IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 -. IIIM 
 
 I.I 
 
 > m 
 
 ■ MO 
 
 2.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 1.25 
 
 U IIIIII.6 
 
 % 
 
 V} 
 
 -m 
 
 % 
 
 ^: 
 
 ei 
 
 <f}. 
 
 0% ^s 
 
 c^ 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 o 
 
 7 
 
 ///. 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^<u 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^9) 
 
 ,-\ 
 
 S^ , ^ 
 
 :\ 
 
 \ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 23 WEST iwAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, NY 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 €^ \% "% 
 
 r^>^ 
 
CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
 1980 
 
Technical find Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically unique, 
 which may alter any of the images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 L'Institut a microfilmd le meiileur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage 
 sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. 
 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 Covers damaged/ 
 Couverture endommagde 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculde 
 
 Cover title missing/ 
 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 I — I Coloured maps/ 
 
 Q 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Cartes g^ographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 □ Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 □ Bound with other material/ 
 Re\\6 avec d'autres documents 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La relrue serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distortion !d long de la marge int^rieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the vext. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas 6t6 film^es. 
 
 □ Coloured pages/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 
 I I Pagef. <indommag6es 
 
 n Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restaur^es et/ou pellicul^es 
 
 □ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages ddcolordes, tachetdes ou piqu6es 
 
 I I Pages detached/ 
 
 D 
 
 Pages d6tach6es 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 □ Quality of srint varies/ 
 Qualit^ indjale de {'impression 
 
 I I Includes supplementary material/ 
 
 D 
 D 
 
 Comprend du matdriel supplementaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Lee pages totalement ou partiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc.. ont dt6 film6es d nouveau de fapon d 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 D 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires suppl6mentaires; 
 
 / 
 
 [^ 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est filmd au taux de rdduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 
 
 
 
 
 14X 
 
 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 26X 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^^"^^ 
 
 
 19X 
 
 
 
 
 16X 
 
 
 
 
 20X 
 
 
 
 
 24X 
 
 
 
 
 28X 
 
 
 
 
 32X 
 
ails 
 
 du 
 
 idifier 
 
 une 
 
 nage 
 
 The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Library of the Public 
 Archives of Canada 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grSce d la 
 96n6rosit6 de: 
 
 La bibliothdque des Archives 
 publiques du Canada 
 
 Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et 
 de la nettetd de l'exemplaire filmd, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 Les exempleires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprim^e sont filmds en commenpant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exempleires 
 originaux sont filmds en commengant par la 
 premidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernidre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol --»' (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END "). 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la 
 dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbole —^- signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbole V signifie '"FIN"". 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre 
 film^s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre 
 reproduit en un Sdul clich6, il est filmd d partir 
 de Tangle 3up6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mdthode. 
 
 »rrata 
 to 
 
 pelure, 
 in d 
 
 n 
 
 32X 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
1^ "^ 
 
 ^Pj^frv. 
 
 } 
 
w 
 
 ■* 
 
 ). 
 
 US 
 
 9 
 
.UnUi!lH I I, i J| i f'.' 
 
■* 
 
 LIFE 
 
 OF THU 
 
 Rev. Alex. Mathieson, D.D. 
 
 MINISTER OF ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, MONTREAL; 
 
 WITH A 
 
 ittwcrttl ^Cl?l«0«y 
 
 By the Rev John Jenkins, D.D., 
 
 MINISTER OK ST. PAUL'S ClfPSCU, MONTREAL; 
 
 AND 
 
 Three (biscmirseSy 
 
 rilEACllKD BY DU. 3IATUIKS0X, AT DIFFEKKXr PERIODS ()l<' UlS 
 
 MINISTRY. 
 
 C'Juait uot«i iJf^fcci. 
 
 MONTREAL : 
 
 JDAWSON B110TII1]1IS, feT. JAMKS STllEET. 
 
 1870. 
 
 ^fi- 
 
 md 
 
 4 
 
-1>5^^ 
 
mx\$ mox% 
 
 UNDERTAKEN AT THE INSTANCE OF 
 
 ALEXANDER BUNTIN, ESQ., 
 
 OF MONTUKAF, 
 
 IS R E S r E C T F U I, L V 
 
 SftHcatcrt 
 
 TO 
 
 THE MEMBERS OF 
 
 -* 
 
 ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH AND CONGREGATIOxV, 
 
 BY 
 
 Mmmns &XI, 
 
 * 
 
7/ ^7^" 
 
*■ 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 These Memoirs of the late :\rinister of St. Andrew's Churcli, 
 Montreal, arc almost entirely composed of domestic annals, 
 intended rather for the perusal of his nmnerous personal 
 friends than for general circulation. Had Dr. INIathieson 
 thought it necessary to leave any instructions to his bio- 
 grapher, these would, in all probability, have been, substan- 
 tially, in terras of the stern command of Oliver Cromwell to 
 an artist Avhen taking his likeness. — ''Paint me, scars, warts, 
 ivrinldes and all!" In our own opinion, the weaker points 
 in the character of our deceased Friend and Father but 
 served to bring out in bolder relief the many noble qualities 
 of the man : therefore, we have not endeavoured to-conceal 
 them. If we have failed to produce that which — on the 
 whole — will be recognized as a faithful portraiture, we can 
 only take shelter nnder the motto that is placed on the title 
 page. In addition to the materials supplied by Dr. Mathieson 
 himself, the author has received much valuable assistance 
 from friends who neither wish nor expect a more particular 
 acknowledgment. 
 
rgiii Till 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 I. 
 
 CIIArTEU I. 
 
 I'arentage and early Kducation 
 
 CHAPTEll II. 
 
 College Career and Tutorship 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Recollections of Dr. Chalmers and Edward Irving 
 
 CIIAl'TEU IV. 
 Apiiointuicmt to St. Androiv's Cliureli. tlis ordination and departure for Cansida. 47 
 
 ClIArTER V. 
 
 Viiit to Scotland and the Continent. Disappointment and visionary plans. 
 
 9 
 132 
 
 His marriage. Death of liis cliild 
 
 64 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Parinh work. Revi.sits Scotland. Dcatli of Mrs. Mathieson. Life at IJeech- 
 
 ridge. Death of Janet Ewing Matliie.son gO 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Reminiscences. Mr. Uethune. Risliop Stniclian. Messrs. Spark, Harkness, 
 
 Connell. History of St. Andrew's Church 100 
 
 *• 
 
 ^M 
 
^/^ 
 
 'PM 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CIIAI'TEK VIII. ^A«» 
 
 Dr. Slnthioson as a M(>ml)(ir of Synod ,__ lift 
 
 CIIAPTF.K IX. 
 Last illness and doatli. Funoral services. Extracts from Dr. Barclay's sermon 
 and otlier sources 166 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 186 
 
 gart II. 
 
 SERMONS 
 By Kkv. Alkxandku Matiiikson, D.D. 
 
 SERMON I. 
 " Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may bavo free course, and 
 be glorilled."— II Thossalonians, iii, 1 207 
 
 SERMON IL 
 " God created man in liis own imago, In the imago of God created ho liim ; male 
 and female created he them. And God blessed tliein, and God t^aid unto 
 them. Be fruitful and nuiltii)ly, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and 
 have dominion over the tish of the sea, and over tho fowl of the air, and 
 over every living tliiug that movetb upon the earth."— Genesis i. 2V, 28 225 
 
 " And it was winter.' 
 
 SERMON III. 
 -Jvhnx, 22 
 
 .245 
 
 *■ 
 
 
* 
 
 Friend after friend departs ; 
 
 Who bath not lost a friend ? 
 There is no union here of hearts 
 
 That finds not here an end ! 
 Were this frail world our final rest, 
 liiving or dying, none were bless'd. 
 
 Beyond tlic flight of time, — 
 Beyond the reign of death, — 
 
 There surely is some blessed clime, 
 Where life is not a breath ; 
 
 Nor life's aff.'ctions transient fire, 
 
 Whose sparks fly ui>wara and expire. 
 
 There is a world above. 
 
 Where parting is unknown ; 
 
 A long eternity of love. 
 Formed for the good r.lonc ; 
 
 And Faith beholds the dying here 
 
 Translated to that glorious sphere ! 
 
 MONTOOMBRY. 
 
 * 
 
^- 
 
 y^ 
 
 CIIAPTEll FIRST. 
 
 PARENTAGE AND EARLY EDUCATION. 
 
 SoJiE years ago it occurred to tlic writer to sug,2;cst to Dr. 
 Mathiesou that a leisure hour, now and again, might be spent, 
 pleasantly to himself, aikd usefully to tlie future historian, in com- 
 mitting to paper sorac of those early reminiscences of men and 
 things which had often served to beguile hours of social pastime. 
 It seemed right that whatever was in them of historic interest should 
 be rescued from oblivion, and desirable that even trivial occur- 
 rences bearing on the history of the Church should be preserved, 
 not necessarily for publication, but as mcmornhUia which miglit 
 hereafter be used or set aside as should be judged expedient. It 
 was even hinted to him that, without exposing himself to the 
 charge of egotism, he might write an autobiography ; for, it was 
 very certain that the time would come when the members of the 
 Church of which lie had so long been a minister would naturally 
 seek for all the information that could be had concerning one who, 
 during his later years, was familiarly known to them as the fatlier 
 of the Church of Scotland in Canada. The flrst "part of the pro- 
 posal was not foreign to the Doctor's habit and bent of mind. lie 
 was fund of writing and literally revrllod amid the recollections of 
 
.^. 
 
 10 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 early dnys. Indeed, for some years previous to his death lio may 
 be said to have been living in the past. Not only had he no sym- 
 pathy with those changes in ecclesiastic thought which characterize 
 the present time, he could not away with them ; he denounced 
 .them as " vagaries and innovations " that should not be tolerated, 
 presaging the decay of morals, the downfall of true and undcliled 
 reli<don. and the rttcr ruin of — what ho maintained to be the only 
 scriptural form of Christianity — Prcsbyterianism. With regard 
 to his personal history, the idea suggested was one from which his 
 mind intuitively 'recoiled. He was one of the itost n)odest and 
 unassuming of men, who never in his lifetime coveted the applause 
 of his fellows, nor wished for posthumous praise. Moreover, he was 
 a man of strong mind and yet stronger will, and it can be supposed 
 that in a matter of this kind especially he was not easily influenced ; 
 but, as the sequel will shew, he yielded to entreaty, rather, 
 doubtless, because of our imp:irtuiiity tlian from the Conviction 
 that compliance were either a virtue or a duty. And thou<^h the 
 information eventually arrived' at regarding himself is pcrhr.ps 
 less full and explicit than >ve could have wished, it will be seen 
 IVom the tenor of his own scnuirks that in this matter, at all events, 
 he was the reverse of " textual." The slightest pretext seemed 
 to him to be sufficient excuse for quite losing sight of himself, and 
 diverging into a lengthened disquisition upon the Paraphrases, 
 the Psalms of David. Dr. Chalmers, Edward Irving, " Ilarkness," 
 )ho Union ((uestion, or the Organ question : anything, in short, 
 except the particular stibjrct Avliich ho had been re((nested to 
 " stick to." The following extracts from a letter written in 1801, 
 lieitiides corroborating what has been said, are interesting as afford- 
 
 *^ 
 
^■ 
 
 >!- 
 
 PARENTAGE AND EARLY EDUCATION. 
 
 11 
 
 itig an in^'igllt into the musings of a mind that, to use .his own 
 ex^prcssion, was at times affoctud with '' the doldrums;" 
 " My dear Friend, — 
 
 " My last letter was written in such haste and in such an elip- 
 tical style that I fear you will require the help of (Eclipus to get 
 at its meaning. Mark its deficiencies and send enquiries for the 
 information I have failed to give you. An early friend when he 
 wanted a letter from me — for it would then seem I was sometimes 
 as remiss as I am now — would send rae a long string of questions, 
 and tell uie to answer them all. You must do the same thing. 
 My memory of by-gone events is not so quick as it once was, and, 
 perhaps, v;ith the dreamings of age I think that everybody should 
 be as familiar with the subjects on which I write as I am myself, 
 and I may fail to give that sequence to tlie narrative that will 
 make it intelligible. Though I delight to muse on the days of 
 lavcf Kijve and contrast their pleasing gleams with the darker shades 
 cast o'er the days of closing life — then, active — full of decision 
 and energy — now, languid — inditlerent to what is going on in tlie 
 world, and vexed with trifles. There has been a deplorable change 
 in both the ministers and people within the last for*^y years. The 
 early inhabitants were more thinly scattered, but they seemed to 
 cling with strong attichmcnt to each other. Ministers were few, 
 but their ministrations were better appreciated than they arc now. 
 If their services were inadequately recompensed then, it was from 
 inability, not front indilference to their necessities, as is too much 
 the case now. There was a genial spirit of kindness as well as a 
 warm feeling of natiotiality in their intercourse with the people, 
 and much more of veneration and respect for their p'^rsons — for 
 
 ^^■ 
 
 ■^ 
 
12 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER, MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 their office sake — than is paid now, that cheered their toils and 
 animated them in tlie discharge of their duties, and there was a 
 kindlier spirit of brotherhood umong themselves. Then, personal 
 intercourse was seldom, from the immense distances which separated 
 them, but common interests sometimes brought them together 
 for mutual counsel, and whenever the affairs of the Church and 
 the welfare of their respective flocks had been considered, and 
 a course fixed on, there was the relaxation of boyhood — the 
 fun and frolic of youths escaped from the rigour and discipline 
 and the drudgery of hard tasks — enjoyed by men of weightier 
 avocations and graver years ; wisdom and wit, humour and folly, 
 happily blended in these intellectual symposiums. 
 
 " When I saw you last I promised that you would soon hear 
 from me, but since that time I made a short excursion to Chatham, 
 and now that I am in my private cell I can do no work. In such 
 intolerably hot weather it is a heavy task to wield a gooses quill, 
 far more a steel pen, so that you may expect little of the light and 
 feathery, and much less of the keen and pointed in this epistle. 
 You directed me to a serious perusal of the last page of your last 
 letter — where you speak of a yet untold life — why lite ! Man, 
 there are not incidents enough to give variety to the annals of an 
 oyster I for I think it was our great Dramatist who has said or 
 hinted that an oyster may be crossed in love. So I will take cooler 
 weather to dip into its fiery mysteries. However, you have set mo 
 agoing on a subject which I have long contemplated, namely, to 
 gather together such scraps of interest relating to our Churoh in 
 Canada as might be useful to some future chronicler of our times. 
 
 " I have been in the liabit of keeping copies of many of my most 
 
 ^^- 
 
 '>M 
 
*■ 
 
 PARENTAGE AND EARLY EDUCATION. 
 
 13 
 
 important and public letters, and I meant, when I had time, to collect 
 and arrange them, so that if any one some day hence would be at the 
 trouble of reading them they might find something interesting 
 about the aifairs of our church. The letters, too, of my clerical cor- 
 respondents I have kept ; but it would take a world of labour to 
 read them and select the useful from such as are on trifling sub- 
 jects. I regret that I did not tg^ke note of passing events ; much 
 that would be interesting has passed from my memory, or only 
 recurs now and then as fragmentary dreams, and I may give you a 
 few of the old reminiscences as they come back upon me. You 
 luivc given texts for a few, and the letters written about the time of 
 Chalmers, Irving, Mary Campbell, and the 'Leetlc Verry ' on the 
 Rhine, who carried off with her more than a leetle vcrri/ of my 
 heart, may suggest something more. But, an autobiography ! 0, 
 no, no ; there is neither incident nor public life to make it in the 
 least interesting ; nothing to elevate a biography above insignifi- 
 cant gossip. However, as the garrulity of old ago when once 
 excited flows on without interruption, I may deluge you yet with a 
 flood of old memories; but, though pleasing to myself, and perhaps 
 to the few remaining who shared the joys of my school-boy days, 
 they can liave no interest to another." 
 
 To the reader who was not personally acquainted with Dr. IMathie- 
 son this may seem rather a dull setting to his ideal picture of a 
 noble, frank, generous and happy nature. But some consideration 
 must be given to the tliought that these are the words of 
 one whose years were verging on three-score and ten — whose life had 
 been one of unusual activity — of one. who, tenacious in the la.s*-. degree 
 of all the rights and privileges, and the respect, appertaining to his 
 
•i- 
 
 >!« 
 
 14 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 status as a min'nter, was loatli to conccJc that tho inflrniities of 
 age luul in any degree incapacitated him for active duties, and 
 whose ardent temperament fretted under such petty vexations and 
 annoyances as are common to humanity and inseparable from old 
 age. During twelve years previous to the date of the above letter 
 lie had been aided in the discharge of his pulpit duties by different 
 assistants, and, as time wore on, hp gradually became in some mea- 
 sure reconciled to altered relationships which necessity rather than 
 choice had led him in the first place to sanction, but he was ill at 
 case in the prospect of a more permanent arrangement that was now 
 for the first time proposed, that of the appointment of an assistant 
 and successor. He could not brook the idea of any one waiting, as 
 it were, for him to " shuffle off this mortal coil" that he might stand 
 in his vacated slfocs. But, do away with any misconception, it is 
 right to mention hci'c that the disquietude of the Doctor's mind at 
 this time was due almost entirely to his own easily excited imagi- 
 nation and the exceeding sensitiveness of his nature, and that 
 the subsequent appointment of an assistant and successor proved 
 on the whole highly saiisfiictory, not only to the congregation, 
 but to the Doctor himself. We will not further pursue this 
 digression, however, but at once proceed to narrate in his own 
 words the story of his parentage and education, and of the peaceful, 
 happy dnys that intervened from the time of his leaving college until 
 lie received the call and appointment to become the minister of St. 
 Andrew's Church, Montreal. 
 
 It may be as well to premise that what follows is made up of 
 extracts fro!n a number of letters, the last of which is dated the 
 tlic 23rd April, 18G0. 
 
 ■^^ 
 
*■ 
 
 ■^ 
 
 PARENTAGE AN1> EARLY EDUCATION. 
 
 15 
 
 " 111 asking a sketch of my early days you have touched a string 
 that ahuost spontaneously responds to the slightest excitation. It 
 has been beautifully said, ' there arc no remeuibrances like those 
 of our youth,' and often, within the last few months especially, 
 docs my memory revert to my early days. Thouj h they passed 
 away like a delightful dream, and arc devoid of inc'dcnt, to mc they 
 are very interesting, and the most trifling occurrences assume the 
 magnitude of the most important events. 
 
 " My father was a Highlander, the son of a farmer in Sutherland- 
 shire. His mother died, when he was two or three years old, in 
 giving birth to a daughter. His father married a second time, and, 
 as he alleged, his stepmother was very severe and unkind to him. 
 t have lieard him say that often he was sent to the hill to gather 
 in the sheep or feed the cattle amidst the driftini^ snows, without 
 shoes or stockings on his feet. He longed to see the world beyond 
 the little circle of his native hills. His i'atlicr became alarmed, 
 and, like Nerval's, his anxious care was ' to keep his only sou 
 himself at home.' He had learned to read, but his ambition was 
 ' to write and cipher too.' These aspirations increased the old 
 man's terrors, lest he should lose his only ?on, for every one, he 
 alleged, who could read and write, sought to display their 
 acquirements in ' the low country.' One autumn evening, after 
 feeding the cattle, he requested his ftither to send him to school, 
 when he received something like the following answer to his 
 request : ' I am just as good a man as you are likely ever to be. 
 You have received as much education as I have. It has served 
 all my purpose — it may do yours. I mean to bring you up in the 
 same prol'cjjsiou in which 1 have lived honestly and respectably 
 
 ^. 
 
^. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 16 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 Tliose who Icara to ivrite and count get discontented and leave 
 the country, &c.' Wliether tlicse resolutions were warmly enforced 
 by his stepmother I do not know, but there was some disagreement 
 which offended him mightily. When all had gone to bed he started 
 
 for , some flftecni or twenty miles off, where a recruiting 
 
 party wore stationed. He accepted the ' Queen's shilling' — and 
 was back by the dawn of the day to the discharge of his domestic 
 duties, without informing any one what he had done, till lie was 
 summoned to appear and confirm the deed by being * attested, 
 sworn and a'. He loft amidst the profound grief of his father 
 and only sister, and about three weeks afterwards joined his Regi- 
 ment — either the 72nd or 7Sth, I forget which — and in about 
 nine months went with it to the East Indies, lie was then about 
 seventeen or eighteen years of age. Under whom he served I do 
 not know. One war had terminated and another was commencing. 
 He remained about seven years without seeing much fighting, when, 
 his health having given way, he was invalided, sent home, and 
 stationed in Dumbarton Castle for garrison duty. Though 'an 
 old fogey,' he was yet a young man, and soon tiring of the indo- 
 lence and inactivity of garrison duty he became anxious to obtain 
 a discharge and learn some business. His grand-uncle, H. McKay, 
 was barrack-master. He, with sergeant Drysdale, of the artillery, 
 and one or two old men, under the command of Capt. Kobertson, 
 constituted the garrison in the renowned fortress. My father's 
 thirst for knowledge was unquenchable. He had learned by this time 
 to write, and now went to a ' night-school,' and became a proficient 
 in arithmetic. He was a prodigious favourite with his commanding 
 officer, and to him he imparted his hiijh aspirations of actuiiring a 
 
*- 
 
 ding 
 
 PARKNTAGE AND EAUTA' EDUCATION. li 
 
 scientific knowledjic of gardcninjr. Cnpt. Robertson, however, gave 
 him a letter of introduction to tlie superintendent of tlie bleaching 
 establishment at Dalffuhurn, and, having visited the print fields of 
 Cordale and Dalquhnrn — then, T believe, the most extensive works 
 of the kind in Scptland — after hesitating; for a sliort time between 
 becoming an engraver, and a copperplate printer, lie selected the 
 latter, and was apprenticed to the trade. Ilis commanding officer 
 became his surety and extended to him the privilege of absence 
 from the Castle, excepting 'high days and holidays,' when he 
 appeared in all the pomp and pageantry of military life in the 
 Castle. Upon the breaking out of the French Revolution, in 
 17!.)2, he had to sleep in the Castle, having to travel every even- 
 ing after six and to return to Trenton before six o'clock next morn- 
 ing — the distance was six or seven miles. Finding it not good to 
 be alone, somewhere about the beginning of the last decade of the 
 eighteenth century he ' courted' my mother, and obtained her 
 consent. But, as the course of ' true love never did run smooth,' 
 Granny put a veto on their union. She said ' lie was a weel-far'd 
 lad, and a' body said he was an unci guid chUl, but I dow 
 na bide the ill-far'd name o' a soger.' Her scruples, however, 
 were soon overcome — the aristocratic blood of the Uodgcrs of 
 Cloddach, in matrimonial alliance with the Ewings of Keppoch, 
 submitted to the claims of ardent love, and, to the delight of 
 themselves, and the perfect satisfaction of all parties concerned^ 
 G^iorgc Mathicson and Janet Ewing were united in ' the holy 
 bands of marriage' — forgive me the half Popish phrase — by the llcv. 
 James Oliphant (for whose gifts and graces, sec Burns' Holy Fair.) 
 Grandfather was a younger son, or the son of a younger son, of 
 
 ■* 
 
r 
 
 * 
 
 18 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MaTUIESON, D.D. 
 
 Ewing of Keppocli, who possessed that estate for about six hundred 
 years, as I have been told, previous to 1816 or 1817, wlien it 
 passed into the Dunlop family. My niother was born atRoscncath, 
 whence the family removed to tlie Kirkton of Cardross, that is, tlic 
 point of land between the Levcn and the Clyde. The Kirkton I 
 What myriads of pleasing memories rush on my mind at the very 
 mention of the name. The cottage, with its antique furniture, its 
 beds with wooden .shutters for hangings, its bouft-t and four-legged 
 stools, grandfather's arm-chair in the corner, where sat the vener- 
 able man, making ' tow guns' and boats for his nunierous * O's* 
 that constantly frequented his fireside, delighted with his task, 
 and entering with a youthful heart into all their frolics, fun and 
 glee, except when one or two theatrical knights, with chivalric airs, 
 would dare to utter in his hearing, 'My name is Norval;' or, 
 'Draw and defend thy life,' when they would have to draw oif 
 to a respectful distance if they were within reach of his long 
 crutch. But I am diverging from my straight path. My father 
 resided in Kenton till about 1803 or 1804. The garrison at Dum- 
 barton was disbanded, and he received a pension of about one 
 shilling and two-pence per day. His family had increased — four , 
 sons and four daughters. The three eldest died in childhood. I 
 was the fourth, born on the 1st of October, 1795. All my sisters 
 are still alive (1804). He removed from llenton to Balfron in 
 1804, and to Carapsie, where he lived the remainder of his days, 
 in 1807, where he followed his business as a copperplate printer. 
 Wherever he was he conciliated the affections of his employers. He 
 became an Elder in the parish church of Campsie, and in the 
 discharge of his duties as sufh frequently associated with the 
 
*■ 
 
 PAllENTAan AND EARLY EDUCATION. 
 
 19 
 
 '^M 
 
 resident Heritors of the parish, and secured the regard of all of 
 thctn, who honoured his memory by following his remains to tho 
 grave — a respect shown by them to few beneath their own rank. 
 Tho parish minister, the Rev, Mr. Lapslie, accounted him his 
 right-hand man. Dr. Mc^jood, his successor, afterwards of St. 
 Columba Church, Glasgow, contracted a friendship with him that 
 continued unabated till tho last days of his life, and the recollection 
 of which caused the family to press mo to pay a tribute of respect to 
 the memory of the worthy Doctor, by preaching his funeral sermon. (•) 
 Dr. Robert Lee, afterwards the minister of Greyfriar's Church, 
 Edinburgh, and the distinguished professor of Biblical criticism in 
 the University of that city, was also a short time in tho parish 
 before my father died. Ilim he respected as his minister, but I 
 do not think that he cherished, or could cherish, for him the Siimo 
 affectionate esteem as he did for his predecessor, Dr. iMcLcod. He 
 died in March, if I remember aright, 1845, at the age of eighty- 
 two. My mother survived him ten or twilvo years, and died about 
 the age of 93 or 94. When young, she was good-looking, of a 
 remarkably cheerful disposition, and charmed her friends with tho 
 
 (•) The Dr. McLeod referred to was father of the distinguished minister 
 of tlie Barony Church, Glasgow, Dr. Norman McLeod. In a snrmoa 
 preached by him shortly after the sorrowful event we find the following 
 allusion to ihe occasion here referred to. — " The end came at last : It cnme 
 without any warning. In the mi Idle of the night tlie cry w.is heard — low 
 and soft, " Behold the Bridegroom coraeth 1 " It was met bj' him in Peace. 
 Ilis funeral sermon in Oaelic was preached by his old and valurd friend 
 Dr. MacFarlan of Arrochar; and in English by another highly valued 
 friend, the son of his most attached Elder in Canijisie, iho Rev. Dr. 
 Malhieson of Montreal. " 
 
 *■ 
 
!»•(• 
 
 20 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 urbanity of her miinnors ami tlic stories of hor early days, which 
 she deliglitcd to repeat. They have passed away. There were fow 
 in their station who connnanded such universal esteem, or whoso 
 uieniory is more affectionately cherished by nun'icr. us surviving 
 friends. ' Uncle Georu;e and aunt Jenny,' were household words. 
 
 " I was sent to school at Kenton, and learned the alphabet under 
 IMr. McKinlay, who afterwards became the rector of the academy 
 at Perth. I believe I learned to read, at least I got credit fur 
 being a ' capital speller,' and, being one of four, I think, who 
 were called up at an examination before the Jlinlslevs, to exhibit 
 our gifts, I beat thorn all. At leni,'th Mr. Slight, the minister of 
 Bonhill, gave me some Jcitfle words to si^ell, which I managed 
 to do, all but one. On my defeat I burst into tears. He consoled 
 me by patting my head and giving me u sixpence, when I imagined 
 I was prodigiously rich. This was the cause of a battle ; for one 
 of the competitors told me tauntingly, when I left the school, I 
 had gotten the sixpence for crying, or, because I could not spell 
 tlic word. Bloody noses and scratched faces were the result, but 
 victory again smiled on mc. I commenced Latin with Mr. Hally, 
 of Balfron, but made little progress. I was about a year at a school 
 in Lennoxtown, and afterwards went to the parish school of 
 Ciimiisic, taught by Mr. McFuilane, or ' Liffy' as we called him. 
 iiometimcs he was cross and sometimeshe was kind, which humours 
 we learned to take advantage of. lie had two special favourites, 
 who received a proportionate share of hatred from the others in the 
 school, lie was a good man, and we loved and respected him. I 
 think he sent a class of nine to College on tl!e 10th of October, 
 ISUU. Some of the,>.e failed. Three of them still survive I 
 
 *■ 
 
 '^^ 
 
rAllENTAGE i\ND EAULY EDUCATION. 
 
 21 
 
 believe, though of one of them I have not hoard for sonic years 
 — Tom Oorilon, into whose insafiable ears I liavo poured a descrip- 
 tion of Walhice's sword a tiiousand tiints. Happy school-diiys I 
 light were our cares, transient our sorrows, intense our joys. "What 
 dangers wo encountered I What toils wo endured I Harrying 
 hawks' nests— ginmieling trouts — fighting the boys of other schools. 
 1 wish I could enjoy them again, even with their broken heads 
 and bloody noses. But In these penalties I shiired little, for, 
 according to the testimony of old Janet Graham, I was "a wcel set 
 laddie." I could give you many anecdotes of thes-e school-diiys, 
 which, however uninteresting to another, have a charm for myself, 
 and no doubt tended to form, in a great measure, the future 
 characters of the actors. But I am not going to philosophize at 
 the end of a chapter. As usual, I have to crave your indulgence 
 for haste and blunders. 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 
 A. M. 
 
iirr 
 
 *■ 
 
 •* 
 
 CHAPTER SECOND. 
 
 COLLEGE CAREER AND TUTORSHIP. 
 
 We have now come to that interesting period in the Doctor's his- 
 tory when, we must suppose, he made up Ins mind to qualify him- 
 self for a learned profession, for few in hjs station of life aspired to 
 a College curriculum without having tliat in view. But whether 
 he had at this time in prospect, as the ultimate result of his studies, 
 " to wag his head in a poopit" does not appear, although it is 
 likely that such was the case from the great interest whicli his 
 father took in church matters and his intimacy with the clergy, by 
 which Alexander would also be brought into frequent contact with 
 thcra. However that may have been, along with others of Mr. 
 McFarlane's pupils, to Glasgow College he went on the 10th of 
 October, 1809. Like many other Scottish students, the subject of 
 our sketch entered college at an early age. He was then only four- 
 teen, and very small in stature, and, indeed, remained so til! about 
 the ago that most young men have attained their full height, when, 
 all at once, he shot up to the size of a grenadier, " That was an 
 eventful day" — to resume his own narrative — "when I assumed 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■* 
 
^ 
 
 -* 
 
 by 
 ith 
 
 COLLEGE CAllEER AND TUTORSHIP. 
 
 23 
 
 the somewliat delapidatcd and stained topa of my cousin Peter* 
 who had bequeathed to me his mantle on his entering tlie Divinity 
 Hall — my pride being made tu humble my vanity by being assured it 
 was more honourable to sport a frieze displaying somewhat of 'skyey 
 influences' than flaming scarlet. Our Dominie was a proud man 
 that day when at the head of eight or ten sheepish boys they marched 
 into the courts of the old College, gazing with wonder at the Lion 
 nnd the Unicorn that silently guarded the large broad steps that 
 seemed the inviting but difficult ascent to the halls of knowledsre. 
 That we might the more easily and gracefully make our bows he 
 had recon)mcnded us to go to the ' dnucing scliooV — which pro- 
 cursive polish I contemned — having been denied that privilege a 
 short time before when I was in the humour to go. Notwithstand- 
 ing all his maxims of polite and courtly bearing, we huddled toge. 
 ther into a corner and stood, ill at ease, on the defensive. At col- 
 lege we wrought hard till the Blackstone Examination f was over : 
 after that much of our time was spent idly. The second year 
 little or nothing was done — the far famed battles with the 71st occu- 
 
 •The late Rev. Peter Napier, of the College Church Glasgow, and 
 formerly of St. Qeorge's-ia-the-Fielda. 
 
 + So called from an old oak chair having a seat of black marble, which 
 the student under cxaminal'on occupied. The examination is rather an 
 initiatory form than a rigid test, and is required of all siudcnt3 before 
 entering each and all of tiie gown classes. To the first year's student it 
 is nevertheless sufficiently forniidiible. The usual first question of the 
 Professor is, "Air." so and so — naming jiim in Latin, "What do you 
 profess ?" The general reply being " Doctissime Prefessor, Evangelium 
 secundum Joanuein ProfUeor," when the candidate takes his seat on 
 the Blackstone and construes a verse or two. 
 
V' 
 
 2-i 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 pyinp: the greater part of the winter, and in which the ' Campsies' 
 liehl a distinguished position. ' Plunking tlie class,' too, was so 
 fioquent as to cause numerous i-oics in 'Janiniy's'* class — the 
 absentees on their return being taken for strangers, and the' strong 
 man ' called in to turn the strangers out. 
 
 " 3Iy father had removed to Woodside on the banks of the Kel- 
 vin and there I entered on my labours, at sixteen, as a sclioolmas- 
 ter to the workers at Ilould worth's Cotton Mills. My salary was 
 ten shillings per week from the Company, and threepence from each 
 pupil, by which I earned about seven shillings and sixpence per 
 week. It was an evening school. During the day I attcnJed th^ 
 classes at college, but studied little. In the summer I kept the 
 books and accounts of a cooper who had entered into the herring 
 trade, and received for this my board and 2s. Od. per week. My 
 pockets were always empty and my coat seedy — but, no help for it 
 but drudge on. Thus passed over about eigliteen months during 
 which very little mental progress was made, for which there may 
 be an excuse in the want of time for study, but, what was worse, I 
 lost all habits of application. My good old aunty — a most inde. 
 pendent, energetic woman — procured me a tutorship for the ensue- 
 ing six summer months at Gairlochead, in the family of Captain 
 Campbell, with a salary of five pounds. A few extra pupils brought 
 me about seven pounds more, and on my twelve pounds, with a suit 
 of clothes from my father, and shirts from my mother, I campaigned 
 the winter, or rather two winters. My pupils made considerable 
 progress, notwithstanding a great deal of broken time — every 
 
Bi 
 
 n 
 
 1<T 
 
 I 
 
 Ml 
 
 llllo 
 
 very 
 
 COLLEGE CAREER AND TUTORSHIP. 
 
 25 
 
 •f*- 
 
 < shcop-gathcring' and * peat-casting' all hands being required — 
 and in these exercises my health which began to fail nie was quite 
 restored. Idly I spent much of my time, but very pleasantly. The 
 afterwards celebrated jMary and Isabella Campbell were my pupils. 
 Isabella was a good creature — amiable and pious. Mary, quick, 
 pretentious, and conceited ; she was spoilci by her father, who. 
 proud of her (jualifications, exhibited her scholarship on all occa- 
 sions, and excited in her inordinate vanity and presumption— the 
 foundation of tlie contemptible fanaticism which afterwards misled 
 Story, Campbell, and Irving. In a word, Mary became a design- 
 ing hy[)0crite, or, an arrant fool, which the little education she had, 
 and the natural force of her mental faculties, forbid me to receive. 
 Her cunning and deceit wore irrepressible when she was a child, 
 and though my intercourse with licr in after life was little, I did 
 not wonder when it culminated in the workin-i of miracles, and in 
 gibbering in ' an unknown tongue.' Tlie extravagances into which 
 her fanaticism led were notorious, and, better that they are buried 
 in oblivion than awaken the pity and disgust of the sober thinking. 
 " Mary's elocution was good. For a child, she read remarkably 
 well, and her father took every opportunity of exhibiting her gifts. 
 Mr. Robert Campbell of Iloseneatli had been in this quarter, on 
 business I suppose, and called at Fernicarry. Mary, ae was cus- 
 tomary, was brought on the stage and dismissed with applause. 
 This led to some expressions of regret from the Captain that I was 
 about to leave theai for college, and ended by his recommending me 
 as a tutor to his brother's boys. In the interview which followed 
 I stated my intention not to abandon my Ci)lloge e.uiise, but engaged 
 
 to return as early in spring as possible. This I did, and tiic 
 
 1) 
 
26 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 next eleven years of my life wore spent in Mr. Robert Campbell's 
 
 family, at the Clacban, in as much happiness as it were befitting 
 
 mortal to enjoy. It was by flir the most eventful period of my 
 
 existence, if the successes and disappointments of a sensitive and 
 
 proud spirit could form a marked epoch in niental history. But I 
 
 must be off to other matters, and I dare say you have got enough 
 usque ad nauseam of this for the present." 
 
 In these references tc his College career there is hardly so much 
 as ;in allusion to the struggles and privations of student life, but 
 we are not on that account to suppose that Smuli/ Mathieson, as he 
 was called at school, had discovered a royal road to learning. With 
 twelve pounds in his pocket to defray the expenses of a session at 
 college the student, if he uuts clothed in purple, could not hope to 
 *' fare sumptuously every day." He would have to be content 
 with a lodgement in the fifth or sixth story of a g.oomy " land" of 
 tenements known by such unclassical names as " the Candleriggs," 
 •* the Rotten Row," or, " the Cowcaddcns." His coat could not 
 be otherwise than " seedy ; " and, if there was any virtue in hard 
 beds, he would reap all the benefits thereto belonging. What the 
 Doctor says about the " plu.-.king " * proclivities of his schoolmates 
 and of his own " idle-set" must be taken cum grano, for when he 
 left college those who were in a position to pronounce on his acquire- 
 ments g;ive unequivocal testimony that he was a young man of exten- 
 sive learning and of earnest piety. 
 
 No student ever better enjoyed a lark than did our friend at 
 college. The following may be taken as an illustration of the pranks 
 
 * rtunliing, a scotiicism for playing the truant. 
 
 •* 
 
COLLECTE CAREER AND TUTORSHIP. 
 
 27 
 
 practised by the •' Colly ilougs " — the soubriquet by which the 
 gowned students were known to the " Keelics. " * It will be 
 recoi^nized as a true pieturc by every who has an experimental 
 knowledge of college lifi : — *' In our anxiety to see Koan the elder, 
 in Macbeth, we wore ^tirced by necessity to tempt a douce elder of 
 the Kirk to enter that den of iniquity — a play-house — pretending 
 that we were taking him into a grand Episcopalian Church to hear 
 ^ great gun from London. His free remarks on * Episcopawlian 
 corruptions ' — his amazement and horror when at length he 
 discovered that he was in the Decv'd's house — his subsequent 
 resignation to his fate, when out of the pit he could not get — his 
 undoubting conviction of the reality of every thing that passed 
 before his eyes — especially the witch scene — and his ultimate gra- 
 tification with the whole play, would form an admirable chapter in 
 a novel. If it does not already supply the ground work of one of 
 the best scenes in Mansie Waugh, which I am half inclined to 
 believe from the intimacy afterwards contracted between one of our 
 theatrical heroes and Moir, the author of Mansie." 
 
 It may be mentioned that the curricuhnn of study at the Uni- 
 versity, required of a candidate for the ministry, consisted of four 
 years in the " gown classes " — i. e. in the Arts, or classical litera- 
 ture department, and four years in the study of Theology, in all its 
 branches, in the Divinity Hall. That was eight years in all ; but, 
 by an arrangement at that time permissible — a very bad arrange- 
 ment — it was allowable for the student to take ^^ar^taZ sessions in his 
 
 • Tlie term " Keelies " was applied to the lower order of Glasgow street 
 Arabs, between whom and the students there has always been waged aa 
 intermiuable warfare. 
 
i 
 
 *■ 
 
 ^ 
 
 28 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 Divinity course and to cxtcntl Ins studies over an indefinite time. 
 And of this, the Doctor, like many others who with himself were 
 pressed for the ncedfnl to prosecute an uninterrupted course, availed 
 himself. How long his theological teacliing was thus extended 
 we Ciinnot now tell; it is altogether likely,, however, that he applied 
 for and obtained license to preach the Gospel as soon as tlie pre- 
 scribed term had been fulfilled, and having been licensed to preach 
 in the year 182.^— at which time he would be 28 years of age — 
 the presumption may be entertained that it was not until about tliat 
 time that lie had completed the course. /Vt all events, from the 
 time that he began the study of Theology until its consummation 
 a period of full ten years had elapsed, during the whole of which he 
 was living as tutor in the family of Mr. Robert Campbell, of RoSe, 
 neath, excepting the intervals of his attendance at college. 
 
 His first " trial discourse " in the Divinity Hall was to him a 
 great trial. For a long time before its delivery he felt no smalj 
 uneasiness in regard to it. This feeling did not arise from anything 
 like inability to write a sermon, or fear of the professor's criticism, 
 but from the fact that it was then, as it still is, the invariable 
 practice for each theological student to preface the rcadim'' of his 
 discourse by the oiforing up of a brief prayer. Having no faith in 
 his powers of speaking or of pr .ying extempore, and having as 
 little faith in his poor memory, he carefully wrote out a prayer on 
 the back of his manuscript, and for several weeks might have been 
 daily seen perambulating the college green, diligently committing 
 it to memory, till at last he had it at his tongue's end, of which he 
 satisfied himself by repeatedly saying it aloud in the hearing of a 
 congregation of " venerable rooks," whose progenitors had from 
 
rjmMffi 
 
 9glr 
 
 COLLEGE CAREER AND TUTORSHIP. 
 
 29 
 
 of a 
 from 
 
 time immemorial found a home amonji; the brandies of a few old 
 trees that stood in a corner of the green, and who were never 
 molested, an old law of the University being yearly read in Latin, 
 prohibiting tlic students from troubling then). 
 
 At last the day of trial conies. The students assemble. Dr. 
 McGill, a distinguished man in his day, takes the chair, and the 
 subject of our sketch tremblingly enters the desk. After a verse or 
 two had been sung, he begins his prayer, fortified by the thought 
 that should memory prove treacherous, and things come to the 
 worst, he could take a quiet peep at his manuscript. After repeating 
 a little of it the thought struck him " What if 1 should stick?'' 
 the result being utter confusion, or, rather, the mind becoming a 
 perfect blank. In vain he cast his eyes to his paper. Not a word 
 or letter could he distinguish from another, but he managed to 
 stammer a few sentences, which he used afterwards to say must 
 have been " sheer nonsense," and an Amen. Though terribly 
 crest-fallen he managed to deliver his discourse, and was even com- 
 plimented by the professor on his first attempt at sermonizing. He 
 was asked to remain at the end of the hour, and accordingly went 
 up to the professor's desk after the class had left, fully expecting a 
 reprimand, but no, the good professor, addressing him, said, " I 
 observcil, Sir, that you failed somewhat in prayer this morning, 
 but don't be cast down about that, the very best men in the Church 
 have done tlie same thing." But for these timely and wise words 
 it is doubtful if he would have further prosecuted his studies for 
 the Holy Ministry, so sensitive was liis nature. 
 
 Not long after receiving license Mr. Mathieson found himself in 
 " a pulpit " — that acme of ambition for her son of many a good 
 
' I 
 
 '<; I 
 
 h ! 
 
 ► j^- 
 
 30 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 Scottish dame. It was in the parish Cliuvch of Luss, on tho banks of 
 Lochlomond, sufficiently removed from lloseneath, as lie believed, to 
 obviate the inconvenience of his trying his " prentice hand " at 
 preaching in the presence of friends ; but the gardener at the 
 Clachan, who had a great respect for " Maistcr Alexander," and 
 who, like many others of his class, deemed himself a good judge 
 of sermons, set out in the morning to hear him, and on being inter- 
 rogated after his return as to how Mr. Mathieson got on, replied, 
 " ou verra weel, Sir — verra weel." " And where was the text ? " 
 continued the questioner; "a dinna mind that, Sir, but tht : was 
 a deal ahoiit therefore in it.^' The text being Romans xii, 1. 
 " I beseech you, therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, &c.'' 
 
 In the refined and cultivated society of the inmates of the 
 Clachan and of tho neighbouring " gentry " the respect with which 
 the young tulor was at first treated ripened gradually into closest 
 friendship, which neither lapse of time nor distance ever diminished 
 and that were only dissolved by death. Mr. Campbell was the 
 Duke's factor, and Mr. Story informs us that the trait which marked 
 the Clachan family distinctively was their devotion to the house of 
 Argyle, and as an illustration of a highlander's veneration for the 
 head of his clan relates the following amusing instance: — A man 
 came to Mr. Campbell with a long complaint of contumelious usage 
 received at the hands of some adversary or other ; " and mair nor 
 that," said he, coming, after a detail of his grievances, to the crisis 
 of his charge, '' he had the impiddence to strike me in the pre- 
 sence o' Ilis Grace^s Ilurse ! " 
 
 Mr. Drummond was the Minister of Roseneath at the time Mr. 
 Mathieson went to reside in the parish ; a man of considerable 
 
 *■ 
 
 ^ 
 
V' 
 
 cd 
 
 of 
 
 the 
 
 man 
 
 ;age 
 
 nor 
 brisis 
 
 pve- 
 
 :r 
 
 Mr. 
 
 able 
 
 * 
 
 COLLEGE CAREER AND TUTORSHIP. 
 
 31 
 
 ability in his day, but at this time quite incapacitcd from old ago 
 for the discharge of public duties, 
 
 lie was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Story who was an amiable 
 and pious man, and, being young Mathieson'a senior by only five 
 years, they came to regard each other with a brotherly affection 
 that never was interrupted until Mr. Story's death in 1859. The 
 Manse was but a short distance from the Clachan, the approach to 
 which was thrcugh an avenue over-arched by magnificent yew trees, 
 whose sombre foliage imparted a solemnity — almost a sacredness 
 — to the vicinity, very much in harmony with the poetic tendencies 
 of the tutor's mind. The peninsula and parish of Roseneath lie 
 between the Gairloch and Loch Long, in the estuary of the Clyde, 
 one of the most picturesque spots in all Scotland. " The weariest 
 Pilgrim of the Beautiful could wish to gaze on no lovelier scene." 
 The broad expanse of rippling waters, sea ward ; the sinuous, silent 
 Lochs; the wooded, winding shores ; the sparkling roofs and towers 
 of castle and villas rising amongst the trees and gardens, and, 
 towering above all, that majestic chain of rugged rock which from 
 time immemorial has by strange caprice been styled " The Duke 
 of Argyle's Bowling Green." It was amid such scenery that Dr. 
 Mathieson became imbued with that inextinguishable and romantic 
 love for the hills and glens of his native land that so conspi- 
 cuously characterized him. 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■* 
 
■* 
 
 OIlAPTEll TinilD. 
 
 RECOLLKCTIONS OP DR. C[IALME118 AND EDWARD IRVINQ. 
 
 TiiE'iE were associations of anotlior kind connected witli Mr. 
 Mathioson's sojourn at lloSeneath that lingered in his nuniory as 
 long as he lived. These arose out of the intercourse he tlicn had 
 with two of the most reniaikablc divines of modern times; the 
 one, in the zenith of his glory; the other, just emerging from 
 comparative obscurity — destined to win his way to unparalleled 
 celebrity. We refer to Dr. Chalmers, and his assistant, the eccen- 
 tric, but highly gifted Edward Irving — men, both endowed with 
 brilliant and powerful talents, sharing a common inheritance in 
 the domain of genius, yet differing greatly in th3 tone and charac- 
 ter of their eloquence. His recollections of the latter formed the 
 subject of a long and interesting letter, written in 18G-1, of which 
 the following is the substance : — 
 
 " My DEAR Friexd, — I have been long in acknowledging your 
 last kind letter, and what excuse have I for my negligence ? 
 None 1 I have had little to do for the last six weeks, and there- 
 fore, 1 suppose, from that natural tendency to do nothing, which 
 
-^ 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS OF DR. CHALMERS AND IRVING. 
 
 33 
 
 lour 
 lioh 
 
 ^. 
 
 some one has declared to be the snmrnum honiim of happiness, I 
 determined to be happy. But it would not do. jMental indolence 
 was wretchedness. So, ascending one de-^ree higher in the soalo 
 of 'action, I seized a parcel of old papers and letters which were 
 rotting in a box, and amidst scenes and friends of my early days, 
 I have been holding revelry. Your phantom would occasionally 
 intrude and scowl on me for not fulfilling my promise of giving 
 you some personal reniinisconcQ,s of Edward Irving. 
 
 " Irving was a noble-minded fellow, kind, generous, and of a 
 lively genius. But there was one point in his character that I 
 cannot reconcile with true greatness of mind, that is, his excessive 
 vanity. Though he made no pretentious deujands on the applauses 
 of others, it was clear that he considered them due to his talents, 
 and when he received them he rolled them as a sweet morsel 
 under his tongue. 
 
 " I first met with him at the Manse of Fin try. I think it must 
 
 have been a very short time before he became assistant to Dr. 
 
 Chalmers — at that time the minister of St. John's Ciiurch, 
 
 Glasgow. I don't remember what led me to pay a visit of a few 
 
 days to my old friend Colth:ird. I was then not licensed to 
 
 preach, and could give him no relief on Sabbath. So, not to 
 
 interrupt his preparations, with my fishing rod I repaired to the 
 
 oft-frequented pool of the Endrirk to practice ''the gentle craft." 
 
 It was a Saturday. On returning to the Manse T found that Mr. 
 
 Irving had arrived, and had already engaged to take the morrow's 
 
 pulpit duties. He was, from some cause, terribly in the doldrunis. 
 
 He had not succeeded in his expectations, and I tliink hud no 
 
 enii)loynientof any kind, and the future, to his ardent and sensitive 
 
 E 
 
l^TT 
 
 11! 
 
 >^i' 
 
 84 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXAND13II MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 njind, presented a picture of unrelieved darkness. In fact, he 
 was not only dcspondini^, he was niisinthropical. His finely 
 chiselled face, his dark flowing hair, and the outward s(|uint of 
 his eyes — which somebody has called * a portentous obli((uityof 
 Yij^ion ' — when his countenance was li;4hted up with indignation 
 at the want of the world's discrimination, and mado gloomy with 
 disappointment, presented him to the imagination us one of thoso 
 northern demigods whoso ire is more to be feared thun their love 
 to be courted. I do not remember the character of his preaching 
 on that occasion — there was something peculiar about it — yet it 
 failed to impress me. lie ibrmcd a thousand projects of future action 
 
 was determined to leave his native land and seek for a tield of 
 
 usefulness abroad. Though his purposes were unsettled, and altering 
 every few minutes, he seemed most inclined to proceed on his own 
 
 liook as the Yankees sa^ — us a Christian missionary to Soutli 
 
 America. Mr. Colthard tried hard to sooth his mind and give it 
 a more hopeful bent. I remember that I wondered at him, and 
 picied him — for there was something that, in spite of his eccen- 
 tricities, commanded resf^pect. On Monday morning he set out 
 to walk across the moor to Glasgow — I do not tliink there was a 
 public conveyance at that time from Fintry, if there was one from 
 Campsie, which was about half way. But he was strong and 
 resolute, and I am persuaded he would not have availed himself 
 of it. Mr. Colthard and I accompanied him to the top of the 
 hill by ' the Craw Road,' which led iicross the moor. When wo 
 parted fron; him he threw forward his brawny arms and exclaimed 
 'farewell! I go— I go — I go. God my guide, the world my 
 tield ! ' and rushed forward on his way. 1 met with him freciuently 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OP DR. CHALMERS AND IRVING. 
 
 35 
 
 afterwards, and learned to love him, which 1 confess I did not do 
 at first. Once, at liis earnest '•vitation, I breakfasted at l)i8 
 lodgings, if I renicinbor well, in Uowgate or Cliarlotte-strcet. 
 lie was engaged on some nietapliysi ' question which absorbed 
 his mind, and though he earnestly tried to be social and conversa- 
 tional, every now and then the subject higgcd, and our interview 
 was neither very intellectual nor ag ecable. On his ' marriage- 
 trip' became by Iloseneath from the Highlands. I had gone 
 with Mr. Story to visit one of his parishioners who resided in a 
 cottage by the lake side. Looking out from the window \ve 
 beheld a singular sort of procession — two gentlemen, each bearing 
 on his shoulder a well stufFod carpet-bag, and between the two, a 
 travelling trunk of no ordinary size : following them was a lady, 
 a carpet b ig slung over her shoulders and in her hand a large 
 leathern reticule. We speculated with many jokes who these 
 foreigners were who had invaded from the north our peaceful 
 parish. On getting home to the Manse the mystery was solved, 
 for we found Mr. Irving, his wife, and Dr. Martin of Kircaldy, 
 bis father in-law. They had come from Invcrary, and had crossed 
 Loch Long at Caulport, where they attempted to hire a cart to 
 cirry their luggage across the moor. I am sorry to confess the 
 fact, the f/ood folks of Rosencath proved as avaricious as their 
 neighbours, and denrinded an cxhorbitant charge for the service. 
 Indignant at their dishonesty, Irving and his father-in-law deter- 
 mined to shoulder their trunks and proceed a-foot. 'J'he evening 
 was spent very pleasantly and they remained over Sabbath, when 
 Dr. Martin preached for Mr. Story. The second evening, imme- 
 diately after tea, Irving asked me to accompany him on a walk. 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■*i> 
 
I 
 
 * 
 
 86 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 The moon was on the Loch, the evening still and beautiful, and 
 we sauntered along the beach and througli the castle woods till it 
 was long past ten o'clock. After a few words of conversation I 
 had no need further to speak. Irving launched forth in a torrent 
 of eloquence, instructing me how I should prosecute my studies, 
 and suit my intercourse with the world. Often afterwards have 
 I regretted that I could not retain in memory his admirable and 
 affectionate instructions, which 6c«med to flow from the double 
 inspiration of love for his pupil and a deep interest in the cause 
 which prompted his exhortations. 1 never listened with more 
 interest or delight to so long a lecture — nearly four hours — the 
 sea rolling lazily in upon the beach and the moon in resplendent 
 beauty shining over us." 
 
 In another letter, rather long for insertion, we have a graphic 
 description of an excursion to the top of Tamnaharra, the Inghest 
 point in the parish, in eoinpany with Dr. Chalmers, Irving, and 
 a party of ladies. It narrates how Irving carried the ladies in liis 
 capacious aruis over the sludgy beach to the boat ; how he stripped 
 off his coat and vest and rowed the boat alone, a distance of nearly 
 six miles ; how, after lauding, Ir- ing manifested his tailoring powers 
 under the shadow of a great rock, and how, having been suddenly 
 interrupted by his mischievous companions, he fled to the heather, 
 *' a souple lad he was and Strang" — amidst the roars of laughter 
 which followed him till he was far out of sight ; and how, upon an- 
 other occasion, one of the party assumed the fiddle and Mr. Edv/ard 
 Irving danced a Highland reel on the green, while Dr. Chalmers 
 looked on, rubbing his elbows and clapping his bauds in perfect 
 glee. 
 
 ■* 
 
T. 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS OF DR. CHALMERS AND IRVING. 
 
 37 
 
 The Mary and Isabella Camiibell above referred to will be read- 
 ily recognized as chief actors along with Irving and Mr. Campbell, 
 the Minister of How, in what subsequently came to be known as 
 the Row Heresy. Irving went to London, and no man in tha 
 Metropolis was, for a short time, more popular. '' But his head 
 got dizzy from the topling lieight to which he had ascended. He 
 began to put wild meanings on prophecy, to predict the personal 
 advent of Christ, and to speak in unknown tongues." '^ 
 
 Poor Irving was sunnnoned before the Church courts, and 
 deposed, came down to Glasgow, and died there. In the crypt of 
 Glaygow Cathedral was he buried, says Mr. Cunningham, and 
 when the mourners retired they left still standing at his grave a 
 number of young women clothed in white, who confidently 
 expected that he was immediately to rise again. Mr. Campbell 
 was also deposed, and the How Heresy dwindled away, though the 
 followers of Edward Irving continued for some time to be known 
 as " Irvingitcs." Subsequently they came to be known as the 
 Catholic Apostolical Churcli. If our information is correct there 
 are two congregations belonging to this sect in Canada, one in 
 Kingston, and another in Toronto. 
 
 We are sorry that the first sheet of the following letter referring to 
 Dr. Chalmers has been mislaid, and we do not recollect its contents 
 further than that allusion was made in it to his first disappoint- 
 ment, no doubt the greatest that he ever experienced. The Parish 
 of Methvcn, in the Presbytery of Perth,becanic vacant in November 
 1823. by the death of Mr. John Dowe, formerly of Canonbic, who 
 
 • Cunningham's Church Ilislory of Scotland. 
 
 ^M' 
 
 '>tk 
 
lliliiil 
 
 I': i 
 
 i ' 
 
 *• 
 
 38 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 had for the long space of forty years dischargocl the pastoral duties 
 of that parish and taken au active and influential part in tlie 
 business of the Church courts. It was situated in a beautiful part 
 of the country and was in every respect a most desirable charge. 
 It was one of the old original parishes whose session records went 
 back as far as the Reformation. In 1574, when Mr. James Hering, 
 or Heron, was minister, the following entry appears in the Register 
 of Ministers, out of which it would puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer to 
 construct a hypothesis of the incumbent's stipend : " Mr. James 
 Hering, minister, and now piovydit Provoste and Parsons, ^er se, 
 has stipend the twa paiit of his awin Provostrie of Methven, 
 payand the Reidars at Methven and Auldbar, extending to G 
 chald., 2 B., 2 pts bier ; 13 chald., 5 il. 3 pts. miel ; and £78.8.5 
 money, lleadar at j\Icthven, with a stipend of £16 and Kirklands." 
 Methven is mentioned in history as early as the year 970, when 
 Cole n us, king of the Scots, is said to have been killed in that 
 iiei"'hbourhood, audit was in the neighbourhood of Methven castle 
 that the English Army, under the Earl of Pembroke, defeated 
 Robert the Bruce in 130G. This was the parish upon which Mr. 
 Mathieson had set his heart and to aid him in obtaining which he 
 had solicited letters of recommendation from his former preceptor, 
 Dr. McGill, from Principal Macfarhm and his friend Dr. Chal- 
 mers, " then toiling in the parish of St. John's ; charming the 
 city of the west by his exuberant eloquence : beautifying every' topic 
 which he touched; building churches; founding schools; visiting 
 soup kitchens; and taking the whole paujicr population of the 
 parish under his care." * " When at Glasgow," Dr. Mathieson 
 
 Cunningliam's Oburcb History, Vol. II , pp. 613. 
 
 ■* 
 
 * 
 
■* 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS OF DR. CHALMERS AND IRVING. 
 
 39 
 
 writes, " I tliought it iny duty to apprise Dr. McGill and the 
 Principal what I liad done. The Doctor said he was not likely to 
 be referred to, hut if he was, he would be most happy to testify to 
 my conduct and character while in his class. The Principal 
 laughingly said, what do you expect me to say in your favour ? 
 Am I to testify that you are an idle fellow— like ' McFarlane's 
 geese ' — more fond of your play than your work ? Well, well, 
 Col. Smythe is not likely to apply to me ; but if he docs, if I say 
 nothing good of you, T will say nothing ill.' I had written from 
 Roseneath to Dr. Chalmers, detailing the facts and requesting 
 him as a flivour, if he was applied to, to state what he personally 
 knew of me, and that I Avas aware he had not heard mo preach, so 
 that as to ministerial gifts I wished him to say nothing. I had 
 caught a cold. I was in bed fancying myself sick, at least sicker 
 than I was. It wash Saturday afternoon— my boys were out, when 
 the servant brought me the Doctor's reply which ran as follows : — 
 
 " 'January 2nd, 1824. 
 
 " ' Dear Sir : — lean assure you it is not without pain that I 
 decline your request. 1 feel every disposition to befriend you, but 
 I have made it an invariable rule for a long time to grant no 
 recommendations whatever but on my own independent knowledge. 
 And I do exceedingly regret that I am really not in possession of 
 the r:n!.isite data for being the object of a reference upon an 
 occasion in which your interests arc »o much involved. I fully hope 
 that upon these considerations I shall have the indulgence both of 
 yourself and Mr. Campbell, whose kind hospitality I have the 
 warmest remeuibrance of. I rc<{uost my complinicnls to him, 
 
 *■ 
 
*■ 
 
 -^ 
 
 40 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 and to Mrs. and Misses Campbell, also to my dear friend, Mr. 
 Story. 
 
 1 am, Dear Sir, 
 
 Yours truly, 
 (Signed,) THOMAS CHALMERS. 
 
 "Indignant at the tenor of the letter I immediately penned the 
 following reply : — 
 
 Glasgow, January, 1824. 
 
 'Rev. Sir : — I have received your letter of the 2Qd inst. 
 declining to be made an object of reference, except on your own 
 independent knowledge, in a matter in which my interests are 
 involved. 
 
 ' Had you read my letter carefully, you might have perceived that 
 1 asked nothing, if you were referred to, but what you could state 
 from your personal knowledge. In making my request I con- 
 ceived I was demanding a privilege, rather than asking a favour, 
 though I couched my solicitation in the more obsequious form. The 
 <; youno- scions " of the Church naturally, and in my opinion, 
 rightfully, look to their superiors for advice and guidance, and f )r 
 the many kind co\mscls I have received from you I sincerely thank 
 you ; but I think also they have a rigjit to look for such encour- 
 agement and support from their superiors in office as the extension 
 of their patronage might bestow, at least in so far as moral character 
 and literary attainments might warrant. 
 
 * But you say you do not know me. It is now some two or three 
 
 years since that on a Saturday afternoon you walked across the jrcors 
 
 frouiGlenliiinart to the Manse of Roseneath. Mr. Story was from 
 
 e, but, should any stranger arrive at any time iu his absence, 
 
 '>M 
 
RECOLLECTIONS OF DR. CHALMERS AND IRVINGt 
 
 41 
 
 ■>i« 
 
 *■ 
 
 he liad rcquosted me to attend to their comfort ; accordinglj I 
 
 made myself known to you and invited you to the Clachan, where 
 
 I assured you, you would meet a kind recept'on. I introduced 
 
 you to Mr. Uampbell and his fuuily, and you were induced to remain 
 
 with them till Monday. During our intercourse these two days, 
 
 independently of the testimony of the family, I think you might 
 
 have personally known something of me. Next summer, I tliink it 
 
 was, you cam.* on a visit to Mr. Smith of Jordan hill. At his 
 
 hospitable table I oftencr than once met with you ; but, what was more 
 
 to the point, you requested that as often as I could, I should call 
 
 on you, and guide you to the most interesting and picturesque 
 
 points of view in the neighbourhood. This I did. I profited by our 
 
 walks. I thank you for the counsels you gave me. Our intercourse, 
 
 thougl) I was not gifted with conversational powers, seemed to be 
 
 pleasing. During that time, if you did not know me, I think you 
 
 should have known something of me. 
 
 ' The following winter, I wont to Glasgow to complete my studies, 
 
 when I had the honour of breakfasting with you twice, and dinin<i' 
 
 oneo, and, at your request taught one of your Sunday schools, and 
 
 on the first Monday of every month was with you and your Sabbath - 
 
 school teachers when they assembled to report progress. In these 
 
 interviews, if you did not know me, I think you ought to have 
 
 known me. Afterwards, when you with your family resided for 
 
 three months at Ardincaple Inn, I had frequent opportunities of 
 
 meeting with you on occasions both of serious intercourse and 
 
 healthful amuseujont, when both character and acquirements had 
 
 an opportunity of being displayed. If you did not know me then, 
 
 I think you ought to have known me. 
 
 P 
 
*■ 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 42 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 ' You have not heard me preach. This I mentioned in my letter 
 and said I did not wish you to say anything about my qualifications 
 as a preacher, but that you should simply state what from your 
 own personal knowledge you knew of me, and, I think you ought 
 to have known something. Since I sent off my letter to you I have 
 been informed that you have recommended another to Col. Sniytho 
 as a fit person to fill the vacant charge at Methvcn. Had you stated 
 this as a reason for declining my request I might have admired 
 your candour and consistency, but, since you did not, I may men- 
 tion, and I am persuaded my information is correct, you could not 
 have recommended him on your personal knowledge: for you had 
 never seen him until a very short time before you brought him 
 under Col. Smythc's notice. You had heo.rd him preach one 
 sermon, and at the solicitation of a friend you wrote to Col. Smythe 
 strongly recommending him — of course on " your owa independent 
 knowledge" of his one sermon. 
 
 ' This I admit you do not know, namely, to which side of Church 
 politics I belong. This I do not intend to make known to you, or 
 to any one else, until I see a fit time for making the discovery ; 
 but, in asking you the favour I did, don't think that I mean to 
 make your mighty name a stepping stone into office, or to bring 
 myself into notice by your fluttering commendations, even were 
 they granted. That I would scorn to do, even in a less sacred matter ' 
 than that which has called forth these remarks. 
 
 ' ]?ut I bog your pardon, though you had many opportunities of 
 knowing something of me in other respects, I must confess you are 
 gnorant of the spirit with which I would contemn everything 
 
^. 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS OP DR. CHALMERS AND IRVING. 43 
 
 like sycophancy, or mounting to notoriety on the shoulders 
 of another. 
 
 I am, llev. Sir, 
 
 Ydur most obedient servant, 
 
 ALEXANDER iMATIIlESON.' 
 
 " This reply terminated all friendly intercourse with tlie Doctotj 
 who in writing to Mr. Story some time afterwards seemed tickled with 
 some of the phrases eniployed and desired him to * alhiy my dir- 
 dum.' Some years afterwards, walking down Leith walk with the late 
 Doctor Boyd of the Edinburgh High School, we again met. Boyd 
 Slopped and conversed with the Doctor, I bowed and passed on; he 
 asked Boyd who I was, said he knew me well when brought to hia 
 recollection, and wondered I had not stopped to speak to him ; to 
 which I replied, ' the Doctor only knows me when it pleases him ; 
 I only know the Doctor when it pleases mo.' 
 
 " It was not till 1837 that I again saw him. I was commissioned 
 by the Synod or a Committee of the Church to put myself in com- 
 munication with him in relation to our Clergy Reserve's question. 
 I had gone with Principal McFarlan to London on the matter ; saw 
 Mr. Morris just before his return to Canada, and learned from him 
 the state in which the question stood. There was much still to do. 
 Doctor Chalmers was then in London, lecturing on his favourite 
 topic. I called at his lodgings repeatedly but never found hin\ at 
 home. At length I made myself known to Mr. Collins, his satellite, 
 and communicated my messagf*, requesting him to lay it before the 
 Doctor. At last a time and place were fixed for an interview, but 
 so large a party had assembled to meet with him, some on business, 
 and others to gratify their curiosity, that I had to wait a long time 
 
 -^ 
 
* 
 
 44 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 Agood many I found had been very unccrenjoniously greeted, and the 
 gcnei'al pica was used tluit he had come to London for a special pur- 
 pose ■which occupied his whole time. When I came forward, the same 
 excuse of want of time to attend to anything else than the matter 
 in hand was given. I stated that I had executed my commission 
 as I best couW, and had only to report to those who employed me 
 what had been done. He requested me to call upon him in Edin- 
 burgh when he would give full attention to 'our business, while I 
 urged the importance of his using his influence in London, where it 
 would have much more eft'ect. It wasinvain ; he was full of the benefits 
 arishig from the parochial scheme and strongly in favour of a friendly 
 coalition with the English Church. He was not decided as to the advan- 
 tages to be derived from a union of Presbyterians, so wedded were 
 seceders to dissent ; to introduce them into the Church would ulti- 
 mately, he thought, destroy the success of his theory. I got an 
 audience of nearly an hour, but it was quite fruitless, for the whole 
 of the time was occupied by an enthusiastic rhapsody on the Paro- 
 chial scheme. At length taking my hand, he said my face was 
 familiar to him, he must have seen me somewhere. I replied that 
 about fifteen years ago I had met him at Roseneath. This seemed 
 to bring back a flood of recollections, but he again excused himself 
 for not attending to the Clergy Reserves measures, and so we 
 parted, and, for ever, in this world. 
 
 " You will see from this meagre sketch that a distinguishing pecu- 
 liarity of the Doctor's mind was a complete surrender to the subject 
 occupying his attention, and that he seemed to bo more of a partizan 
 than in reality he was ; every thing gave way to the idea that 
 engrossed his mind at the time and imparted that inconsistency 
 
 •}«■ 
 
 ^c^taaastam 
 
^M 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS OF DR. CHALMERS AND IRVING. 45 
 
 to his conduct that too frequently niarketl it. Perhaps, too, you 
 may descry something of that obstinacy and impatience in the above 
 correspondence which has oftener than once disphiyed itself in the 
 conduct of your correspondent." 
 
 The impression made on this writer's mind by the above corres- 
 pondence tended to lower very much his estimate of the character 
 of the renowned Scottish preacher. His conduct appeared on this 
 occasion to be cold and heartless, and in our reply to Dr. iMathieson 
 we had hinted or said, " a fig for such friendship. " This drew 
 from him the following apology for Dr. Chalmers, which is worthy 
 of preservation as evidencing a fine forgiving spirit and conveying 
 also good advice to such as are prone to jump at conclusions : 
 
 " I would be very sorry indeed, if my letter to you of May 
 last^ has in any way disturbed the ideal you had formed of the 
 amiable and child-like Dr. Chalmers. There is a feeling of disap- 
 pointment when the notions we have formed of the figure, the 
 manners, or habits of any distinguished man are shaken or driven 
 to the winds that is absolutely unbearable. A thousand beautiful 
 visions are dispelled, a thousand irreconcilable facts quite perplex 
 us, the unity of our hero is lost, anil instead of the unique indi- 
 vidual which our fancy had pictured we have presented a motley 
 figure of the most contradictory proportions. It is human to be 
 composed of mixed ingredients. No man is all sinful or all holy 
 — all morally base, or all morally good. When the grand charac- 
 teristic features impress our minds we will allow nothing to interfere 
 with our ideal ; the shades which soften and beautify the picture 
 are kept out; we are dazzled by the brilliancy of the object. The 
 Doctor was truly a man of unaffected simplicity. His little knowledge 
 
 ■^ 
 
*■ 
 
 * 
 
 46 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 of the business of life, and the absorption of his mind by scientific 
 
 or literary pursuits, made him, in the estimation of the vulj^'ar 
 
 public, more than eccentric. He was known, as I understand, by 
 
 the general soubriquet of ' Daft Tammy Chalmers ', but there was 
 
 a genuine simplicity about him which in your idea of him I would 
 
 not have you forget. It was when he was forced into public life 
 
 that his enthusiasm led him into incongruities of conduct, and he 
 
 did not judge of matters as others of more worldly views would 
 
 have done. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 A. M. " 
 
 l! 
 
 * 
 
>•» 
 
 CHAPTER FOURTH. 
 
 APPOINTMENT TO ST. ANDREW S CIIURCn. HIS ORDINATION AND 
 
 ARRIVAL IN CANADA. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Clirk, afterwards D.D., was the succcspful can- 
 didate for the Parish of Methvcn, and continued to be the minister 
 of it, and a leadinji; member of the Presbytery, till 1841, when he 
 was ti:anslatcd to Edinburgh. He was for many years the zealous 
 and efficient Convener of the Colonial Committee of the General 
 Assembly. To Mr. Mathieson the disappointment wa^ such as his 
 sanguine temperament ill fitted him to bear with equanimity, and 
 it would even seem that it gave rise to serious intentions of aban- 
 doning his profession for the practice of medicine, tliis bent having 
 probably been given to his mind by a previous attendance upon a 
 Course of Lectures on Anatoniy. That his heart was still in the 
 ministry, however, is evident from a memorandum written by him 
 at Roseneath on the 1st October, 1820 : " This day I enter on my 
 thirtieth year, and I trust on the most useful portion of my life. 
 If it shall please God to spare me in the land of the living till a 
 good old age, half that period has already elapsed, and with it have 
 passed away, unimproved, many opportunities which I enjoyed of 
 
 •^ 
 
*■ 
 
 48 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATniESON, D.D. 
 
 •* 
 
 fittinjr niy^olf more porfoctly for tlio business of this world, and of 
 preparing; myself for the next. Many serious reflections, many bitter 
 regrets, is the anniversary of my birth calculated to awaken. May 
 they come with firmer resolutions of being more active for the future. 
 The prospect of a wider sphere of usefulness opens before me, and 
 may God prepare me to discharge my duties with dispositions and 
 energy becoming their great importance. The profession which I 
 have made choice of from my earliest recollection, while it is the 
 most honourable in this world, is also the most awfully responsible. 
 May God ever preserve a just sense of these truths in my mind, 
 that I may neither bring disgrace on the heavenly religion wliich 
 He has called mo to proclaim, nor endanger my own soul by trifling 
 
 with the souls of other Something like reproach occasionally 
 
 steals across my mind that I should leave a f imily where I have 
 been so honoured and so tenderly treated at a time when perhaps 
 my services were most required. But I have the satisfaction to think 
 that my dear boys are likely to do honour to themselves and to 
 reflect credit on all concerned with them by their conduct as 
 
 scholars and gentlemen A few days more, and I must bid 
 
 the heathery hills of bonnie Scotland adieu. I will be far o'er the 
 sea, and among a people I know not, casting a wistful remembrance 
 to the friends and scenes I left behind me. Pleasing recollections 
 from the long catalogue which shall soothe a sad moment in a dis- 
 tant land 1 " 
 
 The sphere of usefulness here referred to was the charge of St. 
 Andrew's Church and congregation in Montreal, to which he at 
 this time received the appointment. Although he had considerable 
 interest with the Argyle family and also with the Earl of Montrose, 
 
 *■ 
 
*■ 
 
 '>^ 
 
 APPOINTMRXT, OIIDINATIOX AND ARRIVAL IN" CANADA. 49 
 
 besides tlio patronage of tlic Principal of Edinburgh College and 
 Principal McFarlan of (Jlasgow, who ever proved to him a staunch 
 and steady friend, Dr. Mathicson records liis satisfaction that ho 
 was indebted particularly to no one fortius appointment, "The 
 duties of which I will endeavour to discharge with fidelity and 
 zeal, and if I ever return to my native land I will bo tho better 
 prepared for the service I will bo called to. I ho 10 I shall return 
 f )r my poor father's sake who feels very much at the prospect of 
 my departure. At all events in two or three yours I hope to revisit 
 Scotland, and perhaps to get a wife. / will be marriagedb/e by 
 that time.'" This was a subject that seems to have presented 
 itself to his mind at sundry times, and in diverse manners. He was 
 an ardent admirur of the fair sex, though that admiration was 
 manifested in a general rather than a particular manner, whicli 
 proved a barrier to the consn inmation of his wishes in this regard and 
 postponed the " happy day' '')r many years. He had accustomed 
 himself to regird the matter 1 n a philn ophical point of view, and 
 as one and another fair friend receded from his view he consoled 
 himself that thei'e remained as good fish in the sea as ever came 
 out of it. And besides, he had very exalted ideas of the marriage 
 .state. " If I could bring myself to look on matrimony," he 
 wrote, " as a matter of mere worldly convenience and comfort, i 
 would be less scrupulous, but my wife must be my companion, my 
 friend, one who is truly pious, and who will lead my soul with her 
 own, morning and evening, to the throne of our Maker. I by no 
 means expect to find a perfect being, nor would I wish it, but one 
 whose imperfections would be so brightened by her virtues and 
 
 ^- 
 
 G 
 
I V. 
 
 *• 
 
 50 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MaTIIIESOX, D.T)\ 
 
 piety th;it wc would bear ono anotlier's burdens and p irticlpite in 
 ene jmothci-'sjoy." 
 
 Apprehensive that in tlie opinion of , the profiinnm rii/jia he 
 iniglit soon be branded as a ntlcket minister. and morbidly brooding 
 over his x*ecent disappointment, the rejected candidate for Methvett 
 was one day walking disconsolatfly down the side of the Clyde irt 
 the neighbourhood of Govan, when a friend and relative, one of the- 
 Napiers, met liiui, N;ipier saw at a glance that somethiing was wrong,, 
 and enquired what was the matter. Mr. Mathieson di.«closed 
 the thoughts tliat were then rankliniir in liis breast, and indicated 
 very plainly that if he thought he could succeed in buijiuess he 
 would abandon the ministry. Ilis friend advised him to cheer up 
 and not to do any thing rashly, addi..g, that, should he finally 
 determine to go into business, he would find a situation for liim. 
 Napier asked him to return with him to Glasgow, which lie did. 
 In Glasgow they went into an "eating house" to get some refresh- 
 ment. While sitting theie in a room by themselves the door wa& 
 opened by a gentleman in whom Napier at once recognized a friend 
 from jMontreal. Being invited to join them, the conversation turned 
 upon the occasion of this gentleman's visit to Scotland. Having 
 stated his business Napier asked him if lie liad nothing else 
 in view. "Yes," said lu;, "1 have; St. Andrew's Church in 
 Montreal, to which I belong, is vacant, and the congregation 
 deputed me, wlu'n coming to Scotland, to make inquiries for a 
 minister. " " There s i/otir imni, " said Napier, pointing to Mathie- 
 son. The latter, being asked as to his willingness to accept the 
 charge, did not long hesitate in expressing it. After some con- 
 gultation with Mr. Burns, the fbrmer| minister of St, Andrew's 
 Church and who was specially charged wltii the seloction of his* 
 
 •J« 
 
►I"- 
 
 •i" 
 
 APPOINTMENT, OKDINATION AND AlUUVAL IN CANADA. 51 
 
 -successor, the result was, Mr. Mathieson's appointuient and 
 departure for Canada. 
 
 At the Synod of Glasi-ow and Ayr, which uict on the second 
 Tuesday of October, 1826, application was made by the Presbytery 
 of Dumbarton for leave to meet on the 19t!i of that month, in 
 advance of the regular meeting, for the purpose of proceeding 
 to Mr. Mathieson's ordination, and expediting his departure 
 •Canada. The petition was unanimously granted, and on that day 
 the Presbytery met accordingly and in due form he was " set apart" 
 for the Holy Ministry. And the Doctor has been heard to 
 refer with lively satisfaction to the fact that a large number of 
 " the brethren" from the (rlasgow Presbytery graced the occasion 
 with their presence in testimony of respect and esteem for him, as 
 well as to n)anifost their disapprobation of " the remonstrance" '^ 
 which had been sent to that Presbytery from Canada. 
 
 If any particular account of the solemn ordination services was 
 preserved, we have not been able to lay hands on it; and therefore 
 suppose that the proceedings were conducted in a satisfactory 
 manner to all concerned. We may be sure that " the imposition of 
 hands" was not foigotten, for that was a part of the ceremony for 
 
 * " Theio liiul arisen some coolness between the congregation of 
 St. Gabriel-street and St. Andrew's in consequence of a communication 
 secretly concocted and sent to almost every Presbytery in Scotland, It 
 WHS termed « re?MO«s/nj«ce — setting forth that tlie then ministers of St. 
 Gabriel's had offered their services to the congregation of St. Andrew's 
 ChurcL : that ihey were dissenters, disalTectcd to the Church of Scotland : 
 that there was suflicient clerical strength for the dispensation of ordinances 
 to both congregations : that they had not fuUilled their obligations to former 
 
 ^M' 
 

 52 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXAJTDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 which the Doctor was a great stickler, and concerning wliich there 
 is a good story told by Gait, in his "Annals of the Parish," which 
 the Doctor used to relish greatly. Although Mr. Gait makes 
 the anecdote suit the creation of his own fancy, the real hero of the 
 story was the then eccentric Minister of Govan, Mr. Thoni, who being 
 present at an ordination could not, for the press, get near enough 
 tlie candidate to place his hands upon his he;id, but, instead, 
 readied forth a ponderous staff, which he carried, and touching 
 the young man's head with it remarked in audible, if not very 
 complimentary, tones, — " tinimer to timmcr — this must do for the 
 jyresent." That tlie inevitable Presbytery denner took place doc; 
 not admit of a doubt, for, otherwise, in those dnys tlie work would 
 not have been accounted " half done." The following reference to 
 a Presbytery dinner may or may not apply to the date of his 
 ordination but is sufficiently apropos to the occasion : " I must 
 tell you how Dr. G. spoiled a fine speech I was making with his 
 dry jokes. I was going on, I believe, making the most strong pro- 
 testation, that in whatever quarter of the world I might wander, 
 there was one old lady I would never forget, and whose health I 
 meant to propose. The light of beauty might grow din), and th 
 smile of love cease to stir my bre:ist, but the kindness of my old 
 
 incunibonts, &c., &c., and thereforo cautioning Presbyteries not to send 
 another minister tr Montreal. When tlio natiu-e of tiio document became 
 known to Mr. Burns he became vQry indignant, drew up a reply and sent 
 copies to several Presbyteries. But the selfish spirit of the document itself 
 ■was a sufficient answer, and but lUtle notice was taken of it. This matter, 
 however, caused a bitterness of feeling to exist between the two con- 
 gregiilions, which was not removed for years afterwards. 
 
 * 
 

 V' 
 
 ■^ 
 
 APPOINTMENT, ORDINATION AND AllRIVAL IN CANADA. 53 
 
 friend.— ' Wha ist ?' sfiia the Doctor; 'is it aiild Lady B- 
 
 1 see y'rc no gaun to wander tlu'ough the warld yet, gin ye can 
 ■wile the auld lady wi your Avinsome speeches into matrimony. 
 There is ae thing : ye'll no be fashed wi mony bairns.' The whole 
 table were in au uproar. T said I was going to propose the health 
 o' her bairns too, and may slie aye bor'\. 'o as mony soncy chiels as 
 I see around me. My toast is, ' The auld wife 'o Dumbarton and 
 her bairns.' The joke was unforseen, and the good Doctor quaffed 
 to the auld wife with all his heart. The joke is this — a young 
 scion of the Kirk— and you know they are extraordinarily hlate in 
 general — being called upon for a toast declared he had none. One 
 of the members present said to him ' give us a young girl then ! ' 
 ' I hae nane tae gic, ' was the reply. ' Surely you can give us an 
 
 auld wife then.' ' Weel, I'll gie ye the Presbytery of ~ 
 
 The joke was good, and from that time the Presbytery denominates 
 
 herself 'the auld wife.' " 
 
 Before leaving Scotland he made a parting pilgrimage of the 
 Presbytery of Dumbarton and received so much kindness and so 
 many expressions of earnest hopes for his future happiness and use- 
 fulness as lead him to say " it melted my very heart into a jelly I" 
 He visited Paisley and preached for his intimate friend the Bev. 
 Patrick Brewster of the Abbey Church. " After sermon," he says, 
 " a military gentleman waited on me to present me with ten shillings, 
 being the pay of the officiating chaplain for the day. (The yeo- 
 manry cavalry were on permanent duty, and attended divine 
 service.) In vain I protested I had nothing to do with the money — the 
 unknown insisted I should take it, and there was no coutendintr 
 the point, for a priest would have no chauce with a soldier in bran- 
 
 *■ 
 
' 
 
 
 64 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIHESON, D.D. 
 
 dishinir stoel — unless it was in the bloodless shape of a pen. What 
 shall I do with my ton siiill'iigs? Beiii^ the first money I iiavo 
 received for preaching, I am proud of it — it is from the King^ 
 I think 1 shall buy a purse with it to hold my savings, and then I 
 am sure it will be a lasting memento, as it is never likely to be the 
 worse for the wear." 
 
 At last the day of his departure from the Clachan and from 
 auld Scotia came. " There was a singular melancholy this morning 
 in our little parlour. Breakfast passed in silence. IMy baggage had 
 been sent off early by the steamer under charge of a servant, while 
 . I was determined to linger as long as I possibly could on ' the 
 sweet Isle of the blessed.' I went to th ■ kitchen to lad farewell to 
 the servants. The kitchen is often a inciting scene, and was par- 
 ticularly so now in another sense. I pretended to laugh at the 
 tears of the [loor girls, but my heart was sad. I was a particular 
 favourite of the old nurse and permitted her liberty of speech, 
 which I was always very cautious in allowing to the other servants, 
 and of this she was not a little proud, she, supposing that she might 
 extend her prerogative at the moment of separation, clung round 
 my neck and poured out a torrent of tears. Then came my " Aunty 
 Betty," who had been evidently mustering courage to meet 
 this moment. The half smile with which she met me vanished 
 like the dew-drop in the sun when she attempted to speak. ' 
 Math'son we have had our quarrels — they were never deadly 
 ones — the sun never went down on our wrath — and now my heart 
 is breaking to part with you. Go, go, and God's blessing be with 
 you, when you return your poor old Aunty Betty will be laid in the 
 dust ; ' and with that she sprung to her room, and I left that sweet 
 
 »^^- 
 
 * 
 

 •J«- 
 
 ■^ 
 
 APOINTMENT, ORDINATION AND ARRIVAL IN CANADA. 55 
 
 abode of uiy purest and happiest days with feelings I would in vain 
 try to describe. It was something of a wild vacuity of mind that 
 was almost insensible to all that was passing around." 
 
 But "the ordeal of parting witfi the members of the family, with 
 the friends at the manse, and, last of all, with his. good old father, 
 was a scene " utterly overwhelming," and too sacred to be described. 
 It was evening when he got aboard the steamer for Liverpool, and, 
 being thoroughly exhausted with the anxieties of the day he retired 
 to his cabin and found some relief in a flood of tears. " You will 
 laugh at my weakness. I care not I would rather be ridiculed 
 than be without feeling : if it has its pains it has its pleasures." 
 Next morning ho was tumbling amid the meeting of waters, off the 
 Mull of Cantyre, in a very subdued state of mind, taking a last 
 look at Caledonia's " rugged strand " and pensively muttering to 
 himself " Fare-well, fare-well; my native land ! " &c. A few days 
 were spent " pleasantly enough " in Liverpool till the IGth 
 November, when he found himself on ship-board, bound for New- 
 York. It was a moment of " mingled agony and delight." The 
 ship was just getting under weigh, and there stood on the quay a 
 little knot of friends waving adieu. " I kept my eye fixed on them 
 as long as I could distinguish them among the crowd, and then 
 I felt as thoui>h I were an outcast on the world, and abandoned 
 myself to the luxury of grief, while the good ship, under a crowd 
 of sail, was soon in the ' Fair way ' of the English Channel. 
 During the night the wind increased greatly, and when I awoke it 
 blew very fresh and the ship was pitching furiously. I attempted 
 to get up ; but not liaving been yet long enough on board to keep 
 the centre of gravity I was pitched headlong on the floor of my 
 
 •^ 
 
*■ 
 
 ■* 
 
 66 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.P. 
 
 cabin, became very sick and made the best of my way to bed. 
 When at lengtlx I got on deck, I found that my fcllow-passcngcrs 
 had all hcen jjrodigionsli/ sick with the exception of one, a very fat 
 man, who went about wringing his hands and asking the sailors if 
 they were afraid, and to augment his horrors the fellows told liim it 
 was impossible that the ship could outlive the gale another hour. 
 The wind blew furiously. The sails were close-reefed, and we were 
 careering through the water at the rate of twelve knots an hour. 
 The sea was awfully grand, and there was something overpowering 
 in the idea of solitude so complete." 
 
 Cape Clear was passed the next morning, by noon they were out of 
 soundings, and, with studding-sails set, they were soon on the bosom 
 of the broad and boisterous Atlantic. On the 3rd of December 
 they were overtaken by a storm- " Towai'ds evening the wind 
 became exceedingly tempestuous, and whatever was not firmly 
 lashed down was rolled about with great violence. Most of us had 
 retired to our cribs earlier than usual. Though the noise of the 
 waves breaking against the sides of the ship, the gurgling mur- 
 murs of their broken strength, the moaning of the wind through 
 the cordage, and incessant creaking of the timbers, formed no sweet 
 lullaby, still, I sk'pt very soundly till midnight when the captain 
 called us on deck to observe two ignes fat id that flitted along the 
 yard-arms of the mizen and main-top masts. This appearance is 
 by sailors accounted ominous, and combined with the gloom of the 
 night was certainly adapted to strike terror into every heart not well 
 fortified against superstitious fears. The swell of the sea was 
 awfully grand. The tops of every wave seemed a sheet of pale fire, 
 a striking contrast to the long dark, hollow troughs between, into 
 
 ^- 
 
 I * 
 
*■ 
 
 ^ 
 
 >i<- 
 
 Ain'OlNTMENT, ORDIN.VTION AND AIIUIVAL IN CaNADA 5t 
 
 • 
 
 which every few moments the ship plunacd as if seeking- destruction. 
 The gale increased until mid-day following when the sight boci^iie 
 truly sublime. I would not have lost the spectacle which tlic 
 furious, foaming sea then presented for whole months of summer 
 sailing. The huge billows like dark green mountains, their tops of 
 purest white, interspersed with emerald tints, rolled fearfully along. 
 Now they hung their immense mass of water almost porpciidiculur- 
 !}' over us, threatening us with instant destruction, and then, as 
 the ship I'osc buoyant on t'leir surface, they went whizzing past, as 
 if murmuring that tliey had been di.-appointed of their prey. The 
 fat man's alirm increased with the gale, and, before it abated, he 
 had written his ' last will and testament' and put it intxi a sealed 
 bottle ready to bo hove over board." 
 
 Without I'urther incident worthy of note they reached their de- 
 sired haven and cast anchor itiside of" Sandy Hook " on the 13th of 
 December, having made what was then accounted a rapid passage of 
 twenty-seven days. We will not here detail Mr. Mathieson's first im- 
 pression of America, though they are before us in terse and vigouroua 
 "words : suffice it to say that he soon discovered for himself tlioi^e 
 salient points of American character that float on the surfice of 
 society, and which European writers usually seize upon with avid- 
 ity. He thought Broadway was " rather a handsome street, with 
 some neat buildings, chiefly of brick," from which, liowever, his 
 attention was now and then attracted by the eccentric dress of some 
 of the females, as well as of some of the male gender. " Gene- 
 rally speaking the ladies are not handsome ; they are not trim about 
 tlie ankles: they want the fine swell and expansion biilow the waist 
 
 of an ]"'inglish lady, and their busts are shockingly bad ; they want 
 
 II 
 
m 
 
 * 
 
 58 
 
 LIFE OF ALEX AND liR MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 tlie bloom and expression of mingled simplicity and arclincss wliich 
 distinguish our Scotch lassie, but still their countenances are rather 
 pretty, and some of them have beautiful black eyes." But he ascer- 
 tained that the ladies were in general far more intelligent, and their 
 information more extensive, than the male sex, and that they could 
 talk politics, and even knotty points of theology, with the greatest 
 facility. He was surprised at the gastronomic feats performed by hiB 
 fellow-lodgers in the City Hotel, and took note of their chewing 
 and smoking proclivities with the usual accompanhnents. On the 
 Sabbath morning he worshipped in the Scotch Church and heard 
 an excellent Calvinistic discourse from a Mr. Philips. In the after- 
 noon he attended service in the Episcopal Church where he heard 
 a good sermon and was charmed with the music. In the evening he 
 stepped into one that he saw lighted up, and which proved to be a 
 Universalist meeting-house. It was crowded to excess, " but, such 
 silly trash was never pronounced from human lips as came from him 
 who professed to teach the auditory." 
 
 After a week's sojourn in New York he arrived in Montreal, on 
 Christmas eve, where he met with a kind reception from his 
 people and the Protestant community in general, and on the follow- 
 ing Sabbath was introduced to his new charge by the llev. 
 Archibald Connell of Martintown. 
 
 He had come out with a small stock of sermons which were soon 
 exhausted, and this caused him to work hard and to draw largely on 
 the hours of the night. However, he wrought cheerfully, visited 
 frequently, reserved a large portion of time for pleasant recreation, 
 and, as the labour became by habit lighter, he gradually became 
 reconciled to the " banishment " from home. But ere three years 
 
 ^M' 
 
APPOriSrTMEN"T, ORDINTATION AND ARRIVAL IN CANADA. 59 
 
 had elapsed he began to long for a sight of his native land, and to 
 breathe once more his native air. He went " home," and was 
 afterwards heard to say that, had he not done so, he must have 
 died. Love of country was with him a passion. He found his 
 friends in Scotland little altered from what he left them, and 
 returned to Canada, in good spirits, thoroughly cured for the time 
 being of hia home sickness. His congregation steadily increased; 
 and amid new friends and new attachments the feeling of separation 
 wore off and, save in his more pensive moods, his deep-rooted love 
 for the " land of brown heath and .sliagi;y wood " assumed a 
 cheerful and romantic cast. 
 
 Shortly after coming to Canada his sensitive mind was sadly 
 shocked b yan occurrence of a very tragic kind, and which rendered 
 it peculiarly difficult for him to bring his mind, forsonn time after- 
 wards, to bear closely upon any subject. Seated in the house of 
 his friend Mr. Robert Watson, tlie flour inspector, and iu social 
 conversation with him, he was suddenly startled by the report of 
 a pistol which had been fired through the window by an assassin 
 with deadly aim. Mr. Watson was fatally wounded and survived 
 only till the following evening. " 1 shall never forget," he remarks 
 in his funeral sermon, " the innocent, the interesting conversation 
 that preceded that awful moment when the thunders of the 
 cowardly, cold-blooded assassin so suddenly interrupted the'tran- 
 <juillity of our domestic repose ; and introduced death, and lamen- 
 tation, and woe — literally in the manner expressed in our text — 
 * for death hath come up into our windows,' (Jeremiah ix., 21.) 
 among those who, but a moment belijre, felt perfectly secure from 
 liarm, aud happy in each other's society." The motive wliicli insti- 
 
 ^. 
 
 * 
 
*■ 
 
 't! 
 
 60 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 gated the crinio, ;»nd the perpetrator of it, botli remain to tlio 
 present day in tlic profoundest mystery. The sermon alluded to 
 was preached on the 8th April, 1827, and was published at the 
 request of tlie consrogation. Apart from the melancholy interest 
 attached to the occasion of its delivery, it was worthy of preservation 
 as the preacher's first attempt at authorship. He had never before 
 seen himself in print, and it was not till after he had been 
 repeatedly solicited, by friends whom he did not wish to disoblige, 
 that he at last consented to surrender his manuscript. 
 
 Mr. Mathie.'jon soon discovered that a very different ecclesiasti- 
 cism prevailed in Canada from that which he had loft behind him in 
 the Presbytery of Dumbarton. There, in every matter of dispute 
 or diffiuuliy that arose, recourse was had " to the law and the 
 testimony." Here, every Kirk session was a law to itself, for 
 neither Presbytery nor Synod existed whose jurisdiction was 
 acknowledged by tlio few and widely separated ministers of the 
 Church of Scotland. Besides himself, there were but five Kirk 
 ministers in all Canada in active work ; these were Dr. liarknesS' 
 of Quebec, Messrs. Henry Esson and his colleague Edward Black,, 
 of St. Gabriel-street Church, Montreal, Jolvn McKenzie of 
 Williamstown, and Archibald ConncU of" Martintown. jMr. 
 Sommevville and Mr. Easton, the former ministers of St. Gabriel's 
 and St. Andrew's, though both residing in Montreal, had retired 
 from ministerial work. It is true there were a few other Presby- 
 terian ministers — chiefly ministers of the Associate Church of 
 Scotland, or " Seceders," who had constituted themselves " the 
 United Presbytery of Upper Canada." In course of time, "the 
 United Synod " was formed andcontinued its tueetings until 1840, 
 
 ■* 
 
•i,. 
 
 APrOINTMENT, ORDINATION AND ARRIVAL IN CANADA. 61 
 
 when its.nieniberSjto the number of eighteen, were received into con- 
 nection with the Synod of the Church of iScothind in Canada, but, 
 from these, the Kirk ministers above named liad pr<^viousIy stood 
 aloof in +ho attitude of a "dignified neutrality," C( inform ing their 
 procedures, as best as they could, to the polity set forth in Pardovan, 
 Cook's Styles, or Hill's Practice. IIow long they would have 
 remained in this isolated condition, if they had been left to them- 
 selves, it is impossible to conjecture. And it must be regarded as an 
 anomaly in religious jurisprudence that the propriety of forming 
 Presbyteries and Synods of our Church in Canada was first sug- 
 gested by the "Civil Magistrate." In the very earliest records 
 of the Synod we find that a certain number of ministers and 
 commissioners from the congregations in connection with the 
 Church of Scotland in Canada met pursuant to agreement in the 
 church of Kingston on the^th day of June, 1831, when Mr. 
 McOill, in explanation of the object of the meeting, called the 
 attention of members to Sir. George Murray's despatch to Sir 
 John Colborne, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, " relative 
 to a union between the ditt'ercnt classes of Presbyterians, to the 
 necessit.y of forming Presbyteries and a Synod in Canada ; and of 
 applying to the General Assembly for recognition."* After " long 
 delibera'ion " on these points a unanimous decision was arrived 
 
 day, the Synod of the Presbyterian 
 
 at, and, on the folk 
 
 lowini 
 
 Church in connection with the Church of Scotland met for the 
 was constituted with prayer by its moderator, the 
 
 first time, and 
 
 * The inconvenience of dealing witli individnal ministers in rcLUioa to 
 Clergy Reserves doulitless suggested the rccommendatiou of the govern- 
 
 uient at that particular time. 
 

 *■ 
 
 •* 
 
 G2 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 Rev. Jolin McKcnzle. The number of rninist';rs who were 
 present at these deliberations was fourteen. Of this number there 
 are only tliree now living. Dr. Urquhnrt of Cornwall — the owly 
 surviving Minister in Canada who was then present — Dr. 
 Cruickshank, formerly of Bytown, now the minister of Turriff, 
 Scotland, and the Rev. T. C. Wilson, formerly of Perth, and now 
 of Duiikeld, Scotland. The story of tho Kirk in Canada, prior 
 to the time of Mr. Mathicson's arrival, is bound up in the bio- 
 graphies of a very few individual ministers; and its subsequent 
 history must be sought for elsewhere tlian in these pages. It has 
 had its seasons of trial and depression. It has figured on the 
 arena of controversy. It has stood on tho defensive and shewn 
 a bold front to a powerful rival, and it has been torn and 
 divided by that distinctive attribute of Presbyterianism that 
 delights in " Testimony Bearing." But, it can recount, too, its 
 "times of refreshing," and, we make bold to say, not boastfully, 
 but in a thankful spirit, that it has throughout maintained a con- 
 sistent and honourable position in the land, and that its prospects 
 now are brighter than at any period in its history. There are now 
 on the Synod's Roll one hundred and thirty-two ministers, and that 
 number fulls far short of indicating the growth of Presbyterian ism ; 
 for, from the division that occurred in 1844^ there has sprung u;> 
 a vigourous Church with two hundred and ninety-five minister.^, 
 making in all four hundred and twenty-seven ministers of 
 the I'resbyterian order in the Provinces of Quebec and 
 Ontario alone — known by the name of the Canada Presb\ 
 Church — to which, if wo add the numbers in the i r 
 Provinces, it will probably appear that the Presbyterian element 
 
 *i<- 
 
 * 
 

 4- 
 
 APPOINTMENT, ORDINATION AND AIUIIVAL IN CANADA. 63 
 
 outnumbers all otlier denominations in the Dominion. And 
 wc greatly misapprehend the signs of the times if a t^cncral 
 union of these churches is not consununated before lonj;, with- 
 out waiting for tho mandate of His Excellency, the Governor 
 General. It were an insult, however, to Dr. Mathieson's memory 
 did we lead the reader to infer' tliat such a consummation 
 would have been agreeable tu his feelings. lie never could bring 
 himself to coincide with the opinions of those who advocated a 
 general union of all the Pres^byterlan Churches as a matter of expe- 
 diency — or, upon the ground that a numerically large church must 
 necessarily exercise a correspondingly extensive influence on public 
 morals. In fact he deprecated every proposal that was based on 
 such principles, and, in terms so strong as to give colour to the 
 impression that he was opposed to union on any terms. But 
 such was not the case, as wc shall by and by endeavour to shew. 
 
 ■^ 
 
CHAPTER FIFTH. 
 
 1831. 
 
 VISIT TO SCOTLAND AND THE CONTINENT. DISAPI>OINT.MENTS 
 AND VISIONARY PLANS. HIS MARRIAGE. DEATH OF HIS CHILD. 
 
 This date opens up a new era in Mr. Matliiopon's history, wlien 
 he took his place as an influential member of tlic church courts now 
 estr.blisheJ in Canada. But, that we may not lose siuht of the 
 individual in tlie crowded and sometimes stormy arena of debate, 
 it will be better to continue our domestic annals, even though it 
 will compel us, in a succeeding chapter, to return to this point. 
 As there is no evidence to tlie contrary, we suppose that for some 
 time after liis return from Scotland he took heartily with his work, 
 and that St. Andrew's congregation .continued to prosper under 
 his ministry ; that everything, in short, went with him as quietly 
 and satisfactorily as he could reasonably wish or expect. Of this, 
 indeed, we feel assured, for wo And this entry in his journal, under 
 date the 17th of March, 183^: " Tliere is some talk of my being 
 promoted to Quebec; however, that is very questionable. I liave 
 not made application for the vacant church ther^^, nor will I do so. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 ■* 
 
•i*- 
 
 VISIT TO SCOTLAND AND THE CONTINENT. 
 
 65 
 
 * 
 
 Many otlicrs have. The salary is a b'Hle better, being nearly £500 
 per annum; however, I think my own will, ere many years, be 
 nearly as good, cuid I have a Jciiid.Jlock.'^ 
 
 Further on we read: " Two months ago I asked one year's 
 leave of absencj from my people, and had a quiet refusal, on the 
 ground that uo oth<;r individuil would suit them so well as myself. 
 This was fluttering enough, but not sitis/uctorij." lie had been 
 unwell, perhaps he again had had a touch of homo-siekness ; per- 
 haps lie was " heart-sick." We cannot now enter upon a diagnosis 
 of his malady, and it matters not. In 1836 he was again hors da 
 ■combdl, and allusion to his shaven crown leads us, in this instance, 
 to infer that weariness of the flesh had been induced by " over- 
 much study." It does not boem. however, to have impaired his 
 relish for the humourous — a ve. v marked trait in his character, and 
 one that he may almost be said to h ive carried with him to the grave. 
 It is rare to meet such unexceptional pleasantry, and it is well that it 
 should be dul^ appreciated. That others appreciated this quality in 
 him appears in the foUowingextract from a letter written by an Epis- 
 copalian gentleman, one who is no mean judge of men and things, 
 shortly after tlie Doctor's death : '' Though I knew the ' old Doctor' 
 less iiiti n itely t,ian I should like to h ive done, I was sutUcieiitly 
 acquainted v'th him to have acquired a very sincere regard for 
 liim. It was pleasant to meet him, for religion was brightly 
 reflected in the cheerl'ulness of his character. 3Ioreover, he 
 belonged to a type of our race tliat is becoming uncommon and 
 bids fair to become extinct, lie was natural, genial, and courte- 
 ous. There was a hearty raciuoss about him that became conta- 
 gious, and people found themselves ha[»pier fur meeting oue who 
 
 *• 
 
 ■>:< 
 

 I 
 
 HI 
 11 
 
 G6 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATRIESON", D.D. 
 
 seemed to be the very embodiment of happiness and contentment, 
 I often speak of him as an cxamplij cf christian cheerfuhiess tbor- 
 oiiglily worthy of imitation." But here is the good Doctor's 
 own reference to what was no doubt a severe illness : " I told you 
 that I had bc^en unwell. I am once more myself again, though I 
 had rather o hard time of it for two or three days, and I look now 
 l/ke a renovated being in a nice new wig, the doctor, cruel fel- 
 low, having insisted that I should part with my gray birses. I am 
 not quite up to the management of the concern yet, for last Sab- 
 bath morning, going into church, off went my cap, and in it the 
 wig, and forward I marched, all the while unconscious I was 
 exhibiting my shaven pole to the staring eyes of many beholders, 
 
 and was brought to my senses by Captain M whispering my 
 
 name to a gentleman near him with a ludicrous expression of 
 countenance that amazed mc. I instantly remembered the wig, 
 souiiht for it where it was not to be found ; at last got a glimpse of 
 it in my bonnet, clapped it on my head awry, and rushed out till 
 1 had got it fairly adjusted." It is in the nature of things that 
 there should be a great many wi^ stories; one we remember 
 which relates a similar accident, Init its denouement was more 
 embarrassing to the minister than in the Doctor's case. On enter- 
 in"" a church, a certain minister, who prided himself on punctuality, 
 observed, to his horror, tliat by the dock face in the church steeple 
 he was just half an hour later than the usual hour for service. One 
 of the elders came to his relief, assured him that it yet lacked fif- 
 teen minutes of the time, and that what had caused his nlarm was 
 but a painted clock. This only added fuel to tlie flame, and 
 brou"ht down on the Elder's head a sharp rebuke for allowing "a 
 
T 
 
 *- 
 
 ^- 
 
 VISIT TO SCOTLAND AND THE CONTINENT. 
 
 67 
 
 li'e " to be imprinted on the front of the church. As he entered 
 the vestry door, some inches too low for his clerical head, hat and 
 wig came to grief on the floor, when the ii^ldor improved the occa- 
 sion by remarking how much more sinful it was for a minister to 
 carry " a lie " on the top of his head than to have one painted on 
 a church steeple. But no one ever doubted for a moment Dr. 
 Mathieson's " honesty." This was one of his noblest qualities. 
 You knew always and exactly where to find him. He was per- 
 fectly inc;ip{ible of playing the hypocrite. 
 
 The chief obstacle in the way of twelve months leave cf absence 
 to the minister of St. Andrew's Church was the impossibility at 
 that time of finding "supply " for his pulpit. In the summer of 
 1837, however, the Rev. llobcrt Neil, now of Seymour, arrived in 
 Canada under the auspices of the Glisgow Colonial Society; with 
 him an arrangement was made to supply the church for six months, 
 and in July Dr. Mathicson took his departure for Scotland, bear- 
 ing with him a general commission to watch over the interests of 
 the Canadian Synod, and not without an eye to " a little matter of 
 his own," which he wished and hoped to accomplish at the same 
 time. But, though he pressed both his "suits " with exemplary 
 diligence and warmth, it does not appear tl.'t in either of them he 
 was very successful. On the contrary, by his own shewing, baffled 
 plans and blighted hopes conspired to throw his mind " into a sad 
 jumble of incongruitic:?." But it was not an unrelieved darkness 
 that set in upon his soul. There was never absent from his mind 
 a deep conviction of the wisdoi'.i and goodness of the Creator in 
 all his dealings with his creatures. What phrenologists call the 
 bump of veneration was in him largely developed, manifesting 
 
 -* 
 
->H 
 
 . u 
 
 !»■;: 
 
 Ml 
 
 . -i 
 
 ^1 
 
 68 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, B.tK. 
 
 itself specially in his love of God, "as God," and then " to the 
 King, as supreme ; or unto Governors as unto them that arc sent 
 hy him."* It has been bcautii'ully said tiiat " the darkest cloud has 
 its silver lining," and of the truth of wliich he at this time received 
 a very pleasing i'nd convincing illustration. Being present at the 
 University of Glasgow on the day on which the Duke of Montrose 
 was installed as Chancellor, Mr. Mathieson, without previous intima- 
 tion, had the honour of hearing his name announced among the 
 names of others on whom the degree of Doctor in Divinity had 
 been conferred. " It is well," says a chronicler of the event, 
 *' that no permission liad been sought for, for it is more than proba- 
 ble Dr. Mathieson's .innate modesty of character would have 
 inclined him to shrink from accepting such a well-deserved hon- 
 our." t 
 
 To rid him of the '* doldrums " he resolved upon a change of 
 scene and })lanned a s\)iort excursion to the continent. On the 
 18th April, 1838. he writes from Paris: — " In one of those fits of 
 fancy which sometimes seize me I have boon transported to the 
 capital of* La Belle France.' The steamboat in which I crossed 
 was crowded with cockneys availing themselves of the Easter holi- 
 days. Perhaps at some other time I would have mightily enjoyed 
 ' this assemblage, and the truly ludicrous scenes enacted, but I was 
 too indisposed to relish them My debut was made in the market 
 place of Boulogne, and never was I in such an assemblage of the 
 woman-kind. I am sure there were three or four thousand. A 
 parcel of uglier women I never beheld. Wiiat a chattering and 
 
 11 
 
V' 
 
 * 
 
 VISIT TO SCOTLAND AND THE CONTINENT. 
 
 69 
 
 grimace ! I was almost convinced of the truth of the argument 
 that no women got to licavcn, since there was silence there foi' half 
 an hour,'^-' for I am sure it would have been impossible to liave 
 chained the tongues of the jabbering Boulogne.sc even for tiiat length 
 of time. On my arrival in Paris, as a good ' Doctor' should, my 
 first visit was to the Church, alas ! not with the feelings and pur- 
 poses I ought to have gone thither ; but, truly, among the most 
 devout was little devotion seen. The mummery of the llomish 
 Church has a hardening influence on the head and conscience, and 
 some of its gi'osser absurdities, arc seen and unsparing';' satirized 
 by its own adherents. I was much tickled with two paintings in 
 the gallery of the Louvre : one, a jolly rubicund priest confessing 
 a beautiful young girl — the expression of countenance looking as- 
 kance through the grated b;irs of the confessional was admirably hit ; 
 in the other, he was confessing an old woman, but here the intense 
 enquiring eye was shut, and the countenance was expressive of utter 
 inanity. The palaces arc noble struc.uros. The galleries of Fine 
 Arts are splendid. The churches gorgeous ; the music is entranc- 
 ing ; in short, a thousand things excite the astonishment of the 
 stranger and give a peculiarity of character to the city which no 
 one can form an idea of till it is seen." Of course our friend had 
 his frog sfori/ and it was a good one, but we must cut it short. A 
 Scotchman who was with him at a restaurant had in vain attempted 
 to make liimself understood. ITe wanted " a mutton c'lop." Had 
 he called for a " beef steak," he would have got it and no mistake, 
 but " mutton chop " was an unsolvable conundrum. High words 
 
*■ 
 
 ■* 
 
 70 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 
 followed, which, happily, neither party undersiood, when at hist the 
 despairing Scotchman thundered out, "gin ye canna male a mutton 
 chope, bring ben onything that '11 fill the kyte o' a liun- 
 gry man, bit a frog — ^you French craters cat frogs —but a' canna 
 (stammac a frog." This caused such a roar of laughter from the rest 
 of the party as almost friglitened the Frenchman outof his propriety. 
 The Doctor set out for Strasbourgh — a distance of over three hun- 
 dred and fifty miles — travelling by Diligence, railways being then 
 unknown. He had no intention of stopping by the way, but, feeling 
 somewhat fatigued, decided to stay over a day in Nancy, said to 
 be the most beautiful city in France. 
 
 He was the rather induced to do this because, otherwise, he 
 must part with some agreeable travelling companions — a Swiss gen- 
 tleman, and his accomplished and lovely niece, with whom, to tell 
 the truth, the Doctor had fallen desperately in love. In after years 
 he seemed to recal this incident of travel with unspeakable pleasure 
 and many a time, in the honesty of his heart, he recounted it by 
 his fireside with inimitable pathos and vivacity. It may be told 
 now in his own words: " I daresay the true reason of my remain- 
 ing at Nancy was to enjoy the company of a beautiful Swiss girl— 
 a lovelier creature I have seldom looked upon. Such a pair of eyes 
 I have only seen once before that could match them. Her upper 
 lip is the only imperfect feature of her f ice ; it is itself beautiful, but 
 she pouts it out so as to resemble the huge bristling moustache of 
 her uncle, for whom she seems to have a perfect veneration. She is 
 the daughter of a Protestant clergynian ; has been staying in Franco 
 with her uncle, and is now on her way back to her native land. 
 She can neither understand my language, though in the sweetest 
 
 ><- 
 
 ■Ht 
 
VISIT TO SCOTLAND AND THE CONTINENT. 
 
 71 
 
 .* 
 
 tones imacjinablc she tells me I liacf understand a leetlc English — 
 a leetle verry ' — nor can I make out what she says, though she 
 repeats in German and French what slie wishes me to know, but 
 still we found enough of words to become groat friends. I know 
 not whether the coach inclined more to the side I was upon than 
 that on which her uncle was seated, but when she sunk into sleep — 
 for we travelled the whole night long — her head always fell softly on 
 my shoulder — I almost wished the day had never dawned, it bore 
 so sweet a burden. With sorrow of h<;art I parted with her, and I 
 think nothing but the sniiiU stock of money in my purse prevented 
 me from accompanying her to Switzerland. Indeed I felt that I 
 could have travelled the world over with her." The expression 
 " leetle verry " occurs in many of his letters, and with some of his 
 friends it was a standing joke which he always heartily enjoyed. 
 
 The Doctor was not much enamoured with French scenery, and 
 still less so with the natives — " a chattering unprincipled set of crea- 
 tures whose politeness is grimace." One trait of genuine feeling, 
 however, he observed in the Cemetery of Ptirc La Chasse. " I was 
 admiring the beautiful simplicity of an inscription on a tomb-stone 
 of unaffected neatness — ' >1 Mon Am'ie^ — when a youth came with 
 a garland, placed it on the grave, shod a few tears — I thought they 
 were sincere — plucked a flower — hcart's-ease — and departed." 
 
 He arrived at Strasbourgh on the 2nd of May. It was the 
 F6te of Louis Philip. "After breakfast I visited the Cathedral, 
 one of the most beautiful specimens of Gothic architecture in 
 France. Upwards of four thousand troops attended Mass. They 
 occupied in one dense column the nave. Nothing was seen but 
 the glittering bayonets. The soft low notes of the great organ 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■^ 
 
*• 
 
 72 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDEli MATUIESON, D.D. 
 
 alternating with its swelling thunders pealing along the vaulted 
 roofs — now and then interrupted by the full blasts of tlic liorns 
 and the rattling drums of a large military b md, had a novel and 
 grand effect, but very inappropriate to that Being who must be 
 worshipped in spirit and in truth. After service the troops 
 were reviewed in the great square of the city. Next came an 
 a(|uatic spectacle, wlion gay galleys floated on the river. In the 
 evening the city was brilliantly illuminated. I speak within 
 bounds when I say that thousands of rockets were in the air at 
 the same moment. The blaze of light vied with meridian 
 sunbeams. The exhibitions of Vauxhall are not for a moment to 
 be compared with this in respect of grandeur and eifoct. Torches 
 glared amid the trees, under the soft foliage of which thousands of 
 all classes ro:imed, and, among them, the" lectle fc/'r//," her unclr". 
 and I. Next morning they went off to Basle, not without warmly 
 inviting me to accompany them. I saw those Swiss mountains in 
 the distance amid which my imagination luid oftentimes pictured 
 uumy a lovely scene. I was sorely tempted to go, and ray cava 
 arnica urged her request by representing the pleasure it would 
 give to her aged father to meet with a Protestant clergyman from 
 another couutry. But it was fiited tiiat we should part. It was 
 the only really pleasing incident met with since I came to 
 France — brief and beautiful it has passed away like one of those 
 sunbeams that flit o'er the fields in Autumn— but, like the fields it 
 has contributed to ripen, the remembrance of it may give a 
 melancholy delight to the coming winter of a life which threatens 
 to be gloomy." 
 
 It was now wiihin a short time of the meeting of the General 
 
 ■* 
 
VISIT TO SCOTLAND AND THE CONTINENT. 
 
 73 
 
 ■* 
 
 Assembly in Edinburi!;l», and our traveller must retrace his steps. 
 On his liomoward way ho arrived by Diligence in an old town 
 in Noriumdy ■■\b)at li/j o'clock one morning. The driver 
 endeavoured to inform him when he wouldstart again ; the hour he 
 understood to be half-past seven. Desirous of seeing as much of 
 the quaint old town as possiole, ho " did " the cathedral and some 
 other ancient edifices and returned to the hotel at seven, but to 
 his unutterable mortification learned that the Diligence had left 
 nearly half-:in-hour before, carrying off his valise in which was aU 
 his money, some thirty sovereigns ! What to do he knew not. 
 In a strange land, unable to speak the language of its people, and 
 without a penny in his pocket, what coiihl he do ? " AVithout a 
 morsel to eat," he used to say, " I set out to walk to the next 
 town, some thirty miles oft', with feelings that I cannot express, 
 fearing that I nii>i;ht have to foot it to Calais, and even beyond, 
 and bog my bread as I went along. By the way I suffered much 
 from the great heat and dust, from thirst and hunger. Though 
 soon footsore and weary I pushed along, and by night-fall arrived 
 at the inn where I was told the Diligence would stop. I quickly 
 entered, and in the corner of a common room among a heap of 
 baggage espied my valise, which I instantly took possession of 
 and transferred the * treasure trove ' to my depleted pockets." 
 
 The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland met then, 
 as it does still, on the third Thursday of May. Under any cir 
 cumstances the Doctor would have strained a point to be in 
 " Auld lleekie " on that august occasion, but a variety of per- 
 sonal considerations conspired to render his attendance at this time 
 
 particularly desirable if not absolutely necessary. He had tokeu 
 
 K 
 
 * 
 
*' 
 
 74 
 
 LlFl'] OF ALliXANDEIl MATUIl^SOxV, D.D. 
 
 a rather inconsiderate step by resi^ninLj liis chiirj^e in Montreal, 
 and must now seek the aid of his friends and patrons in his 
 cndeavonrs to secure another " iivinj;." The ordeal through 
 which he must needs pass was to be severe and humbling-, yet it 
 proved a salutary one, and in the end, was greatly conducive to 
 his future happiness. For some months about this time ho 
 acknowledges that ho was " the most miserable man upon ea'th," 
 and certainly for a time ho allowed his feelings to get the better 
 of liis judgment, and gave reins to the gloomy forebodings of a 
 sensitive mind by entertaining proposals which sober reflection 
 convinced him were "visionary and absurd." We have already 
 hinted the existence of a tender attachment for "somebody" in 
 whom wore boun 1 up his brightest ho})es of do.iicstic bliss and 
 happiness. It is time now to speak more plainly and admit the 
 existence of a long-continued, pure, and aixleiit art'cction for one 
 whom he fondly hoped to become one day his " -Her cgo^ But 
 tliose hopes were now dissipated and blasted, and he had to drain 
 the bitter cup of disappointujent to the dregs as best he could. 
 We neeil not be more particular, but this explanation seems 
 necessary in order to account for the then unsettled state of his 
 mind and purposes, which otherwise were unintelligible. We can 
 now the better understand the following extract from a letter 
 dated the 2nd July, 1838: — "You will have heard that I have 
 resigned my situation in Montreal. This you will, no doubt, 
 censure as a foolish and imliscreet act, but circumstanced as I am, 
 and feeling as I do, it appears differently to myself. Even as it 
 respects my congregation it appears to me justifiable. In return- 
 ing to them unmarried I feel that I neither could be happy uor so 
 
 ■* 
 
*■ 
 
 VISIT TO SCOTLA>TI) AND TIIR CONTI.VBNT. 
 
 75 
 
 useful to them us otliorwlse T ini;i;'itbj. But, jis I could not offer 
 such nil excuse, I e igorly ouibiM .cil ii inoincut iry t'eolin;^ of dissutis- 
 fiiction wlilch they expressD I for uiy bjini^ so lou;>; absent as a 
 reason for di)iM;j,- tint which on other grounds I h id CDiiteniplatod 
 to do." Tile Doctor wis rl'^ht in supposinjj; th it iiis loiij^ absence 
 was the ciuse of the disuffjction in iiis coiigre.^ation, an 1 that it 
 was only momentary, for he never lost the afflictions of his people 
 nor did his own heart over s^row cold to them — i life-long and 
 romantic attachment subsisted between the minister and people of 
 St. Andrew's congregation — nor does it appear that the resignation 
 referred to was accepted or even seriously entertained by them. 
 But the Doctor had acted in good frith, was reaily to accept the 
 consequences, and immediately " went into the business of can- 
 vassing for a kirk." But he ha:l calculated without his liost. 
 Never was there a man worse fitted fir the business. He had 
 influential friends in the Duke of Vrygle, Lord Stratlimore, the 
 Oswalds, Fox Maulc, Dr. John Loj, Principil MeFarlan and 
 others, but, unfortunately for the Doctor's prospects, these were all 
 on the inrmig side of politics. Besides, his own proud and inde- 
 pendent spirit stood in the way of preferment. Though he waa 
 on the Icct of some of the best parishes in Scotland he would not 
 Btoop to preach, as a candidate, a tri'd sermon. Not he. Bravo, 
 Doctor ! After two months of keen application, during which he 
 suffered " unspeakable misery," he desisted from further attempts 
 in that direction, and contented himself with making this note of 
 his failure: — "Perhaps Prin ipal Macfarhin had as much 
 influence in the way of Church preferments as any other, but lie 
 failed in my case. Perhaps he had not a proper presentable 
 
 ■►{( 
 
* 
 
 76 
 
 LIFE OP ALKXAN'DKR MATIIIESOX, D.D. 
 
 man — but in my own opinion, in tlicso days, I could have stood 
 alongside of any of my nciudibours, though this may bo a 
 little of the air of Canada that I have caught. Tt was, I 
 believe, tlic most anxious wish of the old Principal's heart to 
 get mo home, and on his deathbed ho regretted that he had not 
 been able to accomplish this." lie was now fairly launchod on 
 the tempestuous ocean of life, and abandoned liimself to the mercy 
 of the billows. He had been taught to regard great men's 
 promises as the mo.«t unsubstantial of all unsubstantial things, 
 and disinterested patronage as one of the rarest things in human 
 intercourse. Oppressed with the intended good offices of his friends 
 he was disposed to prefer the petition of another who in similar 
 circumstances prayed, " God defend me from my friends, I can 
 defend myself from my enemies." The General Assembly had 
 decided to extend their Indian Mission to Ceylon. As the drown- 
 ing man clutohes a straw, so the Doctor, in his anxiety to leave 
 the scene of his disappointments and to escape the interroga- 
 tions which a return to Montreal would give rise to, made applica- 
 tion, and was appointed as missionary to that distant field. But 
 ho had yet to be taught in the school of adversity. " I think I 
 mentioned," he writes to a friend, "that I liad been recently 
 appointed to the East Indies, and would probably tr.ke my depar- 
 ture immediately, but my confounded pride is at w jrk again, and 
 obstacles are raised up which have already marred my intentions. 
 1 found, that though I had been nominated to the station, I must 
 receive my appointment through the Presbytery of Quebec. This 
 proposal I spurned, declaring my willingness to go on my own res- 
 ponsibility, but I was made to know that I could not go in this way 
 
i;<i- 
 
 '>/4 
 
 VISIT TO SCOTLAND AND THE CONTINENT. 
 
 77 
 
 without runninj^ tho risk of beiDg cxclsod from the Church 
 ahoficthcr. As I have no dosirc to biil the ' Auld Lady ' 
 (jMother Church) so uncorcmoiii()U.«ly gnod-by, I am now turning 
 my attention to another quarter of the worhl — Domerara and tlie 
 Mauritius-^and have conic to tlic resolution of preparing myself 
 for the latter, on the contingency of my appointment being 
 certain. If my proposal is acceded to I will proceed immediately 
 to Paris and study the French language, or, perhaps go and sec 
 " hrt/e vcrrj/ " ; she will be a delightful instructor. " 
 
 Whiletlie.se conflicting plans and purposes were pcri)le.xing the 
 Doctor's mind he received an "unexpected deluge" of letters 
 from jMontreal from many of his people, expressing tho continued 
 affection of the whole congregation towards him and urging his 
 return. This was in September. On the 8th of October he was 
 aboard the good ship " Oxford " bound for Canada, and in due 
 time, to use his own ([notation, " llichard's himself again ! " 
 
 On the 30tli of July, 1840, Dr. Mathicson was married, by the 
 Rev. Henry Kssoii, to Catherine Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. John 
 Mackenzie, of iMontreal. It was a happy union, for, in the part- 
 ner of his maturer years were sweetly blended those christian 
 graces and accomplishments which his youthful imagination had 
 many years before pictured to itself as indispensible to his ide 
 of holy matrimony. 
 
 " At length his heart 
 Upon ii fellow mortal's answering breast 
 Could shed its tears of joy " 
 
 in a sense that he had never known till now he had "a homo " 
 in Canada ; a blythe and peaceful iiome it was, as all can testify 
 
 ■* 
 
f<' 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESOK", D.D. 
 
 ■who were privileged to enter it, :in'l its portals were as ehcorfully 
 opened to the poorest in the parish as to the representatives of 
 wealth and high degree. Ho had a family of two sons and four 
 daughters. On the :Mst of Mi.rch, 1847, death invaded his dwell- 
 ing and took from him his dear little daughter Nancy Fisher, 
 aged three ye irs and three months, Tiie good Doctor's love 
 for children was reniarkahle in one who had boon so long a " Ben- 
 edict.'' Ho coveted no better society than theirs. In their com- 
 pany and listening to their innocent prattle he could sit for hours, 
 and he him -elf became young again. To play dominoes witli 
 them, or tell ihem niirth-provoki g stories, to sing for them, or 
 dressing up iii.s thumbs with handkerchiefs, to amuse them with 
 pantouiiiijic illustrations of ''Punch and Judy,'' was his delight; 
 nor was it fin'ottcn to dismiss them with a kind word — a little 
 seed-thought — suitiblc to the occasion and the capacity of his lit- 
 tle 'ludience. Proportion ite to the love he bore them were the 
 teridorest emotions of his heart touched when his Heavenly Father 
 saw fit to create the first blank in his own fimily circle. " ' hi a 
 Saturday night at 10 o'clock the pliysician called and left no room 
 for hope. 8he was siidcing rapidly,, With a h 'avy hoart ne.x^t 
 morning I went to church, afrai'' j'l' allowing personal feelings to 
 intermingle with the duties of God's house. T prayed for sustain- 
 ing grace and preichedan old but an appropriate sermon — 'Not 
 my will but thine be done.' The sermon was solemn and the 
 congregation attentive. I hardly expected to find m^/ sweec loved 
 Nancy in the land of the living on my return. She was much 
 worse, but still perfectly sensible, I lay dowti on the bcjd beside 
 her, and, trying to bide my tears, spoke to her of God, and he.ivcn, 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■* 
 
 1^ 
 
VISIT TO SCOTLAND AND THE CONTINENT. 
 
 79 
 
 atiil of tlio love of Josus. She became weaker as the night wore 
 on, and ere the day dawned my beloved child drew her last breath. 
 Mortal life was gone, the endless life in Jesus Christ begun. The 
 body of corruption, still dear to us, shall be raised up a gloiified 
 body, incorruptible by the mighty power by which Christ subdues 
 all things to himself Precious are the consolations of the gospel 
 in such an hour as this. May the Holy Spirit descend upon us 
 and effectually apply them I" 
 
 Under date the 1st of January, 1848, occurs this further allusion 
 to his bereavenifut and cvidenceof his desire to profit by it: "God 
 has been pleased to spare me to see the beginning of another year. 
 Often during the course of the last have I thought that this was 
 what T could not expect. that I were sufficiently thankful, and 
 that He would enable me to be more faithful in His service than 
 in times j. -it, if it be His will to spare me to my family and for 
 the accomplishment of what.soever Tic may be pleased to honour me 
 as an instrument of carrying out. My family, and friend i are in 
 the enjoyment of good health and happiness. Our beloved child 
 has been taken from us — she is not forgotten, but lemembered 
 with deep sorrow. The whole of life is but u dream. that 
 God would enable us to realize this, and prepare for joining those 
 whom in His love Ho has removed from us. Many, innumerable 
 blessings have I to be thankful for — my kind, affectionate flock, 
 their indulgence and benevolence not the least." 
 
 >k- 
 
 ■^ 
 
[ 1^ 
 
 ''I 
 
 1) 
 
 *■ 
 
 CIIAPTEll VI. 
 
 PARISH WORK. REVISITS SCOTLAND. DEATH OF MRS. MATHIESON. 
 LIFE AT BEECIIRIDOE. DEATH OP JANET EWINQ .MATHIESON. 
 
 It was in 1841), while comparatively a young man yet, at the 
 age of forty-six, that Dr. JMathieson had the first premonitions of 
 disease in his own frame. He began to feel unequal to the 
 unaided work of the pastoral superintendence of so large a congrega- 
 tion as St. Andrew's had become. There were now nearly five 
 hundred on the roll of communicants. His people were widely 
 scattered, many of them living far outside the city limits, which 
 rendered his visits to them irksome and tedious. The labour, too, 
 of preparing his discourses became more onerous, for while he never 
 neglected his habit of careful preparation, nor ever appeared in the 
 pulpit without a clean copy of his sermon iiiextcnso — and his caligra- 
 phy VfAs beautiful — his ideas began to flow less rapidly, and there 
 was loss of the ctrrientc calunw in the hand that once could dash off 
 a discourse at a sitting ; and its delivery came to be followed by a 
 depression, and sometimes a faintness that distressed him. Here 
 is the brief record of a week's work at this time : " Monday till 
 Friday, not much douo, though always busy; a number uf sick 
 
■»*< 
 
 PARISH WORK AND DOMESTIC AlIPLICATION. 
 
 81 
 
 visits ; several funerals; very little fatigues me now. Saturday — 
 study ; wrought hard and constant till one in the morning ; sermon 
 not finished. Sabbath — at work in the morning; discourse long 
 ■('jioiigh but not finished ; must make a practical application on the 
 value of the soul, the great motive of missionary and ministerial 
 labour. In better spirits to-day; very warm; my voice failed me ; 
 violent palpitation at the heart and quick breathing from the 
 slightest exertion. My work, I fca. 's drawing to a close. The 
 sumnici ended! Alas, how little done ! I begin to feel a deeper 
 responsibility, but, if I can judge my heart, my desire is to present 
 my dear people to Christ. Lord," increase my faith, make me more 
 oarncst, let me offend none, conciliate all. It pains me much that 
 some have left the church whose countenance and friendship would 
 have been encouraging ; but thanks be to God that a numerous 
 and attached people roiuiiiis under my ministry, bless it, bless 
 it unto them! The feeblest instrumentality is strong when Thou, 
 O Lord, art with us. Stir up Thy might, and save and bless." 
 
 Dr. Mathicson was too honest a man to appropriate to himself, 
 or try to pawn off upon his hearers, the thoughts of another with- 
 out due acknowledgment. With one single exception, which in 
 after years he used to recount with inimitable humour, and, when 
 told in the hearing of a brother cleric; always coupled with the 
 admonition "bosurj your sin will find you out,'" ho was blameless 
 of the charge of plagiarism. He admitted that upon a certain 
 occasion, from sheer want of time to prepare a discourse, he had 
 " taken in " a pretty large portion of a sermon that he had heard 
 preached in Scotland ere ho came to Canada, and which, untbr- 
 ^unately for him, had found its way, in print, into tlie handa oi a 
 
 * 
 
 *■ 
 
m 
 
 I M 
 
 t-i» 
 
 ! 
 
 I' 1 '' 
 
 !f 
 
 ^ 
 
 82 
 
 LIFE OF ALLXANDEU MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 lady belonging to his congregation with whom he was on intimate 
 terms of frien/ '''i. She only, of all that heard the Doctor preach 
 that day, detected the theft, but she wtis too true ix friend to m ko 
 mention of it to others. She was too polite, moreover, to make 
 direct allusion to it in after conversation with her minister, 
 but, from a casual remark or two that escaped her, the Doctor was 
 convinced in his own mind that she was perfectly cognizant of his 
 "crime," and he there and then resolved that it was the last time 
 he should ever be found in a similar predicannnt. 
 
 Little do most of us know of the arduous process nndergone in 
 that laboratory of thought, the p<irson's study, in the "getting up' 
 of two discourses such as a man of scholarly attainments would 
 wish to utter in the hearing of an intelligent, educated, and, per- 
 haps, a critical congregation. It is so usual to speak of a sermon 
 as a thing that a minister can shake out of his coat sleeve at any 
 time, on the shortest noiicc, that one requires to get a peep behind 
 the scenes to realize the amount of hard work involved. One of 
 our best sermon writers, who has had upwards of thirty years' 
 experience, assures us that it costs him "as many hours of hard 
 labour tc make a sermon, worth the name, as it costs any carpen- 
 ter to make a door, or any cabinet-maker a chair. And, if I sit 
 down to the more pretentious work of writing a book, who will say 
 that I am not undertaking labour which would cost me as many 
 days of toil, and occasion me as much fatigue, in the long run, as 
 would be incurred by tlie ten or dozen mechanics who should 
 underti>ke the construction of a steam engine, always supposing 
 my book would be worth reading."'!^ 
 
 ■^ 
 
3sk: 
 
 PARISH WORK AND DOMESTIC AFFLICTION. 
 
 83 
 
 ^ 
 
 A celebrated painter, on beinj:; asked how he mixed his colours 
 to secure such marvellous effect, is said to liave replied, "I mix 
 them, sir, with my brains." We need not pursue the analogy 
 further than to remark that a sermon without brains is a very 
 meagre affair, not in the least degree likely to reach the liearts of 
 those who listen to it. Dr. Mathicson's sermons were not of this 
 discription. Viewed as mere literary compositions they were 
 elaborate essays; carefully thought out and beautifully expressed. 
 Some of them, indeed, were so in an exceptional degree. We 
 might instance three discourses, preached in the ordinary course 
 of his ministry, and which were afterwards printed in " the fall of 
 the leaf," which fully bear us out in what wc say of his composi- 
 tiiui, and yet there are others which, perhaps, in this regard, were 
 even more worthy of preservation. Wbile no one could be more 
 deeply impressed with the duty of careful preparation, we cannot 
 but admii"e the playful allusion to his efforts in that direction : — 
 " Knowing that I must be absent for thri c days of the week pre- 
 vious to communion, I set down to my preparations the preceding 
 week, but necessiti/ not applying vigorously her lash, procrastina- 
 tion whispered enticingly, ' there is time enough yet:' so very 
 
 little was done. I started for , made and his spouse happy, 
 
 got a jolly fee, the largest I ever got, and returned to Montreal on 
 Wednesday with a fearful cold in my head. But the next day, 
 when I had resolved to begin work in right earnest, was wholly 
 
 taken up with other duties. P9or had died, and was to be 
 
 buried on that day. His mother was in dreadful affliction, and 
 hi.s father utterly cast down, so I resolved to visit them before the 
 funeral. The day was very wet, and going to the cemetery I got 
 
 *l< 
 
 >> 
 
* 
 
 '• 
 
 i'i 
 
 84 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, DD. 
 
 more cold, with considerable fever. On Friday I had to set foj 
 besides the work for Sunday, having to select and (hess a mlfiov 
 this evening's repast, as A. K. H. B.* would designate the iin- 
 niature production of an earlier day, and having the same veal as 
 an offering to present to my people on the fullowing days. In 
 desperation I telegraphed to Quebec and had a favourable reply 
 from Dr. Cook, and so set to work with all fury ajid had my ser- 
 mon finished by midnight. The Doctor arrived early on Sabbath 
 morning, and I laid on hiai, table service, concluding address, 
 evening service, and Monday's. From the excitement 1 felt well, 
 but with sad revulsion on Tuesday, and I have scarcely been out 
 of the house since." 
 
 This may be the proper place to refer to Dr. Mathicson's printed 
 sermons. They arc twelve in number, and were delivered in the 
 following order : 
 
 1. 1827, April 8th. On the occasion of Mr. Waton's death, 
 from Jeremiah ix. 21 : " For death hath come up into our 
 windows." 
 
 2. 183G, November 30th. Preached before the ^t. Andrews 
 Society, Montreal, from PbALM cxxxvii. 1-G : "By the rivers 
 of Babylon, there we sat down, ycu, we wept, when we remember- 
 ed Zion " &c, 
 
 3. 18-13, October 22nd. Delivered on board the transport 
 ship 'Java, " off Quebec, to the 1st Battalion 71st Highland 
 Light Infantry, en route to the West Indies, frouj 2nd Con. Xlll. 
 
 ' TLe reference here is to a cut ions article " concerning veal " in " The 
 Recreations of a Country Parson," by the Rev. Andrew K. H. Boyd, then 
 minister of til. Bernit.rd, Ediuburgli, and now of St. Andrews. 
 
 .^4 
 
w^da^taimMm 
 
 I 
 
 ■•*• 
 
 PARISH WORK AND DOMESTIC AFFLICTION. 
 
 85 
 
 2 : " Finally, bretlircn, farewell, " &c. : also. Acts xx. 32 : " And 
 now, brethren, I commend you to God and the word of his grace," 
 
 &c. 
 
 4. 1848, May 21st. The Christian's death no cause for 
 sorrow. On the occasion of Miss Spier's death, from Jeremiaii 
 XXII. 10 : " Weep ye not for the dead," &c., also Revelations xiv. 
 13 : " Blcssud are the dead who die in tlic Lord," &c. 
 
 5. ( 1849. The moral and religious influences of autumn. A 
 P j sermon in three parts, preached on three several Sabbaths "in 
 
 ' I the fall of the leaf,' ' from IsAiAii LXiv. G : " We all do fade 
 
 7. lasaU-af." 
 
 8. 1852. A tribute of respect to the memory of a good man ; 
 preached on the occasion of the death of Mr. Hugh Brodie, the 
 " faithful Elder " who accompanied Dr. Mathieson in many of his 
 missionary excursions to the valley of the Chateauguay. Acts XI. 
 24 : " For he was a good man." 
 
 9. 18G1. ['reached, 29th May, in St. Andrew's Church, Quebec, 
 
 at the opening of the Synod, frouj AcT.s iv. 19, 20 : " Whetlier it 
 be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto 
 
 God, judge ye : for we cannot but speak the things which we have 
 
 Been and heard." 
 
 10. 18G3. Preached, 30th November, before the St. Andrew's 
 Society, frouj PsALJi. XLVii. 12 13 : " Walk about Zion, and go 
 round about her, tell the towers thereof," &c. 
 
 11. 18G4. The vanity of earthly objects of attachment ; preached 
 on the occasion of the death of .Mr. James Hervey, and printed 
 for private distribution, from Psalm lxxxviii. 18: "Lover 
 
■rr 
 
 '1 
 
 
 
 *" 
 
 86 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.l). 
 
 and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into 
 darkness." 
 
 12. 1868. Preached on St. Andrew's Day, in the St. Andrew's 
 Church, before the St. Andrew's Society of Montreal, from Psalm 
 XLvn. 12, 13, 14 : " ,Valk about Zion," &c. 
 
 In addition to his written sermons, Dr. Mathieson lias left behind 
 him an amount of manuscript large enough to fill many volumes, 
 exhibiting an ease and grace of diction, a knowledge of men and 
 things in general, an acquaintance with literature, and a grasp of 
 mind and thought, that would have gained Iiim eminence as a man 
 of letters had he aspired to authorship. His writings are chiefly 
 in the form of letters, some of an official character, others of a 
 private nature; many of them are at once interesting and amusing, 
 from the graphic manner in which contemporaneous events arc 
 noticed, not a few of them contaiu information of value to the 
 future historian of the Church. In his youthful days he was addict- 
 ed to poetry, and he could also wield the pencil of the caricaturist 
 with considerable efiect ; but to these accomplishments his own 
 graver thoughts attached small importance. " The verses you 
 i^hought so pretty," he says, " were destroyed many years ago 
 when I thought [ was going to ' the Land o' the Leal.' I do not 
 know that you will be able to find a single couplet from my pen 
 anywhere except some extemporaneous effusions occasionally in 
 letters to my friends. I wrote for my own amusement. There 
 were many little pieces that I have often deeply regretted having 
 destroyed, but I had no ambition they should survive me. I was 
 proud of the fire-side praise, but desired no more, and co.nmitted 
 my papers wholesale to the flames, being too weak to undergo the 
 
 -i« 
 
 ■►^ 
 
■I 
 
 •}«■ 
 
 '^ 
 
 PARISH WOllK AND DOMESTIC AFFLICTION. 
 
 87 
 
 fatigue of uuikiiig a selection, and ^^•oul(l not for the world have 
 any knave laugh at uiy follies after I had taken wing." 
 
 From what has been said it may be inferred that the matter of 
 Dr. Mathieson s sermons ' :3 generally goi)d and oft times rose to 
 brilliancy and genuine elo<|ueuce. Ilis manner of delivery was 
 pleasing, though at times marred by a hesitancy of utterance, 
 chiefly caused by a peculiarity of vision — a near-sightedness, which 
 detied the skill of the most scientific optician to remedy, and 
 which prevented him from deciphering his own legible manuscript, 
 without which, except on baptismal and communion occasions, he 
 never attempted to speak from the pulpit. lie had early prepared 
 his congregation for the reception of " read discourses " and 
 defcndefl himself against the possible assailants of "paper min- 
 isters," as may be seen on reference to the first sermon which 
 he preached in Montreal, and which is hereto appended, where 
 allusion is made to his constitutional inability to " mandate " 
 his discourses. "The time taken in ma d, ting a discourse I 
 would consider more profitably employed, both for myself and the 
 people I instruct, in acquiring a more extensive knowledge of 
 Scripture truths, and in composing clear, well connected, and in- 
 teresting discourses." This deficiency, for such he acknowledged 
 it to be, was less regretted by himself than by his friends, and 
 was a subject on which he allowed himself to be twitted very 
 often without in the least discomposing him. Upon occasions 
 when conversation took that direction, and he thought it advisable 
 to change the subject, he usually brought down the company with a 
 heaity laugh over the story of two old wives in Scotland who had 
 a holy horror of "readers." They had gone together to hear a ser- 
 
88 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESOX, D.D. 
 
 mon prcaclicd by a blind minister, and both agreed tliat it was " a 
 gran' discoorsc." The fact of the preacher's blindness, however, 
 had remained undiscovered to the one, who, on their homeward 
 way asked her companion did she tliink " that you sermon wa^ 
 read ?" " Na, na, replied tlie other, that couldna be, for the mnn^s 
 hlinny "Blinn said ye,"'retortcd her interrogator, ^^ than a wuss 
 they were a blinn.''^ 
 
 The brief extract from his journal which now follows may suf- 
 fice to indicate the kind of work to which the city minister is 
 sometimes called, and the scenes he sometimes witnesses. (1849) 
 " Sent for to visit a sick person — horrid scene 1 Ushered into a garret, 
 on the bare floor of which, covered with rags, lay a dying creature 
 who had had a religious education but seemed to have lived long in 
 neglect of God, as I learned from others, for she was insensible and 
 within two hours of being called to judLinient. Her husband was 
 a ragged, squallid wretch, on whom want and drunkenness had 
 entailed disease. Around her there were half a dozen women, dirty 
 and ragged, and reeling with drink. A rough block of wood cov- 
 ered with a rag was her pillow. It was heart-sickening. I prayed 
 with the poor creature — utterly insensible I Ft ar to any religious 
 consolation — addressed those around in te ras of christian pity and 
 warning, mingled with reproach, but seemingly to no purpose. 
 There is room for reflection here — room for censure somewhere. 
 Why such brutish conduct, such induration of heart, such drunken- 
 ness, filth, forgctfulncss of God ? Why should these bo left to pur- 
 sue such courses without determined cff'ortsto reclaim them ? What 
 is to be done ? Already staggering under the load of duty and 
 anxiety I feel that 1 must break down, unless I find relief. Yet, 
 
^. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 PARISH WORK AND DOMESTIC AFFLICTION. 
 
 80 
 
 *■ 
 
 work I must. Tho Lord mako mo faithful. Lot mo not shrink, 
 
 however toilsome the labour, or disgusting the scones, Streiigthon 
 me with Thy strength ; guide mo with Thy wisdom ; pour into my 
 soul a portion of the Saviour's zoal for perishing souls. Wo have 
 
 the engine that will yet move the world, let us apply it A. rich, 
 
 friendless, man may find flatterers, a poor man, no sympathy from 
 his associates. This man could find no oao lo aid him in carrying 
 his wife to the grave — human sympathy is gone because ho is in 
 rag>*. He is a useless wretch to bo sure, but surely^not so bad as 
 to deprive him of pity in affliction. Gave him five shillings to buy 
 a cofiin and ono shilling and throe-pence for a cart hire — " The rich- 
 man died: and was buried /" 
 
 To obtain a temporary respite from work, and in the hope of 
 re-establishing his health, the Doctor bethought him once more of 
 tho only remedy in which he had much faith, and the very anticipa- 
 tion of which was as " the balm of Giload" to his downcast soul — 
 a trip to Scotland. Having made the necessary arrangements for 
 the supply of his pulpit, he accordingly '' went home " in the year 
 1852, and, after spending a pleasant summer, during which he visit- 
 ed ihe three Kingdoms, and had the honour of addressing the 
 General Assembly, he returned to Canada with greatly invigorated 
 health. It was during this visit that he secured the services of his 
 first assistant, the Rev. Robert Dooie, then assistant to Principal 
 Haldane of St. Andrew's, and now the minister of Lindsay, 
 Ontario. This arrangement proved satisfactory while it lasted, but 
 was of short duration, for Mr. Dobie, having received a call to 
 Osnabruck, resigned connection with St. Andrew's congregation, 
 
 and for six long years Dr. Mathieson strove manfully to accom 
 
 M 
 
 ■^ 
 
^, 
 
 w 
 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 m 
 
 1^. 
 
 ^ 
 
 // 
 
 // 
 
 
 
 w. 
 
 V 
 
 f/j 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 IM 
 
 IM 
 2.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 
 1.25 
 
 1-4 1.6 
 
 
 -• 
 
 6" 
 
 ► 
 
 <^^. "^ 
 
 
 e. 
 
 a. 
 
 ^3 
 
 3^ 
 
 
 A 
 
 c*; 
 
 /^ 
 
 5^ 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 w 
 
 « 
 
 
 pi? 
 
 'v\a>> 
 
 23 WEST M.MN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 w 
 

 
 
 
* 
 
 ill! 
 
 90 
 
 LIFE OF ALEX\rTDBR M4TH[BS0>f, D.U. 
 
 plish, alone, that which experience had convinced him was work 
 enougli for two ministers. 
 
 In the meantime our friend Tas subjected to the saddest and 
 most severe trial which it was possible for him to suffer. A» 
 ^' friend after friend departs," the minister of a large congregation 
 must needs revisit oft, the city of the dead. The way to the ceme- 
 tery — that sleeping place, 
 
 " where servants, masters, small and great, 
 
 partake the same repose — " 
 
 becomes a familiar road, lined as it were with the memories of 
 
 those who have been borne to tli»e tomb. Along this rofld Dr. Mathie. 
 
 son had now to follow the remains of his dear wife to the silent 
 
 grave. She died on the 29th of February, lF5fi, aged thirty-tbrce 
 
 after a long illness, borne with 'Christian fortitude and resignation 
 
 to the divine wilL The bi'ief' epitaph inscribed on a monumental 
 
 tablet that was erected by her friends on the wall of St. Andrew's 
 
 Church, near the pulpit, records that she was " endeared to all 
 
 n^ho knew her by a kind disposition and the lively interest which 
 
 he manifested in the prosperity of this Church." She was a most 
 
 devoted, aifeetionate wife, and the very embodiment of matcnal 
 
 love — gentle, guileless, and sincerely pious, but who never 
 
 made any parade of religious fetling. In a letter writtei* to a 
 
 friend in Scotland shortly after her death, the Doctor thus alludes 
 
 to his bereavement — " you will deeply sympathize with me when I 
 
 inform you that she who was nearest and dearest to mo has been 
 
 removed from the troubles of this life to the enjoyment — we have 
 
 no doubt — of a butter. Her last end was peaceful and calm, indeed 
 
 I have seldom witnessed a more sublime spectacle of faith and hope 
 
 * 
 
PARISH WORK AND DOMESTIC AFFLICTIOJf. 
 
 91 
 
 and resignation. Her confiilence in her Saviour's love, and longing 
 to be with Iliin, has infused great consolation into the cup of sor* 
 row given us to drink. Tliere was a heroism in her wliole conduct 
 and !in undoubting trust in her Redeemer tiiat seemed to me to be 
 a special vouchsafemeiit from our Heavenly Father — as a testi' 
 mony to herself, and to us, that she was accepted by Him through 
 Christ. Her unceasing prayer during the last night of her illness 
 was, " come, Lord Jesus, come quickly I'' I cannot yet realize the 
 terrible desolation in our affections occasioned by the absence of 
 her who was the spirit and life of all our household joys. God's will 
 be done." 
 
 The Rev. Robert Herbert Story, the son of his eld valued friend, 
 became Dr. Mathieson's assistant in May, 1850 ; but on the death 
 of his father, having received a presentation to the parish of 
 Roseneath, his engagement with St. Andrew's Church necessarily 
 terminated. In the following spring, the Rev. James Kerr arrived 
 as assistant, and remained about a year, when he returned to 
 k^cotland. Sonie years afterwards he and his young wife t )ok 
 passage on board the steamship "London,'' which foundered in 
 the Bay of Biscay, on her voyage to Australia, and they shared the ' 
 melancholy fate of many others, who sank into a watery grave. 
 
 The Rev. W. M. Inglis, now minister of St. Andrew's Cliurcli, 
 Kingston, was Dr. Mathieson's next assistant and remained in 
 Montreal, till August, 1863. The Rev. Andrew Paton succeeded 
 him in November, 18G4, and, after the lapse of a year, was 
 requested to accept a permanent appointment as " assistant 
 and successor." Having received ordination thereto from the 
 Presbytery of Kinross, he was inducted on the Hth of February, 
 
 *' 
 
 ■* 
 
* 
 
 ■^ 
 
 92 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXAN'DER MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 18Gl). The circamstances connected with his demission of the 
 charge are so exceptional, aftd withal so honourable to Mr. Paton, 
 as justify us in giving them a place here in connection with the 
 history of the congregation. 
 
 Mr. Paton had been on a visit to Scotland during the eummer 
 (1869) ; was present at the General Assembly, whore he delivered 
 an address in relation to the position of the Canadian Church, and 
 had returned to his duties in the month of October. On the 18th 
 of Novenib-^r. he had given notice to the Presbytery of Montreal, 
 of his intention to ask leave to be released from his present charge, 
 although he had then no immedi ite prospect of obtaining another. 
 On the evening of the very same day he received a telegraph 
 message by the Atlantic Cable, oflPeniig him a presentation to the 
 parish of Penpont, in Dumfrieshire. On the 23rd, the day before 
 the burning of the Church, he received another message intimating 
 that he had been appointed to the charge. It is important that 
 Dr. Mathieson's estiin ite of his last assistant should be pieserved, 
 and here are his first impressions of him as communicated to a 
 friend, under date the 18th October, 1864: "My assistant 
 arrived last week and pre ched ai cxc. llent plain discourse last 
 Sabbath. I was highly pleased with him, I was not well enough 
 to go out in the evening, but am told his discourse was superior t^ 
 that of the morning. He is a gentlemanly, unpretend ng u.an, 
 frank, and anxious lo approve himself in all departments of duty as 
 a good workman. I think I shall get along with liim very 
 agreeably." At a meeting of the congregation, held prior to Mr, 
 baton's departure. Dr. Mathieson alluded very feelingly to the 
 retations wliich had existed between himself and Mr. Paton, and 
 
 ^^• 
 
 ■* 
 
*■ 
 
 ■* 
 
 PARISH WORK AND DOMESTIC AFFLICTION. 
 
 93 
 
 to the efficient manner in which he had always fulfilled his duties. 
 Nor were substantial proofs awanting that his services had been 
 appreciated by the congregation, and that their best wishes followed 
 him to his new sphere of labour. 
 
 During the last ten years of his life Dr. Matliieson was in the 
 habit of spending the greater portion of the summer months upon 
 his farm, at Becchridge, about five and twenty miles distant from 
 the city. There was nothing about the place, or its vicinity, tliat 
 one could have supposed would have had any attractions for a 
 mind so poetic and so keenly appreciative of the beautiful in 
 nature. To our own eye, though we saw it in winter, the locality 
 seemed a dull and dreary solitude, fitted rather as a place of 
 endurable exile than for a pleasant summer retreat. It was inland 
 and the landscape, unrelieved by hill or dale, was fringed by the 
 grim, gray primeval forest. But here the old Doctor had a snug 
 little cottage, and a hundred acres of land that he could call his own. 
 He had his garden in which to delve, and the woods through 
 which he could saunter and meditate without fear of being disturbed 
 by the ceaseless din of the busy town oi the ringing of the door 
 bell. He was not far from the manse, where he jouid always 
 reckon on a hearty welcome, and he took great pleasure in the 
 society and companionship of its kind and hospitable inmates. He 
 loved the country, "for God made the country, man made the 
 town." If any one spoke disparaging of it in his presence he 
 would join with his old friend Virgil, and exclaim, " fortunatos 
 nimium, sua si bona norint, agricolis." * Happy as the Mantuan 
 
 
 " thrice happy farmers, did they but know their own blessings." 
 
 yH' 
 
•J" 
 
 ^4 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 bard, under shade of his own " beech tree," ho cnjoyeil " rustic 
 ease," as thoroughly as ever Horace did when on his Sabine farm 
 he quaffed his "mild falernian." There was little to give vtirioty 
 to his thoughts, saving the sound of the postman's horn that daily 
 woke up to the echoes of the woods. Then there was a rush for 
 the post-oflBce in expectation of letters from Montreal, or from 
 Scotland, or, perhaps, the much-coveted, and long-looked for 
 epistle from his dear friend Gregory Wortabet, " the Syrian exile." 
 Much of his time must have been spent in writing, for he had a 
 host of correspondents, and it is worthy of remark, as illustrative of 
 his exact and methodical habits, that of every letter he wrote, he 
 kept a verbatim copy, and that almost every letter reseived by him 
 ■was preserved, labelled, and so carefully fyled that at any time he 
 eould refer to it. 
 
 Only one incident has come to our knowledge in connection 
 with his quiet life at Boechridge, that appeared helpful " to adorn 
 a tale," and we are not quite sure that the Doctor would ha^'s 
 liked to have seen it in nrint. But as it tends to display two very 
 characteristic traits of his character, we feel justified in making 
 allusion to it. Personal courage and benevolence were stamped on 
 Dr. Mathieson's countenance. So erect was his carriage, so martial 
 his bearing, so measured his step, that, but for his clerical habit 
 it might be said of him that he was " every inch a soldier." His 
 bravery was not of that kind that >empted him to rush recklessly into 
 danger, but, rather, a ready resource and presence of mind in the 
 liour of danger that never failed him. In no circumstances was 
 he known to betray unmanly alarm. During the time of the rebellion 
 he declared himself willing to doflf his cassock, shoulder a musket, 
 
 4\ 
 
 t^A- 
 
 * 
 
■^ 
 
 PARISH WORK AND DOMESSKJ AFFLICTION. 
 
 0.' 
 
 and fight the enemies of his Queen ard country. Though, had 
 the necessity for his so doing arisen, it would have pained him 
 grievously, for he had a very high regai d for his French Canadian 
 fellow country-men, of whom he said at the time, " Never have 
 there been creatures more belied than they have been. Their 
 nature is peaceable and polite, and, it heart, they are strongly 
 attached to the British Government, They have been sadly 
 duped and misled by designing knaves." But, to our story, a 
 few years ago it was, that the Doctor took his accustomed morning 
 walk into the garden, at Beechridge, where his old servant-man of 
 all work, was busily employed. He thought to have " a crack " 
 with him, but there was something:; in his gesture and incoherent 
 speech that morning that aroused the Doctor's suspicions. The 
 man had a " wakencss," he knew, rather by report than from 
 personal observation for the old man's respect for " his Reverence " 
 was great and had hitherto sufficed to keep him " within bounds " 
 in the minister's presence. But on this occasion, he had forgotten 
 himself; yet, as the Doctor thought, ho was not so "far gone " as 
 to be insensible to a mild rebuke, which was with due solemnity 
 and emphasis administered. Dean E-umsay relates an instance, 
 in which a similar remonstrance had been addressed to a high- 
 lander in respect of his partiality for the " mountain dew," in 
 which Donald naively acquiesced under certain reservations, thus : 
 " depend upon it," said Mr. M., " its a bad thing whiskey." 
 " Weel, weel, Sir," replied Donald, "I'll no say but it may ;'^ 
 adding in a very decided tone, " speciallic hand whusky." But, 
 our old man was not prepared for even such a qualified admis'sioa 
 as that. He became furious, and made a desperate lunge at the 
 
 ■>i* 
 
ili! 
 
 *. 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■* 
 
 9G 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATUIESON, D.D. 
 
 Doctor's person with the pitchfork, which he held in his hands. 
 The Doctor's situation was dangerous in the extreme. No quarter 
 was to be expected from such a foe, even had he felt disposed to 
 shew the white feather. With his stout walking stick, however, 
 he adroitly parried the thrust, and, with the proficiency of an 
 expert, plied his assailant with so rapid a succession of lusty thuds 
 as soon placed him hors dii combat. 
 
 It was a serious matter. The old man was hailed before the 
 magistrate and sent to prison. But the Doctor's goodness of heart 
 was shewn, first, by forwarJing the sum of five dollars to provide 
 for the culprit's comfort, and, afterwards, by visiting him in the 
 prison and manifesting a personal interest for his welfare, both in 
 body and soul. It may bo added that when his term of imprison- 
 ment expired, he resumed his old situation, and, when he heard of 
 his master's death, he wept bitterly, wishing that he himself had 
 cone first, as there would be no one now to care for him. 
 
 Before closing what we have called our domestic annals of Dr. 
 Mathieson, we wish to give an extract from a letter of his to a 
 friend, dated the 15th September, 1863. It is worthy of 
 preservation both because of its raciness and humour, and 
 it affords a capitable illustration of the manner in which the 
 Doctor could mount his '■' high horse " when a fitting occasion pre- 
 sented itself The reference will be quite familiar to the members of 
 his congregation, and wa feel sure that not one of them would have 
 us suppress it. It is so characteristic, and so good naturedly told 
 as completely to take the sting out of allusions that might other- 
 wise be regarded as ofl'ensive. 
 
 "It is now three or four years since I was walking down 
 
 '>'i 
 
■* 
 
 TARISII WORK AND DOMESTIC AFFLICTION. 
 
 97 
 
 Blcury-street, as I fanciod, with all the briskness and agility of 
 youth, when I met two old women and heard the one say to the 
 other, " There goes old Dr. Mathieson." Old I said I, Old ! 
 The sound was nmv in my eirs, and truly I was not a little 
 mortified in being ranked ainont^ the Patriarchs of the age, 
 especially as my friend Muir alleged that I was in hot haste in 
 search of a second wife. N^ow, to have the prefix old to ray cog- 
 nomen would assuredly obscure every ciiance of success. I 
 naturally thought the old dames delighted in scandal, and to call 
 me old w IS just a bit of spite on their part. I have had, however, 
 many material proofs since of the truth of their observation. But 
 what is worst of all some worthy members of my Church have 
 discovered that I am getting old, and that " it will bo for the 
 benefit of the congregation that I retire," and, in compassion for 
 my infirmities, have thought it expedient to offer me £400 per 
 annum for life to induce mo quietly to do so. A very nice thing, 
 you will say, and reproachfully ask why I did not at once jump at 
 the ofter ? Well, my doar friend, I have something of the feeling 
 of youth— if not the activity — about me still, and I would not 
 be so unceremoniously shelved even though they should try to 
 frighten mo by telling me that half of the congregation was about 
 to rise in rebellion against the administration of the old fogies, and 
 that it would be better for me to pocket the affront. So / 
 mounted mi/ high horse and told them 1 would neither resign the 
 office of minister of St. Andrew's Church, nor ani/ part of the 
 authority attached to it, until legally and constitutionally set aside 
 by the Presbytery , that I would neither accept of their bribe 
 
 uor minister to a dissatisfied people, and not doing the duty^ 
 
 N 
 
 '>^ 
 
*■ 
 
 98 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 would accept none of the pay, so they might when they pleased 
 look about for another who would please them better, and roy 
 connection with them in relation to all active duties would cease 
 on the 24th September. Subsequently, at a meeting of the Elders 
 and Trustees, they repudiated the charge of dissatisfaction to the 
 extent alleged. My first intention was to leave Canada, tate a 
 eottage on the banks of the Gairloch, and spend the remainder of 
 my days among some dear friends in peace. When it became 
 known that I was about to leave the country a meeting of the 
 eongregation was held and certain resolutions passed, it is said 
 unanimously, highly favourable, nay, very flattering to me. I 
 have not yet seen them, but the probability is I shall remain in 
 Canada for the winter, if not for the rest of my days^ which now 
 «annot be very long." 
 
 It was at Beeehridge thattlie sad tidings reached Dr. Mathieso» 
 ©f the death, by drowning, of his eldest daughter, Janet Ewing. 
 This distressing occurrence took place on the 29th of July, 1868. 
 In his enfeebled state of health it was a crushing blow to him. 
 Since her mother's death, " Tudy " had been the light of hi» 
 dwelling, and she was now woman grown, in her twenty-second 
 year. A lovely, amiable, happy creature. She had left him but 
 a few days before, in the full bloom of health, on a short visit to- 
 some friends at Cacouna. At high tide she went down to the 
 shore in company with another young lady for the purpose of 
 bathing, and a projecting rock was selected from whidi they might 
 leap into the water. Miss Mathieson was unusually cheerful and 
 sportive, and was the first to plunge, exultantly, into the wave. 
 IShe leaped into Eternity ! for she sank to rise uo more, Wheu 
 
 ■^ 
 
>< 
 
 PARISH WORK AND DOMESTIC AFFLICTION. 
 
 99 
 
 assistance arrived it was too late. Life was extinct. The fcelin<»s 
 of her aged father may be imagined, but no language could 
 express them, and we search in vain i\n any written record of 
 emotions that were too deep for utterance. 
 
 4^- 
 
 
>^ 
 
 CHAPTER SEVENTH. 
 
 REMINISCENCES. MR. BETHUNE. BISnOP STRACIIAN. MESSRS, 
 SPARK, HARKNESS, CONNELL. ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH. 
 
 It was in the beginning of the year 18-18 that the Presbyterian, 
 a monthly magazine published by the lay Association of Mon- 
 treal in the interests of the church, was first began. Dr. Mathieson 
 was d .ring its earlier years a frequent contributor to its columns. 
 In the first number of it there is a long letter, signed N. M. I. L. 
 {nemo me impune lacessif) evidently penned by the subject of our 
 biography, in which are detailed a number of useful and interest- 
 ing fragments of history. To this the Doctor himself referred us 
 for the information that he was possessed of regarding the Rev. 
 John Bethune, who was instrumental in organizing the first Pres- 
 byterian Congregation in Montreal, that of St. Gabriel's, in the 
 year 1786. The Church of St. Gabriel, however, was not erected 
 until 1792. It was the first Presbyterian Church erected in 
 British North America, and is still in a good state of repair. For 
 some time prior to its erection the congregation were permitted to 
 worship in the old Roman Catholic Church belonging to the 
 Recollet Fathers, which stood, until about two years ago, on the 
 
 *■ 
 
* 
 
 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 101 
 
 corner of Notro Dame and St. Ilolcn-streets. This was kind of 
 the llccollet Fathers, and it shewed their wisdom. From that day 
 to this the Catholics and Protestants of Montreal have lived 
 together on the best of terms, and if occasional brawls liave dis- 
 turbed the streets, these have been caused by inconsiderate manifes- 
 tations of over much zeal on the part of individuals, not from a 
 sectarian spirit in the Churches. The Presbyterians of the time 
 appreciated the courtesy of the priests, and in testimony of their 
 gratitude presented thorn with a box of candles, 56 lbs., at 8d.,and 
 two hogsheads of Spanish wine containing 60 odd gallons each, 
 amounting in all to £14.2.4. Mr. Bothune remained little more 
 than a year in Montreal, and then removed to Williamstown, where 
 he oflSciated till the day of his death, in 1815. Through his 
 instrduiontality churches were erected at Lancaster, Williamstown, 
 Charlottenburgh, Martintown and Cornwall, in each of which he 
 statedly preached. Ho was a man of great zeal and piety, deser- 
 vedly esteemed by all who knew him, and whose name is still 
 cherished in sacred remenjbrance by the descendants of those to 
 whom he ministered.. His remains lie interred in the grave-yard of 
 Williamstown under a handsome monument that was erected to his 
 memory by his six sons. Two of these sons took orders in the 
 Church of England, and arc still living, and both highly 
 respected : the one, the very lleverend John Bethune, D.D., is 
 Dean of Montreal; the other, thellight Reverend A. N. Bethune, 
 D. D., &c., is Bishop of Toronto. The following extract from* a 
 letter of Dr. Mathieson's, dated April, 1864, has reference to 
 the first Bishop of Toronto, the late Hon. and Right Rev. John 
 Strachan, without doubt the most influential Scotchman who ever 
 
 ^ 
 
* 
 
 102 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 set foot in Canada, one who wielded more power in his day than 
 any other individual in the Province did before or since, and whose 
 noblest monument to-day, is the Church of England in the Province 
 of Ontario. When he first joined it he was one of a mere handful 
 of Anglic in ministers. By sheer force of character he became 
 their chief, and lived to witness his wide bishopric divided into 
 three Sees with three hundred ministers, while be himself had con- 
 ferred episcopal orders on no less than one hundred and sixty-si:: 
 candidates. In giving the following passage the reader is asked to 
 remember that the reference is to a titue when Dr. Strachan swayed 
 a political sceptre, when politics ran high, and when party feeling 
 was strong. " Tt was in 1827 tliat our church began to be stirred 
 into life. Dr. Strachan's famous ' Ecclesiastical Chart for the Pro- 
 vince of Upper Canada' was one of the chief means of awakening 
 it from slumber. His statements were manifestly so untrue as to 
 require severe castigation : prose and poetry, ridicule and argument 
 were pressed into the subject, and never was there such zeal dis- 
 played for the extension of our church and securing its legitimate 
 privileges, unless it was when the late Mr. Hagerman made a rude 
 attack on Scotchmen and their church in parliament, and aroused 
 their indignation from Gaspo to Huron. Mr. Morris' mission 
 to England was the result. 
 
 " Shortly after his arrival in this country Mr, Strachan wrote his 
 two famous letters to, I think, Thomas Blackwood of Montreal, in 
 which it was proposed that, if the St. Gabriel-street congregation 
 then the only Presbyterian Church in the city, would give him a 
 good salary, he would return to Scotland for ordination and become 
 their minister. 1 hav seen the letters. A notarial copy of them 
 
 ■* 
 
i^l*- 
 
 ^ 
 
 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 103 
 
 was taken. The originals were in the possession of the late Mr. 
 Ramsay, wliose house took fire and many of his papers were 
 burned. I once asked him if the Doctor's letters were saved ; he 
 gave no direct answer, but assured me there was a notarial copy of 
 them. I inferred from the hints he gave that they were lost." 
 
 Let it not be supposed that the object in publishing this statement 
 is to disparage the character of the Right Uev. prelate, deceased. Ho 
 outlived all the odium theologicum which his ohivalric zeal in sup- 
 port of his adopted church gave rise to. For him, personally, Dr. 
 Mathioson frequently expressed his high admiration, nor could it 
 be otherwise, for in many respects there was a very close resem- 
 blance of character in the two btshnps. Great plainness of speech, 
 indomitable perseverance, firmness, amounting at times to obstinacy, 
 both possessed in a marked degree. It seems important, however, 
 to establish a fact in connection with Dr. Strachan's early history, 
 concerning which doubts have been expressed in certain quarters. 
 In Mr. Fennings Taylor's * Lives of the Last Three Bishops 
 Appointed by the Crown for the Anglican Church of Canada " it is 
 stated, page 193, " When Dr. Strachan arrived in Canada he had 
 neither been confirmed by a bishop of his father's church, nor had 
 he received the commuiuon from a minister of his mother's church." 
 His mother was a member of the Scottish Relief Denomination. " In 
 fact he had by no religious act of his own become a member of any 
 religious body." 
 
 It is difficult to reconcile this statement with that of Dr. 
 Mathieson's, because, assuming that the letters spoken of were 
 written by Mr. Strachan, and we cannot conceive them to have 
 been forgeries, there is strong presumptive evidence that Mr. Stra- 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■^ 
 
^. 
 
 •* 
 
 104 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 chan must have studied theology at a Scottish University before 
 coming to Canada, otherwise, he would not have spoken of going 
 back '' /or ordination." He could not receive ordination without 
 going through the prescribed theological curriculum. Besides, the 
 fact of his having been a Scottish parish school-master affords 
 undoubted proof that he had connected himself with the Kirk of 
 Scotland, for he could not be admitted to that office without 
 sisinin"; the Confession of Faith and Formula of the Church of 
 Scotland.* This aormula is the same as is required to be signed 
 by candidates for license to preach the Gospel, and could not bo 
 honestly signed by any one who was not a member of the Established 
 Church. Thus it runs : — 
 
 I do hereby declare, that I do sincerely own and believe the whol(5 
 doctrines contained in the Confe.S3ion of Faith, approven by the Genera 
 Assemblies of this National Church, and ratified by law in the year 1690, 
 to be the truths of God : and I do own the same as the confession of 
 my faith : as likewise, I do own the purity of worship presently authorized 
 and practised in this church, and also the Presbyterian government and 
 di3cii)line now so happily established therein, andivhich, I am persuaded, 
 are founded on the Word of God and agreeable thereto : and I promise that, 
 through the grace of God, I shall firmly and constantly adhere to the same : 
 and to the utmost of my power shall, in my station, assert, maintain and 
 defend the said doctrine, worship, discipline and government of this church, 
 by Kirk-sessions, Presbyteries, Provinci;ii Synods, and General Assem- 
 blies : and that I shall in my practice, conform myself to the said worship, 
 and submit to the said discipline and government, and never endeavour, 
 directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion of the same : and I 
 promise that I shall follow no divisive courses from the present establish- 
 
 • Cook's Styles, pp. 191 :— 
 
^. 
 
 * 
 
 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 105 
 
 meat in this church, renouncing all doctrines, tenets, and opinions what- 
 Boever, contrary to, or inconsistent with, the said doctrine, worship, dis- 
 ■cipline, or government of this Church. 
 
 It is irapos.sible to conceive of a more conscience-binding 
 declaration tlaan tliis, nor does the propriety of submitting any 
 man, layman or cleric, to such a test obviously appear. It is surely 
 better not to vow than to vow and not to pay ; yet, this solemn vow 
 has been broken in innumerable instances, and we know it will be 
 broken again, by men who will Strain at a gnat, and yet swallow 
 a, variety of camels. We have no quarrel with the Bishop for joining 
 the Anglican Church, but rather with the despotic ecclesiasticism 
 which weaves around men chains as complicated as the spider's airy 
 web : and quite as weak. If it is needful to swear at all, the power 
 that binds should have power to release, or, in some other mode, 
 there should be devised a way of escape for all such as from con- 
 scientious motives wish to avail themselves of it. But this is by 
 the way — our correspondent proceeds to say : — 
 
 " Doc;or Spark I never saw ; ho was removed from his 
 -earthly labours before I came to the country. His widow, who 
 afterwards married a Doctor Montgomerie, gave me several of his 
 sermons in manuscript ; from these, and the respect in which he 
 was held by his people, the impression I have of him is that he was 
 a man of considerable learning, incliued to literature, a correct 
 writer, a grave divine, distinguished for his good sense more than 
 originality, for his clear statements of truth more than the brilliant 
 corruscations of genius. He was reported to be Arminian in his 
 theology. Ho died suddenly on Sabbith afternoon, having 
 preached in the forenoon from Grouesis xiv, 2-1 : " See that 
 
 ■^ 
 
■^ 
 
 106 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 I 
 
 ye fall not out by the way," in which it was thought iheve 
 were some coincident allusions to his untinioly separation from his 
 flock. If you can acquire a copy of the " Christian Examiner" for 
 1837 you will there find a valuable and ably written memoir of 
 Doctor Spark, from the pen of his intimate friend, the late Doctor 
 Daniel Wilkie of Quebec, He was succeeded in St. Andrew's Church, 
 Quebec, by Doctor Harkness, in the year 1820. Harkness w»s 
 for some time master in the Aeadem^ at Ayr j an open-hearted, 
 generous fellow, but passionate and fearless, who often violated the 
 rules of propriety and decorum when he was aroused. He was a 
 great favourite with Lord Dnlhousie, and a frequent guest at the 
 Castle. His Lordsliip, while he was Governor General of Canada, 
 visited Scotland in 1824, when I renieuiber havirtg met him, and 
 heard him speak, with many culogiums, of Harkness, but lamenting 
 his fonrdnoss for card-playing and his passionate outbreaks. During 
 his ministry in Quebec a burying-ground had been purchased by 
 Protestants of all denominations, iind, of the proprietors, I have 
 been told, the Scotch were the most numerous. A pious fervour 
 awoke the zeal of the Episcopalians; they thought it drcadfu) 
 to lie in unconsecrated ground. The prospect of receiving the fees of 
 interments perhaps animated the roli.|,ious fervour af ih? clergy, and 
 led them to apply to Sir James Kempt, then Governor General, for 
 leave to consecrate the ground. Aware of what had occurred at 
 Kingston, a short time before, Doctor Harkness was determined to 
 prpservo the rights of his people. About the consecration of the 
 l^rouud he was indifferent, but he would not allow fees to be exacted 
 fronj the nunnbers of his congregation for the burial of their dead. 
 Taking with tiim such documents as he thought necessary for the 
 
 * 
 
REMINISCENCES. 
 
 107 
 
 ■* 
 
 vindication of their cluimg, he went to the Cistlo, obtained an 
 audience nt" the Governor, and laid before liini the c:ise, urging 
 warmly His Excellency's acquiescence with his views. Sir James 
 would not look throui^h the sanwj spectacles, but accused llarkness 
 of bigotry and intolerance ; the latter got angry and retorted 
 bitterly and in uncourtly terms. The Governor felt insulted 
 and rebu<ed the Doctor for his want of courtesy. llarkness shook 
 his fist in his face, telling him he cared not for his approval and 
 that he would carry the matter ' to the foot of the throne j ' adding, 
 you will not hear me, but your master will. The Aid-de camps 
 alarmed, left the room, HarknesS) gathering up his papers, put his 
 hat, which he held in 1 is hand, on his head. Indignant at his 
 incivility Sir James said, ' Doctor llarkness, you might at least have/ 
 been polite enough to have kept off your hat in my presence.' Off 
 went the hat, and, bowing to the very ground, the Doctor replied; 
 * I will be as polite as you please, Sir James,' and, thrice repealing 
 the action and the words, concluded with the caution,—' Take 
 care what you do, I carry these papers to the foot of the throne.' 
 Sir James, finding that he had got into an ignoble squabble, and 
 being anxious to get out of it, asked the Doctor peremptorily what 
 it was that he wanted. ' I have told you what you would not hear/ 
 replied the enraged Doctor. ' They may consecrate their ground 
 when they please. Presbyterians will sleep as sound in consecrated 
 as in uncoiisecrated ground. It's a' ane tae Dandy. But nane o' 
 them will mutter an ill-mumbled mass o'er a Presbyterian grave and 
 ask twa dollars for the doin' o't.' The Doctor having then calmed 
 down, condescended to explanations, which the Governor acknow- 
 
 In a short time the matter was settled to 
 
 ledged to be reasonable. 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■^M 
 
i 
 
 liiiii 
 
 * 
 
 108 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 the Doctor's satisfaction, and he withdrew with the bundle of 
 papers under his arm, pointing to which, he addressed the astonished 
 Aids as he passed out : ' Now, you can consecrate the ground when 
 you like: I have got all that I want; our rights are secured.' And 
 I believe the ground, notwithstanding the burning zeal of the 
 time, remains unconsccratcd till this day." 
 
 It has already been said that Dr. Mathicson was introduced to 
 his charge in Montreal by the Rev. Archibald Connell of Martin- 
 town. Mr. Connell was a warm-hearted Highlander, then fresh 
 from the heathery hills of Argyleshire, and, being of a frank and 
 genial disposition, the Doctor and he soon beciune friends. . But, 
 sooner or later, the best of friends must part. Before ten years 
 had gone round Dr. Muthieson was called upon to preach his 
 friend's funeral sermon on the same day that he opened for 
 worship the church of Martintown, which Mr. Connell had been 
 instrumental in building. Upon a marble tablet on the church 
 wall there is a touching allusion to the occasion, penned, there is 
 reason to believe, by the Doctor; it reads as follows: — "Within 
 this edifice, erected for the worship of God, his voice was only once 
 heard proclaiming the tidings of salvation. Assembled with his 
 flock under the open canopy of heaven, to show the Lord's death, 
 they were driven by the inclemency of the day to seek shelter 
 within its unfinished walls. By a remarkable coincidence, on that 
 same day of the month — one year afterwards — his remains were 
 interred on the very spot where he then stood to distribute the sym- 
 bols of the Bread of Life, and by that solemn act, close his ministerial 
 labours." Mr. Connell was buried beneath the pulpit. He was 
 a man of genius, and in him was verified one of Shakespeare's 
 
 * 
 
V" 
 
 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 109 
 
 * 
 
 many striking truisms that " Great wit is to madness near allied." 
 He was so nervously excitable that his mind sometimes lost its 
 balance, leaving- in the minds of his friends serious apprehensions 
 for the result. " Once," says Dr. Mathieson, " on a cold winter 
 night he arrived at my liouse, from Martintown, wearied and faint 
 from his journey and long fasting. He had eaten nothing the 
 whole day, nor could we persuade him to take any food then. 
 * Make me a howl of tea, and be sure you n)ake it strong,' was 
 his only request. It was procured, and, for a short time after 
 he drank it, he raved like a maniac, and not till after he had slept 
 for some hours were his words coherent. I have also been told 
 that, after a long pedestrian excursion in Wales, he went to 
 Liverpool, called for ' a bowl of strong tea,' fancied he was way- 
 laid by enemies who sought his life, started for Scotland, and 
 exhibited some fantastic tricks on board the steamer. On arriving 
 at Glasgow he called a cab, drove straight to the college and 
 detailed to the Professor of Divinity such a catalogue of horrors 
 as nearly drove the worthy Doctor as crazy a., he was himself. 
 He was exceedingly fond of music, and played well on the fiddle- 
 Once I remember, at Martintown, while playing a fine old Highland 
 Lament, his eyes began to roll most fearfully, he seemed to gasp 
 for breath, and I had to rise and stop his strains, which were too 
 powerful for his sensitive mind to endure. A stranger one day, 
 hearing him play, stepped unbidden into his room, complimented 
 him on his skill, and requested ' a tune. ' Connell laid down his 
 fiddle, and called his servant to show ^ the imp\ident intruder^ to 
 the door. Dut he was a noble fellow whose like we have rarely 
 
 seen. 
 
 '^ 
 
*■ 
 
 110 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 Among the first proceedings of the Synod of 1831 a resolution 
 was passed, requiring the several members of the Synod to prepare 
 a report of the state of religion in their several congregations and 
 neighbourhoods, and to transmit the same to the convener of the 
 Committee on a Memorial to the General Assembly, with a view 
 to their forwarding to Scotland detailed information respecting the 
 spiritual destitution existing in Canada, and the consequent need 
 of increased ministerial labour. A majority of the ministers com- 
 plied with the mandate — some of them, ai their leisure. The 
 whok Presbytery of Glengary, however, Mr. Ketchan of Belle- 
 ville, and Dr. Harkness of Quebec, having neulected to comply, 
 were cited before the Synod and " suitably admonished." Dr. 
 Mathieson, unwilling to be ranked as a recusant, transmitted a 
 draft Report, reserving to himself the privilege of revising and 
 elaborating it a future time. This he did, and, in due course 
 prepared an exhaustive document which might have been entitled 
 a topographical, statistical, commercial and ecclesiastical history of 
 the Island of Montreal and adjacent parts, and to which was 
 appended a succint history of the congregation of St. Andrew's 
 Church, Montreal, which will form a fitting conclusion to this 
 chapter of reminiscences. 
 
 HISTORY OF ST. ANDREW'S CIItJRCII, MONTREAL. 
 ( Written in 1832.) 
 
 " The first authentic account of the congregation now forming 
 the members of St. Andrew's Church, Montreal, which I have been 
 able to obtain, is dated in November, 1804. 1 have been informed, 
 however, that for six months before that time a number of Individ- 
 
HISTORY OF ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH. 
 
 Ill 
 
 uals assembled for public worship in a large private room, under 
 the pastoral care of the Rev. Robert Easton, who had been pre- 
 viously minister of a! congregation in Hawick, * Roxburghshire, 
 in connexion with the Associate Synod in b'cotlaud. The papers 
 relative to his settlement I have not seen, nor any authentic 
 account of the probable number of the congregation at that period. 
 I am inclined to believe that they were not properly organized as 
 a religious body till the 2Qd November, 1804. On that day the 
 cono-regation met, pursuant to notice, and elected seventeen of 
 their number to be a committee for managing their affairs. In 
 January, 1805, a petition was presented in behalf of the congrega- 
 tion to the different branches of the Legislature, praying that their 
 minister might be permitted to hold a legal register of the mar- 
 riages, biptisms, and burials by him' performed. This petition 
 was refused at the time, but on what grounds I have not ascer- 
 tained. Mr. Easton obtained registers in 1815. It had been 
 the unceasing desire of the congregation from their formation, to 
 get a suitable place erected for public worship, and, though the 
 difficulties which presented themselves to this undertaking were 
 formidable to a poor and a little flock, they determined that a 
 vigorous effort should be made to accomplish their desire ; 
 accordingly, on the 1st February, 1805, a subscription was opened 
 for that purpose. Their success was such as to give them every 
 encouragement to proceed. Soon afterwards the committee 
 appointed two of their number to look out for a suitable piece of 
 ground for building a church, and were empowered to conclude a 
 
 * Tliere is reason to believe that Mr. Easton came from the Town of 
 Morpeth, instead of Hawick, as stated in the text. 
 
 *■ 
 
 •*^M 
 
*■ 
 
 ■* 
 
 112 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 purchase on bohalf of the congregation. This sub-corainittee 
 reported on the 10th of May that they had purchased two lots for 
 the sum of £180, and an annuity on the joint lives of two ladies of 
 £50, which was to be reduced to £37 10s. on the demise of one 
 or either of them. One of the annuitants is still alive, (1832). 
 
 ** One of these lots contained a good stone house, which has Bince 
 fallen into such decay that it will require to be rebuilt before it 
 can be tenantable ; the other lot, being vacant, was reserved for 
 building a church for the congregation. A few days after this 
 purchase was concluded a series of resolutions were drawn up by 
 the committee and a general meeting of the congregation called for 
 the purpose of taking the same into consideration. When the 
 committee of management was appointed it does not appear 
 that their powers were defined, nor arc there any instructions to 
 them on record ; but it is evident from the minutes that all 
 matters of minor importance were transacted by their uncontrolled 
 ofiicial power, while we must naturally infer, from the sanction of 
 the congregation which was required to the above resolutions, that 
 all matters of greater moment had to be approved by a majority of 
 the whole congregation. By one of the aforesaid resolutions the 
 cona;ren;ation declared themselves to be ' in connection with the 
 Associate Reformed Synod in Scotland, commonly called the 
 Burgher Secession.' This act, however, was never homologated 
 by that Reverend Body, and consequently fell to the ground. The 
 resolutions were indeed presented to the Synod at a meeting held 
 at Glasgow in 180G, together with a letter from the Elders and 
 Managers of the Church craving to be taken into connection with 
 the Synoa, but nothing definite was done. The Synod delayed 
 
 ■^ 
 
REMINISCENCES. 
 
 113 
 
 deciding on the said petition, and, nicanwhiiO, appointed a coni- 
 luittec of correspondence, who, it seems, never corresponded, and so 
 tlie matter was lost siii,ht of for nearly fifteen years. About 1820 
 a question arose how far, and in what manner, the congregation in 
 Montreal stood connected with the said Associate Synod, and a 
 reference was made to the Synod on the subject, but no entry was 
 found in their minutes to show whether any decision had ever been 
 come to in the matter. 
 
 " On the loth October, 1805, the foundation stone of the church 
 in St. Peter-street was laid, and the whole work finished in the 
 beginning of April, 1807, at a cost of about £1500. The walls are 
 substantially built. The dimensions arc 70 by 51 feet, without : and, 
 though a plain, it is a comfortable and commodious edifice and can 
 contain with ease 7'50 persons. Galleries were erected in 181G 
 at an expense of £400, which was borrowed for the purpose. 
 
 " Mr. Kaston's stipend, from the commencement of his ministerial 
 labours in Montreal, was £125. In 1816 it was advanced to £200, 
 and, in 1818, was further augmented to £250. In December, 
 1822, Mr. Easton proposed to resign his chaigc in eunsecjuencc of 
 the increasing infirmities of age and ill health, if a suitable provi- 
 sion was made for himself and his family. This was agreed to, and 
 a resolution carried, that steps should be immediately taken to pro- 
 cure a minister of the established Church of iScotland ' ( d none 
 else.' This being deemed too exclusive by many of the American 
 members, they withdrew altogether from the church, built a sepa- 
 rate place of worship, and have a minister from the United ^t'tates. 
 Eight or ten of the most respectable of the • American families 
 remained and are still in eunncction with theehurcli, and I mu^t iu 
 
 *■ 
 
^. 
 
 ■* 
 
 114 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATTIIKSON, D.D. 
 
 justice Ray that, in rep;nrcl for our cstahlisliinont, and attendance on 
 divine ordinances, their conduct is truly exemplary. 
 
 " In accordance with the resolution above alluded to, a letter was 
 addressed to the Rev. Dra. Chalmers and Dickson, and tlic lato 
 Mr. Andrew Tiiompson, empowerinf^ them to elect and send ou 
 an ordained minister to succeed Mr. Kaston. This letter was 
 accompanied with a bond for £200 currency "per anmim, as salary 
 No reply having been received to this letter, another was dispatched 
 on the 20th December, 1823, of similar import. Choi.c was soon 
 afterwards made of Mr. John Burns, A.M., who was ordained by 
 the Presliytery of Kdinl.urgh, and arrived in IMontreal on the 
 I'ourth of July, 1824. i\lr. Easton then formally resigned and 
 retired on an annuity of £150, payable from thefunds of the Church, 
 which sum lie continued to receive till liis death, which took place 
 in May, 1831. On the 9th July, 1824, the committee of arrange- 
 ments, with the consent of tlie congregation, made an oflScial decla- 
 ration that they were 'christians in connexion with the established 
 Church of kScotland, under the ministry of the Rev. John Burns,' 
 to whom they promised all due obedience, encouragement and sup- 
 port in the Lord. This document, whii h is entered in the books 
 of the committee of management and also of the session, may be 
 considered as the basis of the present constitution of the Church 
 which, however, is not very very definite. * About the same time 
 
 * At a inoeiing of tbe congregaiion held on the 12lh of M.ty, 1835, a 
 well-digfsted constitution and code of hiws was adopted for the manage- 
 ment of its iiflairs. In 1849 the Congivgalion received an Act of lucorpo- 
 ratiun (12 Vict, Cap. 154). In the folhiwing year tlie constitution was 
 revised and remodelled, and was adopted, in lernis of the Acl, on tiie 
 
 ■4- 
 
REMINISCENCES. 
 
 115 
 
 ■* 
 
 it was agreed to stylo the church and congregation by the namcol 
 St. Andrew's. 
 
 " jMr, Burns continued minister of St. Andrew's Church for 
 nearly two years, when, having suceec led to some landed property 
 in Scotland, he resigned his charge on the 10th of May, 182G, and 
 returned to his native country, A congregational meeting was 
 called to receive his resignation, when, in compliment to him for the 
 fidelity with which he had laboured among them, they delegated to 
 him power and authority to elect and send out a minister of the 
 Church of Scotland to be their pastor. This power was accom- 
 panied with a bond for £250 salary. On the Sotii September fol- 
 lowing, he appointed to the office Alexander Mathieson, A.M., u 
 
 llth March, 1851. It providea for an annual meeting of the congregatioa 
 to be held on the 25lh December, for the purpose of receiving a statement 
 of all accounts and financial matters connected with the cliurch. On the 
 death or removal of the minister a meeting of the proprietors, pew-holdcrg, 
 and members of the church is convened, williin eiglit days from the occur- 
 rence of the vacancy, wlien a committee of nine members in full commu- 
 nion is elected with full powers to take such steps as to them may seem 
 best adapted for speedily obtaining a minister. By article I.of tiie consti- 
 tution the congregation declare their adliercnce to the standards, form ol 
 Worship, and government of the Church of Scotland. By the 18th Article 
 the jurisdictien of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in 
 connection with the Church of Scotland is recognised. It being expressly 
 understood, however, that no act or declaration of the said Synod shall 
 Contravene Article I. of these By-laws The last article provides that every 
 person, pew-holder or member, proprietor or sitter, shall subscribe the 
 constitution before they can be competent to elect or be elected to any 
 
 office. 
 
 *l<- 
 
 ■•J* 
 
IIG 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATHIESON^ B.D. 
 
 licentiate of the Presbytery of Dumbarton, and residing within its 
 bounds.'' 
 
 It is not necessary to continue the history of St. Andrew's con- 
 gregation furtlier than to state that, liaving greatly increased in 
 numbers and in wealth, steps were tiken in 1818 for the erection of 
 a new church. The finest site in the city was secured, on the brow 
 of Beaver Hall Hill, where was reared the finest specimen of tcclesi- 
 astical architecture hitherto attempted in Canada. The Cathe- 
 dral of Salisbury, which is perhaps the most beautiful of its order 
 in England, furiiished the model from which Messrs. Tate and 
 Smith, the architects, designed this admirable structure. They 
 also superintended its construction, and engrafted, as it were, on 
 this young colony hallowed associations and pleasing memories of 
 the old world. The church was completed at a cost of about 
 SG-4,000, and was opened for worship on the 12th of January, 
 1851. 
 
 On Saturday evening, the 23rd of October, 18G9, the choir met 
 in St. Andrew's Church as usual for practice. On their leaving, the 
 customary precautions were observed in regard to the fires and gas- 
 lights, and by the time they had severally reached their homes 
 a Sabbath's silence reigned in the streets of the city, unbroken, 
 save by the howling of the wind, which blew in fitful gusts from 
 the west. 
 
 In the gray dawn of the morning the great bell of the Cathedral 
 tolled the alarm, and the wild cry of " Fire 1" "fire!" awoke the 
 citizens from thoh' slumbers. Then there was a rushing to and 
 fro of lielmeted men, hasting to the rescue with reel and liose, with 
 huok and ladder, each vying with the other to be the first at the 
 
REMINISCENCES. 
 
 117 
 
 scene of the conflagration, prepared to brave danger and death in 
 their efforts to stay the devastation. But the devouring clement had 
 ah'cady the mosery. Soon the whole of the interior was consumed ; 
 the roof fell ir with a tremendous crash ; the insutii.blo flames shot 
 up to the skies ; they licked the gothic arches of the doors and 
 windows; they envelop'ul the tall steeple as with a winding sheet 
 of fire, and illunintd the whole heavens with a lurid blaze of light. 
 The Baptist Church, in the immediate vicinity, was several times 
 in imminent danger, and was only saved from destruction by the 
 heroic efforts of the tJie brijiade. The roof of the tJniversalist 
 Church, inuncdiutcly opposite, ignited, and was totally consumed. 
 Many members of the congregation, who had been uninformed of 
 the disaster, repaired on the Sabbath morning to " the place where 
 prayer was wont to be made," and found it a mass of smoking 
 ruins. Nothing remained of their "beautiful house" but the 
 blackened walls. Fortunately for the .congregation, the church 
 was amply insured. 
 
 A costly and beautiful n)emorial window, which had been but two 
 weeks before placed in the Church, in memory of the late Misa 
 Mathicson, by the ladies of the congregation, perished in the gen- 
 eral conflagration. 
 
 The revenues of St. Andrew's Church from pew rents, dona- 
 tions and weekly collections amounted in 1832 to £450. In 
 18G9 the congregation contributed for all purposes connected with 
 the church and college the sum of 814,03(1, a sufficient indica- 
 tion of their material prosperity. 'J'he general statistics of the 
 congregation for the same years are, as nearly as can now be 
 ascertained, as follows : 
 
.»J. 
 
 118 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 1832. 
 
 1869. 
 
 1,500 
 
 1,300 
 
 250 
 
 .600 
 
 60 
 
 304 
 
 7 
 
 31 
 
 250 
 
 3,600 
 
 Probnblo number of individuals i 
 belonging to tlie Congregatio" J ' ' 
 
 Number on communion roll 
 
 Number of Sabbatli-school scholars ♦. 
 Number of Sabbath-school teachers. . , 
 
 Amount of Stipend paid . . : , 
 
 There were in Montreal, in 1832, but two churches in connection 
 with the Church of Scotland, embracing 3,14:4 souls. The corres- 
 ponding numbers now are six churches and 4,477 adherents. 
 
 The population of the city when Dr. Mathieson arrived, in 1827, 
 was 22,000. Now it is 150,000. 
 
 * Including the Bible Class. 
 

 *■ 
 
 ■^ 
 
 CHAPTER EIGHTH. 
 
 DR. MATIIIESON AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 By this tiiiic ^lie reader has formed for Into olf at least a gen- 
 eral and tolerably distinct idea of what sort of man Dr. Muthieson 
 •was in society, and as the minister of St. Andrew's congregation. 
 He will have discovered the weak points of his character, at all 
 events, no great pains have been taken to conceal them. Iln 
 must have looked with jaundiced eyes, or, through a distorted 
 medium, who has not also found redeeming points in his nature 
 sufficient to warrant him in saying : 
 
 " He was a man, take him for all in all 
 I shall not look upon his like again." 
 
 In the Doctor's own words — already quoted as applied to another 
 
 — " No man is all sinful or all holy, all morally base or truly 
 
 great." The most luminous orb in the natural heavens, which 
 
 dazzles and blinds the beholder with its brightness and glory, when 
 
 subjected to the scrutinizing observation of the physicist is seen to 
 
 have spots on its surface, and, while human naturo remains as at 
 
 present constituted, wc shall never want proof that man was made 
 
 " a little lower than the angels. " 
 
 •* 
 
*■ 
 
 ■* 
 
 120 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 To proscut a faithful picture of Dr. Mathieson as n member of 
 the Synod, to describe his appearances, to define his principles of 
 church polity, to estimate the influence which he exerted upon 
 others, has from the commencement of this sketch been regarded 
 by us as tliat to which should be attached the highest value, and 
 in a proportionate degr e has this part of the work loomed out in 
 the distance, great, dilficult, almost unapproachable. To be true 
 to nature, the b^ain that conceives the portraiture must be clearer 
 and more fertile, the hand that wields the brush must be steadier 
 and more skilful than his whose chief part in these* preceding 
 pages has been the easy and congenial task of selecting and cull- 
 ing the flowers that lay thickly strewn around his path. But that 
 from which we thus confessedly had shrunk, another has done 
 for us, and this estimate of the B.ctor's character is the more 
 valuable that it comes from a clergyman who did not always agree 
 with the Doctor in the church courts, and who not unfrequently 
 fell under his lash. Without note, comment, or reservation, we 
 thankfully accept this opportune contribution, and endorse every 
 word of it — premising only that our good friend in his prefatory 
 remarks, overlooked the fact that what he modestly pleads as an 
 apology for his impromptu letter was precisely the kind of mental 
 discipline that he stood in need of. 
 
 " I know uo one who courted popularity, for its own sake, loss 
 tlinn Dr. Mathieson did. Of course, like all men, beloved power 
 and influence, but he would never condescend to acquire it by 
 trimming his sails to the popular breeze. lie was too outspoken, 
 and cared too little to conciliate those who were opposed to him in 
 
 * 
 
^- 
 
 DR. MATHIESON AS A MEMBER OP SYNOD. 
 
 121 
 
 opinion, to have his name associated with triumphant votes. Hence 
 he was more frequently counted with the minority. 
 
 " No face was more radiant than his, however, when he felt that 
 he was in sympathy with the Synod, as a whole; as for instance, 
 always, when reading and commonting upon the annual report of 
 the Widows' Fund, his smile was most benignant, and his eye was 
 filled with kindly warmth. The same was true of his treatment 
 of all persons who were in accord with his views — when at any 
 time they addressed the Synod. It was really a temptation to one 
 •to coincide with him — even against better judgment and convic- 
 tion — to obtain a hearty recognition from him. But woe to him 
 that roused the Doctor's wrath ! And this was not hard to do. 
 Let the slightest symptom of departure from what he thought the 
 ■constitutional principles and practice of the Ciuirch of Scotland be 
 shown and the Doctor's agitated countenance and restless attitude 
 became quite a study. He seemed like a proud steed held in check 
 with the bi'iUo — ' c!i imping his iron curb.' Very frequently he 
 would not wait until the speaker sat down to express his protest 
 against anything that seemed to him in the remotest way to argue 
 contempt of, or indlifjronco to, the p u'ont church ; but would inter- 
 rupt him in spite of all rules and cries of ' order !' And, when 
 he rose iy such circumstanoos, the hearts of common disputants 
 quailed before him. Ilis lips firmly compressed, betokening the 
 resolution of his nature, indignation seated on his brow, and his 
 eyes flashing forth scornful tire — particularly if the opponent hap- 
 pened to be in the Doctor's estimation, >/oniifj and inexperienced^ 
 wid therefore presaniptaoHs — this was enough to bear the unlucky 
 
 wight to the ground ; so that it mattered not that the Doctor did 
 
 Q 
 
 *• 
 
*" 
 
 122 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MAIIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 not find free utterance. Like the full bottle, the few word? that 
 came out of his lips in spurts, being clenched by the determined 
 force with which the stuff was brought to t!ie ground, were more 
 powerfully c'oqucnt and effective than full flowing periods docked 
 out in theordlnury dress of rhetoric, but whicli want the subjective 
 reality and earnestness that characterized the Doctor. 
 
 '* Dr. Matliicson did not shine in debate. lie was governed 
 in his views more by instinct and feeling rather than by a 
 strict acquiescence with the laws and requirements of the 
 Church of Cinada, and thus had to speak everything that 
 occurred to him, when it did so occur, whether it was in order 
 to do so or not, sometimes rising half a dozon times in a single 
 debate. Nevertheless he was very influential, though not pos- 
 sessing the quilities needful in a leader. llis personal presence 
 and bearing were niUL-h in his favour — men of meaner exterior 
 felt themselves at a disadvantage when arrayed in opposition to 
 him. Of late years, too, the remembrance of his long and 
 f;iithful services added weight to his views, while his well-known 
 loyalty to the church gave liim a hold on the sympathies of all 
 who had a spark of chivalry in their nature, so that even those 
 whom he took to task in no honeyed words could not help respect- 
 ing him as an earnest, honest man. It cannot be doubtad that all 
 through our church's history his views helped to mould the legis- 
 lation of tho church if they did not control it — giving to it a 
 conservative tone ; so that on the whole, the Synod was the arena 
 on which he appeared to greatest advantage." 
 
 To the above apposite and comprehensive sketch we have nothing 
 to udd^ und it only remains to glean from tho minutee of Synod a 
 
* 
 
 ■^ 
 
 DR. MATHIESON AS A MKMUlilll OF SYNOD. 
 
 123 
 
 few of the more prominent subjects of discussion that arose in the 
 churcli during the thirtyeiu;lit years in which Doctor Matluoson 
 was a member of the Court. During tluvt time we venture to say 
 thut no one man ever approached him in the number of dissents, 
 protests and appeals entjrcd in liis name. In fact, he was never 
 known to submit to an adverse vote upon an important question 
 without insisting on thi«^)rit;iY/7/r', which was usually recorded in this 
 way. " Against this decision Mr. Alexander Mathieson entered his 
 dissent for reasons to be given in due time, taking instruments in 
 the clerk's hands and craving extracts." Tills " taking instru- 
 ments" simply means the handing the clerk the sum of one shilling 
 for every protest taken, a part which the Doctor used to perform with 
 great gusto, and with such a pr.-ssiirc of the thumb as almost to 
 leave the impress of the coin on the tabl'V "Craving extracts" 
 implies tv demand for a copy of such part of the proceedings as may 
 be asked for, and which is furnished on payment of the usual fee. 
 Whether it was the case of an indivilual minister or of a body 
 of ministers belonging to another denomination that knocked at the 
 door of the Kirk in C in:»d i, seeking admittance, it seemed to be 
 the Doctor's peculiar prerogative to make sure that their declara- 
 tion of adherence to the Confession of Faith and Formula lacked 
 i!othing of the minutest punctilio. If it were a minister of the 
 Church of* Scotland who had come to Canada asking to be 
 " received" he was met on the threshold by the Doctor, insisting 
 upon a sight of his " Presbyterial certificate." In this regard the 
 Doctor was not exceeded by the old parish minister, who emphati- 
 cally declared thit he would not have allowed the Apostle I'aul 
 himself to preach in his pulpit " until he had produced his Prosby- 
 
 * 
 
124 
 
 LIFE OP ALKXANDEK MATHTESON, I).D. 
 
 ter.al ccrtificito." It has already been siid that at the time of the 
 formation of our Synod, in 1831, there existed in Canada a body 
 of Presbyterians, knoNvii as tlie "United Synod of Upper Canada," 
 composed chiefly of scceders. Negotiations were early commenced 
 with a view to their joininjj; the Synod in connection with tlu; 
 Church of Scotland. By reason of the opposition, however, of 
 the party who acknowledged Doctor Mathieso'n as their leader and 
 mouthpiece this union was delayed until the year 1840, when, in 
 amendment to the resolution to receive the members of the sa: ^ 
 Synod, it was moved by Doctor Mathieson that a committee be 
 appointed to confer with the United Synod and to report on the 
 cvide»'ce laid before them of the ministerial character, the literary 
 acquirements, (tnd the soinuhicss in the faith of these dissenting 
 brethren, &e., &e. After long reasoning the motion was carried 
 by tl\irty-five, to tlnve, Doctor Mathieson as usual entering his 
 dissent, '' for reasons then given in, and for other reasons whicli he 
 may givt' in in (bie time." It is but I'iglit to add that the satis- 
 faction of having done '' his duty" was sufficient to console tlie 
 Doctor under such circumstances, and that his subsequent inter- 
 course with the brethren was always kindly and courteous'. 
 
 It was in 183-1 that Doctor Mathieson overtured the Synod to 
 take into consideration the propriety of establishing public schools 
 in Canada after the manner and pattern of the Scottif^h parochial 
 schools, but, if the proposal was seriously entertained by the 
 Synod at the time, it does not apjjcar to have led to any practical 
 results. From the year 1831 up to 1840 the adjustment of tlie 
 Clergy lies rves of Canada \SAi>\\\(iqacest'i() vrxdtri which occupied by 
 far tlio largest portion of the time and deliberations of the Synod. 
 
*■ 
 
 DR. MATJIIESON AS A MEMBEll OF SYNOD. 
 
 121 
 
 iy 
 
 This was a subject tliat iiffordod Doctor iMathieson full scope for 
 displaying to good advantage the determination and indomitable 
 perseverance of his nature. It was not a favour that his Church was 
 seeking — it was " a right' that was to be demanded and, if need 
 be, fought for to the death. Although the chief credit must be 
 awarded to the late lion. William Morris for the ultimate recoL'- 
 nition of the claini» of this Church to an equal share in the 
 Reserves with the Church of England, upon the ground that in 
 terms of the treaty of union between England and Scotland the 
 one Colonial Church had as good a right to he designated an 
 Established Church as the other, there can be no doubt that 
 Doctor Mathiesnn's unwearied efforts were largely conducive to the 
 settlement of the question. The correspondence wliich during these 
 years he maintained with the Harl of Durlnun, Lord Glenel-, 
 Sir George Grey and of hrr officials of Her Majesty's Imperial Gov- 
 ernient, as well as with the Governors General of Canada, would of 
 itself fill a volume, and sufficiently attest the Doctor's claim on the 
 gratitude of the whole church. The only /'cr, however, that the 
 Doctor received for these services, so far as we know, was the 
 honourable, but somewhat onerous, appointment to a scat on the 
 Board for the management of the Fund which his energy had 
 been instrumental in creating: a position that he held till the 
 close of hi.= life, and to the duties of which he always applied him- 
 self with exemplary zeal and fidelity. 
 
 That period in the history of the Church con)monly known as 
 " the Disruption," and which culniinaled in 184-i by tl with- 
 drawal of twenty-four ministers who. at that time declared their 
 sympathies with the Free Protesting Church of Scotland, and 
 
 ^ 
 
I>^- 
 
 ■*h 
 
 126 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 erected themselves into a separate coinmunion, was the cause of a 
 piiinful unci life-Ion^ rcp;rct to the Doctor, who never could for>iivo 
 " the Frees" for their defection from the A aid Mother Kirk which 
 lie himself loved so well. 
 
 The disruption of the Church of Canada followed, as an inevit- 
 able consequence, the disruption in Scotland. There are those 
 who maintain that whatever cause there was for the division that 
 took, place in Scotland there was none in Gamidu. If patronage 
 was a grievance there, it never existed in Canad i. If it was wrong 
 for the civil power to intermeddle with ccclesiastio policy, or 
 intnrfore with its jurisdiction, such exorcise of the secular pre- 
 rogative was iniknown in Canada. Why shouhl a church thu3 
 happily free from these creative elements of discord seek to bo 
 mixed up in aquarrel not of their own making, and to inakesacrificos 
 for principles which could have no bearing on their own practice 
 and procedures? After a lapse of six and twenty years it is easy 
 and natural to argue after that fashion, but the fallacy involved is 
 none the less apparent. " Ccelnm non animnm mutant qui trans 
 mare ciirrinit.'-^^' Wiien it shall become a law of nature for 
 a mother to forget her child, or the child its mother, then will the 
 withholding of sympathy bo accounted a virtue. The disruption 
 in Canada was purely a matter of .sympathy, the avowal of which, 
 on cither hand, became tantamount to an espousal of the cause. 
 If wo say it was uncalled for, we stultify the men who were the 
 chief actors in it, and tliat we do not wish to do. More than that, 
 we can afford now, to say, " it was all for the best." Bat these were 
 
 • Tliey who cross the sea change their sky but not their affections. 
 
 -^ 
 
DR. MATIIIESON AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 127 
 
 stormy tlnys in the Synod, from the third to the tenth of July, 1844, 
 
 ^vhcn it was sought to define the rchitions that did, or shoiiJd^ 
 
 exist been tlic Presbyterinn Church in Canada and tl»o Churcli of 
 
 Scotland. By some it was thou^lit a divi.slo!i would be obviated, 
 
 without the compromise of principle, by simply dropping tlie words, 
 
 from the dcsij^nation of the Church, " in connection with the Church 
 
 of iScothind." Doctor Matliieson would never consent to that, but 
 
 gave in i\ prota^t, onbehalfof hinisclf and certain others, to the effect 
 
 " that their taking part in the discussion should not be held as an 
 
 admission on their part that such discussion was not in its nature 
 
 unconstitutional, incompetent, or ultra vires, and, in particular, that 
 
 their so taking part and voting should not invalidate their right to 
 
 remain and continue to be the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of 
 
 Canada, in connection with the Church of Scotland, and to enjoy 
 
 all the privileges belonging to the saine> The Doctor's sentiments 
 
 prevailed, and without having altered its designation the Synod 
 
 adjourned, to meet again on the 18th of Scptcml'cr, which day it 
 
 accordingly met, minus the nineteen ministers and eighteen ciders 
 
 who had given their adherence to the protest and dissent of Mr. 
 
 Bayne, of Gait, who had previously moved a resolution that the 
 
 obnoxious words should be struck out, and that the Church, 
 
 thenceforth, should be designated the Prcshijtcrian Church of 
 
 Canada. 
 
 In all the subsequent missionary and benevolent operations 
 of the church, Doctor Mathieson's counsels and co-operation were 
 sought and freely tendered. He was the principal promoter, and, 
 for many years, the active convener of the French Mission Com- 
 mittee. Uo was a member of the oommittee for the managemont 
 
^. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 128 
 
 LrPI'] OF ALKX.VNDEll MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 of tho Ministers' Widows' atnlOrplnns' Fund from itsoommoncc- 
 incnt., and was its chairinaii and guiding spirit as long as ho lived. 
 At the foundation of Queen's College, in 18 10, Doctor Mathie.son 
 was among the first to bo named a trustee, and, during the thirty 
 years in which ho was a member of tho Board, no ono was more 
 regular in attending its meetings, nor moro earnest in promoting tho 
 best interests of tho College. In consequence of the unhnppy 
 suit in the Court of Chancery whieli followed the removal of a pro- 
 fessor from tho College, in 18G-1, Doctor Mathieson's name obtained 
 a wide celebrity, during several years, in law circles, both as defen- 
 dant and plaintilF, in the actions of" Wier versus Mathieson," and 
 " Mathieson versus Wier," the several pleadings and judgments in 
 which were regarded by the profession witii peeuliir interest, as 
 involving an important precedent in dotjrmining whether the pro- 
 fessor's tenure of office was, ad vUim aat cii/p iin, or, during the 
 pleasure only of those who appointed him. The decree of Chancery 
 affirmed that the professor had been improperly " removed," and that 
 the trustees consenting thereto were personally liable for the costs 
 incurred in the case. In May, 18G5, Doctor Mathieson thus refers 
 to the decision: " you have heard the decree of Chancery amercuig 
 individuals in costs, Doctor Urquhart and I have resolved to go to 
 jail rather than submit to such an iniquitous judgment. I have 
 no hope that our appeal on tho main question will be successful, 
 whatever bo the after proceedings; but, that a body of men 
 gratuitously discharging an important duty ami acting froni tho 
 conscientious conviction of saving the Institution from ruin, and' 
 without a particle of ill-will to the dismissed, should be thus dealt 
 with ia an outrageous violation of common sense ; but I hope we I 
 
 I 
 
*■ 
 
 DR. MATniESON AS A MEMBEll OP SYNOD. 
 
 129 
 
 * 
 
 shall all at least be " Marry .Virtyrs." In tho Cou of Error 
 and Appa il, to which Lho case was carrknl, the decree was reversed, 
 and tho Doctor becauio jubilant as tho visions of prison doors and 
 grated windows vanished from his imasjination. 
 
 There was no duty ever assigned to Dr. Mathieson that he dis- 
 charp;od with more satisfactii)n to hiins^ilf and credit to tho Church 
 than the visit which he p\id to the churches in the Maritime Pro- 
 vinces, as a delegate from the Canadian Synod, in the year 1855. He 
 returned from that visit impressed with the depth and solemnity of 
 the piety that pervaded the various congregations with wliicli he 
 was brought into contact, and which reminded him of the religious 
 character of the rural parishes of his loved native land. From an 
 admirable report* of the intercourse he then had with the brethren 
 of Nova Scotia the following extract may be given : — 
 
 " Your deputation met with the kindest reception from the lay 
 members of the congregations of Halifax, and, indeed, wherever 
 they went, while the Synod welcomed them with joy, as a prelude 
 to more frequent intercourse and co-operation, and invited them to 
 take seats as msmbers of the court, and a part in all its delibera- 
 tions, after having expressed in the warmest terms, through the 
 Moderator, ' gratitude to the Church of Scotland in Canada for 
 having sent a deputation of their number to them, and to the 
 members of the deputation themsalvas for executing the commis- 
 sion, and coming from so great a distance to visit the:n.' Havin^ 
 sojourned a few days at Halifax we proceeded to Pictou, stayin" 
 one day at Truro, around which the country spreads out in fertile 
 
130 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 vales, watered by fine streams. On Sabbath the pulpit at Pictou wa» 
 supplied by 3Ir. McKid, and at Roger's Hill by Dr. Mathieson. 
 Large and attentive audiences were assembled in both places. In 
 the evening Dr. Mathieson preached to a large congregation in 
 the Rev. Mr. Bain's church, reciprocating the kind feelings with 
 which your deputation was invariably received by their United 
 Presbyterian brethren ; on Monday, took part in a very interest- 
 ing missionary meeting in Mr. B lin's Church, and listened with 
 much pleasure to the interesting details of their Mission in New 
 Hebrides ; on Tuesday we visited Now Glasgow, where the Rev. 
 Allan PoUok is settled over a large and flourisliing congregation. 
 It is hardly possible to speak in too strong terms of the earnest 
 missionary spirit, of their devotedness to their work, and the emi- 
 nent success of the young ministers that have been recently sent 
 from Scotland to fill the deserted pulpits of Nova Scotia. SmolI- 
 grass, Sprott, McKay, Pollok, McLean, and Ilerdman, are names 
 that will be remembered as zealous preachers of the (Jospel of sol- 
 vation, long after they shall have passed away from the scenes of 
 their labours. 
 
 " In the afternoon we visited Mr. McOillivray, of MeLonnan's 
 Mountain. At the tinie of the Schism in \Si'i, he, only, ' faith- 
 ful among many faithless, found.' Several ministers left their charges 
 for more lucrative appointments in Scotland, or joined the Free 
 Church. Their deserted people were like sheep without a shepherd, 
 Mr. McGillivray alone remaining to watch for their spiritual 
 
 interests, and plead the cause of the Church of Scotland On 
 
 one occasion, both the scene and the circumstances were of the 
 most interesting nature, one of your deputation, being engaged to 
 
 •!<■ 
 
}• 
 
 DR. MATIIIESON AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 *■ 
 
 131 
 
 assist at the dispensation of tlio I^ord's >upper, had nearly thirty 
 ujiles to tiMvel, ho accordingly give instructions thiit the per- 
 -■>■ ' who was to convey liiiu to the ground «hould come at nine 
 o'clock A.M., hut, instead of th:it hour, he c:une at six, and 
 every moment was imp:Uient to start. We sot out at lialf-p;ist 
 nine at a rapid trot, and having driven a considerable distance, 
 found a relay of hors^^s, that greater speed might be obtained. 
 Ignorant of tiie driver's purpose, he was freijuently exhorted to 
 slacken rein ; but the only reply was wc- will be late, and another 
 admonition to the noble aniiu il to renewed speed. At length the 
 mystery of our rapid flight was unveiled. About three o'clock P.M. 
 we came to a beautiful sylvan ^pot where we found a congregation 
 of from 1500 to 2000, listening with profound attention to ' (he 
 mm who, one after another, at the call of their minister, address- 
 ed the people on the topic which had been announced for discus- 
 sion in the morning. The congregation took little notice of our 
 arrival, but observeJ the sainj riveted attention to the speakers. 
 Not a movement was made, nor a .sound heard but the wind among 
 the trees, and the voice of the speaker echoing through the deep 
 forest — a voice which in prayer was empa.ssibned fervour, chastened 
 into toiicsof reverence and deep humility. And the P.salm, Oh that 
 Psalm ! as it rose, in wild irregular notes, from two thousand voices, 
 it struck home to our hearts and christian sympathies with a p twer 
 that can never be forgotten. It was now five in the afteruDon, and 
 thus had it been with them since eleven in the morning. Previous 
 to our witnissing this interesting spectacle we confess to having 
 cherished a rooted prejudice against such systenuitizod lay instruc- 
 tions, as being fraught "with danger to tlie peace of congregations 
 
 * 
 
 ■Hlh 
 
•J" 
 
 132 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 and conducive to spiritual pride; but we canaot help thinking that 
 such patriarchs as these are invaluable helps to the Christian Min- 
 istry. In after conversation we found them to be men of the right 
 stamp.... The same devotional stillness and decorum characterized 
 all the days of their solemnities, and on the Sabbath, as the symbols 
 of the Bread of Life were spread out on rude planks, covered 
 over with linen of snowy whiteness, and surrounded by blootnin" 
 youth and gray-haired pilgrims, may we not hope that that green 
 spot in the forest was but a type of a greener spot in the vale of 
 life, where the pilgrims to the heavenly Jerusalem shall rest and 
 find themselves refreshed from the wells of salvation . . . We also 
 learned that many young men inight be found hereof a true spirit, 
 who might be induced to enter on a course of preparatory study 
 for the Ministry. Indeed, we were impressed with the conviction 
 that it is from Nova Scotia that we must look for the supply of 
 Gaelic-speaking students. The specimens you already have in 
 Queen's College do credit ti> their country and their church." 
 The recollection of this tour in the Lower Provinces was a 
 theme on which the Doctor ever delighted to dwell, and he hag 
 been heard to remark, that in all Iris journeys he was accom- 
 panied by his most valued friend, Mr. William E.lmonstone," " who 
 displayed a reverend zeal in the cause, and was apparently as 
 anxious about getting good ministers, and making suitable provision 
 for them, as he was for the proper equipment of his ships." This 
 pilgrimage continued till the last to be a green spot in the Doctor's 
 memory. 
 
 But the most characteristic of all Doctor Mathieson's appearances 
 as a meuiber of the Synod remains to bo told. In 18G0 it had 
 
 *• 
 
* 
 
 ■* 
 
 DR. MATIIIE80N AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 133 
 
 become known that these British North American colonies were to be 
 honoured by a visit from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, 
 and everywhere preparations were set on foot for giving him a 
 right loyal and hearty welcome. The Synod of the Church of 
 Scotland must join witli other corporations in presenting through 
 its Moderator an address ; and who so well fitted as '' the father 
 of the Church" to be spokesman on the august occasion ! Doctor 
 Mathieson was already an ex-Moderator. He had been elevated to 
 that dignity in 1832, and, though the procedure was an exceptional 
 one, he was now reinvested with the highest office which it was in the 
 power of the Synod to bestow, and, with him, Dr. Cook, Dr. Barclay, 
 the Clerk, Messrs. John Greenshields and Alexander Morris, were 
 appointed a committee to make all the necessary arrangements for 
 the presentation of the address. The Governor General was 
 informed by letter that the Synod had prepared an address to His 
 Royal Highness, and information was asked for in regard to the 
 arrangements that would be allowed for its presentation, and the 
 hope expressed that the ministers and elders might be invited to 
 be present. The reply of the Governor's Secretary contained these 
 words: " The address to His Royal ETigliness should be presented 
 at one of the levees which he will hold during his visit to Canada." 
 A copy of the address was next forwarded to the Governor' s Sec- 
 retary alc.^.g with the intimation that the committee would be 
 glad to receive further instructions for their guidance. " I pre- 
 sume," was the Secretary's reply, " that the Synod of the Presby- 
 terian Church of Canada may select any of the places named in 
 the Gazette of August the 1th at which levees will be held for the 
 pre3cntation of addresses." Montreal was one of the places so 
 
 ^- 
 
I ill 
 
 I 
 
 134 
 
 LIFE or ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.l>. 
 
 nnmcd, and it was resolved that the address should be presented 
 there. But as to the particular time and Ibrnialitics to be 
 observed, the committee were kept in profound and perplexing 
 ignorance. The only information they felt warranted in making 
 to the members of the Synod was, that the address would pn)/;a/>?y 
 be presented in Montreal on Monday, the 27th instant. A few 
 days after the circulation of this notice, it was generally under- 
 stood that the levee would be held in the afternoon of the 29tli. 
 It was therefore supposed that the committee might safely call a 
 meeting of ministers and elders to be held in St. Andrew's Church 
 at noon of that day. A notice to that effect was accordingly issued 
 on the 2 1st of August. Meanwhile the Sy :od clerk, Mr. Snod- 
 grass, did his best to get an audience of the Governor's Secretary, 
 between his arrival in Montreal and the 27th August, if possiibb, 
 to obtain more definite inforaiatioa as to the course of procedure 
 likely to be followed. 
 
 On making enquiry at the St. Lawrence Hall, he was told 
 that " tiie Governor's Secretary w rs taking his tea." He wrote 
 him a letter, but was coolly informed that no answer would be 
 given that night (Saturday, the 24:th.) To make matters worse, 
 it was now uiade public that the levee was to begin at eleven, 
 o'clock, forenoon, instead of in the afternoon as formerly announced 
 By this time the Moderator had beome prodigiously indig- 
 nant over tliemuddelling unsatisfactory nature of the negotiations, 
 and, accompanied by Dr. Barclay, proceeded in person to the 
 hotel, and demanded an interview of the Provincial Secretary, 
 Colonel Irvine. Ho was courteously received, but learned noth- 
 ing definite respecting the presentation of the address, but, from 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■* 
 
DR. MATIIIESON AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 135 
 
 the conversation, was led to suppose that it would be presented in 
 tlio same manner and at tlie same time as that of the Church of 
 England. The reply of the Governor's Secretary to the clerk of 
 Synod's letter of Saturday evening was put into Dr, Mathicson's 
 hand as he was departing: it was to the effect that the number of 
 addresses being so great, and the pressure such, there would not bo 
 time to ra^nl than at the levoo, but that the bearer of eich 
 address, on being presented to his Royal Highness, should hand to 
 the Prince the address with which he was cliarged, and pass on, 
 and that written answers would subsequently be sent to all 
 addresses presented. After reading this letter the two Doctors in 
 Divinitv were put to a stand as to how they should act in the caso. 
 In passing along the hall of the hotel, they opportunely met iMr. 
 Peniiifathor, the Secretary, and entered into conversition with 
 him on the subject. lie candidly admitted that he had foreseen 
 the difficulty that was likely to arise, but saw no way of counter- 
 acting it. He knew that there was no answer prepared. Dr. 
 Barclay immediately put to Iiimthe question, whether the address 
 from the Church of England was to bo read in presence of His 
 Royal Highness, and ho replied, he believed it was : when the 
 Moderator said, — " under these circumstances that from the 
 Church of Scotland could not bo presented." The situation had 
 now become a most embarrassing one. There was not a moment 
 to be lost. Immediately it was resolved to address a letter to His 
 Grace the Duke of Newcastle, of which the following is a copy> 
 and such of the members of the committee as were nigh were hast" 
 ily convened : 
 
 *■ 
 
^ 
 
 136 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 " Montreal, 27th August, 1860. 
 
 " My Lord Duke, — 
 
 " I have dutifully to acknowledgo the receipt, through the Gov- 
 ernor General's Secretary, of the notification, that it is His Royal 
 Hii:,hness' pleasure to receive the address of the Church of Scot- 
 land from myself as the bearer of it, but not to be read or replied 
 to at the time. Having been informed that a different course is to 
 be followed in the reception of the address from the sister Church 
 of England, I bog very respectfully to represent to your Grace, 
 that, as a branch of the established Churches of the Empire, the 
 Church of Scotland in Canada is, in the eye of the law, constitu- 
 tionally on a footing of equality with th^ Church of Rngl md in 
 this Province, and tint whatever privileges are possessed by the 
 one church belong of right to the other. 
 
 " Of course, as individuals, the members of the deputation are 
 proud of the opportunity of expressing, in any way that may be 
 pointed out to them, their loyalty to the Crown and their respect 
 for His Royal Highness, but, as representing the Church of Scot- 
 land in Canada, their consenting to occupy a position of inferiori- 
 ty to that accorded to the sister Church of England, on so inter- 
 esting an occasion as the present, would be received with extreme 
 suspicion by the large and respectable body on whose behalf they 
 have been appointed to act. 
 
 " I would moreover respectfully represent that the address is that 
 of the Synod of the whole Church in Canadi, and that ministers 
 and elders from various parts of the Province are in attendance for 
 tl"? purpose of presenting the s irae. 
 
■>* 
 
 DR. MATHTESON AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 137 
 
 ^'Respectfully requesting a consideration of the statements of this 
 
 letter, 
 
 *•' I have the honour to be, &c., &c., 
 
 • " Alexander Matiiieson, D.D., 
 
 " Moderator." 
 
 The draft of this letter was submitted to the committee of 
 Synod, which met at ten o'clock, and the course proposed was 
 adopted by the majority of those present. Others were disposed 
 to regard the whole matter as an insult to the Church of Scotland, 
 and would enter into no further negotiations. The draft was 
 adopted, however, and having been engrossed, was put into the 
 hands of His Grace so soon as he entered the appartments where 
 the levee was to be held, in the hope that, even then, it might be 
 possible to obtain, at least, a verbal reply. What a hurrying to 
 and fro there was that morning ! — Of country ministers in search 
 of gowns and banns — of elders, imploring the loan of courtly 
 garments they had never donned before. Having been one of the 
 pariy, the writer can testify to the excitement that prevailed as the 
 representatives of the Kirk collectively wended their way to the 
 Court House, headed by their Moderator, of portly a poet, and 
 venerable mien, mingled with the throng of two thousand citizens 
 that were congregated there, and endured all the tortures of an 
 unmitigated squeeze, preparatory to their being ushered into the 
 Hoyal presence. The denouement was at hand. The Judges and 
 Roman Catholic Clergy were first received ; the Anglican Bishop 
 and Synod followed ; the deputation from the Synod of the Church 
 of Scotland was then called for presentation, and entered the pre- 
 sence, still uncertain as to the fate of their address. Would it be 
 
 a 
 
 ^. 
 
* 
 
 I 
 
 138 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 read and replied to ? The odds were agninsf. it. The Moderator^ 
 in i'ull court dresp, advanced, saluted the Prince, and was about 
 to retire when he was asked by the Earl of St. Germain if lie 
 had an address, and answered in the affirmative. [Jnder an 
 impression that this wms a command to present it in the same 
 manner as had just been done by the Bishop of the Church of 
 England, the Moderator unrolled his purchment and was in the 
 act of commencing to read it when Sir Edmund lieud, the Governor 
 General, came forward and said the address was not to be read, 
 but simply put into the Prince's hand, and that an answer would 
 be duly returned. The Moderator informed him that such a 
 course would neither be satisfnctory to the Deputation nor res- 
 pectful to their church, and that under such eircumstance, he njust 
 decline presenting it at all. So saying, with rare presence of mind 
 and dignity, he rolled the parchment up, handed it to the Clerk of 
 Synod, was presented to His Royal Highness, made a profound 
 bow, and withdrew. While the other members of the Deputation 
 wre making tl-oii- bows it was whispered into the Moderator's 
 ear that the Duke of >iev.'castle desired him to wait on him after 
 the levee The levee being over His Grace entered into con ver.sation 
 with the Moderator, expressed regret for the contretemps, and 
 endeavoured to mollify matters by explaining that, owing to the 
 laige number of addresses, all could not be read ; that the Free 
 Church might demand the same privilege, and that a line must be 
 drawn .somewhere. The Moderator replied that in his opinion the 
 line had been drawn where it ought not to have been drawn- 
 betwcen the established churches of the Empire, which stood 
 equal iu the eye of the law. That tlie Free Church stood ift 
 
 * 
 
 •i< 
 
* 
 
 DR. MATIIIESON AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 189 
 
 a difForent relation to the State, and that, in his opinion, as well 
 as in their own, tl»e distinction was sufficiently wide. The Duke 
 replied, you must bo aware tint tlu>ro arc no established churches 
 in this Provinci3. The Moderator siid he was aware of the fact, 
 and was sorry for the sake of true religion that it wis so, adding 
 his opinion, that the nicnibGrs of the Established Churches of 
 England and Scotland had certain rights and privilej^es in every 
 part of the Empire, wherever they might be found.. The interview 
 terminated by the Duke's assuring the Sloderator that he should 
 hear farther from him in regard to the address. A meeting of the 
 Synod's Committee was forthwitii held, when it was resolved to 
 address another letter to the Duke of Newcastle setting-forth the 
 position of the Church in Canada, and defending the course which 
 the Moderator had been constrained to take. A short extract 
 must suffice, for the present, from the long letter that was imme- 
 diately dispatched to His Grace. 
 
 " It will, I am persuaded, be with feelings of deepest pain that 
 the members of the Church of Scotland will learn that an address 
 from the Synod of their Church in Canada, was not permitted to 
 be read to His Royal Highness, when addresses from tsvo local 
 Synods of the Church of England, in Quebec and Montreal, were 
 formally presented and specially replied to. And this the more, 
 that twenty years ago the question of the relative rights of the two 
 Churches was understood to have been finally set at rest, in accor- 
 dance with the claims of the adherents of the Church of Scotland 
 which were based upon the Act of Union between England and 
 Scotland ; the decision of the twelve Judges of England having 
 affirmed the equality of the Church of Scotland in Canada with the 
 
 »^^- 
 
 ■»i< 
 
•J- 
 
 140 
 
 LIFE OF ALKXANDKR MATHIESON, D.D. 
 
 Church of Enghmd. The revival of a question so lon^ disposed af 
 is deeply to be deplored, but yet I feel I would be wanting in my 
 duty were I not again to solicit, as I now do, that an audience 
 should be granted for the purpose of presenting our addr.-ss on 
 terms of equality with the sister Clmrch of England, at such time 
 and place as His Koyal Iliglmess shall be pleased to appoint, &c., 
 &c." 
 
 In the mountirao the Moderator and several members of the 
 Deputation, personally, received warm expressions of sympathy 
 from the Lord Bishop of Montreal and many of his clergy. He 
 also received 11 is Excellency the Governor General's commands 
 to dine with the Prince of Wales on Wednesday the 29th, when 
 he had the honour of slinking hands with His Royal Higliness, 
 and could not refrain from breathing an audible prayer for his 
 welfare. Explanations of a highly satisfictory nature followed, 
 and an understanding was arrived at that the address would be 
 received, and replied to, at Kingston, which might be rognrded 
 as the most appropriate place for its presentation, being the city 
 from whence it was dated, and being the so it of the college of our 
 Church. A correspondent, who was present on the occasion, has 
 kindly furnished the following sketch of the proceedings at Itingston, 
 on Tuesday, the 5th of September : 
 
 " Doctor Mathieson, as Moderator, attended by a number of 
 ministers and elders were in readiness to present the Synod's 
 Address to His Royal Highness. So soon as definite intelligence 
 reached the party that there was no prospect of the Prince's land* 
 ing at Kingston, they prepared to go on board the steamer contain- 
 ing H. 11. H. which lay at anchor in the inner harbour. For this 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■^ 
 
■* 
 
 DR. MATIIIESON AS A MEMUEll OP SYNOD. 
 
 141 
 
 purpose tlie representutivcs of the Synod moved from the City 
 Buildings, in which they had met, to tlie wharf, where a tender was 
 in waiting to convey the party to the steamer. The procession, as 
 it passed through the masses of human beings that lined the street 
 bordering on the water, was a source of wonderment to the on' 
 lookers. As they gazed on the majestic figure of the leader with 
 cocked hat and in full court dress, with gown covering all, followed 
 by his robed attendants, they evidently were puzzled to make out 
 who we were. How proud we all were of our grand old Coryphoeus ! 
 All eyes were fixed on him. Arrived on board the " Kingston," we 
 were conducted to the saloon, and at once found ourselves in the 
 Royal presence. Having arranged ourselves in front of the Prince 
 and party, the /amons address was handed to the Doctor, who, 
 with leisurely self-composure, unrolled the document, and proceeded 
 to read it. The whole Doctor was iu the reading There was 
 dignity, courtly breeding, and loyal respect in every tone. So soon 
 as it was read, and tiie Prince had made his reply thereto, the party 
 were presented in order, when, however, the formal proceedings 
 were ended, the Prince stepped forward, stretched out his right 
 hand, and said : " Doctor Mathieson, allow me to do myself the 
 pleasure of shaking hands with you." The tear started to the Doc- 
 tor's eye ; and throwing warmest blood into his fingers, he grasped 
 the royal hand with a right Scottish grip, while the loyalty of his 
 big heart rushed to his lips in the irresistable utterance : ' God 
 bless you /' " 
 
 At the following meeting of the Synod Doctor Mathieson read 
 the narrative of proceedings connected with the presentation of the 
 Synod's address from which these notes have been chiefly derived, 
 
 ^<' 
 
■^ 
 
 142 
 
 LIFa OF ALDXANUKR MATIIIKSOX, D.D. 
 
 when it was unanimously resolved, " that this Court cxpre,«s, and 
 hereby expresses, its entire satisfaction with the dignified conduct 
 of Doctor Mathieson on that occasion.* 
 
 Our biography would be incomplete without some allusion to 
 Doctor Mathioson's views on the Union Question. That was a 
 subject which was never mentioned in his hearing without calling 
 Ibrth a very strong expression of opinion, and we hive not to 
 travel very far for a reason. It was not to be expected that one, 
 who bad all his lifetime been so demonstrative in his attachment 
 to the Church of Scotland, who prided himself so much on his per- 
 sonal connection with it, and bad battled so strongly for its prin- 
 ciples and privileges, would be likely to regard with much favour 
 any projiosal by which the relationship might be weakened or 
 jeopardized, or, that would commit him to any policy whereby his 
 loyalty to the Parent Church could possibly be called in question. 
 Others might speak of connection with the Churcb of Scotland as 
 a matter of small importance — as a mere myth — a romantic hallu- 
 cination. Not so the Doctor. In his estimation it was a sacred 
 bond, to sever which were sacrilege, and, as he could not conceive 
 of any basis of union with other Presbyterian Churches that would 
 not ask him to renounce allegiance to the Church he loved so well, 
 therefore, he instinctively set his seal of disapprobation on every 
 proposal that involved even a discussion of the question. It was 
 not that he was uncharitable or intolerant, narrow-minded or 
 bigoted. No one ever charged him with being influenced by such 
 unworthy and unchristian motives. On the contrary, those who 
 
 * A copy of tlie adthess is to be found ia the printed minutes of the 
 SyLod for 18G0, page 73. 
 
 ■* 
 
0^ 
 
 DR. MATIIIESON AS A MFMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 143 
 
 differed most widely fioiii liini on this question never doubted that 
 ho was thoroujilily honest and consistent in the matter. On its own 
 merits, he did not choose to argue the case ; but when forced to do 
 so, he defendc 1 his ojiinions with great vim, if not always very 
 logically. 
 
 The union question was only twice brought formally bofore the 
 Synod. 'I'hc first occasion was by an overture in.roduccd by Doctor 
 George "on a union between this church and other Presbyterian 
 churches in this Province." This was in 18G0, and, the Doctor 
 being Moderator, hud of course to waive his right io protest, and it 
 must be held to be remarkable that in his closing address, in 
 which the proceedings of the Synod are generally reviewed in detail 
 and discanted upon, ho did not suflfor the slightest allusion to tho 
 question to escape him. His mind seems to have been sur- 
 charged on that occasion with a sense of the responsibiUties belong- 
 ing to the ministerial ofli and in tho concluding sentences of his 
 address he pressed these Uj m the attention of his brethren with 
 groat earne3tn<'S5 : " You are now about to return to your houses, 
 your families, your flocks, and to cngiigc again in the great 
 work to which the measures that have been taken by Synod are 
 only subservient. Your special work is to preach the Gospel of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, and to diiFuse, a pure, a healthy, and enlight- 
 ened religion throughout the land. This is the most important work 
 that can be committed to you, and your responsibility in the exe- 
 cution of this work is in proportion to its excellency. Let this 
 conviction be an abiding principle of your conduct. Cherish it. 
 Act upon it; and you will be drawn from all dependence upon 
 yourselves to lay hold on tho arm of Him who can sustain you. 
 
144 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESOJJ, D.D. 
 
 Well might you tremble in consideration of the magnitude of the 
 work, and, in view of the interests you are called to promote, you 
 nii<iht well exclaim with the Apostle to the Gentiles, who is suffi- 
 cient fur these things? But thouirh a minister has his trials, 
 
 CO ' 
 
 peculiar to himself, he has also his joys, with w.iich'a .stranger 
 intermeddleth not.' These sustain and support him amidst many 
 hours of weakness and fatiguing thought. And ho has One, mightier 
 than all others, ever near him, to strengthen and encourage him. 
 Endeavour to realize Ilis promise, ' Lo, I am with you always.' 
 Take courige, brethren, and go forth to the discharge of your duties 
 in [lis sustaining strength. Think of His exalted nature, on the 
 greatness of His work, on the intensity of His love for man, for 
 those whom He has committed to your s^^^cial care. Endeavour to 
 have a just sense of the honour Ele has conferred on you in making 
 you ' fellow-workers with Himself in bringing luany sons into glory.' 
 These reflections will animate you with the purest zeal and the 
 highest christian motives. Animated by love, and sustained by 
 constant, fervent prayer, you will go forth to your work with ala- 
 crity, you will prosecute it earnestly, and you will be rewarded by 
 seeing the work of the Lord prospering in your hands. Brethren, 
 to Go J and the word of His grace I commend you." 
 
 In 18GG the union question again came before the Synod, 
 which met in Toronto, by overture from the Presbyt'jry of Ottawa, 
 " anent an union between this cliurch and the Canada Presby- 
 terian church," when twenty-three voted that the overture should 
 lie upon the table of tho Synod until tho next annual meeting, 
 and thirty three that it be rejected. In explanation of the word- 
 ing of the original motion and the ainallnoss of the vote, it may 
 
 *■ 
 
 — * 
 
^■ 
 
 ■^ 
 
 DR. MATIIIESON AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 145 
 
 bo mentioned that the attendance was unusually small that year 
 on account of the Fenian invasion that had spread consternation 
 through the Province a few days before the meeting of the Synod. 
 Such was the state of excitement in the country, it was generally 
 supposed that the meeting of the Synod would have been post- 
 poned. Tiie whole country was up in arms — from Montreal to 
 Toronto t'le frontier bristled with bayonets. A whole fleet o'c 
 steamboats, hastily extemporized into gunboats, patrolled the waters 
 of the St. Lawrence and the lakes. The quiet old town of Corn- 
 wall suddenly found its population doubled — two thousand volun- 
 teers, representing every arm of the service, were quartered on its 
 inhabitants, while its principal streets were barricaded with Arm- 
 strong guns. Such a sight had never baen seen bjforo in Canada. 
 In the neighbourhood of Prescott the sp3Ctacle was such as none 
 who witnessed it cm ever forget. The sloping banks were white 
 with military tents, the wharves were crowded by armel men — 
 volunteers from Perth and Pakonham and other places far in the 
 interior — splendid looking fellows, many of whom had never seen 
 the St. Lawrence before. The shore was lined with gunboats. On 
 the opposite side of the river, too, around Ogdensburgh, could bo 
 desaried the long straight lines of tented soldiery and the low dark 
 hulls of vessels of war at anchor, with steam up, guarding the 
 liarb)ur, not from a dreaded attack of the British, but to aid in 
 protecting Canadians from the lawless bands of ruffi ms who were 
 plotting treason on American soil, and seeking to embroil the United 
 States Government in war with their peic.viblo ami unoir.'ndins 
 neighbours. And so it was at every im2)ortant point along the route, 
 while 8U3h of the inhabitants us were not under arms wore busyiug 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■^ 
 
U6 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 themselves in » ing preparations to seek safety in fllglit to the 
 back-woods for tne he'pless women and children. Sinall wonder, 
 then, that there were but three ministers from Lower Canada pre- 
 sent at the opening of the Synod in Toronto. But Dr. Mathieson 
 ■was one of these. The valiant old soldier went up to do battle for 
 the Kirk. There was " treason " in the camp, and he must stamp 
 it out. Perhaps it is well that we cm not recall any of the 
 speeches that he made on that occasion, but a few sentences from 
 one of his letters, written about that time, will sufficiently indicate 
 his usual mode of treating the subject, and are, indeed, almcr,t 
 necessary to the filling up of our picture, the reader being at 
 liberty, if he likes, to set these extravagancies down as an instalment 
 of the " warts and scars " which, in the commencement, we pro- 
 mised not to conceal : " You may well imagine that, amidst the 
 electrifying eloquence and ignorance of the younger members of 
 the Synod, it was impossible to so concentrate my thouglits as to 
 fr me anything like a reply to your las*^ letter. But whatever 
 cause or causes may have kept uie so long silent, I now embrace 
 the first leizurc moment I have had to do so, I presume the 
 union men will again be cocking up their noses at the prospect of 
 having the sanction of the (yluirch in their favour, Tlieir plan is 
 to nu'mor alize the General Assembly to permit them to slip the 
 connection with lier, and leave them at liberty to join with the 
 * /"V. es ' et id genus omne. But assuredly, tliongh disconnecte 1 
 with the Church of Scotland to-morrow, I, for one, will neither 
 become a Free nor a U. P. Some time ago I learned that a great 
 
 meeting was held at at which this favourite scheme was ini- 
 
 tiutud, and it was j^ivon out that / hud concurred 1 Siuoo thou 
 
DR. MATHIESON. AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 147 
 
 ■^ 
 
 moctlnpjs have been ciUed of the cMors of various churches, and 
 plotliios liave been made to take all constitutional measures to for- 
 ward this measure. This T r^'s^ard as a conapl.racij to overturn our 
 Churcli, on tlie part of tho-se of our own b)dy who sanction such 
 procecdini^s. It is e isy to forosee what reply the General Assembly 
 will <:!;ivG to the momorial they prop'^^j to sand. ' Why,' tluy say, 
 * we never coercjd you — we never assumed authority over you — ■ 
 we left you freely to judge and act for yourselves — we shall not 
 interfere with you now — we h ivc hitherto given you our support 
 and counsel — we have sent you both men and means — if you are 
 dissatisfied with your connection with us we will not bind you, but 
 remember you need not look to us any longer to aid you or counsel 
 you.' A more imprudent measure has never been proposed. What 
 basis of union they contemplate I know not. They seem to think 
 no more is required than to sink at once all distinctions, shake 
 hands, and form one ' Grand Presbyterian Cliurch.' I am not 
 disposed to anticipate the great advantages that some do as result- 
 ing from such a union. With the free spirit of inquiry which 
 belongs to us as Protestants we cannot expect that there will be 
 unanimity of sentiment on every point, and humanity is not vet 
 brought into that loving, forbearing spirit that is needed even to 
 bo united in externals. But an external union, without unanimity 
 of heart and mind, would be nothing but anarchy and confusion. 
 Even supposing all were agreed, there are insuperable objections 
 to a general union. We have an Imperial charter (referriiig to the 
 college) which an Act of Parliament cannot annul, and we have a 
 widows' fund which would be disorganized. I look forward to the 
 discussion of this question, in the headlong spirit of the times, 
 
 ^ 
 
 >> 
 
* 
 
 148 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 witli great apprehension. The iinpracticabllity of the thinjj; renders 
 it ahiiost ridiculou.s. The mischief that would involve our churches, 
 the unsettlemcnt of the rights of property with thei-enunciation of 
 the name, the lawsuits that would follow, the bitterness and con- 
 tentions that would arise out of it, are alarming. But I need not 
 vex myself on the subject. I will not bo long a combatant in de- 
 fence of lionourcd rights. And I have been irivcn to understand 
 that the movement was only abandoned till a f^w of the oldfoglea 
 had quitted the field — out of pure compassion to them ! — poor, 
 prejudiced, hirpling creatures, who cannot keep up with the intel- 
 lectual march of the times ! and that then both Synods should 
 memorialize tlieir respective Assemblies, crave permission to 
 renounce all denominational names, rights and privileges, shako 
 hands, get the Parliament to sanction the measure, when peace and 
 quietness would be expected to reign!" 
 
 " The headlong spirit of the times" to wliich the Doctor here 
 alludes had probably reference to the discussion then being carried 
 on in Scotland about " innovations," so called, under which heid- 
 iiig, we suppose, is comprehended every several departure from 
 " the book of our Common Order, and the Directory for the Public 
 AVorship of God," which was adopted by the Church of Scotland 
 and ratified by tlio Scottish Parliament so long ago as the year 
 1G45. From another letter we learn the Doctor's mind on the 
 matter. " The Assembly's measures may bo stringent, more so, 
 perhaps, than would be necessary were the Church in a sound 
 state of thinking on matters of doctrine and government. But 
 when, according to newspaper reports, we hear Dr. 3IcLeod declar- 
 ing that the fourth commandment was abrogated by the ristian 
 
 -^ 
 
*■ 
 
 * 
 
 DR. MATHIESON AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 149 
 
 economy, and Lee, Tulloch, and Story, &c., advocating measures 
 subversive of the distinctive characteristics of Presbyterianism, 
 Pirie'3 motion was not too strong. The innovations of old Grey 
 Friars (Lee's Church) is, I am informed, incipient Popery,* and 
 I am inclined to believe it. Such changes as the progress of the 
 age and taste of the times demand, and that could safely bo 
 introduced, might be adopted; but the innovntiiig party, in con- 
 tempt of the honest prejudices or piety of the people, have forced 
 their opinions so as to awaken a just alarm for the safety of true 
 church principles. Favourable as I am to instrumental music as 
 an aid to congregational psalmody, or, even, as I might be to a well- 
 digested liturgy, as a help to poor spiritless drones, I do not wish 
 that they should supplant the fervour cither of real devotional feel- 
 ing or drown the tones of the sweet human voice. Story has sent 
 me a copy of his Report, ' (of the Church Service Society it is pre- 
 sumed).' I am one of the Oil School, and c'ing to the forms that 
 
 • It may be right to infoi'in such of our reade-s as ai-e not familiar 
 with the topics here alludcil to that Dr. Lee's " Popery" went no farther 
 than making use of a printed form of prayer, composed by liimself, in 
 public worship, and in teaching his congregation to stand wliile singing 
 the praises of God, and to kneel in prayer. If we remember rightly, Dr. 
 Lee also admitted to having, wpon a certain occasion, administered the 
 coranini'ion to an aged sick person in private. He had likewise accug- 
 tomed his congregation to say jLmn after the prayer. For these he was 
 ftdjudgi d to be an " innovator" by the Presbytery of Edinburgh, and also 
 by the Synod of Lothian and Tweed-dale, upon which Dr. Lee appealed to 
 the Assembly, and, after a long And exciting contest, he won the day. 
 This discussion is set forth at huge in " The Life and Remains of Robert 
 Lee D.D.," by the Rev. R. 11. Story, receuily published. 
 
 ^ 
 
 •* 
 
-* 
 
 160 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 have done more for Scotland than any new-fangled nostrums will 
 ever accomplish for her. The piety of the people has been cher- 
 ished and sustained by the good sense, deep thought, and godly 
 feelings of her njinisters. As these qualities decay, somewhat of the 
 Lee, Tulloch, or Story school may be brought in with soeniing 
 advantage for a time, but I am afraid that with such forms the 
 people in this Pge will get formal too." 
 
 So much for Dr. Mathioson's collorjnial treatment of the union 
 question. It is but fair now to quote a few sentences from his 
 sermon preached before the Synod in 1861 wherein his graver 
 thoughts on this intportant subject arc very clearly and empha- 
 tically set forth, — " It appears to be necessary to the full develop- 
 ment of the Christian Church, that there be divisions in the visible 
 body, so that those whose fiith and practice are approved by (Jrud, 
 may be made manifest. But though divisions are wisely permitted 
 and over-ruled for the general good of the Church, and every 
 attempt that has hitherto been made to gather into one community 
 the discordant and repellant elements of humanity, has utterly 
 failed; are wc to encourage religious dissensions, and sanction the 
 bitter strifes and animosities that flow out of them ? Far from 
 it : we deplore ecclesiastical dissensions as an enormous evil, — an 
 evil that impedes the progress of genuine Christianity — that 
 exhausts the energies of the Church, in internicene strife — that 
 neutralizes the principles of true Christian fellowship, and puts to 
 an almost hopeless distance, the prospect of the Universal ( hurch 
 ' walking by the same rule and minding the same thing.' Although 
 there be little scriptural unity now, it is attainable, but progressive. 
 The great business of the Church is to edity the body of Christ, 
 
 ^< 
 
*• 
 
 .^ 
 
 DR. MATIIIESON AS A MEMBER OF SYNOD. 
 
 151 
 
 'till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge 
 of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the 
 Stature of the fulness of Christ,' Even in external forms and 
 ceremonies, union is an ol)ject most desirable— an object to be 
 kept constantly in view, and its attainment aimed at, in the pure 
 spirit of brotherly love. ' 
 
 Daring the last three years of his life a very marked change was 
 observable in Dr. Mathieson's Synod appear;inccs. It was not 
 altogether that he had lost the fire of youth. Certainly it was not 
 that his mental fjicultios were greatly impaired ; these retained 
 their force and freshness, in a remarkable degree, to the very 
 last. But he felt himself physically inoapaoitate 1 for taking an 
 active part in the proceedings of the Synod ; he had no longer the 
 agility of former years by wliieh to spring to his feet, as of yore, 
 and put a stop to " the drivellings " of some luckless speaker who 
 iujagined he was electrifying his audience, but whose arguments 
 in the Doctor's estimation, were '■^perfect nonsense." It was with 
 difficulty he could rise at all. His old enemy, rheumatism, had 
 stitfened his joints, and the disease that ultimately carried him to the 
 grave had fastened on him. He began to realize that his synodical 
 career and his earthly existence were soon to terminate, that the 
 night was coming, in which none can work. And it docs not 
 admit of a doubt that, gradually, as he neared the shores of " the 
 bettercountry," things of time and sense paled before his vision ; that 
 considerations to which he had once attached importance receded 
 from his view ; that his mind became more solemnly impressed 
 with the paramount importance of those Christian truths which he 
 bud 80 ol'tou prouohud to othcra ; aud thut he bcoauio moro 
 
 •* 
 
mm 
 
 *■ 
 
 *' 
 
 152 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 deeply sensible of his own nejd of "that Halinesa without 
 which no m;\n shall see the Lord." lie knew that ho had often 
 don3 the things that he ouj;ht not to have dono, and left undone 
 the things which ho ou.<ht to have done ; that he had said things 
 that he ought not to have said ; and though he was not the man to 
 in;ikc a parade of his religious convictions before his fcllow-raen, he 
 did not seak to dissemble nor cloak them before the fac3 of liis 
 Heavenly Father. He could say with St. Paul ; " Brethren, I 
 count not myself to have apprehended ; but this one thing I do, 
 forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto 
 those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize 
 of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." " We are troubled on 
 every side, yet not distressed : We are perplexed, but not in 
 despair." 'Had he been pressed to give an exposition of his fiith 
 and hope, he would have said no more than this, " By the Grace 
 of God, I am, what I am." 
 
 The Synod which met in Kingston in 18G3 was distinguished 
 by the harmony which porvaded its deliberations. It was also 
 distinguished for an unprecedented manifestation of catholicity on 
 the part of its members. The conference of the Wesleyan Metho- 
 dist Church was simultaneously assembled in the same city, and it 
 was resolved, without a dissentient voice, that a deputation should 
 be sent to the conference to convey to its meuibers the christian 
 greetings of the Church of Scotland in Canada. It were easy to 
 imigine that Dr. Mathieson might have objected to the proposal, on 
 constitutional grounds, as being opposed to the use and wont of the 
 Church of Scotland to acknowledge or recognize " dissent " in 
 any form. Hud he regarded tho proposition as a matter of mere 
 
 ■^ 
 
 * 
 
^. 
 
 BR. MATTItESOS AS A MKMnER OF SY.fOD. 
 
 153 
 
 •* 
 
 *■ 
 
 policy or expediency ho would have set his face against it, and 
 frowned it down. The time was when he would have done so. 
 But, believing, as he now did, that there was involved no compro- 
 inise of principle, and that the expression of good will intended to 
 be convoyed was honest and sincere, he would not forbid the banns ; 
 and in that largo assemblage that met in St. Andrew's Church to 
 receive the addresses in reply from the Methodist brethren there 
 was no face that beamed with more evident satisfaction than that 
 of the old Doctor, nor heart that throbbed with nobler impulses 
 than his, nor voice that sang with deeper pathos the familiar lines : 
 
 " Behold how good a thing it is, 
 
 And how becoming well. 
 Together such as brelliren are 
 
 In unity to dwell." 
 
 What shall we say of the Synod that met in Hamilton in the 
 following year, 18G9 ? What can be said, to make it more memor- 
 able, than that it was the last meeting of the Synod at which the 
 noble form of the now venerable minister of St. Andrew's Church, 
 Montreal, was seen ? This can be said: that Dr. Mathieson was 
 selected by the Moderator to preach on the morning of the sabbath, 
 and that it was the subject of general remark, that, if ever the 
 Doctor exceeded himself, it was on this occasion. His sermon was 
 remarkable for freshness of thought, for earnestness and grace of 
 delivery, for, indeed, all that constitutes power in preaching. 
 Again, this meeting of Synod is memorable for the interchange of 
 cordial brotherly salutation, with the brethren of the Canada Pres- 
 byterian Chuich — a manifestation of Christian fellowship which 
 the Doctor did not attempt to suppress, but which, on the contrary, 
 
M' 
 
 154 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 met liis hearty approval, shewing conclusively that he was not the 
 uncompromising, vindictive opponent to union, which sonic supposed. 
 Lastly, that it was marked hy a solemnity unknown in all the 
 previous history of the Synod. It was fitting that Dr. IMathieson 
 should close his connection with the Supreme Court of his church 
 with a sacredness becoming the occasion. Often had these ministers 
 placed in the hands of the people committed to their charge tho 
 memorials of Kcdceming Love. Often liad they adressed to others 
 the words ; " This do in remembrance of Me" ; but never before, 
 as a body of ministers, representing a branch of the Christian 
 Church, had they themselves surrounded the Table of their Lord 
 and Master. Such an observance of the Holy Sacrament by tho 
 Synod was without precedent in the Courts of the Church of Scot- 
 land. Tn former years Dr. Mathieson might have had doubts as to 
 the suitableness of the ceremonial to the occasion, but he had none 
 now. At that Communion Table we reverently take leave of our 
 loved friend and father, as a member of Synod. Let imagination fill 
 up the picture. Let memory imprint it en the mind uever to be 
 
 effaced, 
 
 " Till death-divided friends at last 
 
 Shall meet, to piirt no laoro." 
 
* 
 
 CHAPTER NINTn. 
 
 ]^OT[0B OP DR. MVTIICESOX'S DEATH AND FUNERAL, EXTaACTS 
 FROM "THK PRESBYTERIAN" AND OTHER SOURCES. 
 
 Sonic extracts from a biograplileal notice hastily pi-cparcd for 
 " the Presbyterian," shortly after Dr. Mathieson's death, will form 
 a suitable continuation and conclusion of those memoirs, and may 
 be helpful to the reader in forming a general estiinito of that 
 character of which we have beea endeavouring to delineate a few 
 separate and distinct traits. 
 
 Seldom has it devolved upon any journalist to record the death 
 of one who, in his life-time, enjoyed more largely the respect of his 
 fellow men than did the subject of this notice, the late Minister of 
 Saint Andrew's Chu;ch, Montreal, who departed this life on 
 Monday morning, the 14th of February, in the 75th year of his 
 age, and the forty-fourth of his ministry in this city. Although 
 our departed friend and father had thus passed the usual limits of 
 man's age; yet his admirably developed physique, his robust 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ■4. 
 
T 
 
 I 
 
 * 
 
 156 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDEll MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 constitution, his regularity of life, and the mental vigour retained 
 by liini to the last, were all such as justified the expectation that 
 he might have attained a still greater longevity; and even he 
 himself has boon hoard to express the hope that ho would reach the 
 years of his father, who died at the age of eighty-two. Nevertheless 
 it may be said that ho has gone down to the grave in a good old 
 age, full of years and full of honour; and, what concerns us vastly 
 more, full of faith in the doctrines of Christianity which ho had 
 80 long preached to others, and full of assured hope for the life to 
 come We know that this humble tribute to his memory has been 
 anticipated by others, and it accords better with our present 
 feelings that we are found reflecting the public opinion, rather 
 than seeking to form it. By the death of Dr. Mathicson, the 
 City of Montreal has lost a good citizen, and society a distinguished 
 ornament. Others will doubtless be found to enter upon those 
 beneficent labours fioiu which he has ceased. Another niinister 
 will supply the pulpit of Saint Andrew's Church; another member 
 will occupy his scat at the Councils of the Temporalities' Board ; 
 another Trustee will be elected for Queen's College; another 
 manager for the Ministers' Widows' and Orphans' Fund; another 
 p.itron will be found for the St. Andrew's Home ; but there is a 
 sense in which his place will not and cannot be filled. His removal 
 from us is the disappearance of an old familiar land-mark, his 
 separation from us, the severance of a link connecting the preset'' 
 with the past history ol" the country and the Church, th"' ctirf 
 be repaired. In looking back through the vista of yc. >^ii"r- 
 which our late friend lived and laboured among us, if it is diffi- 
 cult to roalizo that changes so great and so varied should hav 
 
 •i-- 
 
 ^ 
 
■!?" 
 
 SUMMARY OF HIS CIlAUACTEIl. 
 
 167 
 
 transjiircd durin<5 a .single life-time, it is no less difficult to form a 
 correct estimate of the influence exerted upon a community by a 
 Christian Minister, who, during all these years, of unexampled 
 progress and prosperity, occupied a prominent and an honourable 
 position. In 182G, when Mr. Mathicson first took up his residence 
 in Montreal, the city wore an aspect, scarcely a single feature of 
 •which can be recognized at the present time. Few cities in the 
 world have undergone so thorough a transformation ir» so short a 
 period. Then, it was an unimportant town, little more than an 
 outport of Quebec, without wharves, without shipping, without 
 manufactures, and without those means of communication that have 
 made it what it is. Then, it had a population of probably not more 
 than 22,000, and of these the English-speaking inhabitants formed 
 scarcely an appreciable minority. Now, it is the commercial 
 capital of British North America, the centre and seat of wealth, 
 intelligence and enterprise. Its population lias ri^en to 150,000, 
 while recent statistics have brought to light the significant fact 
 that the assessed value of the property held by Protestants is largely 
 in excess of that held by the Roman Catholic population. 
 
 In speaking of the character of the venerable minister now gone 
 from us, we love to think of a man endowed wiih many noble 
 qualities, yet a man, subject to like passions and infirmities as we 
 are, diff"ering chiefly from others in the intenseness which marked 
 the characteristics of his nature. In outward aspect he was of 
 fine personal appearance and of commanding presence, courtly 
 and dignified in his bearing, but not ostentatious. Observing the 
 strictest propriety of costume at all times, he showed not otdy his 
 sense of self-respect, but manifested also a becoming regard for the 
 
158 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 mhustcrial ofTicc, a (.luty -whicli, by precept as well as by his own 
 example, lie omitted no opportunity of impressing upon others. 
 No one could be long m his company without feeling that he was 
 in the presence of a gentleui m, a mm of superior intelligence, of 
 acute observation, and of large informition. Not only was he an 
 accomplished scholar ; lie kept abreast of modern thought and 
 literature, and he was conversant with the great questions of the 
 day. Had you looked in upon him during tiie eventful crises of the 
 Italian revolution, of the Indian mutiny, the Crimean war, or the 
 Abyssinian expedition, you would have found him reading the best 
 authenticated histories of these countries, studying with minute 
 interest their gcograpliy, and acquainting himself with the physio- 
 logical peculiarities of their inhabitants. He was a great reader, 
 and, although unknown in the world of letters, was a voluminous 
 writer, of which his written sermons alone, not to speak of his other 
 manuscripts, furnish marked evidence ; for, whether we regard 
 the depth of thought, the beauty and diversity of imagery, the 
 chastcness of language, or the general carefulness of composition, 
 these will compare favourably with tlie writings of the most gifted 
 men. He was never known to preach an extempore sermon, and 
 during those frequent excursions which in his earlier days he made 
 into the country, where he found neither churches nor pulpits to 
 preach in, his ingenuity was often taxed to supply tlio indispen- 
 sable reading desk. An instance of this occurred in 182S, at Hun- 
 tingdon, then a county town consisting of six or seven houses, 
 where he had received a warm welcome from one of the people, who 
 gathered the neighbours and requested the Doctor to address them. 
 " Being a p qicr reader,^^ us he himself describes it, " I had to erect 
 
*■ 
 
 SUMMARY OF HIS CHARACTER. 
 
 159 
 
 a pulpit by the fireside, which was easily cxtoniporizcd by two chairs, 
 back to back, and a four logged stool laid across and covered over by 
 a piece of carpet." Of the amount of labour he underwent in 
 visiting the settlements in the valley of the Chateauguay, at a time 
 when they were wholly destitute of the stated ordinances of religion, 
 it is impossible now to form an adequate conception ; but in spite 
 of the difficulties he encountered in the shape of bad roads, or 
 rather the want of roads and of conveyances, to the end of his lifo 
 he referred to these excursions, as associated with the hapiiiost of 
 his memories. In the year already mentioned he had been asked 
 to go into the country, thirty miles or so, to officiate at a marriaso, 
 and he thus describes tLo only mode of travelling then available : 
 '* At Caughnawaga, I fotnd myself among the Red Indians in 
 want of a guide and a eonve^ anco to take m>' through the six miles 
 of forest and tangled brush 1 hud to traverse, but how to make my 
 wants kiio\v:i 1 knew not. All my jerks and gestures failed to convey 
 my meaning, till a youth took up the idea of a man on horseback, 
 which he endeavoured to imitate, who, on receiving an expres- 
 sion of my satisfaction, went off in an instant, and returned, leading 
 by the mano a shaggy pony whoso bones were too angular for bare- 
 back liJ'ng. At length a saddle v>as procured with only one stirrup 
 — we supplied the other with a rope — and an iron bit having been 
 found, with a new hempen cord we made a bridle, fwas hoisted 
 into the saddle with my valise labhed behind, and my Registers, two 
 quarto volumes of considerable size — under my arm. My red 
 guide, whose dress consisted of a pair of linen drawers and mocoa. 
 sins, kept up witii the (rot of the pony, admonishing it betimes to 
 a quicker puce with the v/illow branch wliicli ho carried iu his hand. 
 
 *■ 
 
160 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 Through the dense forest, sometimes almost brushed off by the 
 branches, we hastened along the rough path, and in less than an 
 liour emerged on a settlement on the Chateauguay." These illus- 
 trations of preaching and travelling under difficulties, recall to 
 mind disabilities of another kind that sound strange to our ears. 
 Up to the date of these incidents, and indeed, for a number of years 
 afterwards, no marriage in the Province was accounted legal unless 
 the Clergyman celebrating it had obtained permission to keep a 
 Register, previously paraphed by one of the*Prothonotaries of His 
 Majesty's Court of King's Bench, and as permission to keep such 
 records was confined to a very small number of ministers of the 
 Established Churches, it followed that a groat many marriages and 
 baptisms performed by the representatives of other religious denom- 
 inations were in the eye of the law null and" void. It must be 
 supposed that subsequent legislation came to the relief of these 
 early settlers, but at all events it is certain that Dr. Mathieson was 
 not unfrequently called upon to remarry parties who, after many 
 years of married life, had made the unpleasant discovery that they 
 were living in doubtful wedlock. In respect of baptism, the Doctor 
 often found himself at a loss how to proceed. He was too good a 
 a Presbjteritin to dispense this privilege without being satisfied 
 that the lives of tlie applicants were, outwardly at least, in accord- 
 ance with their own baptismal vows. It frequently happened that 
 at the close of a service in a private house or school-room, a dozen 
 or more children were brought to him for baptism. To use his own 
 language on one of these occasions: — " The parties were unknown 
 to me; wliat was I to do ? Admit them indiscriminately, or 
 institute an enquiry into their character and christian knowledge ? 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■* 
 
SUMMARY OF HIS CIIATIACTER. 
 
 101 
 
 For that tliere was no time, and I might bo imposed upon. T 
 immediately, in the presence of the coni^re^ation, cominindol my 
 elder, to whom the people were all well known, to select two 
 discreet and pious men, and this being done, I addressed them, 
 enjoining them to recommend those parents only whom they in their 
 conscience considered worthy to hive their children admitted to the 
 ordinance On this being done, I laid a solemn Injunct.ioii on thorn 
 in regard to their parental duties. This pad of the service was 
 interesting and impressive, and my good elder complim Mited me on 
 u)y address, saying, that if [ would speak as well without the p ipcr 
 at home, T would soon attach to rae the whole community." It 
 was iiuleed a very singular trait, in the Doctor's ministerial char- 
 acter, that while he felt himself on ordinary occasions utterly and 
 constitutionally unfitted to app;?ar before an audience without his 
 manuscript, in presiding over a communion table, and administering 
 the ordinance of baptism, there were few to compure with him in 
 the fluency and power which characterized his addresses. 
 
 The law allowed the officiating minister to exact the fee of five 
 shillings for every registration of baptism, but the Doctor invariably 
 refused to receive a penny, thinking it " horrible to sell a christian 
 ordinance." Upon one occasion the elected elders withheld their 
 consent to the application of a drunken father who wanted baptism 
 for his child ; the man became furious and even threatened to 
 thresh the minister into compliance, but the Doctor remained 
 inexorable. It having been stated to him, however, that the mother 
 of the child was a good pious wo nin, upon In'r he put the vows 
 in the presence of lur husband, and witli sueh allusinn to his 
 conduct as brought tears to his eyes, and drew JVimu hini an 
 
 *■ 
 

 ^^' 
 
 162 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 ■* 
 
 humblo apology, witli the proniise that ho would become a better 
 man. 
 
 These are mere passing allusions to the Doctor's early minis- 
 terial career. Though in themselves trifling, they give us a glimpse 
 of the joyous and yet earnest spirit which animated him even in 
 the discharge of irksome duty. It were 6asy to fill a volume with 
 such reminiscences of his life, and it is to be hoped that some one 
 of his many intimate friends will undertake the preparation of an 
 extended biography for which we believe there is abundant material 
 existing. To have known Dr. Mathieson, as an intimate friend, 
 was indeed a great privilege, for he was the truest of friends. The 
 sliadow of suspicion as to the sincerity of his professions could never 
 for one moment be entertained. He was outspoken in stating his 
 opinions, and none the less, though his dearcst friends should be 
 the subject of remark ; and while at times he spoke perhaps too 
 strongly, he ever spoke and acted under an honest conviction of 
 the truth and justice of the principles he maintained. Policy and 
 expediency were terms wholly unknown in his vocabulary and, iie 
 regarded them as " simply intolerable " in others. 
 
 Had it not been for this conspicuous trait in his character his 
 influence in the Synod and other Church Courts would have been 
 overwhelming. He was too diffident, however, to excel in debate, 
 and too uncompromising in the maintenance of his opinions, even 
 when great principles were not at stake, ever to Ixscomc a party 
 leader; and the respect, amounting to veneration, which was 
 accorded him l»y nearly all hi brother ministers, was traceable to 
 his personal tjualities ;is a man, to his moral worth, and to his 
 loyalty and devotion to tho Church. We have hoard it said of 
 
 * 
 
 * 
 
-* 
 
 SUMMARY OF HIS CHARACTER. 
 
 163 
 
 him, that " it was impossible for him to conceive a meanness. " 
 We may add that he abhorred the very appearance of meanness in 
 another. That he was twice chosen moderator of the Synod — an 
 exceptional procedure in the practice of the Church — was of itself 
 a high testimony of confidence reposed in him. The first occasion 
 was in the year 1832, and following so soon after the formation of 
 the Court, shewed that at that early period he had already made 
 his mark. The second instance was even more noticeable, because 
 it singled him out as the most fitting representative of the Church 
 of Scotland in Canada, upon whom should be devolved the duty 
 and high honour of presenting the Synod's address of congratula- 
 tion and welcome to the Prince of Wales when he visited tho 
 British North American possessions in 1860 ; and the characteristic 
 dignity and presence of mind with which he vindicated the honour 
 of his Church upon that occasion, will not soon be forgotten. 
 
 As might have been expected from one in whom a stern sense 
 of duty so largely predominated. Dr. Mathieson was r.-gular in his 
 attendance upon Cimrch Courts. During the whole course of his 
 ministry he was not absent from the meeting of Synod upon more 
 than three or four occasions, and then, he was cither out of the 
 country or prevented by indisposition from attending. 
 
 But while the Doctor gave much time and thought and valuable 
 assistance to the general business of the Church, it was in a special 
 manner as the minister of St. Andrew's Church, that he desired, 
 above all else, his services to be known and appreciated. Of his 
 preaching before his own congregation wc need not say more chan 
 that it was able, earnest, practical, and scriptural, and tiiat it was 
 a faithful reflection of the doctrines of the Westminster Confession. 
 
* 
 
 -v 
 
 104 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 
 
 i I 
 
 He delighted to set forth the unity of the Divine procedure in the 
 government of the universe, not distinguishing Providence from 
 Grace, as though they 'vere separate domains, but recognizing 
 Redemption as an integral part of the comprehensive control 
 exercised by the Creator over all his works. He dwelt also with 
 special emphasis upon the necessity of penonal regeneration by 
 the Divine Spirit. Time and space would fail us to speak of his 
 ministrations by the bedsides of the sick and the dying. The 
 paternal regard that he had for the poor of his parish bordered 
 almost on romance. How he visited them in their humble abodes ! 
 How he sat down at the end of every year with one or more of his 
 elders and rigidly scrutinized the demauds of every claimant upon 
 the bounty of the session I How much discrimination he observed 
 in dispensing the charities which the accumulated Church collec- 
 tions, added to the gifts of private friends, had placed at his 
 disposal ! 
 
 But perhaps the noblest trait of his disposition, one liable to 
 mis-interpretation, was that which irresistibly prompted him to 
 sympathize with the misfortunes of the unfortunate. Whether it 
 was the case of one unjustly stigmatized by an unfeeling world, or 
 whether it was that of a weak brother who had yielded to tempta- 
 tion, no appeal was ever made to iiini for aid or comfort \\\ vain. 
 To stand by a friend in need ; to shield him from obloquy ; to 
 relieve him from present want; *o defend him, if he could; to 
 mitigate, if it were possible, a deserved punishment ; to bring up 
 again such an one to a position of usefulness and respectability, 
 that was the highest gratification which he could propose to himself. 
 It was not that he connived at the fault ; but, against the principle 
 
It 
 
 ••i^ 
 
 LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 
 
 165 
 
 of keeping a man down who had inadvertently fallen, ho invariably 
 protested. 
 
 For about ten years preceding his death, the rheumatic attacks 
 to which he had been occasionally subject, became more frequent 
 and severe. An asthmatic affection, with which he had also been 
 sometimes troubled, grew upon him with advancing years. More 
 recently, having suffered at invervals from irregular action of the 
 heart, it became necessary for him to intrust his late worthy and 
 able assistant and succes.sor, Mr. P.iton, with the burden of the 
 pastoral work. It was not, however, till the dispensation of the 
 communion in October last, upon which occasion he preached and 
 presided, that the state of his health became a matter of solicitude 
 to his friends. He was advised by his medical attendant to abstain 
 altogether from pulpit duties, and although he did so for a time, 
 he yielded to the strong desire which he had to preach to his con- 
 gregation on the last Sabb:ith of the year, the same sermon that he 
 preached that day forty-three years before — his first Sabbath in 
 Montreal. 
 
 The last occasion on which he pre;iched was' on Sabbath, the 
 23rd of January, three weeks before his death, when he spoke for 
 fifty-five minutes from the text. " It was winter. " 
 
 The effort was tuo much for him. He felt seriously unwell the 
 next day, and for several days after, but he rallied sufficiently to 
 take a short drive on the following Thursday. On Friday, the 
 28th, " the old L'octor " was seen in the streets of Montreal for 
 the last time. A little group of friends gathered round his sleigh 
 at the Post Ofhce, where he had halted to mail his last letters for 
 Scotland. Few were the words spoken, but the ominous looks of 
 
*■ 
 
 IGG 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 one and anothnr told that tlio pale ensign of death was seen to bo 
 stealing over liis forehead. Tlic picture then imprinted on memory 
 was not that of a noble ship wrecked on a foreign strand, but, 
 rather, of a dismantled man of war, riding quietly at anchor, in safe 
 moorings — the last round of ammunition expended, the battlefought 
 and won — the colours still nailed to the mast — awaiting orders to be 
 refitted. And as he took leave of us, and directed his course by the 
 old familiar way, imagination overheard the parting soliloquy, — 
 Farewell crowded thoroughfare! Farewell city of palaces! Fare- 
 well dear old St. Andrew's Church, beautiful in thy ruins I Fare- 
 well to wealth, pomp, fashion : to ambition, applause and fame I 
 To earth .farewell I '^ I have a building of God, an house not made 
 with hands, eterngl in the heavens. " 
 
 After this there cime two weeks of great bodily weaknoss and 
 severe suffering, of mortal conflict with the last enemy ; two weeks 
 during which love and friendship, kindred and acquaintance waited 
 upon him with tend^rest regard, and during which he daily received, 
 with inexpressible satisfuction, the consolations of religion at the 
 hands of a brother minister. Then came " the messenger of Peace 
 that calls the soul to Heaven. " 
 
 The funeral took place from his late residence in City Council- 
 lors-street, on the Thursday following, when a large concourse 
 assembled within and without the dwelling. Soon after the 
 appointed hour the funeral cortege wis fori^iod an 1 proceeded to 
 St Paul's, which had been placed at the disposal of the Trustees 
 of St. Andrew's Church. The order of procession was as follows : 
 The hearse, with four ministers and four elders, as pall-bearers, 
 
 H*- 
 
 * 
 
Hr^ 
 
 ■* 
 
 *^ 
 
 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 107 
 
 walking on either side. There immediately followed the liearse> 
 Dr. Mathieson's two sons and the numerous connections of the 
 family. Then came the Moderator and the Clerk of Synod 
 dressed in their robes, followed by the clerfjjy of the Presbytery of 
 Montraal, and by a number of the clergy of other denominations. 
 After these, the elders of other congregations, members cf St- 
 Andrew's congregation, the St. Andrew's Society, and a largo 
 representation of all classes of the community. On arriving at 
 the Churoli, the coffin, literally covered- with exquisite flowers, was 
 placed in front of the pulpit, which, together with the screen of 
 the choir, was appropriately draped in black cloth, giving to the 
 whole scene a very solemn and impressive effect. Every part of 
 the capacious and beautiful structure was filled, and amongst tho 
 many that were observed to be present was the venerable minister 
 of Cornwall, the lleverend Dr. Urquhart, who is the only clerical 
 Contemporary of the deceased now living. The ministers of tho 
 Montreal Presbytery present were Dr. Muir, Dr. Jenkins, Messrs. 
 Simpson, McDonald, Sym, Patterson, Masson, Thomas Fraser, 
 Joshua Fraser, Donald lloss, B.D., Campbell, Durr, and BluckJ 
 Queen's College was represented by the very llev. Principal 
 Snodgrass and Professor McKerras ; Toronto Presbytery, by tho 
 llev. Kenneth McLennan; and that of Quebec by the Rev. Mr. 
 Tanner of feherbrooke. Among the ministers of other denomina- 
 tions present were noticed Dr. De Si)la, the Jewish Rabbi, tho 
 Uev. John Cordner, Rev. Canon Bancroft, Canon Balch, Dr. 
 Taylor, Dr. Wilkes, 31r. Kllegood, Mr. Uumoulin, Mr. Carmichael 
 and Mr. Gibson, together with several others whose names we did 
 not Icurn. 
 
 ■/ 
 
 ■* 
 
^' 
 
 108 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MATFIIESON, D,D. 
 
 The services were conducted in a very impressive manner by 
 the Rev. Dr. Jenkins. After repotting the Lord's prayer, four 
 verses. of the 5l^rd piiraphraae were sung, commencing with the 
 lines : 
 
 "Take comfort, Christians, when your friends 
 
 In Jesus frtll asleep : 
 Their bettor being never ends; 
 
 Wliy then dejected weep?'' 
 Tlieso verses wore sung to the plaintive tune of " Comfort." 
 The last line, " Why then dejected weep?" being repeated at the 
 
 end of cMch verso, produced an offjct very toachiiig an I in perfect 
 harmony with the occasion. The singing was led by tlie organist 
 
 and choir of St. Andrew's congregation. Suitable portions of 
 
 Scripture from both the Testaments having been read, an ('lo(|uent 
 
 and appropriate funeral address was delivered by the prosiiling 
 
 minister, in substance as follows : 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 Fathers, Bretiirex, and Friends. 
 I might well shrink from undertaking the solemn task which 
 falls to me to day, and lay upon others this sad service of love and 
 regard for the venerable man whose remains we arc bearitig to the 
 tomb ; the more, because there are here ministers who have known 
 him during nearly the whole course of his official career. The 
 position which I hold in the Church, however, and the daily 
 intercourse which I have enjoyed with our departed brother during 
 the last three weeks, have led to my being pressed into a service, 
 which, I may say, could be performed by no one who entertains a 
 deeper reverence than I do for his noblo, upright character. 
 
 * 
 
■* 
 
 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 100 
 
 This is not the occasion for presenting a detailed history of the 
 life and work of the late minister of St. Andrew's Church, or for 
 sketchin<^ the features, intellectual and moral, which so strongly 
 characterized him. This is an office which will bo discharged by 
 others, I trust, at a more fitting time. To day, rather let us seize 
 upon the few thoughts which those solemn scenes suggest, and 
 make such personal application of them as may tend to our comfort 
 and improvement. Lot us see whether we cannot become better 
 ministers, better Christians, better men, by the part we take in 
 this burial. .- 
 
 Death, in tliis instance, has severed many a tie. The parental 
 tie is severed, and the children of our friend are driv(m to look to 
 Him who " in His holy h:ibitation " is " a Father of the father- 
 less." On their behalf wo also cast our eye heavenward, and 
 upward send our prayers for their comfort, their guidance, their 
 salvation. The tie of friendship is broken. For who can doubt 
 that, during the residence of such a man for forty years in one 
 place, there were formed friendships of the firmest and tenderest 
 character. The pastoral tie is rent. How strong that tie becomes 
 through the growtli of years you know who have seen this vene- 
 rable minister go in and out among you for almost two generations. 
 The Presbyterial tie is sundered. We, his co-presbyters, are called 
 to mourn the loss of the father of our Presbytery, the father, 
 indeed, of our church in this country. Much might we say of him 
 in these .several relations: of his faithfulness, of his courage, of 
 his self-denying work when he was left almost alone in our Church 
 here, of hisjourneyings oft, of his perils, of his anxious care of the 
 
 churches, of his faithful counsels in sickness and sorrow, of his 
 
 W 
 
 ^. 
 
 ■^ 
 
170 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDEU MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 consideration, almost to a fault, for the failings of others, of his 
 tenderness in seeking to restore those wl»o were overtaken in error 
 or sin, of the faithful nature of his friendships, of his gcnerousness 
 to the poor, of the comforting and hope-inspiring words with which 
 ho was over ready to sustain the hearts of the dying. Not that wo 
 would set him forth as faultless I Those lips, now cloged in death, 
 would reprove us, could they be but opened, were wo for ono 
 moment to attempt tlie concealment of frailties and in)perfcctiona 
 which our brother consciously shared with us all, and which are 
 the common hcrit;ige of our now fallen humanity. . What we do 
 say is that in him whose remains lie before us, wo have lost much 
 that was valuable to us all, whether in the family, in the congre- 
 gation, or in the Church at largo, that in him were qualities of 
 strength, of firmness, of endurance, of courage, of self- forget ful- 
 ness and of faith, upon the like of which we shall seldom, if ever, 
 look again. Had he lived in the days when the Covenanters laid 
 down their lives for their principles, he would have been among 
 the first of Scottish martyrs. In these characteristics he has left 
 to his children, and to his brethren in Christ's ministry, a noble 
 legacy which they will do well sacredly to hold and cherish. 
 
 He is gone ! We shall see no more tl;r.r. noble form ! Wc shall 
 not again hear his voice giving utterance to those words of strength 
 and chasteness and beauty in which he was wont to clothe his 
 no less strong and chaste and beautiful thoughts. Those lips will 
 never again convey comfort to the sorrowful, and strength to the 
 dying. We bow to the will of Providence. Upon Him whose 
 throne is built on righteousness, we rest. " Clouds and darkness 
 are round about Him : righteousness and judgment arc the 
 
 •i* 
 
t 
 
 ^ 
 
 PUNERATi SRRVrCES. 
 
 171 
 
 habitation of TTia Throno." Wc mark it as an cvidcnco 
 of Dlvino love that our revered friend was so long spared to 
 us, to counsel us by his wisdom, to oncourajro us by his example, 
 to cheer us by his friendship. And that he has dtoil full of days 
 and full of honour, surrounded by affectionate children, and faithful 
 relatives and friends who have watched and cared for him, with, 
 I may say, unexampled devotion, we accept also as a mark of the 
 Divine favour. But that in the midst of very great sufferings he 
 should havQ retained his faith and courage, that in the certain 
 prospect of dissi)lution he should haVc remained calm and unshaken, 
 that death should have become to him a welcome visitant, that un- 
 flinchingly and without even the shadow of fear he should have 
 cried out for release — this is an evi<lence of Divine mercy, the 
 strength and depth of which I cannot find words to express. 
 
 During a ministry of three-and- thirty years, I have witnessed 
 many a death-bed : T never witnessed one in which Christian 
 faith seemed so strong and abiding, and, at the same time, so char- 
 acteristic. Often, very often, did our friend cry out in his petitions, 
 " Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly ! Into Thy hands I commend 
 my spirit. Thou hast redeemed me. Lord God of truth. " Then he 
 would dwell upon the faith of the old patriarchs and try to make 
 it his own ; and his it truly was — simple, strong, sustaining. " The 
 Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song, He also is become my 
 salvation. " But the words on which he seemed most to rest were 
 those of the Psalmist already quoted, "into Thy hands I commend 
 my spirit, Thou hast redocmeil me. " Of our version of the 
 psalms, specially dear to hiin were the 'j;]rd. 46th and ll(5th. 
 His favourite death-bed hymn was the 5th, for the reading of 
 
 .♦J, 
 
>¥ 
 
 172 
 
 LIFE OP ALEXANDER MaTHIESON, D.D. 
 
 which he often called, and wliicli I myself had the privilege of 
 reading to him a few hours before liis doatli. 
 
 " The iiour of '".y depiirtiire's come, 
 '■ I hear the voice that calls me home, 
 " At Inst, Lord, let troubles cease 
 " And lei Thy servant die in peace." 
 
 If you ask nie in what fiith he died, I could not ^ivo you a 
 truer formula than the 3rd verse of this hyi' n : 
 
 '•' Not in mine innocence I !rii.^t 
 
 " I bosv before Thee in the dust, 
 
 " And through my Saviour's blood alone 
 
 " I look for mercy at Thy Throne. " 
 
 I could toll you a great deal more of what our friend tlioiight 
 and said and believed, but it is not needful. 
 
 Why do I say aught at all ? Because I feel it right that you 
 should know how yonr minister died. Right that you should be 
 told that the truths which lie so often spoke to you from the pulpit, 
 and at the sick-bed, suiliced to sustain hun in the trying hour; 
 ''jve him victory ever doubt, over fear, over death itself. 
 
 And nnw we bear away to '"-.^ last resting place this noble and 
 once majestic form ! Corruptible, it sliall put on incorruption ; 
 niiu't.d, it shall put on iunnortality ; sown in weakness, it shall be 
 raise.] in power ; sown in corruption it shall be raised in incorvup- 
 tion ; sown a natu"al body, it sliall be raised a spiritual body ; even 
 in that day when the trumpet of the Archangel shall sound, and 
 shall summon from their graves the right'^ous dead. Tlien shall 
 be bmnu'Iir to puf.s the saying that is written " Death is swallowed 
 up in victory ! " 
 
 »;^- 
 
 ■^ 
 
>4- 
 
 ■* 
 
 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 173 
 
 Prayer was then oifercd for tlio bcrojivcd family, for the contrc- 
 gregation, for tlie uinistry and eldersliip, and for the whole Catholic 
 Cliurcli , after which the coniiropjation joined in sinewing th'. 3rd 
 and 5th verses of the fifth Ilynni, and received the Apostolic 
 Benediction. 
 
 A large number of tlic members of St. Andrew's Church availed 
 themselves of the opportunity afforded tliem to take a last look at 
 the placid features of their late minister, while the doleful, deep- 
 sounding notes of the " Dead iMarch in Saul " were pealed forth 
 from the great organ. 
 
 A greater m;uk of funeral respect has seldom been paid to a 
 citizen of Montreal. Taken as a whole it was a grand spoctaole, 
 and tlie ceremotiv was of a most impressive character. On leaving 
 the church m.: procession reformed and proceeded to Mount Royal 
 Cemetery, in one of the vaults of which was deposited all th-'*' is 
 mortal of one concerning whom it may be said, as of th'^ great 
 Scottish llel'ormer : " Hkrio mks one who nkvku I'karkd 
 
 THE FACE OF lAlAN. " 
 
 At a meeting of St. Andrew's congregation, held on the 21-th 
 February. 1870, the following minute in reference to their late 
 minister, was unanimously adopted ; 
 
 '■ The congregation of St. Andrew's Ciiurcli thiidc it becoming 
 in them to express the very high estimation in which they held 
 their latt! niueh lamented pastor, the Rev. Alexander Mathicson, 
 I).i).,and to recoirnizc hisgre.it services to the Church, and to 
 the cause ol' religion in Canada, as well as to the congregation in 
 particular; also, to bear testimony to his prc-eminvut viitues, 
 
iWW 
 
 ^■ 
 
 tjf' 
 
 ■^ 
 
 174 
 
 LIFE OF alexan:jer mathieson, d.d. 
 
 dignity of chnrncter, large hearted benevolence, geniality of dis- 
 position, true nobility of nature, joined with simple piety and a 
 pure life, which so endeared him to all, and, more especially, to 
 the congregation over wliioli ho so long presided, and to whom ho 
 dispensed the Bread of Life." 
 
 A minute of similar import to the foregoing, was also adopted 
 by the Kirk Session of St. Andrew's Cliurch, at their first meet- 
 ing, after the death of " their late Moderator, Pastor, and Friend." 
 
 The entire press of Canada joined in the general tribute of 
 respect that was paid to tlie memory of Dr. Mathieson, on the 
 announcement of his decease, thus affording a gratifying and con- 
 vincing proof that his many noble qualities of head and heart were 
 duly appreciated by his follow subjects of all creeds and denomina- 
 tions, of all nationalities and shades of politics. Wo h;ivo only 
 room for the concluding passage of an article occuppying tv.o 
 columns of the Montreal TL'rald, in which particular allusion is 
 made to his coimection with the St. Andrew's S 'ciotyof Montreal. 
 "Of Dr. Mathieson it may be said that he was a universal 
 favourite with all ho came in contact, being much beloved by his 
 flock, who looked to him as tlicir Father. To all he was affable 
 atid courteous, the poor being special objects of his care ; and, as 
 he said on his retirement from office in the St. Andrew's Society, 
 in the fall of 1809, his aim was not to foster pauperism, but to 
 give the applicants for aid, first, work, and then assistance. His 
 connection with the St. Andrew's Society wa.s from the date of its 
 foundation in 18;{5, when he was elected its first chaplain. On 
 t'-o 30th November, 1836, he preached the first annual sermon, 
 
 
* 
 
 A MONUMENT TO HIS MEMORY. 
 
 175 
 
 ■^ 
 
 and, in 1868, he preached his last sermon in connection with it, 
 from the words, " walk about Zion," &c. His discourses were 
 peculiarly appropriate to the occasions on which they were 
 delivered, and so touching were some of his allusions to the 
 " land of the mountain and the flood," and her glorious Institu- 
 tions, that his hearers were visibly affected. The Reverend Doctor 
 was twenty-five times elected chaplain of this Benevolent Society, 
 and was always regular in attendance ' the committee meetings, 
 and ever ready to assist them in their labours of love. 
 
 Photography has preserved for us some admirable and life-like 
 portraits of the late venerable minister of St. Andrew's Church. 
 But it is worthy of considei'ation whether or not a substantial and 
 enduring monument should be erected to the memory of so worthy 
 a citizen of Montreal as Dr. Mathieson was. Along-side of the 
 Anglican Cathedral, an elaborate and costly monument is in course 
 of construction to commemorate the services to his Church, during 
 eighteen years, of the late excellent Bishop of Montreal. If wluit 
 we have said, and what others have said, who were less likely than 
 we to be biassed in their estimate of Dr. Muthieson's character and 
 services be true, the Presbyterians of Montreal would do honour 
 to themselves in placing along-side of St, Andrew's Church, a 
 etatue of its late minister, who was for a much longer period the 
 recognized head and representative of Presbyterianism in the city. 
 Whatever expense might be incurred in carrying out such a 
 proposal would be cheerfully shared by all the congreg itions of 
 the Church. 
 
 ■^ 
 
^' 
 
 * 
 
 176 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 Extract from a sermon prcaclicd in St. Andrew's Church, Toronto, 
 by the Rev ^^" Barclay, on Psahn cvii., 7, " He led them 
 forth by tlie right way that they might go to a city of habi- 
 tation." 
 
 It is unspeakably precious and consoling, amid earthly separations, 
 to think that Lho completed journey of a true Christian life is but 
 the arrival at the end of " the right way " which leads to " the 
 city of iiabitation." There are households amongst us where such 
 testimony has but recently been borne to the value of religion as 
 a guide through that way, to the rest on high. Valuable are the 
 lessons which thus come — whether from high or from humble 
 homes — loud the calls thus uttered, strong the inducements thus 
 presented to us all, to be '• followers of those who are now inherit- 
 ing the promises." 
 
 In thus reviewing the te.Kt. in the admonitions it lifts, my 
 thoughts turn with .«addened interest to an old and much-valued 
 friend, recently departed, whose p''oniiuent position in the Church, 
 during a lengthened ministerial life, entitles him to public notice 
 from any of her pulpits; and ovin* whoso unexpected decease I desire 
 liere to give expression to my own heartfelt sympathies, in the 
 regret I feel at the separation from us of one so worthy of all 
 honour, whose face we shall not again behold in this land of living- 
 men. I refer to the late Rev. Dr. Mathieson of Jlontreal, whose 
 name has been so long and intimately associated with the history 
 of the Church of Scotland in this land, and whose many noble 
 qualities secured for him the re;-ipect and regard of a large circle 
 of friends, who highly appreciated his worth, and will long chou.'?h 
 his memory. 
 
 *~ 
 
 ^i 
 
^. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM DR. BARCLAY S SliRMON. 
 
 177 
 
 Of a commanding presonco and dignified deportment, vlnsclfish , 
 and free froai all that savoured of a mean or sordid nature — pes 
 sessing warm sympathies, and of a generous disposition, with 
 great kindness of heart — he was peculiarly fitted to occupy a posi. 
 tion of promineno3 among his fellow-men, whilst he enjoyed in 
 largo raoasure, the estesiu of those wh) wore priviloged to associate 
 with him. 
 
 Coming'to this country previous to the organization of the Synod 
 he has thus been connected with our Church, in active minis- 
 terial service, for nearly half a century. Occupying as ho did a 
 leading plico in our Communion, as t'le minister of oul; of tho 
 most important of our congrogitions — 'us first an I only minis- 
 terial charge; fitte 1 by his tal^nt^, by his wjight of character, 
 and by his indomitable energy and stei Ifastuoss of purpose, to 
 takealeidiug pirtii t!ii C'.iurc'i's cv.iusels and in conducting 
 its public aff lirs ; warmly attached to the Church of Scotland and 
 desirous of imitati.ig, or emulr.ting, all that was praiseworthy in 
 the venerable Parent, by a close adherence to its model in organi- 
 zing and consolidating our Church in this land, his influence was 
 felt in the leading emergencies in its iiistory. lie has left his 
 impress on many of its acts, an 1 had a largo share in the shaping 
 of its policy and in tho direction of its aff lirs ; whilst in all that 
 concerned the welfare of the Church he took the deepest interest, 
 and devoted thereto no small portion of his time and energy. 
 
 To the consideration of all questions affecting the position and 
 public interests of the Church he brought a sound judgment and 
 thoroughly honest convictions, which he never sibandoncd for the 
 suggestions, however plausible, of a doubtful expediency ; whilst he 
 
 •J*- 
 
>4- 
 
 "* 
 
 178 
 
 LIFE OF ALEXANDER MATIIIESON, D.D. 
 
 uniformly exhibited a straightforwardness of purpose in the 
 firm assertion of what ho believed to be right, and to wliich he 
 clung with a resoluteness not easily if ever shaken. He might bo 
 mistaken in some of his plans, but he was never other than sincere 
 in upholding them. Stable in his friendships, of a genial tempera- 
 ment, and ever ready by his counsel and his means to h(5lp all who 
 sought his aid, he might sometimes be deceived by those who 
 abused his confidence, yet in high principle and generous sentiment 
 he showed the true nobility of his nature, the disinterestedness of 
 his friendship, and the reality of his sterling worth. 
 
 A perspicuous and graceful writer, with a naturally vigorous 
 intellect and of a philosophic turn ; having a mind well stored 
 with the acquirements of early study, and thoroughly embued with 
 the importance and magnitude of the great themes to which the 
 eff'orts of the pulpit are devoted ; and with a heart quietly and un- 
 ostentatiously responding to their influence, he to )khigh rank as an 
 intelligent and instructive expounder of God's Word, to which hon- 
 ourable and responsible work so many years of his life have been 
 devoted. 
 
 Though not usually demonstrative in his piety he was never- 
 theless true to his reli;ious convictions, and clear in his apprehen- 
 sions of divine truth ; and his latter end, as testified to by those 
 who were privileged to witness the gradually closing scene of his 
 long and honourei' life, was distinguished by a peculiar firmness 
 of faith, and trustful dopcndenoj on the Saviour, to whom he looked 
 with unshaken confidence in the prospect of dissolution. 
 
 I have been expounding to you this day some of the features of 
 a true christian as set forth in the text, and the character of " the 
 
EXTRACTS FROM DR. BARCLAY'S SERMON. 
 
 179 
 
 * 
 
 Way'' by which he walks in the pilgiiiu.igo of life, with as much 
 clearness as my own apprclieiision of them enabled mo, and with 
 such fulness as the present opportunity has afforded ; but I point 
 you also to the record of the like truth as written in the history of 
 a departed believer, whose aim was to walk in that way, huml'ly 
 and unostentatiously servinjj; the Lord. I To hail passed the three 
 score years and ten usually allotted to man, and the way for him 
 was therefore not a " s/ior<" one. Whether, and to whatextent, amid 
 the dark shadows of bereavements which passed over his dwelling, 
 and other tri ils that skirt the pith of life, it may have been to him, 
 not the " easy way,'' nor the w;iy that was free from perplexities, 
 we cannot fully tell. But the way, we trust, it has been for him 
 to the "city of habitation." " Behold the upright, for the jattcr 
 end of that man is peice," 
 
 From many quarters, and in varied form.s, admonitions are per- 
 petually co.ning to parsuade us of the benofits of walking in '•' the 
 righ- way" as strangers and pilgrims oi< the earth — thus conse- 
 crating to Grod's service the talents, whether the two,or the ten, lie 
 has given us to "occupy," we may make the journey of life a pil- 
 grimage to the better land. Give heed then, to the lessons of true 
 wisdom ; walk in her ways as defined by Christ Himself, and 
 exemplified in His own holy life; cherish that truo hope which rests 
 on this Rock of Ages, as set forth in the great charter of our faith, 
 and commended to us by the life and death of the good and true 
 of our follow-men ; so that over your completed life there may at 
 length fall to be written in the language of truth an epitaph, eiu- 
 
 bc dying the sentiment of the toxt; '' He was ltd forth by the righ 
 
 Way tliat he might go to a city of habitation." 
 
 »i* 
 
-^ 
 
 *■ 
 
 luiural §nmm. 
 
 -^ 
 
 ^■ 
 
 ■^ 
 

* 
 
 In accordance with ecclesiastical custom the members of the 
 Presbytery of Montreal, who attended Dr. Mathieson's funeral met 
 in the vestrf of St. Paul's Cliurch, immediately after tho inter- 
 ment. The Rev. Donald Ross,, B.D., acting as Moderator: when 
 tho Rev. John Jenkins, D.D."* was appointed to preach to the 
 congregation of St. Andrew's, on the following Sabbath, and also 
 to act as moderator of tho Kirk Session, until the next moctinij: of 
 the Presbytery. 
 
 The funeral sermon that now follows, was accordingly preached 
 by Dr. Jenkins, on the 20th of February, 1870, in the Hall of tho 
 Normal School, in Belmont street, where the congregation of St. 
 Andrew's have worshipped since the destruction of their Church by 
 fire. 
 
 I 
 

 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 % 
 
 pym 
 
 <% ^ 
 
 '^ 
 
 /y. 
 
 ^1 
 
 
 1^ /-/^y 
 
 >^ 
 
 (9 
 
 / 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 t m 
 ^ 1^ 
 
 M llllili 
 
 12.2 
 
 12.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 
 1,25 
 
 1.4 1.6 
 
 
 M 
 
 6" 
 
 ► 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WES'' MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
■'^. 
 
 W' 
 
 i-p. 
 
^■ 
 
 ■•* 
 
 *■ 
 
FUJVERAL SERMOJY. 
 
 Behold, I shew you a mystery : We shall not all sleep, 
 
 BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, IN A MOMENT, IN THE 
 
 TWINKLINO of an eye, at the last TRUMP ; FOR THE 
 
 TRUMPET SHdLL SOUND, AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED 
 
 INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED, &C.— I Corin- 
 thians XV, 51. 
 
 Pliny, an accomplished writer and philosopher of ancient 
 times, maintained the opinion that two things are impossible 
 to the Creator : One, The bcstowmeut upon mortals of endless life, 
 the other. The resurrection of the dead. He speaks, elsewhere, 
 of the resuscitation of the dead as "a childish, doting story" 
 J3schylus, a disciple of the, I'ythagorean school, was also of opinion 
 that it is beyond the power of Deity to raise from death a human 
 body. This was the universal doctrine of ancient speculation. 
 We read, in the Acts of the Apostles, that, in Athens, certain 
 philosophera of the h^picuroans and of the Stoics encountered Paul, 
 crying out, " What will this babbler say ?" and, " Ileseometh to be a 
 
 ■* 
 
A. 
 
 * 
 
 18(5 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 setter forth of strange gocla?" Why this reproach ? The historian 
 supplies the reason : " Because he preached unto them Jesus and 
 tlie resurrection." From these sources, and from otliers which 
 might be readily named, we learn that the world by wisdom kn^-w 
 not the doctrine which is so authoritatively announced and so 
 strikingly illustrated in this remarkable chapter. 
 
 This doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is a doctrine of 
 pure revelation. The ancients needed the first sentence of the Bible 
 to prepare them for their researches into the laws of nature. Their 
 ignorance of the fact that " in the beginning God created the 
 heavens and the earth," led to their acceptance of the theory of the 
 eternity of matter. So, they who thought the creation of something 
 out of nothing impossible, were ill-prepared to admit the resurrec- 
 tion of corrupted, dissolved and dissipated bodies. Even the 
 doctrine of the immortality of the soul was held with doubt ; and 
 was taught, not so much because it was believed, as that it was 
 deemed a powerful check upon the morals of the masses. Nu- 
 merous proofs of this might be supplied from the Greek and Latin 
 classics. There woie vague imaginings of immortality as the end of 
 this> Ki itable and sorrowful life; but they never assumed a palpable 
 conception. How uncertain were the views of the old philosophers 
 on the subject of a future state may be seen from the avidity with 
 wlilch they embraced the doctrine of the transmigration of souls, 
 which Pythagoras first learned from the Hindoos, and then dis- 
 seminatcc^ throughout Greece. 
 
 I mention these facts that you may be assisted to appreciate the 
 value of the 'Jible ; especially of that portion of the Sacred Writ- 
 ings which constitutes the basis of Christian teaching — to appreciate 
 
* 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 18T 
 
 the elevation to which you are raised by your connection with 
 Christianity. I would you should feel how superior in true 
 subliuiity and certainty of teaching is the Gospel system to every 
 other. I confidently challenge a comparison of the clearest deliver- 
 ances of antiquity on this and kindred subjects, with the clear, con- 
 secutive, profuunil, eloquent and conclusive reasoning which Paul 
 presents to us in this chapter. There is a power in the Apostle's 
 language, a felicity of illustration, a transparency of instruction, 
 which seem to cast every other author into the shade. It is the 
 ligiit of day quenching the glimmering of tiny stars! It is the 
 glory of the sun dissipating the clouds of uncertainty, dispelling 
 the darkness of error ! 
 
 The obscurity which enveloped the teaching of the Old Tes- 
 tament on the subject of immortality and the re.>!urrection was 
 partially relieved when Jesus cried out before the sepulchre of 
 Lazarus, " I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in 
 Me, though he were dead yet shall he live, and whosoever livcth 
 and believeth in Me shall never die." Still further was this 
 obscurity dispelled when the Redeem?'' was Himself raised from the 
 dead by the glory of the Father. 
 
 In this chapter another, may I not say the last, step is taken. 
 Every difficulty is cleared away ; every doubt dissipated ; the whole 
 subject stated with unquestionable authority. Our Apostle has left 
 nothing to be added. It is as tliough he had exhausted the subject ; 
 as though, in truth, he had stretched forth his hand and snatched 
 away every remnant of the veil which before intercepted man's 
 view into the future. One truth he enunciates which was never 
 before disclosed — a truth which, up to the moment when his pen 
 
 Hh 
 
 ^ 
 
* 
 
 188 
 
 t'tNERAL SilRMON. 
 
 B| 
 
 inscribed otir text, was involved in tDystcry; a truth, ignorance of* 
 wliich constituted an obstinate difficulty in the investigation of the 
 wliole subject. Granted that the bodies of the dead are to be raised ; 
 granted that the scattered dust of mortals shall be collected and 
 re-constructed into glorious bodies; what is to become of the 
 millions that shall be alive at the appearing of Christ ? Shall their 
 bodies remain as they are ? — or shall they die and their remains be 
 scattered over the earth for a brief time so that they may share 
 resurrection blessings ? Moses throws no light upon the subject ; 
 the prophets do not unveil the mystery ; even Christ is silent; and 
 We have no knowledge till Paul steps forth and says : " Behold, I 
 show you a mystery : we shall not all sleep but we fahall all be 
 changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last 
 trump. " 
 
 I have thought that nothing could be more instructive or com- 
 forting to you in the solemn circumstances in which we meet than 
 a consideration of this great subject. You will not expect me, after 
 what was said on occasion of the burial of your late revered pastor, to 
 speak to you again of his qualities as a minister, as a Christian and 
 as a man. You have learned what they were by long observation, and 
 by the largest experience. Let me rather raise your thoughts this 
 morning, the thoughts especially of you who have lately been 
 bereaved, to that " life and immortality "which the Gospel brings to 
 light, and the hope of which is alone our support in the bereavements 
 of time; — that immortal life of believers which is " hid with (Jhrist in 
 God." In the light ol revelation we regard our venerable and vene- 
 rated friend not as dead, but as asleep ; resting in Christ until ho 
 shall awake in the morning of the resurrection. Paganism looks into 
 
It^l- 
 
 ■•* 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 189 
 
 human graves despondingly, and takes a last, an eternal farewell of 
 those who die. Christianity commits the bodies of believers to 
 the grave with confidence and hope akin to those with which the 
 husbandman casts seed into the ground. Your late minister 
 sleepeth I But methinks I hear the voice of Jesus whispering in our 
 ear the hope-giving words, " Your pastor, brother, friend shall 
 rise again ! " The trumpet shall sound, and then the Saviour will 
 come to awake him out of sleep 1 
 
 The text furnishes a description of what shall take place at the 
 sounding of the last trump, and of the triumphant scenes which 
 shall follow. 
 
 " The trumjiet shall sound. " Elsewhere it is called " the trump 
 of God;" again, " the last trump." The reference is to the coming 
 of the Lord, when He shall descend from heaven with the voice of 
 the Archangel, and when " the dead in Christ shall rise first." 
 
 There was the sound of a trumpet on Sinai at the giving of the 
 law ; it shook the mountain to its base, and the people did exceed- 
 ingly fear and quake. The voice of the last trump shall shake the 
 world. AVe infer that there will be but one blast, for it shall be 
 accomplished " in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye ;" be this 
 as it may, it shall be so deep, so loud, so thrilling, that there shall 
 be no part of this vast earth in which it shall not be heard, no 
 cavern of the dead which its sound shall not enteV, no sea nor ocean 
 the depths of which shall not be penetrated by its voice : " The 
 trumpet shall sound." 
 
 " And the dead shall be raised incort'uptible. " This, wo 
 have said, is a doctriue of pure revelation. The attempt has 
 been made to prove the future resurrection of the dead oa 
 
190 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 simply natural principles. It has been wliolly unsuccessful. Con- 
 trariwise, an effort has been made, on the same principles, to 
 demonstrate its impossibility. I shall not enumerate the objections 
 •which have been raised against the doctrine of the resurrection. 
 I resolve them by a reference to the Almighty, with whom all 
 things are possible ; and by a reference also to the Word of God, 
 from which there is no appeal. 
 
 St. Paul, in the chapter before us, speaks of the resurrection of 
 the rigJUeous dead. Respecting the wicked it is only needful for 
 me to say here, that they too shall rise ; but it shall be " to shame 
 and everlasting contempt." 
 
 The righteous dead shall be raised incorruptible. It has 
 been attempted to fritter away this teaching of our apostle by 
 the theory that the future bodies of the saints shall not be iden- 
 tical with those which they now have. You see at once, that to 
 accept such a theory would be, virtually, to abandon the doctrine 
 of the resurrection altogether. If the same body be not meant, 
 then were it a contradiction in terms to call it a resurrection. That 
 it will be greatly changed we learn from both the statements and the 
 illustrations contained in this chapter. No longer natural, it shall 
 be a spiritual body ; no longer earthly, it shall be a heavenly body. 
 But that its identity will be maintained — maintained in some suffi- 
 cient sense, is clearly given to us as the opinion of the Apostles, 
 The objection to the statement of the Apostle in the text, 
 has been urged on the ground of the ra;ignitude of the 
 miracle which a general resurrection involves. It is deemed too 
 stupendous for credibility. In the estimation of these objectors it 
 cannot be that the scattered dust of the innumerable dead shall be 
 
 ■* 
 
*■ 
 
 •* 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 191 
 
 collected and re-formed ; but it may be that other bodies will be 
 constructed from other dust. The Creator could, did, construct a 
 body for man, yea, an immortal body, from the dust of the earth, 
 impressing it with grace and beauty and even majesty ; but now that 
 this body has returned " to the dust as it was," He cannot 
 re-construct it into a body like unto Christ's glorious body I It is 
 too much to suppose that the Divine Being could watch over this 
 dust for five or seven thousand years, and at the end of this period 
 re-invest it with life and beauty ! Could he care for this dust and 
 protect it for a day ? why not for a thousand years ? seeing that 
 " one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years 
 as one day." Narrow, imperfect must be the views of these sceptical 
 Christians concerning the perfections of God ! What is all time to 
 Him who inhabiteth eternity ? What the preservation of the dust 
 of millions to Him who is almighty and omnipresent ? What 
 the care of dead bodies, as they lie entombed in the earth, to Him 
 who cares for fifteen hundred millions of living bodies every moment 
 of every year ? This corruptible shall [)ut on incorruption ; this 
 mortal shall put on immortality. The dead shall hear the voice 
 of the Son of God ; and they that hear shall live." " All that are 
 in t\\Q graves shall hear the voice of the Son of Man. " Take 
 these texts ; accept them in their simple meaning ; give them 
 a place in your intellects and your hearts. When you lay 
 the remains of the departed in the grave draw comfort from 
 the promise that from this very sepulchre the stone shall bo 
 removed, that this very grave shall be re-opened, that this very 
 body shall be re-animated with life, that these ears shall hear the 
 last trump, these eyes, now dark and sunken, gaze with rapture on 
 
 •* 
 
^ 
 
 192 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 the Soa of God, the Saviour, these lipg, closed and livid, shout the 
 noble pooan, " Tluinkg bo unto God who giveth us the victory 
 througli our Lord Jesus Christ." You have laid in yonder ceme- 
 tery a father, a pastor, a husband, a wife, a child. Sorrow not as 
 those without hope. They only sleep, and arc gathering new 
 vigour for the morning of the resurrection and the day of eternity. 
 
 Emblems of the resurrection meet you on every hand. Nature 
 is full of them. See that worm, it lives, it crawls, it spins its silk, 
 it seems to die ; the chrysalis lies in torpor ; byand-bye it bursts 
 its shell, it expands its wings, and flies away with new life, invested 
 with a grace, a loveliness, a beauty which it did not before possess. 
 This is a resurrection. Will you say that it is not the same worm 
 which crawled at your feet, that now attracts you by its grace and 
 loveliness ? What is morning but the resurrection of day from the 
 death of night ? Tiio diy dies, and is buried in silence and in dark- 
 ness; it bursts tlio tomb of night, and rises in glory. Hero, says 
 Tertullian,you h ivo before your eyes a daily emblem of the doctrine, 
 a diurnal resurrectiijn. Wliat is winter but death? The sap, the 
 life of vegetation, descends into the roots and is buried in the 
 ground ; the earth is covered with snow or crusted with frost, 
 and becomes one vast sepulchre ; but when spring appears, the 
 plants and flowers come out of their graves and rise in be luteous 
 life. Every seed as it falls from the tree is an emblom at once of 
 death and of the resurrection. It falls into the earth and rots ; 
 but it contains the germ of life, and in a little while sprouts and 
 shoots and lives agiiin in grace and vigour. 
 
 You reply, that tliesc facts in nature afford no proof of the 
 resurrection of the body. T know it. Hut they surely suggest both 
 
-* 
 
 *> 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON 
 
 193 
 
 the possibility and even probability of sucli a transformation. At 
 
 least there is no absurdity involved in this article of the Christian 
 creed, " I believe in the resurrection of *^o dead," natural science 
 being itself judge. There is point in the reproof and rejoinder of 
 Paul, " thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except 
 it die." 
 
 " This cornqytible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must 
 put on immortality.'^ It must, that it may become a fit caskot for the 
 glorified spirit ; for hov\ can that which is carnal, mortal and cor- 
 ruptible, enjoy that which is spiritual, immortal, and imperishable ? 
 Here you have the reason for the change which shall be wrought 
 in the bodies of those believers who shall be alive at the coming 
 of the Lord. Although they shall not die, yet sliall they undergo a 
 transformation equivalent to that which the raised dead .shall have 
 undergone; their bodies shall be made incorruptible, immortal, 
 like unto Christ's glorious body. Have we not here an incidental 
 proof of the identity of the resurrection of the body ? It will not be 
 denied that, in the case of those who remain unto the coming of 
 Christ, the same body shall be renewed and glorified. But you at 
 once give these a superiority for which you have no scriptural 
 warrant, if you deny the general identity of the raised and trans- 
 formed body. " The dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall 
 be changed." " This," says Paul in one of his Thessalonian 
 Epistles, " this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that wc 
 which remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not go before 
 them that are asleep, for the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven 
 with a shout, with the voice of the Arcliiingcl, and the trump of 
 God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are 
 
 * 
 
 ^<- 
 
 ^< 
 
194 
 
 rUNEKAL SlillMON. 
 
 ■1* 
 
 alive and remain bhall be cau<:,ht up together witii them in the 
 clouds, to meet the Lord in the air : and m shall wo over be with 
 the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 
 
 Contemplate the triumphant scenes which shall follow the resur- 
 rection and transformation of the bodies of the saints. 
 
 " Then shall hehromjht to pass the saying that is written, Death 
 is swallowed up in victory," This is a quotation from one of Lssiiah's 
 prophecies concerning Christ. You find it in the twenty-fifth 
 chapter : " He will swallow up death in victory I " The expression 
 suggests conflict. Strong aud protracted has been the conflict 
 between death and the saints of the Most High ! It still goes on. 
 But now the conflict shall bo ended; and the victory shall be 
 Christ's aud Ilis people's. The victory shall be yours, my brethren 
 as in anticipation it was that of your late Minister, when with joy 
 and trust he cried out, as life was ebbing, " Into Thy Hands I 
 conunend my spirit. Thou hast redeemed me. Lord God of trutii." 
 
 Look at the pledges of your future conquest over death : Go to 
 
 Zari'pliath, into the widow's house, and see death conquered by 
 
 the efFeetuul fervent prayer of righteous Elijah I Go to the grave 
 
 of Elisha, and behold germs of lil'e in the very bones of the 
 
 prophet! Go to Ezekiel's valley of vision, and see there death 
 
 dissipated by the breath of the Spirit ! You say it is only a parable. 
 
 Yet it proves that the reality is practicable. Go to Nain, aud see iu 
 
 the restoration of the widow's sou that death is held iu subjection 
 
 to the will of Jesus ! Go to the tomb of Lazarus, aud behold iu 
 
 his liberation from death's prison-house the power over death of the 
 
 voice of the Sou of God. Go ! Search the tomb of Christ, aud see 
 
 iu that vacated sepulijhrc, a pledge that He will at leugth "swalkw 
 
RHIH 
 
 
 jr. 
 
 f* 
 
 l>4 
 
 ■* 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 lor, 
 
 up (lonth in victory, " and i.liat mortality s1im!1 be fiiwalinwccl up 
 of life." Death shall be swallowed up 1 Complete fihall be tho 
 conquest. Death sliall be sv/allowcd up I never again to appear ; 
 T.over more to exert his power or use liis sting. Deatli shall bo 
 swallowed up I for Clirist shall put all enemies undor ITi;^ feet ; 
 " the last enemy that shall bo destroyed is death." *■ Death and 
 Hades shall be cast into the lake of fire." There shall be no more 
 sin and no more curse, and so, " there shall bo no mors death." 
 
 " Dcith is swallowed up in victnn/." With what joy sliill the 
 saints survey this conquest over their last surviving foe ! Looking 
 b.'ick over this world's scenes, when death wrung out tears and 
 groans, and provoked many a conflict, when widows shrieked and 
 orphans wept , and parents mourned over the gra\'i33 of the 
 departed ; — looking back, T say, upon these scenes, and ciomi>aring 
 them with what shall then be, 
 
 " Wonder and joy sliall lill ihcir heart, 
 And lovo command their tongue." 
 
 Can you be surprised at the exultation with whicli it is here 
 foretold the eaints shall be inspired ? Can you wonder at the 
 defiance with which it is represented they shall insult their van- 
 quished foe ? Judging from his language, the idea suggested to 
 the Apostle's mind was that of the whole multitude of the raised 
 and glorified dead — an innnense assemblage — looking down witli 
 defiance upon the monster-foe, stingless and disarmed, giving 
 utterance to a song of universal triumph. Tt is a lofty conception I 
 The whole body of the redeemed constituting one vast choir: Some 
 of them singing " death, where is thy sting?" Others of them 
 
•J" 
 
 196 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 responding, " grave, where is thy victory ?" Some, again, chaunt- 
 ing, " The sting of death is sin ! " Others, taking up the chaunt and 
 replying, " The strength of sin is the law! " And then, the whole 
 body breaking forth in one grand ecstatic chorus, " Thanks be 
 unto God which givetli us the victory through our LoiJ Jesus 
 Christ." that we might be present on that great occasion ! 
 that we might listen to the triumphant song I that we might 
 help to chaunt its wondrous melodies 1 
 
 " Through Jems Christ our Lord! " This is <he climax of the 
 wondrous chorus. It is Christ who hath abol'shed death. He hath 
 banished him from his own domain — -the Church of the redeemed. 
 His blood is the price paid down as a ransom for the deliverance 
 from death of both the bodies and the souls of His chosen ones. 
 And this blood, and the atonement which it made, shall be the 
 chief theme in all the praises of the glorified in heaven : " Thou wast 
 Blain and hast redeemed us unto Qr^^A. by Thy blood, out of every 
 nation and kindred and people and tongue." " Thanks be to God, 
 which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 But for Christ, death would have remained victor, and our bodies 
 woald have been for ever held in the bondage of the grave. But 
 for Christ, Paganism would have been right; silence and gloom, 
 unbroken and impenetrable, would have brt>odetI over every 
 human grave. But for C'hrist, the glories of the resurrection 
 morn would never dawn upon the ,vorld ; the grave would reniain 
 for ever closed ; the caverns of the sea would for ever hold fast their 
 dead. But for Christ, the saints would never walk forth from their 
 graves in the robes of immortality, and the universe would never 
 
 •J<- 
 
 •>n 
 
t 
 
 ■* 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 197 
 
 witness the glorious spectacle of a redeemed world shouting victory 
 over death. 
 
 How much owe we to Christ I Have we peace ? He is its 
 author. Are we holy ? His blood has cleansed us. Have we hope ? 
 Christ is in us the hope of glory. Are we sustained in our 
 bereavements ? It is because our friends whom we have buried 
 out of our sight " sleep in Jesus." 
 
 I come to you to-day with a solemn message. I am commis- 
 sioned by the Presbytery to proclaim this Charge vacant. Already 
 are you called to take steps to fill the place of him who for more 
 than three and forty years presided over your interests as a congre- 
 gation, and ministered to you the Word of Life. There will bo 
 other ministers of St. Andrew's Church ; — there will never be buried 
 a minister of this congregation, who will have more earnestly 
 thought and worked for his people than he whose funeral we 
 attended on Thursday. To the very last his heart was here, going out 
 in aflfection for his people, anxiously desiring the future prosperity 
 of the church for whose interests ho so long laboured and so suc- 
 cessfully. There were in him resources of power, intellectual and 
 moral, not often found in the ministry; or this church woulcJ not 
 bo what it is, to day, in numbers, in liberality, in influence, in 
 true power. It is not pretended that he was always right I Who is 
 always right? But it is claimed that he was always conscientious 
 and that he ever sought, so far as he was able to apprehend, the 
 best interests of St. Andrew's Church. That he was a grateful 
 minister, feeling to an almost distressing keenness the kindnesses 
 which he occasionally received from his flock, none can doubt. The 
 
 ^- 
 
*• 
 
 * 
 
 198 
 
 FUNERAL SERMON. 
 
 sympathy extended to him in the overwhelmin'^ sorrow which befel 
 him eighteen months ago was so di^eply felt as to be utterly inex- 
 pressible; and the graceful token of respect for him, and for her 
 whom he mourned, which some of you evinced in tbb erection of 
 that beautiful memorial destroyed by the calamity of the 24th of 
 October, lodged itself in his heart with undying gratitude. I 
 shall read to you the sentences which he penned in regard to this 
 ubject, and which he clearly purposed sending to those who had 
 thus contributed to his sad joy. These, his words, shall be my last 
 words to you to-day. They are found in an unfinished note, penned, 
 evidently, under deep emotion — an emotion so deep as that he was 
 unable to finish it. It would seem, indeed, to have been written 
 in a reverie of overwhelming grief mixed with gratitude : 
 
 Montreal, 4th Nov., 1867. 
 
 My D : Language is inadequate to express my gratitude for 
 
 your kindness in raising a memorial window in remembrance of my 
 dear Janet Ewing 3Iathieson. I can only thank you, which I do 
 from the very bottom of my heart. 
 
 The frail memorial, like her lovely life, has passed away ; teach- 
 ing us not to fix our afiiections on any eaithly blessings, but to 
 fix them on the things that are above. May the Divine Spirit affix 
 on our hearts the truth so impressively taught. 
 
 Youv sympathetic memorial took me somewhat by surprise. My 
 
 emotions were too dc'jp. I could not look on it without unmanly 
 
 weakness. From the glance I gave to it, it appeared to me very 
 
 beautiful. When they somewhat subside, I hope to contemplate it 
 
 with composure. 
 
 * * * * 
 
* 
 
^. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 * 
 
PART II. 
 
 * 
 
 *• 
 
 AA 
 
 * 
 
W' 
 
Kf' 
 
 * 
 
 THREE DISCOURSES 
 
 Preached by Dr. Mathieson, 
 
 ON 
 
 Different Oecasions. 
 
 *■ 
 
V 
 
 ^- 
 
!;•#- 
 
 ■M 
 
 The writers of discourses for tlic pulpit are, of all men, the most 
 subject to interruptions in their litorary labours, and it cannot be 
 expected that they will be always equally successful in style and 
 matter. In proportion to the number of sermons from which a 
 selection is required to be made is the difficulty of fixing upon 
 such as may be esteemed the best, or the most suitable for pub- 
 lication. In the present instance, the amount of time and labour 
 that would be required in making a judicious clioice are such as 
 quite preclude the attempt. It is therefore proper to state that the 
 following sermons are offered to the public chiefly on account cf 
 the historical interest which is supposed to attach to them, rather 
 than from their intrinsic literary merits — though, at the same time, 
 they afford evidence of careful preparation and of high mental 
 culture. 
 
 The first sermon preached by Dr. Mathieson in Montreal, the 
 last sermon preached by him before the Synod, and, the last, to 
 the Congregation of St. Andrew's, will, it is confidently hoped, be 
 accepted as a pleasing souvenir of their author, and a suitable 
 accompaniment to these memoirs. 
 
'>.< 
 
 SERMON I.* 
 
 Brethren, PRAY for us, that the Word oi the Lord may 
 
 HAVE FREE COURSE AND BE GLORIFIED. — II ThessaloniCins 
 111. 1. 
 
 My Christian Brethren and Friends — Having,with the customary 
 solemnities, been invested with the pastoral charge of this congre- 
 gation, I this day enter on the public performance of the very 
 important duties of that office — duties deriving their importance 
 at once from the authoritative sanction of Almighty God, whoso 
 ambassador to you, with the overtures of peace and reconciliation, 
 I profess to be, and also, from the intimate connexion which the 
 discharge of these duties has with the happiness or misery of your 
 undying souls; for the faithful minister of His Word is always unto 
 God a sweet savour of Christ in them that arc saved and in 
 them that perish ; to the one he is the savour of death unto death, 
 and to the other the savour of life unto life. 
 
 (*) This wag the first sermon preached by Dr. Mathieson in St. An- 
 drew's Church, Montreal— on the last Sabbath of 1826. It was delivered 
 by him again on the last Sabbath of 1869, a very short time before the 
 close of his ministerial labours. 
 
 *■ 
 
208 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 The arduous and difficult nature of tlic duties of the ministerial 
 office bears a rohitive proportion to their supreme importance. 
 This, in part, arises from the nature of the office itself, the j^rcat 
 end and aim of which is the recovery of fallen and degraded men 
 to their original purity and happiness ; the enlightening of their 
 understandings who arc spiritually blind ; the communication of 
 truth to the minds of those who arc dead in trespasses and sins; 
 the production of principles which will bring forth fruit unto 
 everlasting life in the souls of them who are at utter enmity 
 with God, and habitually addicted to all that is impure and unholy. 
 
 In attempting to realize these great ends of the Christian minis- 
 try, it is obvious, from the nature of the employment, that difficul- 
 ties and discouragements of no ordinary magnitude stand in the 
 way. There is a levity and carelessness of disposition, and an 
 indiffiarence to whatsoever is of a spiritual nature, that are charac- 
 teristics of human apostacy, \^hich too often oppose themselves, at 
 the very threshold, to the reception of the Gospel. Should the 
 faithful minister of Christ succeed in breaking down this formid- 
 able barrier, and awakening in the mindsof His people a just sense 
 of their danger, still he will find that the unrenewed priflciples of 
 humanity will disqualify him from willingly accepting the plan 
 which God, in His wisdom, devised, and by His Almighty power 
 wrought out for the salvation of sinners, and which in the Gospel 
 of His Son is so clearly revealed. His pride refuses to be humbled, 
 and will not tolerate the communication of truths which fasten the 
 charge of guilt and depravity on the conscience. His selfishness 
 and vanity will but little dispose him to rely with humble confi- 
 dence for salvation on His merits alone whom God hath set forth 
 
 * 
 
*■ 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 200 
 
 '7 
 
 *■ 
 
 to bo the only propitiation for sin, nnJ few indeed will bo found 
 who sit so loose to the world and its pleasures as to make thoso 
 fielf-sacrificcs wliicli the Gospel requires, and unrcluctantly 
 forcso the <iratirications of sense for enjoyments tliat are pure and 
 spiritual, and which can only bo discerned by the eye of an onliglit- 
 cned and discriminating filth. 
 
 Thus opposed to the prejudices and passions of men, the truths 
 of the Gospel will be regarded with aversion, or rajccted with 
 disdain by many, while its ministers, instead of being welcomed 
 with joy, as the hxrbingers of happiness ai\d peace, will bn tra- 
 duced as nies.^ongers of evil tidings, and propagators of a dark and 
 gloomy superstition, adapted only to abridge the number of our 
 social enjoyments and give a forbidding aspect to all the pleasures 
 of life. And should the MiiniUcr of Christ he the lionoured instru- 
 ment of awakening the n)inds of those committed to his charge to 
 a just sense of the danger of their condition, and instructing them 
 in the knowledge of those truths that are intimately connected 
 with their salvation, still he will find that here his labours end not. 
 His strenuous and persevering efforts will still he necessary to 
 convert their speculative knowledge into active principles. This, 
 unquestionably, is the work of a higher agent th.iu man, a work 
 which only Omnipotence can effect, still, as God chooses to work 
 by means, and as He hath set apart an order of men expressly for 
 the purpose of carrying forward His dcsi::ns with respect to our 
 fallen race, not to avail ourselves of the means which are of His 
 appointment— means which He" hath put within our reach, and pro- 
 mised to bless, would be as derogatory to His honour as it would 
 be altogether to deny our dependence on Him. Regiirdiiiir the 
 
 ISJi 
 
 >< 
 
>^4' 
 
 210 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 Christian ministry na an instrument in God's hands for advancinfr 
 Christ's kingdom in the world, and building up from the ruins 
 of humanity a holy and spiritual temple in which the Most High 
 God will condescend to dwell, unquestionably, it is the most impor- 
 tant occupation in which a man can be employed, demanding 
 uncompromising fidelity, and unwearied devotedness, until the 
 image of God, after which man was created, again beautify and bless 
 every individual committed to his charge. how anxiously must he 
 tend the germ of divine truth implanted in the soul, lest the deceit- 
 fulness of sin, and the secret insinuations of the spirits of darkness 
 (for we wrestle not only with flesh and blood, but with principalities 
 and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this "world and spirilual 
 wickedness in high places) should wither it in the bud, before the 
 early dawning of conviction grow into that elevated piety, which 
 the darkness of guilt cannot obscure nor the temptations of the 
 world ever shako. How diligently must he watch the progress of 
 the divine life in the soul, lest the cares and vanities of life should 
 stifle it in its origin and tempt to repose the hopes of salvation 
 on the transient feelings of love or devotion — which casual circum- 
 stances, or a scrupulous observance of the formalities of religion, 
 awaken — instead of unqualifiedly surrendering every thought and 
 feeling, every word and action to the service of God. How fre- 
 quently and earnestly must he expostulate with sinners on the folly 
 of their ways, and again and again entreat them, by all that in 
 tender and encouraging in mercy, and by all that is awful in the 
 consideration of death, judgnient and eternity, to crucify the world 
 with its lusts, and be reconciled unto God. With what delicate 
 taste and discriminating judgment must he convey his instructions, 
 
*t 
 
 * 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 211 
 
 so as to suit the capacities, the character and ciicumstances of 
 each individual, teaching; the rich and powerful to be humble and 
 charitable, the poor and oppressed to be patient and resigned to 
 the dispensations of Providence ; repressing the voice of the mur- 
 murer, checking the spirit of tiio arrogant, consoling the afflicted, 
 and comforting the penitent, without infusing the elements of false 
 peace into his soul ; rousing the careless and obdurate, and yet so 
 as not to break the bruised reed, nor inflame the wounds of the 
 contrite spirit; bearing home to theconsciences of all men the con- 
 victions of sin, and yet avoiding even the appearance of personality ; 
 in a word, approving himself unto Grod a workman that needeth 
 not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 
 
 How carefully, also, must he qualify himself for the performance 
 of his duties, by devoting many an hour to the erihausting exercise 
 of intense thought, and to acquaint himself with the general dictates 
 of inspiration, that he may not speak in God's name what He hath 
 not spoken, but plant " wholly a right seed : " How patiently must 
 he cultivate those dispositions and h;ibits, which will make his per- 
 sonal conduct a practical illustration of the doctrines he teaches. 
 How carefully must ho strive to elevate his principles and purify 
 his motives, that he may neither be seduced by the applause of the 
 world, and become vain ostentatious, or indolent nor be tempted to, 
 despond when he finds his aifoction and love repaid with contempt, 
 and when a seemingly impenetrable ignorance and insensibility resist 
 hiseff'orts to instructor improve those committed to his care. Amidst 
 the weariness and mental distractions which these labours entail 
 often will he envy the condition of the sons of bodily toil, who, 
 when the day's hard task is done, can quietly resign themselves to 
 
^ 
 
 212 
 
 SERMONS I'.Y DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 the sweets of oblivious repose, and the protection of that gracious 
 Being who watches over thorn continually, and loads them wiih Hia 
 loving-kindness and tender mercies. 
 
 " When we cotiteniplate the great purposes to be served by the 
 Christian ministry, and the difficulties and discouragements that 
 stand opposed to its success, well may the servants of Clirist tremble, 
 and, in the consciousness of their own weakness, exclaim with the 
 Apostle, " Who is sufficient for tliese things 1 " 
 
 But although unr.umbered difficulties attend the discharge of the 
 functions of the ministry, yet there are many incidents which banish 
 despondency and throw a briglit ray of hope over the darkest hour 
 of trial. Bud as the world is, and unconcerned as men generally 
 are about their eternal welfare, the ambassador for Christ will 
 meet with many whose greatest wish is to obtain that salvation 
 which he is commissioned to proclaim, and whose chief happiness 
 is to listen,- in the spirit of meekness and docility, to his instructions ; 
 whose strenuous exertions will be employed to promote sincere 
 obedience to the precepts he inculcates, and will manifest their 
 gratitude by cultivating that spirity of charity which is the bond 
 of perfectness, and, which, like precious incense on the altar, will 
 diffuse a hallowed influence around. Such considerations will com- 
 municate a joy to his soul, which will more than compensate for 
 many an hour of toil and trouble. At the same time the reflection 
 that his success depends not on his own skill or strength, but upon 
 the power of God and the wisdom of God, will banish all distrust 
 arising from the consciousness of his own weakness. He feels, in 
 every diffieulty,strongin the Lord, and that, through Christ strength" 
 cning him, he can do all things ; hence, brethren, in the work of 
 
»^ 
 
 ■A 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 213 
 
 the ministry, wc ought never to view the difficulties to be sur- 
 mounted in connection with the weakness of the instrument which 
 God hath chosen to accomplish His puriwses, except in so fur as 
 such a view is c ilculitcdto increase our reverence for the ordininces 
 through which Tic communicates the influences of His Spirit, and 
 to stir us up to make a proper use of them. 
 
 But though it be to God, and to him alone, we must look fur success, 
 still, the assistance which lie vouchs.ifes to i;iipart, by no moans 
 supersedes the necessity of exerting, to the uttermost, our own 
 powers and faculties, and He only bestows His favours in the way 
 of His own appointment. Now, in His V/ord, we are repeatedly 
 assured, that the conditions on which He is ple:i6cd to grant Hig 
 aid, are, that we ask for it, and cherish it. " Ask and it sliail be 
 given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened 
 unto ycu." " Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will 1 
 do. " I know NO subject of meditation more appropriate to the 
 circumstances in which we are this d ly asso:nbled, than thcro(juest 
 Paul made to the Thessalonian Church, in the words of our text : 
 *' Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free 
 course and be glorified, even as it is with you.'' When wo consider 
 the direct eifcct which this exalted act uf devotion has in procuring 
 for us the blessings which wc need, or its indirect influence in pro- 
 ducing those afi"cctions and feelings which dispose us to receive reli- 
 gious instruction with profit, we will be impressed with the conviction 
 that the request which Paul makes in the text, it is our duty to 
 comply with, no less from motives of personal advantage, than the 
 instincts of liumanity : " Brethren, pray for us, that the word of 
 the Lord may have free course and be glorified." 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■* 
 
►I"- 
 
 ■>J" 
 
 214 
 
 SERMONS BY DU. MATllIESON. 
 
 That wc may more forcibly apply the text to our own case, let 
 us briefly inquire in what way the word of the Lord had free 
 course and was glorified among the Thessalonians. Nor is this an 
 inquiry of little importance, for, undoubtedly, in whatever respects 
 it had free course and was glorified among them, in the same res- 
 pects and in the same way, in so far as our respective circumstances 
 coincide, it will have free course and be glorified among us. 
 
 We are informed by accurate chronologcrs that Christianity 
 was planted at Thessalonica by Paul about the 50th year of the 
 Christian era. The success of his ministry appears at first to have 
 been very great, for, in his first Epistle, he says " his coming 
 unto them was not in vain." That the Gospel had come unto 
 them, not in word only, but also in power and in tiie Holy Ghost, 
 and in much assurance, and he thanked God withou.*; ceasing, 
 because that when they had received the Word of God, which they 
 had heard of him, they received it not as the word of man, but, as it 
 is in truth, the Word of God. He also tells them that he remem- 
 bers their work of faith and labour of love ; that it was known at 
 Macedonia and Achaia, that they had become followers of the Lord >' 
 that they had turned from idols to serve the living God, and to 
 wait for His Son from heaven ; that their faith grew exceedingly ; 
 that the charity of every one of them all towards each other abound- 
 ded ; that they had faith and patience in all the persecutions they 
 endured ; that, as touching brotherly love, there was no need that 
 he should write unto them, as they were taught of God to love one 
 another; that they did so and edified and comforted one another. 
 From these passages you will perceive, how the Word of the Lord 
 liad free course and was glorified among the Thessalonians, and 
 
 9 
 
* 
 
 ■^ 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 215 
 
 filso what things ought to be the subjects of your frequent and 
 earnest prayers at the throne of grace. The Christians at Thessa- 
 lonica glorified the Word of the Lord by the readiness, humility^ 
 and joy with which they had received it. They cavilled not at its 
 doctrines, they rejected not its precepts, but gave a willing assent 
 to all its demands. The blessed fruits it produced in them were 
 conversion from the darkness of heathen ignorance and idolatry to 
 the light of the gospel and the service of the living God, to the 
 exercise of patience in all their trials, to the exceeding increase of 
 an enlightened faith, and a widely extended charity. Such are tho 
 gifts and graces essential to the character of every Christian. Pray 
 then, brethren, to the Giver of every good and perfect gift that He 
 would pour out in rich effusion, upon all the ministers of His Word, 
 the enlightening, strengthening, sanctifying influences of His Holy 
 Spirit, that they may discern what is the good and perfect and 
 acceptable will of God ; that they may search for and find in the 
 pages of inspiration the law of their own lives ; and, by a faithful 
 discharge of their duties, recommend the same unerrii.g guide to 
 their several congregations. Pray ye, that the God and Father 
 of Our Lord Jesus Christ" would give, to every individual they 
 are commissioned to iuvStruct, the Spirit of wisdom and i-eve- 
 lation in the knowledge of Him ; the eyes of their understanding 
 being enlightened that they may know what is the hope of His call- 
 ing, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the 
 saints, and what the exceeding greatness of His power in them who 
 believe, so that they may embrace with gratitude the offered salva- 
 tion, and welcome with joy the glad tidings which angels announced 
 to the shepherds, while their anthems of glory to God in tlio highest 
 
 •H^ 
 
*• 
 
 216 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 ■* 
 
 awoke the still slumbers of the nicrht, and their hymns of praise to 
 God, and good-will to men, in sweetest melody, floated on the 
 midnight breazos o'er the plains of Bethlehem. Pray ye, that the 
 Gospel may came unto them, not in word only, but also in power, 
 and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, to extirpate every 
 prejudice from the mind, to subdue every evil propensity, to withdraw 
 their hearts from the world's idolatry, and give the whole homage 
 of their affections unto Him whose inalienable prerogative is the 
 absolute sovereignty of the he:irt. Pray ye, that they mny be 
 endued with the faith that overcometh the wirld, that ohnrity, the 
 bond of perfcctness, mny be richly diffused over all the dwellings 
 of men; giving unto all a common objoot of pursuit, and a recipro- 
 cal concern for each other's wolfire which will unite them in indes- 
 tructible harmony. This is the true spirit of the gospel of 
 Christ. In proportion as it prevails the tumult and strife that 
 arise from a collision of conflicting interests are hushed, and wrath 
 and animosity disappear. 
 
 It is consistent with the loftiest conceptions we fovm of an 
 infinitely powerful aiul benevolent God that He grant an answer 
 in peace to the prayers of unfeigned fiith and humility. Explicit 
 declarations, that, " the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man 
 availeth much ; " that, " him that calleth upon God in sincerity and 
 truth He will hear and answer, " are scsittered over every page of the 
 sacro^l volume, and are confirmed by the experience of good men in 
 all ages. You have read that when the rebi'Uious Israelites com- 
 plained, and theanger of the Lord waskindled against them, an<l His 
 fire consumed them, Moses prayed and the fire was quenched. You 
 iiavo read that the prayers of Joshua arrested the sun in his course 
 
 * 
 
KTIH 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 217 
 
 until the ciioniics of the Lord had been destroyed; that the prayers 
 of Elias reanimated the dead, sealed the windows of heaven, so that 
 " it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six 
 months;" that at his intercession it was re-opened, tlie rain foil, and 
 the earth brought forth her fruits. You have read that the prayers 
 of ITezekiah brought an angel from heaven to cut off the beleaguer- 
 ing hosts of the Assyrians; that Samuel and John were given in 
 answer to their mother's supplications, and that the venerable 
 Simeon ultimately obtained what had long been the object of his 
 holy desires, and the theme of his constant prayers. But why need 
 I multiply examples of a fact which, I am persuaded, you all 
 acknowledge ; many of you, I sincerely hope, from your personal 
 experience. Surely, if the prayers of holy men in times past have 
 been effectual in working miracles, we may reasonably expect that a 
 gracious answer will be given to the requests we make for things 
 agreeable to the will of God. It surely is no hard or grievous con- 
 dition that is attached to the blessings He bestows, that -Ave ask for 
 them ; while you must feel satisfied, that, in the very nature of 
 things, prayer is a fit means for keeping aiive in our minds a con- 
 stant sense of our dependence on God, and cherishing those holy affec- 
 tions which qualify us for the reception of the Gospel, and make 
 us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. Can a higher 
 honour be bestowed on mortals than being permitted to enter the 
 sanctuary of God, and worship Him who is adored by angel and 
 archangel. In every act of true spiritual worship wo leave 
 behind us the ignoble attachments of earth and ascend to those 
 mansions of glory where Jehovah has fixed hi,s tinone. Wo, come 
 
 into llis immediate presence, we behold all IJi.s excellence and 
 
 cc 
 
 *■ 
 
218 
 
 SERMONS I5Y DK. MATHIE80N. 
 
 ■* 
 
 hold friendly and affectionate intercourse with Hiin. Thus .sceini^ 
 lliui as lie is, we become more intimately acquainted with His 
 nature and attributes, with the r, quireinents of His law, and assimi* 
 lated to Him who is the express image oi^ His person, and in our 
 nature has revealed the Father unto us. And when our thoughts 
 return to the necessary cares and duties of this world, like richly 
 freighted vessels from a distmt land, they will return fraught with 
 the spirit that pervades every bosom in heaven with love to God 
 and love to all mankind. Like the influence of the example of 
 those with whom we associate, we may not at once perceive the 
 efficacy of prayer, yet it will always be attended with similar effects, 
 and, more especially, if our supplications liave been that His Word 
 may have free course and be glorified. Indeed we can hardly ima- 
 gine that they who have bent before the throne of grace, and earn- 
 estly implored a blessing on the labours of their pastor, will retire 
 from the services of the sanctuary without being better members 
 of society, better prepared for the duties of life, and better fitted for 
 the kingdom of heaven. The voice, the manner, the matter of the 
 preacher's discoui-se may not be to their taste, but they go not to 
 find fault, but to profit by his instructions ; their humility will lead 
 then to consider whether much of what they dislike may not be 
 attributable to their own ignorance or vitiated taste ; while candour 
 v/ill constrain them to acknowledge that even from the most com- 
 monplace di-course much might be gathered, and, if appreciated 
 as it ought to be, would largely contribute to their spiritual edifica- 
 tion and improvement, and, much more than they who had neglected 
 the means and opportunities they possessed could reasonably hope 
 to receive. The infinite importance of the respective duties of 
 
 »$»■ 
 
 ■yi* 
 
•* 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 219 
 
 pastor and people will beget a mutual sympathy, which will, in 
 him. be manifested by intense earnestness in feeding the flock of 
 Christ, and in approving himself faitht'ul in the trust reposed in 
 him by the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of souls; and, in ihcin, by 
 an anxious desire to grow in grace and in likeness to Christ, under 
 the ministrations of Ilis Word. 
 
 The simple habits and incidents of pastoral life have often been 
 employed by the moralist to give point to his lessons and interest 
 to his tale. I know no moral picture half so lovely, nor half so 
 interesting, as t'lat of the faithful Christian sheplierd and his 
 flock journeying through this dark, rugged, and dangerous world 
 to the l.ind of uprightness. Peacefully they proceed, fervently 
 imploring heaven's blessings on each other, and lending each 
 other mutual comfort and aid ; he, carrying the lambs in his 
 bosom, carefully removing every obstruction from the path, and 
 gently freeing from the briars and thorns those that are 
 entangled by the way ; they, listening to the voice of the 
 shepherd and following his steps as he goeth before them. 
 This is no ideal picture. It is one that may bo realized over 
 the broad expanse of the world by the united faith-fraught 
 prayers of pastor and people. Coma, auspicious day! for then, 
 indeed, would the tabernacle of God bo with men, and the reign 
 of heaven commence, which the sure word of prophecy teaches us 
 to expect, when the light of the Gospel shall illumine every land, 
 and the dark and dreary regions of superstition and error shall 
 rejoice and blossom as the rose. 
 
 Perhaps I may bo indulged if I take this opponunity of 
 referring to a topic, somewhat in oonnjotioii with what wo have said, 
 
 ^ 
 
 m 
 
 s 
 

 M- 
 
 220 
 
 SKRMONS BY DR. MATIIIESOIT. 
 
 but perhaps more personal than ought to proceed from the pulpit ; 
 but, if the observations which I am about to make may, in any 
 degree, contribute to draw more closely the bonds whicli unite us 
 together, and stir us up to the exercise of mutual forbearance and 
 charity, I shall neither think they are mis-timed nor that they 
 degrade the sanctity of the place where I now stand. It may be 
 said that, if I conceive it to be the duty of a pastor to remove, 
 in so far as he is able, every obstruction that stands in the way 
 of the spiritual edification of his flock, and well knowing that 
 a general prejudice exists against discourses being read from the 
 pulpit, to act consistently with my opinion, I should endeavour to 
 mandate my discourses and avoid casting a stumbling-block in the 
 path of the htlting. This, lam now unable to do. The time 
 taken in mandating a discourse I would consider more profitably 
 employed, both for myself and the people I instruct, in acquiring 
 a more extensive knowledge of Scripture truths, and, in so far as 
 lies in my power, in composing clear, well-connected and interesting 
 discourses, and I am p-rsuadod; from the enlightened and liberal 
 sentiments which n)y hitherto limited intercourse has led me to 
 believe you entertain, that those who ditl'er from me in opinion will 
 bear with my deficiencies. Yet, I hesitate not to declare, — and this 
 confidence rises to assurance, if you yield yourselves frequently and 
 fervently to the duty enjoined in the text, and which I humbly crave 
 on my own behalf, as well as on behalf of all the preachers of 
 Christ's glorious Gospel that this you will do. Brethren, I 
 beseech you, pray for us. Pray for us, I beseech you, by all that 
 is interesting and beautiful in the spectacle of a company of 
 dependent mortals bonding in prayer before the throne of their 
 
 '^< 
 
^T 
 
 -l><i 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 221 
 
 Almighty Father and Friend for thin<^s agreeable to his will; by 
 oil that is ennobling in the service; by all that personal satisfaetion 
 which is felt from the consciousness of tlie honour and dignity 
 conferred in being permitted to approach into the presence of Ilini 
 before whom angels veil their faces with their wings, as unworthy 
 to look oil Tlis uncreated glory. Pray for us, by all that pure and 
 exalted delight which the benevolent heart experiences in the 
 exercise of charity and love. We think it a mark of friendship, 
 and we take a noble pride in recommending one in whom we have 
 an interest to one by whose patronage and support he may rise to 
 honour and distinction in the business of life. But who is greater 
 tlian the Eternal Ruler of the universe— the Father and the Friend 
 of the good — and what greater honour can we have than being 
 permitted to commit those whom wo love to His protection and 
 care. Pray for us, I beseech you, by the salutary eifccts which 
 this act of worship will have on your own tempers and dispositions, 
 and by the close and intimate connection which subsists between 
 it and the salvation of your own souls. Time i.-) fast fleeting 
 onward, and boars with it on its wings the most momentous conse- 
 quences. By its shortness and uncertainty, and all that is awful 
 in the contemplation of death, judgment and eternity, I beseech 
 you, pray for us. It is now called to-day with you. Mutability 
 and vicissitude are stamped on everything earthly ; and the 
 lessons which this fact is silently pouring into the ear forcibly 
 remind us of the necessity of being up and doing. Another 
 period by which the lapse of time is marked will .«oon draw to a 
 close. The shadows of a few more evenings shall fall and the 
 dawn of a few more mornings will lighten the world, and the 
 
 i I 
 
222 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 present year will bo numbered with the ages that are past and 
 gone. But who can say that lie will see the end of the coming 
 year ? Those who to-day are blooming in beauty, and in the buoy- 
 ancy of health may calculate on a long life, may, ere to-morrow, 
 be cut down as a flower of the field, and in u few days their bodies 
 may bo crumbling into dust. Such considerations should have, at 
 all times, a powerful ofF:ct on minds capable of serious reflection. 
 From these considerations permit uie to urge you to the necessity 
 of working out your salvation with fear and trembling, while time 
 and opportunities are merol^ully given you. From these consider- 
 ations let me urge you to be frequent suppliants at the throne of 
 grace, pleading that God would give you that living faith — for it 
 is his gift— that, in answer to your prayers, will bring down plen- 
 tifully the richest of heaven's blessings on your souls, and on the 
 souls of all those with whom you are connected by any tie. Let 
 these exhortations sink into your minds, and m \y these precious 
 fruits be exhibited in your conduct. And, thou Almighty hearer 
 and answerer of prayer, while I crave the prayers of this people for 
 a blessing on the Gospel of salvation, which I am sent to preach 
 unto them, and that grace may be given me, that in all my ways 
 I may glorify Thee, and finish with acceptance the work Thou hast 
 given me to do, hear Thou, in heaven, and grant an answer to their 
 prayers in peace, and bless abundantly the preaching of Thy holy 
 Word, that it may have free course on the earth and be glorified I 
 And to TiiEE, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God, bo all tho 
 glory. — Amen. 
 
 .^ 
 
 ■* 
 

■^ 
 
 SERMON IT.* 
 
 ^' 
 
 God created man in his own isiage, in the image op 
 God crkateu he him ; male and female treated he 
 TiiEM. And God blessed them, and God said unto 
 TiiEM, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish 
 thj-; earth, and subdue it: and iiAVfi dominion over 
 
 THE PISH OP THE SEA, AND OVER THE FOWL OP THE AIR, 
 AND OVER EVERY LIVING THING THAT MOVETH UPON THE 
 EARTH.— 6Vh. I, 27, 28. 
 
 My Friends, — It must, I tliiuk, bo evident to you all that there 
 it; an intimate connection between the condition of man, as stated 
 in the first of these verses, and the blessing pronounced upon hlin 
 in the second. In other words, that man's power to subdue the 
 earth and bis dominion over the irrational tribes of creation 
 depend on his being created in the image of God. It is to God- 
 like man dominion is committed, to man created in God's own 
 image that authority is given. The Divine image is the title to 
 his power and prerogatives, his God-like nature fitted him for 
 
 ♦Prcaclied before tlic Synod, at Ilaiuilton, Ontario, on Sabbiuli, the Gtli 
 
 June, I8(j9. 
 
 DD 
 
 n 
 
 u 
 11 
 
 i 
 
 f ■ 
 
 '^< 
 

 226 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 accomplishing his liigh destiny as lord of creation. Our text, 
 therefore, embodies the great constitutional law of man, and 
 determines the purposes of his being. He is to be " fruitful and 
 replenish tjie earth," t. e., he is to people the fair scenes of this 
 sublunary world with multiplied images of intellectual life, and 
 moral beauty, united in one community, by the sacred ties of divine 
 love. He is to " subdue the earth," {. e., he is to make himself 
 acquainted with those subtle and tremendous forces which the 
 Creator has stored up in the physical world, and make them the 
 subjects of his God-like will. 
 
 Obedient to the fixed laws imposed on them by the Creator, 
 these latent forces, evolved, controlled and directed by God-like 
 benevolence, would minister to the wants and wishes of man, and 
 everywhere spread before his delighted eyes gf^enes of paradisaic 
 loveliness and peace; but under the sway of a malevolent. will in 
 their impetuous energy would rend the earth to its deepest 
 f lundations and destroy every vestige of order and harmony. Goil- 
 like man, by a thoi'ough knowledge of their organic laws, wonld 
 modify, combine and regulate these forces, so as to make them the 
 obedient servants of his enlightened and holy will ; would make 
 them the communicating medium of his authority over the irra- 
 tional creation, both animate and inanimate, and appropriate their 
 various properties to his own use ; would make them the exponents 
 of Ills will, the medium of communication with all spiritual 
 intelligences, with angels, yea, and with the eternal fountain of 
 thought, the ever living and uncreated One. 
 
 This constitutional law seems to have been re-established at 
 man's second birth, but with some modifications. V/hen the earth 
 
 ■* 
 
SERMON II. 
 
 227 
 
 ■* 
 
 11 
 
 emerged from tlie purifying waters of tlie deluge, beautiful as the 
 hues of the rainbow — that seal of the covenant which bound afresh 
 tlie agencies of nature to the destinies of man — God blessed Noah 
 and his sons, and said unto them : Be fruitful, and multiply, and 
 replenish the earth. And the fear of you, and the dread of you, 
 shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of 
 the air, and upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon 
 the fishes of the sea ; into thy hand are they delivered. We 
 may here remark that the subjection of the earth is not 
 expressly specitiod, or, in other words, the dominion of its 
 latent forces was not committed to man. The fear of him and 
 the dread of him was to be on all inferior creatures, and into his 
 hands they were committed, but not, as formerly, that he might 
 rule them with absolute sw.iy. Why was this ? Because he is no 
 longer the holy and benevolent being he originally was. The 
 image of God is defaced in his soul. He has lost the dominion 
 of the physical world because he is no longer like unto God, by 
 reason of which likeness sovereignty over the earth had been 
 committed to him. He is now unfit to hold the reins of authority, 
 . even had they been put into his hands. Tlie principles of his 
 nature are now at variance. Intellectually he is unable to discern 
 what is good. Morally, he is unfit to rule. Tiie propensions of 
 his nature are not now purely benevolent, nor can his intellectual, 
 his moral and physical powers be so fused as to produce unity of 
 action. What would be the result, I ask, if, in his present ungod- 
 like condition, beheld the latent forces of nature at his command ? 
 What would be the result, if, with his heart teeming with every 
 iiatel'ul passion, he could oiijuin (he thunders, and guide the 
 
 fl 
 
 ■i« 
 
 *• 
 
 ■^!« 
 
*■ 
 
 228 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESOIT. 
 
 
 lightning?, and charge the powers that upheave the earth, and 
 make the mountain smoke, to obey his will ? These forces in his 
 hands would be fearful implements of destruction. In his 
 instinctive and selfish struggles for dominion all that is morally 
 beautiful and good would have long since perished from the earth. 
 Man warring with man would have convulsed the universe, Ilis 
 enlarged mental energies would have augmented and made more 
 formidable the iniplcments of evil, and everything capable of 
 destruction would have long since sunk in the conflagration of 
 unholy passions. 
 
 Let us here for a moment inquire what the ini'ige of God in 
 man is that fits him for dominion over the earth and the creatures 
 that are therein. 
 
 There seems to be a t'l vccfold division in the nature of man, 
 {. c, the whole man is composed of three several parts : the soul, 
 or the moral and religious nature of man ; the spirit, or pure intellect 
 — reasoning — conscience; the body, the mateiial tabernacle 
 in which these powers dwell, and by which visible expression is 
 given to their unseen actings. It is understood, says a popular 
 writer of our day, that Paul makes allusion to this distinction of 
 parts when he prays for the Thcssalonian Church, that " the whole 
 spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of 
 the Lord Jesus Christ." No doubt, says ho, man is thus composed, 
 whether the division be good or bad, or whether the Apostle 
 alludes to it or not. 
 
 It is the constant, united and harmonious action of those 
 several parts or principles of man's nature, and not the exclusive 
 exercise or predominating power of any one of thent, that fits 
 
 ^:<' 
 
SERMON II. 
 
 229 
 
 man for dominion. Each one must occupy its own sphere of 
 action, and not cncroacli on tliat of the others, or rather, there 
 must be a perfect unity in their individual actings. There must 
 be goodness, wisdom and power operating as an undivided whole, 
 a complete and perfect fusion of these distinct principles in every 
 determination of the human will. It is the unity of the divine 
 attributes that forms the grand characteristic of the government 
 of God. It is the unity of the moral and intellectual principles 
 expressed through the material part of his nature that constitutes 
 the image of God after which man was created. There have 
 been high developments of mind in the world, wonderful mani- 
 festations both of skill and power, since the creation ; but, in them 
 all, it will be found that these principles, though they have operated 
 in combination, have not acted in unity. But without unity of 
 purpose and of action they will be inefficient elements in working 
 out the destinies of man. They have wanted the harmonizing, 
 fusing clement of heavenly love. Not, indeed, wanted it entirely, 
 otherwise the world could not have stood, but they wanted it in 
 that due proportion which would have checked their irregularities, 
 which would have assimilated their energies and directed them 
 to their legitimate ends. They wanted goodness, the principle by 
 which the power and wisdom of the Superior Ruler of all tilings 
 is regulated and directed. They wanted that /oi'c by which He 
 binds all Mis faithful subjects in allegiance to His throne ; by which 
 He unites in holy brotherhood all the children of men ; by which 
 Ho elevates and sanctifies human thoughts and desires, and by an 
 amazing economy fits the Camily of earth for a holy iticorporation 
 with the great I'amily of heaven. They all wanted, as a pervading 
 
 ■* 
 
 ^ 
 
.^ 
 
 230 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 eloiTicnt, a supreme regard to the will of God, wliich constitutionally 
 belongs to humanity, but has been so oblitera-ted as scarcely to be 
 legible in any of the pursuits or actions of men. 
 
 We cannot take oven a cursory glance at the great events of 
 the world's history without having the conviction forced home 
 upon us that it is not physical power, nor the might and energy 
 of pure intellect, nor of intellect and physical strength combined ; 
 it is not the ethereal dreams of imagination, nor the brilliant 
 conceptions of genius, nor the exquisite manipulations of art, 
 ministering to the refined pleasures and voluptuous indulgences of 
 social life, that elevates humanity, and gives it the mastery of the 
 world. These, indeed, are elements in the process, elements that 
 hitherto have been chiefly in operation, but, astonishing as the 
 fruits have been, no experience of the results can convince us that, 
 alone, they will ever replace the lost sceptre ©f dominion, in the 
 hands of man. 
 
 And, yet, in these days, when mechanical powers and intellectual 
 vigour have apparently reached the culminating point of excellence, 
 and the world's progress is advancing with the lightning's speed 
 — when the widening fields of knowledge have enlarged botli tlio 
 views and resources of men, and one discovery leads the way to 
 another of greater magnitude and importance with a rapidity that 
 is absolutely bewildering, and ominous of results that baffle the 
 human mind to conjecture; he would indeed be a bold speculator 
 who would afiirm that the final result will not be the highest state 
 of perfection, and the elevation of man to his lost throne of 
 dominion over tlic forces of nature. Already, in the vastness of his 
 power, he seems to have reached inmost the calminating point of 
 
 *" 
 
 ■* 
 
* 
 
 SERMON II. 
 
 281 
 
 his high destinies. Even now, he flies over the earth with tlic 
 speed of the winds. " Fire and vapour of smoke," waft him over 
 the seas. " He sends the lightnings that they may go," and 
 obedient to His commanl, they say "here are we." — He hath 
 measured the heavens; and weighed tlie worlds that career througli 
 unbounded space ! By the application of His skill, He has ascer- 
 tained the component parts of many substances, and the laws 
 which give to each, its particular form, and weight, and colour : 
 and with a sovereign hand He presses them all into His service 
 Look at the steaiu engine, wluit a mastery of mind over matter 
 does not only its nicely moulded form, but also its complicated 
 and accurately adjusted movements, display !♦ Look at the gallant 
 ship, ill the face of the angry winds and boisterous waves, careering 
 over patliless waters, guided in her course by a knowledge of the 
 magnetic attractions of a needle ; and impelled by the application, 
 of a simple mechanical power ! Look at the earth returning in 
 richest abundance of fruits and flowers, the labour and fertilizing 
 piopcrties which a knowledge of its component parts enables the 
 skillful agriculturist to supply? Is it now deemed incredible that 
 the whole earth and sea shall be girdled with a line of intelligence ; 
 or that any undertaking, however stupendous, can defy the powers 
 of man ? We recently spoke with hopeful confidence of spanning 
 the broad St. Lawrence with an iron pathway, on which self- 
 impelling vehicles would rush alonij; with marvellous velocity. 
 That is not now a doubtful problem. It is an accomplished 
 fact ! And man, in the consciousness of his skill, smiles at the 
 idea of the enraged river, heaving its icy mountains with u 
 mightier force than that of the thunder-bolt at the light and 
 
*■ 
 
 .* 
 
 232 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIKSON. 
 
 
 beautiful structure, that seems to smile defiance to its power. The 
 accelerated progress of knowledge verifies the maxim that "know- 
 ledge is power." But what limitation can we assign to that power 
 In relation to human agency ? It would be vain to conjecture ! 
 Most of the tremendous forces, that man, with sovereign power, 
 now presses into his service, are but of recent discovery; and 
 their attributes are but in the process of development. Although 
 they have been operating since the birth of time, yet, they are but 
 as yesterday to man. But what great things, even in the infancy 
 of his acquaintance with them, have they enabled man to achieve ? 
 When thaso., and all the other forces of nature, perhaps some of 
 them still undiscovercl, shall be fully developed — when man him- 
 self shall be thoroughly permeated with divine goodness, comprising 
 in that term every moral attribute ; when he shall have all his 
 powers, mental and physical, perfected, and harmoniously attuned, 
 and it shall be a necessary law of his being, to modify, combine, 
 control, and direct the mighty agencies- of nature to the most 
 beneficent moral purposes, then shall the e irthly destinies of man 
 be accomplished, and the will of God shall become the sole law of 
 sanctified humanity. But until this renovation is eficcted, assu- 
 redly we need not expect that the Eternal King will commit to 
 man, as his vice-regent, the unlimited command of the latent forces 
 of nature. 
 
 These elements, to be effective of any thing truly groat and good, 
 must be regulated and controled by a God-like will. Physical 
 strength and intellectual power may be employed to a bad as well 
 as a good purpose. Like a sword in the hand of a madman, high 
 intellectual power, in the possession of a godless man, would be a 
 
 
•{«■ 
 
 ^ 
 
 SERMON II. 
 
 23a 
 
 fearful and destructive iniplenient. Was there a universal diffu- 
 sion of knoAvlcdge; were the highest attainments in the mechanical 
 arts reached by every man ; were men intellectually and physi- 
 cally equal, those distinctions of rank observable amongst us, 
 and which seem essential to the very existence of society now, 
 would be unknown, and every man would do that which is right 
 in his own eyes. But would there be peace and plenty ? 
 Would there be prosperity and happiness ? Would there be 
 those cherished feelings and affections which belong to families ? 
 No 1 We fearlessly affirm that there would be universal anarchy, 
 and a disorganization of society, more complete than occurred in 
 the world before the flood ! and destruction more awful. A 
 licentious spirit of self-government, of which we now see the 
 incipient evils, would pervade individual minds. Each one would 
 struggle for sovereignty ! Bach one would be his own ruler. Each 
 one would be a god, a god unto himself, a god over all others. 
 Each one, impelled by the laws of his constitution, would aim at 
 universal ssvay. Increased mental energies, and enlarged physical 
 powers, would be sources of more tremendous evils than have yet 
 fallen upon man, and in the fierce contests for dominion, the 
 human race would bo extirpated from the earth. 
 
 Man is not yet prepared for his original birth-right of dominion. 
 He is not prepared for living with his race in unity, equality, and 
 fraternity, and this is indeed a condition of his being in a state 
 of perfection. The process is going forward that will effectuate it. 
 But intellect and physical strength, as we have said, are not the 
 sole formative principles. 'IMiey arc indeed the mightiest instru- 
 ments now at work ; but were they mightier than they are, they 
 
 m 
 
 '>M 
 
■* 
 
 234 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 would bo incapable of giving effect to the great constitutional I;uv 
 of man. God-like benevolence is just as essential a part of that 
 law, as knowledge or power. There must bo, moral, intellectual, 
 and physical energy, in united and harmonious combination. In a 
 ^vord — the reformation within him of the image of God, before he 
 can regain or expect to regain his birthright .xovorcignty. 
 
 Now, is there any thing that would lead us to suppose t'.at 
 man will ever regain the possession of his lost dominion ? Shall 
 his knowledge ever bo so enlarged as to apprehend the nature of 
 every thing material, and know intimately the laws by which their 
 mutual relations are determined ; and have the power to dispose 
 and arrange them according to his will j shall he ever become God- 
 like, and ob3dient to the Jirst law of his nature ; shall he of neces- 
 sity choose good and r.ject evil — mastering the latent forces of 
 nature, shall he ever be able to compel them to submit to his 
 sovereign sway ? This may seem a visionary expectation. But 
 when we announce this as nuiu's destiny, we are borne out in the 
 assertion, both by the testimony of heaven and earth. 
 
 The divitie economy revealed in the books of nature and inspi- 
 ration is professedly a plan for restoring man to his birthright 
 privileges by restoring him to the in>age of God. The history of 
 the world in all the departments, both of animate and inanimate 
 nature, is demonstrably but a narrative of this plan, advancing 
 step by .'^tcp to its consummation. 
 
 Wc cannot even take a cursory glance at the intellectual and 
 moral condition of the human race in connection with the great 
 events of the world's history, without observing the silent, slow, 
 but steady progress of mental development — without observing 
 
SERMOM ir. 
 
 235 
 
 ■^ 
 
 the perms of thouj^ht, at first stru;j;gling into lisht throu^li igno- 
 rance of the hii^h purpases of God, and m in's immortal tixistence — 
 that, like cliuineri.m d;irkne3'^, settled down upon him at his fill — 
 and then, in efflorescent beauty, presagin;; its profounder attain- 
 ments in scieutilio crutli. Nor can we fail to observe that the 
 practical and benefici:il results of increased mental power, had 
 depended on and corresponded most oxictly with the developments 
 of another principle — religious truth— which has been gradually 
 evolving since the day that the promise was given, that " the seed 
 of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent." Nor can wo 
 look at the progressive power and transforming effects of this 
 principle without entertaining the confident anticipation that it 
 will ultimately expand, enlighten, and purify the human mind 
 and fit maji for again holding the reign of sovereign authority over 
 the forces of creation. 
 
 If we look to the mental developments of the e irlier ages, as 
 exhibited in the remains that have come down to us of these 
 sciences and arts, we cmnot fail to be struck with the influiuico 
 which religious truth had on the production of these results. An 
 .attentive observer of facts must perceive that all the loftier exhi- 
 bitions of mental skill owe their origin to the silent influences of 
 religion. Tliis is sufficiently attested by the structures of India, 
 of Kgypt, and even of Greec3, while the disintombed ruins of 
 Babylon and Nineveh testify to the same truth. It is admitted 
 that a deep veil of mystery still shrouds from the inquiring the 
 circumstances that gave origin to these stupendous structures, 
 the very descriptions of which fill us with amazement allied to 
 incredulity. It is only through the rcndings of that veil which 
 
 *• 
 
 J. 
 
 
 l\ 
 
*■ 
 
 236 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATUIESON. 
 
 time has eifcctcd that wo can dimly see and impcrfoctly read these 
 legends. But from the shivered parcels of knowledge wliich we 
 can collect, we are warranted in concluding that in these tiations 
 the mighty impulsive power which operated on the public mind 
 and educed the national resources for the construction of these 
 sublime embodiments of their inner spiritual conceptions was 
 religious truth. We can trace in them all a recognition of the 
 o.xistenco and supremacy of God — of a belief in man's immortality 
 and his proud aspirings to a higher than his earthly destiny. 
 This shows plainly that the religious sentiment lay at the founda. 
 tion of all the great movements in history, if not in the form of a 
 cherished sacred feeling, yet, as an instructive propelling power. 
 
 Moro especially the revelation of the will of God recorded in the 
 Gospel of Christ throws the clearest light on the present condition 
 and future prospects of man. It intimates in strong terms his 
 coming dignity and sovereign power. It lells us that he shall 
 •' reign with Christ," " for whom are all things, and by whom are 
 all things." It asserts, what every man must feel whose moral 
 sense is not utterly vitiated and whose conceptions of God are 
 raised above the most brutal ignorance, that he has fallen from his 
 original state of innocence; that the image of God in his soul is 
 defaced ; that, instead of being a ruler, he is a degraded slave ; at 
 the same time it makes known a plan by which his sins are all 
 taken away, their guilt pardoned, and he is re-created after the 
 image of God in Christ Jesus, and refitted vfor the high purposes 
 of his being. 
 
 The word of God has gone forth into the world fraught with 
 diviue power, and it " will accomplish that for which it is sent." 
 
^f- 
 
 SERMON ri. 
 
 237 
 
 On minds that " receive it in love of it," tlic spirit of trutli and 
 holiness is operating with a quickening, sanctifying power. It is 
 making the ungodly like unto tlie Son of God hiuiself, holy, good, 
 and utterly free from selfishness and sin. Though the leaves of 
 the Bible in themselves, and apart from the living spirit that is 
 Operating through them, are as inefficient to any good purpose as 
 the dry leaves which the autumn winds shake from the trees, yet, 
 containing, aa they do, " the testimony of God, concerning His 
 Son," the truths recorded in them become " spirit and life unto 
 every one who receives them in faith. The Gospel of Christ " is 
 the power of God and the wisdom of God unto the salvation of all 
 who believe," and divine pow^r and wisdom will assuredly afl'ect 
 that great change in the moral and intellectual condition of man 
 which will fit him to aj propriate the latent forces of nature, and to 
 employ them for the . "complishment of the great ends of his 
 spiritual and immortal li 
 
 The renovating power oi the Gospel is progressive and irresist- 
 ible. It is >ilent and unseen, and can only be known by its 
 eflfects ; but, as it operates through a visible agency, we can easily 
 discern these effects, and they have been greater and more 
 astonishing than the most marvellous transformations in the 
 material world. Men who have lived in all manner of wickedness 
 have been made holy and good. Men who have hated God and 
 each other, by the transforming power of divine truth have become 
 God-loving and devout, meek and gentle, tender-hearted and kind ; 
 in a word, have been made like unto the Son of God, who came 
 into the world to do the will of His Father, and went about con. 
 tiuually doing good, both to the souls and bodies of men. Such is 
 
 g 
 
 ^- 
 
 m 
 
*■ 
 
 238 
 
 '^ 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 tliG natural tendency of a loving reception of the truths of tho 
 Gospel, They exalt, purify, and spiritualize the nature of man ; 
 they restore within him tho image of tho invisible God. 
 
 In the Gospel, not only are the most perfec. instructions given, 
 but, also, the most finished and perfect pattern of every virtue and 
 every grace is presented. In Christ Jesus we behold, embodied,"^ 
 that exalted excellence to which all shall be raised who believe in 
 Him, " for in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily," 
 i. e., in the Man Christ Jesus all the attributes of God, in perfect 
 union with humanity, are manifested. The incomprehensible 
 God, whom no eye hath at any time seen, is revealed in a condi- 
 tion which our finite minds can comp >hend and appreciate ; " all 
 the goodness of God is made to pass before us. And how 
 glorious is the spectacle 1 la the Man Christ Jesus, wo behold 
 infinite wisdom and goodness administering infinite power i All- 
 embracing love directing unsearchable knowledge ! How consistent 
 with each other, and with the whole will of God, was His every 
 thought, every word, every action ! How loving and compas- 
 sionate I How holy, and just, and true! How tender, and kind, and 
 good, was He ! His character was unique. No one ever approached 
 it by an infinite degree. Truly, He was God manifested in the 
 flesh. 
 
 And yet, it is to such perfect excellence that the Gospel 
 designs to raise the sinful children of men I By faith they are 
 united to Christ, and the glory which the Father hath given unto 
 Him He hath given unto them, that they may be brought to "a 
 complete communion of Divine life with Him." When the grand 
 fechemo icvealed in the Gospel for the moral renovation and 
 
 '>^ 
 
* 
 
 * 
 
 -^ 
 
 SERMON 11. 
 
 239 
 
 redemption of man will be completed, they will be assimilated to 
 Him, and raised to a share of His happiness and power, for He hath 
 declared, " to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on 
 .my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my 
 Father on His throne." 
 
 When man shall have all the powers and faculties of his nature? 
 both mental and pliysical, thus perfected and harmonioudy 
 attuned, and it shall be a necessary law of his being to modify; 
 combine, control and direct the mighty agencies of nature to the 
 most beneficent moral purposes, and the will of God shall become 
 the sole law of his thoughts and actions, then shall his earthly 
 destiny be accomplished. Then, this rudimentary state of things 
 t^hall close, " and a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwellcth 
 righteousness, shall bo the dwelling place of holy, spiritualized 
 humanity." Intellectual life shall then consist in choosing that 
 which is good, and applying the best means for the accomplish- 
 ment of the best ends. Moral life shall consist in absolute purity^ 
 in constant action. Physical life, in the exercised functions of a 
 spiritual, immortal body. These, in union, will be the distin- 
 guishing qualities of perfected humanity. The living power of 
 the Gospel of Christ, having accomplished its groat traiisforma" 
 tions, man shall be re-invested with his lost sovereignty, and shal 
 reign with Him who is head over all things, for ever and lor ever- 
 The blessed spirits around the throne of heaven, in their song 
 that is ever new, arc represented as a.scribing glory and praise unto 
 Him who redeemed tliem by His blood, and made them unto their 
 God, kings and priests to reign with Him on the earth. It is far 
 beyond tlie powers of our minds even to conceive the blessedness 
 
 ■^ 
 
 I 
 
 Jl 
 
•?«■ 
 
 ■^ 
 
 240 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 of tliose who, as kings, shall reign over the tremendous forces that 
 are stored up in nature, and as priests shall present them all, an 
 offering unto God in the accomplishment of His will. The 
 triumphs of mind over matter which we now behold are, so to speak, 
 but the germinal buds of the matured fruits of mental grandeur in 
 those happy scenes whichshall succeed this perplexed and troubled 
 state of being — a state of being, however, perplexed and troubled 
 though it be, which is, perhaps, the one best adapted for eliciting 
 the faculties that fit a man for the society of heaven — best adapted 
 for making him acquainted with those forces, and the organic Iaw« 
 they observe, on the knowledge of which his future intercourse 
 with the spiritual world depends. Forc-3s which anniiiilate time 
 and space, and th) command of which invests man with a power, 
 the results of whicli it is impossible for him, in his present state, 
 even to conceive. 
 
 In conclusion, permit me to oiFer a few exhortatory remarks by 
 way of inducing you to cultivate with care your physical, your 
 moral, your intellectual faculties, and to strive to have all the 
 principles of your nature so elevated, purified, and harmoniously 
 adjusted, as to fit you to " reign with Christ upon the earth;'' and 
 as priests, to present the various motive powers of matter, witli 
 the governing laws and results, a holy offering unto God. 
 
 No physical culture, it is true, can give life, — that is the gift of 
 God, through the Lord Jesus Christ. Tlic body is the casket in 
 which that gift is preserved ; and the instrument by which its 
 operations are expressed. By observing the laws necessary to 
 health and longevity, you give an enlarged sphere, and a more 
 intense energy to the actings of your moral and intellectual nature. 
 
 *■ 
 
i* 
 
 •i- 
 
 SERMON II. 
 
 241 
 
 *■ 
 
 Although the spiritualized body, when it is raised from the dust of 
 death, shall in many respects differ from the body of flesh in which 
 we now live, we huve no reason to believe that any of its powers or 
 faculties shall have perished in the grave. Those are essential 
 elements of humanity, necesjary to its perfected condition as well 
 as to its growth and maturity. It is by physical action that the 
 thoughts and desires of the mind are expressed. The more 
 perfectly they are expressed the more true and sympathetic will be 
 the contact of one mind with another, and less liable to misappre- 
 hension or error. In our ignorance of the future we cannot tell 
 what effect the full development of our physical powers will have 
 on our spiritual condition, but, assuredly, the results will be glorious. 
 This we know, that while striving to perfect them we are doing the 
 will of God, and, as His agents, carrying forward the great work 
 which He is accomplishing on the earth. 
 
 Cultivate with care your intellectual powers, endeavour to form 
 the habit of accurate observation and patient thinking. Many 
 things will occur in the journey of life which you know little or 
 nothing about, but their causes and eflPects it is important you 
 should know. Let nothing that is new to you pass fro n your 
 minds without becoming the subject of patient scrutiny. Many 
 individualand social advantages are derived from this practice. 
 The simplest incidents oftentimes give origin to the most impor- 
 tant discoveries. The falling of an apple to the ground led 
 Newton to reflect on that power which causes all bodies to descend 
 to the centre of the earth. Investigating this power on the 
 principles of sound philosophy, he disc.tvered tiie law of universal 
 gravitation, a discovery which wrought such a revolution in the 
 
 ■^ 
 
 
 
■^ 
 
 242 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIII'SON 
 
 opinions of men, as to present philosophy in a new aspect, anrl 
 religion in a more attractive form. It will not be till all the latent 
 powers and properties of nature be fully elicited and distinctly 
 understood, that ram's earthly destiny shall be accomplished and 
 huminily fitted for the employments of the eternal world. 
 
 Above all cultivate your moral and religious nature with 
 assiduous care. If we have been orrect in our deductions, that 
 the sentiment of religion, either as an instinct or a moral principle, 
 has been the chiof stimulus to every great enterprise in the ancient 
 world , if the utility of every discovery has wonderfully corres- 
 ponded to the developments of this principle; if, until it is per- 
 fected, and God's will sliall be the sole law of our lives, wo will 
 hope in vain to repossess our birthright dominion over the earth ; 
 if without this principle to regulate the outgoings of knowledge, 
 our acquirements would be a curse instead of a blessing, then 
 cultivate your religious sentiments with peculiar care. To this 
 end you have every advantage given you ; you have divine 
 instruction given, a perfect example set before you, heavenly aid 
 piomised you, and the noblest object that can inspire ambition and 
 animate Christian zeal is placed before you as the end and aim of 
 all your aspirations. Let the mind that was in Christ be also found 
 in you. Until you are made like unto Him, you arc unfit to guide 
 the elements of natuic, and command them to obey your will. 
 
 Science is increasing its bounds, knowledge is enlarging its 
 fields of operation. The world of mind and the world of matter 
 seem to be hastening to perfection ; why should the Divine science 
 of knowing God in Christ stand still? Why should the fields of 
 heavenly knowledge remain uncultivated ? Why shut our eyes to 
 
 •<i* 
 
■* 
 
 SERMON ir. 
 
 24a 
 
 the li'-'lit of the truth, that alone can uruide our course over the 
 dark waters of perplexed and troubled thouglit ? Why shut our 
 hearts t;) the influences of God's love, which would mould them 
 unto His own image and make fallen man like unto Christ Jesus, 
 holy, benevolent, ever doing good, whose voice all nature obeyed ; 
 whose will was the will of His Father in heaven, whose dominion 
 endureth throughout all generations. 
 
 When man, created anew after the image of God, shall be pure, 
 righteous and good, as when first he came from the hands of his 
 Maker, and shall oifer the fruits of his enlarged faculties an holy 
 offering unto God, then shall be completed the great work which 
 Christ came from heaven to accomplish. You are called to be 
 fellow-workers with Him. If uuble ambition can inspire your 
 hearts with courage ; if glory, honour, and iumiortality can excite 
 you to patience and perseverance in well-doing ; if eternal life be a 
 reward adequate to the dignity of the renewed mind, the prize is 
 before you. The most favourable advantages are afforded you, 
 the Sabbath with its holy ordinances, communion with God and 
 its blessed influences, the Bible and its words of perfect life and 
 liberty are the high privileges you enjoy, Christ is ever with you to 
 make them available. Yield yourselves to the influences of His 
 Spirit. Through Him strengthening you, you can do all things 
 you will attain dominion not only over the earth but the higher 
 glory of ruling your own spirits, being filled with the light and the 
 righteousness of God. Amen. 
 
 ► ^■ 
 
 '^'^ 
 
t'f- 
 
 * 
 
 SERMON III. 
 
 AND IT WAS WINTER. — John X, 22. 
 
 The winter is a season that is fitted to call up reflections of a 
 solemn but of a peculiarly interesting and improving kind. The 
 year, closing amidst its rigours and when nature seems dead, silently 
 leads the mind to the time when the long and dreary winter of 
 death shall come, and the darkness of the grave shall cover us. But, 
 if winter is associated with the gloomy thoughts of death, it is also 
 brightened with the pleasing hopes of immortality. If we give the 
 parting tribute of a sigh to the departed year, that may have borne 
 away with it many of our joys, so do we hail with gladness the 
 advancing yeaf, which, in the buoyancy of hope natural to the human 
 mind, we expect will be fraught with many blessings. As these 
 anticipations come crowding upon us, if we devoutly raise our 
 thoughts to that gracious Being, " from whom cometh down every 
 
 This, the last sermon preached by Dr. Mathieson, was one of his 
 favourite discourses. It appears to have been written aliout the j-ear 
 1848, and to have been preached frequently — twice at least to the Con- 
 gregation of St. Andrew's — the last occasion being on the 23rd of January, 
 1870. 
 
 i 
 
^. 
 
 ■* 
 
 246 
 
 SEKMONS BY Bll. MATIIIESON- 
 
 good and perfect gift," the winter would not only remind us of the 
 close of liumtm life, but would also lead us to contcnipbitc those 
 .scenes which shall succeed the fluctuations and changes of mortal 
 existence, and for the enjoyment of which the trials and vexations 
 of this passing scene iirc wisely and graciously designed to bo 
 preparatory. 
 
 We are now in the very lieart of the winter. The light and the 
 heat of the sun are diminished ; the day " has dwindled to its 
 shortest span ;" the earth is buried beneath the snow ; myriads of 
 those living beings that sported in the beams of the summer's 
 sun are motionless or dead, and others have taken their flight to 
 more congenial and far distant climes ; the groves are now silent, 
 or echo to the moaning winds ; the rippling streams, which lately 
 to the imagination seemed the very types of youthful gaiety, are 
 now ice-bound and still, or like a mighty giant, contending with 
 death, for a moment they straggle with their crystal fetters, 
 and then, " like a child that has brawled itself to rest," they 
 lie still and silent as death. Over the face of nature a death-like 
 torpor is cast, and scarcely a vestige of what clothed hill and dale 
 with beauty is now to be seen. Yet, over this dead and desolate 
 scene the bright and beautiful sunshine is often tlirown with sur. 
 passing splendour, like the light of immortality shining on the 
 coldness and desolation of the tomb. The jocund voices of con- 
 gregated friends, in healthful exercise on the ringing ice or crisping 
 snow, the glad re-unions of the scattered members of families around 
 the paternal hearth, the warm flow of charity, brimming over to 
 the cold and hungry poor, which tliis season calls forth, may remind 
 us too that there arc affections and feclinus which deatli cannot des- 
 
 •i« 
 
 -^--^^ 
 
■^ 
 
 SERMON III. 
 
 247 
 
 troy ; that spiritual life glows amidst the desolation and decay of 
 matter, and of that joyful re-union of the far scattered members of 
 the great family of God, wlien time shall bo ended and eternal 
 ages shall run. 
 
 Nature lifts up her instructive voice in every season, and adapts 
 her lc(-sons to the varying emotions of every period of human life. 
 But never is her voice more awfully solemn, nor her lcs.sons more im- 
 portant and instructive, than when uttered amidst the storms and 
 ravages of the closing year. To the consideration of these, our text 
 naturally directs the thoughtful miiul, but in calling your atten- 
 tion to the teachings of Nature it shall not be our object in 
 this discourse to lay before you all the lessons suggested by the 
 text, interesting and important though they may be. We will confine 
 our observations chiefly to the circumstances with which it is con- 
 nected, and hope that, by blending them with the emotions that 
 naturally belong to this season, a deeper and a more permanent 
 impression of divine things may be made on our minds, and that 
 the storm and desolations of the winter may be unto us the 
 impressive preachers of righteousness. 
 
 It was winter. This was the season when the Son of God 
 appeared in the world, and the cold and bleak aspect of Nature 
 is a befitting emblem of the cold and uncourteous reception that 
 was given to llim by thnse He came to save. He came to his own, 
 buthisown received him not. Though Tie was " the Lord of Glury," 
 " the Prince of the Kinu's of the earth," none welcomed His 
 advent — none waited to do Him homnge; He seemed an oulcjast in 
 the world, which He Himself had made. He was despised and rejected 
 by the creatures He had formed The hardships and privations to 
 
*■ 
 
 ■»* 
 
 248 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 which He was exposed cannot be surpassed in the condition of 
 the most nef;;lcctod of the children of poverty, even amidst tlie 
 riirours of the most inclement winter. 
 
 Brethren, our hearts aro touched with pity when wo look upon 
 the sufferings of homeless poverty and want aggravated by pinching 
 cold ; and colder than the bitter blasts of the winter must bo the 
 heart of that man who would not to the poor, at lea,st to the 
 suffering poor, extend relief Judging from these generous feelings of 
 our nature, we can hardly conceive it possible that we could have 
 incurred the reproach which is justly attached to the Jews, for their 
 inhospitable reception of the Saviour. But let us bear in mind 
 that much of this generous sympathy with the suffering poor must 
 be aserib d to the benign influences of the religion of the Son of 
 God an advantage which the Jews possessed not, and that much of 
 their unkind treatment of Jesus arose out of prejudices with which 
 we have not to contend. But notwithstanding our superior advan- 
 tages, have we any reason to boast of a more profound sympathy 
 with the "Man of sorrows?" Have wc given Ilini a kinder 
 reception than His Qwn ungrateful countrymen gave llim? When 
 lie sent out His disciples with thcmcssagis of peace and salvation 
 Pie said unto them : " He that recoiveth you receiveth Me." This is 
 greit plainness of speech. Have His messengers come unto you 
 in His name, and with His own gracious words of love and mercy 
 on their lips, and have you received them as you think you would 
 have received Jesus, the Son of God, had you lived when He was 
 ni inifested in the flesh ? Have you listened to them with the same 
 iiitenso earnestnis^ as you think you would have listened to Him 
 ** who spake as never man spake" had you enjoyed the privilege .of 
 
 ■^ 
 
■* 
 
 SEKMON III. 
 
 240 
 
 listening to the audible tones of His heavenly voice ? It is vain to 
 say the r;»so is altered now ; that those who come to you are rude 
 in speech and ungainly in manners; they tell you nothing that 
 you have not heard before. Christ knew well what He said, and 
 we repeat His words, " he that heareth you hoareth Me." He well 
 knew that those He sent forth with the overtures of pardon and 
 peace were uicn full of imperfections and sin, that the " bodily 
 presence" of some of them " was weak" " and their speecu con- 
 temptible," yet He selected such imperfect earthly vessels for the 
 conveyance of the messages of His love, and He claimed for them in 
 the exercise of their holy -duties tho same honour and respect that 
 should be shewn to Himself " He that despiseth you despiseth 
 Me, and he that despiseth Me, despiseth him that sent Me." 
 
 Brethren, if we would bear in mind these solemn words of our 
 Lord there would be surely less disrespect shewn to the messen- 
 gers whom He sends, and less indiflfcrenee to the tidings which they 
 bring. Surely if we felt that we were condennied sinners, and hell 
 was yawning to receive us, our cry would be, " what shall we do 
 to be saved " Instead of seeking. to have our ears tingled, and 
 our tastes gratified, we would earnestly seek to have our hearts 
 affected, aud would listen with the most intense interest to every 
 illustration, and to every exposition of that scheme of niercy and 
 grace by which the sinner is sanctified and saved. Our earnest desire 
 would be to have the life-giving truths of God's Word dwelling 
 richly in our hearts. It would not be for the streams of worldly 
 delight we would thirst, but for water from the wells of salvation ; 
 and we would drink of them deeply, wii.thor presented to u.s in an 
 
 earthen cup or in a golden chalice. 
 
 GG 
 
 *■ 
 
 >^ 
 
■^ 
 
 250 
 
 HEI5M0NS IIY DK. MATIIIESON', 
 
 Ui ■ 
 
 V.I 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 ^ '.' 
 
 i} :1 
 
 1^ 
 
 But wliat is tho reception that men generally j^ivc to the me»- 
 Reiij^crsofClii it t ? Is it with the " enticinf? words ol'man's wisdom," 
 er ill the uiiadoniod siiuplicity of truth that they desire to have 
 the (Jospel prcaehcd uii-to tlioui ? There is no dismiisinjjf the fact, 
 unless tho iMessciiiier of God conic with all the artificial graces of 
 oratory, and a voice in modulated tones to captivate the car, he 
 will not incet respect due to his sacred office. What is the rcccptior> 
 they give to the divine message itself? l>o they who hojxj to be saved 
 by the faith of the Gospi'l cherish its truths in their own heart* 
 and endeavour to have them extended and established in the world ? 
 '•The foxes 1 avc holes," said our blessed Lord ; "the foxes have holes, 
 and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of nian hath not 
 whereto lay his head. " Like its homeless Author, Christianity slilB 
 seems to want slielter and a resting jdace in the woi Id. What has been 
 done for teaching and making disoiples of all nations of the earth 7 
 This is the mission <d' kingdoius as well as iiuiivitluals, but what 
 provision lias tiie im^st favoured kingdom luaile ftr the mainte- 
 naiic.! of the public worship of God, and publisiiiiig the knowledge 
 i)f salvation throughout the world ? xVpirt from political consi- 
 derations, absolutely nothing. As a fiscal arrangement, as a cheap 
 state police, the preaching of the Gospel is sanctioned, and in some 
 states publicly su|>ported in some measure. The teiideney of Cliris- 
 tiaiiity as a national institution is to promote the pcaej and pr )S- 
 perity of society, to empty the prisons by preventing crimes, to 
 dimiiii>li pauperism by promoting industry, to establish intern;' 
 peace by inculcating coiileiitiaeiit aiultlie practice of goc' "iir 
 uiid to ertect tliese important purposes, in some places, a iiu.-.. 
 
 been given, but sliutedly and gruilgingly. But, in rwluiion to 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■4'-. ■ 
 
 I 
 
 
T 
 
 >!« 
 
 SERMON in. 
 
 251 
 
 men's lii^lier ami iiuinoi'til dcstiiiius, wlmt li;ivo nations done for 
 the ostablishmont of Christianity on tlio oarth ? 0, cry out some, 
 with atFoctcd earnestness, "the kingdom of Uhritt is not of this 
 world;" it has no connection witli its iwlicy or pursuits. A national 
 reUgion C(/rrupts the streams of divine truth. A national church 
 letters the free spir it of Christianity, encroaches on tiie civil liber- 
 tics and religious privileges of the people. The work of evange- 
 lizing the world has been committed to the saints. The duty is 
 fours. We perform the comuiandment of the Lord. Ah !" What 
 meaneth, then, this bleating of the sheep in mine ears,and this lowing 
 of oxen that [ hoar?" If it is the duty of one and all of Christ's 
 followers to devote themselves and all that they have unto Him ; if 
 this dedication of themselves be a fr. c and voluntary self-sacriliec, 
 what mean, then, those blatant appeals from platforms and 
 pulpits to the geucrosity of " the Christian people." What mean 
 those bollowings and boastings of what has been reserved 
 from luxurious pleasures as s.icrilicjs unto the Lord ? After all 
 the noise and pious prattle that has been made, whai are these 
 sacrifices? crumbs from the table! paltry clippings of garments! 
 the sweepings of fraudulent gains perfumed ostentatiously with 
 the odour of charity ! ! Has there boen i sacrifice of spiritual pride? 
 of sectarian animosity? of Pharisaic arrogance ? Has there been a 
 willing obedience to the"' exc-eeding broad commandment of Chris- 
 tian love' which is better than all sacrifices. Brethren, calmly and 
 candidly, cont^5mplating the state of Christianity in the world and 
 the ettbrts that have been made to exteui the boundaries of Christ's 
 Kingdom, can we affirm that either Christian nations or Christian 
 men have done their duty ? Has even the Church been faithful to 
 
 ^* 
 
 ■*i< 
 
m 
 
 V 
 
 252 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESOST. 
 
 the trust committed to it ? We are ol)liged to confess that, like its 
 unnoticed and neglected Author, Christianity still sleeps as in a 
 manger ; that it is still confined as with swaddling clothes, and 
 ia bonuuibed by the chilly wintry blasts that whistle around it, 
 
 2ndly. " It was winter." This was the seison, says the Evangelist^ 
 somewhat emphatically, when Jesus walked in Solomon's porch, in 
 all probability to shelter Himself from the inclemency of the 
 weather, as well as indirectly to give the Jews another proof that 
 He was the Mec-'.ah. 
 
 In all the sinless infirmities of humanity Jesus participated ; He 
 submitted to hunger and cold and fatigue in the execution of the 
 work given Him to do. In the porch, or covered way of the Temple 
 named after the Son of David, did Christ, his Son in a far higher 
 and spiritual sense, seek to shelter Himself from the me];ciless 
 blast ; but cold and cutting as it was, it wv.s not so keen as the 
 storms which the malice of liis eiiemifo, caused to fall on his 
 unsheltered head. 
 
 It ia painful to think that this stornj continues to rage with 
 unabated fury. We speak not now of those who openly blaspliome 
 His holy name, and with demoniacal fury attempt t6 subvert His 
 lieavenly religion, we speak of those who profess to honour 
 Him, but who in thoir deeds* deny Him. As sincere inquirers 
 after truth, the Jews came round about Him, asking Him to 
 tell th.om plainly if He were the Christ. Thi-j seems to be a 
 reasonable and a candid rc'iuost ; but their hearts were full of 
 prejudices and animosity agauist Him, which no testimony could 
 subdue. Had He told them plainly that He was the Mcs*siah, wo 
 know from the subsequent context whfit would hare happened. 
 
 -8 
 
 A ' 
 
i;!^ 
 
 ■A 
 
 SEKMON III. 
 
 253 
 
 He told them, as plainly as the state of their own hearts would per- 
 mit the truth to be revealed, consisstently with tiio natural accoai- 
 plishnient of His purposes, that all power in heaven and in earth 
 was His, that life and death were in His liands, and He accompanied 
 the&odeclarations with such proofs of His veracity as were sufficient 
 to convince reasonable Picn ; but they believed Him not. His 
 humble birth and His obscure condition did not correspond with 
 thoir notions of the Messiah. And when He asserted, in express 
 terms. His divine origin and heavenly power, they accused Him of 
 blasphemy, and would have stoned Him to death had Ho not 
 " escaped out of their hand." 
 
 How similar is the conduct of many professed followers after 
 truth in these days, to t'lat of the Jews. Tliey come to the Bible 
 Avith the ostcn.sible questini, tell us plainly, is Jesus of Nazareth 
 the Christ but their judguit 'it is already formed. They believe 
 that he is merely a man, it may be a good man, qualified to instruct 
 mankind now they may enter into the kingdom of heaven. To 
 every Scripture testimony to these facts they yield their assent, but 
 when, in very cxi»licit terms, tlie Bible affirms that Jesus has power 
 in Himself to lay down His life, and to take it again ; when it 
 speaks of nis death as an atonement for sin, and ascribes an effi' 
 cacy to His blood that is more precious than all created objects' 
 when it testifies that salvation is God's work entirely, and refers 
 to the manifestations of God in nature and in providence as a proof 
 that its revelations arc true ; when it speaks of the utterly help- 
 less state of all mankind, and that none but Jehovah can save 
 them ; when it ascribes the incommunicable attributes of Jehovah 
 to Jesus, and asserts His being one with the Father, in terms which 
 
 TT 
 
SI » 
 
 254 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 no sophistry can mystify, and no ingenuity can sub\'crt, thoy arc 
 driven to denounce the views, which an honest, unbiassed mind 
 would take of these statements, as blasphemous, or to have recourse 
 to unbelief. Thct^e sufficiently plaintestinionios of the Bible arc all 
 so irreconcilable with their pre-conccptious of the nature of God* 
 and the laws of his moral government, that they will not believe 
 them. Our Lord tells us why : '' Ye believe not" said lie to the 
 Jews, " because ye are not of my shcjp. My sheep hear My voice' 
 and they follow Me, and T give unto them eternal life." They, like 
 the Jews, have formed a sclnme of salvation, more in accordance 
 with what they think to be right and philosophical. They are wedded 
 to their own notions. It is not with the spirit of candid inquirers 
 that they approach the Scriptures. Instead of listening to their 
 testimony, as that testimony would bo received by simple-minded 
 and candid men, thoy listen to the suggestions ol' their own reason- 
 ing faculties, and follow the counsels of their own heart:?. Though 
 they know but few of the ways of Jehovah and cannot comprehend 
 the full thunder of His power, yet they would concentrate in their 
 own narrow minds all knowledge of His nature and attributes, and 
 denounce as blasphemous everything that would controvert thoir 
 own limited views of His incomprehensible nature, and unfathom. 
 able purposes. 
 
 But it is not by the blasting influence of speculative opinions 
 inconsi.stent with the plain and simple statements of God's Word 
 that men corrupt and destroy the genuine fruits of the Gospel ; by 
 their practical indifference to the doctrines of Christianity, there ia 
 more real harm done, than by open hostility. " If ye love Me," said 
 Jesus, " yc will keep My commandments.'' If obedience be the test 
 
 ■^ 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■^ 
 
 
^. 
 
 SERMON III. 
 
 255 
 
 and measure of love for Jesus, few, I fear, can free themselves from 
 the reproach of treating Ilim disrespectfully, as the unfeeling Jews 
 did. Which of His commandments have been faithfully kept ? Who, 
 with corresponding zeal, have striven to advance those great pur- 
 poses which He came into this wintry world to accomplish ? Have 
 we ourselves done nothing to retard His religion, or excite against 
 it the withering soorn of the scoffer? Have we never, by our indif. 
 fereuce to the all-important truths of salvation, confirmed others in 
 sin or encouraged them to pursue the path that leads to destruc- 
 tion ? I fear, brethren, even (vlien we drop the tear of mor- 
 bid sympathy over the memorials of His sufferings, were we faith- 
 fully to remefubor how we have discharged our incumbent Christian 
 duties, we could not adduce our fidelity to His commandments, as 
 an evidence of our luve to Jesus. Oar hearts are often as cold as 
 the winter's snow to all that tends to advance His kingdom, and 
 the tunour of our conduct is as injurious to vital godliness as the 
 bitter blasts from the frozen north are to the early flowers of the 
 S]>ring. 
 
 oidly. Our thoughts are directed by our text to the circum- 
 stances which distinguished the season when Jesus walked in Solo- 
 mon's porch. " It was at Jerusalem, tlie feast of dedication, and it 
 was winter." 
 
 The feast of dedication was not of divine appointment, it was insti 
 tuted long posterior to the giving of the Law, probably by Judas 
 Macabcus, and afterwards confirmed by the supreme counsel of the 
 nation. It was designed to comniemorate the recovery of Jeru- 
 salem from tlio heathen, and the purification of the Temple from 
 the gross profanation of it by the impious Antiociius. Either out 
 
 *■ 
 
 ■►J. 
 
ȴǥ 
 
 '.! : i 
 
 ' 'i 
 I' I 
 
 m 
 
 if 
 
 1 i 
 
 |: 
 
 ^ 
 'h 
 
 - 
 
 .' 
 
 
 
 
 Z L 
 
 .z. - 
 
 256 
 
 SERMON BY DR. MATIIIKSON. 
 
 Oi' revenge or cruel policy, that tyrant, after quelling an insurrec- 
 tion in Jerusalem, slew 40,000 Jews in one day, and sold as many 
 more for slaves. Not contented with this, he profaned the Temple 
 in a way most abhorrent to the religious feelings of the Jews. He 
 intruded himself into the " Holy of Holies," into which it was 
 unlawful for any one but the High Priest to enter, and only law- 
 ful for him, once a year, when he entered with the blood of atone- 
 ment. To pollute the sacred edifice, to the utmost degree, he 
 caused swine to be sacrificed on the altars of God, and water in 
 which the flesh of these unclean animals had been boiled to be 
 sprinkled on every part of the building, that it might be rendered 
 utterly unfit for the worship of the living God. 
 
 After it had lain three years in defilement, it was recovered by 
 the Jews and purified with many sacrifices and lustrations, and 
 dedicated anew to the worship of God. It was to commemorate 
 the purification of the TempK; that the feast of dedication was 
 instituted. The Jews celebrated it with great pomp, as a resusci. 
 tation of their political being, and, as it were, life from the dead, 
 and Our Lord sanctioned it with His presence. 
 
 But, brethren, the defilement of the symbolical temple was not 
 more complete than the pollution of the liuman soul by sin. Tlie 
 soul is the spiritual temple of God, which at its creation was 
 honoured with the divine presence, and which He hath promised to 
 fill with His glory ; but before the Spirit of God can dwell in the 
 soul of m:in it must be purified, raised from desolation, and 
 consecrated to the service of Jehovah. Like the material temple, it 
 must be sanctified by sacrifice •■> • lustrations, by the sacrifice of 
 Him who " came to put away sin" by off"ering Himself unto God 
 
 * 
 
 ■* 
 
 iiLi ^ 
 
■* 
 
 SERMON ill. 
 
 257 
 
 for us, and by sprinkling the soul with His blood, which " clean- 
 geth it from dead works to serve the living God." 
 
 Without straining the analogies of nature beyond due bounds, 
 does not tlie winter, with its softly falling snow, suggest lessons 
 of spiritual purity and divine activity, analogous to what both 
 reason and Scripture tell us must pass upon the soul of man, before 
 it can be restored to the divine favour ? As winter approaches, the 
 earth gradually assumes a deadlier aspect, a more sombre hue ; 
 yet still there is vegetable life and matured beauty. Many of the 
 autumn's flowers are in bloom ; the meadows are still green, and 
 the tinted leaves still adorn the woods. It is winter : thoy droop 
 and die. The first nipping frost strips the flowers of their 
 beauty and sweeps the leaves in rustling shower.s to the ground. 
 The earth is cold and dead : incapable of sustaining life : rugged and 
 unsightly. The fleecy snow descends, how soft and beautiful ! 
 almost imperceptible, like the breath of the Spirit, wrapping, as in 
 a winding sheet of transparent whiteness, the wan face of dying 
 nature, and clothing in robes of purity the memorials of decay. 
 White robes are given to every one of them, and it is said : " Ye 
 shall rest yet for a little season." They disappear from the earth, but 
 it is to burst forth again in renewed and resplendent brightness. 
 
 " What are these that are arrayed in white robes, and whence 
 came they ?" " These are they that have come out of great tribula- 
 tion, and have washed their robes and made them while and clean 
 in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne 
 of God and the Lamb, and serve Him day and night in His 
 Temple." 
 
 The heavenly purity of the saints of God is not perfected till 
 
 im 
 
 •i" 
 
 •* 
 
:t 
 
 258 
 
 SERMONS r.Y PR, MATIIIESON. 
 
 tlic winter of temptation and trouble is over and gone. It is out 
 of great tribulation they pass into glory. When the storms and 
 tempests of life arc past, purified from sin, they shnll enter into 
 the joy of their Lord. Like the flowers of the field in the winter's 
 storms, every earthly virtue shall perish amidst tlie trials of faith ; 
 all selfishness shall wither; the soul shall be clothed with the 
 robe of the Redeemer's riiLiliteousne^s. But though all tliat is 
 earthy shall die, the .seeds of spiritual life, that were matured amidst 
 corruption and decay, shall survive, and througli the life-giving 
 power of Christ's death shall again be called into activity. They 
 will arise in the image of God, after which they were originally 
 created. 
 
 This renewing of the whole man must be begun on earth, though 
 it will only be completed when the winter of death is past, and the 
 genial mildness of eternal spring shall be diffused over the wide 
 sphere of spiritualized humanity. Then, the bodies that arc sown 
 ill corruption .sjudl be raised in incorruption. But it is here the 
 seeds of life must be deposited in the heart. The Spirit, like the 
 breath of spring, will cause them to germinate and spring up, and 
 bear their appropriate fruits. 
 
 To this spiritual cultivation wc must here devote ourselves ; wo 
 must open our hearts to the reception of the principles of holiness 
 and truth, and wait in fiuth till the Spirit of God evolve them in 
 beauty. 
 
 Among the many important lessons which the winter teaches, 
 we are impressively admonished of the necessity of attending imme- 
 diately to the duty of dedicating ourselves to the Lord. The heaven- 
 appointed means are within our reach. They must be applied. 
 
 * 
 
 -►^ 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
b 
 
 * 
 
 SERMON III. 
 
 259 
 
 They can only be made effectual through the influences of the Holy 
 Spirit. The Spirit will be given to them who ask for it, and, through 
 faith, will impart a divine efficacy to the blood of atoiiement. 
 
 The Temple, desolate and polluted, without sacrifice, without 
 songs of praise, the bleak winds of winter whistling through its 
 deserted porches, and gloomy sky throwing a deeper shude of melan- 
 choly into its courts, empty, where the pcoi)lc of tlie living God did 
 congregate. The polluting worship of devils, staining its desecrated 
 walls, presented not to the Jew a more saddening spectacle than 
 the unrenewed, unsanctilied soul of man to one who is alive to a 
 sense of his condition in the sight of God. Brethren, in the specta- 
 cle described in that passage of which our text forins a part, wc 
 have before us an objective representation of the purification of the 
 soul of man, the living temple of tlie living God, and the divine 
 glory with which it shall be filled. 
 
 Who is lie that walks in that Forch o{ tho material Temple, dis- 
 tinguished for its superior beauty, that is associated with the most 
 glorious period of Jewish history, and is a pledge of the fulfil- 
 ment of the promise, that the Lord " the Desire of all nations shall 
 suddenly come into His Temple, even the messenger of the 
 covenant?" It is Jesus of Nazareth, lowly and meek, with nothino- 
 attractive but His divine purity and benevolence! Wiio arc these 
 tliat throng around Him ? They are the children of Abraham, who 
 profess to seek the promised Messiah. Jesus tells them that He 
 is He whom they seek, and He refers them to His works in proof of 
 His veracity — works which none but God could accomplish. He is 
 the Son of David, according fo tlu! flesh, and the lineal heir to the 
 throne ol' If>rael. JJut surely, a greater than lIlIici- David oi- 
 
 ^4- 
 
 '^M 
 
.X.-L-M.ii . ^^ 
 
 
 
 U ■ 
 
 K I 
 
 *■ 
 
 s 
 
 *■ 
 
 260 
 
 SERMONS BY DR. MATIIIESON. 
 
 Solomon is here. The onco desecrated Temple was purified by 
 sacrifice and lustrations, and is now blessed with His presence, who 
 came into the world, as Retells them whom He addressed, to 
 purify, by the sacrifice He was about to offer, the spiritual temple 
 of God, and dedicate it anew to His glory. His woi'k was to 
 sanctify and save all who believed in Him, and give unto them 
 eternal life. As the desecrated gold and silver of the material 
 Temple was purified by making it to pass through the fire, and the 
 polluted garments of the priests, by being thoroughly washed, so, 
 by the fiery test to which their faith was exposed, and by washing 
 them from sin in His own blood, He would thoroughly cleanse all 
 who believed in Him, and fit them for off'cring unto Gol holy and 
 acceptable sacrifices. He would sit, as His Prophet said concerning 
 Him, as a refiner of silver, " and will purely purge away their 
 dross and take away all their tin." 
 
 The present is the time for these fierce trials of faith, the time 
 of purification, and for dedicating ourselves to the service of the 
 Lord. The time is short to us all for the performance of these 
 indispensable duties. It will be soon ended ; but if we are not 
 sanctified by the blood and Spirit of Christ, and fitted for glory 
 before the winter of death come upon us, we must perish. Like the 
 green herb, before the deadly blasts of the wintry storm, our hopes 
 shall be strewed in the dust, never to be revived by a returning 
 spring, but buried in the desolations of an eternal winter. 
 
 The reflections to which the winter gives rise are in beautiful 
 liarmony with the spirit of reformation which the children of God 
 arc called to cultivate, and thchoi>es of a blessed immortality which 
 they will delight to cherish. Brethren, let these reflections lead 
 
 i 
 
 
 III 
 
*!^ 
 
 SERMON III. 
 
 261 
 
 t 
 
 you to begin and follow out with firm purpose, a more active course 
 of faith and duty; strive, by those means by which God has pro- 
 mised to communicate the sanctifying power of Ilis Spirit, to have 
 your conduct purified from those stains of sin wliich a conscien- 
 tious inspection of your past lives will reveal. There is not 
 one among us all, who, on looking back, can say there is nothing in 
 liis conduct he would wish to amend, nothing that he has left un- 
 done, nothing that he would desire to alter. Wherefore, brethren, 
 let us humbly repair to the throne ofgrace, through the new and living 
 way opened up to us, to implore grace to purify us from all 
 ungodliness, and to help us to devote ourselves unreservedly and 
 for ever to the service of God. 
 
 There are many other important and instructive reflections sug- 
 gested by the words '-and it was winter" which we have not had time 
 to touch upon. We have confined ourselves to thoi^e chiefly sug- 
 gested by the circumstances connected with the text ; with Divine 
 permission we may at another time take up some of them, and 
 endeavour to draw from them those lessons of encouragement and 
 hope which they are so fitted to teach. 
 
 May God bless what has now been said in accordance with His 
 will and conducive to His glory. May the emphatic expression 
 " and it was winter" remind us of the coldness and neglect of men 
 to their own eternal interests, of the love and suff'erings of the 
 Kedeemer, and teach us to die daily to sin, and dedicate ourselves 
 unto God holy and living sacrifices, " which is your reasonable 
 service. " 
 
 Now to the King Eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only wise 
 God, be all glory and praise. Amen. 
 
 ^M' 
 
»; J 
 
 1 I i 
 
 u 
 
 'Mi 
 
 f "> 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 Irif i ^' 
 6i f' 
 
CONCLUDINU TRIDUTB. 
 
 ■•;•< 
 
 u 
 
 At a public breakfast given in Montreal, on the 4tli of June, 
 1870, to the Synod of the Churdi of Scotland in Canada, tlio 
 absence of the venerable minister of St. Andrew's Church was felt 
 by all present. In liis reply on behalf of the City Clergy, Dr. 
 Jenkins feelingly alluded to his departed brother, on whom would 
 undoubtedly have devolved the duty of acknowledging the honour, 
 done to the Synod had tlie entertainment been given a year before, 
 while Dr. Cook of Quebec exprei^scd his affectionate remcmbi'ancc 
 of his deceased friend in these terms, — 
 
 "One thing it is impossible to refrain from remarking, tlic 
 absence from among us of that noble form, which even amidst the 
 frailties of declining years, and under the pressure of domestic 
 calamity, imparted a certain dignity and respectability to all our 
 ecclesiastical assemblages, connected as it was, with an indeiien- 
 dent judgment, with consistent principle, and with u genial and 
 loving nature, cast in the true Scottish mould, and cherishing such 
 persistent and unwavering attachment to his country and his 
 country's church, that it might be truly said of him in the words 
 of the Psalm, — "their very dust to him was dear." I am not now 
 to pronounce an unqualitied eulogium on Dr. Mathieson. No man 
 is altogether without faults and failings. But, take him all in all, 
 it will be long before the citizens of Montreal or the members of 
 the Synod of Canada, look on his like again. It is well known 
 that I often differed from him in church matters. There were 
 others of the brethren, with whom in regard of tliese, I sympathized 
 more. But he was my first friend among the ministers of Canada, 
 and to the last day of his life, he held the first place in the regard 
 and affections both of myself, and of the members of my family." 
 
 I 
 
,( < 
 
 r 
 
 » If 
 
 r rr' *si 
 
'f