being  "  exercised  thereby,"  the  afflic- 
tion for   the  present,  not  joyous  but  grievous, 
yielded  "  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness." 

During  these  nights  of  weeping  he  found  himself  often 


as 


"  An  infant  crying  in  the  night, 
And  with  no  language  but  a  cry. " 


THE  EMPTY  CRIBS.      MRS.   DR.   BRIGGS.  361 

Yet  had  he  full  sympathy  with  the  sentiment — 

• '  I  hold  it  true,  whate'er  befall, 
I  feel  it  when  I  sorrow  most, 
'Twere  better  to  have  loved  and  lost, 
Than  never  to  have  loved  at  all." 

By  the  empty  crib,  in  the  darkened  chamber,  he  thus 
writes  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Briggs,  amid  the  wreck  of  his 
hopes  and  the  eclipse  of  his  happiness,  when  those  little 
lights  which  gladdened  his  home,  and  in  which  he  was 
willing  for  a  season  to  rejoice,  went  out : 

"Paisley,  January  1,  1820. 
'*  My  dear  Jane, — It  has  become  my  painful  duty  to  inform 
you  that  our  dear  girl  Agnes  died  this  morning  at  nine  o'clock, 
after  a  severe  illness  of  seven  weeks'  continuance.     She  suffered 
much  acute  pain,  but  her  last  moments  were  peaceful  and  serene  ; 
and  she  was  sensible  till  within  a  very  short  time  of  her  removal. 
It  is  matter  of  gratitude  that  the  transition  was  so  placid,  as,  from 
the  nature  of  the  complaint,  we  had  reason  to  fear  much  greater 
suffering  immediately  before  death.     For  some  weeks  past  we  have 
been  kept  in  a  state  of  the  most  painful  suspense  between  hope 
and  fear,  each  alternately  predominating.     The  shock,  in  the  end, 
was  sudden,  and  felt  to  be  such.     The  dispensation  is  a  painful  one 
to  her  mother  and  me,  but  it  is  mingled  with  much  mercy.     We 
are  thankful  that  we  enjoyed  her  so  long,  and  that  her  whole  life 
was  one  uninterrupted  career  of  health  and  enjoyment,  and  that 
her  latter  end  was  peace.      We  are   especially  thankful  for   the 
amiable  disposition  she  displayed,  and  for  the  interest  she  took  in 
what  was  good.     She  had  arrived  at  that  time  of  life  when  the  mind 
begins  to  open  and  take  an  interest  in  what  passes  around  it.     She 
had  begun  to  be  our  companion  in  private  and  in  public  devotion, 
and  so  late  as  yesterday,  or  rather  this  morning  early,  she  referred 
to  the  worship  of  the  family,  which  she  took  pleasure  in  attending. 
Her  affections  were  ardent,  and  nothing  seemed  to  give  her  greater 
pleasure  than  to  be  allowed  to  go  to  church,  and  to  put  her  pence 
in  the  plate  for  the  poor.     She  was  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her, 
and  many  have  been  the  kind  enquiries  that  have  been  made  re- 
specting her.     Our  loss  is  her  gain.     She  is  now  infinitely  happier 
than  our  most  ardent  wishes  could  make  her.     Her  departure 
loosens  one  tie  which  bound  us  to  the  earth,  and  adds  to  the  inte- 
rest with  which  we  contemplate  heaven.     Ever  since  her  trouble 
began  we  had  reason  to  apprehend  a  fatal  termination ;  although,  from 
the  circumstance  of  the  complaint  not  being  fully  understood,  and 


362  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

trom  its  having  assumed  frequently  a  favourable  appearance,  we 
naturally  cherished  some  degree  of  hope.  The  complaint,  whatever 
it  was,  had  its  seat  in  the  head,  and  appears  to  have  been  some 
affection  of  the  brain.  She  was  reduced  to  a  skeleton,  and  appeared 
at  last  to  sink  more  from  the  exhaustion  of  the  frame  than  from 
the  violence  of  disease.  I  was  supporting  her  when  she  expired, 
but  so  gentle  was  the  transition  that  I  could  not  ascertain  the  pre- 
cise moment  when  the  pulse  ceased  to  beat.  Her  mother  has  been 
wonderfully  sustained  throughout.  Her  bodily  health  has  been 
uncommonly  good,  and  her  mind  has  been  brought  to  a  resigned 
and  tranquil  state.  She  feels  much  gratified  by  your  letters,  and 
requests  me  to  return  her  best  thanks  for  them.  She  feels  at  not 
having  been  able  to  answer  them,  but  I  know  that  you  will  find  too 
ample  an  apology  in  the  circumstances  in  which  we  have  been 
placed.  Your  first  letter  reached  us  about  the  time  when  Agnes 
began  to  complain,  and  since  that  time  our  time  and  thoughts  have 
been  completely  occupied.  I  intended  to  have  written  you,  but 
you  can  easily  conceive  what  it  is  to  be  agitated  between  hope  and 
fear  ;  and  domestic  sorrow  like  that  we  have  experienced  must  tend 
to  indispose  as  well  as  unfit  for  even  the  ordinary  occupations  of 
life.  I  do  not  know  how  I  am  to  get  through  with  the  labours  of 
to-morrow.  I  am  prepared  for  the  whole  day,  and  must  bring  my 
feelings  and  my  mind  to  it.  Being  the  first  Sabbath  of  the  year, 
and  having  an  extraordinary  collection  for  the  poor,  makes  me 
more  desirous  to  appear  personally. 

Before  the  month  expired,  the  Lord  caused  "  breach 
upon  breach."  Agnes,  their  "  firstborn,"  for  whom  in  this 
letter  they  are  "  in  bitterness,"  was  a  lovely  girl  of  four 
years.  The  "  other  lily  gathered,"  of  whom  the  next  let- 
ter speaks,  was  but  opening  its  blossoms  in  this  inclement 
clime,  when  translated  to  the  region  of  unsetting  suns  and 
unending  summer.  "  A  flower  offered  in  the  bud "  they 
found  to  be  "  no  vain  sacrifice." 

"  Paisley,  January  29,  1820. 

"  My  dear  Jane, — Little  did  we  think  that  we  would  so  soon 
require  the  renewed  sympathy  of  our  friends.  The  wound  lately 
opened  has  been  made  to  bleed  afresh,  and  attended  with  painful 
circumstances.  Our  only  son,  John,  has  been  taken  from  us  this 
morning,  after  an  illness  of  seven  weeks.  He  had  got  a  bad  cold 
about  two  months  ago,  which  fastened  on  his  throat  and  lungs,  and 
gave  him  great  uneasiness,  reducing  his  frame  to  a  shadow.  For  some 


DEATHS  OF  AGNES  AND  JOHN.         3G3 

time  past  he  was  alternately  better  and  worse,  and  our  hopes  and 
fears  prevailed  accordingly.  Yesterday  he  seemed  to  be  considerably 
better,  and  we  entertained  hopes  that  the  crisis  of  the  disorder  was 
past.  During  the  night  he  became  rapidly  worse,  and  about  four 
in  the  morning  it  was  evident  that  the  painful  change  was  fast  ap- 
proaching. He  died  without  a  struggle  at  a  quarter  past  eight. 
We  are  thus  left  childless,  for  God  hath  taken  away  the  desire  of 
our  eyes  with  a  stroke.  This  day  four  weeks,  at  nearly  the  same 
hour,  our  dear  Agnes  was  translated  from  us.  We  felt  her  loss 
deeply  ;  but  we  were  supported  and  comforted,  among  other  conso- 
lations, by  the  thought  that  we  had  still  remaining  one  dear  object 
of  our  affections.  That  is  now  taken  from  us,  and  the  double  loss 
is  peculiarly  painful.  Nature  must  feel,  and  grace  does  not  eradi- 
cate feeling,  although  it  is  designed  to  chasten  and  sanctify  it.  We 
desire  to  adore  the  hand  of  a  Father  in  the  stroke,  however  painful : 
but  experience  has  taught  me  that  it  is  an  easy  thing  to  describe 
and  recommend  patient  resignation  and  fortitude  under  trials  ;  it 
is  not  so  easy  to  put  them  in  practice.  We  have  been  comforted 
during  our  sufferings  by  the  precious  word  of  the  living  God,  and 
we  now  begin  to  enter  more  deeply  into  the  spiritual  meaning  of 
those  promises  with  which  it  is  stored.  It  is,  no  doubt,  one  wise 
and  gracious  design  of  God  in  the  trials,  to  fit  me  for  the  duty  of 
sympathizing  with  and  comforting  others  who  may  be  in  affliction. 
Speculation  and  theory  will  not  do  ;  it  is  the  actual  participation 
in  suffering  which  gives  the  requisite  qualifications.  '  Tribulation 
worketh  patience,  and  patience  experience,  and  experience  hope.' 
[  am  happy  to  say  that  my  dear  partner  has  been  wonderfully  sup- 
ported throughout  the  whole  of  the  fiery  trial.  She  is  composed, 
but  at  times  overcome.  Our  boy  was  just  six  months  old  ;  he  had 
begun  to  shew  signs  of  intelligence,  and  there  seemed  to  be  some- 
thing peculiarly  gentle  and  amiable  in  his  disposition.  He  was 
indeed  the  object  of  our  hopes  and  anticipations,  and  now  he  ap- 
pears lovely  even  in  death.  I  began  this  letter  on  Saturday,  but 
did  not  finish  it.  It  is  now  Monday  morning,  and  we  have  had 
cause  to  renew  our  vowa,  and  sing  of  mercy  and  of  judgment.  Yes- 
terday my  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Messrs.  Ranken  and  Geddes  (Dr. 
Findlay's  assistant),  and  I  expect  a  friend  from  Glasgow  for  next 
Sabbath.  Friday  is  the  day  fixed  for  the  funeral.  It  will  be  some 
little  time  before  my  mind  can  be  brought  to  its  ordinary  state, 
and  before  I  can  enter  fully  into  my  public  duties.  A  change  of 
scene,  as  you  observe,  would  no  doubt  be  desirable,  but  at  this 
season  we  cannot  think  of  that  ;  and  besides,  our  sacramental 
solemnity  comes  on,  and  the  preparatory  duties  will  occupy  my 
time  and  thoughts.  We  were  much  gratified  by  your  kind  and  edi- 
fying letter,  and  when  Janet  or  I  are  able  shall  endeavour  to  answer 
it.  In  the  meantime,  I  will  take  it  kind  if  you  will  write  a  few 
lines  of  sympathy  and  comfort  to  Janet.  A  father  feels  the  loss  of 
children,  but  a  mother's  feelings  must  be  much  more  tender  and 


364  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.  BURNS. 

acute.  We  have  been  much  edified  by  the  perusal  of  some  tracts 
suited  to  our  case,  particularly  '  Cecil's  Visit/  and  '  Flavel's  Token 
for  Mourners,'  and  Mr.  Thomson's  'Address  on  the  Loss  of  Friends.' 
Yesterday  fortnight  I  endeavoured  to  improve  the  dispensation  by 
two  sermons,  on  Jonah  iv.  9  :  '  Dost  thou  well  to  be  angry  for  the 
gourd  V  shewing,  first,  when  men  may  be  said  to  imitate  the  spirit 
and  language  of  the  prophet.  When  they  murmur,  refuse  consola- 
tion, allow  passion  to  triumph  over  reason  and  truth,  neglect  to 
mark  the  great  ends  of  all  trials,  and  fail  to  improve  by  them.  2nd. 
Reasons  why  we  should  not  be  angry.  It  is  the  Lord  ;  afflictions 
are  the  effects  of  sin,  they  are  the  chastisements  of  a  Father,  they 
render  the  gospel  and  its  privileges  doubly  interesting,  and  they 
recall  our  thoughts  from  this  world  to  another  and  a  better, — ad- 
verting particularly  to  the  precious  consolations  which  God  has  pro- 
vided for  those  in  trial,  &c.  Yesterday  we  were  all  in  mourning 
for  the  Duke  of  Kent.  Death  assails  all  ranks.  The  nation  has 
sustained  a  loss, — may  it  be  sanctified  to  all  concerned. 

"  I  had  almost  forgot  to  notice  that,  in  compliance  with  the  wish 
of  the  physicians,  our  dear  girl's  head  was  examined,  and  a  large 
quantity  of  water  was  found  lodged  in  the  cavities  of  the  brain,  as 
also  a  part  of  the  substance  of  the  brain  in  a  state  resembling  the 
cartilage  of  the  ear.  We  are  thus  satisfied  that  the  disease  was 
beyond  the  power  of  human  skill,  and  every  suitable  means  had 
been  used.  We  desire  your  sympathy  and  your  prayers,  and  with 
every  kind  wish  for  the  Doctor  and  you,  in  which  Janet  cordially 
joins, 

*'  1  remain,  my  dear  Jane, 

"  Your  affectionate  brother, 

"RoBEiiT  Burns." 

Enough  reference  has  perhaps  not  been  made  to  the 
domestic  side  of  his  character.  It  is  not  always  that  those 
moving  on  the  public  arena  as  much  as  he,  have  those 
dispositions  formed  and  fostered  which  make  a  truly 
happy  home.  Naturally  of  a  warm,  loving  temperament, 
the  members  of  the  home  circle  were  especially  dear  to 
him ;  and  when  anything  occurred  to  annoy  him  outside, 
the  sweets  of  domestic  retirement  yielded  additional  solace. 
As  he  advanced  in  life  he  found  increasing  pleasure  in  the 
joys  of  his  own  fireside. 

The  many  young  persons  who  latterly  sojourned,  for  a 


INTEREST  IN   THE  YOUNG.      WARDROBE  STUDIES.        365 

longer  or  shorter  period,  under  his  roof,  love  to  speak  of 
his  unfailing  cheerfulness,  his  entire  freedom  from  aU  ex- 
actingness,  his  ceaseless  flow  of  spirits,  his  almost  juvenile 
playfulness,  his  ready  dealing  out  from  an  inexhaustible 
store,  of  apt  reference  and  happy  anecdote,  blended  with  a 
constant  regard  for  the  interests  of  the  higher  life. 

His  table  talk  had  always  a  charm.  Many  of  his  racy 
stories  and  ready  repartees  wiU  be  recalled,  by  those  who 
were  his  familiar  friends. 

His  interest  in  his  family  entered  into  the  minutest 
details  of  daily  life.  The  contents  of  their  wardrobes,  the 
books  they  needed  in  study,  the  state  of  their  health, 
were  ever  a  care  to  him.  When  at  College,  such  notes 
would  come  in  on  us  as : 

"  Peggy  has  been  looking  for  your  bag  with  the  clothes  to  wash, 
and  I  think  you  should  send  them  out  immediately.  I  would  like 
to  see  a  catalogue  or  inventory  of  all  your  articles,  that  I  may  know 
how  you  are  provided  with  these  things." 

When  in  our  summer  retreat,  at  Helensburgh,  preparing 
a  prize  essay,  we  sent  to  him  for  a  needed  volume.  The 
request  is  at  once  complied  with,  though  costing  him, 
amid  manifold  labours,  a  journey  to  Glasgow : 

"  Camphill,  Wednesday,  Aug.  1843. 

"I  went  into  Glasgow  once  erratid  to-day,  in  pursuit  of  '  Verres, 
and  I  was  so  successful  as  to  find  him. 

"Dr.  Willis  last  week  shewed  me  in  his  library  the  whole  works 
of  Cicero,  in  16  volumes,  and,  although  he  was  not  at  home  to-day, 
I  got  access  to  his  room,  and  brought  away  the  two  volumes  which 
I  now  send — leaving  a  note,  and  knowing  that  you  would  take  care 
of  therh  and  restore  them  safe  in  good  time,  along  with  some  other 
books  of  the  Doctor's  which  I  have." 

A  year  prior  to  our  settlement  in  Kingston,  when  tern- 


360  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

porarily  labouring  there,  we  were  laid  aside  for  a  brief 
period,  from  duty. 

It  reached  his  ear  on  his  return  from  a  missionary  tour, 
when  he  had  been  mapping  out  work  for  us  and  others, 
and  drew  from  him  characteristic  expressions  of  parental 
solicitude. 

"Toronto,  May,  1846. 

"  It  grieves  me  to  hear  on  my  return  from  the  West  that  you 
have  been  so  poorly.  My  first  impression  was,  that  I  must  get  off 
in  'the  captain's'  steamer,  and  see  how  matters  are  with  you,  and 
give  our  Kingston  friends  a  day — leaving  Mr.  McTavish  to  do  my 
work  here.  This,  however,  is  not  in  my  power,  having  engaged  for 
too  many  places  on  Sabbath  first,  in  other  directions.  I  am  rather 
anxious  about  your  preaching  in  the  large  church  on  Sabbath  first. 
My  impression  is  that  you  should  rest  at  least  one-haK." 

To  the  peculiar  difficulties  of  a  pastorate  entered  on 
without  any  experience,  and  when  very  young  he  was 
fully  alive.     His  advice  was  always  readily  rendered. 

"  I  sympathize  with  you  in  the  difficulties  you  must  have  felt  on 
the  subject  of  admission  to  sealing  ordinances. 

"  1  have  felt  them  all  my  days,  and  they  are  increasing  every  day 
with  me.  My  opinion  is,  that  time  and  forbearmice  and  painstak- 
ing, with  much  prayer,  are  the  real  and  only  means  of  conquering 
them. 

"  I  am  always  sorry  when  persons  tired  of  my  efforts  for  their 
good,  go  away.    Our  standard  has  been  greatly  raised,  and  is  rising." 

We  never  consulted  him  without  getting  a  prompt  and 
decided  answer. 

The  correctness  of  his  calculations  on  many  difficult  and 
delicate  points,  was  often  proved  by  the  result. 

In  his  estimate  of  the  suitableness  of  individuals  for 
particular  posts,  we  found  his  advice  ever  reliable. 

In  connexion  with  the  contemplated  mission  to  the 
American  Indians,  when  Convener  of  our  church's  foreign 


ME.   NISBET.      NEW  YORK   CELEBRITIES.  867 

mission,  we  asked  his  opinion,  and  at  once  got  thiSj  which 
entirely  harmonized  with  our  own  : — 

"  Dr.  W.  and  I  have  conferred  on  the  subject  of  a  missionary  ta 
the  Indians. 

"  He  spoke  of  a  young  man  of  the  name  of  R ,   a  promising 

young  man,  but,  in  my  view,  too  young  and  raw  for  such  work. 
Really,  I  would  feel  a  great  difficulty  in  venturing  to  name  any  one 
for  such  a  charge.  Mr.  Nisbet,  is  the  man  (I  rather  think),  and 
then,  a  successor  in  the  mission  (at  Red  River)  might  easily  be  got.'* 

Writing  to  him  on  the  desirableness  of  making  more 
popular  and  public  the  meetings  at  the  commencement 
and  close  of  the  College,  he  replied  : 

"  I  am  writing  on  the  Pope's  Encyclical  and  other  points.  Could 
hardly  venture  a  free  address  in  a  college,  and  before  a  learned 
audience.  But  I  agree  with  you  entirely,  and  have  always  advocat- 
ed such  views." 

Every  movement  that  was  fitted  to  widen  the  range  of 
our  acquaintance,  and  to  increase  the  sum  of  our  know- 
ledge ;  every  measure  that  seemed  likely  to  benefit  us 
intellectually  or  spiritually,  and  to  make  us  more  useful 
in  the  Lord's  work,  he  was  sure  to  encourage.  Learning 
that  we  purposed  (in  company  with  our  esteemed  relative 
the  Rev.  William  Gregg,)  to  attend  the  Missionary  Anni- 
versaries at  New  York— he  sent  us  the  following  : — 

^'ToROJ^TO,  April,  1854. 

"  I  am  happy  to  hear  that  you  mean  to  go  to  New  lork,  on  occa- 
sion of  the  Missionary  and  Conference  meetings.  You  will  not  only 
see  Dr.  Duff  again,  but  meet  with  many  ministers  and  others  of 
whocii  you  may  have  heard,  and  whom  you  may  never  have  the  op- 
portunity of  seeing  again.  You  may  remember  me  very  affection- 
ately to  Dr.  McLeod,  Dr.  Alexander,  Dr.  Phillips,  Dr.  Krebs,  and 
indeed,  all  the  good  men  whom  Dr.  Cunningham  and  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  meeting  when  out  on  the  deputation.  Kirwan,  (Dr. 
Murray,)  in  particular,  I  would  like  you  to  see.     You  may  ask  him 


368  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

liis  opinion  now  of  tlie  McG.'s  and  the  American  society  for  amelio- 
rating the  condition  of  the  Jews. 

"At  the  mission  rooms,  Nassau  street,  you  will  meet  with  Mr. 
Lowrie,  secretary,  and  the  father  of  the  young  missionary  who  was 
murdered  by  the  Lascars  some  years  ago.  He  is  a  good  man.  He 
may  be  able  to  tell  you  some  things  that  may  be  useful  to  you.  Try 
and  stop  a  day  at  Princeton,  to  whose  president  (Dr.  McLean,)  I 
am  writing,  at  any  rate,  to-day  and  will  name  you." 

When  most  UDexpectedly  to  him  and   ourselves,  an 

honorary  degree  came  to  us,  from  one  of  the  oldest  and 

most  honoured  of  American  colleges,  he  expressed  his 

gratification  thus  : — 

Toronto,  August  28th,  1866. 

"  I  have  been  hard  worked  by  missionary  labour  since  the  Synod, 
and  the  trifling  labour  even  of  letter  writing,  is  beyond  my  strength, 
still  I  have  no  difficulty  in  preaching  when  I  can  get  into  the  pulpit, 
which  is  sometimes  a  work  of  difficulty  from  my  enfeebled  strength. 
I  hope  to  fulfil  my  engagements  with  you  for  9th  and  16th  of  Sep- 
tember. 

' '  The  announcement  of  the  honour  conferred  on  you  by  the 
Hamilton  college  was  gratifying,  and  I  sincerely  congratulate  you 
on  it.  It  is  forty  years  and  more  since  I  read  'D wight's  Travels  in 
New  York  State,  as  far  West  as  Hamilton  College,'  of  which  he 
gives  a  full  description.     See  the  book  if  you  can." 

Seldom  in  his  correspondence  with  us,  did  he  allude  to 
incidents  in  his  own  personal  history.  To  relations  of  ex- 
perience he  was  averse.  Even  on  memorable  epochs  in 
his  public  life,  he  was  reticcDt,  yet,  an  occasional  allusion 
occurs,  as  when  his  year  of  jubilee  came  round — though 
he  shrank  from  its  going  farther. 

"  Toronto,  June,  1861. 
"  I  wrote  you  on  Saturday  regarding  the  day  of  my  jubilee.  It 
is  rather  singular  that,  after  noticing  an  erratum  on  your  part,  I 
should  have  fallen  into  one  myself.  Having  the  curiosity  to  look 
at  my  opening  sermon  on  the  '  Word  of  God  not  bound  ;'  the  fol- 
lowing announcement  at  the  top  met  my  eye.  '  Preached  in  Low 
church.  Paisley,  on  Sabbath,  21st  July,  1811.'  I  know  full  well 
that  the  ordination  took  place  on  the  Friday  before,  and,  thus,  on 
clear  evidence  the  day  in  question,  turns  out  to  be,  not  the  8th — 


PARISH   LABOUR.      HOME  LOVE.  369 

but  the  19th  of  the  month,  thus  bringing  round,  by  the  cycle,  the 
jubilee  day  to  the  same  day  of  the  week  as  well  as  of  the  month — 
an  interesting  fact.  "  The  lapse  of  half  a  century  suggests  many 
solemn,  and  let  us  hope,  salutary  lessons." 

More  than  many  suppose,  who  knew  him  only  as  the 
missionary  at  large,  did  he  love  the  regular  routine  of 
parish  work. 

He  was  fond  of  "walking  the  Hospitals,"  and  minister- 
ing counsel  and  comfort  by  the  bed  of  sickness  and  death. 

During  the  ship  fever  of  1847,  and  the  cholera  of  1848-9 
and  '54,  his  hands  were  full.  Yet,  amid  the  ravages  of 
the  "pestilence  walking  in  darkness,"  he  can  think  of  pro- 
mising portions  of  the  home  field,  that  were  white  already 
to  harvest,  and  use  hospitality  without  grudging  to  God's 
faithful  and  persecuted  servants. 

*'  Toronto,  1st  August,  1854. 

"  I  got  home  safe  and  sound.  I  am  glad  I  came  home,  as  many 
duties  have  devolved  upon  me,  in  connexion  with  the  prevailing 
epidemic  which  still  rages  around  us.  I  preached  all  day  last  Sab- 
bath, and  endeavoured  to  improve  the  solemn  calls  of  Providence. 

''  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Kalley,  from  Madeira  and  Illinois,  are  with  us 
just  now.  The  St.  Catharines  people  have  made  a  move  our  way. 
I  am  not  prepared  to  say  that  it  would  be  a  duty  to  refuse,  if  called 
to  occupy  what  will  become  one  of  our  most  important  stations  and 
specially  a  missionary  one,  and  a  field  on  which  the  cause  of  right 
Sabbath  observance  may  be  beneficially  fought  for." 

When  absent  on  his  missionary  tours,  he  kept  up  con- 
stant communication  with  home.  As  he  went  forth 
*'  Mizpah"  embodied  his  heart's  desire  and  prayer  for  those 
who,  though  "absent,"  were  "ever  dear."  "The  Lord 
watch  between  me  and  thee  when  we  are  separated  the 
one  from  the  other." 

A  covenant-keeping  God  wonderfully  "  preserved  his 
going  out  and  his  coming  in.' 


370  LIFE   OF  EEV.   DK.   BURNS 

However  crowded  with  work  and  pressed  for  time, 
missives  fragrant  with  a  love  with  which  a  "  stranger  in- 
termeddleth  not,"  were  sure,  with  clock-like  regularity,  to 
reach  those  whose  hearts  went  out,  often  anxiously,  after 
him.  If  other  days  had  sometimes  to  be  missed,  Monday 
morning  would  be  sure  to  tell  of  the  "high  days"  preced- 
ing, when  he  "mounted  his  throne,"  and  was  enabled  to 
"triumph  in  Christ  and  manifest  the  savour  of  his  know- 
ledge in  every  place."     These  letters  were  often  undated. 

"Lindsay,  Monday  morning. 

"  My  very  dear  Elizabeth, — The  weather  has  changed  from  the 
loveliness  of  sunshine  to  the  dreariness  of  a  bleaching  rain.  But 
Jehovah  changes  not,  and  by  his  graciously  preserving  care  I  am 
sustained  in  health  and  strength  ;  and  yesterday  was  able  to  preach 
both  forenoon  and  evening,  though  the  audiences  were  small.  My 
visit  to  Cobourg  was  a  very  agreeable  one,  and  besides  sojourning 
with  the  Frasers  and  at  the  manse,  I  had  the  opportunity  of 
spending  an  hour  twice  with  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Milne,  who  is  to 
all  appearance  near  her  last.  The  case  is  a  very  interesting  one. 
Under  great  bodily  suffering,  her  mind  is  kept  in  perfect  peace, 
hoping  in  the  Lord. 

"  On  Friday,  Mr.  Laing  took  me  down  to  Grafton,  where  we  took 
tea  with  our  esteemed  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,  who  are  both 
remarkably  well  and  quite  delighted  to  see  me,  and  many  were  the 
enquiri>.s  they  made  about  you  and  your  praiseworthy  labours.  .  .  . 

' '  On  Saturday,  I  came  by  the  Port  Hope  Railway  to  Lindsay,  forty 
miles,  arriving  at  7  p.  m.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hudspeth  are  very  kind, 
and  they  send  you  their  best  remembrances.  This  evening  I  give  a 
lecture  in  the  Town  Hall,  on  Canada,  and  to-morrow  I  go  to  Cam- 
bray,  seven  miles  out,  where  Mr.  Douglas,  the  missionary,  preaches 
every  Sabbath  afternoon." 

"  Oil  Springs,  Monday,  10  a.  m. 

"  My  ever  Dearest, — After  the  labours  of  yesterday  I  feel  quite 
well  this  morning  ;  having  gone  to  bed  early  and  got  five  or  six 
hours'  sleep,  and  up  however  at  half -past  six.  In  the  forenoon  at 
eleven,  I  preached  at  seven  miles'  distance,  in  the  Township  Hall, 
which  is  a  very  comfortable  place  for  worship,  and  there  we  had  a 
full  and  respectable  attendance,  not  of  bush  people  at  all,  but  of 
respectably  dressed  settlers.  The  singing  was  idmirable,  and  the 
audience  had  all  the  appearance  of  intelligence^  and  seriousness. 
There  I  saw  Mr.  Patrick  Barclay,  who  lives  three  miles  off,  whose 


PLANS  OF  CANADIAN  PAISLEY.  371 

place  I  am  to  visit  to-morrow  at  three.  I  preached  here  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  the  Presbyterians  have  the 
use  at  certain  hours,  having  helped  to  build  it.  It  is  seated  for 
about  300,  and  was  well  filled.  There  are  in  the  village  one  Episco- 
pal place  of  meeting,  and  two  Methodist  ones  ;  and  great  harmony 
seems  to  prevail  among  the  people.  The  Sabbath  seems  to  be  well 
kept,  and  I  attended  and  addressed  a  large  union  Sabbath  school 
at  nine  in  the  morning. 

The  chief  proprietor  here  is  Colonel  Elliott,  formerly  mayor  o! 
Cornwall,  whom  I  had  known  of  old,  and  who  came  to  both  of  our 
meetings.  He  is  a  religious  man,  and,  though  a  Congregationalist, 
is  very  friendly  to  us.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  the  plank  road  be- 
tween here  and  Wyoming,  (15  miles)  and  makes  the  staves  for  the 
oil  barrel^,  many  of  which  passed  us  on  the  road  on  Friday ;  a  good 
deal  of  the  'crude'  oil  is  refined  here  and  around,,  but  the  largest 
part  is  sent  for  distillation  and  refining  at  a  distance.  Any  unpleas- 
ant smell  is  from  the  refineries,  and  as  none  of  them  are  going  to-day 
there  is  no  smell  at  all.  There  is  here  published  a  weekly  news- 
paper, called  the  Oil  Springs  Chronicle,  of  which  I  must  send  you  a 
specimen,  very  well  printed  it  is. 

"I  am  to  conduct  meetings  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday.  As 
yesterday,  we  expect  two  meetings  for  worship  on  Sabbath,  and  a 
sermon  in  the  evening  of  Monday.  My  present  intention  is,  (God 
willing,)  to  be  home  by  Tuesday  evening ,  the  26th,  at  half -past  seven 
or  about  eight. 

'*  Remember  me  kindly  to  Miss  McCaskell,  Miss  White,  and  all 
the  young  ladies,  not  overlooking  Minnie  and  the  infantry  brigade. 

**  My  ever  dearest  love, 

"  Your  ever  afi"ectionate  husband,    . 

"  RoBT.  Burns. 


In  the  course  of  his  missionary  travels,  reaching  Pais- 
ley, he  bethought  him  of  the  old  world  town. 

The  "  City  of  the  Woods"  made  memory  busy.  Of  his 
old  friends,  he  could  say  with  the  Apostle,  "  I  have  you  in 
my  heart." 

Getting  plans  of  the  Canadian  Paisley,  he  sent  them 
across  the  water  as  a  present  to  the  Town  Council  of  his 
early  home. 

He  received  from  the  authorities  the  acknowledg- 
ment: 


S72  LIFE   OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 


"  Town  Clerk's  Office, 

"  Paisley,  12th  Dec.  1866 
**Rev.  and  Dear  Doctor, — I  received  from  our  mutual  friend, 
Mr.  Russell  Pollock,  your  letter,  dated  September  last,  addressed 
to  the  Town  Council,  and  relative  to  plans  of  the  town  of  Paisley 
in  your  adopted  country. 


4 
I 


the  6th  inst.,  and  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  they  ex- « 
pressed  themselves  highly  gratified  at  receipt  thereof,  and  in  acknow-M 
ledging  receipt,  I  was  directed  to  convey  to  you  the  thanks  of  the"" 
Council,  for  your  obliging  gift,  and  to  state  that  the  same  has  been 
directed  to  be  put  up  and  preserved  with  the  town  records.  —M 

"  To  me  individually,  it  is  pleasant  to  find  you  taking  so  warn]«B 
an  interest  in  this  town,  and  in  all  that  relates  to  its  welfare,  whereBlj 
you  spent  so  many  of  your  best  years.  You  will  be  glad  to  learn  ' 
that  this  town  is  improving,  though  slowly — that  there  are  many_ 
new  trades  introduced  since  you  left,  adding  greatly  to  the  comf oi 
of  the  people. 

"  Yours  faithfully, 

*'Wm.  Hodge." 


He  had  a  very  high  sense  of  the  responsibility  of  th( 
office  of  a  Professor  of  Theology.  On  the  dignity  anc 
solemnity  of  the  Christian  ministry  he  loved  to  dilate 
He  felt  a  holy  jealousy  for  the  motives  of  aspirants  t( 
the  sacred  office.  Amongst  requisite  qualifications 
whilst  rating  at  their  proper  worth  the  intellectual,  h 
attached  the  highest  value  to  the  spiritual.  Especiall 
did  he  insist  on  being  "  mighty  in  the  Scriptures."  Th 
expertest  employment  of  the  sharpest  weapons  which 
the  armoury  of  science  and  literature  supplied,  could 
never,  in  his  esteem  compensate  for  the  lack  of  the 
ability  dexterously  to  wield  the  Sword  of  the  Spirit. 
How  aptly  he  could  quote  Scripture  ;  how  deftly  inter- 
weave it  with  the  texture  of  his  preaching  and  his 
prayers,  many  will  remember.  On  these  and  kindred 
themes  which  formed  the  frequent  subject  of  subsequent 


i 


ADVICES  TO   STUDENTS.  373 

prelections  he  dwells  in  the  very  first  letter  he  penned  to 
the  students  after  his  call  to  Canada,  which  pressure  for 
space  kept  out  of  its  appropriate  chapter,  but  which  may 
be  introduced  here.  It  suits  the  candidates  for  the  minis- 
try of  to-day  as  well : 

"Paisley,  December  28th,  1844. 

"My  dear  Young  Friends, — The  Synod  of  your  Church  has 
called  me  to  take  the  inspection  of  your  studies.  The  divine  Head 
of  the  Charch,  will,  we  trust,  speedily  raise  up  some  one,  who,  ta 
the  full  vigour  of  mental  power,  adds  that,  for  the  want  of  which, 
neither  talent,  nor  learning,  nor  eloquence  can  atone — the  living 
energy  of  a  spirit  quickened  from  on  high  ;  the  holy  activity  of 
the  men  of  other  times,  who  counted  not  their  lives  dear  to  them, 
provided  only  they  could  spend  and  be  spent  in  the  service  of  Him 
whom  they  loved.  I  feel  my  utter  incompetence  to  take  the 
charge  of  those  on  whom  shall  be  devolved  the  mighty  responsi- 
bility of  conveying  the  message  of  Heaven  to  degraded  and  ruined 
man  ;  and  I  feel  it  the  more,  inasmuch  as  it  has  all  along  been  my 
clear  conviction,  that  the  pastoral  oflSce  is  of  itself  quite  sufficient, 
and  more  than  sufficient,  to  engage  all  the  time  and  all  the  ener- 
gies of  one  man.  In  accepting  this  charge,  therefore,  I  feel  as  if 
guilty  of  a  glaring  inconsistency  ;  and  such  an  impression  cannot 
but  add  indefinitely  to  the  weight  and  responsibility  of  the  charge. 
In  the  infancy  of  the  church,  such  an  union  of  offices  is  tolerated, 
because  it  is  unavoidable.  The  fathers  of  the  reformed  churches 
of  Europe  found  it  necessary  to  act  on  the  same  principle  ;  and  the 
men  who  have  been  instrumental  in  promoting  the  religious  im- 
provement of  the  American  settlements,  in  former  and  in  later 
times,  have  done  the  same.  Such  considerations,  however,  do  not 
diminish,  but  enhance  the  responsibility  incurred,  while  they 
demonstrate  the  duty  of  every  church,  in  seeking  to  embark  the 
service  of  ministers  untrammeled,  in  the  more  laborious  depart- 
ment. 

"If  I  have  had  the  temerity  of  closing  with  a  proposal,  from 
which  my  sense  of  inability  would  have  led  me  to  shrink,  it  waa 
not  till  after  all  my  efforts  to  obtain  the  service  of  one  or  more  of 
the  ablest  men  in  the  church  at  home,  had  ended  in  painful  disap- 
pointment. I  rejoice  that  my  esteemed  friend  and  brother,  the 
Rev.  Andrew  King,  of  Glasgow,  has  engaged  for  a  season,  to 
superintend  your  studies.  The  thought  has  more  than  once  struck 
me,  that  possibly  this  excellent  servant  of  Christ  may,  in  the  holy 
providence  of  Almighty  God,  have  been  sent  to  Canada,  that  he 
may  remain  with  you,  and  the  churches  there,  for  their  and  your 
furtherance  and  joy  of  faith.  If  it  is  permitted  to  me  again  to 
cross  the  great  ocean,  and  to  settle  in  the  west,  I  shall  rejoice  not 


374  LIFE  OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

a  little  in  finding  such  a  fellow-labourer  in  the  field,  and  that  field 
we  know,  is  sufficiently  wide.     In  the  meantime  the  labours  of  Mr. 
King  among  you  will  be  by  you  duly  appreciated,  and  when  the 
season  of  his  charge  of  you  shall  terminate,  the  pious  ministers  of 
the  districts  to  which  you  may  remove,  will,  I  doubt  not,  exercise 
over  you  a  kind  and  edifying  superintendence.     My  earnest  prayer 
for  you  from  day  to  day  shall  be,  that  your  studies  may  all  be  con- 
ducted in  the  spirit  of  humble  diligence,  and  entire  dependence  on 
God  ;  and  that  each  and  all  of  you  may  ever  be  constrained  by  the 
love  of  Christ  as  your  animating  principle  ;    and   that  the  com- 
manding view  you  shall  take  of  the  Christian  ministry,  may  bej 
that  of  a  divinely  appointed  means  of  converting  men  to  God,  andl 
saving  souls  from  death.     Oh  !  how  miserably  low  and  degradedj 
are  those  views  of  the  Christian  ministry  which  elevate  it  no  highei 
than  a  species  of  moral  police  ;  a  kind  of  decent  instruments litj 
for  keeping  the  people  in  order,  and  smoothing  the  rugged  surface! 
of  society  !     Let  your  views  rise  far  above  this  drivelling  level ;] 
for  let  me  assure  you,  that  just  in  proportion  to  the  magnitude  of 
your  aims,  will  be  the  measure  of  your  spiritual  activity  in  th( 

frosecution  of  your  studies.     An  activity  which  is  merely  secular,] 
would  not  desiderate   in   candidates  for  the  sacred  office  ;  but 
vitality  that  is  spiritual,  and  an  activity  that  is  heaven-directed,] 
God  the  Spirit  will  assuredly  bless. 

"In  common  with  your  able  preceptor,  you  must  at  present  feel] 
the  great  want  of  properly  selected  books  in  theology,  for  reference! 
and  perusal.  Whether  I  may  ever  be  permitted  to  see  you  in  the 
flesh  or  not,  one  thing  I  pledge  myseK  to  do  for  you,  and  that  is, 
TO  endeavour  to  collect  for  your  use,  a  Library  of  Literature  and 
Theology  ;  and  the  church  at  home  will,  unquestionably,  help  me 
in  this.  They  have  already  promised  to  do  so  ;  and  private  friends 
in  the  mother  country,  and  perhaps  on  the  continent  of  Europe, 
may  make  presents  to  you  of  suitable  publications.  But  I  am 
strongly  inclined  to  give  thanks  that  you  are  at  present  almost  en- 
tirely shut  up  to  the  Bible  !  The  divine  author  of  that  Holy  Book, 
is  taking  each  of  you  by  the  hand,  and  is  leading  you  directly  to 
the  fountain  that  is  pure,  and  healthful,  and  life-giving.  And  do 
you  think  the  blessing  will  be  withheld  if  you  are  found  day  after 
day  drinking  at  the  sacred  springs  which  are  exclusively  his  own  ? 
*' Bonus  textuariug  est  bonus  Theologus,"  said  Martin  Luther  ;  and 
if  the  historian  of^  that  remarkable  man,  and  of  his  times,  has  suc- 
ceeded in  throwing  one  charm  around  his  work  more  pleasing, 
more  fascinating  than  another,  it  is  that  derived  from  the  scriptural 
allusions  with  which  it  abounds,  and  the  Biblical  ' '  Theopneustic" 
spirit  which  it  breathes.  Merle  D'Aubigne  is  not  only  a  learned 
man,  whose  researches  into  the  archives  of  other  times  have  been 
profound,  but  above  all  other  things  he  is  mighty  in  the  Scriptures, 
and  he  has  drunk  deep  of  the  river  that  makes  glad  the  city  of  our 
God.     I  might  say  the  same  of  our  great  historian,  Dr.  McCrie  ; 


Jt 


PREPARATORY  TRAINING.  375 

for  every  one  who  has  read  his  sermons  and  lectures,  must  have 
been  struck  with  the  extent  and  accuracy  of  his  scriptural  attain- 
ments, as  well  as  with  the  vigour  and  independence  ol  mind,  which 
his  profound  and  hallowed  study  of  the  oracles  of  God  has  im- 
parted to  all  his  writings. 

"  Dear  young  friends,  let  me  give  you  an  advice.  If  your  adop- 
tion of  theology  as  a  study,  is  merely  professional, — if  you  have 
no  reason  to  think  that  you  have  been  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  your 
minds, — if  faith  in  Christ,  the  gracious  Redeemer,  does  not  occupy 
the  place  of  a  commanding  principle  within  you, — if,  in  a  word, 
you  are  not  really  ''living  members  of  Christ,"  and  partakers  of 
that  faith  which  unites  to  the  Saviour, — and  is  the  animating  prin- 
ciple of  all  obedience  ;  pause  before  you  go  one  step  farther.  It  is 
not  Licentiates  that  Canada  needs.  It  is  not  in  the  want  of  a  pro- 
fessional Christianity,  that  your  country  withers  and  is  blasted. 
She  needs  a  larger  supply  of  men  of  power — men  of  unction — men 
of  spiritual  life  and  holy  energy.  My  prayer  is,  that  such  may  be 
raised  up  from  among  ijou,  and  that  the  "Free"  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Canada,  may  prove  an  instrument  of  mighty  efficacy  for 
advancing  the  interests  of  evangelical  truth.  With  my  best  wishes 
and  earnest  prayers  for  your  progress  and  success  in  all  your 
studies. 

"  I  remain,  affectionately,  and  sincerely.  Yours, 

*'  Robert  Burns." 

We  have  had  occasion  to  notice  the  importance  which 
Dr.  Burns  attached  to  the  mental  discipline  of  the  stu- 
dents. The  inadequate  provision  made  at  the  time  by 
the  Grammar  Schools  and  the  Provincial  University, 
with  the  limited  early  advantages  of  the  young  men,  ren- 
dered it  the  more  necessary  that  our  church  set  in  order 
in  this  matter  the  things  that  were  wanting.  Esteemed 
brethren  differed  from  him  in  this,  and  he  had  to  en- 
counter a  good  deal  of  opposition.  But  the  church 
came  round  in  the  end,  substantially  to  his  way  of  think- 
ing, and  granted  most  amply  the  provision  he  sought.  He 
submitted  his  views  in  1848  to  the  College  Committee, 
and,  to  aid  in  carrying  them  out,  offered  his  gratuitous 
services. 


376  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


The  face  of  things  has  greatly  changed  since  then.  Our 
Grammar  and  Common  Schools  are  on  ahigher  platform. 
Our  Provincial  Universities  are  on  a  liberal  footing,  and 
with  their  course  of  instruction  re-arranged,  and  their 
stafi*  of  instructors  re-equipped,  are  being  rapidly  placed 
abreast  of  the  times.  Our  young  men  are  feeling  in- 
creasingly the  importance  of  pursuing  a  regular  curricu- 
lum of  preparatory  study,  and  taking  their  degree  as 
University  graduates.  With  exhibitions  and  scholar- 
ships multiplied,  and  their  worldly  circumstances  im- 
proved, they  are  the  -better  enabled  to  do  so. 

But  those  who  can  look  back  over  even  a  quarter  of  a 
century  of  our  country's  history,  and  remember  our  col- 
lege in  its  infancy,  will  acknowledge  that  there  was  much 
of  truth  in  Dr.  Burns'  communication,  the  main  portions 
of  which  we  subjoin  : 

"ToEOTTTo,  G.W.,  23rd  March,  1848. 
*'  To  tJie  Members  of  the  College  Committee. 

"  Dear  BuETHiiEisr, — In  the  prospect  of  a  meeting  of  the  General 
Committee,  in  the  month  of  April,  there  are  some  matters  to  which 
I  wish  to  call  your  attention.  It  is  desirable  that  your  minds  should 
be  directed  to  these  prior  to  the  meeting,  in  order  that  any  measure 
which  may  be  proposed  may  not  be  absolutely  new  to  you.  Of 
course,  any  proposal  that  may  meet  your  views,  will  still  require 
the  sanction  of  the  Synod  ;  but  such  sanction  may  be  counted  on, 
provided  only  the  committee  are  unanimous,  or  pretty  generally 
agreed.  No  other  motive  can  be  supposed  to  influence  me  beyond 
a  wish  to  see  an  institution,  on  which  so  much  depends,  properly  or- 
ganized and  successfully  conducted. 

' '  I.  Too  great  facility  in  the  admission  of  students  appears  to 
me  to  be  an  evil  which  ought  to  be  strenuously  guarded  against. 
Our  Institution  is  peculiarly  a  Theological  Seminary.  Those  young 
men  who  are  admitted  to  its  benefits,  enter  not  on  a  general  course 
of  study  which  may  ultimately  bear  on  any  professional  object  ; 
they  are  received  expressly  as  candidates  for  the  ministry  ;  and  the 
Church,  in  receiving  them  as  such,  throws  over  each  the  shield  of 
her  patronage  and  encouragement.     Hence  the  necessity  of  peculiar 


1 


I 


LETTER  TO  COLLEGE  COMMITTEE.        377 

care  in  this  matter.  Not  only  ought  we  to  be  satisfied  with  regard 
to  moral  conduct,  right  motive,  and  apparent  piety  ;  there  ought 
to  be,  in  addition,  some  good  evidence  of  a  decided  change  of  heart 
in  the  applicant.  If  this  is  not  attended  to,  we  need  not  expect  to 
realize  the  true  object  of  our  union  as  a  Church  in  these  lands,  the 
rearing  up  of  a  spiritual  ministry,  with  a  special  view  to  the  con- 
version of  men  to  God.  And  then  in  regard  to  mental  qualification 
and  attainments  in  applicants,  I  am  clearly  of  opinion  that  greater 
strictness  than  hitherto  is  absolutely  necessary ;  and  that  in  this 
matter,  as  in  the  one  just  referred  to,  unanimity  in  the  examining 
committee  ought  to  be  held  as  indispensable.  A  mere  examination 
before  a  Presbytery  does  not  appear  to  me  to  be  sufficient.  A 
special  committee'  of  Synod  might  be  named  for  this  purpose,  or  a 
sub-committee  of  the  College  Committee,  who  might  act  under 
strict  regulations,  and  with  power  to  treat  with  applicants  in  the 
way  of  conscientious  advice,  rather  than  judicially  and  on  probative 
evidence.  A  certain  measure  of  previous  literary  attainment  ought 
to  be  required  in  every  one  who  is  to  be  received  into  the  seminary. 
It  does  not  appear  to  me  that  Knox  College  ought  to  be  considered 
as  designed  to  furnish  merely  elementary  instruction  in  the  classics  ; 
and  one  design  of  the  setting  up  of  an  academy  certainly  was  to 
supersede  this,  so  as  to  retain  on  behalf  of  the  College  its  peculiar 
character  as  a  training  seminary  for  the  direct  work  of  the  ministry. 
' '  II.  While  I  hold  these  views  advisedly,  and  attach  great  impor- 
tance to  them,  I  am,  nevertheless,  of  opinion  that  even  the  students 
at  College,  as  distinct  from  those  of  the  Academy,  stand  in  need  of 
much  more  preparatory  training  than  they  have  been  in  the  habit 
of  receiving.  Here  I  use  the  term,  preparatory  training,  not  in 
reference  to  further  literary  pursuits,  but  rather  in  reference  ta 
studies  peculiarly  theological ;  and  therefore,  high  as  may  be  my 
hope  of  the  indirect  good  to  be  derived  from  the  institution  of  a 
preparatory  school  or  academy,  I  am  very  clearly  of  opinion  that 
an  additional  professor  in  the  department  of  mental  training,  or 
philosophical  education,  is  essential  to  the  success  of  our  Seminary ; 
and  that  under  such  an  institution  our  young  men  will  be  far  more 
likely  to  realize  the  desired  advantage  in  point  of  intellectual  pro- 
gress, than  if  mixed  up  with  the  pupils  of  a  mere  academy,  or  sub- 
jected to  the  ordinary  routine  of  a  grammar  school. 

"  In  the  Jirst  place  :  the  department  of  English  literature,  with  a  • 
special  view  to  the  principles  of  composition,  associated  also  with 
the  rules  of  correct  and  graceful  reading  and  elocution,  ought  not 
to  be  overlooked.  A  special  exercise  of  this  kind  two  or  three 
times  a  week,  would  be  highly  advantageous  ;  but  to  mix  it  up  with 
any  school-boy  exercise,  would  defeat  its  end.  It  must  be  greatly 
mental.  The  yonng  men  of  the  College,  and  they  only,  should  be 
its  subjects  ;  and  they  ought  to  view  it  as  a  part  of  philosophical 
training,  far  more  closely  connected  than  may  appear  at  first  sight 
with  the  more  immediate  objects  of  the  Seminary.     The  disadvan- 


o78  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS.  . 

tages  under  which  settlers  in  the  provinces,  in  a  literary  view, 
labour,  demonstrate  the  necessity  of  such  exercises  ;  while  the  age 
of  the  young  men,  and  their  general  status  as  to  mental  develop- 
ment, place  them  beyond  the  ordinary  range  of  scholastic  forms, 
and  render  a  training  specially  for  themselves  absolutely  essential. 
"  In  the  second  place  :  Interesting  and  important  as  may  be  the 
prelections  of  a  professor  of  mental  and  moral  philosophy,  it  has 
always  appeared  to  me  very  desirable  that  something  of  a  character 
more  directly  practical  and  elementary — I  mean  in  a  philosophical 
sense — should  be  provided  for  the  young  men.  For  example  (1),  a 
plain  common-sense  view  of  the  powers  and  capacities  of  the  human 
mind,  with  rules  for  their  improvement.  This  has  little  in  common 
with  the  speculations  of  metaphysics,  or  the  more  recondite  parts 
of  intellectual  philosophy ;  but  it  may  be  highly  advantageous  as 
a  preparation  for  such  departments  of  human  thought.  (2).  An 
exhibition  of  the  -nature  of  evidence,  and  the  laws  of  its  regulation. 
This  is  of  very  great  importance  in  all  pursuits  ;  but  its  importance 
is  mightily  increased,  when  we  take  into  view  its  bearings  on  the 
evidences  of  natural  and  revealed  religion.  (3).  The  laws  of  reason- 
ing, or  logic  proper — including,  of  course,  correct  but  condensed 
views  of  the  methods  of  syllogism  and  induction,  with  analysis  and 
synthesis,  and  the  rules  of  correct  definition.  I  know  not  a  better 
mental  exercise  than  an  occasional  examination  on  the  '  ambiguous 
words'  in  Archbishop  Whateley's  Logic,  or  on  the  '  definitions'  in 
Taylor's  Elements  of  Thought.  (4).  The  nature  and  sources  of  pre- 
judice ;  the  causes  of  error  ;  the  idola  of  Bacon,  and  the  large  tribe 
of  fallacies  in  argument,  present  a  wide,  but  most  inviting,  field  for 
young  enquirers  ;  and  here  the  dangerous  errors  afloat  among 
philosophers,  as  to  the  nature  of  causation,  demand  careful  search- 
ing. Some  of  the  most  plausible  and  pernicious  forms  of  modem 
scepticism  may  be  traced  to  these  errors.  (5).  The  ideal  theory 
ought  to  be  explained  to  our  students,  not  only  in  its  older  forms, 
as  held  by  the  ancients,  and  by  such  earlier  moderns  as  Descartes, 
Malebranche,  and  Locke,  but  as  recently  revived  by  Dr.  Thomas 
Brown  and  his  admirers.  The  theory  is,  that  the  mind  sees  only 
images  of  its  own  creation  or  the  representations  of  things  without 
it,  and  not  things  themselves.  This  is  the  famous  hypothesis  out 
of  which  Bishop  Berkeley  formed  his  theory  of  the  non-existence 
of  a  material  world  ;  and  following  out  whose  principles  Hume 
succeeded  in  satisfying  himself  that  neither  mind  nor  matter  had 
any  existence.  The  world  is  under  infinite  obligations  to  such  men 
as  Reid,  Stewart,  Campbell,  Beattie,  and  others,  who  exposed  the 
baselessness  of  the  theory,  and  appealed  successfully  to  primary 
principles  of  human  belief,  as  ultimate  facts  in  the  arrangements  of 
Ood.  I  tremble  when  I  think  of  the  readiness  with  which  the  ex- 
ploded theory  has  been  received  ;  because  I  look  upon  it  as  not 
only  destructive  of  all  the  evidences  from  final  causes,  in  proof  of 
the  existence  of  God,  but  as  directly  subversive  of  all  belief  in  the 


MODERN  THOUGHT.      OFFERS  AID.  379 

existence  of  any  beings  in  the  universe  except  ourselves.  (6).  Mod- 
ern discoveries  and  speculations  in  Geology  render  it  essential  that 
our  young  men  should  be  informed  on  such  subjects  so  as  to  detect 
and  expose  the  fallacies  of  such  writers  as  the  authors  of  the  '  Con- 
stitution of  Man/  and  the  '  Vestiges  of  Creation  ;'  and  such  infor- 
mation may  be  easily  communicated,  irrespective  altogether  of  any 
peculiar  fondness  for  the  exact  sciences.  The  theory  of  '  world 
building,'  as  well  as  the  theory  of  '  ideas,'  will  soon  fall  before  the 
lessons  and  the  inductive  processes  of  an  exact  logic. 

''  I  wish  it  to  be  distinctly  understood,  that,  according  to  my  con- 
ceptions of  preparatory  training,  Knox  College  is,  in  regard  to  the 
above  matters,  essentially  defective  ;  and  my  complaints  on  this 
account,  for  two  years  past,  I  do  not  feel  ashamed  to  acknowledge. 
My  brethren  may  deem  them  groundless,  but  all  I  ask  is  enquiry, 
and  a  fair  tribunal  for  final  judgment. 

*'  III.  The  remarks  hitherto  made  respect  the  Institution  in  its 
primary  bearings  only,  but  I  attach  to  them  great  importance  in 
any  circumstances,  and  more  especially  in  the  present  position  of 
our  young  country,  as  contrasted  with  the  advancing  intellect  of 
the  age.  It  must  not,  however,  be  inferred  that  my  objections  are 
limited  to  the  elementary  or  preliminary  departments  of  study.  In 
the  higher  walks  of  metaphysical  and  moral  science,  I  would  desi- 
derate for  our  students  a  pretty  full  view  of  the  leading  questions 
in  morals,  and  the  various  theories  of  morals  which  have  been  put 
forth,  with  such  philosophical  parade  by  ingenious  men.  An  ac- 
quaintance with  these  is  necessary,  together  with  a  knowledge  of 
their  comparative  merits,  and  above  all,  an  exposure  of  their  errors, 
when  tried  by  the  test  of  revelation.  Along  with  this,  I  would 
recommend  a  concise  system  of  Christian  ethics. 

"  When,  in  October,  1844,  I  received  the  appointment  from  the 
Synod,  *  to  be  the  Professor  of  Theology,  and  to  have  the  charge  of 
training  the  young  men  for  the  holy  ministry,'  I  undertook  the 
office  under  the  impression  that  it  comprehended  the  right  and  the 
obligation  to  see  that  the  preliminary  training,  as  distinct  from 
what  is  properly  theological,  was  adapted  to  the  end  in  view.  The 
young  men  I  was  led  to  consider  as  all  students  in  theology,  that  is, 
'  under  training  for  the  holy  ministry  ;'  and  this  is  the  plain  expla- 
nation of  the  fact,  that  so  soon  as  I  saw,  or  thought  I  saw,  a  defi- 
ciency in  the  '  training'  department — a  deficiency  which  neither  the 
learning  nor  the  assiduity  of  the  Professor  of  '  Science  and  Litera- 
ture' appeared  to  me  likely  to  supply — I  set  myself,  in  some  tem- 
porary way,  to  make  up  the  deficiency.  With  this  view,  besides 
personal  examinations,  I  prepared  and  delivered  to  the  students, 
in  November  and  December,  1845,  about  twenty  lectures  on  the 
philosophy  of  mind,  and  the  nature  of  mental  discipline  ;  the  Baco- 
nian niethbd  of  induction,  with  its  relations  to  theological  study  ; 
the  theories  of  morals  ;  and  the  errors  of  Brown's  moral  system,  in 
reference  to  the  scripture  doctrine  of  rewards.    I  also  sought  to 


380  LIFE   OF  REV.   DR.    BURNS. 

obtain  the  assistance  of  several  intelligent  ministers  of  onr  own 
body,  who  might  devote  a  month  or  two  to  such  studies  for  the 
benefit  of  the  young  men,  the  church  supplying  their  pulpits  in  the 
mean  time.  Although  disappointed  in  this  expectation,  I  still  re- 
solved to  make  another  attempt,  and  in  September,  1846, 1  applied 
for  the  second  time,  personally,  to  Mr.  Bayne,  of  Gale,  to  under- 
take the  department  of  Logic,  with  a  special  reference  to  the  philo- 
sophy of  evidence.  He  entertained  the  proposal  favourably,  and 
took  with  him  a  copy  of  Hedge's  '  Elements  of  Logic,'  for  examina- 
tion as  to  its  fitness  to  be  used  as  a  text  book.  Circumstances  pre- 
vented this  plan  from  being  realized  ;  and  at  the  commencement  of 
the  session  of  1846-7,  I  found  for  the  first  time  that  I  had  been 
labouring  under  a  misapprehension  as  to  the  extent  of  the  powers 
entrusted  to  me,  and  that,  in  reality,  the  preliminary  department 
of  study  was  wholly  independent  of  that  allotted  to  theology,  and 
that  with  this  last  only  had  I  to  do. 

"  On  the  arrival  of  Mr,  McCorkle,  however,  in  November,  1846, 
I  made  known  to  him  my  diflSculties  in  regard  to  the  preparatory 
classes  ;  and  on  finding  that  he  had  been  engaged  for  several  years 
in  giving  lessons  to  young  men  at  Glasgow  College,  in  Logic  and 
Rhetoric  (prior  to  their  entrance  on  the  more  direct  departments  of 
philosophy),  I  drew  up  and  read  to  the  College  Committee  a  scheme 
for  the  winter  studies,  which  would  have  put  under  that  gentleman 
all  the  students  who  had  not  been  instructed  in  these  branches.  I 
succeeded  so  far  as  to  obtain  the  consent  of  the  College  Committee 
to  his  undertaking  a  class  for  Bhetoric ;  but  Logic  was  not  included  ; 
and  even  the  time  allotted  for  the  other,  only  two  hours  in  the  week, 
was  far  too  short .  Still,  good  was  done  by  this  arrangement ;  and 
looking  back  upon  it  as  an  experiment  on  a  small  scale,  it  seems 
to  me  to  have  been  a  successful  one,  and  amply  to  bear  out  my 
suggestions  and  views  in  the  matter. 

*'  From  all  that  I  can  hear,  it  does  not  seem  to  me  that  the  de- 
ficiency has  been  at  all  supplied  during  the  winter  session  now 
drawing  to  its  close.  I  made  offer  privately  to  the  students,  that 
if  any  number,  not  fewer  than  six,  wished  an  hour  a  day  for  logic 
and  practical  dialectics,  my  time  and  my  labour  were  at  their  com- 
mand. The  time  of  the  young  men,  however,  was  so  fully  taken 
up  by  other  pursuits,  that  this  number  could  not  be  obtained,  and 
nothing  was  done  till  about  a  month  ago,  when  my  much  esteemed 
friend.  Dr.  Willis,  resolved  to  devote  two  hours  weekly  to  the  work. 
His  class  for  Logic,  however,  embraced  none  of  the  junior  students  ; 
and  its  application  to  the  senior  classes  rather  confirmed  than  dis- 
proved the  soundness  of  my  impressions. 

"  I  am  aware  of  the  objection  on  the  ground  of  expense  ;  but  I 
am  not  inclined  to  infer  from  this  that  no  effort  should  be  made  to 
supplement  an  existing  defect  by  the  means  which  are  in  our  power. 
There  are  members  of  Synod  who,  if  asked,  would  cheerfully  give 
their  services  gratuitously,  for  periods  more  or  less  extensive.     Dr. 


VIEWS  ON  tJNIVERSITY.      PUBLIC   MEETING.  381 

Willis,  also,  might  with  ease  appropriate  one  hour  daily  to  this 
department ;  taking  in  connection  with  it,  perhaps,  the  Evidences 
of  Christianity,  as  affording  the  veiy  best  specimens  of  the  applica- 
tion of  that  part  of  logic  which  has  to  do  with  the  rules  of  evidence. 
With  regard  to  myself,  it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  assist 
the  young  men  in  any  way  that  may  be  thought  best,  to  the  extent 
of  an  hour  a  day.  During  the  absence  of  Dr.  Willis  this  summer, 
nothing  would  to  me  be  more  pleasant  than  to  make  myself  in  any 
measure  useful  in  the  department  of  mental  training  to  the  students 
who  may  remain  in  the  city  or  near  it." 

While  thus  anxious  to  have  our  own  institution  set 
upon  a  solid  and  satisfactory  basis,  he  was  not  the  less 
interested  in  the  welfare  of  our  public  educational  insti- 
tutions. Finding  that  the  University  (then  King's  Col- 
lege), with  its  liberal  endowment  made  over  by  royal 
largess  to  all  the  Protestant  denominations  alike,  had 
become  a  close  corporation  to  whose  doors  ecclesiastical 
exclusiveness  had  affixed  its  padlock  (as  we  have  already 
seen),  he  joined,  immediately  on  his  arrival  in  the  Pro- 
vince, the  band  of  Reformers,  who  sought  to  throw  it 
open,  and  so  to  restore  it  to  its  original  foundation.  In 
the  meeting  which  formally  started  the  agitation,  he  seems 
to  have  taken  a  prominent  part,  reading  the  letter^  of 
absentees,  which  were  addressed  to  himself,  moving  one 
of  the  leading  resolutions,  and  at  the  close,  the  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  Chairman. 

In  the  Banner  Extra,  published  for  the  occasion,  it 
is  headed  *'  Great  King's  CoUege  Meeting."  It  was  held 
in  the  Congregational  Chapel,  Adelaide  Street,  on  Tues- 
day, the  3rd  Feb.,  1846.  The  chair  was  occupied  by  the 
Hon.  "Adam  Ferguson,  of  Woodhill,  who  aided  so  materi- 
ally in  his  day  the  interests  of  scientific  agriculture  and 
liberal  reform — and  typified  so  well  the  fine  old  Scottish 


382  LIFE   OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

Gentleman,  all  of  the  olden  time.  The  first  resolution 
was  moved  by  the  Rev.  R.  A.  Fyfe,  seconded  by  the  Rev. 
Adam  Lillie,  and  supported  by  Mr.  R.  H.  Brett.  The 
second  was  proposed  by  the  Rev.  John  Roaf,  and  seconded 
by  the  Rev.  John  Jennings.  ^  The  third  resolution  was 
proposed  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Burns,  seconded  by  Mr.  Wm. 
A.  Baldwin,  and  supported  by  Mr.  Tyner.  The  fourth 
resolution  was  moved  by  Mr.  John  ^Wetenhall,  and  sec- 
onded by  Mr.  Peter  Brown.  Mr.  James  Hodgson  pro- 
posed the  fifth  resolution,  in  which  he  briefly  expressed 
his  concurrence  in  the  opinions  which  Dr.  Burns  had 
brought  forward.  The  mover  and  seconder  of  the  sixth 
resolution  were  the  Rev.  James  Richardson  and  Mr. 
James  Leslie.  Then  ''  the  Rev.  Dr.  Burns,  with  a  few 
brief  remarks,  moved  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  to  the 
Hon.  Adam  Ferguson,  for  his  able  conduct  in  the 
chair." 

These,  familiar  names  embrace  the  leading  men  that 
had  to  do  with  this  great  provincial  movement,  over 
whose  triumphal  issue  we  have  had  long  reason  to  re- 
joice. 

The  motion  with  which  my  father   had  specially  to 

do  was  to  this  efiect : — 

*' That  in  order  to  these  objects  being  effectually  realized,  and 
the  educational  interests  of  the  Province  secured,  it  is  indispen- 
sable that  the  patronage  of  the  chairs  and  the  whole  management 
of  the  estate  should  be  vested  in  a  colonial  body  (distinct  from  the 
members  of  the  faculty,  or  others  holding  paid  offices  within  the 
College),  who  shall  report  annually  to  the  Colonial  Legislature." 

The  substance  of  his  remarks  is  reported  thus : 

"Mr.  Chairman, — I  have  been  entrusted  with  a  motion  on 
patronage  and  management.     The  importance  of  such  a  motion 


I 


DR.  burns'  speech.    PATRONAGE  AND  MANAGEMENT.      38S 

Ccannot  be  overstated.  On  the  supposition  of  a  right  management 
in  this  College,  nearly  all  the  abuses  of  which  we  complain  in  it» 
establishment  and  constitution  would  have  been  prevented  or  neu- 
tralized. On  the  supposition  of  the  trust  remaining  as  it  is,  all 
your  movements  will  be  useless,  and  all  the  essential  evils  of  the 
system  will  remain.  What  shall  we  say  of  a  management  under 
which  the  benefits  of  a  great  provincial  institution  for  the  colony 
have  been  intercepted  and  turned  into  a  narrow  and  sectarian  chan- 
nel ?  Sixty  thousand  acres  of  the  finest  land  belonging  to  the  Col- 
lege sold  or  given  away  by  the  illegal  authority  of  trustees  !  One 
hundred  and  twenty  thousand  pounds  of  money  raised  from  sales  or 
otherwise,  and  appropriated  to  any  purpose  rather  than  the  educa- 
tion of  the  people  ;  transactions  gone  into  and  carried  out,  of  which 
Lord  Sydenham  said  that  a  Court  of  Equity  behoved  to  make  in- 
quiry !  Charges  of  a  most  grave  character  have  been  brought 
against  the  managers  of  this  Institution,  and  these,  though  circu- 
lated in  every  possible  shape,  remain  uncontradicted.  My  im- 
pression is,  that  in  all  cases  of  trust,  the  management  ought  not  to 
be  committed  to  those  who  have  a  personal  and  selfish  interest  dis- 
tinct from  and  at  variance  with  that  of  the  Institution  itself,  and 
to  the  neglect  of  this  salutary  rule  may  the  evils  complained  of  be 
mainly  ascribed.  The  motion  in  my  hand  says  it  is  '  indispensa- 
ble '  that  this  state  of  things  be  no  longer  allowed.  Wliether  or 
not  the  right  of  nomination  to  chairs  and  other  offices  should  he- 
vested  in  the  same  persons  who  have  the  charge  of  the  funds,  may 
admit  of  doubt ;  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  at  all  that  in  the  pre- 
sent case  there  must  be  a  radical  change  in  both.  I  do  not  see  any 
good  reason  why  the  patronage  and  management  may  not,  under  an  im- 
proved system,  be  vested  in  the  same  body.  The  question  is,  what  may 
that  body  be  ?  Home  ngmination  might  do  very  well  in  the  infancy 
of  the  colony,  when  teachers  as  well  as  ministers  must  necessarily 
be  brought  from  the  mother  country ;  nor  even  in  an  advanced 
state  of  the  colony  would  I  be  understood  as  shutting  up  that 
source  of  supply.  But  you  can  easily  see  that  a  Downing  Street  or 
Whitehall  nomination  is  liable  to  many  objections,  partly  on  the 
ground  of  politics,  and  partly  on  the  ground  of  private  influence ;  and, 
moreover,  that  the  native  talent  of  the  colony  ought  as  far  as  possible 
to  be  cherished.  If  you  transfer  the  nomination  from  Great  Britain 
to  the  representative  of  the  Sovereign  in  the  Colony,  apart  from  his 
Council,  you  recognize  a  vicious  principle  of  internal  discord,  which 
almost  necessarily  involves  civil  dissention  ;  while  you  leave  what  we 
call  sinister  or  back-stairs  influence  its  full  sway.  There  is  and  has 
been,  and  no  where  more  than  in  Upper  Canada,  a  malignant  in- 
fluence which  has  worked  unseen,  a  deleterious  miasma,  like  that 
which  rises  out  of  the  chinks  in  an  Italian  soil ;  a  dark  and  hidden 
agency,  which,  like  the  simoom  or  samiel  of  the  desert,  carries  death 
and  desolation  every  where,  and  is,  indeed,  the  '  pestilence  which 
walketh  in  darkness,'  such  an  agency  we  must  try  and  trace  out, 


384  LIFE   OF  REV.   Dil.   BURNS. 


J 


and  even  where  we  merely  suspect  it  to  exist,  seek  its  destruction. 
In  whom  shall  we  repose  the  patronage  and  management  of  the 
College,  is,  indeed,  a  grave  question,  and  there  will  be  diflficulties 
in  every  view  of  it ;  but  we  may  surely  avoid  the  crying  evils  of  the 
present  system,  and  especially  those  which  arise  out  of  a  scheme  of 
seK-election  and  self-control.  Let  the  trust  be  essentially  colonial, 
and  let  it  be  controled  by  regular  review  of  the  Legislature.  Let 
there  be  adopted  a  plan  by  which  there  shall  be  presented  the  fewest 
possible  temptations  to  make  the  concerns  of  the  University  sub- 
servient to  private  and  family  interest.  Let  various  colonial  bodies 
or  departments  be  recognized,  and  the  trust  partitioned  among 
them.  Let  there  be  no  nominations  for  life  ;  and  even  let  the 
elective  system  be  strictly  guarded.  The  great  and  rising  interests 
of  agriculture,  I  would  especially  wish  to  see  represented  in  the 
government  of  the  College,  not  only  by  the  establishment  of  a  chair 
for  Agriculture,  but  by  giving  a  seat  in  the  Board  to  the  chairman 
or  head  of  a  provincial  association,  on  the  plan  of  the  Highland 
and  Agricultural  Society  of  Scotland.  The  department  of  Law,  as 
represented  by  the  Benchers  in  the  Law  Society  of  Toronto,  might 
also  have  a  place,  in  the  person  of  their  President  or  head  for  the 
time  being.  Medicine,  too,  whose  interests  have  been  so  shame- 
fully neglected  in  the  present  constitution  of  the  College,  would 
have  a  claim  to  a  seat ;  as  might  have  the  Board  of  Trade.  It  is 
highly  politic  that  the  cities,  as  the  great  masses  of  the  population, 
should  be  represented  either  by  their  mayors  or  otherwise.  The 
Principal  of  the  College,  too,  might  be  one  of  thirteen  or  fourteen 
managers  ;  the  Rector  chosen  as  in  Scotland,  by  the  votes  of  all 
matriculated  students,  and  the  head  of  Upper  Canada  College,  when 
reduced  to,  or  rather  elevated  into,  the  rank  of  a  High  Grammar 
School,  a  feeder  of  the  University,  as  originally  meant  by  Sir  John 
Colborne.  You  will  ask,  do  I  allot  no  place  to  the  Government  of 
the  land  ?  I  do  ;  three  seats  may  be  reserved  for  three  nomina- 
tions by  the  Governor  in  Council ;  one  of  these  to  be  Vice-Chancel- 
lor, to  represent  the  Governor,  who  may  be  ex-ojfflcio  Chancellor, 
but  without  a  seat  at  the  Board.  An  University  court  constituted 
in  something  this  way,  would  be  saved  from  many  of  the  evils  of 
the  present  system,  and  particularly  from  the  dangers  of  personal, 
private,  sectarian,  and  political  influence. 

"  The  cry  about '  vested  rights '  I  dismiss.  The  munificent  boon 
was  clearly  meant  for  the  general  benefit.  Private  patrimonial 
interests,  and  trusts  for  the  public  benefit,  are  clearly  different 
things  ;  and  this  belongs  to  the  last  of  these  ;  and  can  we  doubt  the 
readiness  of  the  Queen  and  Council  to  give  up  even  a  'vested 
right'  for  the  sake  of  such  a  Province  as  Canada.  I  would  not  re- 
ject a  bill  otherwise  good,  even  though  the  patronage  were  vested 
in  the  Governor  in  Council,  provided  they  were  bound  regularly 
to  report  their  minutes.  But  remember,  the  Governor  and  Council 
are  now  at  Montreal,  not  in  Toronto,    and  the  distance,  together 


VESTED  RIGHTS.      RELIGIOUS  TESTS.  385 

with  the  multiplicity  of  their  affairs,  might  occasion  a  neglect  in  the 
trust ;  and  the  management  might  be  committed  absolutely  to  a 
factor,  something  on  the  present  plan,  and  who  would  undertake  to 
give  his  present  employers  as  little  trouble  as  possible,  provided 
only  his  salary  were  liberal  and  well  paid.  Keep,  my  friends,  by 
the  words  '  colonial '  and  '  indispensable,'  and  let  the  responsibility 
be  complete.  We  seek  the  interest  of  literature  and  science  and 
art ;  and  these  will  be  secured  by  such  a  reform  as  we  proj)ose. 
Theology  we  set  aside  ;  knowing  that  it  will  be  well  attended  to  by 
the  difierent  denominations.  Tests  also  we  dispense  with,  not  be- 
cause a  man's  religious  principles  are  of  little  moment,  but  because 
in  point  of  fact,  the  plan  of  tests  has  not  succeeded  well.  We  think 
that  the  great  object  which  we  seek  will  be  best  attained  by  a  pro- 
per patronage  of  the  chairs.  Is  religion  all  comprehended  within 
the  chair  of  theology  ?  Is  it  not  secured  otherwise  than  by  reli- 
gious tests  ?  Is  there  no  Christianity  in  the  Province  ?  And  are 
not  the  men  who  may  be  called  in  to  the  patronage  and  manage- 
ment of  the  College  bound  to  act  as  religious  men,  and  expected  to 
do  so  ?  I  give  up  tests,  but  not  as  some  of  the  brethren  of  different 
denominations  seem  to  say,  because  electors  to  chairs  have  nothing 
to  do  with  the  religious  opinions  of  candidates.  Does  it  make  no 
difference  whether  a  candidate  be  an  atheist,  or  a  socialist,  or  an 
adherent  to  demoralizing  systems,  or  a  sound  and  godly  man  ? 
Would  you  care  not  whether  the  man  were  a  devout  observer  of 
the  Lord's  day,  or  whether  he  were  seen  careering  in  folly  on  the 
holy  day  through  the  grounds  of  the  College  ]  Would  my  friends 
who  have  spoken  in  the  terms  to  which  I  allude,  administer  no 
oath  at  all  de  Jideli,  to  the  holders  of  the  sacred  trust  of  the  Col-, 
lege  investment  ?  But  is  an  oath  worth  anything  without  the 
fear  of  God  ?  And  is  not  the  fear  of  God  and  his  oath  a  religious 
act  ? 

*'  All  education  ought  to  be  based  on  religion  ;  and  a  main  ele- 
ment in  the  election  of  teachers,  ought  to  be  their  religion.  I  do 
not  know  on  what  grounds  the  last  speaker  has  said  that  a  '  bluster- 
ing infidel '  is  not  in  the  least  likely  to  be  chosen  to  any  chair.  I  am 
not  sure  of  that.  I  look  at  France  in  the  days  of  atheistical  ascen- 
dancy ;  and  I  look  at  some  of  the  German  Universities,  too  ;  and  I 
see  a  bustling  and  a  blustering  infidelity  getting  along,  alas !  too  well. 
But  I  hope  to  see  such  men  kept  out,  by  the  rising  Christianity  of 
the  country  ;  by  the  force  of  public  opinion  ;  by  views  of  duty  and 
expediency  both.  Men  are  bound  to  be  religious  when  acting  as 
guardians  of  a  public  trust  like  that  of  a  College  r  they  are  bound 
to  can-ry  their  religion  with  them  everywhere  ;  and  nations,  as 
such,  are  bound  to  honour  God  and  support  His  cause.  We  differ 
much  on  many  things  ;  but  there  are  common  principles  in  which 
we  agree.  My  friends,  I  call  myself  now  a  colonist  and  a  Canadian, 
and  my  wish  and  aim  is,  that  your  College  may  be  redeemed  from 
its  gross  abuses,  and  raised  to  what  it  should  always  have  been,  an 


386  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

enlightened,  liberal,  well-managed,  and  successful  school  of  instruc- 
tion to  all  classes  in  our  large  and  growing  community." 

My  father  was  fond  of  characteristic  sketches.  Many  of 
these  (such  as  of  Dr.  Balfour,  Sir  Harry  Moncrieff,  "  the 
Apostle  of  the  North")  he  drew  up  for  the  Christian  In- 
structoTj  the  Record,  &;c.  He  had  an  ample  treasury  of 
incident  from  which  to  draw.  In  such  literary  labours 
of  love  he  wrote  out  of  the  abundance  of  his  heart.  When 
in  an  ordinarily  happy  vein,  these  rapidly-executed  pro- 
ductions of  his  prolific  pen  were  vivid  and  graphic,  and 
eminently  readable.  The  following,  on  his  Brother,  the 
Pastor  of  Kilsyth,  may  give  some  idea  of  these.  We 
select  it,  not  because  superior  to  many  others,  but  because 
it  sheds  light  on  his  own  history,  and  reveals  the  happy 
relations  which  obtained  between  the  older  and  younger 
brothers : 

"Dr.  William  Hamilton  Burns,  late  of  Kilsyth,  was 
bom  at  the  town  of  Falkirk,  Stirlingshire,  on  the  5th  of 
February,  1779.  His  father,  John  Burns,  was  at  that 
time  a  merchant  in  the  town,  but  was  soon  afterwards 
appointed  to  the  office  of  Surveyor  of  Customs  at  the  port 
of  Borrowstowness,  and  he  held  also,  for  fifteen  years,  the 
factorship  on  the  Duke  of  Hamilton's  estate  of  Kinneil. 
He  died  in  1817,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-eight. 
He  was  present,  though  merely  as  a  spectator,  at  the 
battle  of  Falkirk  in  1746,  and  often  entertained  the  mem- 
bers of  his  family  with  anecdotes  of  that  remarkable  time. 
He  was  one  of  many  in  Scotland  whose  religious  charac- 
ter was  formed  under  the  ministry  of  the  celebrated 
Whitfield,  who  occasionally  resided  under  his  fathers 
roof. 

"  Dr.  Burns  began  his  studies  for  the  ministry  in  the 
College  of  Edinburgh,  in  1791,  and  with  the  exception  of 
one  session  which  he  spent  at  St.  Andrew's,  the  whole  of 


PASTOR  OF  KILSYTH.      DR.  CHALMERS.  387 

his  curriculum  was  passed  at  the  metropolitan  university. 
In  all  the  departments  of  study  he  stood  high,  particularly 
in  languages  and  theology.  As  he  was  my  senior  by  ten 
years,  he  had  become  a  parish  minister  two  years  before 
I  entered  college,  and  the  summer  vacations  of  1803, 1804, 
and  1805  were  spent  by  me  at  the  beautiful  manse  of 
Dun,  a  small  parish  of  six  hundred  souls,  which  enjoyed 
his  ministry  for  more  than  twenty  years  ;  and  there  we 
read  together  more  Greek  and  Latin,  from  the  classic 
authors,  than  it  has  been  my  lot  to  encounter,  with  equal 
success,  ever  since.  At  St.  Andrew's  he  was  intimate 
with  Dr.  Chalmers,  and  often  battled  with  him  on  deep 
points,  in  regard  to  which  that  eminent  man,  as  he  after- 
wards acknowledged,  was  in  grievous  error.  I  do  not 
think  that  my  brother  ever  met  with  Chalmers  from  the 
time  of  their  residence  together  at  St.  Andrew's  till  1804, 
when  that  eminent  man  was  in  my  elder  brother's  manse 
at  Brechin,  on  his  way  to  the  ordination  of  David  Harris, 
another  fellow-student,  over  the  parish  of  Fearn,  a  small 
country  charge,  which  would  have  been  unknown  to  fame 
had  it  not  been  that  its  family  biography  could  boast  of 
the  classic  ancestry  of  a  Gillies  and  a  Tytler.  In  those 
days  Chalmers  was  heard  of  in  the  '  Kingdom  of  Fife'  as 
a  'genius,'  or  sort  of '  warlock,'  and  as  I  was  then  sojourn- 
ing in  "  the  bishop's  palace,"  in  Brechin,  well  do  I  recollect 
the  awe,  not  unmingled  with  ten-or,  with  which  I  gazed 
on  his  large  head,  bushy  raven  locks,  and  penetrating 
eye.  I  did  not  hear  him  utter  a  word,  and  this  confirmed 
me  in  the  truth  of  the  information  that  had  been  pre- 
viously given  me,  that  he  was  '  a  dungeon  of  knowledge.' 
"  At  Edinburgh  my  brother  had  as  his  confreres,  both  in 
the  Hall  and  in  the  '  Old  Theological  Society,'  such  men 
as  John  Leyden,  Dr.  Robert  Watt,  author  of  the  '  Biblio- 
theca  Britannica ;'  Sir  Robert  Spankie,  afterwards  one  of 
the  Supreme  Judges  of  India;  Dr.  Corkindale,  of  Glasgow; 
and  Sir  Andrew  Halliday.  With  two  of  these,  Dr.  Watt 
and  Sir  Robert  Spankie,  he  contested  the  honours  of 
prizemanship,  coming  oflf  senior  to  the  one  and  second  to 
the  other.     The  subjects  of  essay  were  '  Regeneration* 


S88  LIFE  OF  KEV.  DR.  BURNS. 

and  'Prayer.'  With  both  subjects  my  brother  was  even 
then  practically  and  experimentally  familiar ;  not  so  the 
others,  for  their  views  were  latitudinarian,  and  after 
gazing  for  a  period  on  the  depths  of  Calvinistic  theology, 
they,  with  a  high-toned  honesty  which  did  them  credit, 
bade  adieu  'to  the  Divinity  Hall,  studied  medicine  and 
law,  and  rose  to  distinguished  honour  in  both  depart- 
ments. 

"  From  1797  to  1799  my  brother  resided  at  Park  Place, 
in  Galloway,  as  tutor  to  the  present  Sir  James  Dalrymple 
Hay,  whose  son.  Captain  Hay,  of  the  Indus,  has  written 
:S0  ably  on  the  improvement  of  the  British  navy.  His 
predecessor  in  the  family  was  the  warm-hearted,  witty, 
and  facetious  John  Wightman,  of  Kirkmahoe;  and  his 
successor  was  Dr.  Thomas  Gillespie,  a  scholar  and  a  poet, 
afterwards  Professor  of  Humanity  at  St.  Andrew's,  and 
brother-in-law  of  Lord  Campbell,  the  present  Lord  Chan- 
cellor of  England.  At  a  distance  of  years,  the  same  place 
was  held  by  my  much  esteemed  friend,  Dr.  Forrest,  a  ripe 
scholar  too,  and  now  Chief  Superintendent  of  Education 
in  Nova  Scotia.  It  was  while  preceptor  in  this  family 
my  brother  had  an  opportunity  of  spending  a  winter  in 
the  City  of  York,  where  he  got  acquainted  with  a  number 
of  pious  and  learned  divines  of  the  English  Church,  who 
esteemed  him  not  the  less  that  he  '  took  license '  for  him- 
eelf  and  not  from  the  bishop,  and  '  opened  his  mouth '  on 
one  or  two  occasions  in  an  Independent  or  Congregational 
assembly.  In  those  days  such  uncanonical  doings  were 
held  as  allowable  only  south  of  the  Tweed. 

"  It  was  in  the  summer  of  1799,  my  brother  received  his 
real  license  from  the  Presbytery  of  Stranraer,  and  preach- 
ed his  first  sermon  in  the  pulpit  of  Dr.  Coulter,  the  vener- 
able incumbent  of  that  town  and  parish.  He  then  bade 
farewell  to  Galloway,  but  he  carried  with  him,  and  ever 
afterwards  retained,  a  warm  attachment  to  the  land  which 
had  been  watered  with  the  blood  of  martyrs,  and  where, 
amid  the  freezing  soil  of  moderatism,  he  saw,  or  thought 
he  saw,  oozing  out  some  of  the  living  drops  or  streams  of 
an  undisguised  covenanterism.     Many  years  rolled  away 


Jl 


STRANllAER.      DR.   WILLIAM  SYMINGTON.      DUN.       SS9 

ere  he  paid  another  visit  to  these  haunts  of  his  earlier 
days  ;  iDut  he  kept  up  a  constant  intercourse  with  some  of 
the  branches  of  the  respected  family  of  Dunragget,  and 
when  Dr.  William  Symington,  then  of  Stranraer,  now  of 
Glasgow,  and  a  man  of  no  mean  name,  introduced  me  in 
September,  1838,  to  the  inmates  of  that  mansion,  how  de- 
lighted they  were  to  tell  me  little  stories  of  the  venerated 
preceptor  and  his  pupils. 

"  My  brother  never  enjoyed  the  ambiguous  delectabili- 
ties  of  a  '  preachership  at  large.'  We  in  Canada  call  that 
sort  of  thing  now  a  *  mission ;'  but  it  was  not  so  dignified 
in  our  early  days,  and  be  its  joys  many  or  few,  my  bro- 
ther never  had  them,  for  in  autumn  of  1799  he  became 
regular  assistant  to  the  worthy  old  minister  of  Dun,  the 
Rev.  James  Lauder.  On  the  4th  of  December,  1800,  my 
brother  was  ordained  assistant  and  successor  to  this  ven- 
erable minister  of  '  the  olden  time,'  and  for  two  or  three 
years,  during  which  the  colleagueship  continued,  the  har- 
mony was  perfect.  It  was  not  from  the  identical  pulpit 
of  the  great '  superintendent  of  Angus,'  the  Baron  of  Dun, 
that  my  brother  gave  forth  the  same  message  that  thrilled 
on  the  lips  of  the  evangelistic  Brownlow  North  of  his  day, 
but  it  was  in  the  same  parish  church,  now  unroofed  in- 
deed, and  converted  into  a  family  necropolis;  but  still  ex- 
actly what  Samuel  Rutherford's  church  at  Anworth  is,  a 
simple  but  impressive  memorial  of  Knox  and  his  days.  I 
have  a  lithograph  of  it  and  a  history  now  before  me,  and 
I  shall  present  both  to  the  museum  of  our  college.  Need 
I  say  that  the  publication  of  the  *  Life  of  Knox'  in  1810, 
was  soon  followed  by  a  visit  of  the  distinguished  McCrie 
to  the  manse  of  Dun,  to  examine  the  '  Dun  papers,'  and 
to  gaze  on  the  interesting  localities.  The  superinten- 
dent died  in  March,  1590,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty 
years. 

"  From  1800  to  1821,  my  brother  discharged  the  duties 
of  the  pastorship  in  this  lovely  but  small  parish,  with  a 
painstaking  piety,  and  earnestness  rarely  equalled,  never 
excelled.  During  the  same  period  he  acted  as  clerk  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Brechin,  and  never  did  official  enjoy  more 


390  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

thoroughly  the  confidence  and  the  warm  afiections  of  all 
his  brethren. 

"  In  1820,  the  large  and  influential  parish  of  Kilsyth,  in 
Stirlingshire,  became  vacant  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Rennie, 
a  minister  of  learning  and  of  piety  who,  though  a  native 
of  the  parish,  was  much  respected.  Our  family  had  inter- 
est with  Sir  Charles  Edmonstone,  of  Duntreath,  the  prin- 
cipal heritor,  and  a  crown  presentation  was  issued  in 
favour  of  my  brother,  who,  with  the  free  and  hearty  ap- 
proval of  all  parties,  was  inducted  to  the  charge  in  1821. 
What  a  change  !  From  a  pastorship  of  six  hundred  to 
one  of  nearly  four  thousand  !  But  the  minister  was  in 
the  full  vigour  of  his  manhood,  his  graces  developing  with 
mental  progress  and  application,  with  a  large  experience, 
and  a  well  prepared  stock  of  lectures  and  sermons.  To 
quote  the  words  of  Dr.  Smyth,  of  St.  George's,  Glasgow, 
the  endeared  friend  and  fellow-labourer  who  preached  one 
of  the  sermons  on  his  death  :  '  Of  the  value  of  his  minis- 
terial services  it  is  hardly  possible  to  give  an  exaggerated 
estimate.  With  talents  of  a  decidedly  superior  order; 
literary  and  theological  acquirements  alike  accurate  and 
varied  ;  depth  and  tenderness  of  spirit  in  addressing  aU 
classes  of  hearers ;  and  pre-eminently  distinguished  by 
the  spirit  of  grace  and  supplication,  our  beloved  and  lament- 
ed father  was  truly  a  master  in  Israel.'  His  speech  and 
his  preaching  were  not  with  enticing  words  of  man's  wis- 
dom, but  in  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  in  power. 
His  theology  was  that  of  the  good  olden  school  of  the 
Scottish  professors,  the  Erskines,  Fishers  and  Bostons  of 
the  last  century ;  these  men  'mighty  in  the  Scripture,' 
whose  names  are  identified  with  all  that  is  sound  in  doc- 
trine, and  powerful  in  appeal  to  the  conscience  and  the 
heart. 

"  It  was  in  July,  1839,  the  first  symptoms  of  an  awaken- 
ed concern  in  regard  to  religion  and  eternity  showed  them- 
selves among  the  people  of  Kilsyth.  Just  about  a  cen- 
tury before  in  1742-3,  Cambuslang,  Kilsyth,  and  the  West 
of  Scotland  generally  had  been  scenes  of  great  awakening; 
and  there  cannot  be  a  doubt,  but  amid  a  good  deal  that 


KILSYTH  REVIVAL.      DISRUPTION   SACRIFICES.      391 

was  discouraging,  as  may  be  ever  expected  in  all  such 
cases,  many  hundreds  ascribed  their  first  religious  impres- 
sions to  such  seasons  of  revival,  and  passed  through  the 
pilgrimage  of  life  thereafter  in  the  full  habit  and  with  all 
the  usual  features  of  genuine  discipleship.  And  so  it  was 
in  regard  to  the  awakening  of  1839.  In  the  '  New  Sta- 
tistical Account  of  Scotland,"  my  brother  has  given  a  con- 
densed account  of  the  awakening,  and  after  two  years  had 
elapsed,  his  impressions  of  the  good  done  in  that  season 
of  divine  visitation  are  thus  summed  up :  '  There  are,  we 
have  reason  to  hope,  not  a  few  who  have  been  savingly 
turned  from  sin  unto  God,  while  in  other  respects,  the 
religion  and  morals  of  the  people  at  large  are  much  improv- 
ed. The  places  of  worship  are  better  attended,  and  there 
is  more  general  seriousness  during  divine  service  than  for- 
merly. Many  family  altars  have  been  erected.  There  is 
a  greater  degree  of  zeal  among  us  for  missionary  objects  ; 
and  there  are  about  thirty  weekly  prayer  meetings  of  a 
private  kind  among  our  people,  not  including  those  which 
are  connected  with  dissenting  bodies.' 

"  During  the  whole  period  of  the  'ten  years'  conflict.* 
my  brother's  mind  never  wavered.  He  had  taken  up  his 
position,  from  long  tried  conviction,  and  he  kept  it  with- 
out  shrinking.  And  yet,  few  of  the  brethren  in  the  min- 
istry made  a  more  costly  sacrifice.  His  living  in  the  Es- 
tablished Church,  taken  all  in  all,  could  not  be  less  than 
from  £350  to  £400.  This  he  surrendered  without  agrudge, 
and  for  fourteen  years  thereafter  considerably  less  than 
one-half  of  this  income  became  his  portion.  His  was  in- 
deed the  lot  of  many  ante-disruption  ministers,  who  had 
thus  largely  a  trial  of  'the  spoiling  of  their  goods.' 

"  From  the  commencement  of  his  ministry  my  brother 
kept  a  diary  of  occurrences  both  domestic  and  public, 
with  sketches  of  character  often  very  graphic.  Such  me- 
morials are  interesting,  and  they  form  the  very  best 
sources  of  authentic  narratives  and  of  historic  delineations. 
When  in  Scotland  in  1857  I  had  an  opportunity  of  perus- 
ing many  of  these  sketches.  The  substance  of  those 
which  refer  to  the  '  revivals '  is  already  before  the  public 


392  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

in  various  shapes  ;  and  it  may  admit  of  a  doubt  whether 
it  would  be  advisable  to  print  the  other  memorials  during 
the  present  generation. 

"  Till  within  the  last  three  years  Dr.  B.  had  no  regular 
help  in  the  performance  of  pastoral  duties.  Up  to  the 
78th  year  of  his  age  he  was  enabled  by  the  help  of  God 
to  discharge  both  the  public  and  the  private  duties  of  the 
pastoral  office,  but  he  felt  it  then  his  duty  to  apply  to  the 
Church  for  a  colleague  and  successor.  This  was  granted, 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Black  was  called  to  this  office.  On  that 
gentleman  have  now  devolved  all  the  responsibilities 
of  the  charge,  and  great  are  the  advantages  connected 
with  an  entrance  on  fields  of  labour  already  successfully 
cultivated  by  predecessors  who  have  made  full  proof  of 
their  ministry. 

"  The  minister  of  Kilsyth  was  one  of  the  earliest  movers 
in  Scotland  in  behalf  of  the  interests  of  temperance.  The 
field  of  his  pastoral  labours,  and  the  scenes  presented  in 
the  neighbouring  city,  furnished  most  impressive  practical 
arguments  in  support  of  the  cause ;  and  he  continued  a 
steady  and  active  advocate  of  abstinence  principles  to  the 
close  of  his  life. 

"  The  death-bed  scene  of  this  tried  servant  of  God  was 
not  prolonged  beyond  a  few  weeks,  but  he  suffered  severely 
towards  the  close  of  that  period.  A  calm  serenity  marked 
the  complacency  of  his  soul  in  God,  and  in  those  great 
and  precious  promises  which  it  had  been  his  delight  to 
expound,  and  still  more  experimentally  to  realise.  His 
Hfe  had  been  one  undivided  course  of  fidelity,  uprightness, 
and  deep-toned  spirituality;  and  the  evidence  of  such  a  life 
is  self-testifying.  His  dying  bed  was  surrounded  by  his 
nearest  relatives,  by  his  affectionate  and  pious  surviving 
partner,  and  by  his  children  and  his  children's  children. 
The  words  which  issued  from  his  lips  were  sweet  and 
edifying,  and  he  glorified  God  in  dying,  as  he  had  done  in 
living.  Happy  in  his  family — all  of  nine  members  he 
had  seen  comfortably  settled  in  spheres  of  usefulness — 
and  literally  without  on  enemy  on  earth,  his  soul  winged 
its  flight  gladly  on  high,  and  his  mortal  remains  repose 


"  UNCLE  William's"  letter,    mrs.  sandeman.     393 

with  the  ashes  of  not  a  few  of  his  spiritual  children,  with 
whom  he  shall  again  appear  in  the  day  of  the  retribution 
of  all  things ;  for  '  he  was  a  good  man  and  full  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith,  and  much  people  was  added 
unto  the  Lord.' — Acts  xi.  24. 
"  Toronto,  July  8,  1859." 

Among  his  many  admirable  qualities,  "  Uncle  William " 
was  a  capital  letter  writer.  Distinctly  do  we  recall  his 
full,  venerable  form  ;  his  pleased,  placid  countenance  ;  his 
staid  gait,  "  the  measured  step  and  slow  ;"  his  deep  bass 
voice,  with  its  almost  oracular  utterances  of  heavenly 
wisdom, — terse,  sententious,  at  times  quaint  and  curious  ; 
and  that  atmosphere  of  holiness  and  happiness  encom- 
passing him,  which  revealed  ever  the  "conversation  in 
heaven." 

Between  the  brothers  a  regular  correspondence  was 

kept  up.     One  of  his  last  letters  to  my  father  was  the 

following : — 

"  Kilsyth,  Nov.  29th,  1858. 

' '  Andrew  Moody  is  a  pupil  of  Hetherington,  and  of  Douglas. 
He  has  obtained  the  first  prize  for  an  essay  which  is  highly  credit- 
able to  him.  If  health  be  given  him,  he  promises  to  be  a  distin- 
guished eleve  of  the  new  college.  Your  son  William,  made  a  very 
favourable  impression  on  us  all.  We  have  good  news  of  our 
William's  kind  reception  in  a  new  place,  five  miles  from  Swatow, 
where  he  preached  to  a  large  assembly  in  the  open  air,  and  was 
hospitably  received,  and  his  assistants,  by  a  wealthy  Chinaman, 
who  seems  to  be  embracing  the  truth.  D.  Sandeman's  death  was 
truly  an  afflictive  event — most  unlooked  for  ;  he  was  so  stout  and 
vigorous — to  our  view. 

' '  The  excellent  mother  writes  to  me  in  reply  to  my  letter  of  con- 
dolence— in  a  truly  gracious  spirit.  'As  days  so  shall  strength  be,' 
to  them  that  know  His  name  and  trust  in  Him.  Husband  and 
three  sons  have  been  removed  within  a  very  short  period.  Old 
brother  John,  wonderfully  well  at  his  age — lately  in  Edinburgh. 
I'm  glad  to  see  William's  gift  to  your  college  library  acknowledged. 
George  will,  no  doubt,  be  corresponding  direct  with  you.  He 
preached  here  two  months  ago,  with  fully  more  than  average 


894  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DE.   BURNS. 

Tigour.  Mr  Bain,  (C.  Angus,)  and  J.  C.  B.,  of  Kirkliston,  were 
with  us  at  our  communion  on  the  7th,  and  also  Johnston,  lately 
from  China.  Your  Elizabeth  has  really  done  her  part  wonderfully, 
as  your  companion  in  travel.  Our  Elizabeth  is  also  a  great  help  to 
me,  and  my  good  Lady  Edmonstone  puts  entire  confidence  in  her 
as  her  almoner.  We  both  are  in  our  usual  health,  and  with  strength 
more  than  common  at  our  time  of  life.  But  what  do  you  think  of 
Mr.  Anderson,  senr.,  (United  Presbyterian  minister,  Kilsyth,  and 
father  of  Dr.  William  Anderson,  Glasgow,)  preaching  the  other  day 
an  hour  and  ten  minutes,  in  his  ninetieth  year  ?  But  this  is  a  rare 
exception  indeed,  and  not  to  be  made  too  much  of.  '  Yet  a  little 
WHILE,  AND  He  that  SHALL  COME  WILL  COMB.'  TMs  was  often  in 
our  revered  father's  prayers. " 

Within  six  months,  and  the  lively  hope  of  this  "old  dis- 
ciple" became  fruition.  On  the  6th  May,  of  the  following 
year,  the  chariot  was  at  the  door,  for  whose  coming  he 
waited  patiently  all  the  days  of  his  appointed  time.  It 
was  but  "  a  little  while." 

"  I  die  in  peace.  I  will  see  His  face,  and  I  will  behold 
His  glory — Glory,  Glory,  Glory." 

"  I  hear  His  voice,  let  me  go.  Thanks,  thanks,  be  to 
God,  who  giveth  us  the  victory."  With  these  words  of 
triumph  on  his  lips,  as  the  first  faint  streaks  of  a  May 
Sabbath  morn  stole  in  at  the  casement  of  the  quiet  manse, 
this  good  and  faithful  servant  entered  into  the  joy  of  His 
Lord,  and  passed  up  to  the  songs  and  services  of  the  never- 
ending  Sabbath. 

Between  him  and  the  brother  to  whom  he  thus  pleas- 
antly wrote,  exactly  ten  years  intervened  in  life — and  in 
death,  they  were  divided  within  a  month  or  two  of  the 
same  time.  They  both  more  than  rounded  their  four 
score,  and  for  fifty-nine  years  served  their  generation  in 
the  ministry  of  the  Gospel. 

My  father  aided  Dr.  Sprague,  of  Albany,  in  the  prepara- 


DR.   CODMAN.      DR.   SPRAGUE,  OF  ALBANY.  395 

tion  of  his  sketch  of  Dr.  Codman,  for  the  "  Annals  of  the 
American  Pulpit." 

He  also  prepared  for  him  a  sketch  of  his  predecessor  Dr 
Witherspoon — which  was  too  late  for  the  first  edition.  In 
connexion  with  these  sketches  he  received  the  following : 

"Albany,  10th  December,  1860. 

*' My  DEAR  Dr.  Burns, — I  thank  you  sincerely  for  your  kind 
letter,  and  the  accompanying  corrections  of  the  typographical  errors 
in  your  admirable  letter,  concerning  Dr.  Codman.  I  shall  see  that 
the  list  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  printer,  before  the  next  edition 
is  issued,  so  that  I  hope  you  will  find  hereafter  that  the  types  have 
done  you  full  justice. 

"  In  regard  to  publishing  an  appendix  to  my  work,  I  cannot  now 
speak  with  much  confidence,  as  it  will  be  at  least  two  years  before 
the  last  volume  comes  from  the  press.  But,  however,  this  may  be, 
I  think  it  of  great  importance  that  your  hereditary  reminiscences 
of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  should  in  some  way  become  the  property  of 
our  Presbyterian  church,  and  I  venture  earnestly  to  request  that 
you  will  write  them  out  at  your  leisure,  and  let  me  secure  their  pub- 
lication— if  not  immediately  in  my  own  work,  yet  in  the  Presbyterian, 
or  some  one  of  our  monthlies  or  quarterlies.  I  am  sure  that  by  doing 
this,  you  will  place  our  church  under  great  obligation  to  you  ;  for 
if  there  is  any  one  among  the  fathers,  whom  we  all  delight  to  honour, 
and  whose  history,  even  in  its  minutest  details,  we  cannot  permit 
to  let  perish,  it  is  Dr.  Witherspoon.  Thank  you,  for  your  very  kind 
opinion  of  the  several  volumes  of  my  work  already  published. 

"  In  regard  to  the  Methodist  denomination,  I  have  not  found  it 
so  unproductive  or  difficult  a  field  as  you  might  suppose.  In  regard 
to  intellectual  culture,  I  do  not  think  that,  as  a  denomination,  they 
fall  behind  the  Baptists  ;  and  there  is  no  doubt,  that  among  their 
comparatively  uneducated  men,  they  have  had  some  of  the  first 
pulpit  orators  this  country  has  ever  produced.  It  is  equally  certain 
that,  with  all  their  extravagances,  both  of  doctrine  and  of  practice, 
many  of  them  have  evinced  the  most  heroic  self-denial  in  penetrat- 
ing into  the  wilderness,  and  anticipating  every  other  denomination 
in  planting  the  Gospel  in  the  very  darkest  parts  of  it. 

"  I  record  many  things  in  my  volume,  both  as  matters  of  fact  and 
as  characteristics,  which  I  should  be  far  from  endorsing,  and  some 
which  are  exceedingly  distasteful  to  me  ;  but  notwithstanding  all 
this,  I  am  satisfied  that  living  Christianity  owes  them  a  debt  in  this 
country,  which  has  hitherto  been  but  very  imperfectly  acknow- 
ledged. 

'*  You  had  told  me  in  a  previous  letter,  of  your  finally  recovering 
the  box  of  books,   though  I  regret   exceedingly  that  you  were 


396  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DK.   BURNS. 

subjected  to  so  much  trouble  about  it.  I  remember' at  the  time 
that  I  thought  it  difficult  to  account  for  it,  without  supposing  foul 
play  among  some  of  the  railroad  officials. 

"  Our  country,  as  the  newspapers  tell  you,  has  reached  a  fearful 
crisis.  Unless  God  interposes  in  some  marvellous  way,  the  days  of 
our  union  as  a  nation,  will  soon  be  numbered.  I  thank  God  there 
is  one  government  in  the  universe  that  the  caprice  and  folly  of  man 
cannot  overturn. 

"Ever,  my  dear  Dr.  Bums, 

*'  Sincerely  and  affectionately  yours, 

"  W.  B.  Spkague.« 

Dr.  Sprague's  antiquarian  likings  suited  him  exactly, 
and  they  had  much  pleasant  and  profitable  intercourse. 
He  made  some  valuable  Scottish  additions  to  Dr.  Sprague  s 
extraordinary  collection  of  autographs,  and  received  from 
him  in  return,  some  valuable  American  ones,  and  several 
of  his  works  kindly  addressed. 

A  sketch  in  the  Instructor,  of  Hog,  of  Carnock,  drew 
from  the  distinguished  historian  of  the  church  of  the 
Netherlands,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Steven,  this  friendly  criticism  : 

"  EoTTERDAM,  20th  Nov.  1838. 

"  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — I  trust  to  your  forgiveness  for  the  liber- 
ty T  take,  though  personally  unknown,  in  thus  addressing  you. 
Indeed,  I  have  been  so  long  acquainted  with  your  public  character 
as  an  author,  and  a  valued  leader  in  our  national  church  courts, 
that  I  feel  convinced  you  will  not  regard  as  obtrusive  the  commu- 
nication of  a  brother  clergyman,  however  humble  that  correspon- 
dent may  be.  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  you  have  some  connection 
with  the  Edinburgh  Christian  Instructor,  a  periodical  which  appears 
to  me  vastly  improved,  having  all  the  freshness  of  its  best  days — 
and  freed  from  that  heaviness  which,  at  times  disfigured  it. 

"  In  the  October  number  of  the  Instructor,  I  find  an  excellent 
paper  on  the  Rev.  James  Hog,  of  Carnock.  The  writer  of  that 
memoir,  which  I  have  perused  with  great  pleasure,  does  not  appear 
to  have  been  aware,  that  Hog  was  the  son  of  the  minister  of  Larbert, 
and  that  he  was  nephew  to  Mr.  Thomas  Hog,  of  Kiltearn.  I  am 
anxious  that  the  respected  author  of  the  Hfe  in  the  Instructor  for 
last  month,  should,  through  your  kindness,  be  put  in  possession  of 


I 


I 


J 


HOG,  OF  CARNOCK.      DUTCH  WORTHIES.  897 

the  accompanying  copy  of  a  letter  from  James  to  Thomas  Hog.  I 
had  transcribed  it,  some  time  ago  for  my  own  use,  but  conceiving 
that  it  may  be  of  service  to  the  biographer,  I  transmit  it  to  you.  I 
have  the  original  letter  now  before  me,  and  several  other  old  letters 
from  Craighead,  of  Londonderry,  Wodrow,  &c.,  addressed  to  my 
predecessor,  Mr,  Thomas  Hog  or  Hoog.  These  interesting  relics 
belonging  to  the  venerable  Burgomaster  Hoog,  of  this  city,  have 
been  discovered  among  the  family  papers,  since  I  published  my  ac- 
count of  the  British  churches  in  the  Netherlands. 

"  Should  you,  or  any  of  your  friends  be  engaged  with  memoirs 
.of  ministers  once  resident  in  Holland,  it  will  afford  me  great  plea- 
sure to  facilitate  such  researches — as  far  as  lies  in  my  power,  J 
have  a  third  edition  of  my  pamphlet  on  'Constitution  of  the  Dutch 
Reformed  Church,'  in  the  press  at  Edinburgh. 

"  I  shall  be  delighted  to  hear  from  you." 

The  knowledge  of  his  skill  in  the  line  of  historical  re- 
miniscence and  graphic  biographical  delineation,  led  the 
late  Rev.  James  Mackenzie,  of  Dunfermline,  to  whom  had 
been  entrusted  the  preparation  of  the  Life  of  Dr.  Cunning- 
ham, to  invite  his  assistance. 

A  life-like  sketch  of  Dr.  Macdonald,  of  Ferintosh,  had 
attracted  special  notice,  and  he  writes  as  follows : — 

"  Dunfermline,  July  12th,  1866. 

'*  Rev.  Sir, — The  family  of  the  late  Dr.  Cunningham,  have  put 
his  papers  into  my  hands,  requesting  me  to  prepare  a  memoir,  in 
which  work  I  am  now  engaged.  I  would  not  be  in  my  duty  if  I  did 
not  apply  to  you,  for  any  materials  or  recollections  that  you  may 
have. 

"Your  knowledge  of  Dr.  Cunningham  extended  over  a  long 
time,  and  your  letter  on  the  'Apostle  of  the  North,'  in  the  June 
Becord  of  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church,  encourages  me  to  hope 
that  you  may  favour  me  with  something  similar,  in  regard  to  Prin- 
cipal Cunningham.  Your  connection  in  the  Presbytery  of  Paisley, 
and  in  the  American  journey,  must  have  left  reminiscences,  which, 
if  you  will  kindly  impart,  will  be  a  very  great  obligation. 

' '  Hoping  that  you  will  grant  this  great  favour, 

"lam,  Rev'dSir, 

"  Your  most  ob't  servant, 

"  James  Mackenzie, 
"  Minister  of  Free  Abbey  Church." 


398  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

It  does  not  appear  that  this  request  was  complied  wi 
The  death  of  the  lamented  writer,  in  the  midst  of  his 
work  may  have  interfered.  Of  this  we  feel  assured,  that 
none  would  have  been  more  willing  than  my  father  to  do 
honour  to  the  name  of  Cunningham,  his  old  co-Presby- 
ter and  co-delegate,  for  whom  he  entertained  an  en- 
thusiastic regard,  and  to  whom,  in  certain  features  of  his 
character,  he  bore  a  strong  resemblance.  In  reading  some 
of  the  delineations  of  the  one,  we  have  felt  as  if  the  other 
had  almost  sat  for  the  picture. 

Thus — for  example  : — 

"  The  kindliness  whicli  struck  every  one  who  met  him  in  private, 
was  joined  with  a  transparency  that  never  left  you  in  doubt  for  a 
moment,  that  you  saw  the  whole  man.  What  you  thus  saw,  was 
full  of  nobleness  morally,  and  power  intellectually.  Then  his 
faults  or  infirmities,  which  were  perhaps  the  most  unconcealed  parts 
of  him,  were  so  allied  to  his  force,  clearness,  and  scorn  of  baseness 
— were  indeed  such  delightful  exaggerative  illustrations  of  these — 
that  they  merely  printed  him  larger  on  the  mind  ;  while  the  touch 
of  exaggeration  or  over-vehemence,  soothed  you  with  the  sense  of 
an  imperfection  to  be  tender  to,  and  warmed  the  whole  mode  of 
feeling  with  which  he  was  regarded.  Indeed,  it  must  have  often 
crossed  the  mind  of  those  who  knew  him,  that  what  no  doubt  were 
his  faults  and  weak  points,  and  were  so  regarded  by  himseK,  were 
somehow  the  points  in  his  character  that  nobody  would  have  liked 
to  dispense  with  ;  and  if  he  had  been  enabled,  totally  and  absolute- 
ly to  eradicate  them,  as  there  is  no  doubt  he  often  and  sorrowfully 
strove  to  do,  I  am  much  afraid  his  friends  would  never  have  forgiven 
him  for  his  success  ;  so  near  of  kin  were  they  to  that  in  him  which 
we  admired  and  trusted.  Nor  was  this  feeling  confined  to  friends. 
In  all  his  successive  controversies,  the  same  feeling  existed  among 
opponents — if  only  they  had  chanced  to  get  near  enough  to  know 
the  real  man."* 


A  case  with  which,  as  a  partj^,  he  had  to  do,  in  almost 
boyhood's  days,  may  here  be  recalled — the  case  referred 
to  at  page  11.     It  is  a  very  singular  one,  and  deserves  a 

*  Life  of  Dr.  Cunningham,  pp,  382-3. 


I 


SKETCH  OF  MARY   P.  399 

fuller  notice,  which  would  have  caused  too  lengthened  a 
digression  there,  but  which  in  this  "sketch"  department 
of  our  miscellaneous  chapter  may  be'not  inappropriately- 
introduced.  Our  readers  may  remember  the  juvenile 
efforts  of  the  boy  preachers,  and  the  "wooden  pulpit." 
In  this  extraordinary  instance,  at  the  expiry  of  fifty  years, 
they  had  their  reward. 

Mary  P ,  for  half  a  century  was  a  noted  drunkard. 

In  the  delirium  of  a  drunken  debauch  she  fell  into  the 
fire,  and  was  all  but  consumed.  In  1849,  when  cholera 
struck  down  her  two  manly  sons,  she  crept,  in  the  half- 
unconscious  stage  of  drunkenness,  amid  the  infected  clothes 
and  blankets  of  the  bed  from  which  the  corpses  of  her  boys 
had  been  taken.  Yet — she  escaped — only  to  cry  "  When 
shall  I  awake ;  I  wiU  seek  it  yet  again  ?"  She  returned 
for  years  succeeding,  "  as  a  dog  to  his  vomit,  or  as  a  sow 
that  has  been  washed,  to  her  wallowing  in  the  mire."  The 
demon  of  drink  dealt  with  his  hapless  victim,  like  the 
Devil  with  the  youth  in  the  Gospel  story  —and  it  was  not 
until  she  seemed  likely  to  represent  the  "  sinner  dying 
a  hundred  years  old,  accursed" — that  the  Angel  of  the 
Covenant  interposed  to  snatch  her,  saying  : — "  The  Lord 
rebuke  thee,  O  Satan,  is  not  this  a  brand  plucked  out  of 
the  fire." 

In  1859,  one  dark  night  found  her  at  the  pastor's  study, 
an  applicant  for  communion,  for  the  first  time.  Her  hard 
life  had  whitened  her  locks  and  furrowed  her  cheeks. 
Into  the  wondering  pastor  s  ear  she  poured  this  confes- 
sion : — "  You  well  know  that  my  besetting  sin  was  the 
love  of  drink.     It  has  been  a  sore  fight,  but  through  the 


400  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

blood  of  the  Lamb,  I  have  got  the  victory.     I  saw  it  was 
necessary  for  me  not  only  to  pray,  but,  to  use  other  means^ 
so  that,  with  the  help  of  God,  I  would  not  be   carried 
away.     I  knew  Jesus  was  able  to  keep  me  from  falling, 
but  I  must  watch  for  my  soul.     The  desire  was  strong  in 
me,  for  for  fifty  years  I  had  been   a  drunkard.     I  could 
not  pass  a  public  house  without  the  wish  to  taste.     It  had 
been  my  first  work  in  the  morning  and  my  last  work  in 
the  evening,  to  take  a  glass.     How  was  I  to  keep  myself 
from  the  tempter  and  the  temptation  ?     I  knew  no  way 
but  this.     I  lay  in  bed  for  days — for  weeks,  in  prayer,  in  I 
thought,  until  God  should  take  away  from  me  the  Yery\ 
wish  to  taste.     I  felt  that  I  must  fight  the  devil  out,  andj 
that  I  must  fight  him  out  now  and  there.     In  his  great] 
mercy,  God  gave  me  such  peace  of  mind,  and  such  comfoi 
in  Jesus,  that  I  began  to  think  that  I  might  rise  and  walk 
safely,  and  from  that  day   till  now,  I  have  not  tasted 
drink,  and  I  think  the  desire  of  it  has  gone  from  me  forj 
ever." 

Subsequently,  when  conversing  with  her  more  particu- 
larly on  the  causes  of  her  change,  he  got  from  her  the  fol- 
lowing : — - 

"  When  a  girl,  I  was  sent  to  live  with  an  uncle  far  awayj 
from  this  place,  at  a  seaport  in  the  Firth  of  Forth.  M^ 
uncle  was  in  the  Customs,  and  I  was  a  servant  in  th( 
house.  Beside  us  there  lived  another  family — the  fathei 
in  the  same  service  with  my  uncle,  and  he  had  a  numer- 
ous family — six  sons.  I  think,  and  three  daughters.  I  re- j 
member  four  of  their  names  yet,  James,  William,  Robei 
George. 


BKEAD   FOUND  AFTER  MANY  DAYS.  401 

"  In  their  garden  there  was  a  large  summer  house,  and 
it  was  fitted  up  as  a  place  of  meeting.  I  distinctly  re- 
member when  the  young  men  came  home  from  school  or 
college,  they  used  to  assemble  all  the  neighbours  to  speak 
to  them  about  religion.  Many  a  solemn  word — many  a 
warm  prayer  have  I  heard  in  that  place,  &c." 

"  Well  Mary,  (replied  the  pastor,)  I  know  to  whom  you 
refer.  The  names  of  those  young  men  have  become  house- 
hold words  in  the  church  of  Christ,  and  are  connected 
with  all  that  is  living,  and  earnest,  and  devoted  in  religion. 
Two  of  them  have  already  entered  on  their  eternal  rest, 
leaving  fragrant  memories,  and  the  other  two  have  reach- 
ed an  extreme  old  age  in  their  Master's  service.  Their 
children  too,  have  inherited  the  blessing. 

"  So — Mary,  in  your  case  also,  it  seems,  the  bread  cast 
up  an  the  waters,  has  been  found  after  many  days." 

She  lived  a  wonderfully  earnest  and  consistent  Chris- 
tian ;  and  her  end  was  peace.  On  her  death-bed — to  alle- 
viate her  acute  pain,  gin  was  offered  her — but  with  the 
Master  when  "  wine  mingled  with  myrrh"  was  ofiered  to 
him — "  she  would  not  drink."  "  I  know  not  yet,  (said 
she,)  but  what  I  might  fall  under  the  old  lust,  and  I  will 
rather  suffer  than  sin," 


AA 


CHAPTER  XX. 


VISIT  TO  SCOTLAND  AND  LAST  DATS. 


April,  1868,  he  revisited  Scotland,  togetho^ 
with  his  faithful  partner.*  The  Rev.  J. 
King,  M.  A.,  their  much  esteemed  pastor  an( 
friend,  accompanied  them.  He  originally 
purposed  returning  in  time  for  the  College 
Session,  but  was  prevailed  on  to  spend  the  wintei 
at  home. 

He  appeared  at  the  Free  Church  General  As-' 
sembly  in  May,  along  with  Mr.  King,  and   met 
with  a  cordial  reception.     He  spoke  with  his  usual  vigour 
and  animation. 


*  He  sojourned  for  a  short  time  in  Montreal  on  his  way,  among  his  kind  friends  at 
Terrace-banli.  Mr.  John  Dougall,  the  founder  and  senior  editor  of  that  remarkably 
useful  Journal,  the  Montreal  Witness,  who  remembered  his  Paisley  ministry  in  hia 
youth,  records  thus  pleasingly  his  impressions  at  the  time : 

"This  venerable  patriarch  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  bears  the  weight  of  fourscore 
years  with  that  vigour  which  has  characterized  all  his  previous  history,  and  appears,  in_ 
fact,  fresher  and  stronger  than  he  did  ten  years  ago.    His  inteUeciual' powers,  iucludir 


moderator's  address,    varied  work.         403 

The  Moderator,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Nixon,  of  Montrose^ 
thus  addressed  him  : 

'*  With  the  deepest  sentiments  of  respect,  esteem,  and  thankful- 
ness to  the  God  of  all  grace,  to  the  God  of  our  life  and  the  length 
of  our  days,  we  welcome  this  renewed  visit  of  such  a  veteran  of 
our  church,  and  of  one  whom  we  have  been  familiar  with  from  <  ur 
youth,  as  one  of  the  ablest,  most  accomplished,  and  most  active  and 
laborious  of  our  ministers,  and  the  most  devoted  and  effective  of 
all  loving  friends  of  Presbyterianism  and  true  religion  in  the  Do- 
minion of  Canada.  It  is  pleasant  to  think  of  the  recompense  of 
all  your  unwearied  exertions  in  the  present  comparatively  advanced 
condition  of  the  church  in  Canada.  We  rejoice  to  see  that  in  the 
highest  sense  your  eye  has  not  yet  become  dim,  nor  your  natural 
force  abated.  And  we  pray  and  hope  that  you  may  yet  be  spared 
for  years  to  do  yet  more  and  more  for  the  kingdom  of  your  Lord, 
and  to  see  His  goodness  in  the  land  of  the  living,  and  that  in  due 
time  you  will  rest  from  your  labours,  by  having  an  abundant 
entrance  ministered  unto  you  into  the  kingdom  of  your  Lord." 

His  diary  reveals  how  crowded  with  varied  duties 
were  these  months  of  sojourn — sabbath  and  sacramental 
engagements — attendance  at  Dr.  Wylie's  lectures  before 
the  Protestant  Institute,  those  of  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Wilson,  on  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  and  those  of  the  Pro- 
fessors at  the  College ; — ^ransacking  treasures  in  the  Advo- 
cates' and  Free  College  Libraries,  favourite  places  of 
resort ;  poring  over  books  in  private  libraries ;  collect- 
ing books  for  Montreal  and  Knox  Colleges,  at  Clarke's 
and  elsewhere ;  com'ersing  with  friends  about  bursaries 
and  scholarships,*  or  with  likely  men,  about  Canada  as  a 

memory,  are  in  no  way  impaired,— the  latter  being,  indeed,  extraordinary.  He  remem- 
bers, with  the  utmost  precision,  the  persons  and  incidents  and  occurrences  of  the  time 
of  his  settlement  in  Paisley,  in  1811,  or  the  radical  time  of  1818,  or,  in  fact,  any  year  of 
his  long  and  useful  career ;  and,  consequently,  his  conversation  is  a  rare  treat  to  those 
who  take  an  interest  in  the  past.  His  knowledge  of  Canada  is  also  very  extensive,  on 
account  of  his  frequent  preaching  tours  through  various  parts  of  it.  Dr.  Burns  belongs 
to  a  family  remarkable  for  the  number  of  ministers  it  has  furnished  to  tlie  church,  as 
does  Mrs.  Burns,  n^e  Bonar.  They  leave  to-day  to  take  the  steamer  at  Portland,  and 
many  prayers  will  be  offered  for  their  prosperous  journey  and  safe  return." 

*  Through  his  application  the  "Scottish  Reformation  Society"  made  offer  to  the  three 
Colonial  Colleges,  of  one-half  of  the  sum  required  for  two  prizes  in  each,  of  £10  and 
£5  sterhng  for  the  successful  competitors  in  examination  on  the  "leading  principles  of 
the  Romish  Controversy."    "  I  have  just  received,"  he  writes  from  Edinburgh,  April 


404!  LIFE  OF  KEY.   DR.   BURNS. 

field  of  labour;  visiting  missions,  and  re- visiting  the 
old  familiar  cliurclies ;  speaking  to  companies  of  stu- 
dents on  congenial  themes  ;  travelling  in  the  Highlands 
to  help  ministerial  brethren,  and  to  visit  friends;  ad- 
dressing conferences  on  the  state  of  religion ;  writing 
letters — sometimes  ten  a  day ;  preparing  the  Canada 
chapter  of  W.  C.  Burns'  life,  with  occasional  autobiogra- 
phical jottings. — These  were  among  the  duties  which  oc- 
cupied him. 

A  few  extracts  from  letters  of  this  period  will  give 
some  idea  of  how  he  was  employed  : 

"Edinburgh,  April,  1869. 

**  I  had  a  noble  congregation  yesterday  at  Mr.  Morgan's,  Foun 
tainbridge.  The  thought  of  the  deep  interest  your  dear  brother* 
took  in  the  erection  of  that  church,  was  much  with  me,  and  pressed 
favourably  on  my  mind. 

"  We  are  going  down  to  a  grand  meeting  at  Queen  Street  Hall, 
at  two  o'clock,  where  we  expect  to  hear  a  number  of  great  men  (see 
list  in  Daily  Review  of  this  morning). 

' '  My  '  chapter  work'  gets  on  (chap.  x. ,  W.  C.  B's  memoir),  about 
half  done,  and  many  letters  to  write.  I  cannot  do  much  more  to 
the  MSS.  without  your  help.  My  eyes  are  sadly  worn  by  gazing  on 
the  MSS.,  and  trying  to  decipher  and  condense.  Don't  make- 
haste  on  this  account,  however. 

' '  The  conference  at  Glasgow  has  asked  me  to  take  part  in  it,  and 
Mr.  Wilson  urges  me.     Independently  of  this  I  feel  inclined  to  go. 

"  Monday,  19th  April,  1869. — Attended  seventy-first  meeting  of 
Sabbath  schools.     Death  of  Mrs.  Briggs.f" 

Dr.  Bums   was  at  Paisley  at  the   time,  after  having 

14th,  1869,  "from  Professor  MacVicar,  Montreal,  the  following  notice  of  the  reception 
of  the  Society's  offer :"  '  May  I  ask  you  to  be  so  kind  as  to  inform  the  Reformation 
Bociety  that  the  conditions  of  their  minutes  have  heen  complied  with,  and  to  convey  to 
them  our  best  thanks,  and  our  deep  appreciation  of  the  kind  interest  they  have  thus 
shown  in  our  work.  The  f^ociety  have  singularly  anticipated  ou  i  desire  to  offer  our 
students  special  inducements  to  study  the  Popish  question,  which  is  daily  growing  in 
practical  importance  in  this  province  and  on  the  whole  continent.  We  intend,  here- 
after, to  require  students  to  study  the  French  language,  so  as  to  enable  them  to  operate 
upon  the  dense  spiritual  ignorance  of  this  province,  1  hope  to  be  able  next  Session  to 
superintend  theological  studies  in  that  language.'  " 

*  Late  Thomson  Bonar,  Esq. 

t  His  sister  Jane,  widow  of  Professor  Briggs,  of  St.  Andrew's,  speeial  friend  of  Mrs. 
Ooutts. 


Jl 


LAST  APPEARANCE  BEFORE  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY.      405 

spent  some  days  with  her.  "  Dear  Robert,"  she  said,  "  yen 
have  come  from  Toronto  just  to  see  me  die.  I  like  to  see 
you  praying,  though  I  cannot  always  hear."  On  receiving 
the  notice  he  writes  : 

"  Yes  !  the  event  has  taken  place  sooner  than  I  anticipated. 
Her  end  was  peace.  Tlie  testimony  of  the  life  is  of  far  more  value 
than  any  utterances  on  a  death-bed." 

A  truth,  this  last,  to  be  exemplified  subsequently  in  his 
own  case. 

"  St.  Andrews,  April,  1869. — The  solemn  scene  of  the  inter- 
ment has  passed  with  all  becoming  seriousness  and  decorum.  A 
large  concourse  of  mourners,  as  might  have  been  expected,  and  » 
number  of  apologies  from  Edin.  and  elsewhere.  These  were  all 
addressed  to  me,  as  my  name  was  at  the  invitation  circular." 

His  appearance  before  the  General  Assembly  of  1869 
was  one  of  peculiar  interest.  He  was  accompanied  by 
the  Rev.  W.  Cochrane,  of  Brantford.  His  address  i» 
very  fully  reported,  and  was  received  with  great  enthu- 
siasm. It  contains  a  condensed  view  of  the  progress  of 
the  church  in  all  the  British  North  American  colonies. 
The  Union  Question,  so  prominent  then,  was  touched  on 
with  great  delicacy  and  skill,  as  it  had  been  by  him  the 
previous  year,  in  a  way  to  elicit  enthusiastic  demonstra- 
tions from  both  sides  of  the  house. 

The  greetings  tendered  to  Dr.  Bums  are  thus  re- 
ported. They  were  embodied  in  a  resolution  moved  by 
Dr.  Candlish  and  seconded  by  Dr.  Begg  : 

"  Dr.  CandUsh  could  not  abstain  from  expressing  the  warmest 
delight  with  which  he  had  again  listened  in  that  assembly  to  their 
revered  and  beloved  father,  Dr.  Bums.  He  was  sure  they  would 
all  join  in  thanking  God  that  his  visit  to  this  country  had  contri- 
buted to  the  re- establishment  of  his  health,  and  in  praying  that  it 
might  please  Almighty  God  to  continue  to  the  last  that  health  and 
strength  which  he  had  manifested  amidst  the  infirmities  of  old  age, 
though  still  so  vigorous,  still  ao  lively,  still  so  much  "  the  old  man 


406  LIFE  OF  EEV.  DR.  BURNS. 

eloquent,"  that  he  was  before  he  left  thia  country.  He  did  trust 
that  to  the  end  of  his  days  he  would  be  able  to  take  the  same  loving, 
lively,  spiritual,  and  godly  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
advancement  of  God's  work  and  call  to  his  church." 

The  Moderator  (Sir  Henry  Moncrieff,  Bart.),  said— 

•*  In  addressing  you,  Dr.  Burns,  I  feel  myself  utterly  incapable 
of  expressing  either  my  own  feelings  or  those  which  are  evidently 
filling  the  hearts  of  the  members  of  this  Assembly.  When  I  re- 
member my  first  intercourse  with  you,  about  the  commencement  of 
my  own  ministry,  more  than  thirty  years  ago — when,  as  Dr.  Burns, 
of  Paisley,  you  attracted  the  notice  of  younger  members  of  the 
Synod  of  Glasgow  and  Ayr  as  one  of  our  most  earnest  and  elo- 
quent seniors  in  the  ministry — to  hear  you  now  is  to  hear  the  same 
man,  but  the  same  man  with  a  still  richer  eloquence  than  before— 
an  eloquence  flowing  out  into  a  stream  of  profitable  light  for  guid- 
ing us  in  our  thoughts  concerning  the  matters  which  are  stirring 
the  breasts  of  yourself  and  your  brethren  in  the  land  of  your 
adoption — the  same  man  bringing  all  the  matured  wisdom  of  your 
venerable  age  to  increase  the  spiritual  force  and  fervour  which  we 
always  attached  to  your  character.  We  have  listened  with  intense 
interest  to  your  impressive  statements  regarding  the  settlement 
near  the  Red  River,  the  objects  to  be  aimed  at  in  connection  with 
British  Columbia,  and  the  calls  addressed  both  to  you  and  us  by 
the  colonies  of  Highlanders  whom  you  have  so  forcibly  described 
to  us.  We  have  great  delight  in  seeing  you.  We  congratulate  you 
on  your  vigour  both  of  body  and  mind.  It  is  an  intense  gratifica- 
tion to  hear  you.  You  raise  the  tone  of  our  minds  by  your  strik- 
ingly clear  and  full  representations,  as  well  as  by  your  fervid  and 
scriptural  appeals.  The  afiections  of  our  heart  go  strongly  toward 
you.  We  pray  for  your  preservation  in  the  service  of  our  Lord, 
and  we  bid  you  God  speed  in  the  prosecution  of  your  intention  to 
return  to  the  chosen  sphere  of  your  labours.  We  shall  not  forget 
you  or  your  prayers.  Our  own  prayers  will  follow  you.  May  the 
blessing  of  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  be  upon  you  abundant- 
ly for  the  peace  of  your  old  age  and  your  everlasting  joy  !" 

The  last  letter  he  had  from  Dr.  Guthrie  speaks  of  .the 
joy  it  gave  him  to  hear  of  "  your  ovation  at  the  General 
Assembly."  This  remarkable  recognition  by  the  supreme 
court  of  the  church  of  his  fathers  was  a  fine  rounding  off 
of  his  life. 

He  had  paid  many  visits  to  Paisley,  and  preached  in 


PAISLEY  TESTIMONIAL  MEETING.  407 

most  of  the  churches.     In  anticipation  of  his  leaving,  a 
gathering  of  singular  interest  was  held  in  his  old  church 
on  Tuesday  evening,  the  29th  June.     Representatives  of 
all  the  churches  were  present,  and  sentiments,  the  most 
kind  and  cordial,  were  expressed.     His  old  friend,  Pro- 
vost Murray,  presided,   and  indulged  in  many  pleasing 
reminiscences.     There  was  the  Rev.  William  France,  the 
able  and  accomplished  delegate  in  1871  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  to  the  American  churches — the  only 
remaining  member  of  the  ministerial  fraternity  in  Pais- 
ley at  the  time  he  left.      There  was  Mr.  PoUok,  once 
one  of  his  most  active  young  men,  now  just  retiring  from 
a  most  laborious  and  honourable  pastorate.     There,  was 
one  of  his  Sabbath-school  boys,  now  a  rising  member  in 
the  British  Parliament.      There  were   many   on  whose 
brows  he  had  sprinkled  the  waters  of  holy  baptism,  whom 
he  had  united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock,  and  whose  loved 
ones  he  had  followed  to  their  long  home ;  many  to  whom 
he  had  sustained  the  relation  of  pastpr  and  friend,  and 
whose  "  children  rose  up  to  call  him  blessed."     A  purse 
with  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  sovereigns  was  pre- 
sented to  him  by  friends  of  all  denominations,  with  a 
warm-hearted  address  from  Mr.  Gardiner,  of  Nether  Com- 
mon, the  little  boy  now  grown  venerable,  who  had  been 
led  up  to  him  by  his  mother  at  the  church  door  on  the 
day  of  his  ordination.     A  portion  of  his  reply  may  be 
given : 

"  My  feelings  are  overpowered  by  the  very  unexpected  honour 
that  has  been  paid  me.  I  had  counted  on  being  permitted  quietly 
to  slip  away,  loaded,  however,  with  the  best  wishes,  '  understood* 
rather  than  *  expressed,'  of  many  friends.  You  have  not  allowed 
it  so  to  be,  and  words  are  wanting  wherewith  to  indicate  my  sens© 


408  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

of  obligation.      Nearly  threescore  years — two  generations— have 
rolled  away  since  my  introduction  to  the  ministry  in  this  place. 
Prior  to  1811,  when  I  came  to  Paisley,  the  trade  had  been  for 
years  very  prosperous,   and  the  wages  of  the   operative  weavers 
averaged  weekly  from  one  guinea  to  three  times  that  sum.     But  a 
time  of  darkness  came,  and  in  1812  there  was  a  crash,  from  causes 
connected  with  the  war  then  raging.     Tn  the  spring  of  that  year  I 
was  in  London,  my  companion  in  travel  being  a  respectable  Paisley 
manufacturer,  the  late  Mr.  William  Bums,  of  Gateside.     We  at- 
tended a  public  meeting  for  relief  of  the  suffering  manufacturers  of 
England.    Three  of  the  princes  of  the  realm  attended  the  meeting — 
the  Dukes  of  York,  Kent,  and  Cambridge  ;  all  spoke,  and  all  spoke 
well.     Mr.  Wilberforce  and  other  philanthropists  pleaded  the  cause 
of  suffering  humanity,  and  a  fund  was  then  created  which  continues 
to  this  day,  and  out  of  which  we  have  drawn  from  time  to  time  to 
an   extent   somewhat  commensurate  with  our  necessities.     More 
than  twenty  years  passed  before  I  had  an  opportunity  of  enquiring 
after  the  healthy  state  of  this  hopeful  fund,  and  the  worthy  trea- 
surer, whose  ominously  pleasing  or  euphonious  name  was  Mr.  Help, 
told  us,  without  the  least  hesitation,  that  he  was  burdened  with 
the  load  of  twenty-five  thousand  pounds.     It  is  characteristic  of 
*  a  Paisley  man,'  I  fancy,  that  he  never  fails  to  benefit  by  a  good 
hint ;  and  yourself,  Mr.  Chairman,  and  Dr.  Baird  and  I,  failed  not 
to  draw  plenteously  from  the  mine  so  propitiously  opened  to  us. 
The  fund  was  originally  devised  for  English  manufactures,  but  we 
had  influence  at  the  very  commencement  of  it,  as  above  alluded  to, 
to  get  the  word  '  British'  substituted  in  place  of  '  English,'  and  this 
made  all  the  difference  possible  in  the  matter  ;  while  *  a  King's 
letter,'  in  1826,  circulating  through  the  cities  and  counties  of  the 
south,  replenished  the  fund  when  it  began  to  diminish.     With  our 
pilgrimages  in  and  around  the  metropolis,  you,  Mr.  Chairman,  are 
well  acquainted,  and  for  years  after  I  had  left  Paisley  and  settled 
in  Canada,  you  continued  to  *  walk  the  course,'  knocking  at  the 
doors  of  Whitehall  oflBcials  and  west-end  noblesse;  having  acquired, 
I  presume,  a  kind  of  liking  to  such  sort  of  things,  and  cherishing 
the  thought  that  you  were  at  once  feeding  the  hungry  and  estab- 
lishing great  and  liberal  principles  for  the  public  good.     My  en- 
trance on  the  ministry  was  at  a  period  rather  early  ;  the  field  vast 
and  difficult,  and  my  experience  small.     *  Who  is  sufficient  for  these 
things  ?'  might  I  well  enquire  ;  and  satisfied  have  I  long  been  that 
a  smaller  preparatory  scene  of  labour  would  have  been  more  desir- 
able.    Nor  did  I  then  thoroughly  know  the  peculiarities  of  the 
Paisley  character.     The  Presbyterian  clergy,  both  of  the  Establish- 
ment and  the  Secession,  were  all  substantially  Conservative,  and 
any  who  breathed  more  liberal  things  were  afraid  to  utter  them. 
Still  we  were  all  at  one  in  our  views  of  doctrine  and  duty.     By 
reason  of  the  love  of  all  the  brethren  to  one  another,  Rowland  Hill 
called  Paisley  *the  Philadelphia  of  Scotland.'    A  change  of  senti- 


PROFESSOR  MURRAY.      REV.   W.   COCHRANE,  M.A.        40^ 

ment  on  some  important  points  no  doubt  arose,  bnt  unity  of  doc- 
trine and  similarity  in  worship,  kept  us  amicably  together,  and 
'  the  word  of  the  Lord  had  free  course  amongst  us  and  was  glorified.' 
To  later  changes  I  shall  not  advert,  but  may  I  not  still  say,  '  one 
faith,  one  hope,  one  God,  one  Redeemer,  one  Sanctirier,  one 
home.'" 

It  seemed  providential  that  Prof.  Murray,  of  Queen's 
College,  Kingston,  son  of  the  Chairman,  and  the  Rev.  W. 
Cochrane,  M.A.,  of  Brantford,  were  present,  and  gave  their 
estimate  of  the  services  which  Dr.  Burns  had  rendered  to 
his  adopted  country.  In  addition  to  bearing  generoua 
testimony  as  to  the  extent  and  influence  of  Dr.  Bums' 
labours  in  Canada,  Professor  Murray  said  : 

"  I  was  brought  up,  in  my  earlier  yesirs,  under  the  ministry  of 
Dr.  Burns.  It  was  under  his  ministry,  and  by  himself,  that  I  was 
introduced  to  the  Church  of  Christ  in  the  ordinance  of  baptism,  of 
which  important  ceremony  I  have  no  doubt  Dr.  Burns  has  about 
as  distinct  a  recollection  as  I  have  myself.  It  would  now  be  im- 
possible for  me  to  recall  to  remembrance  the  sermons  which  I  was 
privileged  to  hear  from  the  Hps  of  Dr.  Burns  ;  but  I  know  that  a 
minister  often  unconsciously  moulds  the  tenor  of  our  whole  lives, 
even  although  we  may  not  be  able  to  distinctly  recall  the  particular 
instances  where  the  truths  which  he  proclaimed  began  to  have  an 
influence  upon  us.  Therefore  I  do  not  think  that  I  am  wrong  in 
saying  that  even  in  these  earlier  days  of  my  life,  I  may  have  receiv- 
ed from  Dr.  Bums'  ministrations,  under  which  I  sat,  some  of  the 
most  valuable  influences  that  have  acted  upon  my  subsequent  life." 

In  a  like  spirit,  Mr.  Cochrane  remarked  : 

"  I  cannot  help  going  back  twenty-four  years  ago,  when  our 
venerated  father,  Dr.  Burns,  preached  his  farewell  sermon  in  this 
church.  He  had  then,  arrived  at  an  age  that  most  professional 
men  regard  as  entitling  them  to  comparative  rest  and  leisure  for 
the  remaining  portion  of  their  lives,  and  had  accomplished  a  work 
in  the  West  of  Scotland  second  to  none  of  his  contemporaries.  Bui; 
at  the  call  of  duty,  he  severed  the  fondest  ties  of  flesh  and  blood, 
bade  farewell  to  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  left  behind  him  a 
numerous,  influential,  and  devoted  congregation,  and  went  forth  to 
Canada  to  help  other  self-denying  men  who  had  preceded  him,  in 
laying  the  foundations  of  Scottish  Presbyterianism  in  that  rising 
colony.  I  shall  not  attempt  on  the  present  occasion  the  most 
meagre  epitome  of  Dr.  Burns'  labours  in  Western  Canada  during 


410  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

the  past  twenty-five  years.  As  minister,  as  professor,  and  as  a  sort 
of  universal  bishop,  he  has  had  the  care  of  all  the  churches,  and 
the  results  of  his  abundant  labours  are  now  manifested  in  many  parts 
of  the  land.  Why,  Mr.  Chairman,  there  is  scarcely  a  spot  in  Can- 
ada where  the  voice  of  Dr.  Burns  has  not  been  heard.  Travelling 
in  summer  and  in  winter  enormous  distances,  and  often  at  great 
personal  inconvenience,  with  the  thermometer  varying  from  blood 
heat  to  20  degrees  below  zero,  and  over  roads  that  would  shake  to 
pieces  a  much  younger  man,  the  Doctor  has  accomplished  a  work 
that  no  other  minister  of  our  church  has  ever  attempted.  We  in 
Canada  feel  truly  thankful  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  for 
having  spared  him  so  long,  and  strengthened  him  so  fully  for  his 
abundant  labours  ;  and  our  prayer  is,  that  for  years  to  come  he 
may  adorn  the  ministry  of  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church." 

Mr.  Cochrane  has  kindly  supplied  me  with  the  follow- 
ing very  interesting  statement,  which  furnishes  vivid 
glimpses  of  these  closing  months,  and  groups  the  principal 
occasions  of  their  meeting  in  Fatherland  : 

"  It  was  my  good  fortune  to  spend  the  summer  of  1869,  in  Britain, 
when  Dr.  Bums  was  making  his  last  visit  to  his  native  land.  The 
friendship  which  existed  between  us,  and  official  business  connected 
with  the  church  in  Canada,  brought  us  frequently  together.  On 
my  arrival  in  Edinburgh,  to  attend  the  United  Presbyterian  Synod, 
I  found  him  absent  on  a  preaching  tour,  and  assisting  at  a  sacra- 
mental season,  somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Brechin.  W  hen 
I  returned  a  week  afterwards,  for  the  Free  Church  Assembly,  the 
Doctor  was  in  the  city,  and  in  almost  daily  attendance  at  the  As- 
sembly hall.  He  had  procured  tickets  of  admission  to  the  students' 
gallery,  for  several  Canadian  students  then  on  a  visit  to  the  old 
world,  being  anxious  that  they  should  hear  the  famous  union  de- 
bates and  the  various  reports  on  home  and  foreign  missionary  opera- 
tions. Dr.  Burns'  love  for,  and  unwearied  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  the  students  of  Knox's  College,  is  too  well  known  in  Canada  to 
call  for  remark. 

"  This  attention  to  their  wants,  and  his  willingness  to  be  useful 
to  them,  in  circumstances  where  trivial  acts  of  kindness  were  of 
special  value,  were  most  marked  in  Scotland.  No  labour  was 
deemed  irksome  that  in  the  smallest  contributed  to  their  enjoy- 
ment or  afforded  them  opportunities  of  hearing  and  coming  into 
contact  with  men  of  note  in  the  ecclesiastical  world.  As  was  to  be 
expected,  he  did  not  forget,  both  in  public  and  in  private  to  press 
the  claims  of  the  colonial  field,  and  especially  those  of  Canada,  upon 
the  attention  of  those  more  immediately  interested  in  that  branch 
of  the  church's  operations.     Several  applications  in  person  and  by 


MR.  cochrane's  statement.  411 

letter  had  been  made  to  the  Doctor,  by  preachers  and  students  who 
were  turning  their  thoughts  to  Canada  as  their  future  field  of  labour. 
These  applications,  and  the  suitability  of  certain  candidates,  were 
a  frequent  topic  of  conversation  when  we  met.  Eager  though  he 
was  for  additional  ministers  to  fill  our  vacant  pulpits,  and  occupy  the 
far  ojBf  regions  now  opening  to  emigration,  he  was  exceedingly  cau- 
tious in  selecting. 

"  No  man  in  Canada  had  such  opportunities  of  exploring  the  field 
and  understanding  its  demands,  and  no  one  could  so  quickly  and 
accurately  decide  as  to  the  likelihood  of  success  in  given  cases. 

"  The  evening  came  when  we  were  to  address  the  Assembly.  On 
many  former  occasions,  the  deputies  from  the  Presbyterian  churches 
in  the  United  States,  had  precedence  of  the  Canadian  commission- 
ers. This  arrangement  the  Doctor  considered  unfair,  considering 
the  close  relations  of  the  Home  to  the  Colonial  churches.  In  pri- 
vate conversation  some  days  before,  he  told  me  what  steps  he  had 
taken  to  change  the  order,  although  he  was  by  no  means  sanguine 
of  accomplishing  his  object.  Having  succeeded,  however,  in  ob- 
taining for  the  Canadian  deputies  a  ^rs<  Aearw^gr,  his  next  concern 
was  that  we  should  maintain  the  good  name  and  standing  of  the 
church  in  Canada.  Dr.  Bums  had  often  in  former  days,  both  as 
deputy  and  as  member  of  court,  addressed  that  Assembly.  To  him 
it  was  indeed  no  labour,  even  at  the  age  of  'four  score  years'  to 
secure  the  ear  and  rivet  the  attention  of  any  audience.  As  Dr. 
Candlish  well  said,  in  moving  the  vote  of  thanks — he  was  '  still  the 
old  man  eloquent,'  whose  well  known  voice  in  former  years  had 
thrilled  the  hearts  of  thousands  and  given  forth  wise  counsels  in 
times  of  threatened  danger.  On  this  occasion,  however,  he  seemed 
more  than  usually  anxious,  not  only  as  to  how  the  younger  mem- 
ber of  the  deputation  should  comport  himself,  but  also  in  regard  to 
the  subjects  of  his  own  address.  The  almost  certainty  that  this 
would  be  his  last  address,  before  the  great  Assembly  of  his  much 
loved  mother  church — the  memory  of  scenes  and  associations,  and 
fellowships  of  other  days,  and  with  other  leaders  long  departed, 
and  probably  premonitions  of  the  coming  end,  unperceived  by 
friends,  may  have  tended  to  increase  his  solicitude.  I  need  hardly 
refer  to  his  address  before  the  Assembly,  suffice  it  to  say,  that  it 
was  a  noble  ending,  to  a  long  and  arduous  life  of  toil  and  self-de- 
nial, on  the  platform — in  the  ministry,  and  in  every  department  of 
Christian  enterprise  that  engaged  his  energies.  To  say  in  the  some- 
what stereotyped  language  of  the  press,  that  he  was  'received  with 
applause,'  would  give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  enthusiasm  that  pre- 
vailed in  the  vast  congregation.  It  was  a  simple  and  spontaneous, 
but  sincere  recognition  of  the  services  he  had  rendered  to  the  Scot- 
tish church  in  pre-disruption  times,  and  the  sacrifices  he  had  made 
in  sundering  tender  ties  and  going  far  hence  to  spread  the  princi- 
ples of  a  church  he  dearly  loved. 

**  After  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  and  previous  to  his  return 


412  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

to  Canada,  we  met  frequently,  both  on  public  occasions  and  at  the 
table  of  mutual  friends.  I  took  part  with  him  in  assisting  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Pollok,  of  the  Free  South  Church,  Paisley,  at  a  sacra- 
mental season,  and  was  present  on  the  following  Tuesday  evening 
at  the  farewell  gathering  in  Free  St.  George's.  The  magnificent 
testimonial  presented  him  by  his  fellow  townsmen,  among  whom  ho 
had  laboured  for  thirty-four  years,  brought  together  representa- 
tives from  all  the  different  churches  in  the  town  and  neighbourhood, 
and  was  to  him  an  occasion  of  great  joy  and  heartfelt  gratitude. 
After  this  he  preached  a  special  sermon  in  behalf  of  the  Paisley 
Tract  Society,  and  breakfasted  on  the  Monday  morning  at  the 
house  of  Dr.  Richmond — all  the  ministers  of  the  town  and  office- 
bearers of  the  society  being  present.  He  seemed  in  the  best  of 
health  and  spirits,  and  not  in  the  least  fatigued  by  the  repeated 
services  of  the  preceding  Sabbath.  I  never  heard  him  talk  more 
vigorously  than  on  this,  the  last  occasion  on  which  we  met.  He 
called  up  the  numerous  incidents  connected  with  the  formation  of 
the  Tract  Society — mentioned  the  names  one  by  one  of  its  early 
presidents  and  office-bearers — the  sermons  he  had  preached  in  its 
behalf  during  his  ministry  in  Saint  George's,  and  the  tracts  he  had 
written  for  circulation  under  its  auspices.  The  conversation  then 
turned  to  the  various  seasons  of  commercial  distress,  through  which 
the  town  had  passed,  and  the  frequency  of  his  visits  to  London  to 
seek  government  aid  for  the  destitute  poor.  Then  followed  the 
various  political  contests  in  which  he  had  occasionally  taken  a  some- 
what active  part,  and  finally  the  great  voluntary  controversy  prior 
to  disruption  times,  in  which  the  Doctor  was  an  honest  and  un 
flinching  defender  of  Establishments.  His  pen  was  busy  as  his 
tongue  during  these  years — so  busy  that  he  had  all  but  forgotten 
certain  pamphlets  he  had  published,  until  their  names  were  men- 
tioned. It  was  on  this  occasion,  that  the  incident  which  I  mention- 
ed in  the  Toronto  Assembly  of  1870,  occurred.  His  friend,  Dr. 
Richmond,  in  referring  to  ecclesiastical  movements  and  startling 
events  of  bygone  days,  alluded  to  the  little  asperities  which  the  vol- 
untary controversy  engendered,  and  the  unseemly  breached  that 
were  made  among  Christian  brethren  of  the  same  faith  ;  and  added 
'  but  I  need  hardly  say  that  all  this  was  a  strange  work  to  our  father 
Dr.  Burns — ^he  had  no  taste  for  such  work,  and  no  love  for  such  a 
controversy.'  *  Stop,  stop,'  said  the  Doctor,  interrupting  his  friend, 
the  chairman,  *  that  is  hardly  so — I  rather  think  I  liked  it.'  The 
downright  honesty  and  candour  of  Dr.  Bums  were  never  perhaps 
more  conspicuously  seen  than  in  this  simple  incident.  Not  that  he 
loved  controversy  for  the  sake  of  controversy  or  the  display  of  in- 
tellectual acuteness,  but  believing  that  his  opinions  were  scriptural 
and  right,  he  threw  himself  into  the  arena  of  debate,  and  was  so 
thoroughly  absorbed  in  it,  that  it  became  congenial  and  not  distaste- 
ful work. 

*'  In  our  occasional  meetings,  the  Doctor  talked  freely  about  Can- 


LAST  WEEKS   IN   SCOTLAND.  413 

ada  and  his  future  plans  in  the  land  of  his  adoption.  He  spoke 
hopefully  of  his  return  to  professorial  and  ministerial  duty,  and 
coming  years  of  occasional  service  in  the  church.  The  new  house 
then  building  for  him — but  which  he  never  entered — 'which  would 
be  so  conveniently  situated  to  the  college,'  was  matter  of  repeated 
remark. 

"  Those  of  his  friends  who  imagined  he  would  remain  in  Scotland, 
little  understood  the  intense  love  which  he  bore  to  the  Canada  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  all  that  appertained  to  her  history.  In  a 
modij&ed  sense,  the  closing  stanza  of  Augustine's  hymn  expresses 
the  feelings  of  his  soul  towards  his  beloved  Zion  : — 

"  Jerusalem  my  happy  home  ! 
My  soul  still  pants  for  thee  ; 
Then  shall  my  labours  have  an  end, 
When  I  thy  joys  shall  see." 

For  notices  of  his  last  weeks  in  Scotland,  and  his  last 
days  after  his  return,  we  gladly  avail  ourselves  of  the 
deeply  interesting  journal  of  her  who,  for  a  quarter  of  a 
ceutury,  had  been  truly  "a  help  meet  for  him;"  to  whose 
thoughtful  solicitude  for  his  personal  comfort,  and  prac- 
tical sympathy  in  his  public  work,  he  owed  so  much. 

"  On  the  7th  January,  1869,  Dr.  Bums  and  I  accompanied  Rev. 
Mr.  Thomson  to  a  district  missionary  meeting,  in  Gray's  Close, Can- 
ongate.  The  Doctor  was  deeply  interested  in  his  audience,  such  a 
crowd  of  hitherto  poor  uncared  for  outcasts. 

*'  He  spoke  to  them  on  the  'faith  of  Abraham'  and  at  the  close, 
was  surroanded  by  many  to  shake  hands  and  express  their  grati- 
tude. We  then  walked  up  High  street,  along  Grassmarket,  to 
Vennel  United  Presbyterian  Church,  where  there  was  a  similar 
meeting,  and  there  he  also  spoke,  not  getting  home  till  a  late 
hour. 

* 'January  18th. — Dr.  Bums  attended  a  missionary  meeting  of  Rose 
street  United  Presbjrterian  congregation,  in  Queen  Street  Hall. 
Very  fine  meeting.  Rev.  Dr.  Finlayson  presided,  and  Dr.  Bums 
was  most  enthusiastically  welcomed. 

"  In  the  early  part  of  the  Spring  of  1869,  he  had  a  great  desire 
to  visit  the  Continent  and  supply  one  of  the  churches  there  for  a 
few  weeks.  He  made  application,  but  the  arrangements  having 
been  made,  his  wish  was  not  gratified. 

"  He  was  satisfied  afterwards,  for  he  would  have  been  absent 
during  the  last  illness  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Briggs. 

''Many  homes  were  open  to  him  in  Paisley,  but  our  principal 


414  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

headquarters  were  at  Mr.  Morgan's,  Greenlaw,  where  unbounded 
kindness  and  hospitality  were  enjoyed.  Mrs.  M.  had  formerly  been 
one  of  the  children  of  his  flock  ;  and  it  was  her  joy  now  to  see 
her  venerable  pastor  take  her  baby  in  his  arms,  and  for  the  elder 
ones  to  gather  around  his  knee  and  get  his  smile  and  blessing. 
One  sweet  little  lamb  was  soon  after  our  visit,  gathered  to  the 
fold  above." 

"Thursday,  37th  February,  1869. 

"  Dr.  Bums  and  I  spent  an  hour  or  two  in  the  Parliament  House 
withMr.Nicolson.  Visited  the  Advocates'  Library;  200,000  volumes; 
first  Bible  published  ;  saw  the  original  MS.  of  Waverly  ;  copy  of 
every  piece  of  music  published.  Dr.  Burns  made  enquiry  about 
the  Wodrow  MSS.  The  librarian,  who  had  not  been  long  there,  did 
not  know  where  they  were.  Dr.  Burns  pointed  to  the  corner  where 
they  used  to  lie,  and  there  they  were.  In  a  small  room,  there  is 
preserved  above  the  door,  the  flag  or  banner  taken  at  the  Battle  of 
Flodden  ;  the  motto  is  the  most  entire  part  of  the  rehc,  and  to  us 
was  very  interesting,  it  is  Veritas  Vincit.  It  was  the  Keith  motto 
— (Burns'  family  motto,  as  well). 

"  It  was  on  the  16th  of  this  month  that  Mrs.  L.  wife  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  L,  (librarian  Free  college,)  died.  Dr.  Burns  had  visited  her 
frequently  during  her  long  severe  illness.  She  said  'you  have  come 
from  Toronto  to  be  a  blessing  and  comfort  to  me. '  She  was  an  ex- 
cellent Christian  woman. 

"  It  was  during  this  month  he  was  occupied  with  the  manuscripts 
of  W.  C.  B, ,  and  had  a  good  deal  of  correspondence,  regretting  much 
that  Canada  had  to  be  compressed  into  one  chapter,  when  there 
was  material  for  much  more." 

**  Saturday,  19th  February. 

*'  Mrs.  McNider  called  upon  the  Doctor  to  consult  with  him  about 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  French  Canadian  Missionary  Society. 
She  had  been  much  discouraged  by  the  failure  of  previous  meet- 
ings. The  Doctor  promised  to  attend  and  do  what  he  could  to  ex- 
cite some  interest.  So  he  wrote  to  some  ministers,  waited  per- 
sonally on  others.  The  meeting  was  held  on  the  25th,  and  was 
the  most  successful  that  had  been  for  many  years.  Mrs .  McMder 
was  greatly  cheered.  Mr.  Haldane  was  in  the  chair,  and  there 
were  interesting  addresses  by  young  Mr.  Monod,  Dr.  Wylie,  Dr. 
McCrie,  Dr.  Cullen,  Dr.  Burns,  Rev.  Mr.  Marshall,  United 
States. 

''Mr.  McDonald  read  the  report,  and  the  Doctor  had  some  con- 
versation with  him  afterwards.  When  we  came  home,  he  said  to 
me  '  I  am  disappointed  with  Mr.  M.  ;  I  don't  think  his  heart  is  in 
his  work.'     The  result  proved  so.* 

*My  father  always  felt  much  iiiterest  in  this  excellent  Society.     At  the  time  of  ita 
formation,  in  1839,  when  Dr.  Taylor  and  Mr.  Court,  of  Montreal,  visited  Scotland  in  ad- 


BUSH   EXPERIENCES.      DR.   DUFF.  415 

"  On  the  21st  of  this  month,  Dr.  Bums  attended  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Gaelic  schools,  having  been  present  at  its  first  meet- 
ing in  1810. 

"  When  we  were  arranging  about  our  visit  in  1868, 1  said,  *now  I 
hope  you  will  not  undertake  any  collecting  this  time,  for  you  are 
not  able  for  it  ?'  He  said  that  he  did  not  intend  that,  'but  if  I  can 
put  in  a  word  for  a  book  or  a  bursary,  you  won't  object  to  that  !' 

*'  At  a  private  meeting  of  friends  at  Mr.  Crichton's,  in  Paisley, 
some  reference  was  made  to  some  inconveniences  and  difficulties 
the  Doctor  had  encountered  in  the  back  woods.  He  seemed 
quite  annoyed  about  the  report,  and  took  the  opportunity  of 
enlarging  on  the  kindness  and  hospitality  he  had  always  ex- 
perienced.    *  I  am  always  well  taken  care  of.' " 

"  18th  July. 

*'The  last  Sabbath  Dr.  Bums  spent  in  Scotland,  was  at  Portobello. 
He  officiated  all  day  for  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ireland.  We  drove  down 
with  him  on  the  Saturday,  and  returned  for  him  on  Monday, 
being  accommodated  with  Dr.  Guthrie's  carriage.  His  last  public 
meeting  in  Edin.  was  on  Monday  evening,  (the  19th  July,)  in  the 
Free  High  church,  on  the  occasion  of  designating  two  missionaries 
to  India  (Rev.  Messrs.  Stephens  and  Whitten).  Dr.  Burns  was 
going  in  as  one  of  the  audience,  and  near  the  door,  Dr.  Dufi"  ob- 
served and  took  hold  of  him.  '  You  are  the  very  man  ;  we  must 
make  a  change  in  our  programme.'  Dr.  Duff  presided  ;  read  por- 
tions from  Ephesians,  and  then  spoke  of  Dr.  Bums  being  so  happi- 
ly present  as  their  veteran  missionary  about  to  return  to  the  far 
West,  while  the  two  younger  were  going  to  the  East.  Before  ask- 
ing Dr.  Burns  to  pray.  Dr.  D.  said  '  I  never  see  Dr.  Bums  but  I 
think  of  the  last  verses  of  the  92nd  Psalm.  I  cannot  do  better  than 
repeat  them,'  which  he  did  with  peculiar  impressiveness." 

"  Thursday,  22nd  July,  1869. 

*  *  Thursday,  the  last  day  we  spent  in  Edinburgh.  In  the  forenoon, 
called  about  books  for  Professor  Young 

"  We  called  at  Johnstone  and  Hunter's  to  leave  some  letters  of 
introduction  for  young  Mr.  Thornton,*  who  was  on  his  way  to  Edin. 
— then  to  Ogle,  bookseller,  and  picked  up  one  or  two  old  works. 
The  Doctor  said  he  could  not  leave  Edin.  without  visiting  the  In- 
dustrial Museum,  so  we  spent  an  hour  or  two  there,  and  he  looked  at 
as  many  objects  as  time  and  strength  admitted  of.  We  called  on 
Dr.  C.  Brown  and  Dr.  H.  Bonar,  who,  within  three  months,  had  a 
second  family  bereavement      The  evening  was  spent  at  home. 

vocacy  of  its  claims,  he  rendered  efficient  assistance.  He  attended  and  spoke  at  the  first 
meeting  held  in  Glasgow,  which  was  the  fiist  occasion  on  which  a  minister  of  the  Estab- 
lishment frateraized  with  his  dissenting  brethi-eu  after  the  excitement  and  asperities  of 
the  voluntarj'  controversy. 

*  Rev.  R.  M.  Thornton,  M.A.,  of  Montreal. 


416  LIFE  OF   REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

'*  On  Friday,  23rd,  after  early  breakfast,  we  all  joined  in  family 
prayer,  and  parted  with  dear  relatives  at  Latiriston  Park,  a  little 
after  9  a,  m.  A  number  of  friends  were  at  the  Caledonian  station, 
among  others,  Dr.  Guthrie,  who  had  some  minutes  conversation 
with  the  Doctor  after  we  were  seated  in  the  carriage,  principally  on 
the  subject  of  a  visit  to  America,  He  and  others  cheered  us  off, 
and  we  had  a  very  pleasant  journey  to  Liverpool,  where  we  arrived 
at  6  p.  m.  ;  remained  at  the  Waterloo  hotel  till  next  morning  ;  at 
10,  went  on  board  the  Cunard  steamship  Russia,  and  sailed  at  noon. 
The  Doctor  stood  the  voyage  as  well  as  usual,  but  I  thought  he  was 
not  so  lively — was  disappointed  that  there  could  be  no  arrangement 
for  worship  in  the  evening. 

"  He  was  cheered  when  Captain  Lott  intimated  to  him  on  Satur- 
day, 31st,  that  he  would  have  an  opportunity  of  preaching  next 
morning,  and  introduced  him  to  Rev.  Mr.  Goodwin,  an  Episcopal 
clergyman.  On  Sabbath,  August  1st,  he  arose  before  7,  arranged 
for  service,  which  was  held  in  the  saloon  at  half -past  10.  The  Eng- 
lish service  was  read  solemnly,  and  then  Dr.  Burns  preached  a 
short  sermon  from  2  Cor.  v.  21  :  '  He  made  Him  to  be  sin  for  us 
who  knew  no  sin.*  He  dwelt  on  the  doctrine  and  blessed  results. 
Most  of  the  passengers  were  present,  also  the  captain  and  about 
thirty  sailors.  The  audience  listened  very  earnestly,  and  seemed 
amazed  at  the  force  and  readiness  of  the  speaker,  as  some  of  them 
said  after,  they  expected  to  have  Listened  to  a  read  discourse. 

^'  There  was  no  other  service,  so  after  lunch,  we  spent  the  sacred 
day  in  our  berth. 

' '  On  Monday  he  felt  rather  languid,  but  in  the  afternoon  he  went 
on  deck  and  revived,  having  a  good  deal  of  conversation  with  an 
American  lady  and  gentleman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence,  and  a 
number  came  round  to  enquire  for  him,  and  speak  of  yesterday's 
service.     Our  pleasant  intercourse  seemed  then  to  begin. 

"  We  had  not  as  much  reading  as  usual,  we  were  inclined  to  rest 
after  past  excitement,  and  there  was  considerable  rolling  of  the 
vessel.  The  season  being  early  it  was  rather  cold  to  sit  long  on 
dejk.  We  read  the  life  of  Robert  Brown — some  reviews,  and  the 
Synod's  discussion  on  the  Gait  revivals. 

"  Tuesday,  3rd  August,  land  in  sight.  As  we  approached  Staten 
Island  (unknown  to  any  but  the  officers,)  detectives  came  on  board, 
as  among  the  passengers  were  a  party  of  forgers,  hailing  from  Lon- 
don— apprehended  as  soon  as  they  landed. 

' '  We  were  nearly  two  hours  getting  to  Jersey  City,  where  our 
nephew  J.  J.  B.,  met  us  and  helped  us  through  all  our  Custom 
House  difficulties,  &c.  We  rested  at  the  Everett  house,  enjoyed 
dinner  and  night's  rest,  but  with  much  reluctance  the  Doctor  gave 
up  the  idea  of  a  visit  to  Princeton,  which  he  promised  to  Dr.  Mc- 
Cosh.  He  proposed  to  go  and  return  next  morning,  and  then  leave 
by  train  for  Toronto. 

"  The  heat  was  great— besides  an  addition  of  140  miles  journey, 


PBINCETON.   TORONTO.   MR.  KING.   LAST  SERMON.   417 

and  the  uncertainty  of  Dr.  McCosh  being  at  home.  ^  Very  well,' 
then  he  said,  '1  suppose  I  must  give  it  up,  as  you  are  all  opposed  to 
it.'  He  took  breakfast  in  bed  next  morning,  seemed  quite  refresh- 
ed, and  enjoyed  a  drive  which  our  nephew  gave  us  round  the  grand 
Central  Park  (1,800  acres,  twenty-five  miles  of  walk).  He  allowed 
then,  that  it  was  better  than  going  to  Princeton.  In  order  to  avoid 
the  heat,  we  thought  it  best  to  travel  during  night,  so  we  left  at 
haK-past  six,  a  beautiful  evening,  came  on  comfortably,  though 
tired,  to  the  Suspension  Bridge,  then  by  Hamilton  to  Toronto. 

*' Not  getting  access  to  the  house  which  we  had  taken  by  lease 
and  was  built  for  our  occupancy,  we  took  up  our  abode  at  Knox 
College.  On  entering,  the  Dr.  said  to  Mrs.  Willing,  *  Now,  we 
have  come  to  stay  a  fortnight  with  you,  and  then  I  am  going 
home.'*  On  Friday,  we  remained  in  the  house,  several  friends 
calling.  In  the  morning  he  was  busy  in  getting  two  boxes  of  books 
for  students  opened — they  were  standing  in  the  hall  and  caught  his 
eye  as  soon  as  we  entered.  *  See,'  said  he,  '  they  are  here  before 
us.'  He  wanted  to  carry  up  some  of  the  volumes  himself,  when 
two  young  friends  came  and  assisted.  They  were  put  in  his  own 
room,  and  he  began  to  arrange  them.  One  or  two  of  the  students 
called  and  got  their  copies,  (of  Cunningham).  On  Saturday  after- 
noon there  was  an  eclipse  of  the  sun.  He  came  out  to  the  green 
and  we  stood  under  a  tree,  and  then  walked  up  and  down,  watching 
its  progress. 

' '  He  then  went  in  and  had  a  long  talk  with  Rev.  Mr.  Sanson, 
Church  of  England.     Other  friends  also  came  in. 

"  Sabbath,  7th  August;  very  fine  day;  we  left  early  and  walked 
slowly  to  church,  meeting  friends  who  congratulated  the  Doctor 
on  looking  so  well.  He  heard  with  great  comfort  and  satisfaction 
a  sermon  from  Rev.  Mr.  King,  from  Luke  xii.  40  ;  'Be  ye  also 
ready' — subject,  '  sudden  death,'  in  connection  with  a  solemn  event 
in  the  congregation — death  by  drowning  of  two  young  men,  cousins, 
of  the  name  of  Mackay — they  had  been  in  church  the  Sabbath 
before.  The  Doctor  spoke  of  the  excellence  and  appropriateness 
of  the  discourse. 

"He  rested  till  evening,  when  he  preached  in  Gould  street,  to 
a  large  audience  from  2  Cor.  xiv.  15,  16,  on  the  triumphs  of  the 
Gospel,  beginning  with  an  account  of  the  progress  of  God's  work 
in  Scotland — referring  to  his  visits  to  Ferryden,  Perth,  &c. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  discourse  he  dwelt  much  on  the  words 
'  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things.'  Dr.  Tempest  drove  him  home, 
he  was  quite  lively ;  came  down  stairs ;  joined  us  with  Mr. 
King  at  worship. 

The  last  records  in  his  own  day-book  are  very  brief : 

"  Friday,  August  6. — Staying  at  Knox  College.     Sabbath,  8th, 

*  Precisely  that  day  fortnight  he  removed  to  the  "  house  not  made  with  bands." 


418  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

preached  in  the  evening  in  Gould  street,  on  *  Now  thanks  be  unto 
God,  which  canseth  us  to  triumph  in  Christ  ;'  greatly  delighted. 

"  Tuesday,  10th  August. — Wrote  to  Principal  Willis  and  Dr. 
Mc Vicar,  of  Montreal,"  (his  last  letters j. 

The  letter  to  Dr.  Willis  was  as  follows  : — 

"  Knox  Collecje, 
"  Toronto,  10th  August,  1869. 

"  My  Dear  Dr.  Willis, — We  sailed  from  Liverpool  on  the  24th 
July,  by  the  Cunard  steamship  Russia,  and  reached  New  York  on 
Tuesday  last,  (3rd  inst. ,)  in  safety  and  in  health — much  mercy. 
We  thought  of  spending  a  week  at  or  about  the  great  city  of  the 
States,  but  the  hot  weather  and  other  considerations  changed  our 
plans,  and  on  we  came,  after  one  night's  comfortable,  but  fearfully 
expensive  residence  at  the  '  Everett  House,'  and  by  the  New  York 
Central  reached  our  own  city  in  safety,  by  4  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon of  Thursday.  On  enquiry,  we  found  that  you  had  gone  off  to 
Niagara  on  the  morning  of  that  day,  and  I  hope  this  will  find  Mrs. 
W.  and  yourseK  in  the  healthful  enjoyment  of  recreation  for  a  few 
weeks.  We  had  much  agreeable  intercourse  in  Edinburgh  and 
Glasgow  with  your  relatives,  and  with  many  mutual  friends.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jamieson  Willis,  we  had  not  seen  very  recently,  but,  we 
had  frequent  meetings— one  evening  party  at  their  house  with  a 
number  of  esteemed  friends,  and  they  were  my  hearers  on  Sabbath 
in  the  new  church  at  Stockbridge.  We  saw  also,  Mrs.  Orr  Pater- 
son,  Mrs.  Robert  Wodrow,  Misses  Wingate,  &c. 

"  I  preached  in  about  fifty  places  of  worship,  and,  in  the  present 
rfis-united  state  of  things,  by  reason  of  union  movements,  I  made 
no  distinctions  in  my  favours — preaching  alternately  for  Dr.  C. 
Brown  and  Dr.  Begg  ;  Sir  Henry  Moncrieff  and  Mr.  Moody  Stuart, 
Dr.  Candlish  and  Dr.  H.  Bonar,  Mr.  Davidson  ^d  Mr.  Main. 

"  I  have  brought  with  me  a  good  many  books  for  our  library, 
and  something  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  bursaries,  &c. 

"  I  lay  my  account  with  giving  the  opening  lecture,  on  the  first 
Wednesday  of  October,  and  of  course  I  will  be  very  busy  till  then. 

' '  On  your  return  we  shall  expect  a  meeting  for  arrangement  of 
college  duties.  Mrs.  B.  joins  in  all  good  wishes  for  Mrs.  W.  and 
yourself,  and 

*'  I  am,  Dear  Sir, 

"  Ever  truly  yours, 

"  Rob.  Burns." 

My  mother's  journal  continues  : 

"Wednesday,  11th  August. — Soon  after  going  to  bed  complained 
of  chill — got  a  little  better,  but  kept  his  bed  next  day — said  to  me, 
*  you  had  your  sickness  at  sea,  J  am  going  to  have  mine  now,   and 


I 


"RECORD   LETTER."      SERIOUS  ILLNESS.  419 

I  shall  be  the  better  for  it. '  A  simple  remedy  seemed  to  restore 
him,  and  he  was  desirous  to  fulfil  an  engagement  he  had  made  for 
the  evening.     I  persuaded  him  to  remain  in  bed  for  a  rest." 

During  this  day  (Thursday,  12th),  my  wife  and  I,  who 
had  come  over  from  St.  Catharines,  where  we  had  been 
spending  part  of  our  summer  holidays,  met  with  him  for 
the  first  time  since  his  return.  He  was  remarkably 
cheerful,  chatted  freely  about  his  visit  to  the  old  country, 
and  seemed  as  happy  and  hopeful  as  we  had  ever  seen 
him. 

The  journal  resumes  : 

"  He  insisted  on  my  going  for  a  little  to  the  house  of  a  friend. 
When  I  came  in,  he  was  in  his  own  room  ;  had  conducted  worship 
with  the  household  ;  conversed  with  two  students,  and  als<j  with 
one  of  our  servants  about  her  marriage  (she  had  been  waiting  for 
the  Doctor's  return).  He  felt  weak,  but  said,  as  a  joke,  *  you  see 
how  well  I  have  got  on  !'  During  the  night  there  was  a  violent 
thunder  storm,  preceded  by  great  darkness,  during  which  I  lost  my 
way,  in  going  from  one  room  to  another.  He  slept  pretty  well. 
During  the  noise  of  the  thunder,  he  repeated  the  line,  '  But  the 
full  thunder  of  His  power,  what  heart  can  understand.'  In  the 
morning  he  could  not  be  prevailed  on  to  keep  his  bed — *  No,  no,' 
he  said,  '  I  must  be  spicy  to-day,  Robert  saw  me  in  bed  yesterday, 
I  must  not  be  there  to-day  !'  I  observed  his  colour  very  yellow, 
and  told  him  ;  '  Well,  but  I  am  better.'  He  shaved  and  dressed  ; 
came  to  his  sitting-room  and  resumed  a  letter  he  had  been  writing 
to  Rev.  Mr,  Reid,*  an  account  of  his  visit  to  Scotland.  He  wished 
me  to  go  and  see  Mr.  Blaikie  about  the  house,  to  enquire  about  the 
Mackay  family,  and  to  get  some  little  things  for  him.  In  the  mean- 
time R.  and  E.  came  in — and  though  he  spoke  cheerfully,  his  tone 
of  voice  was  solemn.     They  had  come  to  say  good  bye." 

We  found  him  looking  jaundiced,  and  strongly  advised 
him  to  discontinue  his  writing  and  to  lie  down.  We  had 
a  delightful  interview,  which  an  unwillingness  to  tire  him 
made  us  abridge.  Still,  although  he  looked  poorly,  there 
was  nothing  to  excite  immediate  or  serious  apprehension. 

*  Our  church's  invaluable  agent,  who  was  ever  a  faithful  friend,  for  whom  my  father 
had  a  great  regard. 


420  LIFE  OF  KEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

The  journal  continues : 

"  I  was  absent  for  about  an  hour  and-a-half,  and  by  the  time  I 
returned  he  was  very  ill.  I  found  his  pen  in  the  ink,  watch  on  the 
table,  and  no  progress  made  in  writing  the  letter.  He  had  thrown 
himself  on  the  bed  in  the  other  room,  complained  of  cold,  and  our 
little  girl  of  her  own  accord  had  run  for  the  Doctor.  She  heard 
him  say  'Constantinides.'  He  came  very  soon  after  me,  and  when  he 
found  the  Doctor  was  so  ill,  said  he  was  glad  he  was  not  ten  min- 
utes later.  Meantime,  kind  Mrs.  Willing,  had  applied  hot  water, 
&c.  This  was  the  last  time  he  was  dressed.  By  continued  hot  ap- 
plications, stimulants  and  constant  watching,  he  revived  and  began 
to  feel  comfortable.  He  slept  pretty  well,  and  on  Saturd  ay  was  better. 
He  had  two  engagements  for  Sabbath — one  West  Church,  and  Mr. 
Campbell's.  We  at  once  got  these  filled  up,  so  as  to  relieve  his 
mind — also  gave  Mr.  Reid  the  nearly  finished  letter,  that  he  might 
have  no  anxiety  about  it.  He  made  enquiries  in  regard  to  both, 
but  was  satisfied  when  I  told  him  they  were  both  disposed  of.  He 
said,  *I  wished  to  add  two  or  three  sentences  to  the  letter,  which  I 
will  dictate  to  you,  also  to  page  it.' 

**  Sabbath,  15th. — He  kept  his  bed,  but  seemed  considerably 
better. 

"  Minnie  went  with  Mrs.  Willing  to  church,  and  the  Doctor  pro- 
posed my  going  out.  I  said,  *  no,  no,  this  is  your  rest  day,  and  it 
will  be  mine  too — we  shall  spend  it  quietly  together.'  He  slumber- 
ed a  little,  and  I  read  to  myself  part  of  the  '  Sure  and  practical  use 
of  saving  knowledge.'  Dr.  C.  came  in  about  12,  and  finding  the 
Doctor  better,  talked  with  him  for  half  an  hour,  and  gave  him  an 
interesting  account  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Judge  R.  whom  he  had  at- 
tended. In  the  course  of  the  day,  I  read  to  him  part  of  the  Free 
Church  of  Scotland  monthly  Record  for  August,  1869.  It  contained 
seven  obituary  notices  of  ministers  in  Scotland,  all  of  whom  he  knew 
more  or  less  intimately — especially  Dr.  Forrester,  of  Nova  Scotia, 
and  Mr.  Buchan,  of  Hamilton,  Of  the  latter,  he  had  given  some  in- 
teresting reminiscences  at  a  prayer  meeting  in  Hamilton,  the  day 
after  his  funeral  sermon  was  preached,  not  long  before  we  left  Scot- 
land. He  had  also  written  a  sketch  for  his  widow,  whom  he  visited. 
I  selected  these  two,  being  his  most  intimate  friends — while  read- 
ing, he  was  a  good  deal  aflfected,  and  said :  '  These  are  to  me  in- 
tensely interesting,  read  on  ;'  he  also  supplied  some  particulars 
that  were  omitted.  Afraid  of  fatiguing  him,  I  said  :  'We  had  better 
rest  a  little,  and  I  will  take  something  else  for  a  change.'  He  was 
sitting  up  in  bed. 

"  After  a  little,  I  brought  another  book,  saying,  '  Here  is  a  nice 
volume  of  sermons  we  have  had  in  our  bag  on  our  voyage.  I  was 
reading  one.'  '  0  yes,  read  me  one.  I  picked  up  that  volume  in  my 
brother's  library,  atCorstorphine;  my  name  is  on  it,  I  wish  that  book  to 
be  yours.  When  Dr.  Thomson  was  editor  of  the  Christian  Instritcfro, 
being  busy,  he  sent  me  that  volume  to  review.     The  author  is  the 


EEADING,   SINGING,   PRAYING.  421 

Rev.  Mr.  Cunningham,  of  Harrow  on  the  Hill,  London,  an  excel- 
lent man.  You  will  find  the  article  in  such  a  volume,  such  a  year 
of  the  Christian  Instructor.^  I  said  :  'You  must  wait  until  we  get  our 
books  unpacked  again' — (Robert  and  I  found  it  afterwards,  just  date 
and  place  as  he  said). 

''  We  had  not  much  more  reading,  but  he  continued  to  sit  up, 
the  day  was  very  warm  and  bright,  and  he  enjoyed  the  window  be- 
ing open.  He  said  he  felt  only  a  little  oppression  about  the  chest, 
for  that  the  Doctor  prescribed  a  mustard  poultice,  which  relieved 
him.  As  it  grew  dark,  I  proposed  that  for  a  change,  Minnie  and  I 
should  sing  some  of  her  pretty  hymns.  The  hymns  were  in  succes- 
sion :  *  Thy  will  be  done,'  '  Jehovah  Tsidkenu,'  '  Shall  we  gather  at 
the  river,'  and  his  great  favourite,  *  Nearer  my  God  to  thee'  (this 
he  always  carried  in  his  note  book^.  He  said,  .  ith  tears  and  a 
tremulous  voice,  '  that  is  delightful,'  and  '  oh  dear  Minnie,  try  not 
only  to  sing,  but  to  get  the  spirit  of  these  hymns. ' 

"  I  then  bid  her  try  one  or  two  more  lively,  and  she  sang  *  The 
happy  land,'  and  *  Rest  for  the  weary.'  '  That  will  do,  dear,  that 
will  do.' 

' '  I  then  proposed  that  in  case  the  Doctor  should  come,  if  he  felt 
able,  we  should  have  worship  and  prayer  first,  that  he  might  not  be 
tired  or  interrupted.  He  agreed  to  this  and  he  prayed  most  solemn- 
ly and  earnestly,  comprehensively  asking  a  blessing  on  all  the  ser- 
vices of  the  day — pleading  for  all  ministers,  congregations,  &c.,  as 
clearly  as  ever  I  heard  him.  This  was  his  last  public  exercise,  and 
surely  it  is  recorded  in  Heaven. 

"  During  the  night  he  became  worse.  Dr.  Constantinides  brought 
Dr.  Bethune,  an  old  and  esteemed  friend  of  the  family,  for  consul- 
tation. On  Tuesday  he  was  restless — but  during  that  night  when 
Dr.  Bethune  was  watching,  he  rallied  wonderfully." 

(So  much  so,  that  the  countermanding  of  the  telegram 
sent  to  me  during  the  day  to  Chicago,  was  thought  of.) 

The  journal  continues  : — 

"  On  Wednesday  afternoon,  (18th  inst.,)  Robert  and  Elizabeth 
arrived.     I  think  he  knew  them. 

"  He  tried  to  look  at  me,  and  I  believe  it  was  the  last  of  recogni- 
tion, but  utterance  had  failed. 

"  After  this,  he  sank  into  a  lethargy  from  which  he  never  rallied, 
symptoms  of  increased  prostration,  never  moving  from  one  position 
— any  liquid  rejected. 

"  The  Doctor  assured  us  he  was  not  suflfering,  but  that  there 
would  be  no  rallying.  '  He  ia  dying  now,'  said  Dr.  C— who  never 
left,  waiting  on  him  as  a  son,  doing  any  or  every  thing  to  alleviate 
or  soothe,  so  also  Dr.  Bethune ;  to  both  I  will  ever  be  grateful  for 


422  LIFE  OF  EEV.  DE.   BUENS. 

their  unremitting  attention.  '  Do  you  think  the  Doctor  is  conscious 
now  V  asked  my  dear  friend  Mrs.  Leslie,  (who,  thirteen  years  ago 
had,  along  with  our  early  and  much  valued  friend,  Mrs.  Captain 
Dick,  been  my  constant  helpers  during  a  long  illness  of  the  Doctor, 
an  illness  then  apparently  much  more  severe  than  the  present). 

"To  Mrs.  L.'s  enquiry.  Dr.  C.  very  beautifully  replied,  'JVb,  the 
dear  Doctor  won't  be  conscious  again,  till  he  awake  in  Heaven  !' 
Heavy  breathing  now  commenced,  with  intervals  of  a  deep  drawn 
Bigh,  as  if  signifying  the  struggle  between  the  earthly  tenement  and 
the  spirit  seeking  to  be  free.  I  shall  never  forget  the  sound  of 
that  sigh,  which  became  less  frequent  and  less  intense,  as  the 
breathing  became  gradually  fainter  and  fainter;  after  twelve  hours 
it  ceased,  with  a  gentle  flutter — tongue  moved  a  little,  and  then 
every  muscle  was  still ;  and  the  liberated  spirit  passed  away  at 
twenty  minutes  past  ten,  on  Thursday  morning,  19th  August. 

"  During  the  night  the  dying  bed  was  surrounded  by  ministers 
and  kind  Christian  friends,  every  approaching  sign  of  dissolution 
was  anxiously  watched — at  intervals,  fervent  prayer  was  ofiered, 
and  occasionally  a  few  verses  of  a  psalm  or  hymn  were  mournfully 
sung.  As  the  spirit  was  departing,  the  Rev.  Mr.  King  said  :  Pro- 
fessor Young,  will  you  give  thanks  ?  "  Praise  followed  from  earth, 
praise  welcomed  to  heaven." 

"  All  night  we  watched  the  ebbing  life, 
As  if  its  flight  to  stay, 
Till  as  the  morning  hour  came  on, 
Our  last  hope  passed  away. 

**  Each  flutter  of  the  pulse,  we  marked, 
Each  quiver  of  the  eye  ; 
To  the  dear  lips,  our  ear  we  laid, 
To  catch  the  last  long  sigh. 

"  At  last  the  fluttering  pulse  stood  still, 
The  death-frosts  through  the  clay 
Stole  slowly,  and  as  morn  drew*on, 
Our  loved  one  passed  away.'' 


CHAPTER  XXI 


MEMORIAL    TESTIMONIES. 

R  BURNS  died  on  the  morning  of  Thursday, 
the  19th  of  August,  1869,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years  and  six  months.    On  the  after- 
noon of  Saturday,  the  21st,  he  was  buried. 
On  Sabbath,  the  22nd,  most  appropriate 
sermons  were  preached  in  Gould  street  Church,  in 
the  forenoon  by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  King,  M.A.,  pastor 
of  the  family,  and  in  the  evening  by  the  Rev.  M. 
JMJ  Willis,  D.D.,  LL.D.,   Principal   of  Knox    College. 
Both  were  subsequently  published,  and  had  a  wide 
circulation.     From  many  pulpits  in  the  City  and  through- 
out the  Province,  the  event  was  improved. 

It  seemed  meet  that  his  earthly  career  should  terminate 
in  the  College  with  whose  rise  and  progress  he  had  so 
much  to  do. 


424  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

Friends  (principally  in  Toronto)  have  erected  over  his 
grave,  in  the  most  elevated  part  of  the  Toronto  Necro- 
polis, of  which  he  was  one  of  the  original  proje-^tors,  a 
massive  and  costly  monument  of  Aberdeen  granite,  bear- 
ing his  name  and  the  mottoes  of  the  Burns  and  Bonar 
families,  which  are  singularly  appropriate  : 

"  Veritas  Vincit  "—(Truth  conquers^. 
"  Deniqub  Cgelum  "—(Heaven  at  last). 

Letters  of  sympathy  and  regard  poured  in  from  all 
quarters,  representative  specimens  of  which  may  be  in- 
serted. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  Eraser,  LL.D.,  of  the  Free  Middle  Church, 

Paisley,  from  whom  he  received  very  great  kindness  during 

his  last  visit,  thus  writes  : 

"Sept.  27th,  1869. 

"  I  often  think  of  that  dear  friend  whom  I  so  recently  met  here, 
and  whose  marvellous  devotedness  and  mental  energy  both  sur- 
prised and  stimulated  me.  What  a  life  was  his  !  Ceaseless  activ- 
ity in  his  Master's  cause  marked  it  to  its  very  close.  All  here  loved 
him.  His  last  visit  was  a  blessing.  No  other  minister  that  has 
been  here  has  been  so  loved  ;  and  no  wonder,  for  Dr.  Bums  had 
this  characteristic  so  prominently  that  all  saw  it,  and  acknowledged 
it — singular  unselfishness.  Whatever  he  did  was  not  for  self,  but 
for  his  brother-man  and  in  his  Master's  name.  You  have  this  assur- 
ance, that  your  beloved  companion  has  entered  into  a  glorious  rest." 

In  another  letter,  Mr.  Fraser  writes : 

*'  No  minister  has  ever  taken  such  a  deep  hold  of  all  this  com- 
munity. All  classes  and  stations  revere  his  memory.  I  am  de- 
lighted to  hear  that  there  is  a  probability  of  a  Life  of  Dr.  Bums. 
I  hope  it  will  be  issued  early,  but  one  can  hardly  hope  for  that  with 
a  life  extending  over  so  long  a  period,  and  embracing  within  its  due 
sphere  of  action  so  much  that  is  really  historical  both  in  Scotland 
and  in  Canada." 

Dr.  Guthrie,  the  last  to  part  with  him  a  few  brief  weeks 
previously  at  the  railway  station  in  Edinburgh,  and  be- 


DR.   GUTHRIE.      DR.  C.  J.  BROWN.      MRS.   COUTTS.         425 

tween  whom  and  himself  there  existed  a  strong  mutual 

regard,  expresses  his  sorrowful  surprise  at  the  sudden 

translation : 

''  Edinburgh,  Sept.  1869, 

*'Dr.  Btims  looked  so  elastic,  strong,  and  hale,  that  I  looked 
forward  to  years  still  of  usefulness  for  him,  and  was  in  the  habit  of 
saying  that  of  those  remaining  when  he  left  this  country,  he  was 
much  the  most  likely  to  reach  the  years  of  the  days  of  his  fathers. 
But  God,  his  God,  has  seen  it  meet  to  ordain  otherwise  ;  and  what 
becomes  us  so  much  now  but  to  praise  Him,  that  He  spared  Dr. 
Burns  so  long  to  you,  to  us,  to  America,  and  to  His  church,  and 
gave  him  so  much  strength  to  work  on  to  the  last.  He  did  indeed 
die  in  harness,  and  after  a  life  of  extraordinary  labours,  in  which 
his  old  age  often  put  both  youth  and  manhood  to  the  blush,  he 
has  now  entered  on  rest." 

Rev.  Dr.C.  J.  Brown,  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland  for  1872,  and  an  esteemed 
friend  of  many  years'  standing,  in  a  touching  and  beauti- 
ful letter,  says  : 

"  Edinburgh,  Sept.  1869. 

"  How  strange  it  seems  to  us  that  dear  Dr.  Burns,  who  left  us  in 
such  vigour  and  spirit,  should  scarce  have  set  his  foot  down  again 
in  his  adopted  country  when  the  voice  reached  him,  '  Come  up 
hither.'  And  yet,  though  it  must  have  taken  you  by  surprise,  it 
was  scarce  surprising  either.  The  real  wonder  was  his  previous 
amazing  vigour.  What  a  mercy,  and  how  rare  a  one,  that  he  should, 
to  such  an  age,  have  not  only  been  spared,  but  enabled  to  the  last 
to  do  the  work  of  a  young  man,  with  scarce  almost  weariness.  1 
know,  dear  Mrs.  Bums,  that  you  thankfully  feel  all  this,  and  are 
persuaded  that  without  a  murmur,  amid  whatever  sorrow,  you  have 
been  enabled  to  give  him  up,  even  as  dear  Mrs.  Coutts,  when,  in 
very  early  life,  she  had  to  part  with  her  admirable  husband,  and 
who,  sitting  on  the  bed,  with  her  hand  under  his  head,  waiting  for 
the  last  breath,  when  told  by  the  nurse  that  he  was  gone,  just  with- 
drew her  hand  gently  and  said,  '  Is  he  gone  ?  then  J  let  go  my  hold  ; 
my  Maker  is  my  husband,  the  Lord  of  Hosts  is  His  name.' 

''  Truly  Dr.  Burns  was  taken  away  like  a  shock  of  com  fully  ripe, 
and  though  we  are  apt  to  think  of  the  many  things  he  was  still 
planning,  and  I  suppose  engaged  with,  yet  that  is  but  our  poor 
thought.  His  work  was  done  !  The  Lord  makes  no  mistakes.  We 
have  each  our  fixed,  allotted  portion  and  measure  of  work,  and 
another  comes  in  to  take  up  what  we  leave.  How  blessed  to  think 
of  that  account  of  the  believer's  departure  :  "  Father,  I  will  that 


426  LIFE   OF    EEV.  DR.   BURNS. 

they  also  whom  thou  hast  given  me  be  with  me,  where  I  am,  that 
they  may  behold  my  glory.'  You  will  now  exchange  your  prayers 
for  Dr.  Burns  for  thanksgivings  in  connection  with  his  brighter 
blessedness  ;  and  you  have  for  yourself  and  the  future  in  the  wil- 
derness, all  the  promises  of  leading,  strength,  consolation,  &c.,  &c., 
until  you  shall  be  called  to  join  the  innumerable  company  above. 
May  the  Lord,  the  wonderful  Counsellor,  direct  you  aright  ! " 

The  Rev.  Alexander  Cameron,  "whom  my  father  often 
visited,  always  with  pleasure,  in  his  Canadian  as  well  as 
Scottish  charges,  lets  his  sympathetic  soul  overflow  : 

"  Ardersier,  Sept.  1869. 

''My  dear  Mrs.  Burns, — Little  did  I  think  when  I  received 
your  last  kind  note  from  Edinburgh,  announcing  yoiir  intention  of 
embarking  from  Liverpool,  that  the  next  news  from  Canada  was  to 
be  the  death  of  my  dearly  beloved  friend  and  father,  your  honoured 
husband.  Yet  after  all,  my  dear  friend,  there  is  nothing  to  regret ; 
Ms  work  was  done,  and  I  believe  well  done  in  the  estimation  of  the 
blessed  Master  whom  he  served  so  long  and  so  faithfully.  Does 
any  living  doubt  that  he  has  received  the  happy  welcome,  '  Well 
done,'  &c.  1  Let  us,  therefore,  not  grudge  that  he  has  got  to  his 
rest  at  last,  though  somewhat  sooner,  perhaps,  than  we  wished. 
He  took  little  rest  while  here.  If  work,  and  especially  work  for 
Christ,  could  be  said  to  be  any  man's  meat  and  drink,  it  was  surely 
that  of  Dr.  Burns.  'In  labours  more  abundant.'  JSe  would  not 
Bay  so,  but  we  will  all  say  it  now.  It  is  long  since  I  knew  him  first, 
slightly,  even  before  he  left  Paisley  ;  then  in  Canada,  as  my  pastor 
and  professor  and  friend.  I  accompanied  him  to  the  backwoods  on 
preaching  tours  (no  slight  privilege).      He  licensed  me,  visited  me 

at  Glengarry  again  and  again The  more  I  was  with  him  the 

more  I  loved  and  esteemed  him.  My  heart,  while  I  write,  is  full 
to  overflowing,  my  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  yet  not  tears  so  much 
of  sorrow  as  of  thankfulness  to  God  that  I  ever  enjoyed  so  much  of 
his  society  and  confidence,  and  for  all  that  the  Lord  did  in  him  and 
for  him.  His  last  visit  to  Ardersier  with  yourself,  besides  the 
gratification  it  afibrded  to  myself  and  dear  partner,  has  left  a  most 
salutary  impression  upon  the  people.  The  old  and  godly  people 
here  and  in  surrounding  parishes  have  never  ceased  speaking  of  his 
wonderful  sermons  and  addresses.  I  believe  many  congregations 
throughout  the  land  will  give  a  similar  testimony,  while  our  church 
at  large  was  refreshed  through  his  never-to-be-forgotten  addresses 
to  our  General  Assemblies. " 

The  Kev.  Robert  Wallace,  of  Toronto,  formerly  of  In- 
gersoll,  one  of  the  very  first  students  of  Knox  College, 


EEV.   R.   WALLACE.      OLD   STUDENTS.  427 

and  the  first  licensed  by  my  father  after  his  arrival,  gives 
his  impressions  thus : 

''I  had  the  privileo^e,  along  with  two  other  students — ^the  first- 
fruits  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Canada — of  being  licensed  by 
the  good  Doctor  in  1845,  and  I  have  naturally  followed  his  course 
ever  since  with  deep  interest. 

"  I  need  scarcely  say  that  he  was  most  indefatigable  in  his  la- 
bours. I  spent  a  day  with  him  m  this  city  in  1847,  accompanied 
him  in  his  visits  among  the  people,  having  an  appropriate  word  of 
counsel  for  each,  and  praying  fervently  with  the  sick  or  the  sorrow- 
ing. During  the  evening  we  visited  several  public  meetings,  which 
he  addressed  in  succession  on  the  subjects  which  had  convened 
them  ;  and  then,  at  a  late  hour,  reached  his  own  house,  apparently 
as  fresh  as  ever. 

''I  have  met  him  on  his  missionary  tours,  which  were  frequent, 
preaching  daily,  or  almost  every  day. 

' '  He  also  took  great  pleasure  in  aiding  and  encouraging  the  young 
ministers  in  their  various  spheres  of  labour.  Several  times  has 
that  noble  worker  assisted  the  writer  in  administering  the  sacred 
feast  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  at  which  times  his  warm  sympathy  with 
the  Christian  people;  and  his  ardent  and  glowing  piety,  seemed  to 
get  full  scope  and  to  be  in  their  proper  element.  On  such  occa- 
sions he  was  wont  to  pour  forth,  as  from  a  full  fountain,  the  richest 
exhibitions  of  divine  truth,  not  merely  according  to  the  letter,  but 
with  the  evident  enjoyment  of  one  who  felt  its  power  on  his  own 
heart — who  had  an  experimental  acquaintance  with  it  in  its  varied 
applications  to  human  life,  and  who  delighted  in  the  law  of  the 
Lord  after  the  inner  man,  and  feasted  on  the  rich  repast  of  which 
he  invited  others  to  partake. 

'*  He  delighted  to  unfold  the  glory  of  Christ's  work  as  a  Divine 
Saviour,  and  the  efficacy  of  his  atonement,  as  well  as  to  set  forth 
the  freeness  and  fulness  of  the  gospel  offer  as  made  to  all  the  children 
of  men. 

"  He  was  ever  ready  to  defend  the  faith  given  to  the  saints,  and 
to  stand  up  for  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  our  holy  religion.  Once 
in  the  presence  of  a  Unitarian  preacher,  a  friend  heard  him  main- 
tain the  doctrine  of  the  divinity  of  our  Lord  in  a  strain  of  the  most 
fervid  and  impassioned  eloquence,  while  he  deplored,  in  the  most 
touching  manner,  the  folly  and  the  infatuation  that  lead  men  to 
reject  that  fimdamental  doctrine  of  the  Christian  faith  to  their  own 
destruction . 

"  At  the  same  time,  he  ever  manifested  a  most  catholic  spirit,  in 
his  readiness  to  co-operate  with  all  that  he  believed  to  be  the  true 
followers  of  Christ,  in  their  works  of  faith  and  labours  of  love. 

"  He  also  cheerfully  took  part  in  soirees,  as  giving  an  opportu- 
nity for  the  people  to  meet  together  and  cultivate  familiar  acquaint- 


428  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.    BURNS. 

ance  with  each  other  ;  but  he  always  sought  to  instruct  and  edify, 
as  well  as  interest,  the  people  on  such  occasions. 

"  When  addressing  the  congregation  of  the  writer  at  Ingersoll, 
he  was  fond  of  reminding  them  that  his  revered  nephew,  W.  C. 
Burns,  of  China,  had  selected  the  site  of  the  church  when  preaching 
on  that  beautiful  spot,  under  the  trees,  in  1846.  He  had  a  great 
regard  for  his  nephew,  because  of  his  devoted  piety  and  zeal  in  the 
Master's  service.  His  visit  to  Canada  had  been  like  a  streak  of 
light.  Wherever  he  went  the  hearts  of  ministers  and  other  Chris- 
tians were  quickened,  and  sinners  were  greatly  if  not  savingly  im- 
pressed. 

' '  One  thing  which  greatly  contributed  to  the  Doctor's  popularity 
and  usefulness  was  his  unselfish,  self-denying  spirit.  In  mingling 
with  the  people  in  their  homes,  even  in  the  newest  settlements, 
he  was  always  content  with  whatever  accommodation  and  fare  they 
could  afi'ord  him  ;  never  complained  of  privations,  such  as  he  must 
have  felt ;  but  on  the  contrary,  he  was  ever  cheerful  and  happy, 
and  promoted  the  same  spirit  among  all  around  him. 

"  Endowed  with  a  wonderful  memory  and  very  ready  conversa- 
tional powers,  and  having  acquired  vast  stores  of  knowledge  on  all 
subjects,  he  was  the  life  of  any  company, — enlivening  his  conversa- 
tion by  pertinent  anecdotes  drawn  from  reminiscences  of  distin- 
guished personages,  from  events  of  former  times,  from  current 
matters  of  public  interest,  and  from  many  sources.  It  was  a  treat 
to  listen  to  him  in  company,  as  he  poured  forth  his  rich  stores  of 
sanctified  learning,  in  a  cheerful  and  pleasant  manner. 

' '  Another  feature  of  his  character  which  should  not  be  forgotten 
was  his  FERVENT  PRAYERFULNESS.  Often  have  I  and  many  others 
been  refreshed  by  the  ardent  outpourings  of  his  heart  around  the 
family  altar,  or  his  earnest  pleading  in  a  more  private  manner,  for 
any  brother  for  whom  he  sought  the  blessing  of  Sion's  King.  Here 
was  the  secret  of  his  power  as  a  worker  for  Christ." 

From  one  of  Dr.  Bums'  former  students,  now  settled  as 
a  minister  six  or  seven  hundred  miles  from  Toronto,  came 
the  following  : 

"In  this  distant  part  public  tributes  of  respect  to  the  Doctor's 
memory  have  been  paid.  For  a  week  a  flag  was  hoisted  at  half- 
mast  in  front  of  our  Manse,  and  the  pulpit  has  been  draped  with 
black. 

"You  have  often  heard  him  quote  the  expression  ^abundant 
entrance,'  explaining  the  figure  as  that  of  a  ship  coming  into  har- 
bour uninjured,  with  all  her  canvas  spread,  her  hull  unshattered, 
her  masts  unbroken,  and  her  rigging  not  torn.  Such  an  entrance, 
I  doubt  not  he  had. " 


REV.   A.   SANSON.      DR.   HUGH   M'LEOD.  429 

Another  old  student,  settled  at  a  still  greater  distance, 
in  the  opposite  direction,  thus  acts  as  the  mouthpiece  of 
many : 

"  Our  fathers,  where  are  they  ?  and  the  prophets,  do  they  live 
for  ever  ?  I  cannot  realize  that  he  is  gone,  and  to  how  many  will 
it  seem  but  a  myth  until  the  annual  gatherings  come  round,  when 
there  will  be  many  a  heavy  heart  and  many  a  bitter  tear. 

"  The  event  strikes  to  my  own  heart  as  if  it  were  the  death  of 
an  own  father.  What  a  bright  record  we  can  all  contemplate  in 
your  father's  life  !  and  how  conspicuously  does  the  past  place  him 
among  the  great  cloud  of  witnesses.  I  cannot  give  expression  to 
my  feelings  of  reverence  for  the  departed.  Such  fertility  of  mind, 
such  unselfishness,  such  unwearied  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ! 
I  cannot  look  around  my  study  without  my  eye  falling  upon  some 
book  or  manuscript,  or  manual  that  is  not  closely  identified  with 
his  personal  and  fatherly  counsel  and  advice.  So  accessible,  so 
frank,  and  so  painstaking  that  every  moment  found  him  engaged 
with  some  one  or  other  of  the  students  in  private,  helping  them 
out  of  either  personal  or  educational  difliculties. 

"  How  many  humble  members  also  on  both  continents  will  lift 
up  the  prophet's  lamentation,  '  My  father,  my  father,  the  chariots 
of  Israel  and  the  horsemen  thereof  !  But  we  leave  him  to  his 
rest  among  the  elders  who  have  obtained  a  good  report." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Sanson,  Episcopalian  Church,  Toronto,  a 
very  dear  old  friend,  on  receiving  a  memorial  from  Dr. 
Burns'  library,  thus  represents  the  sentiments  and  feehngs 
of  many  in  other  denominations : 

"  These  volumes  will  ever  remind  me  of  one  whom  I  revered 
andloA'ed,  from  whom  I  experienced  much  genuine  kindness,  and 
whose  unexpected  removal  from  the  church  on  earth  T  must  con- 
tinue to  deplore.  In  the  circle  of  my  acquaintance  I  had  not 
another  Christian  friend  like  him.  His  comprehensive  sympathy 
was  one  of  those  few  things  which  made  this  world  less  dreary  and 
more  agreeable.  It  is  seldom  that  one  meets  with  so  much  simpli- 
city and  godly  sincerity — so  much  hearty  love  and  kindness — so 
much  consideration  for  others  and  forgetfulness  of  self,  accom- 
panied by  so  many  rare  qualities  and  valuable  attainments  besides, 
as  it  was  my  privilege  to  find  in  Dr.  Bums." 

From  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hugh  McLeod,  whose  labours  in 
Cape  Breton  have  been  so  eminently  owned  of  God  in 


430  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 

connexion  with  the  great  revival  there,  and  whom  he 
loved  to  visit  in  that  interesting  field,  which  was  associated 
with  the  early  efforts  of  the  Colonial  Society,  we  received 
the  following  graphic  portraiture  : 

''-  Sydney,  C.B.,  16th  November,  1871. 

"  My  chief  acquaintance  with  your  venerable  father  was  formed 
in  the  fall  of  1845,  when,  as  deputy  from  the  Free  Church  of  Scot- 
land, I  visited  the  British  provinces  of  North  America.  But  from 
my  earliest  recollection  I  was  familiar  with  his  appearance,  charac- 
ter, and  name.  I  saw  him  several  times  in  the  General  Assembly, 
both  before  and  after  the  disruption  ;  often  heard  him  speak,  and 
regarded  him  as  one  of  the  greatest  and  best  men  of  his  day.  His 
voice  always  commanded  the  attention  and  respect  of  the  whole 
House.  Well  do  I  remember  how  I  used  to  hear  him,  from  time 
to  time,  with  increased  pleasure  and  admiration. 

*'  His  personal  appearance  was  peculiar  ;  short  but  stout,  indi- 
cating great  strength.  Accordingly  his  power  of  endurance  was 
remarkable.  He  could  do  the  work  of  two  ordinary  men.  On  the 
Sabbath  he  usually  preached  three  times,  and  always  with  great 
energy.  In  addition  to  his  other  duties  he  often  preached  and 
travelled  long  distances  on  week  days.  His  elocution  was  distinct 
and  rapid  as  he  advanced,  till  at  length,  like  a  mighty  torrent,  it 
swept  all  before  it.  Endowed  with  intellectual  faculties  of  a  very 
high  order,  and  a  mind  richly  stored  with  various  learning,  and 
disciplined  by  assiduous  study,  he  was  always  a  man  of  power. 

"In  his  preaching  he  was  argumentative,  lucid  and  impressive. 
Familiar  with  the  word  of  God  as  well  as  with  the  windings  of  the 
human  heart,  and  possessing  a  faithful  memory,  fertile  imagina- 
tion, fluency  of  expression  and  teeming  thought.  His  sermons 
were  able,  suggestive  and  eloquent.  By  his  writings,  too,  he  was 
widely  known.  In  sustaining  the  periodical  literature  of  his  time 
his  pen  was  ever  ready.  His  contributions,  in  doctrinal,  practical, 
and  polemical  discussion,  were  varied  and  always  to  the  point.  As  a 
controversalist  he  was  acute,  searching  and  convincing.  Of  the 
doctrines  and  principles  of  the  gospel,  in  all  their  relations  and 
results,  he  was  the  uncompromising  champion.  The  Bible  Society, 
the  Society  for  the  Conversion  of  the  Jews,  the  Anti-Slavery  Society, 
the  Colonial  Society,  the  Gaelic  School  Society,  the  Cape  Breton 
Mission,  and,  in  short,  the  various  benevolent  institutions  of  the 
day,  had  in  him  a  warm  friend. 

' '  After  his  settlement  in  Canada  he  frequently  visited  the  mari- 
time provinces — especially  Nova  Scotia.  His  visits  were  always 
accompanied  with  happy  results,  and  every  one  considered  it  a 
high  privilege  to  shew  him  attention.  The  influence  which  he  ex- 
cited on  such  occasions  was  not  confined  to  members  and  adherents 


THE  APOSTLE  OF  CANADA.  431 

of  his  own  church,  but  embraced  a  wide  circle  of  Christian  associa- 
tion. Wherever  he  preached,  crowds  flocked  to  hear  him.  To 
none,  perhaps,  does  British  America  owe  more  than  to  Dr.  Burns, 
who  may  well  be  called  the  Apostle  of  Canada.  Not  only  have 
congregations  been  organised  and  places  of  worship  built  through 
his  instrumentality,  but  many  souls  have  been  born  of  the  Spirit. 
The  day  when  the  secrets  of  all  hearts  shall  be  laid  bare  alone  can 
tell  how  many  shall  rise  up  to  call  him  blessed,  and  be  to  him  '  his 
hope  and  joy,  and  crown  of  rejoicing  in  the  presence  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  at  His  coming.' 

"  In  the  summer  of  1858  he  visited  Newfoundland,  where  he 
remained  for  about  a  fortnight,  and  where  his  labours  were  very 
fruitful.  On  his  return  he  remained  with  me  two  weeks,  not  to 
rest,  however,  but  to  work.  We  were  continually  going  about 
visiting  the  difi'erent  stations.  Although  then  bordering  on  seventy 
years  of  age  his  vigour  was  remarkable.  In  all  his  discourses  there 
were  noble  bursts  of  sanctified  eloquence.  On  every  occasion 
crowds  followed  him,  embracing  persons  of  all  denominations  and 
ranks,  which  rendered  it  necessary  for  him  at  times  to  preach  in  the 
open  air.  I  usually  preached  in  Gaelic  what  he  preached  in  English. 
Mrs.  Burns  was  with  him  on  this  occasion,  so  that  his  visit  was 
more  domestic  than  it  could  otherwise  be.  She  was  truly  an  help- 
meet to  him,  following  him  in  all  his  travels,  ministering  to  his 
comfort,  and  sympathising  with  him  in  all  his  efforts  to  do  good. 
During  his  stay  here  he  was  extremely  happy.  In  all  his  letters  to 
me  afterwards  he  referred  to  the  great  pleasure  which  his  visit 
afforded  him.  From  Sydney  we  proceeded  to  Sydney  Mines,  to 
Bras  d'Or,  to  Boularderie,  to  Baddirk,  and  to  St.  Ann's,  in  all  of 
which  he  preached  with  great  power.  Thereafter  we  sailed  in  a^ 
small  boat  up  the  Bras  d'Or  lake  to  West  Bay,  a  distance  of  forty 
miles.  In  the  evening  he  preached,  as  usual,  to  a  large  congrega- 
tion which  gathered  to  hear  him.  Next  morning  I  accompanied 
him  to  the  Strait  of  Canso,  where  he  preached,  and  for  ever  took 
leave  of  Cape  Breton.  I  returned  home.  He  crossed  the  Strait  to 
Nova  Scotia,  where  he  remained  for  some  weeks  preaching  in  differ- 
ent localities,  and  where  his  name  is  still  so  savoury.  On  his  re- 
turn to  Canada  he  wrote  a  pamphlet  on  Cape  Breton,  giving'  a 
graphic  account  of  its  resources,  scenery,  and  religious  condition. 
He  considered  it  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  desirable  portions 
of  her  Majesty's  dominions.  His  estimate  is  found  to  have  been 
correct,  and  shows  how  observant  he  was. 

"  Some  time  thereafter  I  had  the  pleasure  of  paying  him  a  visit, 
on  which  occasion  I  passed  several  days  with  him.  Some  of  the 
happiest  moments  of  my  life  were  those  I  spent  in  his  society. 
His  conversation  was  always  edifying  and  instructing.  His  man- 
ner was  kind,  courteous,  and  gentlemanly.  His  domestic  supplica- 
tions were  remarkable  for  their  richness  and  fervour.  Without 
doubt  he  was  one  of  the  highest  ornaments  of  the  church  to  which 


432  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

he  belonged.  The  Lord  honoured  him  above  many,  and  made 
him  instrumental  in  carrying  on  His  work  on  earth.  He  hath  taken 
him  home  *  to  the  General  Assembly  and  Church  of  che  First-born, 
whose  names  are  written  in  Heaven.'" 

The  Kev.  Dr.  Ormiston,  formerly  of  Hamilton,  now  of 
New  York,  was  an  old  and  valued  friend.  They  thought 
alike  on  many  subjects.  They  worked  together  in  objects 
of  common  interest — religious,  educational,  and  benevo- 
lent. From  the  time  of  their  first  meeting  at  Victoria 
College,  in  1844,  they  drew  to  one  another,  and  the  inti- 
macy remained  uninterrupted  to  the  last.  His  finely- 
rendered  testimony  will  be  acceptable  to  many : 

**  New  York, 

"  December  2nd,  1871. 
"Rev.  R  F.  Burns,  D.D. 

"My  dear  Sir, — I  very  cheerfully  comply  with  your  request 
to  send  you  some  brief  personal  reminiscences  of  your  venerable 
and  venerated  father. 

"  It  was  my  enviable  privilege  to  enjoy  his  friendship  for  nearly 
a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  to  share  his  confidence  during  a  greater 
part  of  that  period.  The  intimacy  of  our  fellowship  was  never 
interrupted  by  a  single  misunderstanding.  Its  influence  at  the 
time,  on  my  mind,  was  most  inspiring  and  helpful,  and  its  mem- 
ory now  is  consoling  and  grateful.  I  owe  him  much.  I  always 
found  in  him  a  sympathetic  and  good  counsellor,  and  ever  left  his 
presence  with  higher  resolves  and  nobler  purposes  to  be  and  to  do. 
The  pleasure  of  our  intercourse  I  have  good  reason  to  believe,  was 
mutual,  the  profit  chiefly  mine.  From  the  first  I  entertained  a 
profound  respect  for  his  high  talents,  his  resistless  energy,  his  rare 
readiness,  and  his  eminent  and  extensive  usefulness,  and  I  soon 
learned  to  love  him  for  the  simplicity  of  his  character,  the  un- 
selfishness of  his  disposition,  the  generosity  of  his  conduct,  and 
the  warmth  of  his  afiection.  Mistaken  in  judgment,  rash  in  utter- 
ance, very  resolute  in  purpose,  and  decidedly  prompt  in  action,  he 
doubtless  sometimes  was  ;  but  intentionally  unkind,  personally 
selfish,  consciously  unfair,  sullenly  implacable,  or  sternly  unforgiv- 
ing, never.  Quick  to  resent  a  wrong  offered  to  himself  or  others, 
he  was  equally  ready  to  forgive  and  forget  it. 

"  I  regarded  his  general  attainments  as  vast,  unusually  varied 
and  accurate,  and  specially  rich  in  historic  fact,  and  biographical 
incident.     EQs  memory  alike  retentive  and  ready,  never  seemed  to 


DR.   ORMISTON.      FIRST  MEETING.  433 

lose  a  date  or  fact,  place  or  person  once  entrusted  to  it.  His  inte- 
rest in  all  that  affected  the  welfare  of  society  and  the  progress  of 
the  province  was  deep  and  most  intense,  and  particularly  in  all 
that  pertained  to  the  extension  of  the  church,  and  the  training  of 
young  men  for  the  work  of^^e  ministry.  In  all  that  he  did  h  e 
was  so  thoroughly  sincere,  and  so  terribly  in  earnest  that  he  often 
seemed  impatient  of  delay,  and  irritated  by  hindrances.  He  had 
no  sympathy  with  indolence,  slackness  or  inefficiency,  and  he  had 
not  only  a  noble  scorn  for  anything  mean,  fraudulent  or  unreal, 
but  also  possessed  a  rare  faculty  for  detecting  falsehood,  preten- 
sion, insincerity  or  imposture  in  others,  and  when  fully  satisfied  in 
his  own  mind  in  reference  to  such  matters,  no  fear  of  personal  in- 
convenience or  public  disfavour  could  deter  him  from  exposing 
them.  As  a  friend  I  ever  found  him  trustworthy,  sympathetic  and 
obliging  ;  as  a  brother  in  the  ministry,  faithful,  afiectionate  and 
true  ;  able  in  public  ministrations,  laborious  in  the  active  duties  of 
the  pastorate,  prominent  and  active  in  all  the  business  of  the 
church  courts,  long  associated  with  the  management  and  instruc- 
tion of  the  college  ;  a  willing,  effective  advocate  of  every  good 
cause,  and  an  unwearied  worker  in  the  field  of  home  evangeliza- 
tion, even  to  the  last.  He  richly  merited  the  place  he  long  held,  as 
an  acknowledged  leader  in  the  Church  of  God,  and  a  felt  power  in 
the  land. 

"  Though  past  the  meridian  of  life,  ere  he  entered  upon  the  Ca- 
nadian field,  by  his  great  gifts,  his  diversified  labours,  his  exhaust- 
ing ungrudging  efforts  for  the  good  of  the  church,  he  speedily  won 
for  himself  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  his  brethren,  even  of 
those  who  felt  themselves  oft  constrained  to  differ  from  him,  and 
a  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  entire  people,  in  whose  homes, 
lofty  or  lowly,  he  was  ever  a  welcome  and  an  honoured  guest. 
Many  a  heartfelt  simple  tribute  of  honest  praise  have  I  heard  be- 
stowed on  him  in  every  section  of  the  dominion,  wherever  his  elo- 
quent voice  had  thrilled  them  from  the  pulpit,  or  his  rich  racy 
conversation  cheered  them  at  their  hearths.  No  minister  in  Ca- 
nada was  more  widely  known,  more  truly  revered,  and  more  per- 
sonally beloved  than  Dr.  Robert  Burns. 

"  Well  do  I  remember  my  own  first  personal  interview  with  him. 
It  was  during  a  visit  he  made  to  Cobourg,  when  travelling  in  Ca- 
nada as  a  deputy  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland.  I  was  at  the 
time  a  student  at  Victoria  College.  The  principal  of  the  college, 
Rev.  Dr.  Ryerson,  courteously  gave  to  the  celebrated  visitor  an 
invitation  to  visit  the  college  and  address  the  students.  This  in- 
vitation Dr.  Burns  accepted,  and  to  me  his  address  was  a  rich  treat. 
A  small  contribution  in  aid  of  the  then  infant  Free  church  was 
made  by  the  professors  and  students,  and  I  was  commissioned  to 
convey  it  to  the  deputy.  I  approached  him  with  great  diffidence, 
but  so  hearty  and  genial  was  his  greeting  that  the  raw  inexperienced 
student  soon  felt  at  his  ease  with  the  great  gifted  visitor.     As  waa- 

C  C 


434< 


LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.   BURNS. 


his  custom,  ere  we  separated,  he  spoke  directly  to  my  heart,  asked 
my  purpose  in  attending  college,  and  what  was  my  grand  object  in 
life,  and  on  ascertaining  that  I  had  devoted  myself  to  the  ministry 
of  the  word,  he  said  much  to  encourage  and  stimulate  me.  He 
closed,  what  seemed  to  me,  more  like  a  father's  counsel,  than  a 
mere  casual  conversation,  very  solemnly,  while  he  held  my  hand  in 
his,  saying  that  the  pulpit  required  a  strong,  richly-cultured  mind, 
and  a  sanctified  earnestly  devoted  heart.  I  never  forgot  my  first 
interview,  or  lost  the  impulse  it  gave  me  ;  and  how  many  other 
young  men  he  has  similarly  counselled  and  cheered,  "that  day" 
alone  will  reveal.  He  rests  from  his  labours,  but  his  works  follow 
him.  It  were  as  delightful  as  it  would  be  easy  for  me  to  narrate 
many  an  incident  in  our  common  experience,  which  would  strik- 
ingly exhibit  and  exemplify  the  leading  traits  of  your  father's 
character,  and  specially  mark  the  ripened  mellowness  of  his  later 
years,  but  that  is  not  required.  The  elevated  spirituality  of  his 
mind,  the  enlarged  charity  of  his  heart,  the  manifest  nearness  to 
God  in  which  he  lived,  and  the  purified  zeal  for  the  work  of  the 
Master,  glowing  with  increasing  fervour,  which  he  manifested  even 
amid  the  infirmities  of  a  good  old  age,  rendered  communion  with 
him  a  great  privilege  and  a  great  power,  too.  I  rejoice  now  that 
it  was  mine  not  unfrequently  to  enjoy  the  one  and  feel  the  other. 
Among  the  memories  of  my  heart  will  ever  lie  cherished  the  re- 
membrance of  all  his  kindness  to  me  in  my  youth,  and  his  valued 
friendship  in  my  riper  years.  What  a  blessing  it  is  that  the  as- 
sured hope  of  re-union  at  home  mitigates  the  grief  of  separation 
on  the  way.     They  are  not  lost  who  have  only  gone  before. 

"  T  am,  my  dear  Brother, 

' '  Yours,  very  faithfully, 

*'  W.  Ormiston.'* 

The  College  Board  and  Senate,  various  Sessions,  Pres- 
byteries and  Synods  of  the  Church,  together  with  the 
General  Assembly,  besides  different  public  institutions, 
passed  highly  eulogistic  resolutions.  Papers  and  periodi- 
cals  were  warm  and  hearty  in  their  obituary  notices.  ll| 
Extracts  from  two  or  three  of  these  will  appropriately 
terminate  ^hese  memorials. 


Some  of  his  earliest  literary  efforts  in  Paisley  were  con- 
nected with  "  The  Philosophical  Society,"  an  institution 


PHILOSOPHICAL   SOCIETY.      KNOX   COLLEGE  BOARD.      4.S5 

than  which  none   in  the    community   has  had  a  more 

honourable  record.     During  his  last  visit  he  revived  the 

intimacy  and  associations  of  former  times.    This  testimony 

is  all  the  more  to  be  esteemed  as  being  a  deviation  from 

the  ordinary  custom ; 

"Paisley,  12th  October,  1869. 

*'  The  society,  having  learned  with  deep  regret  that  the  Rer. 
Dr.  Burns  had  died  in  Toronto  on  the  19th  of  August  last,  cannot 
allow  the  event  to  pass  unnoticed.  As  the  circumstances  are  special, 
they  in  this  instance  depart  from  what  has  been  their  practice.  Dr. 
Burns  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  active  promoters  of  the 
objects  of  this  society.  Upwards  of  fifty-three  years  ago  he  read 
papers,  and  in  1813  was  vice-president.  For  several  years  he  acted 
as  president ;  and  during  his  long  residence  here  spared  no  pains 
to  contribute  to  the  efficiency  of  the  institution.  On  his  recent 
visit  from  Canada,  the  land  of  his  adoption,  he  made  himself  ac- 
quainted with  the  operations  of  the  society,  and  took  such  interest 
in  the  proposal  to  found  a  reference  department  in  the  Free  Public 
Library,  that  he  ofiered  a  very  handsome  donation  of  valuable 
works.  His  address  on  the  occasion  was  worthy  of  his  natural  en- 
thusiasm, and  was  not  only  touching  in  its  allusions,  but  was  an 
eloquent  and  interesting  record  of  successful  work  half  a  century 
ago.  The  labours  of  Dr.  Burns  in  connexion  with  this  society 
abundantly  show  that  he  had  that  intuitiveness  to  discover  and 
that  power  to  combine  which  are  the  bases  of  successful  investiga- 
tion, and  that  if  his  talents  had  been  consecrated  exclusively  to 
scientific  or  philosophic  pursuits,  he  would  have  held  a  foremost 
place  in  Britain.  He  is  not  the  less  to  be  valued  because  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  welfare  of  his  race  through  the  channels  of  Christian 
philanthropy  ;  and  the  society  record  with  gratitude  their  sense  of 
the  benefits  which  he  conferred  by  his  sympathy  and  exertions." 

From  the  resolutions  of  the  College  Board  of  Knox 
College  we  make  the  following  extract,  befittingly  embody- 
ing the  sentiments  of  those  with  whom  he  was  most 
closely  associated  in  the  training  up  of  a  native  ministry  : 

"  The  Board,  considering  that,  since  their  last  meeting,  God  has 
been  pleased  to  remove  by  death  the  Rev.  Robert  Burns,  D.D., 
Emeritus  Professor  of  Theology  and  Church  History  in  Knox  Col- 
lege, resolve  to  record,  as  they  hereby  do  record,  their  high  appre- 
ciation of  the  consistent  Christian  character  of  their  late  venerable 
father,  and  of  the  eminent  services  which  he  has  rendered  to  the 


436  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

college  and  to  the  church  generally.  They  feel  that  any  statement 
of  theirs  can  add  nothing  to  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held, 
as  his  ability  and  zeal  and  devoted  labours  in  behalf  of  all  benevo- 
lent and  philanthropic  and  Cliristiau  objects  have  been  universally 
acknowledged  wherever  he  was  known.  At  the  same  time  they 
reckon  it  a  jirivilege  as  well  as  a  duty  to  give  expression  to  the 
Bentiments  of  gratitude  which  they,  in  common  with  all  their  breth- 
ren, entertain,  that  lie  was  so  long  spared  to  take  a  prominent  place 
in  building  up  and  extending  the  Presbyterian  cause  in  this  land, 
And  that,  by  his  disinterested,  self-denying,  unwearied  efforts,  he 
was  enabled,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  to  contribute  so  largely 
to  that  end. 

"  Coming  to  this  country  with  a  high  reputation  as  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  ministers  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland,  he 
was  honoured  by  divine  grace  to  maintain  and  extend  the  same. 

''First  as  pastor  of  Knox  Church,  and  latterly  as  one  of  the 
theological  professors,  he  gave  himself,  with  all  his  superior  mental 
and  physical  powers  and  spiritual  attainments,  to  the  assiduous 
discharge  of  the  duties  devolving  on  him  ;  and  even  when,  by  rea- 
son of  advancing  age,  he  felt  himself  constrained  to  resign  his  pro- 
fessorship in  the  college,  he  continued  as  Emeritus  Professor  to 
cherish  an  unabated  interest  in  all  that  concerned  its  welfare  ;  and 
such  was  his  love  of  work  in  the  cause  of  his  Master,  and  such  his 
pleasure  in  it,  that  he  persevered  in  conducting  classes  with  his  ac- 
customed energy.  To  him  the  library  of  the  college  stands  indebted 
mainly  for  its  present  state  of  advancement.  Even  during  his  last 
visit  to  Britain,  from  which  he  returned  only  a  fortnight  before  his 
death,  he  was  largely  occupied  in  seeking  its  increase  ;  and  the 
Board  cannot  but  regard  it  as  worthy  of  notice  that,  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  he  should  have  been  brought  back  to  be  summoned 
away,  as  he  himself  could  have  wished,  within  the  walls  of  this 
institution,  whose  welfare  he  had  so  strongly  and  abidingly  in  his 
heart." 

The  General  Assembly,  meeting  at  Toronto  in  June, 
1870  (the  first  held  in  Canada),  passed  a  very  full  and 
discriminating  deliverance,  from  which  we  extract  the 
following : 

"  The  Assembly  cannot  take  notice  of  the  death  of  the  late  ven- 
erable Dr.  Burns  without  recording  their  sense  of  his  qualities  and 
of  the  eminent  services  he  was  enabled,  during  a  long  series  of 
years,  to  render  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  They  are  thankful  to  God 
for  having  sent  among  them  one  who  was  so  remarkably  fitted,  in 
the  public  circumstances  of  this  country  when  he  came  to  it,  to  act 
as  an  evangelist,  in  the  best  sense  of  that  term.     His  unwearied 


GENERAL  ASSESIBLY.      "THE  RECORD."  437 

labours  in  preaching  the  Gospel,  in  every  part  of  the  land,  in  mis- 
sion stations  as  well  as  in  settled  congregations,  have  contributed 
in  a  high  degree  to  the  prosperity  of  this  church,  and  have  mad© 
the  name  of  Burns  a  household  word  in  thousands  of  families — a 
name  which  parents  will  mention  to  their  children  yet  unborn,  as 
that  of  one  whom  they  account  it  among  the  privileges  of  their  lives 
to  have  seen  and  heard.  His  duties  as  a  Professor  of  Theology 
were  discharged  with  zeal  and  fidelity.  He  had  a  deep  concern 
both  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  young  men  under  his  care,  and 
for  their  progress  in  their  studies.  To  his  exertions  mainly  the 
formation  of  the  College  Library  was  due.  His  preaching  tours 
had  much  influence  in  calling  forth  an  increased  liberality  on  the 
part  of  the  church,  in  sustaining  the  college,  and  his  unabated  in- 
terest in  the  institution,  even  ^ter  he  had  become  an  Emeritus 
Professor,  was  shown  by  some  of  the  latest  acts  of  his  life.  .... 

"  As  a  man,  Dr.  Burns  could  not  be  known  without  being  loved. 
He  had  a  warm  heart,  and  a  large  and  genial  nature .  A  man  of 
great  breadth  of  sympathy,  he  was  notably  one  who  did  not  look 
at  his  own  things,  but  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  things  of  others. 
He  was  generous  almost  to  a  fault.  His  overflowing  and  manifestly 
sincere  kindliness,  his  wonderful  vitality,  his  unfailing  flow  of  con- 
versation, and  the  rich  and  varied  information  he  was  accustomed, 
in  all  companies,  to  pour  forth,  made  him  in  society  the  most  de- 
lightful of  companions 

"  His  character  became  in  a  singular  degree  mellowed  ;  alongside 
of  the  spirit  of  power,  which  was  always  a  predominant  feature  in 
it,  came  out  conspicuously  the  gentler  graces  of  the  divine  life — > 
eminently  among  others,  meekness  and  humility  ;  and  no  one  could 
converse  with  him  without  feeling  that,  day  by  day,  he  was  ripen- 
ing apace  for  the  change  which  both  he  himself  and  those  who 
looked  upon  his  marked  and  venerable  form  knew  could  not  be  far 
distant." 

The  Record,  the  monthly  journal  of  the  church,  devoted 
several  pages  to  an  admirably-written  sketch  by  the  edi- 
tor, from  which  we  make  a  few  selections  : 

"  Most  of  our  readers  will  have  heard,  before  these  paragraphs 
meet  their  eyes,  of  the  death  of  the  venerable  Dr.  Burns.  The 
event  took  place  on  the  morning  of  Thursday,  19th  ult. ,  in  KnoX 
College,  in  which,  with  his  family,  he  was  residing  for  a  few  days 
before  entering  into  a  house  of  his  own.  He  had  returned  from 
Scotland,  on  Thursday,  5th,  apparently  in  excellent  health  and 
good  spirits.  He  preached  on  the  evening  of  the  following  Sabbath 
in  Gould  street  church,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  With  his  usual 
zeal  for  work,  especially  for  preaching,  he  undertook  to  preach  on 
Sabbath,  15th,  in  two  of  the  churches  of  the  city,  and  also  in  Knox 


438 


LIFE  OF  EEV.  DK.  BUENS. 


church,  on  Sabbath,  22nd.  But  his  working  days  were  coming  to 
an  end,  and  these  engagements,  so  readily  entered  into,  were  not  to 
be  fulfilled.  The  evening  of  Wednesday,  11th,  he  spent  in  com- 
pany with  his  son,  Dr.  R.  F.  Burns,  and  a  few  friends,  at  the  house 
of  the  Rev,  W.  Gregg,  and  was,  as  usual,  genial  and  pleasant.  Dur- 
ing the  night  he  was  seized  with  a  chill,  which  returned  in  an  aggra- 
vated degree  on  the  forenoon  of  Friday,  13th.  Medical  aid  was 
called  in,  and  it  was  hoped  for  some  days  that  he  would  soon  re- 
cover from  what  seemed  to  be  simply  a  bilious  disorder.  But  al- 
though he  rallied  repeatedly,  the  improvement  was  only  temporary ; 
and,  notwithstanding  all  that  medical  skill  and  afiectionate  atten- 
tion could  do,  the  disease  still  kept  firm  hold  of  its  victim,  and,  as 
already  stated,  he  ceased  from  suffering,  and  entered  into  rest,  on 
the  morning  of  the  19th.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  illness  he 
was  unconscious,  and  from  the  first  he  was  happily  exempted  from 
bodily  pain.  His  son  had  left  Toronto,  and  returned  to  Chicago, 
but  a  telegram  reached  him  in  time  to  bring  him  back  to  see  his 
loved  father  in  life,  although  in  a  state  of  extreme  prostration.  It 
is  a  very  remarkable  providence  that  Dr.  Burns  should  have  come 
back  to  die  in  Canada,  for  whose  spiritual  advancement  he  had 
laboured  so  zealously,  and  within  the  walls  of  the  college,  where  for 
several  years  he  was  so  frequently  to  be  found,  and  whose  interests 
were  ever  so  dear  to  him.  In  another  column  of  the  Record  will  be 
found  a  communication,  evincing  the  deep  interest  which  he  felt, 
even  to  the  last,  in  the  welfare  of  Knox  College,  and  of  the  Canada 
Presbyterian  Church.  The  communication  referred  to  was  begun 
Bome  days  after  his  arrival  in  Toronto  ;  indeed  he  was  engaged  in 
completing  it  even  after  the  leaden  hand  of  disease  had  been  laid 
upon  him.  He  still  intended  to  make  some  additions  to  it,  but 
was  unable  to  do  so  ;  and  we  now  publish  it  as  it  is,  believing  that 
it  will  be  read  by  thousands  with  peculiar  interest,  as  being  the  last 
production  of  the  pen  of  the  venerable  writer,  the  last  work  of  a 
public  kind  to  which  his  hand  was  put,  and  as  showing  the  very 
strong  hold  which  the  church  and  her  institutions  had  of  his  thoughts 
and  affections,  even  to  the  end.'' 

• 
The  communication  referred  to  above,  in  the  preparation 
of  which  that  busy  hand  was  arrested,  is  as  follows  : 

**  Kkox  College,  13th  Aug.  1869. 

"  Dear  Mr.  Editor,— We  left  Edinburgh  for  Liverpool  on  Fri- 
day, the  23rd  of  July  ;  embarked  next  day  in  the  fine  Cunard 
steamship  Russia,  and  after  a  fair  passage  of  nine  days,  reached 
New  York  on  Tuesday,  the  3rd  inst.  After  a  day's  sojourn  in  that 
magnificent  city  of  the  'Empire  State,'  we  left  by  the  Central  Rail- 
way, on  Wednesday  afternoon,  and  reached  Toronto  in  safety. 

'•It  was  at  one  time  my  earnest  wish  to  have  visited  the  Conti- 


1 


LAST  '*  ARTICLE."      LIBRARY.      SCHOLARSHIPS.       439 

nent,  and  in  that  case  I  might  possibly  have  seen  the  celebrated 
discoverer  of  the  '  Codex  Sinaiticus,'  and  been  favoured  with  the 
actual  inspection  of  that  invaluable  monument  of  an  early  century 
in  the  Christian  era.  It  had  been  indeed  carried  by  the  Professor 
to  St.  Petersburg,  and  there  made  over  to  the  Czar  by  purchase, 
but  it  had  been  brought  back  again  to  Leipsic  for  the  purpose  of  a 
fac-simile  transcription.  This  has  been  accomplished  at  the  Em- 
peror's expense,  and  in  a  style  of  uncommon  elegance.  When  cir- 
cumstances put  it  out  of  my  power  to  see  the  original,  I  was  very 
desirous  to  see  the  fac-simile.  The  University  of  Edinburgh,  I 
found,  had  purchased  a  copy  at  the  price  of  £34  10s.  ;  but  this  was 
soon  superseded  by  the  gift  of  one  directly,  as  I  understand,  from 
the  Emperor.  The  spare  one  was  purchased  by  Principal  Candlish, 
aided  by  a  few  friends,  for  £25,  and  presented  to  the  New  college 
library. 

"  With  an  inspection  of  this  copy  I  was  favoured  by  the  kindness 
of  my  friend,  the  Rev,  John  Laing,  librarian  to  the  college.  It  is 
a  magnificent  work,  in  four  large  ifolio  volumes,  on  the  finest  paper, 
and  in  the  finest  style  of  typography.  It  embraces  the  whole  of  the 
'Codex  Sinaiticus,' with  ample  collations  from  the  Cottonian  and 
Vatican  MSS. ,  with  historical  and  critical  prolegomena,  and  a  variety 
of  miscellaneous  illustrations.  A  German  bookseller  in  Edinburgh, 
told  me  that  I  could  have  the  whole  work  for  about  £20  ;  but  as 
this  was  beyond  my  means,  I  was  obliged  to  content  myself  with 
the  Professor's  supplementary  volume,  containing  a  condensed  view 
of  the  contents  of  the  larger  work,  and  selected  specimens  of  the 
Codex.  This  I  purchased  for  a  small  trifle,  and  it  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  college  library  ;  and  though  small,  it  gives  a  pretty 
fair  idea  of  the  solid  contents  of  the  great  work.  I  should  think, 
that  were  the  managers  of  the  Toronto  University  or  of  the  McGill 
College  library  at  M(mtreal,  to  apply  to  the  proper  quarter,  through 
the  Governor-General  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  a  gift  of  one 
copy  at  least,  would  be  granted  by  the  Emperor,  Alexander  II. 

"  With  the  view  of  promoting  the  system  of  scholarships  or  bur- 
saries for  all  the  three  colleges  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  I  print- 
ed and  circulated  an  '  Appeal  on  behalf  of  the  Colonies  of  the  West,' 
my  wish  being,  if  possible,  to  obtain  a  few  'capitalized  endowments' 
of  a  permanent  character.  This  was  found  to  be  rather  up-hill 
work  ;  and  the  only  society  or  body  of  Christian  men  who  entertain- 
ed the  idea,  was  the  'Scottish  Reformation  Society,'  who  at  once 
made  the  offer,  on  certain  conditions,  of  two  bursaries  of  £10  and 
£5  each,  to  the  three  Theological  Colleges  in  the  Dominion,  and 
connected  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  each  case  the  condi- 
tions have  been  complied  with,  and  the  probability  is  in  favour  of 
their  permanence.  The  subject  of  competition  will  be  the  leading 
principles  of  the  Protestant  controversy  ;  and  the  manner  of  con- 
ducting the  comparative  trial  is  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  Senate 
in  each  of  the  Seminaries. 


44jO  life  of  kev.  dr.  bcjrns. 


"  For  the  first  time,  the  deputies  from  Canada  managed  to  get  a 
fair  hearing  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Free  Church.  On  all 
previous  occasions  they  were  thrown  into  the  back-ground,  and 
heard  at  a  late  hour,  and  by  benches  nearly  empty. 

"  We  owe  it  to  Dr.  Candlish  that  it  was  ordered  otherwise  this 
time.  On  the  Friday  of  the  'business  week,'  and  at  eight  in  the 
evening,  a  full  house  listened  to  us  ;  and  Mr.  Cochrane,  of  Brant- 
ford,  and  I,  were  cordially  complimented  and  thanked  by  the 
moderator,  Sir  H.  Moncrieff,  a  noble  chairman.  Three  points  of 
importance  were  pressed  on  the  notice  of  the  Assembly — our  mis- 
sion to  British  Columbia,  our  Red  River  Settlement,  and  our  Gaelic 
Bursaries.  On  motion  of  Dr.  Candlish,  seconded  by  Dr.  Begg,  all 
these  were  handed  over  for  consideration  to  the  Colonial  Commit- 
tee, newly  appointed,  with  Dr.  Adam,  of  Glasgow,  at  its  head. 
On  the  Wednesday  after  the  close  of  the  Assembly,  I  was  invited 
to  a  meeting  of  committee,  when  a  resolution  was  cordially  passed 
in  favour  of  a  renewed  and  friendly  correspondence  with  the  Foreign 
Mission  Committee  of  Canada,  in  regard  to  the  first  and  second  of 
these  subjects  ;  and  as  to  the  third,  one  bursary  for  fifty  dollars, 
engaged  for  during  the  present  year.  It  is  painful  to  reflect,  that 
the  collections  for  the  colonies  have  always  been  the  smallest  of  all, 
and  that  for  years  past  the  operations  of  the  colonial  scheme  have 
been  sadly  crippled  for  want  of  means.  In  addition  to  the  Assem- 
bly bursary,  one  clergyman  of  ample  means,  the  Rev.  Mr.  McDou- 
gal,  late  of  Dundee,  gave  me  twenty-five  dollars  for  a  second  bur- 
sary, and  both  of  these,  I  expect,  will  be  renewed  from  year  to  year. 

*'  By  the  liberality  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  J.  Brown  and  a  few 
other  friends  I  was  enabled  to  arrange  with  Messrs.  Clark,  of 
George  Street,  for  one  hundred  copies  of  the  two  volumes  of  '  His- 
torical Theology,'  by  Principal  Cunningham,  to  be  sold  at  a  reduced 
price  to  the  theological  students  at  each  of  our  colleges.  The 
books  have  arrived  safe,  and  I  will  be  happy  to  receive  orders  from 
such  of  our  young  men,  from  1867  to  the  present  date,  who  may 
not  have  already  been  supplied.  The  Messrs,  Clark  also  presented 
me  with  twenty  volumes  of  their  choice  collection  of  foreign  theo- 
logical literature  ;  and  these  have  been  equally  divided  between 
the  Colleges  of  Toronto  and  Montreal.  I  have  also  brought  with 
me  one  hundred  copies  of  the  Free  Church  edition  of  the  '  Confes- 
sion of  Faith,'  which  will  be  at  the  service  of  sessions,  and  minis- 
ters, and  students,  at  the  rate  of  one  shilling  each.  The  theologi- 
cal and  literary  stores  of  our  colleges  have  also  been  largely 
augmented  by  the  presents  of  books  from  the  libraries  of  private 
friends.  Some  curious  articles  also,  principally  Chinese,  have  been 
added  to  our  museum.  "  R.  B." 

After  giving  a  sketch  of  the  leading  events  of  Dr. 
Burns'  life,  drawn  chiefly  from  a  very  correct  and  com- 


1 
I 


"THE  GLOBE."      "THE  RECORD."      CHARACTER.      441 

prehensive  leader  of  the  Glohey  the  article  in  the  Record 

goes  on  to  say  : 

"  Dr.  Burns  had  many  qualifications  which  fitted  him  for  taking 
a  prominent  position  among  his  contemporaries,  and  for  being  a 
standard-bearer  in  the  conflicts  which  the  revival  of  evangelical 
principles,  and  the  progress  of  social  reforms,  brought  about  in  his 
day.  His  varied  endowments  were  of  a  superior  order.  His  read- 
ing was  varied  and  extensive  ;  while  a  memory  singularly  retentive 
and  ready  enabled  him  to  have  at  command  the  results  of  his  read- 
ing. His  style  was  clear,  manly,  and  vigorous.  His  principles 
were  not  taken  up  just  to  suit  the  times,  but  were  conscientiously 
held,  and  freely  and  fearlessly  expressed.  His  energy  was  untiring. 
As  a  preacher  he  was  evangelical,  impressive,  and  often  powerfuL 
His  discourses  were  full  of  sound  theology,  enriched  by  apt  illus- 
trations ;  and  even  to  his  latest  years  were  delivered  with  remark- 
able energy. 

"  Our  revered  father  held,  on  most  points,  too  decided  opinions, 
and  had  too  great  force  of  character,  not  to  come  occasionally  into 
collision  with  others,  sometimes  with  those  who  generally  were  to 
be  foilnd  on  the  same  side  with  himself.  But  even  those  opposed 
to  him  respected  his  thorough  integrity  of  purpose,  and  his  out- 
spoken honesty.  There  was  a  heartiness  about  him  which  even 
his  opponents  could  not  but  like.  It  is  pleasing  to  add  that  his  last 
years  were  fuU  of  peace  and  tranquillity.  He  had  to  a  considerable 
extent  withdrawn  from  the  arena  of  public  discussion.  His  charac- 
ter was  more  and  more  softened  and  chastened.  Some  personal 
misunderstandings  were  removed  ;  and  we  believe  we  only  state 
the  truth  when  we  say  that,  before  his  removal  from  us,  there  was 
not  one  who  did  not  cherish  towards  him  feelings,  not  only  of  high 
respect,  but  of  warm  affection. 

"In  private  life  Dr.  Burns  was  genial  and  loving.  His  powers 
of  conversation  were  remarkable.  It  was  impossible  to  weary  of 
his  company,  or  in  it.  To  the  students  under  his  charge  he  was 
peculiarly  kind  and  attentive.  He  manifested  a  warm  interest 
in  their  studies,  and  in  everything  affecting  them  ;  and  of  those 
who  were  settled  in  pastoral  charges,  there  were  few  whom  he  did 
not  visit  and  encourage  by  his  presence,  his  counsels,  and  his  minis- 
terial services.  His  liberality  and  unselfishness  in  regard  to  money 
matters  were  remarkable.  One  instance  of  this  may  be  mentioned. 
A  few  years  ago  the  Doctor  received  a  handsome  sum  of  money  from 
one  of  the  city  congregations  of  Toronto,  for  whose  benefit  his  ser- 
vices had  been  for  some  time  generously  given.  No  sooner  had  he 
received  this  gift  than  he  freely  gave  it  to  establish  a  scholarship 
in  Knox  College.  Many  other  instances  of  this  liberality  might  be 
given.     Indeed  we  can  freely  say  that  we  never  knew  one  so  utterly 

unselfish  in  this  respect 

"Dr.  Bums  has  gone  from  us,  and  we  can  truly  say  that  a  princ 


442  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS 

and  a  great  man  has  fallen  in  Israel.  He  has  done  more  for  our 
Church  in  Canada  than  any  other  man.  When  few  thought  of 
the  spiritual  wants  of  these  western  provinces,  Dr.  Burns  was  in- 
strumental in  sending  out  not  a  few  ministers  and  missionaries  to 
gather  together  the  scattered  Presbyterians,  and  organize  them  into 
congregations.  When  a  call  was  made  for  one  to  come  and  take 
the  lead  here,  and  assist  in  organizing  a  theological  institution,  he 
was  ready  to  give  his  own  services.  When  books  were  needed  to 
form  the  nucleus  of  a  theological  library,  he  set  himself  to  collect 
from  his  friends,  giving  at  the  same  time  many  valuable  volumes 
from  his  own  lilDrary.  And  so,  to  the  very  last,  he  was  willing  to 
his  ability — yea,  and  beyond  his  ability — to  do  whatever  was  needed 
for  the  supply  of  ordinances,  or  for  the  promotion  of  the  interests 
of  the  Church,  and  the  glory  of  her  great  Head.  We  thank  God 
for  all  that  he  was  enabled,  through  the  grace  of  God,  to  do  ;  and 
we  rejoice  in  the  assured  hope  that,  after  such  a  long,  laborious, 
and  useful  life,  he  now  rests  from  his  labours,  and  his  works  do 
follow  him." 

In  the  excellent  funeral  discourse  of  the  Rev.  J.  M. 
King,  M.A.,  on  the  "Good  Fight,"  occurs  the  following 
beautifully-drawn  portraiture  of  his  character  : 

*'  The  first  feature  which  attracts  attention,  in  contemplating  the 
character  of  the  departed,  is  the  extraordinary  activity  which  char- 
acterized him,  his  unceasing  application  to  work,  the  wonderful  en- 
thusiasm and  energy  which  he  carried,  even  in  age,  into  every  un- 
dertaking.    Sabbath  and  week  day  ;  morning,  noon  and  night,  till 
failing  sight  made  it  impradent  or  impossible  for  him  to  read  much 
in  the  evening  hours  ;  Scotland  and  Canada  ;  our  city,  where  his 
form  was  so  well  known,  and  the  remote  settlements  of  the  Province, 
in  many  of  which  it  was  as  readily  recognized  ;  the  college  and  his 
own  residence  ;  in  short,  all  times  and  places  found  that  busy  mind 
employed,  working  or  planning  work,  preaching,  teaching,  glancing 
through  books  with  dim  eye  but  with  quick  and  sure  discernment  of 
their  spirit  and  worth,  writing  notices  of  brethren  who  had  preced- 
ed him  to  the  grave,  or  reviews  of  works  of  literature,  advising  with 
students   as  to  their  difficulties,  arranging  the  library  or  taking 
means  for  its  enlargement ;  never  inactive  unless  when  compelled 
to  cease  exertion  through  sheer  exhaustion  ;  and  never  satisfied 
with  any  past  achievement,  but  forthwith  embarking  on  new  enter- 
prises, laying  new  plans  of  work  for  himseK — occasionally  too  for 
others — which  looked  far  ahead.     Activity  was  his  delight  ;  idle- 
ness in  others — he  did  not  know  it  in  himself — his  grief  and  annoy- 
ance.    His  very  holidays,  his  periods  of  relief  from  his  regular  du- 
ties, were  only  times  of,  if  possible,  more  continuous  and  exhaust- 


I 


lElEV.  J.  M.  KING,  M.A.      IRREPRESSIBLE  ACTIVITY.      443 

ing  toil ;  occasions  of  long  and  fatiguing  journeys,  and  of  almost 
daily  public  services. 

"  Very  closely  connected  with  the  preceding,  and  yet  entitled  to 
a  separate  place  in  even  an  imperfect  analysis  of  his  character,  was 
the  breadth  of  interest  by  which  as  a  minister  of  the  word  and  Profes- 
sor of  Theology  in  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church,  the  deceased 
was  characterized  ;  the  solicitude,  which  he  uniformly  evinced  for 
the  welfare  of  the  whole  church,  and  for  all  that  could  promote  its 
efficiency  and  honour.  He  was  never  the  person  to  be  satisfied 
with  the  prosperity,  however  great,  of  one  congregation,  or  one 
corner  of  the  field,  especially  his  own  ;  while  other  parts  of  it  might 
be  lying  waste,  given  over  to  neglect  and  barrenness  or  something 
worse.  His  soul  was  too  large,  and  his  interest  in  the  things  of 
Christ  too  deep  and  intelligent,  to  be  contented  with  so  narrow  a 
satisfaction.  The  whole  field,  so  far  as  observation  or  report  could 
make  it  known  to  him,  was  in  his  eye,  and  the  weakest  and  neediest 
parts  were  just  the  ones  to  excite  his  deepest  solicitude,  and  evoke 
his  heartiest  efi"orts.  The  Presbyterian  Church,  since  it  attained 
any  considerable  proportions,  has  never  had  a  minister  who  could 
with  equal  truth  adopt  the  language  of  the  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles  : 
'Who  is  weak  and  I  am  not  weak  ?  Who  is  offended  and  I  bum 
not  V  'Now  we  live,  if  ye  stand  fast  in  the  Lord.'  This  rare  but 
most  serviceable  quality  ;  this  breadth  of  view  and  interest,  was  in 
part  the  cause  and  in  part  the  consequence  of  the  extensive  evan- 
gelistic journeys  in  which  he  engaged  from  the  first,  and  in  which 
he  persevered  to  the  last. 

"  Not  so  apparent,  perhaps,  to  those  who  knew  him  only  in  the 
distance,  as  his  wide  and  irrepressible  activity,  but  not  less  real,  as 
forming  part  of  the  man  and  the  Christian,  was  his  great  benevo- 
lence of  heart.  All  knew  him  to  be  abundant  in  labours  ;  not  all, 
though  many,  knew  how  strong  and  tender  were  his  attachments, 
how  unexacting  he  was  in  the  attentions  which  he  claimed  from 
those  around  him,  how  prompt  and  active  his  sympathies  with  suf- 
fering friends,  and  within  how  wide  a  circle  these  were  exercised, 
how  open  his  hand  to  help  a  good  cause  or  a  needy  person,  how 
ready  to  oblige  on  every  occasion,  and — what  is  more  difficult— how 
ready  to  forgive  and  forget  a  personal  wrong,  with  all  his  pertinacity 
in  adhering  to  what  he  believed  to  be  truth  and  right ;  how  uniform- 
ly kind  and  cheerful,  in  these  later  years  at  least,  his  bearing 
towards  young  and  old.  To  this  feature  of  his  character,  to  its  be- 
nevolence still  more  than  to  its  strength,  to  the  cheerfulness  of  age 
in  his  case,  even  more  than  to  its  extraordinary  energy,  is  the  affec- 
tion due,  with  which,  throughout  this  Province  and  far  beyond  it, 
his  person  was  regarded.  We  are  safe  in  saying  that  for  many 
years  he  did  not  enter  a  house  but  to  make  warm  friends,  if  his  en- 
trance did  not  find  them  already  such  ;  and  so  his  name  has  become 
a  household  word  in  the  land,  and  the  tidings  of  his  death  will 
spread  through  it  to  awaken  a  tender  regret  in  thousands  of  hearts 


444  LIFE  OF  KEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

"That  form,  in  which  was  exhibited  so  singular  a  union  of 
strength  and  frailty  ;  the  eye  dim,  the  intellect  clear  and  active  ; 
the  limbs  supporting  with  difficulty  the  still  massive  frame,  the 
voice  ringing  out  its  notes  firm  and  clear  ;  the  step  slow  and  uncer- 
tain, the  memory  running  rapidly  along  an  experience  of  well  nigh 
a  century,  and  able  to  recall  minute  incidents  at  any  point ;  the 
hoary  wreath  of  age  around  the  brow,  the  face  lit  up  with  the  play- 
fulness of  childhood — that  form,  presenting  contrasts  so  striking, 
has  passed  away.  It  was  a  sight  yesterday  which  men  regarded 
with  wonder  not  unmixed  with  more  tender  emotion.  It  is  only  a 
memory  to-day,  a  memory,  however,  which  many  will  cherish  with 
sacred  respect  for  long  years. " 

We  have  already  quoted  from  Principal  Willis'  admir- 
able funeral  sermon.  This  chapter  may  appropriately 
close  with  one  or  two  additional  quotations  : 

"  My  attention  was  drawn  to  our  deceased  friend  in  the  compara- 
tive youth  of  my  own  ministry,  and  towards  the  mid-time  of  his,  as 
one  taking  a  very  prominent  part  in  the  cause  of  evangelical  religion, 
and  watchfully  guarding  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  Christian 
people,  at  a  time  when  this  required  no  small  vigilance  and  resolu- 
tion. Men  may  acquire,  on  very  cheap  terms,  the  reputation  of 
friends  of  the  evangelical  interest,  when  the  tide  has  come  to  turn 
in  its  favour  ;  but  it  is  due  to  Dr.  Bums  to  say  that  he  stood  against 
the  current  when  that  ran  in  the  contrary  way.  It  is  known  that  a 
blight  had  extensively  come  over  churches  in  Scotland,  England, 
and  Ireland,  half,  or  say  three  quarters  of  a  century  ago  ;  and  in 
the  church  of  Scotland  a  full  exhibition  of  the  truth  was,  if  I  may 
not  say  the  exception  rather  than  the  rule,  at  any  rate  far  less  gene- 
ral than  happily  it  came  to  be  in  more  recent  years .  Our  deceased 
father  and  brother  took  no  unimportant  share  in  the  work  of  revi- 
val, and  reassertion  of  the  true  principles  of  our  Scottish  Presby- 
terianism : — and,  when  I  say  Presbyterianism,  T  do  not  merely  think 
of  church  government,  but  of  the  catechetical  and  confessional  doc- 
trines of  our  loved  native  land.  I  know  that  in  the  sphere  of  his 
immediate  pastorate,  (in  Paisley)  his  influence  was  powerfully  felt 
in  the  very  earliest  years  of  his  ministry.  I  remember — on  occa- 
sion, I  think  it  was,  of  my  first  revisiting  Scotland,  after  my  coming 
to  this  country — that  in  a  conversation  held  with  me  by  a  worthy 
minister,  now  also  deceased,  who  either  was  of  Paisley  as  his  native 
town,  or  during  his  student  life  had  been  familiar  with  that  locality, 
he  said  that  the  exertions  of  Dr.  Bums  there,  in  his  youth  and 
vigour,  told  with  most  observable  efiect  on  the  community.  Not 
that  that  Scottish  town  was  without  faithful  spiritual  labourers  both 
in  other  denominations  and  in  his  own  ;  but  in  his  immediate  pas- 
toral sphere,  and  around,  a  far  livelier  interest  came  to  be  evinced 


PRINCIPAL  WILLIS'  FUNERAL   SERMON.  445 

in  religious  observances,  appliances  adapted  to  the  yonng  and  to  the 
masses  of  the  population  were  multiplied,  and  beyond  his  more  de- 
nominational range  (so  I  understood  my  reverend  informer)  the  ex- 
ample of  his  energy  and  public  spirit  provoked  to  a  praiseworthy 
emulation." 

"  During  his  very  latest  years,  though  nominal  on  the  honoured 
emeritus  list,  he  yet  was  liberal  in  his  exertions,  and  constant  in  his 
solicitude  for  the  good  of  Knox  College.  When  he  prelected  less, 
he  conversed  as  often  or  more.  If  we  had  his  autumnal  decay,  we 
had  also  his  autumnal  ripeness,  and  the  benefit  of  his  large  expe- 
rience.    His  affectionate  interest  in  studious  youth  secured  to  them 

at  all  times  ready  access  to  his  counsels We  shall  miss  his 

well-known  form,  and  well-remembered  voice,  within  the  walls 
where  he  loved  to  linger,  and  within  which  he  died.  May  the 
spirit  of  Elijah  rest  on  many  of  our  young  Elishas,  in  the  influence 
of  his  example  of  zeal,  and  laboriousness,  and  prayerfulness  withal ! 
Like  other  men  he  had  his  imperfections  ;  but  his  excellencies  stood 
out  prominent,  commanding  respect  and  engaging  esteem.  Those 
who  differed  from  him,  and  contended  with  him,  loved  the  man. 
It  was  not  his  least  praise  that  by  affectionate  blandness  of  manner, 
united  to  remarkable  powers  of  conversation,  he  made  himself  an 
ever  welcome  guest  in  the  humblest  Christian  abode  :  while  he  knew 
and  respected  those  conventional  courtesies  of  refined  society,  by 
attention  to  which  he  could  command  the  respect  of  the  highest 
class.  And  I  can  testify  to  another  kindred  disposition  being  con- 
spicuous, one  of  the  best  tests  of  a  superior  mind,  that,  on  questions 
affecting  the  public  interests,  he  was  ready  to  receive  light  from 
whatever  quarter  ;  and  on  matters  strictly  professional,  I  have 
known  few  who  welcomed  more  cordially  the  unrestrained  inter- 
change of  thought  with  friends  or  colleagues.  I'ather — patriarch  I 
might  say — of  Canada's  Presbyterian  Church — rest  in  thy  bed  !  We 
know  who  said,  '  he  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth.'  Sleep  on  a  while  ; 
thou  shalt  stand  in  thy  lot  at  the  end  of  the  days.  Mourning  rela- 
tives may  find  joy  in  the  thought,  that  the  first  morning  that  has 
shone  on  the  turf  beneath  which  the  departed  lies,  is  that  of  the 
day  of  the  Son  of  Man — of  his  rising  in  triumph  from  the  grave, 
and  shedding  so  blessed  a  light  on  its  darkness. 

"  Death,  take  your  part  :  king  of  terrors,  do  your  worst.  We 
know  the  limits  of  your  power.  It  is  not  much  you  can  do  :  it  is 
not  long.  Each  returning  Sabbath  assures  us  of  the  completion,  in 
his  people,  of  the  triumph  over  the  grave  the  Saviour  has  won  in 
his  own  person.  How  consoling  the  thought  — even  they  who  shall 
never  know  death,  being  found  alive  at  Christ's  coming,  but  who 
shall,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  be  changed  at  the  sounding  of  the 
last  trumpet,  even  they  shall  not  prevent  them  who  are  asleep  ! 
*  The  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first ;'  not  separate,  but  together 
shall  they  ascend  to  meet  their  Lord,  and  enter  with  like  joy  on 
their  common  inheritance.*' 


j^FPENDIX. 


I.   Eaelt  History  of  Knox  Church,  Toronto. 

My  venerable  friend,  the  Rev.  James  Harris,  who  is 
enjoying  a  green  old  age,  has  kindly  sent  me  the  follow- 
ing "Memoranda  of  the  early  history  of  the  first  Presby- 
terian congregation  of  the  town  of  York,  now  known  as 
Knox's  Church,  Toronto : 

"The  undersigned,  a  Licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Mona- 
ghan,  in  connexion  with  the  Secession  Church  in  the  north  of 
Ireland,  having  received  the  usual  testimonials  of  good  stand- 
ing, as  a  probationer,  sailed  from  Belfast,  for  Canada,  on  the 
6th  day  of  June,  1820.  He,  through  the  good  providence  of 
God,  reached  Brockville  about  the  10th  day  of  August,  said 
year.  He  was  cordially  received  by  the  'Rev.  Wm.  Smart,  then 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  town.  He  was  urged  by 
Mr.  Smart  to  proceed  to  the  town  of  York,  now  Toronto,  with  as 
little  delay  as  possible,  as  the  few  Presbyterians  residing  therein 
were  anxious  to  be  supplied  with  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  by  a 
minister  of  their  own  denomination.  He  airived  in  York  on 
the  28th  of  August,  having  conducted  religious  services  at 
various  intermediate  places  on  the  way.  Having  arrived  in  the 
town  of  York,  he  called  on  parties  to  whom  he  was  recommended 
by  Mr.  Smart.  From  said  parties  he  learned  that  they  had  not 
enjoyed,  at  any  time  previous,  a  regular  supply  of  preaching — 
that  they  had  received  occasional  visits  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jenkins, 
at  that  time  supplying  the  congregations  of  Richmond  Hill  and 
Scarborough  ;  and  the  prospects,  on  the  whole,  were  not  encourag- 
ing. 

' '  There  were,  at  that  time,  only  two  churches  in  the  town  of 
York — one  Episcopalian,  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Strachan,  late  Bishop  of  Toronto.  It  was  a  neat  frame  building, 
occupying  the  site  of  the  present  St.  James'  Cathedral,  King 
Street. 


448  LIFE  OF  EEV.   DR.   BURNS. 

"■  The  other  was  a  Methodist  Church,  a  frame  building,  situated 
at  King  Street  West,  large  and  commodious  for  the  time. 

"  Although,  at  that  time,  Presbyterians  were  pretty  numerously 
scattered  throughout  most,  if  not  all,  the  settlements  then  formed, 
there  were  only  two  Presbyterian  ministers  as  known  to  the  writer 
of  these  notes,  in  the  whole  region  west  of  Kingston.  These  were 
Rev.  Robert  McDowall ;  he  came  into  Canada  in  1798,  settled  at 
Ernestown,  where  he  was  spared  to  labour  in  the  ministry  for 
many  years  ;  and  Rev.  Wm.  Jenkins,  who  came  to  Canada  from 
the  United  States  in  1817.  He  was  originally  from  Scotland,  and 
belonged  to  the  Antiburgher  Church  in  that  land. 

"The  undersigned  conducted  public  worship  the  first  time,  in  a 
large  school  room,  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  September,  1820.  Two 
diets  were  held,  and  God  having  permitted,  we  continued  to  meet 
for  worship  in  said  school-room  about  a  year  and  six  months. 

"  The  congregation  considerably  increased  :  entered  on  Sabbath, 
the  18th  day  of  February,  1822,  a  new  place  of  worship  then  re- 
cently completed.  The  new  church  was  a  small  brick-building, 
fronting  the  hospital,  now  Richmond  Street ;  it  stood  on  the  pre- 
sent site  of  Knox  Church. 

"  The  new  building  was  erected  at  the  sole  charge  of  Mr.  Jesse 
Ketchum,  the  cost  of  pews,  pulpit  and  gallery  was  assessed  on  the 
pews,  and  paid  for  by  those  who  became  pew-holders.  This  was 
the  first  building  erected  in  York,  now  Toronto,  for  a  Presbyterian 
congregation.  It  continued  the  only  one  until  about  1827,  when 
St.  Andrew's  Church  was  erected. 

"  The  undersigned  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  congregation  on 
the  10th  of  July,  1823.  The  Presbytery  of  Brockville,  having,  in 
compliance  with  a  call,  moderated  in  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jenkins,  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  visit  York,  and  proceed  with  the  ordina- 
tion. The  committee  consisted  of  the  Messrs.  Smart  and  Boyd, 
ministers.  Mr.  Boyd  not  having  arrived  in  due  season,  Mr.  Smart, 
Mr.  Jenkins,  and  Mr.  Scholfield,  an  elder,  who  accompanied  Mr. 
Smart,  proceeded  with  the  ordination  on  the  day  appointed  by  the 
Presbytery. 

"  On  the  23rd  day  of  July,  said  year,  a  meeting  of  the  recently 
organized  congregation  was  held  for  the  election  of  elders.  Mr. 
Mcintosh,  of  the  town  of  York,  and  Mr.  McGlashan,  of  York  Mills, 
were  unanimously  chosen.  They  were  set  apart  to  the  office  of  the 
eldership  on  the  10th  of  August  following.  Mr.  Mcintosh  filled 
the  office  about  five  years,  when  he  was  removed  by  death.  Mr. 
McGlashan  died  in  Nov. ,  1844,  having  witnessed  the  disruption  in 
Scotland  in  1843,  and  in  Canada  the  year  following.  He  was  also 
permitted  to  witness  and  take  part  in  the  cordial  arrangements  for 
a  union  between  those  who  withdrew  from  St.  Andrew  s  congrega- 
tion, in  Toronto,  and  the  small  congregation  of  wliich  he  had  been, 
for  many  years  a  zealous  and  faithful  office-bearer. 

"  The  first  communion  was  dispensed  to  the  first  Presbyterian 


REV.   JAMES  HARRIS'S  NARRATIVE.      REV.  W.   BELL.      449 

congregation,  on  the  14th  of  September,  5823,  to  twenty-eight 
members.     Mr.  Jenkins  assisted  on  the  interesting  occasion. 

"  Thus  he,  who  in  much  weakness,  commenced  his  labours  in  the 
town  of  York  in  1820,  was  permitted,  through  God's  infinite  mercy 
in  Christ  Jesus,  through  many  infirmities  and  great  shortcomings, 
to  labour  in  the  field  allotted  him,  without  interruption,  until  the 
summer  of  1844.  In  the  early  part  of  said  summer,  owing  to  ar- 
rangements for  a  union  of  the  two  congregations,  into  which  ar- 
rangements the  undersigned  cordially  entered,  he  demitted  his 
charge  to  the  then  recently  formed  Presbytery  of  Toronto, 

"  It  is  now  twenty-five  years  since  the  two  congregations  united, 
taking  the  name  of  '*  Knox's  Church,"  and  the  writer  of  these 
notes  records  his  decided  conviction,  that  said  union  has,  by  God's 
blessing,  tended  largely  to  promote  the  interests  of  Presbyter- 
ianism,  and  in  connection  therewith  of  vital  godliness  in  the  city  of 
'^o^ouio.  **  James  Harris. 


John  Ross,  Malcom  McLellan,  and  Edward  Henderson  were  or- 
dained to  the  eldership  in  May,  1827.  J.  H. 


II.  Presbyterian  Pioneers, 

The  Rev.  George  Bell,.LL.D.,  of  Clifton,  has  kindly 
furnished  me  with  the  following  very  interesting  state- 
ment, with  reference  to  the  missionary  labours  of  his 
father,  the  Pioneer  of  Presbyterianism,  in  the  old  Ba- 
thurst  district,  which  may  fitly  follow  Mr.  Harris's  narra- 
tive: 

The  settlement  at  Perth  had  been  formed  in  1816,  and  the 
Sootch  settlers  having  sent  for  a  minister,  Mr.  Bell  accepted  their 
call,  and  sailed  on  the  5th  of  April,  181 7.  Fair  promises  of  every 
comfort  had  been  made  by  the  captain  of  the  ship,  which  were  soon 
found  to  be  worthless.  After  they  were  fairly  at  sea,  the  passen- 
gers were  shamefully  treated. 

After  fifty-seven  days  of  horrors,  Quebec  was  reached,  and  they 
escaped  from  the  ship.  Mr.  Bell  was  treated  with  great  kindness 
by  the  Governor,  Sir  John  Sherbrooke,  and  promised  a  free  passage 
to  Perth,  After  waitiTig  some  days  for  the  steamer  Malsham,  to  be 
ready  to  sail,  they  left  Quebec  on  Saturday  evening,  7th  June,  ar- 
riving at  Montreal  on  Monday  morning,  horses  being  employed  to 
hel;p  the  steamer  up  the  current  St.  Mary  into  port  I    The  passage  to 

D  D 


450  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

Prescott  was  made  by  means  of  a  batteau  with  four  men,  the  por- 
tages at  the  principal  rapids  being  made  by  carters,  and  oxen  or 
horses  being  used  to  drag  the  boat  at  some  of  the  others.  Eight 
days  were  spent  between  Montreal  and  Prescott,  and  although  the 
transport  was  furnished  free  by  Government,  the  expenses  by  the 
way  amounted  to  much  more  than  the  whole  would  cost  now.  De- 
layed for  days  for  want  of  waggons,  Mr.  Bell  went  on  to  Brockville, 
on  the  2]  st  June,  where  he  met  with  the  Rev.  W.  Smart,  of  Brock- 
ville,  and  the  Rev.  Robert  McDowall,  from  Bath,  besides  Rev. 
Mr.  Easton,  of  Montreal.  The  last,  together  with  Mr.  Bell, 
preached  at  the  dedication  of  Mr  Smart's  church  the  following  day. 
The  meeting  of  these  pioneers  of  Presbyterianism  in  Canada  was 
interesting,  and  the  mind  readily  passes  over  the  intervening  half 
century,  and  adores  the  grace  of  God  for  the  wondrous  progress 
which  has  been  made  in  the  work  so  painfully  commenced  by  them 
and  a  few  others. 

From  Brockville  to  Perth  was  two  days'  journey,  walking  most 
of  the  way.     Perth  was  reached  on  the  24th  June,  twenty-four 
days  from  the  arrival  at  Quebec.     Next  day  a  house  was  rented, 
and  the  family  arrived,  suffering  severely  from  the  dreadful  journey, 
and  almost  blinded  by  travelling  a  whole  day  through  the  forest, 
swarming  with  mosquitoes.      The  house  consisted  of  log  walls,  a 
roof,  and  a  floor  of  split  basswood  logs  loose  over  a  pool  of  stag- 
nant water.     The  closeness  of  the  floor  may  be  understood  from  the 
fact  that  one  day  one  of  the  children  fell  through,  and  was  with 
some  difficulty  rescued  from  drowning.     There  were  no  partitions  ; 
no  furniture  could  possibly  be  procured,  and  even  boards  were  not 
to  be  had,  as  the  saw  mill  was  not  in  operation.     Dr.  Thom  kindly 
gave  Mr.  Bell  two  boards,  from  one  of  which  he  made  a  table.  But 
little  of  Perth  was  yet  cleared  ;  a  few  log  houses  had  been  put  up, 
but  many  were  living  in  tents  or  huts  of  bark.     They  were  thank- 
ful even  for  such  accommodation  as  they  had,  as  some  on  arriving 
had  to  sleep  under  a  tree  until  they  could  erect  a  hut. 
The  following  are  extracts  about  this  time  : 

'*  Some  of  the  Scotch  settlers  called  to  see  us,  and  welcome  us  to 
the  place.  From  them  I  learned  that  disputes  ran  high  among 
themselves.  I  could  see  that,  in  discharging  my  duty  here,  much 
patience  and  caution  would  be  necessary.  The  people  were  much 
in  need  of  instruction,  but  most  of  them  were  careless  about  it. 
The  moral  as  well  as  the  natural  world  seemed  to  be  a  wilderness. 
I  took  another  day's  visiting  in  the  Scotch  line.  There  being  no 
road  yet  opened,  I  was  so  fatigued  going  round  swamps,  climbing 
fences,  and  getting  over  fallen  trees,  in  the  course  of  my  long 
journey,  that  at  night  when  I  got  home,  I  was  ready  to  drop  down. 
A  meeting  being  held  on  church  affairs — I  observed  with  regret 
that  some  came  bare-footed,  and  very  poorly  clad.  The  poverty  of 
the  people  prevented  anything  being  done  at  this  meeting,  beyond 
appointing  a  committee  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  congregation. 


MR.   bell's  diary — EARLY  STRUGGLES.  451 

There  being  no  school  of  any  kind  in  the  settlement,  T  had  been 
requested  to  open  one.  I  indeed  found  it  necessary  for  my  own 
children.  A  log  hut  was  obtained  and  fitted  up,  and  while  tho 
repairs  were  going  on,  I  opened  the  school  at  my  own  house,  with 
eighteen  children.  A  Sabbath  school  had  been  commenced  on  the 
second  Sabbath  spent  in  Perth,  with  five  children,  increased  to 
twelve  the  next  Sabbath,  and  to  fifteen  on  the  next.  A  man  ^amo 
to  be  married  one  day,  but  that  ceremony  could  not  legally  be  per- 
formed, to  his  deep  regret.  He  said  if  it  could  not  be  done  to- 
day, he  would  lose  the  woman,  as  she  was  just  going  to  leave  the 
settlement.  His  simplicity  and  perplexity  were  more  amusing  to 
me,  I  fear,  than  to  him. 

"  The  boys  and  I  had  commenced  clearing  upon  our  park  lot,  and 
every  morning  we  got  up  at  four  o'clock,  and  worked  at  it  till 
breakfast  time  ;  but  we  suffered  much  from  the  heat  and  mosqui- 
toes. 

"  The  upper  story  of  an  inn  which  was  as  yet  unfinished,  was 
rented  for  a  place  of  worship,  and  after  two-and-a-half  months  the 
Lord's  Supper  was  dispensed,  Sept.  14th.  The  number  of  com- 
municants I  had  admitted  .was  forty-seven,  two  of  them  for  the 
first  time.  I  preached  from  Rev.  i.,  6,  '  Unto  him  that  loved  us,' 
&c. ,  with  much  liberty  and  comfort.  We  afterwards  partook  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  together,  and  it  was  to  many  of  us  a  comfort- 
able and  refreshing  season  of  communion  with  God. 

"4th  Oct.  I  set  out  for  the  Rideau,  where  I  had  promised  to 
preach  the  next  day.  On  my  way  I  called  upon  A.  Morrison,  and 
prevailed  on  him  to  accompany  me.  It  was  well  I  did  so,  for  with- 
out a  guide,  I  had  never  found  the  way.  From  his  house  we  had 
fourteen  miles  to  travel  through  the  forest,  with  scarcely  a  track  to 
guide  us.  We  passed  the  Pike  (Tay),  and  Black  rivers,  which  we 
had  to  wade,  and  two  bad  swamps.  This  visit  gives  a  fair  sample 
of  Home  Mission  work  at  that  time.  Long  journeys  on  foot,  part 
o{  the  way  through  pathless  forests,  wading  creeks  and  swamps, 
lodging  in  wretched  hovels,  sometimes  upset  from  canoes  by  the 
unskilfulness  of  others,  to  the  danger  of  drowning,  and  when  es- 
caping, having  no  opportunity  of  getting  wet  clothes  chang  d. 

"  13th  Oct.  Set  out  for  Brockville  on  foot,  for  at  this  time  there 
were  almost  no  horses  in  the  settlement,  nor  anything  to  feed  them. 
The  road  was  very  bad,  and  it  was  dark  long  before  I  reached  Mr. 
Randall's,  where  I  proposed  to  pass  the  night.    Thirty  miles." 

At  this  time  he  went  to  the  Quarter  Sessions  to  obtain  a  certifi- 
cate to  enable  him  to  solemnize  marriages,  but  opposed  by  high 
church  officials,  it  was  refused  on  technical  grounds,  and  three 
months  after  he  had  to  make  another  journey  of  forty -tw  o miles  to 
Brockville,  with  seven  members  of  his  congregation,  to  get  the 
matter  arranged. 

At  this  time  (Oct.,  1817),  Mr.  Bell  visited  Kingston  for  the 
purpose  of  trying  to  reconcile  two  parties  of  Presbyterians — Scotch 


452  LIFE  or  KEY.  DR.  BURNS. 

and  American — who  were  desirous  of  getting  a  minister,  but  who 
were  disputing  as  to  whether  he  should  be  obtained  from  the 
Church  of  Scotland  or  the  United  States.  This  journey  was  made 
mostly  on  foot,  a  small  portion  of  it  being  by  means  of  a  borrowed 
horse,  and  a  part  by  a  small  boat.  He  regretted  to  fiud  the  two 
parties  irreconcilable. 

Perth  was  a  military  settlement,  and  Mr.  Bell  had  much  to  do 
with  the  military  officials,  both  in  his  own  affairs,  and  on  behalf  of 
the  poor  settlers,  many  of  whom  were  in  a  starving  condition.  He 
received  the  utmost  civility  and  even  kindness  from  the  Governor- 
General,  and  those  high  in  authority,  but  on  coming  down  the  scale 
there  was  a  great  change. 

A  school-house  had  been  built  with  money  collected  at  Quebec 
and  other  places,  on  a  subscription  list  "  for  erecting  a  school-house 
at  Perth,  U.C,  for  the  use  of  the  Rev.  William  Bell.''  It  had  been 
erected  under  the  direction  of  the  worthy  secretary  mentioned 
above,  on  the  public  reserve,  and  by  much  diligence  and  sacrifice 
of  time  on  Mr.  Bell's  part,  a  good  school  had  been  collected.  The 
house  was  used  for  the  school  on  week  days,  and  for  public  worship 
on  Sabbaths,  for  more  than  a  year,  until  the  church  was  ready  for 
use.  About  that  time  an  Episcopal  clergyman  came .  to  the  settle- 
ment, and  Mr.  Bell  was  unceremoniously  ordered  to  give  up  the 
school  to  him.  The  absurdity  of  this  was  so  apparent  that  he  re- 
sisted for  a  time,  but  at  length  gave  it  up,  observing  in  his  journal 
^^  It  is  not  safe  living  in  Rome  and  plea-ing  with  the  Pope." 

At  first  Sabbath  profanation  was  very  common.  After  the 
regular  observance  of  public  worship  was  introduced  matters  im- 
proved among  those  attending.  Many,  however,  were  not  attend- 
ing, and  to  bring  an  influence  to  bear  on  these  the  following  plan 
was  adopted  : — "  Taking  one  of  my  elders  with  me,  I  called  at  every 
house,  shanty  and  tent,  in  the  village  and  neighbourhood,  spoke  of 
the  sin  of  profaning  the  Sabbath,  and  requested  the  aid  of  all  in 
preventing  it.  This  had  the  desired  effect,  and  from  this  time  for- 
ward there  was  a  visible  reformation. "  Some  years  afterwards 
greater  difficulties  were  encountered.  Sabbath  breaking  became 
very  prevalent,  urged  on  by  many  who,  from  their  position,  ought 
to  have  been  leaders  in  giving  a  good  moral  tone  to  society.  In 
opposing  vigorously  these  evils,  Mr.  Bell  aroused  a  persecution, 
which  for  violence  of  personal  abuse,  insults  and  legal  prosecutions 
would  scarcely  be  credible  if  fully  described  in  our  happier  days. 

In  1829,  after  a  persecuting  law  suit,  in  which  he  was  mulcted 
in  damages  for  his  faithfulness  in  opposing  vice,  he  writes,  ' '  Paid 
£45  15s.  lOd.,  the  price  of  freedom  from  persecution.  O  Britain  ! 
how  vain  is  thy  boast  of  freedom." 

Mr.  Bell  had  to  contend  with  much  ignorance  in  regard  to  the 
administration  of  church  ordinances.  A  man  and  woman  called 
one  day  with  a  sick  child,  which  they  had  brought  four  miles  on  a 
dreadfully  cold  day  to  be  christened,  lest  it  should  die.    The  man 


AWFUL   DEATH.      PEACEMAKER.      WIDE  FIELD.         453 

was  known  to  be  a  very  immoral  man,  and  on  inquiry  it  appeared 
that  neither  of  the  parents  was  present,  and  that  the  persons  who 
had  come  stated  that  they  were  to  be  godfather  and  godmother  : 
the  father  of  the  child  was  a  drunken  and  profane  man.  Mr.  Bell 
stated  that  he  could  not  baptize  the  child  then,  but  that  if  the  pa- 
rents were  willing  to  be  instructed  in  the  truths  and  duties  of  the 
gospel,  and  to  follow  such  instruction,  he  would  do  so  at  a  proper 
time.  "  The  man,  on  hearing  this,  became  insolent,  got  up  and 
said  he  did  not  care  whether  I  christened  the  child  or  not,  as  he 
could  take  it  to  the  priest,  who  would  not  object,  if  he  paid  him, 
which  he  was  willing  to  do.  They  then  left  the  house,  went  to  the 
Roman  Catholic  priest,  and  had  the  child  christened,  paid  half  a 
dollar,  and  went  home  well  pleased.  The  service  was  performed  in 
French,  of  which  they  did  not  understand  a  word. " 

"  The  father  disapproved  of  what  they  had  done,  when  he  came 
to  know  and  wished  me  to  re-baptize  the  child.  This  I  declined, 
which  so  much  offended  him  that  he  went  to  a  magistrate,  and 
made  a  complaint,  giving  a  very  erroneous  account  of  the  whole 
transaction.  On  the  following  Tuesday  he  was  in  town,  spent  the 
day  at  the  tavern,  and  blustered  a  great  deal  about  having  me 
punished  for  refusing  to  baptize  his  child.  In  the  evening  he  left 
the  village  drunk,  and  next  morning,  the  cold  being  intense,  he  was 
found  dead,  and  frozen  stiff  among  the  snow,  about  half  a  mile 
from  Perth.  When  the  body  was  brought  in,  before  the  Coroner's 
inquest,  it  presented  an  awful  spectacle — the  limbs  stiff  and  bent 
up — the  grey  hair  erect  and  clotted  with  snow,  and  the  eyes  staring 
wide  open."  This  was  an  extreme  casej  but  it  illustrates  one  class 
of  difficulties  a  minister  meets  in  a  new  settlement,  and  among  a 
mixed  population. 

Numerous  cases  occurred  in  which  the  minister  was  expected 
to  settle  disputes  about  property,  to  settle  difficulties  in  families, 
quarrels  among  neighbours,  &c.  The  following  may  serve  as  a 
sample  : — "  Nearly  the  whole  of  last  Saturday  was  spent  in  settling 
a  family  quarrel,  about  the  property  of  a  deceased  relation.  The 
parties  were  all  Highlanders,  named  Campbell,  and  I  had  much  ado 
to  prevent  their  going  to  law.  With  much  reluctance  on  the  one 
side,  it  was  left  to  arbitration.  Dr.  Thom  and  I  were  chosen,  and 
settled  all  matters  between  them.  But  what  violence  and  talking 
of  Gaelic  we  had  all  day  !" 

Those  ministers  and  elders,  who  now  attend  meetings  of  Pres- 
bytery and  Synod,  have  little  idea  of  what  labour  and  suffering 
were  involved  in  such  duties  in  the  early  years  of  the  country. 
Mr.  Bell's  journals  contain  records  of  journeys  to  Presbytery 
meetings,  requiring  from  four  to  six  days  to  reach  the  place  of 
meeting,  perhaps  two  days  being  spent  in  travelling  on  foot,  and 
the  remainder  by  means  of  horse-back  riding,  waggon,  small  boat 
or  sleigh,  as  the  case  might  be. 

Mr,  BeU's  field  of  labour  was  of  wide  extent      His  congrega- 


454  LIFE  OF  KEV.  DE.  BURNS. 

tion  proper  was  very  much  scattered,  and  besides  attention  to 
them,  he  made  missionary  journeys  very  frequently  into  all  parts 
of  the  military  settlement,  as  well  as  into  the  older  settlements 
toward  the  St.  Lawrence.  In  these  journeys  he  had  generally  to 
walk,  as  he  had  no  horse  for  some  years,  and  the  roads  were  not 
cleared.  In  1820  new  settlements  were  formed  in  Lanark,  Dal- 
housie,  &c.  As  these  contained  many  Scotch  emmigrants,  he  ex- 
tended his  work  among  them,  which  added  much  to  his  alreadj 
severe  toil,  but  he  had  the  happiness  of  collecting  and  preparing 
for  settlement,  congregations  in  several  places,  including  Beckwith 
Lanark,  Dalhousie,  &c. 

"  On  the  afternoon  of  Sabbath,  1 7th  September  (1820)  our  neigh 
hour,  Mr.  Brizee,  called  to  tell  us  that  Elder  Steven,  from  Bastard, 
had  just  come  in  from  Brockville  with  a  load  of  settlers'  baggage, 
and  was  going  to  preach  a  sermon  at  his  house,  and  invited  us  to 
attend.  We  did  so,  and  heard  a  very  odd  sermon  from  Heb.  xii.  1. 
*  Let  us  lay  aside  every  weight,  &c.'  He  said,  as  the  day  was  hot, 
he  would  follow  the  advice  in  the  text,  and  lay  aside  some  of  his 
own  yarn.  Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he  pulled  off  his  coat, 
and  preached  in  his  shirt  sleeves." 

Although  work  was  hard,  there  was  much  encouragement  in 
the  warm-hearted  manner  in  which  he  was  received  by  those  whom 
he  followed  in  to  the  wilderness  with  gospel  ordinances,  and  still 
more  in  the  manifest  tokens  of  divine  favour,  giving  success  for 
the  present  and  hope  for  the  future.  His  journals  abound  in  ex- 
pressions of  gratitude  to  God  for  deliverances  from  dangers,  and 
blessings  bestowed. 

The  Rev.  George  Cheyne,  a  laborious  and  faithful 
Pioneer  in  the  West,  sends  me  these  interesting  items  as 
to  his  early  labours  in  Canada : 

"I  landed  at  Quebec  on  the  5th  Sept.,  1831.  After  spending 
a  short  time  with  Dr.  Harkness,  at  Quebec,  and  Mr.  Esson,  at 
Montreal,  to  whom  I  had  letters  of  introduction  from  Rev.  Mr. 
Leith,  of  Rothiemay.  Mr.  Leith  had  been  some  years  in  America, 
grammar  school-teacher  and  first  Presbyterian  minister  at  Corn- 
wall, and  was  succeeded  by  the  late  Dr.  Urquhart  in  both  offices. 
Mr.  Leith,  before  it  was  known  that  he  was  leaving,  had  secured 
from  the  trustees  his  appointment  as  grammar-school  teacher  to 
the  great  disappointment  of  the  authorities  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, who  were  then  grasping  at  every  thing  for  themselves.  The 
Church  had  been  organized  into  a  Synod  during  the  summer,  and 
consisted  of  nineteen  ministers.  Having  been  ordained  before 
leaving  Scotland  to  "  Amherstburg,  or  any  other  place  in  North 
America,"  and  as  my  going  to  Amherstburg  depended  on  Mr.  Gale's 


AMHERSTBURG.      MR.  GALE.     SCENE  AT  COMMUNION.      455 

leaving  it, I  presented  my  documents  to  the  Presbytery  of  Toronto. 
The  Presbytery  then  consisted  of  Messrs.  Shedd,  of  Ancaster,  Pin- 
toul,  of  York,  MacGill,  of  Niagara,  and  Ross,  of  Aldborough,  who, 
however,  was  not  present.  I  was  sent  on  to  take  possession  of  the 
congregation  at  Amherstburg,  as  there  was  no  inductions  in  those 
days,  at  least,  in  remote  parts.  Amherstburg  had  been  organized 
into  a  congregation  by  Mr.  Gale,  who  had  gone  there  as  a  teacher 
without  any  intervention  of  Presbytery.  The  congregation  con- 
sisted of  about  twelve  members  and  thirty  hearers  ;  but  a  grant 
had  been  given  by  Government  to  the  church.  Accordingly  I  went 
and  took  possession,  and  laboured  with  some  measure  of  success, 
for  nearly  twelve  years. 

"An  incident,  worthy  of  note,  might  be  mentioned.  In  the 
autumn  of  1832  I  went  to  assist  the  nearest  minister,  Mr.  Ross,  of 
Aldborough,  about  one  hundred  miles,  in  administering  the  commu- 
nion— the  first  communion.  As  it  was  a  Gaelic  congregation  as 
well  as  English,  it  was  arranged  that  I  should  preach  the  action 
sermon,  fence  the  tables,  and  serve  the  first  table.  All  went  on  in 
the  usual  way  until  after  the  first  part  of  the  table  service.  After 
the  pause,  and  I  had  just  begun  to  speak,  a  female  at  the  table,  in  a 
very  excited  state,  clapped  her  hands,  and  exclaimed  loudly,  *  O 
LordJesus,' again  and  again.  I  stood  amazed.  At  a  glance  round  the 
table  I  saw  that  the  communicants  were  all  in  a  very  excited  state. 
I  was  not  then  cognizant  of  the  scenes  of  excitement,  noise  and 
confusion  that  were  prevalent  in  the  country  at  that  time.  A  word 
from  me  would  have  readily  put  them  all  into  confusion  and  noise, 
but  I  stood  in  silence,  until  Mr.  Ross,  who  was  at  the  table,  whis- 
pered to  one  of  the  elders  that  I  had  better  proceed.  Instead  of 
doing  so,  I  remarked  ;  in  the  house  of  God,  and  especially  at  his 
table,  all  should  be  reverence  and  solemnity,  that  I  was  surprised 
at  what  had  taken  place,  &c. ,  and  I  paused  again.  When  I  saw 
that  the  excitement  had  subsided  I  went  on,  and  nothing  further 
than  usual  occurred.  It  was  the  first  and  last  scene  of  the  kind 
that  occurred  in  the  place.  But  I  was  spoken  of  by  Methodists 
and  Baptists,  for  the  church  was  crowded  to  excess,  as  a  bad  man, 
who  had  quenched  the  spirit.  There  was  at  that  time  no  Presbyte- 
rian minister  at  Hamilton,  and  only  one  in  all  the  country  west 
from  Ancaster  to  Amherstburg. 

"In  the  summer  of  1834  I  visited  Samia,  which  had  scarcely 
been  commenced  ;  made  arrangements  to  preach  in  the  township 
of  Moore  on  the  Sabbath.  Settlers  had  just  begun  to  settle  in  it, 
but  it  appeared  to  the  eye  an  unbroken  forest.  A  Mr.  Sutherland, 
from  Edinburgh,  had  just  come,  and  bought  out  a  Frenchman, 
whose  farm  lay  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Clair.  Seats  were  erected 
in  his  orchard,  made  of  boards,  resting  on  blocks  of  wood.  By- 
the-by,  Mr,  Sutherland  and  family  were  Scotch  Episcopalians,  but 
they  were  kind  and  hospitable.  I  always,  in  visiting  the 
locality,  made  my  arrangements  to  spend  a  night  with  them,  as 


456 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 


there  was  the  place  for  one  or  more  services.  On  the  Sabbath 
there  was  a  good  congregation,  but  where  they  came  from  I  could 
not  see.  Being  the  only  Presbyterian  minister  in  that  region,  I 
would  sometimes  go  out  on  a  missionary  excursion,  and  spend  per- 
haps six  weeks — making  appointments  as  I  went,  to  be  fulfilled  on 
my  return. 

"  In  1836  I  set  out  in  the  beginning  of  January,  preached  on 
Sabbath,  in  the  township  of  Mersia,  and  in  the  course  of  the  week 
proceeded  to  Tilbury  East,  on  my  way  to  Chatham,  where  T  had 
arranged  to  preach  on  Sabbath.  T  arrived  at  Mr.  Graham's  about 
sunset,  and  announced  that  I  would  preach  to  them  next  day  at  ten 
o'clock  a.m.,  if  they  could  get  a  congregation.  By  next  day  at  the 
hour  appointed  the  house  was  tilled — some  from  six  miles  with 
children  to  baptize.  They  had  no  way  of  travelling  but  on  ox- 
jiieighs  or  fciot. 

"  On  another  occasion,  in  the  autumn,  having  preached  at  the 
front  in  Moore,  I  was  proceeding  back  ten  miles  to  Bear  Creek,  to 
preach  next  day  at  ten  o'clock.  It  commenced  to  rain  when  I  had 
gone  about  three  miles — it  rained  harder  and  harder  as  I  went 
on,  when  I  came  to  a  small  log-house  and  clearing ;  the  road 
was  just  opened  up,  but  there  it  terminated.  On  enquiring  how 
far  it  was  to  a  certain  house  at  Bear  Creek,  I  was  told  four  miles, 
and  on  asking  if  I  could  get  any  one  to  show  me  the  way,  was  told 
no,  as  it  was  drawing  near  night,  and  they  could  not  find  it.  I  re- 
plied, if  they  could  not  I  was  sure  I  could  not,  and  would  have  to 
stay.  They  very  kindly  remarked  I  should  be  very  welcome  if  I 
would  put  up  with  such  accommodation  as  they  had.  I  alighted 
from  my  horse,  gave  him  in  charge  to  the  man,  and  walked  into  the 
house.  It  was  about  twelve  feet  square,  two  men,  two  women  and 
some  children,  beside  myself.  There  was  a  good  blazing  fire — they 
were  very  kind,  and  made  me  comfortable.  The  family  was  from 
the  North  of  Ireland — the  husband  an  Episcopalian,  the  wife  and 
her  mother  Presbyterians.  The  brother  went  with  me  to  church 
next  day,  and  served  as  a  guide.  The  houses  were,  for  the  most 
part,  in  one  room,  and  undivided,  but  one  had  ju-^t  to  put  up  with 
it  as  best  he  could.  I  enjoyed  these  missionary  tours  very  much — 
I  was  never  ofiered  the  least;  thing  for  my  services.  I  suppose  aa 
they  were  new  settlers  they  had  nothing  to  give,  nor  did  I  expect 
anything.  They  were  delighted  to  see  me  and  hear  the  word,  and 
if  I  was  instrumental  in  fanning  the  decaying  flame  of  religion  I 
was  abundantly  rewarded.  In  most  of  these  places  there  have  been 
for  years  flourishing  congregations.  Tilbury,  Wallaceburg,  Moore,. 
Bear  Creek,  Plympton,  Sarnia,  and  in  Chatham  three  large  Pres- 
byterian congregations.  At  an  early  period,  on  visiting  Chat- 
ham, I  drew  out  a  petition,  and  got  the  people  to  sign  it,  praying 
Government  for  ten  acres  of  land  for  church  purposes,  which 
was  granted.  A  good  portion  of  the  town  of  Chatham  is  built 
upon  it,  and  the  Church,  in  connection  with  the  Establishment  of 


SPEECH   BEFORE  F.   C.  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY   OF  1868.      457 

Scotland,  is  reaping  the  benefit  of  it.     But  *  what  a  friend  gets  is 
not  lost'  you  know. 

"  Geo.  Cheynk." 

P.S. — From  the  great  distance  I  was  never  able,  while  at  Am- 
herstburg,  to  attend  meetings  of  Presbjiiery,  except  at  the  meeting 
of  Synod. 


III.  Dr.  Burns'  Addresses  before  the  General  As- 
sembly OF  THE  Free  Church  of  Scotland  ik 
1868  AND  1869. 

We  have  made  reference  to  Dr.  Burns'  last  appear- 
ance before  the  Free  Church  General  Assembly  in  1869, 
when  he  was  greeted  with  what  the  Edinburgh  Daily 
Review  describes  as  "  loud  and  long  continued  applause ;" 
and  received  what  Dr.  Guthrie  styles  a  complete  "ovation.'* 
The  Rev.  W.  Cochrane,  of  Brantford,  then  accompanied 
him.  His  reception  the  year  previous  was  not  the  less 
cordial,  when  he  appeared  in  company  with  the  Rev.  J. 
M.  King.  As  a  specimen  of  his  addresses  on  such  occa- 
sions, we  give  here  almost  the  whole  of  the  report  as  it 
appeared  in  the  Review : 

Dr.  Burns,  said  : — The  field  to  which  I  am  to  allude  embraces 
what  is  called  the  British  American  Possessions,  comprehends  what 
is  known  under  the  name  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  together  with 
some  colonies  not  embraced  in  that  Dominion,  Ontario,  Quebec, 
Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  Newfoundland,  and  Prince  Edward 
Island.  All  these  colonies  have  been  visited  by  myself  more  or 
less  fully,  and  I  am  able  to  tell  something  of  their  present  condi- 
tion. And  I  hesitate  not  to  say  that  whatever  communications  be 
made  to  you  on  this  subject,  will  not  fail  to  cheer  and  encourage  ; 
for  I  am  decidedly  of  opinion  that  there  are  difficulties  everywhere 
in  regard  to  the  great  duty  of  sending  the  gospel  to  those  afar  off 
and  placed  in  circumstances  unfavourable  to  its  progress,  still  we 
have  had  every  cause  of  gratitude  to  God  for  the  encouragement 
given  in  respect  to  the  planting  of  churches  and  settlement  of  minis- 
ters, and  the  difiusion  pf  the  gospel  generally  through  these  colo- 


458  LIFE  OF  REV.   DR.  BURNS. 

nies,  Twenty-two  years  ago  the  number  of  Presbyterians  in  Can- 
ada was  small.  The  number  of  ministers  that  adhered  to  the 
principles  of  the  Free  Church  in  1844,  was  only  twenty.  Since  that 
time  we  have  got  large  accessions  from  young  men  trained  in  the 
country,  and  by  those  sent  out  by  yourselves  and  others,  and  by 
the  union  that  has  lately  been  realised  between  the  branch  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  in  Canada,  and  the  branch  of  the  Free 
Church  planted  there ;  so  that  we  have  now  260  ministers — (applause) 
— 13  presbyteries,  2  colleges,  one  of  them — Toronto — in  existence  for 
now  twenty-two  years,  and  has  sent  forth  about  170 ministers, most  of 
whom  are  still  labouring  in  the  field,  though  a  considerable  num- 
ber have  ceased  by  reason  of  death.  There  are  42,000  members  in 
full  communion,  and  a  body  of  elders  in  proportion.  We  thank 
God  for  what  has  been  done  in  that  Province.  Lower  Canada,  pro- 
perly speaking,  is  a  very  limited  portion  of  the  field  allotted  to  us, 
because  you  all  know  that  Popery  was  established  in  that  country 
nearly  a  hundred  years  ago,  and  when  the  number  of  adherents  to 
that  system  is  900.000  out  of  a  population  of  little  more  than  a 
million.  Still,  in  Montreal  we  have  a  large  representation  of  our 
views  in  congregations  and  able  ministers  ;  and  so  also  in  Quebec. 
But  our  principal  field  is  in  Canada  West,  now  known  as  Ontario, 
and  we  rejoice  in  the  impression  on  our  minds  that  God  has  owned 
us  in  this  field,  and  given  us  cause  to  hope  for  greater  progress. 
We  have  also  a  considerable  number  of  seminaries,  for  the  prelimin- 
ary training  of  young  men  preparing  for  the  ministry.  In  Nova 
Scotia,  we  rejoice  in  the  gratifying  progress  and  in  the  union  that 
has  taken  place.  The  Dalhousie  college,  founded  originally  by  a 
highly  respected  relative  of  a  noble  lord,  a  member  of  this  Assem- 
bly, after  being  kept  back  from  the  full  exhibition  of  its  blessed 
results,  by  circumstances  beyond  our  control,  has  of  late  years  been 
placed  in  circumstances  exceedingly  favourable  for  the  instruction 
of  all  the  young  men  of  difierent  denominations,  exclusive  only  of 
those  connected  with  the  High  Church  Episcopal  party.  In  con- 
nection with  Dalhousie  College,  we  have  the  theological  seminary, 
so  long  under  the  charge  of  Professor  King  and  others  ;  and  there 
is  another  college  for  the  training  of  teachers,  under  the  charge  of 
Dr.  Forrester.  There  are  circumstances  very  favourable  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  religion.  In  New  Brunswick  and  Newfoundland  we 
have  also  cause  to  thank  God  and  take  courage.  Perhaps  the  most 
important  feature  in  these  churches  is  the  high-toned  missionary 
spirit  elicited,  particularly  in  Nova  Scotia,  including  New  Bruns- 
wick and  Eastern  and  Western  Canada.  The  maritime  provinces 
have  done  much  in  foreign  missions,  and  our  Canada  church  has  aid- 
ed them  in  that  way.  Vancouver's  Island  and  British  Columbia 
have  been  in  a  sense  committed  to  our  church,  and  have  sent  forth 
devoted  ministers,  to  whom  you  have  been  kind  enough  to  give 
support.  I  hope  the  attention  of  the  Colonial  Conmiittee  will  be 
more  and  more  directed  to  this  point  of  the  British  dominions  and 


REVIEW  OF  CANADA  PRESBYTEIUAN  MISSIONS.        459 

tTie  Red  River  Settlement.  There  are  not  fewer  than  from  350  to  400 
trained  in  the  colleges  of  Halifax  and  Canada  since  their  commence- 
ment. We  have  also  had  to  impart  spiritual  aid  to  seven  or  eight 
stations  in  the  United  States  where  Scotchmen  are  settled,  and  our 
arrangements  with  the  United  States  Presbyterian  churches  about 
these  stations  have  been  of  a  very  agreeable  kind.  (Applause.)  Both 
in  the  maritime  provinces  and  in  Canada  an  important  union  was 
lately  consummated  between  the  Presbyterian  churches  more  imme- 
diately in  alliance  with  you  and  the  brethren  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Canada — (applause) — and  the  brethren  of  the 
church  in  Nova  Scotia  not  marked  exactly  by  the  same  designation, 
but  still  substantially  part  and  parcel  of  the  same  great  body.  In 
regard  to  both  these  unions  a  considerable  period  has  been  permitted 
to  elapse  before  the  consummation  took  place .  Now  that  that  con- 
summation has  been  completed,  the  results  are  advantagous,  and  one 
reason  is  that  both  in  the  one  country  and  the  other,  our  impression 
is  that  the  great  principle  which  for  some'years  had  separated  the 
brethren,  has  been  arranged  in  such  a  way  as  was  consistent  with 
the  leading  principles  that  we,  as  members  of  the  Free  Church 
entertained,  and  do  entertain.  ('  Oh,  oh,'  from  Dr.  Begg.)  The 
principle  on  which  we  set  a  high  value,  not  higher  than  it  was  en- 
titled ^to,  stands  with  us  still.  I  am  quite  aware  that  there  has  been 
a  feeling  in  certain  quarters  that  there  has  been  some  ambiguity  in 
the  terms  employed.  That  feeling  was  cherished  by  some  at  the 
time  of  the  union.  I  have  always  maintained  that  in  both  unions 
the  principle  is  substantially  the  same.  '  Hear,  hear,'  from  Dr. 
Begg  and  the  left  of  the  chairman.)  And  we  have  gone  on  in  the 
spirit  of  love.  Many  points  there  are  unquestionably  of  mutual 
forbearance.  (Loud  cries  of  '  Hear,  hear.')  We  agreed  together 
in  holding  the  great  principle  of  the  Headship  of  Christ  over  the 
nations — (cheers  and  counter  cheers) — comprehending  in  that  a 
general  and  vague  idea  of  certain  Christian  influences  to  be  diff"used 
over  the  whole  masses.  We  have  not  been  satisfied  with  that. 
('Hear,  hear,' from  the  left  of  the  chair.)  We  have  maintained 
that  nations  as  such,  and  the  rulers  of  this  world  in  their  legislative 
and  executive  capacity,  are  bound  to  act  under  the  laws  of  Christ, 
and  to  give  their  influence  in  helping  on  the  cause  of  Christ.  (Re- 
newed applause  from  the  left  of  the  chair.)  At  the  same  time,  in 
regard  to  the  question  of  the  time  and  circumstances  and  mode  in 
which  financial  aid  is  to  be  given,  we  did  allow  forbearance.  (Loud 
applause  from  the  right  of  the  chair  and  all  parts  of  the  house.)  On 
that  subject  liberty  was  given  in  both  Provinces  to  hold  varied 
opinions.  (Renewed  applause.)  But  in  regard  to  the  great  obliga- 
tion laid  on  rulers  to  own  the  authority  of  Christ  in  all  things,  and 
when  circumstances  in  providence  call  for  it,  to  consecrate  their  in- 
fluence and  substance — ('  hear,  hear,'  from  Dr.  Begg,  and  laughter) 
— that  principle  we  hold — only  at  the  same  time  we  allow  a  latitude 
of  opinion  as  to  the  way  in  which  that  principle  may  be  developed. 


460 


LIFE  OF  REV,  DR.  BURNS. 


(Loud  cheers  from  the  right  and  other  parts  of  the  house.)  This  was 
peculiarly  necessary  in  our  case  from  the  difference  of  opinion 
that  prevailed,  and  the  fact  that  a  great  number  of  us  coming  out 
of  Scotland  felt  that  we  could  not  accept  aid  from  a  State  that  had 
virtually  rejected  evangelical  principles.  We  published  our  views 
on  that  subject  twenty  years  ago,  and  while  we  held  fast  to  the 
principle  T  have  alluded  to,  we  have,  at  the  same  time,  declared 
that  for  us  to  accept  of  endowments  in  circumstances  in  which  we 
were  placed  might  have  the  effect  of  rendering  our  testimony  some- 
what ambiguous — (laughter) — looking  like  a  change  of  sentiment 
from  the  views  of  the  Free  Church,  and  necessarily  interposing  an 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  a  vital  and  substantial  union  with  other  de- 
nominations. On  these  grounds  we  acted  on  the  principle  of  for- 
bearance in  regard  to  the  specific  application  of  the  principle,  while 
we  hold  that  principle  in  a  firm  and  unambiguous  manner.  No 
doubt  a  number  of  years  elapsed  before  that.  Had  there  been  any 
disposition  to  surrender  that  great  principle,  the  union  would  have 
been  consummated  sooner.  But  we  thank  God  for  what  has  been 
done  to  present  a  more  powerful  front  to  the  common  enemy,  and 
I  believe,  by  a  late  computation  made,  the  Presbyterians  of  all  de- 
nominations, including  those,  of  course,  belonging  to  the  Establish- 
ed church,  form  the  first  in  point  of  number  of  all  the  Protestant 
denominations  in  the  whole  Dominion  of  Canada,  and  even  in 
Prince  Edward's  Island  and  Newfoundland,  where  they  have  not 
Been  meet  to  fall  into  the  Confederate  track.  We  wished  to  live  in 
love  ;  yet  we  could  not  but  feel  that  there  were  hindrances  to  the 
progress  of  religion  and  Presbyterianism.  We  find  also  that  Pres- 
byterianism  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  genius  of  the  people,  and 
recommends  itself  even  to  those  who  do  not  come  under  the  desig- 
nation of  Presbyterians.  But.  there  is  every  reason  to  think,  if  our 
colleges  are  well  supplied,  and  able  ministers  are  sent  forth,  from 
time  to  time,  standing  firm  and  fast  by  the  standards  of  the  church 
— there  is  no  question  at  all  that,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  we  may 
expect  not  only  peace  and  harmony,  ajid  progress  among  ourselves, 
but  the  extension  of  the  Gospel  in  districts  beyond  those  immedia- 
tely allotted  to  us.  (Much  applause.)  When  we  think  of  the  Indian 
mission,  which  is  now  going  on  most  successfully — when  we  think 
of  the  French  mission,  in  connection  with  which  there  are  six  stations 
— we  are  encouraged  to  hope  that  our  Colonial  churches  will  be  one 
of  God's  instruments  of  great  and  growing  usefulness  in  building  up 
the  walls  of  Zion,  which  are  salvation,  and  setting  up  its  gates,  which 
are  praise.  I  rejoice  that  it  is  again  permitted  me,  after  having 
passed  my  fourscore  years,  to  visit  the  land  of  my  fathers,  and  to 
rejoice  with  you  in  the  bright  prospect  set  before  us." 

The  following,  extracted,  in  substance,  from  the  same 
source,  gives  but  an  inadequate  idea  of  his  last  address 


RED   RIVER  AND  OTHER  MISSIONS.  461 

before  the  Free  Church  General  Assemby  in  1869,  which 

excited  a  very  deep  interest : 

"  Dr.  Burns,  who  was  received  with  loud  and  prolonged  applause, 
said  he  rejoiced  to  have  another  opportunity  given  him  to  say  a  few 
words  in  regard  to  the  great  interests  of  the  land  of  his  adoption. 
He  had  not  been  in  Canada  since  he  last  addressed  the  General 
Assembly,  though  if  God  spared  him,  he  hoped  to  return  thither 
soon,  considerably  restored  by  his  residence  in  Scotland,  and  great- 
ly refreshed  by  what  he  had  seen  and  heard  since  he  came  here.  He 
looked  forward  to  returning  to  the  scene  of  his  labours  for  the  past 
twenty-four  years  with  something  of  renewed  relish,  springing  from 
what  he  had  seen  and  heard  in  that  Assembly,  and  also  in  friendly 
private  intercourse  with  brethren.  But  though  he  had  not  been  in 
Canada  since  he  last  addressed  them,  he  had  been  in  regular  cor- 
respondence with  the  official  brethren  who  had  charge  of  matters 
connected  with  their  church  ;  and  he  had  been  instructed  by  them 
to  call  the  attention  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Free  Church  to 
fiome  particulars  in  regard  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Canada, 
and  the  relations  in  which  they  had  hitherto  stood  to  the  mother 
church.  The  first  point  was  in  regard  to  the  Red  River  Settlement 
and  the  mission  of  the  aborigines  connected  therewith.  The  set- 
tlement of  the  Red  River  now  dates  back  somewhat  more  than  sixty 
years.  Some  time  after  the  settlement  began,  appeals  were  mad© 
to  the  Established  Church  for  ministers,  particularly  ministers  hav- 
ing Gaelic.  No  attention  was  paid  to  these  appeals  in  any  quarter. 
At  the  Disruption,  instant  application  was  made  from  the  Selkirk 
settlement  in  the  Hudson's  Bay  region  to  be  furnished  with  minis- 
ters. The  Colonial  Committee  were  unable  to  meet  the  call,  and 
transmitted  the  papers  to  the  Canadian  church  ;  and  in  three 
months  that  church  designated  and  ordained  a  minister,  whom  they 
sent  up  the  Red  River  colony,  a  distance  of  nearly  2,000  miles,  and 
after  an  absence  of  eighteen  years  that  brother  continues  there  a 
faithful  servant  of  Christ  in  that  interesting  colony.  He  has  since 
been  followed  by  two  other  ministers — forming  the  legal  number  to 
constitute  a  Presbytery.  With  these  there  have  also  been  sent  two 
missionaries  to  the  aborigines,  and  application  has  been  received  for 
a  sixth  minister.  Now,  surely,  it  is  very  interesting  to  find  that 
such  a  number  of  congregations,  holding  by  Presbyterian  order, 
and  appearing  by  their  representatives  in  the  Synod  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Canada,  have  been  fixed  in  that  colony — a  field 
never  touched  before.  And  this  has  been  occupied  by  the  Cana- 
dian church  without  aid  in  men  or  money  from  any  other  source 
whatever.  And  now  he  was  instructed  to  bring  earnestly  under  the 
notice  of  the  Free  Church  Colonial  Committee  the  desire  of  the 
Canadian  church  to  have  some  help  in  regard  to  the  mission  to  the 
aborigines  in  the  Red  River  Settlement.  The  second  point  to  which 
he  was  instructed  to  call  attention  was  in  regard  to  British  Colum- 


462  LIFE  OF  REV.  DR.   BURNS. 

bia,    including    Vancouver's  Island  and  the  great  Saskatchewan 
Valley,  1,000  miles  long  and  300  miles  wide,  now  laid  open  to  set- 
tlers from  all  parts  of  the  British  empire.     It  was  gratifying  to  have 
been  able  to  send  out  three  missionaries  io  that  colony.     The  obli- 
gation to  do  more  was  greatly  increased  by  the  opening  up  of  the  great 
region  named,  and  he  had  been  instructed  to  call  attention  to  the 
desirableness  of  assistance  to  some  extent  from  the  Free  Church  in. 
this  department  of  mission  work.     In  addition  to  these  fields  of 
mission  work,  the  Canadian  church  has  aided  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Nova  Scotia  in  sending  a  mission  to  the  New  Hebrides ;  they  have 
also  in  times  past  sent  a  missionary  to  India,  and  have  been  in  corres- 
pondence, with  the  view  of  sending  a  missionary  to  China.     Perhaps 
there  was  a  tendency  in  new  churches  to  go  even  beyond  the  line  of 
duty  in  sending  abroad  foreign  missionaries.     There  is  a  fascina- 
tion about  foreign  missions — particularly  those  connected  with  India 
and  China — that  interests  the  minds  of  young  men,  perhaps  beyond 
labour  in  ordinary  fields  ;  but  he  desired,  in  accordance  with  hia 
instructions,  to  call  attention  to  the  claims  of  Eritish  Columbia  on 
the  Free  Church  of  Scotland.     The  third  point  to  which  he  had  ta 
call  attention  was,  the  provision  they  were  accustomed  to  make  on 
behalf  of  their  Gaelic  young  men,  of  whom  they  had  a  large  num- 
ber.    They  had  been  sending  missionaries  to  colonies  of  Highland- 
ers in  different  parts  of  the  United  States  ;  and  recent  intelligenc© 
from  Illinois  and  other  places  showed  clearly  the  duty  of  the  Free 
church  to  look  after  the  Celtic  settlers  in  these  regions,   by  aiding 
in  sending  them  missionaries  able  to  preach  in  the  language  of  their 
hearts.     The  Canadian  church  had  been  endeavouring  to  do  so  to 
the  best  of  its  means.     For  some  years  past  they  had  received  no 
help  from  home,  and  he  was  instructed  to  plead  for  a  renewal  of 
the  bursaries  the  Free  Church  was  frequently  wont  to  furnish,  to 
the  amount  of  £20,  on  behalf  of  Gaelic  students,  and  if  it  were  kept 
in  view  that  the  population  in  whose  behalf  the  plea  was  made  num- 
bered from  50,000  to  60,000,  the  validity  of  the  plea  would,  he 
thought,  he  admitted.     Dr.  Burns,  after  referring  to  other  matter* 
of  interest,  concluded  his  address,  amid  warm  applause,  by  a  touch- 
ing and  eloquent  peroration." 


THE  END. 


SECOND  SERIES. 


Extract  from  the  Preface. 

"  It  contains,  not  a  collection  of  pulpit  discourses,  as  in  the 
First  Series,  but  a  number  of  treatises,  dealing  at  greater  length 
and  in  a  more  complete  manner  than  any  sermon  could  with 
themes  of  the  deepest  religious  interest.  In  regard  to  these,  the 
leading  doctrines  and  the  practice  of  our  Church  are  stated,  illus- 
trated, and  defended,  yet  in  such  a  manner  that  the  themes  never 
fail  of  earnest  personal  application." 


Edited  by  the  Rev.  William  Gregg, 
Professor  of  Apologetics,  Knox  College. 

Same  size  aa  the  "Pulpit." 
PRICE     ONE     DOLLAR. 

By  DAVID  DICKSON,  Esq. 

Edinburgh. 

Toronto  :  James  Campbell  &  Son. 


To  Authors. 

fAS.  Campbell  &  Son, 

Publishers  of  the  Canadian  Prize  Sunday 
School  Books,   the  National  Series  of 
Readers ,  and  other  School  and  Misccl- 
lafieous  Books,  are  prepared  to 
FURNISH    ESTIMATES   TO 
AUTHORS 
for  the  publication  of  their  MSS.,  and 
may  be  consulted  personally  or  by  letter. 

They  will  engage  to  have  proofs  care- 
fully revised  while  passing  through  the 
press ^  if  required. 

The  facilities  possessed  by  fas.  Camp- 
bell 6^  Sofifor  the  Publication  of  Books 
in  the  best  Modern  Styles,  at  the  Lowest 
Prices,  and  their  lengthened  experience 
warrant  them  in  undertaking  the  Publi- 
cation of  any  work  submitted  to  them,  and 
in  offering  their  services  to  Authors  who 
desire  to  publish  on  their  07vn  account. 

Toronto. 


PLEASE  DO  NOT  REMOVE 
CARDS  OR  SUPS  FROM  THIS  POCKET 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO  LIBRARY 


BX 

9225 

B782B8 

1872 

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