■: .<^ « ■f ■ y iii'MAINS W ?*#K- ^HhUS, A^.^^ i) «i.'.' . ^,tASIOM^].l r^ W(6Pi *cWw '1i ^,s i. OROI^- TAMSOIT <&: OO* ■VDiHii ■'m. '■tfrgnfr-^iit MEMOIRS AND REMAINS OF THB Reverend Walter Inglis, AFRICAN MISSIONARY AND CANADIAN PASTOR, M . r i.-r. ; - .: v:-.- r ''■• .!'■"'' ,: ■ ,' •■ ' ■ .:. ^1 :•■>•--• • ..™ .-» -.— . - *'-^»- -■•■7* ...-.-. 1 ■: ■'■ .,. '■'f , : it'. • ■ »^<' > , » ' BY THK REV. WILLIAM COCHRANE, D.D., > Brantfoed, Ontario. PROPERTY OF THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO TOROITTO: C. BLACKETT ROBINSON; WILLIAMSON & 00. EDINBURGH : JAMES THIN. 1887. All RigMs reserved. It* ■■■ 1 ' •■^'.tU , Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven by the Reverend William Cochrane, Doctor of Pivinity, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture. TORONTO FRINTBD BY C. BLACKETT ROBINSOK J JORDAN STREET vi preface/' i^'-'-^J^ •'' ^ <■•? NEARLY a year ago I was asked by the office-bearers of Stanley vStreet Church, Ayr, on behalf of the congrega- gation and other friends, to prepare a Memoir of their Into beloved pastor. [ hesitated to undertake the task for many reasons. There were other brethren associated with Mr. Inglis for a longer period, who knew him more intimately — although they could not love him more than the compiler of this volume — and were better fitted for the work. The materials also for a Memoir were comparatively scanty. Mr. Inglis kept no written record of his life, either in Africa or Canada, and at first sight it seemed almost hopeless to present anything like a complete and worthy portrait of the man. At the same time, I felt that if ever the life of a Canadian pastor should be written, it was that of Waiter Inglis. He stood, in many respects, alone. Commanding in outward appearance, the inner man was far above the average of his age. Under a somewhat abrupt manner, and associated with an original mode of speech, his nature was most tender and gentle and lovable. To see the man in public and in Church courts was one thing ; to know him as a friend, and hear him at the family altar, was quite another. In the preparation of this volume I have been assisted by many kind friends, to whom my thanks are due. The chapters giving an account of Mr. Inglis' early apprentice and college days, as well as some portions in other parts of the Memoir, have been supplied by his brother, the Rev. William Inglis, of Toronto. The widow and family of our departed father have also assisted me to the utmost of their iv Preface. ability. Principal Cairns, of Edinburgh, has given many reminiscences of liis old and much-loved friend ; while the Rev. John Thomson, with all the admiration and aflfection of a son, has prepared an entire chapter, covering the whole period of their joint-pastorate in Ayr. The larger number also of the "Outlines of Sermons" are from Mr. Thomson's shorthand notes. I have also to express my indebtedness to the Rev. J. A. R. Dickson, B.D., of Gait ; Rev. Wm. Robertson, M.A., of Chesterfield ; Rev. James Pringle, of ^^ Brampton ; Rev. Robert Hamilton, of Motherwell ; Rev. Peter Wright, B.D., of Stratford ; Rev. Dr. Waters, of Newark, N. J. ; Rev. J. S. Hardie, of Ayr ; Rev. Robert Pettigrew, of Glenmorric, and others, for contributions and suggestions. Several editorial notices also that appeared at the time of Mr. Inglis' death have been exceedingly helpful. It would be very unfair were the readers of this volume to regard the " Outlines of Sermons," contained in the Appendix, as any indication whatever of Mr. Inglis' p Ipit powers. Almost nothing has been preserved of his earlier preparations, and in later years his notes were of the briefest kind. Some men in the pulpit fall far below their pulpit . preparations ; other? rise immeasurably above them. Mr. Inglis belonged to the latter class. Unexpected outbursts of true eloquence, more or less frequent, occurred in every sermon; while his impassioned, though rugged, manner of delivery indicated the deep feeling and thorough sincerity of the man of God. That these pages may stimulate the present and coming generation of niinisters in Canada and in foreign lands to simi- lar acts of self-denial for Christ's sake, is my earnest prayer. Armoured in honest thought and speech, He saw, and said, and wrought his best. Branifoti, March, tan. W . L/. f .,••;,■•■<• , . ' • '■•,•* ,''•■>• •;' CONTENTS. PAOBS Ohaptkb I.— Birth, Boyhood, and Early School Days. BrothershielB— Fala — The Lammermoors of Scotland— The French War— High Rents —Hard Work and Lenten Fare- Parentage— A Mother's Piety and Influence— The Burghers and Anti-Burghers — Sectarian Feeling— Youthful Wanton- ness — Parish Schools and Schoolmasters — Rudimentary Scholarship — The Minister's Opinion of the Boy 9-14 Chaptkr II.— Apprenticeship in Dalkeith. Chooses the Trade of a Currier— Poor Wages — Leaving Home — Mother and Son on the Lonely Moor— Her Prayer and Part- ing Words— Impressions Left — Character of his Shopmates — Monthly Visits to Brothershiels — Physical Strength and Mental Activity- -Moral and Political Questions of the Day. 15-20 Chapter III.— Edinburgh University. Spiritual Awakening — Melancholy — Church Membership — Reading — The Anti-Slavery Agitation — Sympathy with the Downtrodden— Determination to become a Missionary — Begins Latin — Edinburgh University in His Day -Neglect of Classification — Examinations and Graduation— Sir Wil- liam Hamilton — Professor Wilson — Essay Writing— Testi- mony to his Diligence by Principal Cairns 21-28 Chapter IV.— Theological Studies and Ordination. Accepted by London Missionary Society— Spiritual Depression — Return to Brothershiels — The Independent College — Drs. Wardlaw and Ewing — Friendship between Mr. Inglis and Mr. Russell— His Father's Death — Impressions Made — Illness and Restoration to Health — Choice of South Africa —Missionary Spirit of the Period— Studies in Secession Hall under Drs. Brown and Balmer — Marriage— Ordination .... 29-42 ChapterV.— Ordination Services. 1 Doctrinal Views — Experimental Religion — Motives and Events Leading to Missionary Consecration — Proposed Plans of Working— Certificate of Ordination 43-59 vi Contents. Oraptbr VI.— African Lifb— The Votaok aot) ABBxrit. Farewell to Scotland— Last Days at Brotherahiels— Kmbarkatlon — Incidents of the Voyage — Letter to his Sister— Opinions of his Brother Missionaries— Journey into the Interior — Baharutse Land — Greed of the Beohuanact — Impromptu Verses to the "Mainaloe." 60-fi7 Chaptbh VII.— Mission Lifb in South Africa. The Cape Dutch— Spoliation of the Natives— Abolition of Slavery in 1834 — Disgust of African Slaveholders— The "S' Mouses," or Travelling!: Merchants- Emigration of Boers from British Territory— Independence of the Boers recognized —The Dutch Republic — Hankering after Slavery — Mr. Inglis and the Dutch Boers — Presence of the Mission- • ■ aries not relished — Remonstrance of Messrs. Edwards and Inglis against Child Enslavement— Summoned before the VoTksraad, or Parliament— Trial for Treason— Official Cor- respdiudence — Expulsion of the Missionaries —Strange Con- ' •' duct of the London Missionary Society— Supplementary Notes 68-93 Chapter VIII.— Return from Africa, and Appointment to Canada. Visit to Berwick — Recepticm into U. P. Church— Appointed to Canada— Cordial Welcome— Riversdale, Kincardine, and . : •- Pine River — Hardships of Home Missionary Life — Letters to his Sister and Brother— Death of his Mother — Reminis- cences by Rev. Robert Hamilton, and Rev. Dr. Waters- Resignation of Charge — The Preachers' List — Elected to Ayr 94-110 Chapter IX.— The Village of Ayr. Its People and Surroundings— Growth— Railway Communica- tion—History of Stanley Street Church, and its Successive Pastors— Present Condition 111-117 Chapter X.— Estimate op Mr. Inglts— His Character and Work. A Many-sided Man- Dislike of Routine Business in Church Courts — Moderatorship of Synod — Pulpit Ministrations- Private Life— In Homes of Sickness— Dislike of Personal Dealings with Anxious Souls— Independence of Spirit — Undue Sensitiveness — Influence upon the Congregations in Ayr— Notes by Rev. J. A. R. Dickson — Visit of Principal Cairns to Ayr in 1880 118-132 Contents. vii Chaptkr XI.-Rkoollkctions or Mk. Inolib bt thb Rkv J. Thomson. Friendship between the two Ministers in Ayr— Mr. Inglis' Wei- oome of Mr. Thomson— Growing Intimacy— Church Fellow- ■hip— Impressions left by Thirteen Years of Intercourse— . Mr. Inglis' Prayers— Experimental, Exegotical, and Biogra- phical Discoursea— AddreHHes at Funerals— Personal Sickness —Family Affliction— Sabbath Evening Talks— Last Words —A Son of Consolation —The Soul of Honour— A Man of Genius— Quaint Sayings and Criticisms— Efforts in behalf of the Temperance Cause— Forebodings of Death 13^151 Chaptkr XII.— Letters Written Ddrino Later Years. To Mrs. Cowan, hia Daughter -Mr. Thomas Darling — The Rev. T. Dodds (on occasion of the Death of his Son, of the McAU Mission, in Paris)— His Sister in Scotland (on occasion of the Death of his Son)— Rev. Wm. Rob^^rtson (on the Death of his Daughter)— Rev. Robert Fettigrew— Last Letter to* Relatives— Looking Towards the Great Future 162-160 Chapter XIII.— Last Sickness and Death. Gradual decline — Intense Sufferings— Childlike Trust — Last Look at his Congregation— Love of Sacred Song -Rest — Widespread Sorrow— Funeral Services in Manse and Church — Scene at the Grave— Funeral Sermon — Minutes of Kirk Session and Presbytery 161-169 LiTBRART Remains. Lectures— Gentleness of Scottish Character 173-206 Dr. Livingstone ' 206-223 Muck and Manure 223-245 Outlines of Sermons. 249-290 Address 293-326 MEMOIRS AND REMAINS REV. WALTER INGLIS. CHAPTEK I. BIRTH, BOYHOOD, AND EARLY SCHOOL DAYS. Brothei-shiels—Fala— The Lamraermoors of Scotland — The French War — High Rents — Hard Work and Lenten Fare — Parentage — A Mother's Piety and Influence— The Burghers and Anti-Burghers —Sectarian Feeling— Youthful Wantonness— Parish Schools and Schoolmasters — Rudimentary Scholarship — The Minister's Opinion of the Boy. ' WALTER INGLIS was born on the 22nd November, 1815, in the Parish of Fala, at Brothershiels, a pastoral farm among the Lammermoors of Scotland, and about sixteen miles distant from Edinburgh. His forefathers had lived for generations as farmers, in the neighbouring Parish of Heriot, and now sleep quietly in its little romantically-situated God's acre, on the banl ^ of the head waters of the Gala. A few years before Walter was born, his father removed to Brother- shiels, where the family has ever since resided. The region is still somewhat bleak and uninviting, but in those early days there was scarcely a tree or a house within sight. The nearest church and school were about four miles distant, and the road, or rather bridle- path, to the village lay over a dreary, desolate moorland. The farm was taken at a time when, on account of tlie 10 » Memoii's of Rev. Walter Ingli». French War, all agricultural products were very dear, and the rent was corresj)ondingly high. Before, how- ever, the suhject of these memoirs was born, the war was at an end, and war prices soon disappeared, though war rents continued. The result need not be described. There was a continued struggle with a high rent, ungenial seasons, loss o( stock, and low prices. That struggle was severe, and all the family became familiar with hard work and Lenten fare. It was, however, carried through successfully, though the old father farmer used to say, in somewhat regretful tones, that ** had he gone to America when he came to Brother- shiels, it would have been greatly to the advantage both of himself and his family." The subject of these memoirs owed a great deal to both parents. They were a devout, God-fearing pair, who sought to commr.nd their children and their household after them, that they should keep the ways of the Lord. His father was, for his position, a remark- able man. With few early educational advantages, and with but a scant allowance of books, he kept his mind alertly active, and to the very end was eager and earnest in his pursuit of knowledge. Under a some- what stern aspect, and with a rather passionate temper, he was really genial and friendly, nay, even affectionate. He belonged originally to the E stablished Church at Heriot, where he and his wife now lie buried, and of which church his father had been an elder. After his marriage, however, somewhere about 1813, he went with his wife to the Fala Burgher or Asso- ciate Church, of which both were members, and which after 1820 was known as the United Secession. • Birth, Bnykoody and Early School Day». 1 1 His mother was of a ineek and gentle spirit. Her whole being had come under the inrtuence of the t*"ith, and she ever spoko and acted as in presence of the Great Master. Her husband's heart entirely trusted her. Her children rose up and called her blessed. She ruled by gentleness, though she was firm, and, when necessary, could be severe. It was among her children's earliest memories to have them taken separately to her room, \\here they knelt beside her and heard themselves commended, in language they might at the time but vaguely comprehend, to the care and guidance of the Good Shepherd. This humble farmer's wife moved among her household with all the quiet composure of a saint, and yet with all the earnestness and despatch of a true house-mother. How much Walter Ingiis and all her children owed to her can never be told. She had none of the world's wisdom, and her range of knowledge was but limited. But she had known the Scriptures from her youth. Matthew Henry and Poole were her familiar guides. Boston and Flavell, Bunyan and Brown, Brookes, and Hugh Binning, with other kindred writers, afforded her never- failing pleasure and profit. She had, of course, her cares and troubles ; but these only brought her and kept her nearer her God. Mrs. Ingiis was of the good old Anti-Burgher stock. She was, in her younger days,* a great favourite with her minister, Mr. McEwen of Howgate, at whose church she was a regular attender. Howgate is a small village about five miles from Penicuik. The Howgate congregation was Anti-Burgher or General Associate; while that in Penicuik was Burgher or 12 , . Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. AsHociate. The former denomination was specially strict, and did not scruple to exercise discipline upon any member who might ever worship elsewhere. Mrs. Inglis used to tell how that on one occasion she was threatened with the Session, because, being about eeven or eight miles from Howgate, she was one day absent from the church, and therefore did not know that next Sabbath there was to be no service. She and one of her brothers on arriving at the church found the door shut, and accordingly went on to Penicuik, where the Sacrament was being dispensed and an out-door service was going on. The two young Anti-Burghers leaned over the dyke and listened to the sermon for about a quarter of an hour. That was the whole offence ; but a dour old elder, whose conscience was sorely vexed by such a misdemeanour, insisted that the two sinners should be '' sessioned," and " sessioned " they would doubtless have been but for the minister, who resisted the excessive zeal of his elder by a common sense not always found in those bygone days. The story is also told of the son of this Howgate minister (the late Dr. McEwen of Glasgow), that when his mother was dying and apparently cut off from all intercourse with the outer world, he remarked : " There is just one thing that will rouse my mother — if that won't do it she is gone." He accordingly went up to the bed, and said in a loud voice: "Mother, d'ye ken the Duke o' Wellington's turned a Burgher ! " She opened her eyes and said, with a look of righteous disgust at the idea of admit- ting such a man to me-ibership : " They were aye a lax set." Indeed, wiin all her gentleness, Mrs. I. Birth, Boyhood, and Early School Day 8. 13 herself somewhat shared the sternly strict ideas of her Church, and had even a slight element of incipient persecution in her nature. A poor old weaver in the neighbourhood had wandered so far from the current orthodoxy as to be the one solitary Socinian of the district. Sometimes he brought his doubts and diffi- culties to Brothershiels, and once in a while possibly rather puzzled the house-mother in spite of the help of Poole and Matthew Henry. On these occasions she would warningly shake her finger in his face, and say : "Ah, ma man, if I had the pooer I wad mak yom* feet fast." All this indicates the atmosphere in which Walter Inglis and the youth of his day were trained. Walter, the second son and third child of this humble couple, grew up amid such surroundings a stirring, energetic, impulsive, and somewhat thought- less boy. He was fond of fun, full of tricks, frequently involved in juvenile scrapes, and not seldom made practically acquainted with parental discipline. The education to be had at parish schools in those days was but scant in quantity, and often not to boast of in the way of quality. It so happened that some of the -pedagogues, under whose care young Walter Inglis' ideas were expected to shoot, were physically weak and educationally contemptible. The results were not encouraging. Eebellion broke out again and again, when it is to be feared the young hopeful from the hills was generally a ringleader. Tradition has it that once at least he challenged the teacher to single com- - bat, and for years the roof of the schoolhouse bore marks of his mischievous ways, in inky ornaments which he had made with a pocket syringe. His 14} Memoirs of Rev. Walier Inglis. ' ' mother' H minister was at last tempted to interfere, little to his own satisfaction and greatly to the disgust of the boy's mother, whose gentle nature was moved to indignation by her spiritual adviser assuring her that her son was on the fair way to the gallows ! All his teachers, however, were not of this descrip- tion, and so by the time he had reached the age of fourteen, young Walter was fairly well acquainted with the three R's, the Shorter Catechism, the vaguest suspicion of grammar, and the merest smattering of geography. CHAPTER 11. APPRENTICESHIP IN DALKEITH. Chooses the Trade of a Currier— Poor Wages— Leaving Home— Mother and Son on the Lonely Moor— Her Prayer and Parting Words- Impressions Left— Character of his Shopmates— Monthly Visits to Brothershiels— Physical Strength and Mental Activity — Moral and Political Questions of the Day. FROM a brief sojourn in Edinburgh, when very young, he had taken a fancy to the trade of a currier, and so, at the age above mentioned, he quitted school, and was bound for seven long years as an ap- prentice to the business of his' choice. The scene of his first start in life was Dalkeith, then a small but pleasantly situated town, about six miles from Edin- burgh and ten from his parental home. The wages paid him were ridiculously small. The strong, young, country lad was to receive for the first year the munifi- cent sum of thirty- seven and a half cents per week — about eighteen pence — and board himself ! The rate of subsequent increase was very moderate, as in his seventh year he received only $1.75 per week — about seven shillings sterling — though by that time a young man of twenty-one. His parting from home and final leave-taking with his mother were often afterwards referred to with the deepest emotion. Mother and son went so far over the lonely moor alone. The time for parting came at last. It was in all the hushed quietness of a summer's day. Scarcely a breath of wind stirred the heath. The lark was at its daily 16 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglia. song ; the peewits, or lapwings, hovered around, and the weird sound of the curlew could be heard in the distance. Mother and son kneeled down on the heath, and the boy that was going out into the world was tenderly commended to the care of his father's and his mother's God. As the last good-bye was after- wards spoken, while hand clasped hand, he had to take with him these final words : ** Now, my dear bairn, if you go astray you will bring down your old mother's gray hairs with sorrow to the grave." No word of threatening. No reference to hell, though hell to her, who dwelt daily under the shadow of the Almighty, was a terribly significant and unmistakable reality. Simply and pathetically she had but to say : *' My son, go wrong, and you will break my heart." And so they parted — the boy to what to him was the great world of life ; the mother to her humble yet not unimportant duties on the moorland farm, with her heart full of loving trust that the God of her fathers would be her children's God as well. His mother's parting words, with all the surround- ing circumstances in which they were uttered, took possession of the boy's imagination and heart. They haunted him not only for days, but for years. They made him brave and strong, and, until a mightier spiritual force came to transform and regulate his whole being, they were so far the watchword of his life. The possibility of his ever bringing his mother's gray hairs with sorrow to the grave followed him with such anxiety and alarm that frequently he cried him- self to sleep over the bare idea of such a thing taking place. Such tears, however, did not make him weak Appreihticeithip in Dalkeiih. 17 and dreamy. Of him it could be aaid, ab of Mrs. Hemans' Indian — Oh, BCiU'ii him not; the strength whereby The patriot girds himself to die, The unconquerable power that fills The free man battling on his hills— These have one fountain deep and clear, ' The same whence gushed that childlike tear. He had need of all his own resolution and all his mother's prayers, for the workshop to which he was sent, and in which he was destined to spend seven of his most susceptible years, was morally a very Ge- henna, though this fact was not known when the indentures were duly signed. Drunkenness, profanity, licentiousness, and ostentatious infidelity of the coarse, vulgar type, often met with in such places, ran riot. There were exceptions among his fellow-workmen, but these \vere few. The majority were vile, the journey- men apparently taking pleasure in making the appren- tices, if possible, ten times viler than themselves. It was a dreadful risk for a raw country boy of fourteen to be thrown into such a seething cauldron of iniquity. Many would have become moral wrecks, but Walter Inglis, through the blessing of God, came out of it, strong and resolute for the right, with his whole moral fibre hardened as if into steel against all that was immoral, licentious, and unbelieving. The story of this, his first great struggle against temptation, need not be told at length. The monthly home-coming helped him wonderfully. He had to walk ten miles on Saturday afternoon, and back on Sabbath evening, but very seldoni indeed did he miss his tryst, which IS Meinoirs of Rev. Walter Inglia. was not only Htrength to himself, but hIho iitfonliid pleaHure to the houKehold among the hillB. HIb moiith'H doings and experiences were all gone over on such occasions. His difficulties and dangers were discussed. The books he had read were mentioned ; how he had managed with this workman, and been threatened by another ; how he had l)een sent to Coventry, or refused, by ill-natured and brutal over- seers, all directions about his trade ; how lie had not only himself declined to go for the journeymen's drink, but had gained such intluonce over the other apprentices that they also refused, and resisted all invitations to join in debauchery ; how this one was drunk, and another swore, and how, in spite of the high wages which many cf the journeymen received, their wives and children were miserable, and their homes the most wretched abodes of poverty. The Kev. James Pringle, of Brampton, speaking of Mr. Inglis' apprenticeship in Dalkeith, mentions a fact that shows his determination and decision of char- acter. There was at that time, he says, a great deal of whiskey and beer drunk in the workshops of Great Britain, and in the shop where Walter Inglis served his apprenticeship, it was the custom for the youngest apprentice to go for the liquor. Walter refused to do so, and, when one of the men took hold of him and threatened to throw him into one of the tan-pits if he would not go for the drink, he turned upon his assailant and threw him into the pit, which he was well flble to do. After this the young currier had no more trouble in that way. While these personal annoyances might seem more Apprenticeship* in Dalkeit/i. • ]|l than enough to engroHH tho attention of the young sipprontice lad, he was far from silent regarding the great quefltionfl of the day. The Anti- Slavery agita- tion was then in full swing. Garrison's voice was already heing heard, even in Scotland, and the hoy's soul was stirred to its very depths hy all the incidents associated with that struggle. Political questions also ran high, lleform was in the air, and the sturdy young currier held very decided views regarding this and other matters, which were all discussed around the family fireside. . His apprenticeship in Dalkeith was no douht a try- ing and dangerous ordeal, hut it was a hracing one, and the result was one not to be regretted. The tears which were often shed, over the possibility of breaking a mother's heart, gave him a mighty amount of strength. His mind also became eager for knowledge of a more practical kind than he had imbibed at the parish school. He begged or borrowed books which might help him in his daily controversies. Two and three o'clock in the morning often found him reading and studying, although he had to be at work by six. The Christian evidences were gone over, and infidel objec- tions met as he beet could. His hard manual labour developed a powerful physical frame, and gradually the resolute and somewhat defiant look gave intimation that any attempt at personal chastisement would, to say the least, be awkward. The younger apprentice boys finally came to regard him as their leader. They all became abstainers and refused to become brethren of the craft, or pay their fees and drink money. They were cautioned by the older workmen against such Metnoirs of Rev. Walter tnglin. iionsenHc, and oven threatened if they persisted . Hut the "big apprentice" was becoming decidedly "ugly," RH far as physical contests were concerned, and he had to be reckoned with. The boys accordingly stood tirm against delilement, for Walter Inglis was regarded an the champion of all the reforming young rebels, and would not seo them wronged. A visit to Edinburgh, during the crisis of the Reform Bill, when black tlags and croHS-boncH figured in the procession, and when the air rang with — " The Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill," gave a mighty impetus to Walter's political education and enthusiasm. He had, as most young men have, his heroes, and he worshipped them with all his heart. The disenchantment of course came, as it comes to almost every one, and he, by and bye, wondered that he could ever have become so excited over the inflated harangues of the political leaders of that day. The men disappeared from their positions of honour in his esti- mate, but the principles they advocated but grew with his growth and strengthened with his strength. •■■■;•■'• I CHAPTER III. KDINininOTI UNIVERHITY. Spiritual AwakeniuK- Melancholy C'hurch MemherNhip Keutlini; ■ The Aiiti-Hlavery Agittttion— Sympathy with the Downtrodden — Detennination to Become a MiHHionary Be^inH Latin KWa8 an undertone of sadness, which sometimes sank to positive melancholy. Indeed, it was some years before he came to enjoy the full freedom and peace of believing. In the meantime life went on neither un- healthily nor unhappily. He had made the acquaint- ance of some wise and pleasant friends, had joined the Presbyterian Church, read as he could, and was ever ready for discussion with all comers. He was now fiice to face with life, and his reading, if not very lystematic, was upon the whole edifying and invigor- 22 Memoir 8 of Hev. Walter Inglis. ating. His coinmoiiphice book, begun when but a boy, showed his favourite passages carefully copied out, and often thoroughly committed to memory. " Watts on the Improvement of the Mind," ''Foster's Essays," " Combe's Constitution of Man," and other works of a similar character, afibrded material for tliought and talk at every turn. Stray copies of Garrison's Liberator put him into a ferment, and the account of the Boston riot made his eyes flash fire, and his heart beat quick. The debates on Negro slavery, between George Thomp- son and Peter Borthwick, added fuel to the flame. His whole soul was stirred with the wi'ongs of the black man, and he desired to go as a missionary to tliat down- trodden race. Gradually his wishes took shape, and matters were definitely arranged, that when his term of apprenticeship expired, he should study for the ministry with a view to missionary work in Africa. To this end he started at once on the study of Latin. Mr. Pringle says of that period: *' When I went to Dal- keith, in the fall of the year 18B5, as assistant teacher in * Dalkeith Academy,' I became acquainted with Mr. Inglis. He was then serving his apprenticeship in a currier's shop. We were both members of the Rev. Joseph Brown's congregation, and also teachers in his Sabbath school. As I was at that time a student of divinity, in connection with the United Secession Church, he was led to tell me of his strong desire to study for the ministry, and to begin the study of Latin without delay. Believing him to be decidedly pious and of good mental powers, I encouraged him, and helped him for a time, in the study of Latin. But as my time was very much taken up with my own studies. Edinburgh University. • M I got the junior assistant, Mr. William Steele, to super- intend his studies." In view of his determination to enter the ministry, it was thought advisahle that the last year should be taken from his apprenticeship, but as this could only be done by the payment of I'BO stg., the rated value of his work above his wages, and as the hill farm could not afford the outlay, his release was not obtained. A few months, however, were thrown off, and in 1830 he was free, leaving the scenes of his many conflicts for more agreeable, though not less arduous toil. - . His previous training had been, of necessity, very imperfect, and he was not in a condition to take full jid vantage of his opportunities when he entered Edin- burgh University in November of that year. He resolutely, however, did his best, and his profiting appeared to all. At that time matters were managed in Edinburgh University in a way as absurd and inde- fensible as could well be imagined. There was no entrance examination to any of the classes. Every one could matriculate without question asked or inquiry made. Not the slightest care was taken that some small amount of antecedent fitness for the work of the college should be secured. No subsequent examina- tions were thought of, in order to test the fitness of individual students for passing from one grade to another. In most of the classes there was not even the pretence of any instruction, except what could be derived from lectures somewhat perfunctorily delivered, and unchanged from year to year. Graduation had fallen almost entirely into desuetude. As Sir William ] familton phrased it, the honour was affected chiefly S4 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. by country schoolmasters and Highland ministers. The result of all this was as deplorable as well could be. Students came of all ages from twelve years up to thirty or forty, with all degrees of cultivation except the highest and best, and with every diversity of in- tention as to their future. The country schoolmaster in his stupid conceit sent his half-taught, or rather wholly untaught, pupils in order to his having local credit for preparing scholars for the University. The ambitious lad thought that he could not spare time for preliminary training, and accordingly rushed in medias res. The best boys of the city classical schools were also there, and all took whatever classes they pleased. There was not even an attempt at classification. No advice, on the part of the authorities, was thought of. Boys who had spent six and seven years at steady grind on Greek and Latin took their places on the Same benches with whiskered countrymen who had not been so many months, perhaps not so many weeks at such work. In such circumstances what could be expected ? only what too often occurred — disappoint- ment and life-long injury — a pitiful smattering, and a most inadequate idea of what education really was. In the junior Latin class the most elementary matters were begun with, wliile at the same time there was no possibility of anything like drill being carried out. The very rudiments of Latin Grammar, with the first part of "Mair's Introduction," were taken up, and these university students maundered over ** bonus puer discit ; mail pueri ludunt.'' Of course the other extreme had to be attended to, and at the very same time. Unfortunate mortals who had scarcely mastered Edinburgh University. 25 the mysteries of " Amo " had to wrestle with a book of the ** iEneid," and had to try to relish the society of the jovial, though not very moral, poet who claimed Maecenas for his patron. In Greek, matters were still worse. The Professor at that time was a dull, uncultivated peasant, who had never risen in spirit above his original condition. The work of the session in this man's first class began with the Greek alphabet. The grammar used was in Latin, and many, who could scarcely translate an easy Latin sentence to save their lives, were expected to get all their knowledge of the Greek parts of speech and of their construction, from a directory in the classic tongue of Kome. The least shadow of order was not main- tained in the class-room. System there was none; drill there was none. For the great body of the stu- dents it was simply loss of time, money and brains. At the end of the season there was no examination, written or oral, to test the progress or the retrogression of any or all. The Professor had a form of certificate, with blanks, which he filled in according to his own will and pleasure, and no one called him to account for the waste of money and ruin of lives. If possible, the lectures this man gave were funnier and more pre- posterous still. To these poor, raw, uncultured lads, this unutterably dull, though slightly learned Theban, lectured on the '* Greek Drama " — "Why do scenes of distress, chiefly fictitious, etc. ? " and so on. Some, from native force of character and resolute determination to go forward, profited considerably, but with the majority the whole thing was a farce, and a very sad one. They were sent forth with the thinnest possible veneer of 26 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglia. classical learning, which very soon, and absolutely, disappeared in the rough work of after years. What the University magnates did would have puzzled a conjuror to make out ; for, let it be repeated, they had no matriculation examination, no progressive exami- nations, and no curriculum, which students were even recommended to follow. Every one could do as he pleased ; pay his fees and take his chance — sink or swim ! > * . . ' Into such a burlesque of an institution for the cultivation of higher literature and science, Walter Inglis found his way in November, 1836. Nobody asked him w^iat he had learned. Nobody tested his fitness for the work he proposed to take. Nobody dreamed of giving him advice. He paid his money, got his ticket, learned what books were used, and — voila tout. The trifling pedant, whom Byron has im- mortalized as *' paltry," strummed and talked on the ** Humanities " ; told stories as in former days ; lec- tured on General Grammar ; maundered about his visits to Rome, and repeated his worn-out classical witticisms ad nauseam. It was evident that the young Hercules, fresh from the workshop, and in a perfect ferment of intellectual activity and evangelistic zeal, was but poorly equipped f»r appreciating fully the mysteries of irregular verbs, the woes of ^Eneas and the loves of Dido, especially as he was one of a hun- dred and twenty as miscellaneous individuals as could well be picked up in a summer's day. Why talk of the five months' effort ? The best possible in the circumstances was attempted and accomplished. A good school would have benefited him more, and yet he came out far ahead of many of his associates ! He Edinburgh University, Sf also made friends, many of them valuable, and almost all of them life-long ones. He attended prayer meet- ings and religious conferences, studied his Bible, and managed to Lavc his hungry heart fed, though his intellect had to be satisfied with Lenten fare, which was meagre at the best, )a.nd cooked and served in a marvellously confused and somewhat repulsive fashion, I His second college session brought him under the influence of Sir William Hamilton. That great man was then just beginning his work as Professor of Logic and Metaphysics. The more thoughtful of his students were raised to a high pitch of enthusiasm by his pre- lections and personal magnetism. But to the great mass of the ill-trained and somewhat commonplace individuals, who, for professional reasons, had to pass through his classes, his discussions, it must be ac- knowledged, were ''leather and prunella." Essays were written by a comparatively small number, and read aloud in the class. Some of these were of great excellence, and gave intimation of what their writers ; have since achieved. But the great majority were as immature and trifling as could well be imagined. For the great mass of his students the great man . spoke as if in an unknown tongue. ' Walter Inglis, who had never, so far, received one hint from any human being as to the aids and mys- teries of English composition, did hi» manful best in essay writing, and not without success. His sentences were somewhat rugged and incondite, and his modes of thought were emphatically his own. But he had something to say, and he said it as he best could. His essays were not models of graceful composition, and, doubtless, some of the writers of smooth, flowing J8 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Ingtis. commonplaces around him fancied thcmKelvcs greatly his superiors. On that point, however, they were greatly mistaken. The Hev. Dr. Cairns, of Edinburgh, referring to this stage in Mr. Inglis' student-life, says : *' Mr. Inglis and I had been in the same classes in the University of Edinburgh from about 1838, but we began to know each other familiarly only about 1840. Hence I cannot recall anything of his appearances in the classes of Sir William Hamilton or Professor Wilson (Christopher North). I only remember his own statements as to how much he had been impressed by both, and his vigorous comments on some of their speculations. He had little of the regular metaphy- sician about him, but his native sturdiness of mind enabled him to grapple with any kind of thought, whether in the field of mental study or of morals ; and he was, doubtless, one of those powerful spirits whom the lectin-es of Wilson, and still more of Ham- ilton, with the awakening around them, roused into action. I do not remember anything definite about his other classes, save that he had taken more than usual pains with Greek, and in particular had attended an extra-academical course by a modern Greek scholar of the name of Negris, from whom he had learned the system of reading Greek according to the accents and other peculiarities of the modern Greek pronuncia- tion." With these and other kindred preliminary studies in classics and philosophy, Walter Inglis wrb thus at length prepared — though, doubtless, in hi8 own estimation very poorly — to enter upon the higher problems of theology, in order that he might eventu- ally go hence as an ambassador of Christ to the heathen world. CHAPTER IV. ' THEOLOGICAL STUDIES AND OUDINATION. • Accepted by Loudon Missionary Society— Spiritual Depreasion -Return to Brothershiela — The Independent College — Drs. Wai-dlaw and Ewing — Friendship Between Mr. Inglis and Mr. Russell— His Father's Death — Impressions Made— Illness and Restoration t<> Health— Choice of South Africa— Missionary Spirit of the Period - Studies in Secession Hall under Drs. Brown and Balnier— MarriaK'e — Ordination. • , IN the early r^jonths of the year 1838, while attend- ing college. Mr. Inglis offered his services as a ; missionary to the directors of the London Missionary Society, and in due course was accepted. He left for London, in the early summer, and was sent to Ongar, near London, to study under a gentleman of the name of Cecil, who then took charge of the education of some of the society's students. Of his experience there we know but little. It is to be feared that the somewhat Hat aspect of the district, and the not very congenial character of his instructor, exercised a rather depressing influence upon his mind and heart. Be that as it may, certain it is that he fell after a while into a state of deep spiritual depression, and that at hist he was told that unless this could be shaken off his engagement with the society would have to be can- colled. The doctors recommended change, and he returned to the old moorland farm, as he thought, a broken down and disappointed man. Outdoor exer- Tjise, active work on the farm, and better perhapis than ^11, his old mother's sympathies and coupsels, h^d a 80 Memoirs of Rev. Waltei^ Inglis. restoring influence upon his whole being. The cloud passed, and to a great extent he enjoyed — if not per- fect peace — at least a very large amount of spiritual gladness and settled trust. His engagement with the society was held good, and he was directed to put himself under the tuition of Drs. Wardlaw and Ewing, of Glasgow, who were at that time the professors in the Theological Institute of the Independents, or Scotch Congregationalists. Upon his work there he entered with characteristic ardour and the most grati- fying success. Combined with his studies he was required to do more or less missionary work in the city, and in carrying out this he began to preach in the streets, not without personal profit, but at first with some sacrifice of feeling. " My knowledge of Walter Inglis at this time, says Dr. Cairns, " was greatly helped by his intimacy with a common friend, Mr. James M. Russell, who was one of the most gifted men of his college period, but who • died in the spring of 1844. Mr. Russell was the son of the parish minister of Muthil, Perthshire, whose father again was the well-known Russell of Kilmar- nock, introduced by Burns into his * Holy Fair.' The Russell family, after the death of their father and mother, had lived in Edinburgh with an uncle and aunt, the parents of Dr. Daniel Wilson, of Toronto, and his brother, the lamented George Wilson. Here everything had tended to call out the genius of James Russell, who became dux of the high school, and then went through the university, leaving a deep mark in classics and philosophy, enhanced by the singular iiiodesty and sensitivepess of his spirit, which reveale4 Theological Studies and Ordination. an original humour, a poetical fancy, n id a highly mystic but deeply earnest religious feeling. He had passed through great spiritual conflicts, but only to strengthen his faith in the essential points of the Gospel, while his Presbyterian training had yielded to Independency, and he had become a student of the Independent Church, under Dr. Wardlaw. A younger brother moved in the opposite direction, and after a distinguished career, has just died amidst universal regrets, as Archdeacon of Adelaide, in South Australia. Had James Eussell lived he would certainly have been a light in his generation, and his verses, published with thoso of George Wilson, sufficiently attest his poetic gifts, though his classical enthusiasm and fine speculative faculty have left no memorial. There could not be a greater contrast than between him and Walter Inglis as they met for the first time at the In- dependent College in Glasgow : the one scholarly, re- lined, almost fastidious in the play of enthusiasm over his dark and finely-chiselled countenance; the other a block of Nature's purest granite, fresh from the quarry, and only brightened by the vague sense of power. These two young men, however, became fast friends, on the strength of a deep human insight which was in both, and still more of a central Christian fer- vour which was soon to light the one to death, and to burn in the other through a hard mission career and somewhat rough colonial experience. The friendship of James Eussell brought Walter Inglis within the range of George Wilson, also of the delightful family tircle, in which a strong, unconventional missionary was always a person of interest. This period of his 32 Memoirs of Ret). Walter' Inylw. life was one of the liappieHt, and gradually hin power of exprcHHion began to do more justice to the great thoughts that struggled within him." While busily engaged with his studies at Glasgow, sickness and death came to the lone farm-house among the hills. The old father, possesswl of a vigorous con- stitution, had enjoyed all but unbroken health for many years. He had toiled with unwearied energy, and, upon the whole, with sustained hopefulness and good humour. His toil, however, had been of a very Sisyphean character. The stone which he had, for 80 many years, been slowly rolling up the hill had often escaped from his grasp, and had tumbled back again to the bottom. The never-ending, still begin- ning, process had gone on, and it had gradually, but surely, told upon this strong, and withal, hopeful tiller of the ground. The firmly-knit frame gradually gave way. The buoyant energy of other years became a thing of the past. The clear, strong eye almost insen- s'bly grew dim, and a chronic tiredness took the place of the jubilant elasticity of past times. The worker had, perforce, to become a mere onlooker. But the end was not thought very near, perhaps not thought much of at all, as if it were looked upon as incongru- ous to associate the idea of death with one so full of vitality and power. ^ A full family gathering took place in the old home at New Year, 1840, and there was no specially apparent reason for fearing that it might be the last. The two student brothers, Walter and William, in due time went their several ways — one to Glasgow, the other to Edin- burgh, and as it so happened, in a few days thereafter, T/Lcolotjical Studlett and Ordination. .*].T to the Isle of Man. I'he call, however, came speedily, for on the *29th of February in the same year the strong man bowed and gave up the ghost. Walter only managed to get home to see the close, and a mighty and permuuent effect that close had upon Iuh thoughts and feelings in the coming years, k The death of the old father was peaceful and full of hope. The old rugged sternness had disappeared, and the inherent tenderness of character, which had all along been too rigidly kept in the background, asserted its rightful place. The intellect continued strong and clear to the very last. Farewell words were spoken to each, with the deepest feeling, but with Spartan-like calmness. As the end approached, the Twenty-third Psalm was sung. The voice of the dying patriarch, strong and clear, though somewhat cracked, could be heard throughout, till, as one after another dropped out in silence and tears, it held on firm and alone with : " Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale," on to the close. The old couple, who had been JO much to each other, had now to separate. This too was done with a quietude and peacefulness not destitute )f dignity. " Are ye no comin' wi' me ? " queried] the lying one, as he gave his last strange look ; and the ;ouching, but composed, reply came, with equal sig- lificance : "No yet, by and by — by and by ! " And JO they parted, the one into something more and )etter than the " divine silences," the other quietly ind lirmly to take up her burden and resume her lumble, yet not unworthy, toil, till twenty-three years ifter the Master said : " It is enough," and the aepa- ated met once more to go no raore out, 84 Memoirs of Rev, Walter Inglis* The young raiHHioiiary Htiident, as may well be believed, waH deeply moved by all this. Hin profes- sional and spiritual education was greatly promoted by this closing and convincing evidence of hov/ ChriHtians could part and how ChriHtians could die. The old house-mother knelt beside; her dead, and felt she could add a new petition to her family prayer, for the widow and the fatherless were there. When the Sabbath came there were tears, ])ut there vas no bitterness : The son of hope shone through them, She would see his face again. The worn-out, weary frame at last had found rest, and was in due time in sorrow, but yet with unfaltering hope, laid with the kindred dust of many generations in the " Auld Kirk Yaird," among the heather hills. The old widowed one fitly, and with a stroke of uncon- scious pathos, if not even of poetry, told the whole story as far as she was concerned, when some time afterward, in writing to her other and absent son, she in her own quiet way remarked : " On Saturday nights I sorrow for a dead husband ; but the Sabbath soon dawns, and I can then rejoice in a living Lord." lleferring to the death of his father, Mr. Inglis wrote to his eldest sister, under date 1th April, 1840, as follows : Dear Sister, — The spirit which your letter breathed pleased me very much. My absent father comes often to my mind more vividly of late than in the weeks immediately after his dissolution. Last night I was dreaming that he and I were in Dalkeith together. He was old and frail, yet he had such a heavenly mild- ness about him ; I was never thinking that he was or , Tfieological St'ddiea and Ordination, Si liad been dead. Yes ! he is p[one ; but is he not now raising]; a sweeter strain, by far, than ever ho did on earth ? A strain on that new harp he has received, which shall never bo laid aside, but shall ever swell out in higher and higher tones as eternity rolls on. May it be our blessed portion to enter these bright realms and join the innumerable throngs that surround the throne, ever to be filled with that joy which is un- Hi)eakable and full of glory. Imagination often pic- tures out many fantastic and delusive fancies concern- ing time's things. It stretches, often, far beyond and over realities. But it cannot take too bold a wing concerning that immortality of happiness or misery beyond the grave. My dear sister, seeing that the . glories of the Lamb are the chief attractions of heaven, may it be your sweet experience, as it has been mine, to have the eye of the mind raised from off changeful self — wicked self — and have it placed on a risen Lord. What a happy change this has wrought in me ! This last year, 1 have had a serenity of mind I never en- joyed before. Evidently, God had been with me on that wonderful day at Ongar, both with me and with beloved Fairbrother. Then the storm was hushed. That morning I shall never forget. I was sitting in (l(!ep despair. I took up Russell's letters. I had not read a page when a ray of light entered, which raised my downcast soul. The Lord has led me in strange l)aths, yet He breaks up my way. To the same sister he writes under date of iJHh July, 1840, from Br'dge of Allan. After referring at length to the sudden (. th of a friend, a missionary in the South Seas, he addt : If I could but shake myself free from the many plogs that press down my mind to the dust : if I could keep the eye of faith upraised to the Eternal God, to my Blessed Bedeerner, to the Spirit of all grace, and 36 MeiHoivH of Rev. Walter liujlw. continuously implore that all the promises of the word of truth might be fulfilled in my pilgrimage journey, how unspeakably precious would my thoughts be ! If I were but emptied of self, those stupid imaginings all blasted, and God to be all in all ! Pray that I may be enabled both to anticipate and enter upon the functions of the missionary with an apostolic spirit. There is far too much of a professional cast of soul among our ministers, I fear. I dread such a fatal rock. I rejoice to think that you are seeing religion to be of greater importance than you have ever done before. All that I have to say to you on this matter is — think of God, look to Him. Have nothing to do with self. This, this alone, is Christianity. All else is blackness and despair. May it be your blessed experi- ence, as well as my own, ever to glory in the cross of Christ. May we ever say with Paul : ** God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." On the 29th January, 1841, he writes to the same sister : Dear Sister, — The great truth that supports my own mind is Christ crucified. Upraise your eye to Him. Think of Him. This act is the beginning of religion, the middle, and the ending. What a glorious object to contemplate ! If we are unhappy it is be- cause we are away from Him, and there is nothing for it but to find our way back to Him — Christ crucified the hope of glory. In the summer of 1841 he went to London to acquire some knowledge of medicine. On the 1st of July of that year, writing still to the same sister, and referring to the turmoil of a general election then going on, he says : These matters don't aft'ect me as they once did. Not that 1 would have others to be uninterested, or ; Theological Studies and Ordination. Wf that politicH arc of little moment, or that civil liberty and good government are of small importance. No ; but I do feel that I have consecrated myself to a higher object, and to it I would bend all my energies. What is the use of me troubling my mind about the wrang- lings of party-spirited men ? What I anticipate is to be a legislator myself, and hence the propriety of having my mind balanced with those great principles, upon which all governments rest ; and chiefly to have my mind thoroughly indoctrinated with the mysteries of the kingdom of God — to have my soul nerved with those modes of thought and feeling regarding the scheme of redemption as shall make me endure all things, even death itself, with that cool fortitude becoming one who feels that there is in store for him an eternity of bliss, after the toils and pains of this shifting scene have all completely closed. Deeply sensible I am that 1 have before me an arduous course, and nothing but the infusion of the spirit of holy, heavenly principles can make me say, "None of these things move me." During the latter part of 1B39, the whole of 1840, and a considerable part of 1841, Mr. Inglis continued to prosecute his theological studies. At one time the iron frame, which no physical toil could exhaust, threatened to break down entirely under the pressure of study. After a severe and trying illness, however, through which he was tenderly and skilfully cared for by friends in Glasgow, he was permitted to see the object of his intense and sacred ambition within reach, and was definitely appointed to accompany the Rev. Robert Afoifat, on the return of that well-known missionary, to his evangelistic work among the Bechuanas of South Africa. His choice of South Africa was doubt- less largely due, first, to his intense hatred of slavery 38 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. and sympathy with the oppressed, and next to the influence of Robert Moffat. As Dr. Cairns remarks, "no one who has not experienced something of it can have any idea of the sensation produced by ' Williams' Missionary Enterprises in the South Seas,' or * Moffat's Missionary Labours in South Africa,' more than forty years ago." The whole bent of Mr. Inglis' nature drew him to the latter field. There was something in the solitude of the desert, in the energy and freedom of the Caffre and Bechuana races, and in the great success which Mr. Moffat's book unfolded, strengthened by his commanding personality, which was peculiarly fitted to take hold of a youth of ardent and generous character. Mr. Inglis was filled with enthusiasm, and often his missionary ideas and anticipations found vent in the circle, where now they were most appreciated. The idea of self-denial in connection with missions filled him only with disdain. It would have been much greater self-denial to have been chained down to the routine of a minister's life at home. But there was no affectation in his resolve. It was only the impulse of Divine grace working upon a robust and adventu- rous nature. On the 1st of August, 1842, Mr. Inglis was united in marriage to Margaret, third daughter of the late Rev. John Dickson, who for many years had been a missionary in Russia under the liberal policy of Alex- ander I., but had been obliged, with the other Scotch missionaries, to withdraw when that policy was reversed after the accession of Nicholas. After having been for upwards of forty-two years the faithful and beloved companion in all her husband's Theological Studies and Ordination. 8outh African and Canadian journeyings and experi- ences, Mrs. Inglis is still spared to her friends and family, and spends the evening of her life amid the affectionate sympathy ar • respect of the people among whom and for whose ben^.*i her husband laboured so assiduously during his closing years. Three daughters and a son were born in Africa of this marriage. The son died in 1873. All the daughters are still alive. The ordination of Mr. Inglis was quite an event in the history of Scottish missions. It stirred the religious community of Edinburgh to its very depths, and created an interest in down-trodden Africa that has been followed up by churches of every denomina- tion, and doubtless prepared the way for the exploring expeditions of such men as Stanley, who have, in late years, revealed to an astonished people the sad con- dition of the Dark Continent of Africa. The ordina- tion took place in Broughton Place Church, Edinburgh, Under the presidency of the venerable Dr. John Brown. A very large number of Mr. Inglis' personal friends were present, among whom may specially be mentioned Dr. George Wilson, the eminent Christian scientist, who had hardly recovered from the severe surgical operation which left him lame for life. The chief Attractions of the meeting wrjre, as might be expected, the young missionary, Mr. Inglis, and the older mis- sionary, Mr. Moffat. Mr. Inglis gave a manly, un- affected statement of his religious history (which will be found in the following chapter), while Mr. Moffat, in his ordination charge, referred to the peculiar trials of missionary life in Africa, and narrated a good many maecdotes gathered from personal observation. One 40 Memoirs of Rev. Walte. Inglia. of them was the story of an old Dutch missionary, who, when asked by a newly-arrived brother how he was to qualify himself for his work, met him with the one word, ''patience," and on being asked for something more, only repeated the same word. From many different accounts furnished us of that most interesting service we select that of the Eev. John Mitchell, an uncle of Mrs. Inglis, which was sent to another niece the day after the ordination : '7 Calton Hill, Edinburgh, 26th Oct., 1842. My Dear Niece, — I ought to have acknowledged before now your kind letter of the 17th inst., but I purposely put it off till Mr. Inglis' ordination should take place, that I might give you a short account of it. It took place last night, in Dr. Brown's chapel, Broughton Place. It commenced exactly at half-past six, and did not dismiss till twenty minutes to ten. Mr. Cooper of Fala gave out a few verses of Psalm Ixxii., then read the same Psalm, and prayed. Again, a few verses were sung, when Dr. Paterson and Mr. Inglis went both up into the pulpit. The Doctor, after a few words of address, put the usual questions to Mr. Inglis, which he answered in firm tone of voice, and in a fine style of language. The account which he gave of his doctrinal sentiments, the manner he was brought to the knowledge of the truth, and how he had been led to devote himself to the missionary work, was most interesting, and was listened to by the audience with almost breathless attention, and, I have no doubt, endeared him to every serious Christian who heard it. After he had replied to the questions, the Doctor and he came down from the pulpit to a large space before the precentor's desk, which was literally crowded witli ministers of different denominations. He sat down at a small table, leaning his head upon his hands on tht table, when Dr. Brown offered up the ordination prayer Theological Studies and Ordination. 41 in a most fervent and energetic manner. When they came to the laying-on of hands so many ministers pressed forward that the one-half of them could not each his head, hut they stood all the time with their ands stretched out the same as if they had been resting n his head. This being over, a part of Psalm Ixviii. as sung, and Mr. Moffat went up to the pulpit, and a very affectionate strain, addressed him for a full our, pointing out the nature of the field of labour pon which he was about to enter, and giving him a olemn charge to be faithful in the discharge of the duties that will devolve upon him when he reaches the scene of his labours. In this he included Margaret, and pointed out to her what she would likely have to do. His words seemed full of love and brotherly affec- tion, and seemed to produce a deep effect on the audience, which he also addressed for more than half an hour. Having spoken for more than an hour and a half, part of another Psalm was sung, and Mr. Swan concluded by prayer. Every corner of the chapel was crowded to almost suffocation, all the passages were densely filled to the very doors, and the pulpit stairs were filled so that the ministers who had to go up and down could scarcely work their way. I have never seen such a crowded audience since the days of Eowland Hill, when he used to preach in the Circus, now called the Adelphi Theatre. And, what is remarkable, they all kept their places till the very close — not one did I bserve going out before the blessing was pronounced, nd, I think, they took fully half an hour to dismiss. Id Mrs. Inglis was present, and, I am sure, must ave been highly gratified. Her three sons and three aughters were also present. I am sure it was a most ratifying occasion to dear Margaret, and also to Eliza- _[beth and Isabella, for I am fully persuaded that such •^ a ^•espectable and interesting ordination has not been witnessed in Edinburgh for many years, and, indeed, I very much doubt that such an one has ever been 'vit- 42 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. nessed here. To me it was of the highest pubsibie interest not only on Margaret's account, but also on account of the solemn manner in which it was con- ducted, and the deep interest which the unprece- dentedly large audience evidently took in the wholo service. Your aunt was very much disappointed in not being able to attend, in consequence of a sore leg, which confines her to the house ; but I hope that, through the Divine blessing, she will soon be able to go about. On Monday evening Mr. Moffat addressed the children of the Sabbath-schools in Dr. Peddie's Chapel, and, although only a certain number of chil- dren from each school was selected to attend, the chapel was so crowded that about a thousand of the children could not get admittance. I, of course, could not get in, and therefore cannot give you an account of this very interesting meeting. But perhaps Mrs. W. Inglis will give you an account of it, for I am told that she laid hold on Mr. Moffat's coat-tails, and in this way got herself conveyed through the crowd that surrounded the door. I believe Mr. Moffat is going to Glasgow this week, but will return here in the begin- ning of next week, and the week following there is to be a public meeting of his friends to present him with a copy of the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." I believe he then intends to visit Liverpool for the purpose of assist- ing at the ordination of another missionary who is to accompany them to Africa, but, I understand, they will not embark for that country till the month of January. We have had a very early beginning of winter here. Yesterday and to-day we had heavy falls of snow, with hard frost, but this afternoon it turned into a thaw. and now we have rain. Your Aunt joins in kindest love to you, and was much cheered by your kind letter. Most likely you will get all the accounts I have given you above from your sisters, but a good tale is not the worse of being twice told. Let us hear from you when you have time. — I remain, your ever affectionate uncle, JotoJ MitoHBXiX;. CHAPTER V. OUDINATION SKRVICES. iJoctrinal ViewH— Experimental Religion— Motives and Events Leading to Missionary Consecration— Proposed Plans of Working— Certificate of Ordination. f^PHE answers givr^n by Mr. liiglis to the several ques- J- tions put to him by the council, who were dele- gated to ordain him, are as follows : You are desired to state, briefly, tvhat you believe to be the distinguishing and peculiar doctrines of the Holy Scriptures, In returning a brief answer to the proposed ques- tion, it seems to be taken for granted that I believe the Holy Scriptures to contain a revelation of God's will — that the holy men who wrote these books spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost — that they are truth most pure ; but on account of the various opinions believed and widely circulated among men, who professedly acknowledge the Bible as their rule of faith and manners, the question seems to suggest an answer such as shall show what I believe to be the grand, ancient, revealed truth which tends to and is the reason of the godly life. Your time won't permit me, nor does the question require a statement of the long list of very important truths or doctrines, j^et of a secondary or consequential ^rder, regarding which there has been much dispute. All 1 intend to lay before you 'are central, essential truths, or what may appropriately be termeds tarting- 4i . Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis, points, and that without any amplification or illuHtra- tion. It may he ohscrved that all present who are acquainted with the constitution of the " London Mis- sionary Society" will he prepared to hear from me a firm declaration of what are called Evangelical doc- trines. The four following statements may be given as my most solemn belief, which I conceive to be essential for a right apprehension of the grand design which God intends to accomplish by the Scriptures. All who hold these statements I shall esteem as breth- ren, though we may differ widely on other points. I shall feel it my duty to exercise towards them that charity which beareth all things, hopeth all things. All who do not hold these statements I believe to have completely erred from the faith once delivered to the Saints, and to be both deceived themselves and deceiv- ing others : I. The Holy Scriptures teach* and enforce, in the most emphatic manner, that all men, in all ages and in all countries, are by nature completely depraved; that they are guilty in the sight of a Holy God and Righteous Moral Governor, through and by our first parents, who were originally created holy in the image of their Creator, but who continued not in their first estate, by breaking a special commandment that God saw fit to give as a test of their obedience. Men are not only guilty, but under the wrath and curse of God, and most justly exposed to eternal punishment on ac- count of breaking God's holy law.—*' All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." '' The imagina- tion of man's heart is evil from his youth." n. We have bro^ight before us in the Scriptures a Ordination IService8. : 45 great remedial sclieme wliich had been conceived and determined upon by God from all eternity; by the provi- sions of which scheme an offer of salvation is given to all men. In order that this great plan of salvation may be accomplished in the fulness of time, we have the one only living and true God most distinctly revealed to us in the mysterious relationship of three persons equal in power and glory — *' God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost." God the Father is repre- sented as sustaining the dignity of law-giver and law- dispenser. God the Son is represerted as sustaining the character of mediator between God and man. In executing this office he became man, the man Christ Jesus, and after living a life of activity, sorrow, and suffering, he offered up himself a sacrifice for sin, that through his atonement the law and justice of God might not only be satisfied, but a new and living way opened up to "immortality and bliss." "God the Holy Ghost" is represented as the efficient though unseen agent in dispensing among men the blessings obtained through the death of Christ. It is the work of the Spirit to change and quicken the souls of men who are dead in trespasses and sins. He renews them to faith and repentance towards God and love towards Jesus Christ. He carries on the work of sanctification, and shall at last present God's chosen people spotless and unblamable. III. On the ground of the finished work of Christ, both salvation from the power and consequences of sin, and also eternal life in the heavens above, are fully, freely, earnestly and particularly offered to the whole uman race, and whosoever from among men shall 46 Menwws oj Rev. Walter hi/glin. believe with the heart and confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father shall be saved. The Scriptures declare that ** we are justi- fied freely by his grace," that we are justified by Faith. " Not of works, lest any man should boast." IV. While the Scriptures declare that works or merit on the part of man are altogether discarded as the procuring cause of salvation and eternal life, they at the same time tell us that works, good works, viz., righteousness and love, both towards God and ah men, necessarily flow from a real belief in the finished work of Christ as the only sure ground of hope to obtain eternal life and glory, and that works, good works, viz., righteousness and love, are the only evidence of a living faith both to ourselves and our fellow-men. " Show me your faith by your works " is the spirit of the Apostle James. As it is indispensably necessary that he who under- takes to teach Christianity to the heathen should not only know ivhat the Bible teaches, but be a Christian himself, ymi are desired to state tvhat are the grounds on ivhich you are led to conclude you are such, with any memorable circumstances connected with your first religious impi'cs- sions, and the period of their commencement. Am I a Christian ? What are the grounds I have for coming to the conclusion that I am a Christian 1 are questions of grave and overwhelming importance to a sincere and earnest being, convinced of the truth of Scripture. To such an individual nothing appears so necessary and reasonable as a humble, prayerful, and conclusive investigation of his actual position Ordination i^ervke^. 47 towards God, and his prospects for the eternal world. Sincerely can I say that no qnentions have I heen more solicitoiiH to put to myself. Throuf^'h all the changes of a Romewliat thoughtful yet checiuored life, there has existed in my mind a deep-settled conscious- ness that I was an immortal being, re3ponsil)le to a heart- searching and rein-trying Jehovah. It has seemed to me when alone with this great eternal being, and all thoughts of men had given place in the solemn interview, that my hopes and prospects for eternity were such as not to make me ashamed. Yet in standing before so many of my fellow mortals, and giving you a reason for the hope that is in me, I • anuot divest myself of feelings of a hesitating and painful nature. There is something so relieving and satisfactory when alone with God, to utter even amidst the stirrings of conscience, " Thou God seest me. Thou kiioweat all things. Thou knowest that 1 love thee." It is altogether different with men completely ignorant of all that you are and have been. Every thought and feeling is interesting to an infinitely wise and gracious God, who appears to delight in hiding from the observation of his creatures the first forma- tion of their own characters. The history of men is narrated, and you mark the most trivial events, giving such a powerful influence as changes the whole current of their thoughts and course of action. Who does not •eriect upon such events with a hallowed satisfaction ? jand yet they cannot be repeated so as to give interest others. While I thus think and feel in regard to he question proposed, I have, at the same time, never een able to view it as a thing altogether out of taste 4.S Meniuirs of Hev. Walter irnfliH. to give a public declanition of what (iod has wrought for you by his powerful and outstretched arm, by his life-giving Spirit. To use the language of the excel- lent Howe : '• A design for an immortal state is not so moan and inglorious, or so irrational and void of a solid ground, that we have any cause either to decline or conceal, either to retain or be ashamed of our hope, though all the while we are not so solieitouH to have our end and purpose known as to obtain it." I see no necessity for supposing that right thoughts, or even enquiries after God, are of such a nature, that mature retrospective reasoning invariably induces men to hide all the struggles and revolutions that may have transpired when passing from darkness and doubt to the light and peace of the kingdom of God. There have been, and still are, thousands of redeemed men whose moral history is of such a striking, tangible, and twofold order that no person can hear or read without exclaiming: ** Behold what God hath wrought!" ** There is something hallowed to the individual him- self whose religion can be traced back to the obbings and flowings of youth, when the ear listened to the , prayers and earnest instructions of devout parents; but in the great majority of such individuals there is little that can bear to be repeated — a mother's prayers and tears, instructions and admonitions, no doubt were heard and blest." From her lips I learned " that the • fear of God was the beginning of wisdom " — from her instructions I was led to wonder what could be the nature of the " peace of God that passeth all under- standing." I well remember when these two idoas were told me, and what an influence they have exerted UrdinatUm Services. 41) upon my whole fiitiiro clmnictur. Amidat tlie iinlciit and impt'tuouH buoyancy of aclioolboy days, when lifo'a ^Miy morn was giKU^d with streaks of oxtiuiHitc joy, arising from the dreams of an ever-active fancy, the speaker often had his foolishness crushed under power- ful impressions of an ever-present God, who noted all thoughts, words, and actions in a book of remembrance, to be preserved until the day of judgment, at which all men are to give an account for themselves. My native home being among the wild and sterile solitudes of Nature, where nothing was heard to break the deep silence, save a solitary note from the passing wild bird, and the bleat of straggling sheep, habits of reflection upon religion were forced upon me as I travelled the long, dreary moor, year after year, to school. Often, I was astonished and grieved in observ- ing that I had jin inclination to encourage wicked thoughts. I had a strong conviction ^that all these wicked thoughts were suggested by the tempter. My religious impressions during these years were chiefly of a fearful foreboding nature. I saw and felt that I was guilty in the sight of God, but had no perception of the love of Christ. The first time that I have a dis- tinct remembrance of being deeply affected by the love ol Christ was one evening when about eleven or twelve years old. Being greatly delighted with a little book containing Bible stories, I continued to read with the light of the tire after my brothers had retired to rest. 1 came, at last, to the story which gave an account of Jesus Christ. His sufferings, his death, melted jue to tears. I felt myself drawn to the Redeemer with ten- der affection. His love for sinners seemed to me be- I 50 Mettooire of Uev. Wnlitt' I ay lis. yond thought. My brothers were asleep, and 1 con- tinued to weep and pray. If you had a full account narrated of what I have thought and felt from my youthful years up to the present time, I am sorry to say that you would have little else than the description of a hard-fought combat between the elements of right and wrong, truth and error. For several years I was greatly perplexed with sceptical speculations ; doubts and difficulties beset me on all sides, in enquiries after the evidences and nature of the Christian religion. These have long since been chased away. The com- bat still goes on between the old and new man, but the scheme of redemption appears now to me admirably adapted for my poor, perishing soul. 1 have long encouraged sentiments of a joyful nature in antici- pating the time when I shall be separated from all sin and sorrow, through Jesus Christ, my Lord. He is all my boast ; his finished work, all my hope. To look upon him as exhibiting the glory of the Father, human nature in a state of perfection, I find to be my chief delight. Conscious, as I am, of much imperfec- tion,^f finding it still necessary to reason with myself, to contemplate the great and glorious perfections of God, as seen both in his works and word, still I can- not evade the^ conclusion that my spirit is withdrawing itself from the dark shades of sin, around which it has hovered with a weary wing. Year after year, to my sweet experience there seems to be a concentration of my thoughts and affections around the infinitely holy and ever blessed God, whom I have found most fitted to give me consolation when encompassed with weakness and depressed with sorrow. Blessed be God ! the hope Ordination Services. 51 which gladdened David's heart is possessed not only by the speaker, but by hundreds within these walls, who daily indulge in calm anticipations of regions bright with eternal day, where we shall have our souls elevated to a continuous thrilling ecstasy of holy joy in beholding the glories of the Lamb. State briefly the motiven and course of events that induced you to think of beiny a missionary to the heathen. While I have traced my first impressions, both of the fear and love of God, back to the years of child- hood, there seems, however, to have been a powerful impulse given both to the strength and activity of my mind when about fifteen years old. My thirst for knowledge of an historical, political, geographical, and religious nature was so great, that I occupied all the time I could command in reading books and magazines bearing upon these topics. Several definite causes might be mentioned which proved at this time a power- ful stimulus both to my thoughts and feelings upon religion, which cannot be noticed, as they do not bear directly in answer to the question. Having leffc home o learn a business, I was in the habit of spending a abbath every month with my parents. On one of hese occasions my mother was absent at a neigh- ouring farm, for the purpose of waiting upon her own ged mother during the closing months of her earthly pilgrimage. I went over the hill, and spent the Sab- Ki^ath afternoon beside my mother and grandmother. ^ person was in the room save ourselves. The scene, hough fall of peace, was solemn to one that had ever been in the sick chamber. I well recollect the 52 MertioivH of Rev. Walter liujlis. subdued calmness of my mind. The conversation was chiefly on the extent, duration, and glory of the Church of Christ. My mother told me that the one thousand years mentioned in the Revelation were interpreted by some expositors in the sense of prophetical lan- guage—viz., a day for a year; consequently they thought the millennium would continue for three hun- dred and sixty-five thousand years. She mentioned that the late Culbertson of Leith gave this as his opinion in his lectures. The idea was completely new to me. The period was so vast that it awakened the little breadth of understanding and force of imagina- tion I possessed. My mother thought that it was more becoming to think of the fai: development of the scheme of redemption, as extending throughout a very long course of years ; but whether it would be exactly three hundred and sixty-five thousand years she could not determine. As she continued to talk, her heart was warmed by the grandeur and beauty of the theme : All tribes and tongues doing homage to the Prince cf Peace ; the teeming populations that would fill all lands; thousands of generations passing into glory. She thought ther > was no doubt that when time had run its ample round, the company of the redeemed would be much more numerous than the company of the lost, that Christ would see of the travail of his soul, and \>q satisfied. To this conversation I most distinctly trace the formation of my desires to be a missionary. The current of my thoughts received a permanent bend. It was as the grain of mustard seed sown upon prepared soil. I left, bidding farewell to my venerable Ordination Services. 53 relative, having no liope of seeing her in this world, but the subject of conversation followed me to the busy scenes of life. The idea of the three hundred and sixty- five thousand years lived and grew day after day, till my desire to read Culbertson's lectures became painful in the extreme. I entered a library which had the work, for the express purpose of reading the lectures about the millennium. More knowledge gave a fresh impulse for a still more extended enquiry. All my investigations and musings ended in a fixed and hal- lowed impression of the lovely aspect the world would necessarily present during the millennium, and conse- quently the desirableness of having the Gospel preached among all nations. There were several missionary magazines in the library that I had joined. In strict truth, I may say that I read them often with exquisite delight. No preacher ever affected me half so much as the simple confessions and accounts of the poor negroes in the West Indies. There was something in their statements that was clearly and firmly grasped by my understanding. The operation of divine truth upon their dark, polluted minds astonished me, and though not formed by nature to weep much, or easily made to weep, the whole circumstances of the groaning Chris- tian slave wrung from me many tears. While the flash of indignation swept over my naturally free and independent spirit, as I figured before me the heart- less grinding tyrants their masters, my sympathies for the oppressed ran so strong that I was times without number compelled to implore God in his wise and good providence to break up my way, that I might be borne to the dwellings of the negro, and there to 54 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inylia. spend my days in teaching them the gospel. It appeared to me not only duty, but the highest privi- lege, to send the gospel to the heathen, and still moro so to be the actual agent in saying to poor ignorant mortals, " Behold thy God." From all the magazines that I was in the habit of reading, the continual cry was : '* More money, more men." What, then, wan more natural to the mind of a mere youth than the thought, " Money I have very little to give, but I am willing to offer myself if my services were required." I did not see my way clearly how it was possible for me to be a missionary, the strong probability that I had not talents suitable for a preacher oftener than anything else. Indeed, I may say that was the prominent hindrance to my having an undisturbed possession of a fixed intention to be a missionary. Amidst all my doubts and fears I stepped back and consoled myself with the thought that I certainly would be able to act either as a catechist or a teacher, and, as a last desperate resource, I thought of all my former purposes to go to distant lands and amass riches ; and why cannot I go still, and consecrate all my talents and bodily energies as a man in business. The lowest position appeared to me then, as it does still, most honourable. I was careless of a mere office. I wanted to be in a position where I should have full scope for all my capacities, but — in a situa- tion I was not competent to fill — such ambition seemed to me unworthy of a holy and good cause. Often I have adopted as my own the language of tho excellent Milne, when told by some of the committee of the London Missionary Society that they feared he Ordination Servicetf. 56 would have to occupy some subordinate oliice on the mission Held, he calmly answered : "I am willing to be anything, a hewer of wood and a drawer of water, to assist in building the house of my God." Such is a mere glance at the circumstances and motives that induced me to devote my whole energies to the mis- sionary cause. For two or three years the idea, though progressive, was floating and unformed in my mind. When about seventeen I came to the fixed resolve to go as a missionary. During these years I never thought of mentioning my intentions to a single individual. My joys, my fears, and sorrows were all my own. As the idea lay brooding in my own bosom, the current flowed on, and, in spite of all my indomi- table tendency to keep my intentions a secret amidst conflicting difficulties, I at last ventured to ask an advice from my esteemed friend who commenced the services this evening. I sent him a letter, and, after a long conversation, he said : ** Go and qualify for nothing else and nothing less than a missionary to the heathen." He told my parents; they said : "Go, and we will render you all the assistance that lies in our power ; " and you, my venerable and faithful friend, have given me every encouragement, and paid to me " Go," and many others, whose friendship and advice I highly prize, have said to me '' Go." Had it not been for these encouragements, and the strong in- herent compelling principle of missionary exertion (ever lovely to me, both in strength and in weakness), peither the paltry motive of human distinction and uture ease, nor the absurd expectation that haunts pouje youth with a spectral force that probably men 56 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. shall write upon their gravestone: ''Here lies learned dust ; " I say, neither of these motives would have induced me to continue the life of a student, when once and again my constitution seemed to be much weakened through close confinement. Whatever some men may think* of a studious life, it has not been to me as a bed of roses. Through all these necessary preparative labours I have been sustained, and at present I am in the enjoyment of good health, with- out which it would be rashness to think of going to the wilds of Africa. I have been appointed to a sphere full of difficulty and danger, but, tragic as the story may seem of one who knows Africa well, I feel no inclination to draw back, and cast a lingering look towards Afric's sons, who are fast rising to the station of perfect men, amidst the verdant groves of the fair isles of the West. It is true my first love was formed in the land of groaning slaves. Yet I rejoice to follow, as a son in the Gospel, the much honoured and beloved individual who is among us this evening, and whose words I soon expect to feel sinking deep into my inner man; follow him, I say, and mingle among the fierce, free men of Africa upon their native wastes. Unbroken is my first love to the dark, untutored sons of Africa. Who knows but I may be privileged to hear the savage talk in such a manner of the love of Jesus Christ as shall waft back my thoughts to those years when the strug- gling emotions of hope and fear alternately swayed; and, as I gaze upon him, " clothed and in his right mind," I shall be cheered and fully compensated for all the difficulties 1 have had to encounter, all tlie Ordinafion Services. &7 sacrifices and sufferings I have had and may still bo called upon to endure. Though I am knit to friends dear and beloved, I am ready this evening to snap the ties that bind me to the home of my fathers and those rugged wilds so full of fresh, tender, and spirit-stirring associations, and, in obedience to the injunctions of a risen and ascended Lord, go far hence to preach the gospel. State hriejly the way in which yod intcjid to prosecute your labours if allowed to enter the field of labour. As to how I shall act upon the field of labour I do not feel inclined to say much. Plans are often formed that ultimately won't work, or through your own im- becility cannot be put into execution. There can be no doubt that the great laws of conduct are the same in every country. It seems to me that the missionary who takes a comprehensive view of his purpose and situation among savage tribes will exert himself to introduce, along with the saving truths of the gospel, all tho elements of civilization; and there can be no doubt the mode of teaching savages divine truth should be of the simplest order. If God's blessing shall render my labours effectual to the converting a number of the natives, I shall unite them in the fellowship of the Gospel, and observe pub- licly all the appointed ordinances of God's worship. I shall by all means endeavour to call into exercise the self-sustaining power of the Gospel, that the people amongst whom I labour may have faithful and able .men among themselves to whom the oracles of God may be committed, in order that coming generations 58 MoiioivH of itfw. Walter tnylu. may bo blent with the knowledge, fear, and love of God. I shall not be very solicitous to make the *' Africans follow very closely the customs and modes of government among the various sects that comprise" European Christians, as it has never struck me that we have exhibited among us a perfect system of church government ; and in addition to this I can easily con- ceive many customs and a mode of government exactly fitted for Scotland which would do anything but work well in Africa. The law of diversity in human nature, I am afraid, is often overlooked by men who desire to fashion all nations after one rigid uniformity. While endeavouring to act upon the spirit of two or three centre essential laws for all Christians in all countries, I shall also endeavour to discriminate the individuality of my circumstances, and so ^hape my course, in the exercise of humble prayer, that God's glory may be most effectually promoted. As the London Missionary Society was thoroughly non-sectarian, organized upon the broadest principles, and supported by different denominations, it was emi- nently fitting that in the ordination of Mr. Inglis clergymen of all denominations should take part. The following certificate granted him shows the catholicity of the meeting, and the many noble men who cheered the heart of the young missionary by their presence. Of the eighteen who signed the paper only three sur- vive, namely, Drs. Andrew Thomson and Wm. Peddie, of Edinburgh, and Dr. Joseph Brown, of Glasgow. At Edinburgh, on the twenty-fifth day of October, eighteen hundred and forty-two years, we, the under- Ordinfition Services, 59 sif^'iicd, ministers of the Gospel, being assembled in Broughton Place Church, did, by solemn prayer and laying on of hands, ordain to the ministry of the Gospel, Mr. Walter Inglis, having been satisfied of his fitness to perform its functions, and of his call to dis- charge these as a missionary among the heathen. John Brown, D.D., Senior Minister of the United Associate Congregation, Broughton Place. George Johnston, Minister, Nicolson Street. John Paterson, D.D. James Kobertson, Minister, Musselburgh. W. Lindsay Alexander, ^[.A., Minister of Argyle Square Chapel. Joseph Brown, Minister, Dalkeith. James Harper, Minister, North Leith. Peter Davidson, Minister, Dean Street, Edinburgh. William Pkddie, Minister, Bristo Street, Edin- burgh. William Bruce, Minister, Cowgate Church, Edin- burgh. Andrew Elliot, Minister, Ford. Andrew Thomson, Junior Minister of the United Associate Congregation, Broughton Place. George Blyth, Minister of Hampden, Jamaica. James Kobertson, Minister, late of Beith, Ayrshire. William Innes, Baptist Minister, Elder Street, Edinburgh. G. D. Cullen, Minister, Congregational Chapel, Leith. William Swan, Missionary, late of Siberia John Cooper, Minister of the Gospel, Fala. CHAPTER VI. AKIIKJAN lilFE — THK VOYAOK AND AKRIVAL. Farewell to Scotland— Last dayH at BrotherehieU-Embarkation— Inci- dentH of the Voyage— Letter to his Sinter -Opinions of his Brother Missionaries— Journey into the Interior— Baharutse Land— Creed of the Bechuanas— Impromptu Verses to the " Manaloe." MR. INGLIS' preparation for the active work of the ministry may now be said to close. Before sail- ing for his distant field he made short visits to his home at Brothershiels, and to other friends. On one of these occasions Dr. Cairns accompanied him. Thej remained over Sabbath, and heard the Rev. John Cooper of Fala, under whom Mr. Inglis had been brought up, and whose apostolic spirit, with his well' remembered labours in the service of the Scottish Mis sionary Society in India, had done much to awakeo kindred longings and aspirations. This visit was also brightened by the presence of Mr. Inglis' newly-mar ried wife. These autumn days included much roaming and talk amid the wild and beautiful solitudes of thai upland region. '' I well remember," says Dr. Cairns *' how that he suddenly bound me in a plaid, on whid I happened to be seated, and with the help of other dragged me from the top to the bottom of a green slop near the old farm-house." In the month of January, 1843, the young missioD ary and his wife embarked in the good ship Fortiiiul for Cape Town. The dear old home- mother, on tli moorland farm of Brothershiels, kept all those tliiin^ A/r'uun Life — Th/i Voynye and Arrival. HI, and pondered them in her heart. She rejoiced greatly that the Lord had spared her to see a son devote him- self to service among the heathen ; while, at the same time, the parting, though bravely borne, was tender and touching. The most cordial good wishes and fer- vent prayers of a wide circle of friends followed the young couple to their far-off field of labour and trial, and many cordially endorsed the remark of a life-long friend, as he waved his last farewell to the receding voyagers : ** Two truer hearts ne'er left the shore." The voyage out was somewhat tedious and stormy. In the recently published memoirs of Kobert and Mary Mofiat the following account is given of it : " Though khe embarkation of the passengers took place at ravesend on the 30th of January, the ship was still ind-bound in the Downs on the fourth of the foUow- ng month, by which time something like a hundred ail had assembled at the same anchorage. That orning the wind changed round to the north, and in heavy snowstorm all . got under way, and stood own the Channel. The crowd of outward-bound ships pread away each on her own course, the white cliffs !eceded from view, and next day the company on board e Fortitude found t emselves on the wide rolling sea. he ship was stout and well manned. The captain Was an old and God-fearing man, from whom the mis- sionaries enjoytd every facility for the observance of the Lord's day and for public services, as was befitting ik> large a proportion of missionary passengers. All were safely landed in Cape Town on the 10th of April, ttie passage being considered an average one." Mr. %glis' letters contain little about the voyage. It was H2 Menioim of Rev. Walter Inyiis, characterized by the usual incidents of pleasant inter- course, and also by busy and more or less disagreeable gossip, with incipient jealousies and premonitory hints of possibly serious disaf^'reeraents. In a letter written to his sister, dated Bethelsdorp, South Africa, May 9, 1843, ho makes reference to long, journalistic letters, which cannot now be found, and speaks of certain troubles that began soon iifter sailing : " We have," he says, '* seen things great and marvellous, things small and mean, things al)surd and ridiculous, and that from persons the least to be expected." Speaking of a bro- ther missionary, named Ashton, who was evidently not of a kindred spirit, he says : "We agree very well, but it is the agreement of nothing. I have not been able to get a single conve*'sation of a mental or religious character out of him. He is not one of my kind at all; yet a nice, kind fellow, in his way, but has little in- formation, and has read nothing. Moffat is a good soul, and yet, in many respects, just like other people." During his short sojourn in the cai)ital, at Cape Town, Mr. Inglis made some pleasant acquaintances, one or two of which developed into life-long and genuine friendships. The journey into the interior of the country need not 1 e described. South African modes of travel were thei as they still are, somewhat slow and monotonous. Time, apparently, was no object, and bullock waggons tired the patience of even the most deliberate. The Kuruman was at last reached, and some little time spent at that well-known mission- ary settlement, in order to have future plans fully matured, and the different stations assigned to the \ievf missionaries. The wild region of Baharutse to African Life — The Voyage and Amvnl. 63 the north wan the difltrict aHsif^'ned to Livinjrstone and Inj:(li8. Dr. Philip, the Sii])erintendent of the London Missionary Society at the Cape, gave it as his opinion that the sendinfjj of those young missionaries to Baha- rutse was wrong, and 8uhso((Uont events proved that he was right. Dr. Moffat, however, thought otliorwise, and so, after a good deal of rough journeying, and not a few trying and unexpected experiences, the suhject of our Hkt'tch was estahlished as a missionary among the Bechuanas, in the country beyond the Vaal River, then overrun and claimed by the emigrant Dutch Boers, whose doings have, in more recent times, brought them very prominently before the British public. From among the very few of his African let- ters which have been preserved, the following one, written evidently not long after his arrival, to his sister, will show how deeply interested and hopeful the young missionary was in his work : Baharutse, South Africa. My Dkar Sistku, — It has fallen to me to add my supplement, though my views are not many nor im- portant. As you h.'ivo already heard, we are at last in Baharutse Land. I have lately had a rugged life. Tlu' Lord has blessed me with good health amidst all my fatigues. I have been very little with my family till winter, between building a house, having a garden made, and on a visit to the Baharutsis, Baralongs, and Boers. Such things must be so, or we shall stand still. We have met with another disappointment, from the Baharutsi not coming on. The account of the murder of three men by a chief two months ago filled the whole country with the fear of threatened war. The Baharutsi had just cause for fear. These rumours are now completely hushed, and peace is once more 04 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inylu. amongst us. The two parties of Babaiutsi are at peace for the last three months. Mahura has at last sent cordial greetings to Moiloe. Ten days ago a party went from this quarter to Mahurds with some of his people, and again the Corannas that attacked the Baharutsi have had a rod administered to them for their good. The Spirit of the Lord has breathed upon them. In a letter from Mr. Ross two months ago, he mentions that forty had given evidence of conversion — Godita, the leader of the Commando, included. This man was wicked when I saw him. These things are of the Lord, and wondrous in our eyes ; for the tribe have been gospel-despisers for many years. We have built on the junction of one of the largest tributaries of the Main aloe, and I intend soon to lead out the water, though it will be a serious undertaking. It is a beautiful region where we are. My iron soul felt the strivings of poetry the other day when visiting friends. I dedicated an impromptu, rough and ready, to brother William. It is the second time I ever tried such flights. I first sang to my wife the beauties of the Mainaloe. Since then I gravely attempted to correct one or two verses, which were out of measure. I began, never dreaming of what and where I was going. I shall send the corrected version to brother William. Of course the poetry is a joke, but it will show you that I am iu good spirits. The rain-making months have again returned, for which we are thankful. Last week one of their doctors was so fortunate as to destroy the lightning, which they think prevents the rain. The other chiefs came to him with goats and other presents. The notorious doctor that blamed us missionaries last year at the Bakhatla is quite out of repute this year. I went to the village where he resides, three hours" drive down the Mainaloe, but found that he had hidden himself. His people are very friendly to us now. I asked them, " Who made the rain yesterday ?" They answered in true native style, " Was it not you ?" The African Life — The Voyage and An'i%d. Go poor things think that we claim the rain in answer to our prayers. I took one of their more sensible men, and explained to him our views — that while " we pray, and believe that God answers prayer, at the same time we do not ascribe the rain to man's prayer, for it would have rained, though not a single praying person was in the country, just as it has rained out at the Molopo River, and up at Mosega, where there is not a soul." We have settled in the midst of the scattered villages on the Mainaloe River. Three villages are close beside us. They attend to -hear the Word of God. The chief of one has already mastered the letters, and is a kind, sensible, and amiable man. There are seven villages on the Mainaloe, and four under the Kurreachane Mountains, and four large towns over the Marikna. The largest is about twelve miles distant from us. They are dark souls ! They will call you God, and anything for a bit of tobacco. The man who helped me to build the walls of the house was called " Father of God," and his town is called '* God " !* Yours affectionately, Walter Inolis. *The belief of the Bechuanas regarding the existence of a God, as ,1,'iven by Mr. Inglis, ia as follows : " They believe in one god, ' Morimo,' the creator, preserver, and destroyer of men. When any one leaves a house, the inmates say : ' Go in peace ; Morimo be with you.' If you are sick, they will say : ' Morimo will help you.' If their friend dien, tho women pour out their bitter wail, charging Morimo that he has not heard. They have no idols. Fetichism prevails very much among them. Tt is regarded simply as a powerful means for the attainment of the ends they have in view. It is a kind of mystical medicine for the cure of disease. They have no belief in angels or devils, or other spirits, save the spirits of men, who have their abode in the ground, or under-world. They believe, however, in possession, saying, ' Oa-tsemoa ' — ' He is mad' —that is, entered into or possessed. That there were coiitradiction« in their beliefs Vlr. Inglis admitted, but, as he said, it is needless to aitempt to reconcile the contradictions of heathendom ! He indignantly refuted the common idea that the Bechuanas had no religion, and no belief in a spirit world, and was accustomed to give the following, as an exa^l^)le of G6 ^ Memoirs of Rev, Walter Inylis' Mr. Inglis' impromptu verses to the " Mainaloe," referred to in this letter, are as follows : High on tlie banks of the fair " Mainaloe," My strong homely cottage I raised with clay : Its fast rushing waters, so clear an Power, — a highly unhecoming thing. I therefore h 3rehy summon you (to appear) hefore the Volksraad, on the lirrit Uay of October, at Kustenburg, in Magaliesberg ; to answer for the contents of your two, or more properly, three letters. I will receive nothing whatever, but shall contend with you before the Great Council. P. E. ScHOLTZ, Commandant. Kliplager, 20th September, 1852. To Messrs. W. Inglis and R. Edwards : Gentlemen, — I beg herewith to inform you that I have requested Mr. A. W. J. Pretorius, Commandant General, to come hither as speedily as possible to take into consideration the state of the country ; therefore you need not .ow appear at Rustenburg. I therefore desire that you will remain where you are for the pre- sent. When Mr. Pretorius arrives I shall apprise you of it ; and then you will have an opportunity of appear- ing before him. I remain with respect, etc., P. E. ScHOLTz, Commandant. Kliplager, 18th October, 1852. To Messrs. R. Edwards and W. Inglis, Missionaries : Gentlemen, — You are hereby informed that I have been ordered by A. W. J. Pretorious, Esq., Com- mandant General, to signify to you in writing that you will be put on your defence for two letters written by you ; the first a letter of Mr. Edwards' in the news- paper, and the second a letter signed by both of you. You are therefore both commanded by me, in pursu- ance of the order of General Pretorius, to appear at Rustenburg on the first Wednesday in November next, before the Court of Landdrost and Heemraden, to 80 • Memoirs of Mev. Walter Inglis. defend yourselves regarding the writings bearing your signatures. Be pleased to send a written answer, stating whether you are willing to appear. I am yours, etc., P. E. ScHOLTz, Commandant. The missionaries arrived at Rustenburg on the 2nd of November ; appeared at the Landdrost's office on the 3rd ; but were not called up that day. Next morn- ing they received the following note. Landdrost's Office, Bustenburg, 4th November, 1852. Gentlemen, — You are hereby required not to quit the village before I shall have received a despatch from the Commandant-General. I have the honour to be, gentlemen, Your obedient, humble servant, P. J. Van Staden, Landdrost. The Rev. Messrs." Inglis and R.Edwards, Rustenburg. Early on the 8th, a verbal message from the Land- drost informed the missionaries that differences had arisen among the Boers in a certain quarter of the district, and that A. W. J. Pretorius would leave on the 10th to settle these disputes ; consequently, the said missionaries were to remain at Rustenburg until the 20th. Immediately^ after this verbal communica- tion the following paper, without date or signature, was put into their hands : Order and Despatch of the Commandant-General to P. J. Van Staden, Esq., Landdrost, to detain the missionaries at the village of Rustenburg till the 20th inst., when they will have a hearing. Landdrost's Office, November 20, 1852. The missionaries Inglis and Edwards are hereby required to appear this day, as per above date, at one o'clock, precisely, to defend themselves for having writ- Mission Life in South Africa. 81 ten certain documents detrimental to the Free Repub- lic ; and Mr. Inglis to answer for the writing of a certain letter, conjointly subscribed by him and Mr. Edwards. P. J. Van Staden, Landdrost. Kliplager, November 25, 1852. To Messrs. W. Inglis and E. Edwards. I have to apprise you herewith of my arrival. I have been informed that you are offering your doors and windows for sale, but you will not be permitted to do so. Everything secured with wood and nail (fixtures) must remain undisturbed, according to all prevailing law. I therefore warn you to leave them. The copies of your sentences I have obtained and brought with me, which you can have on paying the charges, to which the Honourable Court have sentenced you — of which you have the bill — which you will have to pay next Monday, at Mr. Inglis'. You are likewise required to use all expedition in taking your departure within fourteen days, along the great highroad, by way of Moui Eiver. You are most distinctly charged to conduct your- selves inoffensively, and in no respect whatever to interfere with the coloured people. I am, etc., P. E. ScHOLTz. Commandant. Matebe,- November 28, 1852. Sir, — I have to inform you that I have considered your case. I told you to stay, but, on reconsideration, I now permit your departure, if you be ready. I shall report the matter to General Pretorius, and his answer will find you at Moui River. But let the doors and windows remain in the house ; I have appointed a guard over them. P. E. ScHOLTz, Commandant. 8^ Memoirs of Rev, Walter Incjlis. Mr. Edwards bad tlio following sentence read to him : The Honourable Court of Landdrost and Heemra- den hpving taken the case of the missionary Edwards into mature consideration, and viewed it in all its bearings, has found K. Edwards guilty of high trea- son, according to the 9tli Article of the existing law of the Territory, and has decided on condemning him to quit the Territory of this Eepublic within fourteen days from his arrival at his house ; and that as long as he Continues within the limits of the Eepublic he must conduct himself orderly and peaceably. The above-mentioned Edwards is further, at the same time, sentenced to pay all expenses incurred in the case. The sentence of the Court would, unquestionably, have been more severe, but, inasmuch as he commit- ted the high treason before the negotiation with Her Majesty's Government was concluded, the Court has made this sentence as light as possible. E. Edwards is ordered, on his departure from hence, to travel by way of Moui Eiver. P. J. Van Staden, Landdrost. J. S. POTGIETER, \ J. H. EOBBERTSE, G. J. B. EoBBERTSE, G. Van Eooyen, C. Grobier, H. J. Struh, > A true copy. A. J. Wagner, Secretary, Eustenburg, 20th Nov., 1852. Note. — Mr. E. will liereafter show, as he believes, that all he had stated in his letter respecting the Boers was mc-re than confirmed by what he saw and heard at Eustenburg. y-Heemraden. Mission Life in South Africa. 83 The expenses of the case, which Mr. E. was com- pelled to pay, amounted to ninety-five Eix Dollars, for which they gave a written receipt. In the newspaper containing the foregoing corre- spondence there also appears this '' Postscript ": Thursday (noon), 20th January, 1853. Referring to our leading remarks on the narrative of Mr. Inglis, as to what took ^^iace on the occasion ol his trial, we beg to remark that the treaty betwixt the Transvaal Boers and Assistant Commissioners expressly provided against slavery. Mr. Pretorius, ^according to Mr. Inglis' narrative, would seem to in- smuate that verbally the Assistant Commissioners had given their sanction to this system, by approving of making the natives useful. We must repudiate such an idea. We should be glad to see the natives made useful to themselves. We do not, however, apprehend that slavery would accomplish this obket. The habits which natives have acquired of squatting in the neigh- bourhood of villages, and in the midst of white men, refusing to work, is a subject deserving of attention and remedy. Thus, apparently, were all Mr. Inglis' prospects overcast, and all his plans for usefulness at an end. He had come to Africa with the single simple desire of benefiting, to the best of his ability, the dark-skinned children of that benighted and long-qjirsed continent, and now the door was rudely and abruptly closed against him. He had wished to live and die there, mt this, his most ardent and disinterested heart's wish, was not to be gratified. He had to wait and see what the future would bring forth. Sad to say, it brought nothing, in the way of jus+ice being rendered. 84) Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. or compensation given for the losses and indignities which he and his companion, Mr. Edwards, had sus- tained. The policy of the directors of the London Missionary Society was in the circumstances, it is to he feared, anything but vigorous and decided. There ought to have been plenty of work in the colony for the expelled missionaries ; or spheres of usefulness in other heathen lands might surely have been found for them. Nothing of the kind, however, was proposed, and so Mr. Inglis returned to Britain. He was em- ployed by the society for some time in addressing missionary meetings in different parts of England, and then his connection with the London Missionary Society ceased, with no charge made against him, but on the contrary, a cordial certificate at parting. The other expelled missionary, Mr. Edwards, was also allowed to seek a new sphere of labour, and spent his declining years ministering to a small congregation at Port Elizabeth, near Algoa Bay. In closing this account of Mr. Inglis' missionary experiences in Africa, the question will naturally arise in the minds of many readers: Why did not the London Missionary Society, in some way, exert its influence on behalf of such able and self-denying missionaries, as it was conceded on all hands Messrs. Inglis and Edwards were ? No missionary society at the present day, we are safe in asserting, would suffer their representatives to be so treated. The Christian world, irrespective of denominational differences, would manifest such righteous indignation, that reparation would be made, and effective measures taken to crush such high-handed and brutal measures as were used Mission Life in South Africa, 85 towards these men. If beyond the direct reach of the London Missionary Society, the Government of Great Britain, on being appealed to, could and would most effectively have taught the Dutch Boers a lesson of tolerance never to be forgotten. A nation that had paid such a price to ransom men and women from thraldom could not afford to keep silent if approached on behalf of the enslaved, and, at the same time, would have demanded for its missionaries the rights of free men — not to speak of Christian missionaries. Why, then, did the London Missionary Society pursue a policy that at this date seems cowardly and unfair to those noble men, who had risked their lives arid their all in her service ? The principal actors in African missions embraced in that period, Moffat, Livingstone, Inglis, and Edwards, have all gone to their reward. Robert Moft'at and David Livingstone have had their labours eulogized, and their memory perpetuated. The friends and admirers of Walter Inglis, who knew him before his African experience, and the many more who loved him after his return in Canada, do not begrudge the honours paid those veterans. But surely, none the less ought the Christian world to hold in grateful remembrance men who were driven from the field, but who, had they been permitted to continue, would, in so far as man can judge, have equalled in zeal and daring their more illustrious compeers. It ought no longer to be a secret that Walter Inglis did not receive fair treatm.ent at the hands of the London Missionary Society. Before that he was finally compelled to leave his much-loved Africa, difficulties 86 McmioivH of Rav. Walter Imjlis. aud disputationH had ariBen in connection with a scandal within the missionary circle, which Mr. Inglis and Mr. Edwards insisted upon having thoroughly investigated. Other influences, however, prevailed, so that the investigation demanded was never entered upon, although the Directors of the London Missionary Society assured Mr. Inglis that they had the fullest confidence in the representations which he and his co-missionary had made. They feared, however, that the investigation demanded might do more harm than good ! This fact, prohably, may have made these Directors less sorry to take advantage of the expulsion of Messrs. Inglis and Edwards by the Boers, as these missionaries had insisted that all connected in any way with African missions should be above suspicion, and have their guilt or innocence made conspicuously manifest to all concerned. In the appendix will be found a lecture, or rather part of a lecture, by Mr. Inglis on "David Living- stone." Accompanying the MS. (sent for perusal to the Eev. Peter Wright of Ingersoll) was the following letter, which, in justice to the subject of these memoirs, we print just as it was written; the date is November 28, 1883 : I never have had the gift of dates; but you may tfikc two or three as approximately correct. Living- stone joined the London Missionary Society in 1838. He and I went to study under the inspection of the Kev. Mr. Cecil at Ongar. My health gave way early in 1839. Livingstone went on with his studies there, and also prosecuted medical studies in London. Moffat came home, and became mightily popular. Living- stone went to Africa in 1840, I parted with him in Mwaion Life In South Africa. 87 Glasgow, wliere I was studying. Our last words were, as I parted with him a mile out of Glasgow, on his way home to Blantyre: " Now, Inglis, he sure and join mo in Africa." I answered: "If possihle." Moffat went on with his work of printing the Bechuana Tes- tament, Bihles, selections for the schools, hymn books, etc., and blazing through England and Scotland, thril- ling the people with his story. lie put through the press his book, ** Twenty-three Years' Missionary Life among the Becliuanas." A Mr. Boss went with Living- stone. Two old missionaries were in charge at the Kuruman — old Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Edwards; Liv- ingstone and Boss got a welcome from them. Mr. Hamilton was a simple, good man, but never learned the Bechuana language. Mr. Edwards' name is not mentioned, because of bad feeling towards him on the part of Moffat and afterwards of Livingstone.* Neither Moffat nor Livingstone could bear a yoke-fellow. They were created with ambition to work alone. I was appointed to IVIoffat's mission in the begin- ning of 1842, or some time in 1841. Moffat could not get through with his work till the end of 1842. Early in 1843 we left England. Other two young men went with us — Messrs. Gill and Ashton — who, with myself, accompanied Moffat and his family. I am sorry to say that Livingstone's account of his early mission life is very garbled. Two or three things are stated out of all proportion. The fact is that his life as a missionary has never been written. Neither you nor anybody else can tell his life-history for ten years. He only gives an account of his chief Sechele — an able man, but a poor Christian. I am not sure but that he was the only heathen that Living- stone ever baptized. He fell from his profession of Christianity shortly after his baptism. Having noth- ing else to say, Livingstone was strongly tempted to * This was written before the publication of Mr. Moftat's Memoirs by his son. 88 Mamoirs of Rev, Walter Imjlis. « say something, as people wore not at hand to contra- dict. If any of us had done so, it would have heen called the jealousy of small men. I do not know of one case of conversion hy Dr. Livingstone. God had other work for him to do. He adds in closing : These lectures and harangues are not for me now. The points I raise are unvarnished truth. I am sorry to say, in my old days, that there is a large amount of garbled dishonesty in missionary reports. Directors treat missionaries as you would a body of policemen, nor is there much noble-mindedness in the missionary band. Notes. — While these pages are being prepared for the press, the following, copied from one of the religious weeklies, indicates how unsatisfactory the condition of affairs in South Africa still is, notwithstanding the many lessons taught the Bri^^ish Government by re- peated aggressions on the part of the Dutch Boers : News from South Africa is not of a cheerful sort. The Boers, it is said, have annexed fully five-sixths of Zululand, Natal is up in arms, and the Colonial Council is in conflict with the British Commission. Appa- rently it is the old trouble over again, the Boers siding with one native chief against another, with the ulti- mate object of seizing the lands of the beaten party, and with some excuse for their aggressions. The British policy in Zululand since the death of Cetewayo has been anything but heroic. It will be remembered that the close of the unjust war of 1879 left the Zulus, always a warlike nation, at the mercy of the Boers, and that their conquerors, so far from protecting them by the estabhshment of a good government, still further weakened them by dividing the country between thirteen petty and irresponsible chiefs. They did, ijp\yeyer, by the convention of Pretoria, clearly delhie MiMHion Life in South Africd, 80 the boundary between Transvaal and >iiiluland, and jiSHumed reHi)on8il)iIity for the protection of the natives l)eyond the Dutcli frontier by the retention of suze- rainty. At the same time they in^-reased the dissatis- faction of the Zulus by givin<^ the Boers the territory which had orij^inally been in dispute between tlieni and Cetewayo, and encouraged the Jioers in the beUef that a repetition of their aggressions would lead, as usual, to a further acquisition of territory. The result, of course, was inevitable, and the ink of the settlement was scarcely dry before there was fighting all over the country. In 18H1, however, a new con- vention was made with the Boers, the main provisions of which exacted from the latter a pledge to respect the integrity of Zululand, Bechuanaland, and Swazie- land. But the results were as barren as in the former instance, the Boers invading Zululand, and blood flowing more freely than ever. Dinizulu was made king in defiance of the rights of the British Government, by which no Zulu king could be ap- pointed except by native custom and subject to England's approval ; and, to crown all, Usibepu, a chief in Northern Zululand, who accepted the position on pledges given' by England, was killed, and a new Boer republic established in his territory. The few thousand British troops stationed in the country did nothing to preserve the peace, their presence being neither a profit to the Zulus nor a hindrance to the Boers, and the petty and perpetual wars which followed seriously threatened British supremacy. In 1885, however, an expedition under Sir Chpiles Warren was sent to the Cape, the Transvaal Go\ern- fnent withdrew its pretensions to the territory, and disclaimed responsibility for the filibusters, and the native chiefs ousted by the Boers were returned to the positions they occupied under the convention. Unfor- tunately no protectorate was established over Zulu- land, and with the withdrawal of General Warren, 90 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. and attacks of quarrelling tribes upon the Boer allies, the Boers have again taken idvantage of the circum- stances to extend their boundaries. What England will now do in the premises remains to be seen, though the announcement that Western Zululand will form a new republic and Eastern Zululand be reserved for the Zulus under a British protectorate may doubt- less be accepted as correct. Hitherto, instead of placing the whole territory under the direct authority of the British Crown, English policy has been to regard South Africa as a mere appanage of the Cape, under its control and subject to the ever-changing caprice of its party politicians. The result has been continual difficulty with the lesser dependencies, whose interests are at variance with those of the Cape, and that all action has been more or less biassed by what may be called the Dutch view of South African affairs. The Dutch form so very important an element in Cape Colony and in the Cape Parliament that no governor residing there and looking at affairs from the colony point of view can be expected to administer all the dependencies impartially. Only when a viceroy is appointed for all the British South African possessions, and the Cape relegated to its proper position us a self-governing settlement on the borders of a Sout)i African empire, will such questions as the annexation of Zululand be satisfactorily solved. The following sketch from the Transvaal, copied from the Chnstian Leader of Glasgow, Scotland, gives some idea of the religious life of the Dutch Boers at tho present time. Says the writer : Taken all in all the ^oers of the Transvaal are a very simple people, although of late they are begin- ning to understand how many beans it takes to make five. In the matter of education they are very far behind the times. The only chance a young Boer gets is while he is qualifying for church membership; and Mission Life in South Africa. 91 even then his opportunities only extend to an indif- ferent knowledge of the " vrag-boek," or Shorter Cate- chism of the Dutch Church, and his being able to read the Bible. Their church is the most venerated of all institutions, and its clergymen are literally worshipped. The quarterly fast-day, or " Nachtmaal," as it is called, is a regular red-letter day; and, if you would see our Boers to best advantage, descend upon one of our towns on a " Nachtmaal Sunday." Then you have a sight worth seeing. Kows upon rows of waggons, with their beautiful snow-white tents, cover the whole extent of our ** kerk-plein." For a time, at least, we have more than tripled our population, and still they come pouring in amain from north, south, east, and west. Great teams of sixteen or eighteen bullocks come trund- ling along with their heavily laden waggons. Every ox knows his name, and, as their swarthy Jehu cracks his twenty feet of thong and *' vorslag," and yells out at the fullest pitch of his stentorian voice, "Trek Swartland!" "Yek Maakman!" forward goes the whole span in one body, and soon the waggon is drawn into position alo'ngside of its neighbours. The oxen are then out- spanned or unyoked, forthwith a wood fire is kindled, and the ubiquitous cup of cofifee prepared. Later on we hear the incessant hum of juvenile voices rehearsing their lessons with marked avidity, and here and there wells out from beneath the canopy of canvas the melodious strains of female voices pouring forth one of those old Dutch tunes — tunes sung to about the same time as " Old Hundred," when rendered by a company of north country fisher- women, nor wanting either in the fancy twirls and home-made variations peculiar to the music of that particular class. Anon the silvery tinkle of the church bell is heard, and the inhabitants of our city of canvas slowly begin to wend their way in the direction of the sacred edifice. There is the solid " diakon " — a pillar of the church — with his suit of black cloth and the 92 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglia. old-fashioned white choker of our own country; and there, alongside of him, is his worthy '* vrouw," with her unadorned dress of black alpaca and " cappie " of the same material. If you have ever seen an elderly Quaker couple of the old school going up to the house of prayer you have an exact picture of our well-to-do Boer as he appears on sacrament Sunday. After the aged couple follow the younger members of the family, each bearing a chair or stool in one hand and a Bible in the other. The country churches have, as a rule, no pews, and each adherent provides his own sitting accommodation. Look at the young people ! What a contrast they present to the pair we have just de- scribed. Theirs is certainly a livelier taste in the matter of dress. Bright yellow corduroy trousers, a black cloth jacket, a turkey-red handkerchief, a green necktie, a drab soft-felt hat, with a rim about six inches wide, and surmounted by a scarlet puggaree, complete the costume of the younger men; while the opposite sex indulge in a show of colour equally ridicu- lous. The service is begun in the usual manner, by the singing of a psalm; but music and harmony are sadly neglected, and the finer perceptions give way to lung power. The form of church government, as well as the conduct of services, is an exact counterpart of the Scotch Presbyterian style. The various diets of worship are long and tedious, but during their progress many members have been added to the congregation. After the sacrament has been observed, and while the sun is sinking beneath the horizon, the people gather together in little knots around their camp-fires. All topics of general interest are discussed, and they chat away to their hearts' content until Luna arises and sheds her silvery light over the scene. How strikingly suggestive of the days of the patriarchs, when the people ** dwelt in tents !" But now, amid a sound of rattling trek-chains, the bump of yokes, interspersed with the busy hum of voices and the striking of tents, Miaaion Life in South Africa. 93 the last cup of coffee is partaken of; anon the "thwack" clack of the dusky driver's whip reminds you that Nachtmaal is over, and the gay and festive Boer is homeward-bound. Without judging too harshly, I think there is much less genuine Christian feeling amongst the Boers than people are often willing to give them credit for. Outward appearances prove nothing; and their church-going proclivities are the outcome of use and wont; a Nachtmaal is a pleasant break in the monotony of their existence. I admit that in the case of the young people the main object is confirmation, for after that ordeal is passed they can perpetrate matrimony whenever the spirit listeth. Until a young Boer is married he is nobody. Early marriages are the order of the day, and you very seldom find a young lady unmarried at twenty, or a young man in the enjoyment of single blessedness at twenty-three. CHAPTER VIII. RETURN FROM AFRICA, AND APPOINTMENT TO CANADA. Visit to Berwick— Reception into U. P. Church — Appointed to Canada — Cordial Welcome — Riversdale, Kincardine, and Pine River— Hard- ships of Home Missionary Life — Letters to his Sister and Brother — Death of his Mother — Reminiscences by Rev. Robert Hamilton, and Rev. Dr. Waters — Resignation of Charge— The Preachers' List— Elected to Ayr. THE return of Mr. Inglis to Britain, and his subsequent removal to Canada, cannot be better introduced than in the language of Dr. Cairns : " After an interval of some eight or nine years from the time that I had begun to labour in the Berwick Congregation, my old friend came rather suddenly, having had to leave Africa because of internal troubles and difficulties. He took me on his way northward from the port at which he had landed. Though I had some vague expectation of his arrival, considerable excitement attended it, especially as his whole family came with him, increased by an interest- ing young Frenchman, M. Roland, who had been con- nected with the mission to the Baharutsi which Mr. Inglis had conducted. It was a work of some time to get the entire party disposed of, but kind friends willingly helped. The visit of the returned African missionary excited great interest. As he had interrupted my studies in the end of the week, he naturally took one of the services on the Lord's Day, and I do not think that I ever heard him to more advantage. His Eng- lish had not improved, but there was a great command pf vivid and picturesque speech, with glowing zeal — Return from Africa. 96 notwithstanding something of disappointment in the interruption of his work — and a statesmanHke grasp of all the relations of missions to the problems that have so long continued to cause colonial trouble. One thought which he brought out, either in preaching or in conversation, was this : That it was hardly fair to claim for our missions that they were the one all-heal- ing force amidst a community otherwise agitated both by intestine discussion and the encroachments of a foreign power. No doubt this was so, taking the mat- ter in the long run, and when Christianity had had time to settle as well as to agitate the population. But he thought that we too much overlooked the un- settling influence of Christianity on a people to the ' whole of whose social system it was a challenge, and which it must displace in order itself to succeed. Hence he regarded the missionaries as harshly treated when blamed because, through their growing influence, social difficulties became acute and embarrassing ; and he claimed for their position a sympathy which it has not yet found. In such discussions, and in recalling the memories of other days, and in roaming with his family by the river and the sea, amidst scenes which so contrasted with their African experiences, the time swiftly passed away ; and he went northward to meet his still nearer circle, and to ponder what might be the yet uncertain future." When his connection with the London Missionary Society came to a close, Mr. Inglis applied to be received into the United Presbyterian Church of Scot- land, the Church of his boyhood and early years, although the unioir of the Secession and Belief 06 Memoirs of Rev. Waller Inglis. m Churches was nof consummated under the above name until 1847. He was most cordially welcomed, and recognized at once as a minister in full standing. In the early spring of 1855, at his own request, he came to Canada, where, until his death in 1884, he made full proof of his ministry, — leading, at first, a toil- some, laborious, and self-denying life, as one of the pioneer preachers of the gospel in a comparatively poor and sparsely- settled district, and finally in Ayr, where, among a beloved people and attached co-Presbyters, he finished his earthly course. The now United Presbyterian Church of Scotland had sent its first missionaries to Canada in 1832, so that when Mr. Inglis arrived, the most of the earlier missionaries were settled in the field and in the full vigour of their ministry. It was to him a great plea- sure and encouragement to meet with not a few of them, whose names will long continue to be household words in Canadian homes. Wherever he went he made friends, and whether in the manse or the shanty he was, from the first, made cordially welcome. His preaching, to which reference is made elsewhere and at greater length, was not of the usual description. He was original in his thinking, and as original in his illustrations. Many of his remarks had a quaintness which rendered them specially attractive to a certain class of minds; while his genuine simplicity and un- affected piety secured for him, in private, a very large amount of reverence and real affection. Very soon after coming to Canada he received calls to Westmin- ster, and Chatham, and other places, but for one reason or another he declined settlement until 1857, Return from Africa. 97 when he was inducted into the charge of Riversdale, in the County of Bruce. This was an entirely new and somewhat difficult field, and the work was laborious and trying. His journeyings were long and toilsome, and mostly on foot. His family, for a time, found a very humble home in Kincardine, which was then but a very small village. Afterwards, he purchased fifty acres of land in Riversdale, and had the shanty that was on it so repaired as to enable him and the family to live in it. During his ministry here, hard work and not a few privations made him feel that it was not only in Africa, or among savages, that the messen- ger of the gospel has to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The treatment he received in Bruce was cruel and unchristian, and the utter neglect, in those days, of the strong in the Church helping the weak was something more than saddening. It is true the people were poor and struggling, but that was the least of it. Mammon-worship had, apparently, eaten out of many hearts any love of Christ that ever had existed, and all regard for common honesty as between man and man. On one occasion, stung to the quick by the ungenerous conduct of certain ones, of whom better things were expected, he delivered himself after this fashion : " If you say you are heathens, I shall wil- lingly preach to you for nothing. I did so for ten years to the heathen of South Africa, and I shall do the same for you. But if you claim to be Christians, I won't ! " In spite of all this, Mr. Inglis never once abated his energy and efforts. In rain and sunshine, in summer and winter, in cold and heat, he was at his post, after the example of the Apostle Paul, who, in writing to the 08 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglia. Corinthians, says : '* I will very gladly spend and be spent for you : though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." This, his first charge in Canada after returning from Africa, was altogether a most un- genial soil, with little sympathy and little or no out- side help. The record of that ministry is with God. Perhaps the less said about it the better. Of one thing we are assured, — it was not in vain that he laboured there, amid manifold discouragements and trials that would have crushed a less courageous soul. " They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." After some years spent in Kiversdale he was called to the charge of the United Presbyterian Congregation in Kincardine, and on his acceptance, he removed with his family to what is now the flourishing town on the shores of Lake Huron. Here he was more comfort- able, although the record of these years of pinching and anxious economy is humiliating enough. The fragmentary correspondence of this period that has been preserved contains no word of complaint, but the grimness and hardships of his lot can easily be read between the lines. One or two extracts from Kincardine letters are all that can be given. On the 30th of April, 1862, he writes to his sister and brother-in-law in Scotland, as follows : We received your welcome letter in due time. Glad to hear that venerable mother was so well. The end cannot be far off now. My yearning heart turns to the de^r o}d woman. She ha^ been my earthly Return from Africa., 99 pole-star. But for her, God only knows what the up- shot of life would have been with me in youth. If she still can hear and understand, give her my abiding love. If I had the money I should come home this summer- to see her, but that cannot be. Of his two preaching stations, Kincardine and Pine Eiver, he says : Plenty of work for me at both, if they could keep me living. I am glad I am done with the schools. I walked last year between six and seven hundred miles to visit thirty-six schools in four townships. This and ft good deal of mental annoyance, and taking my mind more than half away from the work of the ministry, for the paltry sum of £45 ! Some months later, writing to his brother at Brothershiels, he says : Well, dear old mother si-ill holds on. We have been preparing our minds to hear by any post that she rests. Verily her soul is tried to the uttermost in her frail tabernacle. Again, kind love to the dear old woman. In 1863 Mr. Inglis was called upon to mourn the removal of that ** dear old mother," who had con- tributed in so many ways, and to such a large extent, to form his character and to determine in its essential features the whole course of his life and work. To her he had ever turned for sympathy, encouragement, and advice. Towards her, in all her lowly simplicity, he had ever been as a little child. To its full extent he had learned to say and to feel the beauty of the sentiment : "As one whom his mother comforteth." She held him with her hand and with her eye. Poor old weary one, she could do little for him in hi3 varied and ofteii 100 Memoh's of Rev. Walter Inglis, troublesome and depressing work, whether in Africa or Canada, but she could after all do much, when from her lone house among the hills she sent him words of lofty cheer and tender sympathy, told him to be strong in the Lord his God, and as often aforetime breathed over him the prayer : ** The Lord bless you, my son ; the Lord cause his face to shine upon you, and com- fort you in all your adversities, and enable you to do great things for the glory of your Most High God and for the good of His people." She had during life her own cares and sorrows, and these were neither few nor light. Paralysis had laid its hand upon her as far back as 1849, and the tottering step, the powerless hand and the faltering tongue, henceforward told of its presence and power. But her faith continued strong, and the God whom she had known and loved and served from early maidenhood was with her in her hours of age and weakness, as a very present help and comforter. In 1851 she had to mourn the sudden removal of her oldest son, who had taken the father's place, and had well fulfilled the blessed task he had assigned himself, though it may be he had never repeated — perhaps he had never known — the poet's words : Me let the pleasing office long engage, To rock the cradle of declining age, Explore each want, explain the asking eye, And keep awhile one parent frcra the sky. It was pitiable enough to see the old tottering, tearless one, wandering through her lonely home, wringing her poor old hands, and crying sadly and brokenly: "Oh, Absalom! my son! my son! would Return from Africa. 101 God I had died for thee, my son ! " The pliysical side of her nature was still more sadly shattered hy the death of this son. When her sister came to comfort her, and remarked on seeing her utter desolation, " Oh Nanny, Nanny, I never sa^'^ you this way in all your other troubles," she replied : " May be no, but you never saw my body as weak as it is now." But other com- forters and protectors were raised up, and another son, her youngest, with her youngest daughter and her daughter-in law, nursed her and cared for her till she passed away, and her worn-out body Fan' a rest — The lownest and the best, I' the auld kirkyaird, Whan a' was dune. She had a strong desire to be laid beside her hus- band, and so it was ordered ; for when her son Wil- liam used to talk of going to Canada, long before he came, and of taking her with him, she would give a quiet smile and say: *'I wadna' mind, but there's a wee bit grund beside your father, in Heriot Kirkyaird, that I couldna' leave vacant." For many years she had not been able to correspond directly with her Canadian children, but messages of love and hoi)e passed and re-passed between them, and her now old missionary boy continued to send greetings ** to his dear and ever honoured mother," as in his days of early struggle, of student toil, and of African hardness and harassment. One strong tie to earth was broken when that tremulous old life went out ; but the other side became all the more attractive, and the wondrous meeting time was the more thought of, and the more 102 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. eagerly anticipated. The past came often back with exceeding vividness and power. The old days, the old farm, the old home, and the old mother, had always had special attractions for him, but as the years passed on, after his mother's death, these attractions seemed always to gather increasing force. She, being dead, yet spoke to his heart, and continued to be a presence and a blessing to him all his days. In 1864 he speaks still of mercy. No murmurs are heard, though the hard scratching to make ends meet is evident. His income from all sources at this time he chronicles at $380. Yet he says : " We manage to live. The fact is, we are all very simple in our diet. Keeping no servant, we just dress when a dollar can be got for it." We are indebted to the Rev. Robert Hamilton, of Motherwell, for the following interesting details of this period of his life. Mr. Hamilton says : It was in February, 1858, when fulfilling an appointment at Kincardine, I was induced to make a visit to Mr. Inglis. When I reached Riversdale about sunset, I saw a man in front of a shanty vigorously splitting firewood. Approaching him, I introduced myself as one bearing a message from an acquaint- ance of his. He gave me a cordial welcome to his modest log shanty, consisting of three compartments, separated by rough boards. He said : '* This is the minister's manse, and you are very welcome to its shelter and hospitality for the night." At once I felt at home in the midst of his family. The hours before retiring to rest were occupied by relating some of his experiences during his past eventful life in Africa, by which indication was given that his heart was still in that land from which he had been driven by the Return from Africa. 103 tyranny of those in power. The hardships which he had undergone since coming to Canada had not done much to efface his love for the Kaffir race, nor to raise his estimate of the white niggards of this land of individualism, where, as' he said, "every man was as good as his neighbour, and a great deal better, faith." Some who professed to belong to his congre- gation had erected his shanty, and charged him nearly three times more than the salary they had given him for a year. Even the candles used in its erection were included in the account. The next morning he said : ** We have preparatory services to-day in a schoolhouse away in the woods ; you will go with me and preach." When we reached the place, where a few people were assembled, he opened the services by introducing the preacher in a very cordial and characteristic manner, and at the close expressed his thanks for the new light which had been shed on Psalm cxxxiii. When about to return to Kincardine, he requested me to preach in a tavern by the way. When I reached the place I found that notice had been sent before me and arrangements made. The owner of the tavern gave me a cordial welcome for the sake of Mr. Inglis, who had frequently preached there. The bar- counter formed the pulpit-desk, and the bar and other rooms were occupied by the audience. W^e understand that audience formed the nucleus of the Bervie congre- gation, who soon found for themselves a better place of worship. In about two months later, while on my way to fulfil appointments, I found Mr. Inglis in a house where he had met with the people in order to organize a congregation, which since has been called North Brant. He again pressed me into service, and at the close organized the congregation without any weari- some attention to technical forms. Some years after, when his pastorate was in 104 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglia. Kincardine, I had the privilege, along with the Kev. John McTavish, of assisting at the communion service, and enjoying his company and racy conversation regarding theological questions, on which he had thought for himself. He refused to be confined by the conven- tional lines within which many theological students are kept. His thoughts on theological subjects were fresh and sometimes so erratic that he often walked by the border-lines of truth and error ; but his love to Christ and reverence for the Word of God kept him from stepping over to the side of the speculative sceptic. Some time after he assisted me at commmion services, when I enjoyed his elliptical style of pre- senting truth both in public preaching and in private conversation. It could not be said of him, as of another preacher, that '' his sermons lacked rough edges." The sermons of Mr. Inglis had many hooks which laid hold of the memories of his hearers. Having recently come into the possession of the sermons of Dr. Addison Alexander, I called his atten- tion to them, and read an extract. He was so taken with the extract that he requested me to read the whole sermon, then another and another. While I read he frequently gave expression to his wonder at the simplicity with which this man of learning presented the truth. On one occasion, being absent in search of health, Mr. Inglis kindly volunteered to supply service for a day. But between the giving of the promise and the arrival of that day, death had suddenly called away his only son. Though it was the first Sabbath after the funeral, he did not make his own trial an excuse for not fulfilling his promise, but came as from the edge of the grave ; and, feeling keenly the pressure of sorrow, he came and so preached that many of our people will carry the impression of his words so long as memory holds its throne. The Re\. Dr. Waters, of Newark, N. J., who was pastor in Southampton during Mr. Inglis' residence Return from Africa. 105 in Kincardine, has also supplied us with reminiscences of that period. He says : In attempting to give you my recollections of our friend, the Eev. Walter Inglis, I can ouly give the impressions I formed and the recollections I retain in my memory of a man whom I learned to love and admire. The memoranda of my early ministerial life disappeared, where so much else did, in the smoke and flame of the great lire at St. John, N. B. ; so that in writing of the period of my acquaintance with Mr. Inglis I must trust entirely to memory. I became acqu;iinted with him some time in the summer of 1861, shortly after mj^ settlement as pastor of the united congregation of Southampton and Dunblane. At that time he was pastor of what, previous to the union with the Free Church, had been the United Presbyterian Church of Kincardine. Having been educated in the United Presbyterian Church myself, I was,, perhaps, drawn more closely to him on that account. At that time the lines of division between the two sections of the United Church in the Counties of Grey and Bruce were not entirely obliterated, and some of the brethren, seem- ingly, had not full confidence in the power of that newly-effected union which was destined to work so mightily for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. Consequently the few representatives of the old U. P. Church in that region were drawn very closely together in church work. Mr. Inglis occasionally assisted me in my com- munion services, greatly to the delight and edification of my people. To hear him was a rich intellectual treat — evangelical. Scriptural, feivid, thoroughly un- conventional, often rising into sublime bursts of genuine eloquence, now melting into tears by the tenderness of his pathos, sometimes provoking a smile by the quaint- ness, originality, and humour of some of his illustra- tions, his hearers were hurried along until he reached 106 Memoirs oj Rev. Walter Inglis. the close, when tears were quietly wiped from some eyes little used to the melting mood. I think I can see and hear one of my elders, a godly man and gen- uine Scotchman, at the close of one of these services taking out his silver-mounted mull, giving the cover a gentle tap, and then, after having refreshed himself with a goodly pinch of its contents, exclaiming: ** Oh, man ! but that was jest graun." So it was. It was just grand, as my good old friend said, and he was a good judge of what constituted a good sermon. Whenever Mr. Inglis appeared on the platform he was welcomed with delight. His sharp, pointed, origi- nal,' incisive style cut right into the heart of the follies which hf^ delighted to expose and scarify. While he wielded the moral scalpel with a firm hand, he delighted to light up and enliven his platform talks with such flashes of wit and humour as often sent his audience off into convulsions of laughter. But it was all pure, sweet, refreshing, and healthful. No man or woman, boy or girl ever rose from listening to Walter Inglis with a bitter taste in the mouth. I frequently met him on the old County Board of Education for the County of Bruce. Together with our ministerial duties we also discharged the duties of local superintendent. The duties pertaining to that office he discharged with eminent fidelity and success. At the meetings of the Board we enjoyed ourselves after our own fashion. Some of the good men who were members were — well, not to put too fine a point on it, not profoundly versed in the higher mathe- matics, nor, for the matter of that, in the niceties of English Grammar, even as taught by Lennie. Per- haps some of the younger members did get a little quiet enjoyment in seeing some of the good men labouring over an examination paper, which was to them an unknown quantity. The most interesting part of that work to Mr. Inglis, apart from the mere routine of preparing and examining examinatioi; Return from Africa. 107 papers, consisted in the interest which he took in the young men and women who came up for examination. His sympathy went out to all genuine natures. I well remember one day a young man handed in his testimonial as to character, and took his seat with the other candidates who were applying for teachers' cer- tificates. Some of them had already been teaching, and, on account of their experience, held themselves a little higher than those who were making their first attempt at gaining a position in a profession which has so often proved to be a stepping-stone to some- thing else. This young man — he was young, about seventeen or eighteen — took his place without any of the small airs of superiority to which we had become accustomed, or any pretence of any kind. When he received his papers he set to work as if he had taken a contract to clear a ten-acre field, and intended to do it thoroughly. Some of the men, who had already been in the work, glanced at him with an expression on their faces which said plainly enough, "You will not do much, anyway." Mr. Inglis saw him, and, knowing something of his history, came to my desk, and said : "Do you see that young fellow over there with the fair hair and ruddy complexion. I think there is something in him. Will you try and see that he gets fair play?" I had already come to the conclusion "that there was something in him," for, when his paper on Geometry was handed in, I found that he had swept it clean. Very much to the sur- prise of all the others he came out at the head of the list of the first-class men. Mr. Inglis was as proud of the feat of that young man from the country as if he had been his own son. That young man is now one of the best known press men in Canada, and that was his first step in his march to the University and the position which he now holds. In private life Mr. I. was one of the most genial men. Our children were delighted when he visited South- 108 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. ampton. He had a never-failing fund of story and anecdote, with which he chained their attention ; and told them tales of the far-distant African land, in which he had toiled — of ihe lion and his roar, which he could imitate to perfection, of the giraffe and the elephant, of the black fellows and their ways. The arrival of "Walter Inglis was to them a most delightful holiday r In nothing was he greater than in his sym- pathy with the young. When in their company, he was as young as they were, as full of life and the fresh- ness of youth as only a pure, healthful nature can be. During the time of his residence in the County of Bruce, his life was one of labour and self-denial. The country was new, the people were struggling to better themselves, and, perhaps, did not appreciate as they ought the great ability of the manly, godly man, who was serving them for the Master's sake. As I review the early years of my ministry, I well remember that I looked upon Walter Inglis as one of the best and most original men I knew. A wider knowledge and increased experience have only served to confirm the opinion which I then formed. He was thoroughly original, cast in the mould of no other, imitating no man, and calling no man master, save the Master whom he delighted to serve. If there was one thing more than another which helped him to bear the hardships incident to the life of a minister in a new and comparatively poor country, next to the strength which God gave, it was his happy home surroundings. That home was the model of a Christian minister's household. Piety without gloom, happiness without folly — lives consecrated to the Master's service, and, therefore, willing to bear much, that the kingdom of heaven might be advanced upon earth. In trying to recall the past, I think I see before me the strong, stalwart, tender-hearted man — the man who hated shams, but who was as tender as a woman ReUbrn from, Africa. 109 to the weak and helpless. I sometimes think that, had it not been for the humble opinion which he held concerning himself, he might have filled a larger place in the world's eye, and have ploughed a deeper furrow in its life. He has done his work nobly and well. Henceforth he knows the full meaning of the blessed promise : " Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Incidents of great general interest and importance are not to be expected in such a secluded life. He commenced and carried on the station at Pine Eiver, and ministered there every Sabbath, till the growing infirmities of years made it impossible for him to give to both churches the care and efficiency which he thought indispensable. This led eventually to a deepening conviction that he should demit the entire charge. His extreme conscientiousness and high sense of honour would not allow him to take any means to secure a call to an easier place while still a settled pastor. Having resigned, he put his name on the preachers' list, and went wherever he was sent, trust- ing entirely to the leadings of Providence as to any other settlement. This was, as the reader can well understand, a time of great anxiety to Mr. Inglis. He was no longer a young man, and the toils and hard- ships of his Canadian work had told severely upon his iron frame. The cry in most congregations then, as now, was for young men, and he consequently felt that it was exceedingly problematical if he would ever receive a call. He bated, however, not one jot of heart or hope. He believed that the God whom he had so long and so faithfully served, and who had guided him in many trying scenes, and through many and grievous 110 Memoir 8 of Rev. Walter' Inglis. perplexities, would still be the breaker up of his way, and the guardian of his steps. He went forth accord- ingly, like Abraham, not knowing whither he went, but assured that his path would be ordered aright. He waited patiently, nor was he put to shame, and was finally inducted into the congregation of Stanley Street Church, Ayr, among whose people he spent the closing years of a laborious and somewhat chequered ministerial life. CHAPTLU IX. THE VILLAGE OF AYR. Its People and Surroundings — Growth — Railway Communication- History of Stanley Street Church, and its Successive Pastors- Present Condition. IT was a wise and kind Providence that led Mr. Inglis to spend his last days in Ayr. The village itself : the quietness of its surroundings : its somewhat rugged, romantic, and picturesque situation on the banks of the River Nith and Cedar Creek : the thoroughly unconventional and kindly nature of its society : and the intensely Scottish character of its people, not only by birth, but in dialect and customs, were all most congenial to such a man. To him it was the sweetest spot in all that beautiful region of country. The site of Ayr was selected some fifty-nine years ago by Mr. Levi Mudge, not so much for its beauty, perhaps, as for its valuable water privileges, which he used to run his small one-run-of- stone grist mill. Deprived of the immediate advantages of railway communication till within the last few years, the growth of the village was necessarily slow, Paris being the nearest railway station. Yet the demand for its manufactured goods was so extensive that, between the teaming of raw and manufactured materials, the road between Ayr and Paris was, at all seasons of the year, a busy thorough- fare. The hamlet has now become an important village of twelve hundred inhabitants. It was incorporated in 1883, and elected its first municipal council in 1884. A branch of the Canadian Pacific Railway now affords 112 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. close connections with all the other loading lines. Thus enjoying all the modern advantages of water, steam, and electricity, which its enterprising inhabi- tants are not slow to take advantage of, it gives promise of taking a leading position as one of the great centres of business enterprise and mechanical industry in Western Ontario. True to the ancestral record of the inhabitants, they support two large and prosperous Presbyterian Churches. I am indebted to the present pastor of Stanley Street Church, Ayr, the Rev. J. S. Hardie, for the following sketch of the origin and progress of the congregation, to which Mr. Inglis ministered during his closing years, which will undoubtedly be interesting to many readers of this volume : At a meeting of the Presbyterians of West Dumfries, held in the house of Mrs. Anderson, on the 27th of July, 1834, and presided over by the late Rev. George Murray, representing the United Secession Church of Scotland, the following resolutions were unanimously carried ; First. Resolved — That this meeting consider that the gospel is much wanted in this part of the country. Second. Resolved — That it is desirable to have the ordinances of the gospel regularly dispensed. Third. Resolved — That this meeting approve of the plan of the mission of the United Secession Church of Scotland into this part of Canada, and agree to send a letter of invitation to one of their missionaries to labour amongst them, and organize a congregation. At this meeting twenty-three persons submitted t^<»ir names for church membership. At two subse- The Village of Ayr. US quent meetings, held respectively on the Brd and 31 st of August of the same year, thirty-two additional names were offered for membership. In all, fifty ♦^'^ ^ames were submitted, twenty- six of whom were .j. ^ed the honour of being named among the founders of the congregation, because they were not "certified and attested "'to the satisfaction of the missionary. How- ever, all of them were received into full membership of the newly organized congregation at later meetings of the session. The Presbyterians of West Dumfries were formed into a regular congregation on the 19th of October, 1834. " The following persons, viz., Alex. Rodgers, Mrs. Rodgers, Robt. Crooks, Wm. Currie, Mrs. Currie, John Currie, John Reid, John Anderson, Robt. Haddow, Wm. McRae, Mrs. McRae, Wm. Manson, Thos. Ander- son, Peter Anderson, Mrs. Anderson, John Turnbull, John Brodie, Mrs. Brodie, John Black, Mary Manson, Hannah Anderson, Mrs. Black, John Hall, Mrs. Hall, Alex. Lawrie, David Guthrie, Mrs. Guthrie, Wm. Har- die, and Mrs. Lawrie, having given a public declara- tion of their belief in the doctrines of the Church, and having promised due submission to the session after- wards to be chosen and to the Presbytery, were declared to be a congregation in full communion with the United Secession Church of Scotland, and entitled to exercise all the prerogatives that belong to a Christian society in connection with them, either in their individual capacity as members or in their collective capacity as a congregation." At this meeting of the congregation the Rev. G. Murray received a letter of invitation to be their min- 114 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis, ister, which he accepted after a mutual understanding that he would still retain his position as the agent of the Synod of the United Secession Church of Scotland, but would, in terms of acceptance, feel bound to attend to the general interests of their mission. The choice of a session was the next important step for the newly-formed congregation, to which posi- tion they elected seven of their number, three of whom declined, viz., John Hall, Wm. Manson, and George Oliver. The remaining four, viz., John Ileid, Alex. Rodgers, Wm. Currie and John Black, were on the 1st March, 1835, solemnly set apart by prayer, and the imposition of hands, to the office of the eldership, whom, with the Rev. G. Murray as moderator, and John Black as clerk, constituted the first session of one of the first organized Secession congregations in Ontario. During the winter of 1834-85 occasional service was held in Wm. Currie's log barn. The spring of 1835 saw a comfortable and commodious log chapel built, where a Sabbath school was opened ; and the Sabbaths on which Mr. Murray could not give them supply, the Elders, in the order of seniority, conducted public worship, by prayer, reading the Scriptures, and a sermon from some approved author. The Sacra- ment of the Lord's Supper was dispensed in the chapel for the fir^t time on the first Sabbath of July, 1835, when thirty-seven names were added to the communion roll, making a total membership of ninety-two at the first communion. Most of these have passed away, and a few remain to whom the memory is yet precious of this, their first communion season in Canada. Tfie Village of Ayr. ' 116 The Presbyterian cause could not fail but flourish abundantly, planted as it was in the midst of true and loyal sons of Knox ; while no small measure of its success is due to the faithful and ardent labour of Mr. Murray, who had raised the congregation to such a position during his five and a half years' pastorate, that regular Sabbath services became a necessity. This necessity led to the severing of the bond which bound the pioneer missionary and his first Hock together. On the 12th February, 1840, because of "the state of his health and other circumstances," Mr. Murray placed his resignation in the hands of the Presbytery, which was accepted, and the Eev. Mr. Roy of St. George appointed moderator of session during the vacancy. After a vacancy of about two years, an unanimous call was extended to the Rev. Robert Thornton, which he declined. A few months later a harmonious call was placed in the hands of the Rev. Alexander Ritchie, which he accepted, and on the 4th of May, 1842, was inducted as the first regular minister of the congrega- tion, with a membership of 165 souls. Under the regu- lar pastoral care of Mr. Ritchie, within eighteen months the communion roll numbered 214, with a proportion- ate increase of adherents on the means of grace. This prosperous state of affairs necessitated the erection of a larger building, the outcome of which was the present structure (minus the paint and polish) which was opened in the fall of 1843, retaining the name of **The West Dumfries Congregation." On the 6th of February, 1846, a petition to the Presbytery, signed by twenty members of the congre- gation residing in Blandford District, was laid on the 116 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. table, praying for disjunction from the congregation, and wishing to be formed into a separate congregation. The session unanimously agreed to transmit it to the Presbytery, with their hearty approval of the prayer of the petitioners. This is now the strong and vigor- ous church of Chesterfield, for the past twenty-six years under the pastoral care of the Rev. William Robertson. During Mr. Ritchie's eighteen years' ministry in Ayr many were the changes effected. That he per- formed what he believed to be his duty there is but one opinion. He truly sought the highest present and eternal good of the souls committed to his care. Num- bered with the dead for a quarter of a century, his memory is yet fresh and the fruits of his labours abundant. His successor, the Rev. George Irving, was inducted into the pastoral charge on July 17, 1861. At this time the name of the congregation was changed from that of West Dumfries to Stanley Street Church, the name which it retains at the present time. The ministry of Mr. Irving, though short, was marked by much enthusiasm and zeal, characterized by special devotion to the young people. His useful- ness was soon checked and suddenly ended by a disease which baffled all medical skill, and through which, on the 21st January, 1865, he was numbered among the dead — " Gone, but not forgotten." On the right, as you enter the church, the remains of this beloved pastor rest, like a true soldier of Christ, fallen on the field in which he fought. Following Mr. Irving, the Rev. Stephen Balmer was inducted as minister of Stanley Street Church on The Village of Ayr. 117 the 19th of March, 1867; but, after a brief pastorate of some fifteen months, resigned his charge into the hands of the Presbytery of Paris. The subject of this Memoir, the late Rev. Walter Inglis, was then called to Stanley Street Church on September 20, 18()9, and became its pastor on the 8th of December of the same year. After his lamented death there was a vacancy of eight months, when a unanimous call was extended to the present pastor, the Rev. J. S. Hardie, then a graduate of Knox Col- lege, which he accepted, and, on the 2nd day of June, 1885, was ordained and inducted into his first minis- terial charge. The session number nine members, each elder having charge of a congregational district. On the communion roll there are 315 souls, with an attendance on the regular Sabbath service of about 500. A Sabbath school staff of 22 teachers, with a school of about 220 scholars, and a library of about 600 volumes, a Young Men's Association, a Literary Society, a Band of Hope, and a Congregational Tem- perance Society all give evidence ot the spiritual life of the congregation. CHAPTER X. ESTIMATE OP MR. INGLIS HIS CHARACTER AND WORK. A Many-sided Man — Dislike of Routine Business in Church Courts — "Moderatorship of Synod — Pulpit Ministrations— Private Life— In Homes of Sickness— Dislike of Personal Dealings with Anxious Souls — Independence of Spirit — Undue Sensitiveness — Influence upon the Congregations in Ayr— Notes by Rev. J. A. R. Dickson — Visit of Principal Cairns to Ayr in 1880. MR. INGLIS was, indeed, a many-sided man. Those who saw him only in public, or heard nim oeca- sionally in the pulpit, had but a poor conception of his real character. As might be expected, from his earlier ministerial life in Africa, he had little or no taste or aptitude for the mere routine business of church courts ; and, unless in the more important and practical questions of personal religion, where he was always at home, or in grave cases of discipline, his voice was seldom heard. It is very questionable if he ever made a motion in Presbytery, Synod, or General Assembly. When he did make a speech, and was asked or expected to conclude with a formal deliv- erance, he invariably said : " Some of you church lawyers put that into shape ; I don't know how." He positively refused the Moderatorship of the Presbytery, and when, in 1882, he was unanimously elected Mod- erator of the Synod of Hamilton and London, it was with the greatest difficulty he could be induced to accept the honour. Urgent calls from all parts of tlje house and repeated persuasions on the part of brethren seemed of no avail. " I must decline the honour," he G Estimate of his Character and Work, 119 said, *' as I do not feel quite at home in facing a body of men met for the transaction of church business." One of his brethren then said : " The man who faced the lions in Africa is surely able to face a Canadian Synod." To this he humorously replied : ** Yes ; but it is one thing to face the lions, but quite another thing to face a gathering of church lawyers." Finally, he was literally dragged from his seat in the body of the church and placed in the Moderator's chair. Once fairly installed into office he performed its duties with dignity, and showed a knowledge of practical church work that astonished his brethren. He had, however, little patience with forms of procedure, even in grave cases, where it was absolutely necessary that caution should be exercised. Quarrelsome and unruly mem- bers and office-bearers he never treated with much leniency, if thoroughly convinced in his own mind of their guilt. It seemed to him waste of time and utter folly, to go through a process of law in order to prove the guilt of a man, which was conspicuous in his very appearances before the court, no matter how difficult it might be to prove it. He had seen much of men, and had a remarkable insight into human nature. He came to conclusions quickly, and for the most part these were correct. The thorough honesty of his nature and his supreme contempt for hypocrisy and sham were often illustrated in his sermons, when he dilated upon "the compound Phariseeism of the man who gloried in his humility," but was in heart as proud and ambitious as Lucifer. His discourses, which he seldom w^ote in full and of which there are but few remains, were often as irregular in their movement as 120 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. one of his native streams, but they were the expression of his own life, and rich with quickening power. Little regard was paid to the rules of rhetoric, but almost every one contained pearls of thought that ordinary preachers would have expanded into a score of dis- courses. Naturally possessed of a vigorous intellect, he kept himself abreast of the times both in Church and State, and fearlessly applied the rebukes of Scrip- ture to prevailing sins. In his preaching he rarely spoke of himself or his own deep, spiritual experience. In chastened tones he contrasted the weakness and folly of the grandest earthly saint with the majesty, wisdom, and holiness of the Infinite One. His theology was that of the Shorter Catechism. The saving grace of repentance was conspicuous in his doctrinal teach- ing. He was a profound believer in the sovereignty of God, which, though working on a vast, eternal plan, yet firmly adjusts itself to the sorrows, aspirations, and wrestlings of human souls. *' God's good hand upon me " were words not unfrequently upon his lips. Thus his heart '- .ponded to the truth contained in the counsel which the Bedouin Arabs chant as they roam through the desert : Trust in that veiled hand which leads None by the way that he would go, And always be for change prepared, For the world's law is ebb and flow. He was a noble specimen of the quaint, rugged, and apparently austere, but withal tender, sterling, godly, Scottish pastor of bygone years ; stern and strong as a mountain peak amid the storm, but, at the same time, palm .an(} gentle as a summer shower. Estimate of his Character and Work. 121 In private Mr. Inglis was singularly beloved by his people and by all who had ever come into contact with his goodness of heart. His frequent sallies of wit, and the great geniality and good humour that invaria- • bly accompanied his Scotch stories — of which the store seemed inexhaustible — made his company exceedingly entertaining, while, at the same time, his acknowledged intellectual superiority precluded all undue familiarity. In the homes of sickness and sorrow he was equally welcome. He loved such ministrations, and did not confine them to his own congregation. Frequently he would drive eight or nine miles to seek out some suffer- ing one. Who indeed that has ever heard him praying by the bedside of the dying, or comforting the widow and orphan, can ever forget the touching pathos of his voice, and the tender words, often couched in broken accents, that fell from his lips when the strong man wept like a little child ? Possessed of such tenderness of spirit, it will per- haps seem strange to many readers of this Memoir that Mr. Inglis shrank from personal deaflngs with persons under conviction. Mr. Hamilton refers to this in the communication already quoted. He says : "A few years ago we complied with his request to preach to his people in Ayr, on a Monday after the observance of the Lord's Supper. In the course of conversation he expressed anxiety about the spiritual condition of his people, and thought it might be well to have a series of meetings when the Word would be frequently brought before their mind. He consulted with the members of session, and Mr. Thomson, his brother, and it was agreed that meetings should be held 122 Memoirs of Rev. Walter tnglis. for five nights in succession, conducted by him, Messrs. Thomson, McLean and myself. These meetings were well attended, and evidently the truth was much blessed to many who waited at the close of the meeting. This following the public preaching of the Word by private conversation was new to him. He said : * These after- meetings are a new thing to me, and I do not feel capable of meeting anxious souls so as to go down to the pews, and question them about their spiritual state.' When told that there was a young man in one of these pews in a state of deep concern, he replied : * Go you and talk with him ; I am such a coward. I feel I can- not do it.' When I expressed surprise at this he said: * I can talk freely with the young men from the pulpit, but to talk with them so directly about their souls in that personal way is a part of the gospel minister's work I have not practised, and I feel it takes more courage than I have.' I was persuaded that it was not lack of courage to meet with and direct an anxious soul which made him so shrink, but because he was noii fully* convinced that this was the better way. Men who are strong in the pulpit sometimes feel them- selves weak as other men whe^ brought face to face with a soul asking ' What must I do to be saved ? ' On this subject we frequently had conversation, but in the modesty of his spirit he confessed that in directly dealing with anxious souls he thought him- self incapable." His sturdy independence of mind and action was conspicuous. No man was ever at less pains to make himself popular than was W<er Inglis. He never concealed his opinions upon any topic — politics, Estimate of his Character and ^^orh. 123 religion, temperance, or aught else — but spoke out with the utmost frankness and bluntness. As he stood up in pulpit or platform, one was reminded of Elijah of old, standing erect and unabashed before Ahab, and terrifying the guilty king, when in the majesty of truth he announces his commission : '* As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand." Whether it was from a mistaken feeling that this honesty and outspoken plainness of speech were not acceptable to his people, or more likely because of the mischievous gossip of certain bus3^bodies, there was a period during his ministry in Ayr when he became impressed with the feeling that his usefulness was beginning to wane, and that a few of his people desired a change. Sensitive beyond most ministers, he made known this feeling to one of his co-Presbyters, intimating at the same time his determination to resign forthwith. He could not brook the idea of hanging on to a congregation that did not love him, or even where there were a few who did not love him, merely for the loaves and fishes. That he was altogether over-sensitive and entirely mistaken in his estimate of the feelings of his people was abundantly proved. Very unwisely perhaps, but from the best of motives, the office-bearers of the church canvassed the entire congregation, and took what might be called a " plebiscite " of the membership, when it was found that, with hardly an (Exception, they clung to their old pastor with an ardour and tenacity of affection that was most remarkable. At the time of Mr. Inglis' settlement in Ayr, and for a long time previous, there was comparatively 124 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglia. • little fellowship between the two Presbyterian congre- gations. For reasons that need not now be stated, and because of certain events that are now almost forgotten, there was little of that spirit of brotherly kindness which belongs to the household of faith. This condition of things was, however, very soon changed after his induction as pastor of Stanley Street Church, and was largely due to the influence which he exerted in harmonizing diverse and antagonistic elements, and reconciling brethren who had been estranged. This he did without any compromise of principle on their part or on his. This influence grew steadily from year to year, and became a powerful factor for good in the community at large. Church- men, Methodists, Presbyterians, and even infidels respected, admired, and loved him. He softened the bitter asperity that is often found among freethinkers and sceptics towards Churches, by meeting them cordially and frankly as fellow-citizens, visiting them at their homes, and sympathizing with them in their misfortunes. Unless drawn by them into the dis- cussion of disputed points, he studiously on such occasions avoided everything that would in the least irritate or annoy them, believing, as he often was heard to say, that '' the best thing to do for them was to show kindness." Doubtless it is due to this spint of conciliation that many of their children to-day are found in the Sabbath schools and Churches in Ayr. The Kev. J. A. E. Dickson, B.D., of Gait, between whom and Mr. Inglis there existed a strong friendship, has furnished the following* 'Reminiscences, "which em- brace many salient points in his character. He says : Estimate of his Character and Work. 125 My first acquaintance with the Rev. Walter Inglis was at my induction to the pnstoral charge of Union Church, Gait, October 14, 1^ , J. Then he came and gave me a warm welcome, with such a shake of the hand as few know how to give, and asked what part of the Old Land I hailed from, and altogether expressed such fatherly interest in me that my heart was knit to him at once. I felt that in him I had a true man, one who had a large sympathetic, sterling nature. I felt at once the noble manliness and the true Christ- likeness of the man. He had the solidity and the ring of the true metal. He, like Thomas Carlyle, hated with his heart all pretence, all insincerity, all sham, and he loved with all the sympathetic affection of a woman all uprightness, truth, and simplicity. This feature of his character was very pronounced. During the period of about five years I was privileged to know him and enjoy his fellowship, I saw many refreshing manifestations of it. It was revealed in all circumstances, either by the silent, contemptuous turning away of his head, or by the ejaculation of an emphatic disgust in the word " aye," accompanied by a suggestive toss of the head ' o the side, or by his turning on his heel without a word and walking away, erect as a Canadian pine. During this time he often came to Gait to visit me, and no one more welcome ever came across the threshold of the manse. His tall, massive figure, his head square and well-set on his shoulders, crowned with a rich mass of gray hair, his face lighted, illumined I may say, by two clear, large blue eyes, which spoke, and made the bold nose, and square chin, and set lips memorable, and his voice, breaking loud and musical on the ear with some hearty salutation, rendered his coming a wave of gladness. He came like a sunbeam with light and joy 'and warmth in spring, and when he went his loss was felt. His coming meant something, because he hin^self wa,a 126 Memoirs of Rev, Walter Inylis. something. He had read widely, and, what is more, he had thought deeply on most of the problems engaging attention, and had reached important con- clusions. His outlook on the world, with its men and things and various interests, was far-reacl;ing, and his sympathies were co-extensive with his outlook. And in uttering his thoughts he would express them with an incisive terseness that made them as goads. His speech was aphoristic. I remember one day, as we were speaking of differ- ences in style in address, he said : '* Aye, my style was spoilt by a passion I had when I was young for John Foster. His studied, thoughtful, compact style I imi- tated, and it has spoilt mine. I try always to put as much sense in a few words as I can, and it gets cramped, and does not flow." This was true. In con- versing with him you would find him making mighty leaps, clearing ditches, hedges, and dykes at a single bound. Hence it was hard to keep up with him, he would dash away ahead so suddenly, — but the dash was always worth something. It usually resulted in a grand genei'alization which would bear looking at and thinking over a long time. His honesty in conversa- tion or discussion v7as remarkable. So long as he un- derstood or saw the meaning clearly, he acknowledged it by an "aye, aye !" but when anything was dark or incomprehensible to him he would say : *' You're be- yond me there." He never pretended to understand, or approve, or enjoy what he did not. He was tho- roughly honest and true. Anything he read, or that was read to him, that did not* convey to him some intelligence or inspiration, was set down with a per- emptory ** It does not play buff upon me." He tho- roughly enjoyed anything that had the shining of a clear beam, and at the same time the kindly, firm pressure of a friendly hand. These were two essentials with him, of any matter written or spoken : "/t must glow, and it must grip ; otherwise it was wasted labour, Kdhimte of his Character and Work. 127 ineffectual utterance, or nerveless writing." He had a keen sense for the true, the harmonious, the con- sistent, the complete ; and his approval of anything that partook of these characters was instantaneous and entire. His criticism of men and denominations and affairs was full of nice discernment and of human kindness. It was sharp, but it was not shallow ; it was biting, but it was not bitter ; it was telling, but it was not trilling. It was the judgment of a large heart and a cultivated mind. Many of these wo remember, but it is too early yet to repeat them in a public way ; twenty- five years after this, when the seeds of his sowing hav" come to fruit, and his name is far more loved than it is even to-day, the scattered utterances will be gathered together and form as notable a collection of shrewd and brilliant sayings as we possess. He had an ardent love for little children. I have seen him with them on his knee, telling them stories of his life in Africa ; or moving about the room, stamping with his feet, and thrusting down his arms as though they had been legs, and making a hide- ous noise, umph ! umph ! umph ! imitating the wild beasts of the forest, till every one was as full of fright as though they were on the very spot. Once he was present at the annual soiree of the Sunday school when prizes for attendance, and learning Scripture and catechism, were to be distributed. 1 asked him, as a loved and respected father in Christ, to do 80. And his words were exceedingly happy — so wise, so winsome — that the ** little men" and the ''lit- tle women," as he called them, were greatly delighted, and evidently felt greatly honoured by his presence. He was invited by the County of Waterloo Teachers' Association on one occasion to give them a lecture on Africa. I was present in the audience, and it was a rare treat. The man, the scholar, the Christian, the politician, each and all in him came to the front as he 128 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inylis. described and descanted upon the people, their lan- guage, their heathenism, their needs as a part of the great human family. He loved the Beclmana people. In his lecture, after minutely describing the well- developed form of the young men, their toilet, and, above all, their truthfulness, he cried :. "Ah, T would rather, a thousand times, have one of these dirty, greasy, strapping fellows for my companion, than any of your poor, miserable, lazy wretches that lounge about the corners of the streets, or hang about tavern doors ; idle, silly sops, with nothing of a man about them, except the breeks." At this time we had much conversation on the edu- cation of children. He believed in an education that touched the whole man. He was pained with many evi- dences of onesidedness. He made much of that imperial faculty, imagination. Life was narrow and stinted where it lay undeveloped. It had no empyrean in it. As we were talking of this, he said, in his own peculiar way, as we walked to the central school : "Aye, there's nae fairness noo ! nae fairness noo ! the noses of the bairnies are held fast on the hard grindstone." This was uttered in the tone of true lamentation. It was like the musical lamentation of an old Scottish bard. Speaking of his lecturing. In the winter of 1882-83 my Bible class had a course of lectures, Mr. Inglis being one of the lecturers. His subject was : "Gentle- ness as an Element of the Scottish Character." I need not say that it was a charming utterance. It fairly touched and thrilled and car"'^*'^d away the audience.* In the prayer meeting he was at home. His own intercessions were reverent (wherever he might speak freely it was not as a supp^^ant), comprehensive, and earnest. He believed as he prayed. His addresses were in his own terse, aphoristic style. Once, speaking of conversion, he said: "Men say they are converted. * This lecture will be found in the Appendix. Eatimate of his Character and Work. 121) Yes, they must be to be saved. But a man may be con- verted ten times a day, he can only be regenerated once in a lifetime." He liked to see a Christian who had sap in him, like one of the trees of the Lord. He had little favour to show to the cold, lifeless man whose head contained volumes of precious truth, but whose heart, as he was wont to say, " was dry as a chip." "Aye, mon, it's sad, sad, that ! it's evangelical moderatisra," was his plain- tive note. Dr. Cairns, to whom we have already been indebted for details of Mr. Inglis' student days, has furnished us with an account of his visit to Ayr in 1880, when the two spent happy hours in recalling the memories of other days. He says : "On a visit to the American continent I had the great pleasure of spending a part of three days with Mr. Inglis, in his house in Ayr, on my way back from the Presbyterian Assembly in the United States. The interview was most gratifying to both, hardly, if at all, impaired by the anticipation that it would be the last. I found him very little changed — the hard and weather-beaten features lighted up with the same keen eye, and their half meditative, half humorous cast, gleaming all over with the same affection. He had even grown kindlier with years and change, and all his references to others had an under- tone of pathos and gentleness that was very affecting. I cannot reproduce his estimates of the state and pros- pects of reli^ ^n in Canada, in the United States, and in the Mothei Country, with which last he was still accurately acquainted. He had come to look upon all, more as a watcher than as an active participant in the strife ; but this seclusion had in it nothing of bitterness 130 Memoirs of Rev, "Walter Inglia. 01 even of coldness, and gave the impression rather of a grand tranquillity, which left God to execute his purposes in his own way. He had come to hope much more of the future of Canada, and to enter much more into the greatness of her possible development, and in other directions his views, though sober, were not in any sense depressed. He had still the keenest interest in the mission field and in his old region of South Africa, and here he thought, contrary to the popular view, that the Government had allowed too free a hand, both to Boers and natives, and that missions would have been more advanced had there been at head- quarters a uniform and strictly-enforced policy. *'He took me to the public school in Ayr, and explained the peculiarities of the Canadian system of education. The results, as exhibited in the different classes, were very interesting to me, and I have often recalled since the sweet voice of the children. At his request they sang a Canadian National Hymn, which was all the more touching as it contrasted with the patriotic melodies of the States, to which alone for some time I had been accustomed. He also took me round the saw-mills and other industries of the place, and gave the details of their history and progress, introducing me, at the same time, to the members of his congregation engaged in them and to other friends. From the school, which I had seen in the morning, I was taken later in the day to a very different scene, the funeral of a child in the public cemetery. Mr. Inglis conducted part of the service, })ut asked me to give a brief address at the grave. As amongst the crowd there would be some members of a freethinking fraternity Estimate of his Character and Work. 131 present, he requested me to dwell on the blessedness of the Christian, when overtaken by bereavement, as contrasted with the hopeless sadness of ths unbeliever. I hardly remember, in all my American experience, anything more affecting to my own mind than this open-air service, as we stood between the living and the dead. On the same day, Friday, 4th June, 1880, it fell to Mr. Inglis to preach in the little village of Glenmorris. It was the week-day sermon before the dispensation of the Lord's Supper. He drove me out with him, and then devolved the preaching on me. It was curious to see how exactly our Scotch usages, in regard to the Lord's Supper, had been transferred to the rural parts of the Canadian Dominion. There was a good and an interesting audience, and we were heartily welcomed by the Kev. Mr. Scrimgeour, the minister, now no more. I had a similar experience in preaching before the Communion in the congregation of my friend the Eev. George Chrystal, in Flamboro' West, where I saw in the churchyard the tomb of the Rev. Mr. Christie, one of the two first missionaries sent out by the United Secession Church to Canada in 1832. Civilization had greatly advanced in the interval, but on my way to Glenmorris and back to Ayr, I could still have experimental acquaintance with the corduroy roads, over which the earliest settlers had to ride * to kirk and market.' • * " Much of the conversation I had with Mr. Inglis cannot be reproduced, as it touched on matters which brought out his estimate of public characters, and also involved many personal allusions unsuitable for a Memoir. Many of his remarks, however, rose into a ,132 Memoirs of Rev, Walter Jnglis. region above everything national and individual — the eternal topics of Christian faith and hope. I well remember his quiet but decisive negative to recent utterances of advanced criticism and theology; his deepened rever-^nce, as the result of all his experience towards the Word of God, and his unmistaken convic- tion, that amidst all delays it was on the way to a great and perhaps not very distant victory. He believed in systematic theology, but saw larger spaces than some, where the ground was comparatively clear, and was less hopeful than some, that it ever would be filled in this world. He had sympathy with all sacred literature, but thought that too many books had been written and mostly too long; and that the world would be greatly the better for a spell of meditation and sturdy practice. Of his own hopes as a Christian he did not say much. He allowed his hope as well as his faith to appear in his works, but made it evident especially in his prayers. Amid all his wanderings he felt that he had been led in a right way, and still looked for goodness and mercy to follow him all the days of his life. *' On the Saturday forenoon, having exchanged parting greetings with his wife and daughter, who made his home after others had left it still so happy, I was accompanied by him to the railway station for Toronto, and there we bade each other a good-bye, which, as already stated, proved a last farewell." CHAPTEE XL RECOLLECTIONS OF MR. INGLIS BY THE REV. JOHN THOMSON. Friendship betwer. the two Ministers in Ayr— Mr. Inglis' Welcome of Mr. Thomaoi '^rrowing Intimacy— Church Fellowship— Impres- sions left by Thirteen Years of Intercourse— Mr. Inglis' Prayers- Experimental, Exegetical, and Biographical Discourses— Addresses at Funerals- Personal Sickness— Family Affliction— Sabbath Even- ing Talks- Last Words— A Son of Consolation -The Soul of Honour —A Man of Genius— Quaint Sayings and Criticisms— Efforts in behalf of the Temperance Cause— Foreboding? of Death. BY request the Eev. John Thomson, of Knox Church, Ayr, has furnished the following " Kecollections " of his revered father in the ministry, Mr. Inglis. It is only fair to say that his interesting reminiscences have been of necessity condensed, in order to bring this memorial volume within the reach of many who could not otherwise possess it, and that many things have been omitted which, in other circumstances, would have been retained. It was, indeed, a won- derful friendship— nay, love — that existed between him and Mr. Inglis. This, doubtless, led to the good feeling that sprung up between the two congregations in Ayr, for, as are the ministers, so are the people. No two men preaching in the same village, and to different congregations, ever more agreed and worked together for the religious welfare of their respective congregations in a united capacity. It seemed a repe- tition of Paul the aged and his son Timothy in the faith. Mr. Inglis regarded Mr. Thomson with a deep affection, and Mr. Thomson confided in Mr. Inglis implicitly. While, doubtless, differing in many minor 134 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglia. matters, it might be said of them, in the language of ** In Memoriam," that they were One in kind, and moulded like in Nature's mint. To say that there was no jealousy between them comes far short of the truth. They were one in heart, in aim, and in effort for the advancement of Christ's King- dom. May such kindly relationships long continue between the ministers of our Church, and wherever there are congregations so closely related and located to each other as in Ayr. ^ , My recollections of Mr. Inglis, says Mr. Thomson, embrace the last thirteen years of his life. While filling the pulpit of Knox Church, Toronto, in 1871, I was asked to preach as a candidate in Knox Church, Ayr. Arriving at Ayr on the Friday evening, I was invited to tea with him in the house he then occupied, before the present manse was built. Our introduc- tion was characteristic. Almost his first words were : '* How about that call that I hear you have got fi'om B ? " I do not remember my answer to his ques- tion, but his reply was : "0 yes ; jump at the first offer." This was ironically spoken, but the irony had its source in the depths of a largely sympathetic nature. He was putting himself in my place, for the advice he gave me ironically had been given himself in all seriousness some years before. On the following Sabbath evening I preached for him from the text : ** Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" After service we walked home together. I found that my sermon had brought us nearer each other than we were on the previous Friday evening. The irony had all vanished now, and, as an importu- nate father pleading with an inexperienced son, he urged me to weigh the matter well before I accepted a call to B , where I would have a second charge, kecollections by Rev. John Thomson. 135 jiad be settled in a very un-Presbyterian locality. On the Monday following he took me round the village, introducing me to members of both churches, and especially to the '' Glasgow folks." Many things hap- pened between our parting at that time and the fol- lowing October, when the call to Knox Church was put into my hands, at a meeting held in Zion Church Brantford. After greeting me cordially, and referring in kindly tei^ms to the possibility of my settlement in ^/^'mu ^^^^•* "^'^^ ^^^^^^ ^ ^^^® *oid my people: if Mr. Thomson comes to Ayr, he will cheer up my old heart with his music." The call was accepted. On the following evening I heard him for the first and last time give an extended lecture on Africa. His previous life there was, however, by no means a closed book to me. No one could converse with him at least twice a week, as I did, and hear him preach once every fortnight without becoming familiar with that most interesting portion of his history. Next day he drove me in his buggy to Ayr. The photograph of his low- seated conveyance and little sorrel pony (it died just a few weeks before himself) 18 one that will not soon fade from the minds of the people in Ayr. The journey to Ayr on that Thursday morning might be called an epitome of our thirteen years' progressive companionship. We had much serious talk and many a hearty laugh. Scotch char- acter. Church discipline, ministerial finance, and the (lesirableness of ministers keeping themselves free from the entanglements of local gossip were amonc. the topics discussed. ° : My ordination took place in November, 1871. At the examination his words were few but memorable and all intended to relieve the candidate as much as possible from the embarrassment of the situation A mther difficult question having been asked, regardin<^ assurance of salvation," Mr. Inglis put it in this concrete form : - Does the child live before it can say 136 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. I am?'' At the social meeting held in the evening, he made one of those speeches which no man but him- self could make. On the Sabbath evening following my settlement, I heard him preach for the first time. I was pleased and edified beyond expectation. I had expected to hear originality, but not so much of the kind of thought that leads a man to self-examination. His sermons were calculated to act as a corrective to superficial thinking, and hackneyed forms of expres- sion. One of the earliest of these corrective sermons was that in which he dealt with the connection between faith and love. The word "love" he thought a far better word to use than the word believe, in trying to reach the consciousness of a man, seeing that love implied faith. Faith and love, he said, were co-ordinate, like the back and palm of a man's hand, as he thrusts it into a sack of wheat to bring up a handful, both of them requiring a basis of knowledge to work upon. His gospel statements, though not covering as large a portion of the sermon as in the case of many preachers, were wonderfully exact and suggestive. God calls us to work for him, he would say; but that work we cannot perform if our sins are not forgiven. Therefore, the gospel provision is intended to set us free from that encumbrance, and give us the needed power. He struck heavy blows at the legalism of the human heart. In a sermon on the excuses made for not coming to the table of the Lord, he referred to the common objection, ** I am not good enough," and exclaimed : *' Well, that is a revolution ! The prodigal son came with his old rags. If we do not understand that Christ is to he-rohe us, I do not think we understand Christianity at all." He excelled in prayer. I can still hear his broad, rich baritone voice resounding through the area of Knox Church, as he prayed " that God would sweep away from our midst, with the besom of destruction, the prevalent forms of error, frivolity, ftnd crime." On another occasion, when I had Recollections by Hev. John i'homson. 13? preached from the text, " Whom God hath set forth a propitiation through faith in his Wood/' he prayed May thy young servant go on to hkve just Juch sui^r oThn^^i", -d -demptirt;^^ citurp-e^irgtat^irgK^^^ preeiousness of the gospel seemed to grow upon hir^ as the shadows of life were lengthening ^ prea^hifr'Yn'v '^^ r '" ??P°«"«ry ''"d biographical preacmng. in his delineations of character he often wh le you were smiling, you were taking in portions of KsantrthT;™'*.''."™,^ ^°"S ^"«' the'Tmoke ^ h s aS d1^ ^*n'«^d. Many who were startled by ins genius did not know how deeply evancelical he was in heart and mind. evdugeiicai ne trials* r«'t°r^*J°"^-'"^'"'^ ^^ ™« "^"^^ t« pass through tiials that made his own grasp of gospel truth more attenrdl'iFr"*- . T^ ^^^''^ °' *he funerak w ' mJeon inn^h '' -""^ '^' P""*-^*^^ '^n'J addresses he ^nH,nr-fr*^°'"'"°°''.^""'<' themselves form a large portion of this memorial volume. His prayers were doauence It fy, T^ ?"'"''^*« "^ spontaneous mXS • *.*''® ("°^™' of *he little son of a Methodist minister, who had also suffered the loss of us wife, he said : "Thou hast smitten him, Lord h°s roots' Ith T.* f' "^""'"S' ''"'^ shaken him to exac wL ' ^ *^ tempests." I cannot recall the aUhourl' "'"I °5 ""'"y «™"»r occasions, but voice fL "•*'''' ^V* '■«'"'^«' the tones of his voice, the gravity of his uncovered head and the movmg originality of his utterances still hover around the graveyards of the whole neighbourhood werflf f *''^', ** '™^''^'" ''«■■« q'"t« unique. They were not funeral sermons, or biographical orations. 138 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. They were more of the nature of Scripture readings, welded into the form of continuous discourse by remarks thrown in between as connecting links. Were I a painter, I would like to set Mr. Inglis thus upon the canvas : He is standing in the doorway of the house, having just invited those who were loitering around the fence and the gateway to come in. When the house is filled, and others still remaining outside, he opens the little Bible which he holds in his hand, turns up a psalm or paraphrase, and then begins the service. When in his normal state of health, he lined out the verses, and with his rich, penetrating voice, in slow, lingering measures, led the singing himself. His favourite tune was " Walsal." He often said that it was not a good sign of the piety of the age that minor tunes were so seldom sung. Not only is ** Walsal " specially endeared to me from its association with Mr. Inglis, but ** the grave, sweet melody" of the assembled company, gathered into the different apartments of the house, and singing with an irregularity resembling the responses of a cathedral, or still more closely, the responses of the waves of ocean, "when deep calleth unto deep," comes back to me at this distance of time as one of the great musical experiences of my life. The first time we attended a funeral together I expected he would ask me, as the younger man, to take the easier part of reading the Scriptures. In- stead of that he asked me to pray. He had not read many verses before I felt the propriety of his reversing the usual order. His was no ordinary reading. As it was the funeral . of a boy, he read the story of the Widow of Nain, and, in the course of his remarks, quoted with great power and feeling a few verses from Mrs. Judson's poem on the death of a child : Strive not to check the teardrops, That fall like summer rain. For the Sun of Hope shines through them — You shall see his face as^ain^ Recollections by Rev. John Thomson. 139 Oh ! weep but with rejoicing, A heart-gem have ye given ; And behold its glorious setting In the diadem of heaven. He was as discriminating in the choice of passages on such occasions as of themes for the pulpit, adapting his mind not only to the special circumstances of the family, but also to the course of events and the season of the year. One passage he never omitted : ** I am the resurrection and the life." After repeating it he would pause and ask: "Believest thou this?" urging upon the company the need of being able to tell what was their creed. He had a great dread of formality, for, as he often said, " There's no priestcraft in death." The funeral of his son George, which took place in July, 1873, is vividly present to my mind while I write, especially the procession from the house to the burying-ground and the form of the chief mourner, as he crossed the threshold, and, passing through the gate, followed the youthful bearers who carried the remains. His step was firm, but it was the step of a great soul bowed down with grief. At the open grave Mr. Wright (now of Stratford) read the Scriptures and offered prayer. When the grave was filled in, and the company were still standing with heads uncovered, Mr. Inglis, who was too full in heart to let them go away without any utterance on his part, stretched out both hands in the attitude of benediction, and said, in what became in the end a sobbing voice: "May the Lord be with you all in the day of ^our sore trouble." A further day of sore trouble was near at hand. Towards the end of 1874 he was prostrated by pneu- monia. The members of his family were telegraphed for, as it was thought the end had come. When I saw him he said : " I know now what pain means," and then asked me to pray that he might be sustained when the paroxysms returned. During the course of 140 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis, this illness he asked me to sing one of Dr. Bonar's hymns, which, having been sung by the united choirs of Knox and Stanley Street Churches on Christmas Day, 1872, became ever afterwards a great favourite : When the weary, seeking rest. To thy goodness flee ; When the heavy-laden cast All their load on thee; When the troubled, seeking peace, ^ On thy name shall call ; ' When the sinner, seeking life. At thy feet shall fall ; ^„ Hear then in love, O Lord, the cry, In heaven, thy dwelling-placf jn high. While I was singing it he said in his own lengthened tones of great satisfaction: ''Man, but that's fine!" As he was recovering from this illness he said to me one day: " I've been meditating on the text, ' Looking unto Jesus,' and this is what occured to me: how many squinting Christians there are in the world ! " Among the greenest spots in memory are the Sab- bath evenings, when we lingered together at the gate of the field between our two manses, and sometimes at the fence clear down in the hollow where " the burnie runs." I cannot now recall many of the wor^s that were then spoken : just as little, however, can I forget the friendship which they breathed and the strength- ening they brought to my theological foundations, and my hopeg for the future of the Church. During one of these after- service walks he said to me : " What made me a missionary was hearing from my mother what a commentator said about the millennium. He said that, according to the prophetical reckoning of time, the millennium was to last 365,000 years. That number made such an impression upon my imagina- tion that it set me to the study of prophecy. That study I have long since laid aside ; but of three things I am certain : first, there is to be a great battle fought; Recollections by Rev. John Thoniaon. 141 second, a great victory won ; and third, that I am a soldier in the ranks, whose business it is to march forward and fight, according to the Captain's word of command." Stanley Street Church having been closed for repairs, the two congregations met together from October, 1882, till February, 1883. This gave Mr. Inglis an opportunity of seeing what he had long de- sired, the members of both churches sitting down together at the table of the Lord. There were two such Communions, one in October, 1882, and the other in February, 1883. At the first Mr. McKay of Woodstock took Mr. Inglis' place (as he was just recovering from his second great illness, which proved to be paralysis) ; at the second the services were divided between us. At the last of our united meet- ings Mr. Inglis preached and spoke of the close fellow- ship that had been enjoyed, exclaiming, as he closed one of his most fervent passages, " If I forget thee, eh Knox Church, let my right hand forget her cunning ! " This was followed up by another memorable meet- ing, on occasion of the re-opening of Stanley Street Church on the Sabbath following. But when the anniversary of that opening came round, Mr. Inglis was confined to the manse by what proved to be the beginning of his fatal illness. The history of the time from November, 1883, to October, 1884, was that of preaching and ceasing to preach, beginning again and desisting until his final words were spoken. On the 27th April he was again present with us in Knox Church as a listener. He was looking very pale, but he spoke with a firm voice when at the close of the service he administered the ordinance of baptism to our fifth child. His baptismal services were unique. He put no questions to the parents as to their doctrinal beliefs and performances, considering all this as implied in their membership. " I never baptize a child," he said, **but in thought I baptize my own children over 142 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. aga(in." For this reason he did not approve of private baptism, regarding the ordinance as a matter not only of parental but of congregational interest. A little while before his last illness became mani- fest he was introduced to the newly arrived Church of England clergyman. ** Are you High Church, Low Church, or Middle ? " enquired Mr. Inglis. " For if you are High Church, you want to have no dealings with me, nor I with you." Mr. Ashton's reply was : " Low Church." When Mr. Inglis was confined to his bed Mr. Ashton expressed a desire to see him. As he had already, on the day we called, seen several visitors, it was thought better we should postpone our inter- view, but as we were leaving the manse he overheard our voices and called us in. His mind was unusually bright and active. He seemed anxions to speak cheer- ing words to Mr. Ashton for his sympathy. " Well, my son," he said, ** have you had any signs of encourage- ment in your work?" " Yes," said Mr. Ashton, "some kind words from my bishop, at least." ** That's good, my son. And now don't you be discouraged by that long muddy road between here and Princeton. Just treat it as the guest at the breakfast table treated the rotten egg." *' How was that ? " '* Oh, when his host discovered it, and was about to ring for a fresh one, the guest said * No ' ; and stretching out his hand for the pepper, said : * Do you think I would let a thing like that beat me ! ' " The young curate was certainly none the worse of having the kind words of the Bishop of Huron confirmed by the kind words of the senior pastor of Ayr. His last sermon was preached in Ma;^, 1884. About this time I accompanied him to the last funeral service he attended. As we were passing within the gate to the cemetery he referred to the Scotch hymn : ** I'm far frae my hame," and then added with a great, loving quiver of voice : " Janet sung that to me last night — that hymn suits me now, Mr. Thomson." As Recollections hy Reu. John Thomson. 143 we turned towards the west, and, for the moment, had a fine view of the surrounding country, which, at that season of the year, looked lovely, he said, slowly and feelingly : *' Ayr is a honny place." I began these recollections with the first word he spoke to me; let me now give the very last. About two days before his death I called at the manse. As I entered, one of his daughters said : " The end has come now." After praying with him, I spoke a parting word about our meeting again. He bowed his acquiescence, but showed no sign of recognition. In a few minutes I was recalled from the study, whither I had gone to talk with his brother, " to come back, and ' sing something." I had only sung a few lines when he was seized with one of his fearful attacks of pain. After it had passed away, and he lay back upon his pillow, he recognized me as I was about to leave the room, and called out, " Hold on, Thomson ! " He then turned to Mrs. Inglis, who was bending over him, and said: '*I'm right, am I not?" The next moment he was again past recognizing me. ** Hold on, Thomson ! " these were his last words to me. They only referred to my movement towards the door ; but as the words of a celebrated man in dying, *' More light," when he only wanted a little more of the light of the earthly day, have been regarded as significant of a higher truth, so I treasure up these last words of the departed veteran as full of solemn import. *' Persevere, make full proof of thy ministry ; for I am now ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand." He wi*s to me a father in the ministry, all through the years of our companionship ; — << My friend, faithful and just to me." Mr. Inglis was emphatically like Barnabas, ** a . son of consolation." In Church gatherings and by the fireside, rather than in ecclesiastical courts, he was seen at his best. Like the oceai , he had many moods, sometimes calm, at other times like the 144 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. tempest. Occasionally there was the sudden explosion of an angry gust ; but far more frequently it was the gleesome dance of the waves, and the majestic rise of the homeward gale, with white caps all around and sunlight breaking overhead. Many of his best sayings were entirely impromptu, and cannot be reproduced. In Church courts the sharp crack of his explosive weapon did excellent execution in silencing the inter- ruptions of demonstrative audiences that threatened to become unmanageable. His nature was strong, and dealt in opposites. One extreme was the might of severity, the other the might of gentleness, and the two balanced each other in mighty oscillation. "Wire- pulling " was conspicuously absent in his conduct. On a certain occasion, when the word was mentioned between us, he straightened himself up to his full height, and said : ** I despise it." It is not, therefore, wonderful that a character of such strength and directness should at times have given offence by reason of the absence of that deftness and well-oiled suavity, which, though not essential parts of policy, are, alas, often found in its company. I never knew a man who " talked money " less than Mr. Inglis. Even in regard to ministerial income he had his philosophical way of settling the whole ques- tion by quoting the remarks of Mr. Eoss of Brucefield, in the days when the two men were co-Presbyters : " It is just the same, nowadays," said Mr. Boss, ** among ourselves, in regard to money, as it was among the children of Israel when they eat of the manna. He that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack." On a Thanksgiving Mon- day, when two other ministers with myself were seated at his tea-table, the conversation turned upon a certain Canadian minister who had gone to the United States. Mr. Inglis remarked that " such a highly-endowed Scotchman as Dr. Ormiston would feel himself greatly out of his element among the Dutchmen, who could Recollections hy Rev. John Thomson. 145 never appreciate a good Scotch story." **0h!" said the guest appealed to, ** his people are very kind ; they have done great things (in the way of money) to make him comfortable." "What's money !" retorted Mr. Inglis, ** a rat in a bank is only a rat." He was honourable to the core, and by some re- garded as almost Quixotic in his manly independence. So disgusted was he with the unscrupulousness of rail- way corporations in the matter of Sabbath Day labour, that, when on his way to the Synod at St. Thomas, he refused to avail himself of the reduced rate of fare given to members of such courts, and before the Synod closed, spoke strongly on the subject to his brethren. His references to his mother were many and touch- ing. He often quoted her parting words when he left her to go to Africa : *' They are well kept whom God keeps." She often before had soothed the turbulent spirit of the growing youth. When smarting under some grievance that he wanted put right by a thorough investigation of the case, she would lay her hand upon his restless shoulder, and say : " My foolish boy, when will you learn that there are things in this world that will not bear to be spoken of." The stories which he ushered in by the expression: "As my mother used to tell," would form a goodly appendix to "Dean Ramsay's Reminiscences." Her wise and witty sayings had evidently impressed his mind and directed his life ; and he was ever ready to share with others that sunshine which had been such a blessing to himself. The key to Mr. Inglis' behaviour, on occasions when his individuality had full play, was the single word genius. You never knew what he was going to say next when any great topic was under discussion, or where his praise would end, or his censure begin. He could hit hard, as well as bestow commendation, all round among the denominations^ his own among the rest. " That's where Protestantism limps," he re- marked on one occasion. On another: "When you 146 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglia. meet a savage Scotchman, I tell you, he can put you through." On still another : " How is it that in our voluntary churches there is so much twisting and draw- ing?" Perhaps the heaviest blow he ever dealt at a class of men within his own Church was that which he condensed into the original epithet of ''Evangelical moderates," by which he marked out those whose creed was sound in all points except that of personal conduct and missionary zeal. When the " Higher Criticism " was disturbing the Free Church of Scotland he re- marked that what was wanted for the interpretation of Scripture was not these " acute " scholars, who seemed to him '* scientific Gibeonites," but men who were themselves "i^oets and prophets." Mr. Inglis might be appropriately described as a Christian sage. He held an impromptu lectureship every Monday forenoon, in his study, for all visitors with whom he had anything of the philosophical in common. In one of my ©arly visits to him on a Mon- day forenoon I found him reading one of the Quar- terly Reviews. He rather surprised me at first when he said that in his *' Mondayish" state of nervousness he needed this kind of reading to take him as far as possible away from Ayr. To another he said : "When I have a fit of 'the blues' nothing cures me faster than a good dose of geography." He loved to study the map of the world, and his journeyings over it, in thought, were to him a substitute for what any Old Country minister within reach of the Clyde can have every Monday during the season — a trip from the manse to the ocean and back the same day for an exceedingly moderate fare. A vojager in thought like Mr. Inglis would bring up his fellow-passengers at strange landing places. His mind sometimes moved among the rocks and shallows of difficult 'questions, which he liked exceed- ingly to propound when he thought he had a suitable scholar. In the pulpit he often said : " There's a Itecoltections hy Rev. John Thomson. 14t questirn for you thinkers," and ask such questions as these : *'Can you have a Sadducee without having had first a Pharisee?" "Have you ever considered that in Mohammedanism there is no shedding of blood in sacrifice, and yet it is a rehgion of the sword ; whereas, In Christianity everything is based on the shedding of blood, and yet it is a religion of peace?" ''Tell me why it was that the two Erskines, who were by far superior men, met with so little success compared with the Wesleys ?" Speaking of first impressions, he said : " I have often changed my mind in regard to a man after hearing him preach, but never after hearing him ask a blessing." He was greatly annoyed by what he considered waste of time in argument, from the disputants not finding out at once their common ground. " When one man says a piece of cloth is so long, and the other contradicts him, the appeal is at once made to the yard- stick. Why can't we produce a yard-stick in argument as well as in merchandise? The yard measure is the common ground of reasoning. The common ground between us and the infidel is the body. The gauge of battle between us and the infidel is that it is the man of God who comes to the rescue in time of trouble." His favourite book in apologetics was the ''Eclipse of Faith." Its concrete style suited the order of his mind. The following illustrates his way of putting the truth contained in one of its passages: "Mr. Blank, will you have some fish?" " No, thank you." " Will you have some roast beef, then?" "No, thank you." " Some chicken, or pie, or pudding, or what ?" " Oh, nothing, nothing what- ever." That, said Mr. Inglis, is infidelity — a feast of negations ! Something in the same line was his answer to an infidel, who tried rather unceremoniously to draw him into an argument : " I'll not argue with you, but when you have composed your little hymn to the praise and glory of nothing, I'll come and hear it." 148 Memoirs of Hev. Walter Inglis. '■ Exegetics was to him a congenial study. In his younger days he had made a critical study of the Book of Job in the original. He often referred to the Hebrew parallelism, when protesting against what he considered far-fetched shades of meaning, that inter- preters brought out of certain passages. " Babes and sucklings," he argued, were not to be distinguished ; the expression simply meant "helpless little ones." **Thy rod and staff" was ''the strong staff." The blessedness of the righteous man, in contrast to three gradations of fellowship with sinners, indicated in the First Psalm by the words walking, standing, sitting, meant substantially, ** Blessed is the man who has nothing whatever to do with the society of the ungodly." A brother minister was on one occasion giving him an account of the views of a minister in Scotland, who had been tried for unsound views regarding the destiny of the wicked. The minister's theory was that, while the sin of the lost condemned them to annihilation, the death of Christ had puichased for them a change of that sentence into one of everlasting servitude, making them a sort of Gibeonites to the redeemed. When Mr. Inglis heard this, he said : ** If I had Mr. here, I would say to him, This is all very fine, but wha' telt ye?" ■ k; - His occasional remarks on Homiletics and Pastoral Theology were, as might be expected, unusually racy. Among these the following may be given : '* Polishing sermons is about as useless as painting bullets ; " ** Polishing sermons is as useless as it would be for a lover to paint his sweetheart's portrait on the sole of his boot;" ''Cultivate a fine style of writing, up to the level of dignified conversation, but no further ; " " Never accept a call to a church that is ruled by godless elders ; " ** Never accept a call to a church where the people idolized their former minister ; " ** Never go ahead in matters of discipline without Mecollectiovs by Rev. John Thomson. 149 your elders ; " " Never get so excited before going to bed as to have your rest disturbed. It's a mean thing for a man to cheat himself out of sleep. Sermons written after twelve o'clock on Saturday night should be burned." As regards Church government, he did not base his Presbyter ianism on what is called " the divine right of Presbytery," but rather on the text: " One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren." Every believer, he said, ought to be judicially bound to his brethren, so that he can be rebuked in a constitutional way. If Mr. Inglis was a professor without a chair, it may be also said that he was a bishop without a mitre. One of our most valuable labourers in the North -West, the Bev. Alexander Robson, of Fort Qu'Appelle, was brought under the notice of the Home Mission Com- mittee through his efforts. For some years Mr. Robson, having "purchased to himself a good degree" as Sabbath school teacher, superintendent and Bible class teacher, was requested by Mr. Inglis and myself still further to exercise his gifts at the weekly union prayer meeting and the Sabbath evening service. Mr. Inglis then made the proposal to his own session, which was carried, as it was also in Knox Church session, that Mr. Robson's gifts should be recognized in some more definite way than heretofore, and that he should be encouraged to hold Sabbath afternoon and evening services in schoolhouses and private residences all through the district. Finally, at the close of one of our weekly prayer meetings, Mr. Inglis beckoned Mr. Bobson aside, and said : "At the Presbytery on Tuesday, if I bring up your name to be proposed to the Home Mission Committee for mission work in Manitoba, are you willing to go?" and Mr. Bobson answered: " Yes." - Mr. Inglis took a prominent part in the Temperance cause, while his attitude towards hotel- keepers was manly and courteous. In his first Temperance 150 Memoirs of Rev, Walter Inglis. address, which I heard thirteen years ago, there was a lawyer-like unveiling of a grievance that lay very near the root of the whole matter. After narrating his experience in Kincardine and its neighbourhood in most amusing terms, he laid it down as a fundamental position that the accepted law of Canada in regard to travellers and hotels was based upon the drinking customs, and that to such an extent that the total abstainer found himself a stranger in a strange land. He considered it a great injustice that the etiquette of travelling made no provision for such a man paying his way, when he wanted shelter for himself or his horse. To save himself from being considered a sneak, he was under temptation to go up to the bar and drink soft drinks or purchase cigars, when he neither ^. anted the one nor the other. In discussing the Temperance question his intense sympathy and strong feelings were often revealed in sayings such as these : " Drunkenness is in many cases the result of a desolate heart;" "Don't play at teetotalism; for whether you are in earnest or not, remember the drunkard is." His last public acts were to help in organizing the Blue Ribbon Society, of which he was the first President, and the Band of Hope. That winter day in Knox Church when, having recently risen from a sick-bed, he spoke his last words in behalf of the cause he had so much at heart, will long be remembered by all then present. As he stood up, staff in hand and pallid in face, with the blue ribbon on the lappel of his overcoat, he said, what we never heard him say before : " Boys and girls, listen to the words of a dying man." The occasion was the more memorable, as we were listening to the words of two dying men. Mr. Elliott, the Methodist minister of Ayr, who worked with us most cordially in all good works, only survived Mr. Inglis by a few months. The first words Mr. Inglis spoke to the children of Ayr were words of great merriment ; the last, though Recollections by Rev. John Thomsmi. 151 cheering, were words of great solemnity. Indeed the mirthful and the sad, during the interval between these two extremes of thirteen years, were wonderfully alternated and combined. They constituted the warp and woof of his behaviour in all the average scenes of life. This interweaving of the grave and gay seems specially wonderful, when we remember to what an extent, during the last few years of his life, he was not only a " son of song," but also a " son of sore affliction." He had forebodings of death, preceded by great pain, long before his end, — indeed, his anticipations of the latter began as far back as his student days. At one of the prayer meetings, about four years before his death, referring to this, he enlarged upon the possibili- ties of victory in the hour of severest bodily suffering. Speaking of the exceeding joy experienced by the martyrs on the scaffold and at the stake, with beaming face, elevated voice and his hands extended to express the idea of victorious resistance, he cried out : " Mar- vellous masses of soul, presented against all the tor- ments of execution." With this watchword for the future use of Christian martyrs, I bring to a close these recollections of one from whom I received much comfort, instruction, encouragement, and stimulus, in whose company I spent many pleasant and profitable hours, and with whom, as an influence, all surviving friends who knew his worth may be said still to asso- ciate. Being dead he yet speaketh. CHAPTER XII. LETTERS WRITTEN DURING LATER YEARS. To Mrs. Cowan, his Daughter— Mr. Thomas Darling — The Rev. T. Dodds (on occasion of the Death of his Son, of the McAU Mission, in Paris)— His Sister in Scotland (on occasion of the Death of his Son)— Rev. Wm. Robertson (on the Death of his Daughter) —Rev. Robert Pettigrew— Last Letter to Relatives— Looking Towards the Great Future. MR. INGLIS' correspondence, while pastor of Stanley Street Church, Ayr, is scanty. In letters, written shortly after his induction, he describes his residence (before the new manse was built), and sketches his plans. In 1871 he writes to his daughter, Mrs. Cowan : Here I am, all alone in my den. I have read a most interesting chapter in Milman, on the death of Jesus Christ. It is one of the best pieces of calm his- torical, philosophical writing on the subject that I know. He shows, with great power and point, the belief of the Jews in an earthly Messiah ; their galled, excited, fanatical mind about the Roman conquerors; their divided factions, all of the earth, earthy. Then he takes Jesus Christ, a humble Galilean peasant, who goes on, step by step, teaching doctrines subversive of all that was dear to the Jews. Jesus saw clearly the issue in death, and as the scene thickens into great darkness, in the secret soul of the Redeemer, he pre- sents a most extraordinary calmness to the world. I don't think I ever had a more profound belief in Jesus as the manifestation of God than at this moment. It is not alone history and testimony, but what appeals to my own consciousness and reason. History is of no value unless you have this witness within. Milman Letters Written During Later Years. 153 shows that the morality of Jesus differed from all other of his own age. It differs as much yet in three things : (1) The morality of Jesus was not in unison with the temper of his age; (2) it was universal morality, adapted for the whole human race, and for every period of civilization ; (3) it was morally grounded on hroad simple principles, which had hitherto never been laid down as the basis of human action. I cannot enter into these and other points. Yet a passing word. Jesus tore up the Mosaic principle of earthly pros- perity as a sure sign of the favour of the Almighty. He presented, for the first time in the world, a religion for all men. No force, but reason, the religion of humility, of love to all men. He struck at the roots of selfishness and vain, glory. Think, my dear girl, of Jesus Christ, not in the unsubstantial, canting man- ner of most of us. " Look to the Cross." Have you not felt that some men use that phrase, just as the Roman Catholic looks at a picture or a bit of wood made into a cross ? Mere words ! I am convinced the man Christ Jesus has not been studied as he ought. We get away into transcendental doctrines about which we know little or nothing, and neglect the facts before us. Take to yourself the promises of God. Try and say: "Father, thy will be done." Having done so, you can take to yourself such precious truths as '' Lo, I am with you alway," *' In the world ye shall have tribulation, in me peace." I have just been read- ing of Stephen. He saw heaven open, and Jesus on the right hand of God to welcome him. What a wel- come ! Courage, my child; you love that dear Saviour. He will not shut the door on you and me. When our work is done on earth, and not till then, he will give us rest. Oh, I begin to look forward to rest. One thing I am deeply conscious of, I have had a desire to serve him. : , Ever your loving father, W. Inglis. 154! Memoirs of Rev. Walter' Inglis. On the let of January, 1872, he sends greeting to his brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas Darhng, who had long been his fast friend, and was then expecting shortly to put off the earthly tabernacle. He says : No doubt, my dear friend, you are looking for the voice of your long-loved Lord, some of these months, or days. I trust your heart is kept in perfect peace. My text yesterday was Psalm xc. v. 12. It is a hard kind of arithmetic to number our days. The Lord enables his people to do so. I read in Luke, the twelfth chap- ter, from the sixteenth verse to the forty-fifth. What a striking saying of the Lord — to make man, the good man, wait for death as for a bridegroom. Strange words, yet found to be true. I have little news. The*limb that troubled me all last year is a little better. Yet I am not well. I feel no longer as a healthy man. Yet it is all well. Just as the Lord shall send. My days have not been many, yet 1 do not feel a strong hold on this world. On the 26th September, 1882, he thus writes to the Eev. T. Dodds, Mrs. Inglis* sister's husband, when his eldest son, the Rev. G. T. Dodds, of the McAll Mission in France, died so suddenly : My Dear Brother, — We got the heart-heavy news of George's sad death this forenoon. I never open a letter on the way from the post, as my eyes are not good. I gave Margaret the letter. "Ah!" she said, '* Dundee." We naturally exclaimed, ** Isabella is gone." A hurried gasp^*' No, no ! George Dodds is gone."* Truly we have another instance that God's ways are not our ways. How such an event awakens the mind out of the level routine of life. It is God's truth that his people are not to sorrow as those who * Isabella, Mrs. Inglis' sister, who was then very ill, and died three months after the death of her son. Letters Written During Later Yearn, 165 have no hope. The great words sound through the ages : ** Let not your hearts be troubled." Yet the bles- sed one was sore amazed. Paul says, in Philippians, that if his fellow soldier and beloved brother had sickened unto death, he would have had sorrow upon sorrow. The true heart weeps but with rejoicing. The experienced Christian has emotions not known by the sou of earth and sense. He hits hard, and means his people to feel the rod — he cuts the living flesh, and the blood flows — he separates living, loving, healthy souls. Yes, yes, the cry went up of old, ''My son, my son" — that cry will be heard till the end of time. You are this day a lit companion for Job, with a rent man- tle and a rent heart, but without his dark questionings. It is a great addition to know what wise men of old . knew not. *' I, the risen Christ, have the keys of the unseen world and of death. God stands at the portal of life and the dark gates of death." I cannot under- stand how he, the smiter, is the healer. I believe it, that's all. I don't require to quote verses from the Book of Life and Immortality. The word is nigh thee. Allow me to add my humble, earnest prayer that you may all be comforted by renewed tokens of iGod's grace. In my last illness I got to repeating these lines : Saviour, more than life to me, I am clinging, clinging close to thee : . Let thy precious blood applied. Keep me ever, ever, near thy side. We all join in tender sympathy. Margaret is writing a line to Portobello. She cannot master her feelings to wr e to Isabella to-day. I mention your dear wife very often in family prayer. I am, yours affectionately, W. Inglis. The death of h^r son George, in July, 1873, was a sore trial, from which he never fully recovered. But 156 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. he bore it as a Christian. The sympathy shown at this time astonished him. He had not expected it. In writing to hib sister, in i?cotl9,nd,-he says : To our astonishment at Paris Station there were my elders and some more of the people. I did not anticipate this, as a telegram had gone on Saturday evening, saying the funeral would be at three o'clock Monday afternoon. To my still further astonishment all business was stopped in Ayr. Stores were shut. Young men carried him to his grave. Four neighbour ministers came. Poor fellow ! he has had hard times for these three years. Just a struggle for life. I need not trouble you with further details. It is the old, old story: "All llesh is grass." I trust that this first breach may be sanctified to us all. Who next ? And then next ? A year after this he says : We intend to get a stone on George's grave soon. Poor fellow ! It is about a year since he came up to see us. We think of having a verse of Scripture and a verse of a hymn ; on the stone, Psalm cii. v. 23. The hymn some of us would like is one he often sang, "Kesting by and by," or "One by one we cross the river." That is it, sister ! We shall all go home, and Glory, glory, dwelleth in Immanuers land. Give the children the kind love of an old uncle. I hope they will grow up to be hero-men — not miserable, selfish curmudgeons ! May you grow in grace, dear sister. As a Dutch hymn that has just come into my mind says: "Heir veneden is bet ne it" — here below it is not. During the same year he writes : Kind love to you all. May the Spirit of the Lord God mould your minds after still higher and holier Letters Written During Later Tears. 157 things. I begin to look homeward ; yes, homeward. As the simple hymn has it — Heaven is my hume. That which changes not in me is the sense of duty to carry the gospel to the heathen. If I had the means, I would go away back to Africa and die there. I would not go to the County of Bruce as I did. No; you can- not preach the gospel to Scotchmen except as a great man. With Scotchmen you have to get on. That is it. Many of them are so selfish tlioy don't believe it possible for a man to deny himself. Still, in 1874, to his sister in Scotland he says : I somehow have the belief that Christianity does not prosper among the Scotch farmers and work people. They aim at being gentlemen in the world, and their chief aim is to push and improve their land. It is so in Canada also — largely pig-headed and small-hearted. Christianity is essentially heroic. To his friend, the Rev. Wm. Robertson of Chester- field, he writes on occasion of the death of his daughter : Ayr, February 8, 1884. My Dear Mr. Robertson, — The telegram yesterday was the second that I have ever had in my life that made me feel unutterable sorrow. I am not well. I cannot write. I can only give one long-continued wail : " God is good — his ways are not man's ways ; " what need there is of such a thought ! This is your first grief ; you will never feel the same again. I have not tasted food to-day ; I loathe it. I have telegraphed for brother William to come to-morrow and preach for me. I shall write when I get a little better. I can only repeat : " ! day of grief and sad- ness." May the good Lord comfort you all after the dark wave of sorrow has passed. Yours with fellow-feeling, Walter xnglis. 158 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis, In a letter dated 21st July, 1884, addressed to the Rev. Robert Pettigrew of Glenmorris, speaking of cer- tain arrangements made by the Presbytery and other ministerial friends for the supply of his pulpit during his illness, he says : I am a great deal better since you were here. I was at church yesterday twice, and feel nothing the worse. If I keep on, I expect to be able for the one sermon in a month. Brother William has given me a big lift. He has been here six Sabbaths. If it is the will of God that I have health again, I shall not forget the long, dreary weeks of suffering. How great the hope of a life free from pain ! This is a beautiful world, but it is not too much to think of a country or state far, far beyond this. I have been thinking much of late of the infinite universe. Peace be with you. Complimenting a lady friend in Scotland on her gardening, he remarks: I have said that I would rather keep company with a saw-mill than with some men. Better keep company with flowers than with flirts. ... By the way, I am making advance here (in Ayr). Thirty-one united with the Church last year. I mean to expound the Scriptures. A fig for eloquence ! They say I preach better, but they have come to me — that is it. In 1875 Mr. Inglis had a se\ere illness, which brought him to the very brink of the grave. A heavy attack of pleurisy, followed by a formidable relapse, so prostrated him that friends and physicians gave up all hope of recovery. His children were all sent for to see him die ; but, by God's blessing on the means used, he rallied. The great sympathy of his people throughout this severe affliction touched him very Letters Written During Later Fect/'.s. 159 powerfully. He thought they did not care for him — would, in fact, rather like him taken away, and their unaffected kindness went specially to his heart. ** My life,'.' he says, in writing to his brother in Scotland, "is spared for a little yet, I sometimes feel. It is enough." From this date until 1878 there is a blank in the correspondence, when he wrote a brief letter to his sister about a projected visit of his daughter to Scot- land. After despatching certain items of business, he says : I have not been so well for some days. Water seems to be at hand. However, the medicine we use reduces the swelling right away. I cannot say that I have any special news. In fact, I have been dull with one thing and another. It is hard to keep up the spirits, with weakness of body pressing heavily. One thing I feel : I am more dependent on the goodness of God. I am sure that goodness and mercy have followed me hitherto. My hope is that he will not leave me in the end. The last letter to relatives of any length that has been preserved is dated 22nd Juty, 1884. In it he writes : These long dreary months of sickness have turned my memory into a blank. I have been a poor invalid since last year. Trouble began with bronchitis, and when I got this reduced, liver inaction set in. It was a long pull ere that sluggish organ began to work. Then, worst of all, chronic inflammation of the bladder followed. Oh, what sad times I have had first and last ! The will of the Lord be done ! They all encourage me with good hopes of health, but I am very doubtful. I am so weak that the least walking 160 Memoirs of Bev. Walter Inglis, or exertion brings on palpitation of the heart. I have lost about thirty-five pounds in weight. The people have been very kind, and are vexed to see my gray, bilious, haggard face. . . . It is not to be wondered at that my thoughts have been much on the great future. It is immensely cheering to think on, and believe in, ** immortality and life." How dark it would be to think of dying like a beast ! How terrible to feel one's self at enmity with the Great Creator ! How cold and wintry not to realize the love of Jesus ! Love supreme controls the wildest pain and suffering. God's peace ! How consoling that there is in this vast infinite universe a place for poor me, where sin and suffering are unknown ! The God that made the world so fair can make something better. . . . We join in kind regards to self and Miss Darling. Tell her that our flower plot is a neglected wilderness. The Lord bless you with his glorious inheritance ! Not long after this came the last struggle, and the long, unbroken rest. CHAPTER XIII. LAST SICKNESS AND DEATH. Gradual decline— Intense Sufferings— Childlike Trust- Last Look at his Congregation — Love of Sacred Song-Rest — Widespread Sorrow — , Funeral Services in Manse and Church — Scene at the Grave— Fune- ral Sermon — Minutes of Kirk Session and Presbytery. FOR several years before his last sickness it was apparent to his friends and congregation that his vigorous constitution was gradually giving way — the keepers of the house were trembling, and the grasshop- per becoming a burden. His strong will, however, bore him up, and he continued, until a few months before his death, with more or less regularity, to preach and attend to pastoral duties. Finally, however, he was overtaken and mastered by the insidious and formidable disease which had long threatened him. His last days were days of great suffering, and the pain that he often felt seemed beyond the strength of mortal endurance. But the flames that tortured him only burned the remain- ing dross away, and made more conspicuous his courage and holy resignation. His sufferings did not impair, but rather perfected his strong manhood. Men's lives, it has been said, should, like the days, be more beautiful in the evening ; or like the seasons aglow with promise, while the autumn is rich with golden sheaves, where good words and deeds have ripened on the field. It was so with Walter Inglis. He had reached his maturity. No longer vexed with earth's perplexing problems, he rested with childlike trust in God's mercy. There was no exultation, but 162 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. calm assurance. His conversation was all about his Saviour, and what he had done for him. His creed was all summed up in these words : A wretched, poor, and helpless worm, On thy kind arms I fall. About two months before his death he went to his study window, and watched the congregation gathering for the Sabbath morning service. He had a presenti- ment that it was the last look, and bursting into tears, left the room. From that time he was confined to his bed, and grew rapidly worse. A kind message was brought to him by one of his elders that he should not fret himself because unable for his work. '* You are not doing so?" said his friend. *'No," he replied, "it is all well whichever way it goes." Earnest, loving prayers were offered on his sick bed for his people who, he would often say, "have been so kind to me," and also for his own Presbytery, and all the Presbyteries of the Church. Nor was the scene of his ea-ly mission work forgotten. "0 Lord ! how long," he would often say, " remember poor Africa ! " . When he became delirious nothing soothed him like singing or prayer. To the very last he joined in the act of praise. On one occasion when the old tune "Martyrdom" was sung to the first verses of Psalm xl., he imagined he was back again in the church, and, raising himself in bed, said : "Aye, that's prayer; let us have it again, brethren, before we part." The familiar words would often rise to his lips : " Let us have a word of prayer;" and what fervent prayers they were, as if he felt his Master was very near to Last Sickness and Death. 163 him! "Hush, my soul," he cried out one day, after a time of great agony — " no dark thoughts, no dark words — trust Him to the end ; " while often, in the silence of the night, he would be heard repeating with indescribable pathos the well-known lines : Just as I am, without one pica, But that thy blood was shed for me ; And that thou bid'st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come. At last the wearied, shattered body found rest. Early on Saturday morning, October 18, 1884, he closed his earthly labours, extending over forty-two years in this and other lands, and went home to be with the Lord for ever. " Frequently, in former days, he had gazed with deep interest and admiration on the stars that compose the Southern Cross. He now entered the presence of him who made the Seven Stars and Orion, and gave all their glory to the heavens, in the midst of adoring multitudes, celebrating the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died." Although ominous whisperings of the coming dis- solution had been in circulation during many weeks, which had the effect of preparing the public mind for the announcement of his death, yet, when the village and community awoke to the sad truth on Saturday morning that the end had come, a spontaneous expres- sion of sorrow, sadness, and sympathy possessed all classes in the village. The only thing spoken of was the death of Mr. Inglis. The funeral services took place on Monday, Octo- ber 20. After a short, preliminary service in the manse, conducted by Kev. John Thomson of Ayr, Rev, 164 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. W. A. McKay of Woodstock, and Eev. James Little of Princeton, the body was removed to the church, which was heavily draped in mourning, and crowded to over- flowing by a sympathetic audience, many of whom came from Brantford, Gait, Woodstock, and other parts of Ontario. The Presbytery of Paris was present . in a body; also the Presbyterian ministers of Gait, and the Methodist clergymen of Ayr and the neigh- bouring villages. The services in the church were conducted by the Eev. R. Pettigrew of Glenmorris, the Rev. Wm. Robertson of Chesterfield, and the Rev. Dr. Cochrane of Brantford. After reading selections of Scripture appropriate to the occasion. Dr. Cochrane gave a brief but touching address. After alluding to the universal esteem in which Mr. Inglis was held by the entire community, and the intense sorrow felt by his people and co-presbyters, he referred to the more prominent characteristics of the deceased : his won- derful simplicity of character; his strong sense of humour; the fearlessness with which he stated his convictions; the tenderness and sympathy which he ever manifested for the sufferings of his fellow-men; his humility in refusing positions of prominence ; the wonderful originality of his discourses ; the impressive- ness of his prayers, in which the reverent familianty that he used in speaking to God gave evidence of life- long communion with heaven ; and, finally, the entire consecration of his life, often amid trials and priva- tions in this and other lands, to the cause of his Master. He closed by calling upon those who had sat under his ministry during the last fifteen years, but were still unconverted, tp foUow in his footsteps, Last Sickness and Death. 165 and regard this solemn providence as a last call to repentance. The congregation was then permitted to view the dead form of him who had preached so often and so earnestly from that pulpit, beneath which he lay with a peaceful smile across his face, after which the school children were marched in double file to the church, where they also were given the last privilege of gazing upon the face of one who always took a keen interest in their welfare. The vast concourse of people then formed into pro- cession, four abreast, headed by the hearse, and fol- lowed by the chief mourners, elders of the church, the school children, and by the dense following of friends and acquaintances. It is generally computed that there were two thousand persons in the solemn cor- tege, which formed the most imposing demonstration of this nature ever witnessed in Ayr. All the sur- rounding cities and towns were represented in the procession, which, as it wended its way with solemn tread towards the cemetery, told its own moral of how a united sympathy and admiration was manifested for a man who had the courage to speak plain, ungar- nished truths in pulpit and out of it, and whose inde- pendence, manliness, and integrity were so conspicuous in everyday life. • Arrived at the grave, where the Eev. W. T. Mc- MuUen of Woodstock, offered fervent prayer, the scene was solemn and impressive. Strong men mingled their tears with those of the women and children ; the vil- lage bells tolled in mournful cadence ; the wind was bushed, and, as the mortal remains of the physically 166 Memoirs of Rev. Walter Inglis. strong, intellectually gifted, and spiritually minded Walter Inglis were lowered into their last resting-place on earth, the sun, like to a great, round, golden ball of fire, sank behind the hills of the west and beyond the peaceful and picturesque Valley of the Nith. It was, indeed, a golden sunset, and a fitting close to a grand and useful life. At the beginning of his min- istry he doubtless anticipated a different ending — To lift his dying eyes from Afric's burning sand. But God ordered it otherwise. Awaiting the resurrec- tion of the just, the body lies in the quiet and beau- tiful God's Acre that overlooks the scene of his last but not least faithful work. Let him sleep The peaceful sleep that knows no troubled dream ; And while around his lonely bed we weep. Bright on his pillow falls the summer beam. Scatter flowers Upon the turf that makes his lowly bed ; And, while we tarry here, may it be ours In humble faith to follow where he led. The funeral sermon was preached on the following Sabbath, by the Kev. Wm. Robertson of Chesterfield, to a densely crowded and sorrowing congregation, from 2 Corinthians iv. 13. Mr. Eobertson also addressed the congregation on the evening of the same day on the power of a consecrated life, as illustrated in the life and labours of their beloved pastor. The following is the minute of the Kirk Session of Stanley Street, Ayr, on occasion of the death of their beloved pastor : Last Sickness and Death, 167 At a meeting of the Session of Stanley Street Church, Ayr, held on 24th day of November, 1884, it was unanimously agreed in profound sorrow, yet in humble acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, to place on record their deep sense of the loss sustained by themselves and the congregation in which they are office-bearer^ by the death of their beloved pastor, the Kev. Walter Inglis, which took place on the morning of Saturday, the 18th day of October, after a long and painful illness. Mr. Inglis' ministry in Ayr, from the time of his induction in the year 1869, was one of unremitting labour, and evidently prompted by a zeal for the honour of his Lord. The self-sacrificing devotion which led him, at the beginning of his career, to con- secrate his life to missionary work among t^e heathen, pervaded the service of his late years ; wh.le all who came into contact wit' him, more especially towards the close, felt that tL re was a deepening grace and power in his life, and a more vivid recognition of the Master. Many sacred truths, illumined by his clear and vigorous thought in expounding the Word of God, will linger long in the memory of his people, and be to them as the voice of the Master whom he served, calling them to true and noble life. His ministry to the sick and sorrowing has left many tender, sacred, and enduring memories. The Session gratefully recall the prayerful spirit in which, as Moderator, Mr. Inglis presided in their meetings, and the fine discrimination, tenderness, and tact with which he sought to guide their deliberations. Their tenderest sympathy is extended to the widow and bereaved family of our deceased pastor. It is their prayer that the Saviour, in whom he trusted so confidently in life, and whose name was so precious to him in death, would enrich them with the consolations of his grace, and pour balm into their wounds, as he, the Divine Physician, only can. To his guardian care 168 Memoir 8 of Rev, Walter Itiglia. and availing sympathy the Session would humbly, but earnestly, commend them in their sorrow. At the first meeting of the Presbytery of Paris after the death of Mr. Inglis, the following minute was placed upon the records : » With profound sorrow, yet in humble acknowledg- ment of God's sovereignty, the Presbytery have to record the death of the Rev. Walter Inglis, minister of Stanley Street Church, Ayr, which took place on the 18th day of October last, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. As a member of Presbytery, Mr. Inglis was a brother greatly beloved, having won the affectionate regard of all his brethren by the warmth of his own loving nature, and their esteem and reverence by his firm adherence to Christian principle and the high sense of honour which pervaded his conduct, as well as by his wisdom in counsel. During the fifteen years of his ministry in Ayr, Mr. Inglis laboured in season and out of season, and was much honoured by his Lord in the results of his work. He was evor ready to confess his own short- comings ; yet, throughout the whole conduct of his ministry, it was apparent to his brethren and all with whom he came into intimate contact, that he was actuated by the same spirit ,of devotion and self- sacrifice which led him, at the beginning of his career, to devote his life to missionary work among the heathen in South Africa, and afterwards, in circum- stances of great peril, to protest against tho evils of slavery. The truths which he proclaimed to others were evidently the life of his own soul. Mr. Inglis' faithfulness in pastoral visitation was a stimulating lesson to his brethren. His ministry to the sick and sorrowing was full of tenderest sympathy, and has associated with it many sacred memories. It is afifecting to know that on his death-bed the people Last Sickness and Death. 160 • of his cliarge and his brethren of the Presbytery were made by him the subject of special prayer. The Presbytery deeply sympathize with the con- gregation of Stanley Street Church in their loss of a pastor so worthy of their affection and reverence, and their prayer is that his dying prayer on their behalf may be richly answered. In an especial manner the Presbytery condole with the bereaved family, while they commend them to the sympathy of the Great High Priest, the Saviour in whom their loved one trusted, and in whom trusting no troubled, sorrowing heart was ever disappointed. They would recognize also in the death of their beloved brother a solemn reminder to themselves to be faithful in redeeming the time, and earnest and prayerful in the great work to which, as servants of Christ, they are called. LITERARY REMAINS. Lectures. LECTURES. THE GENTLENESS OF THE SCOTCH, AS EX- PEESSED IN THEIR POETRY AND SONGS. [Delivered first before the Gait Mechanics' Institute.] I may state the cause of my putting pen to paper, on the subject of lecture. I got a very polite invita- tion from the Secretary of the Gait Mechanics' Insti- tute to speak on some Scotch subject, at a meeting held on Burns' Anniversary. I declined on account of health ; yet I said I had a warm heart, both to the Mechanics' Institute and Scotland. Further, I desired not only to help them but also our own Institute in Ayr. I mentioned a subject that I thought I might speak on for a quarter of an hour — the gentleness of the Scotch, as expressed in their poetry and songs. I began to write for amusement. I mentioned the " bee " that was in my bonnet to Mr. Soutar, and he approved of it. The issue is, we are here assembled to discuss this topic. A word further; I am not very sure that those people who are generally, not to say continually, light-hearted, can equal an habitually grave man in a genuine side-aching laugh. I have in my eye the manly, glorious laugh of one of our greatest of existing Scotchmen when the suitable tirae and place gave opportunity. For the most genial refined intercourse^ what a lasting effect laughter, full and 174 Literary Remains of Rev. Walter Inglis. free, when used like salt in our food, has upon sensible men. Many people are select of their company when they relax and take a laugh. You have heard of a company called to order by one of their number, say- ing : ** Whisht, there is ane o' the fules comin'." A phase of Scotch character rarely touched upon, it may seem to some to indicate a measure of presumption in the subject of lecture. What, it may be asked, have I or anybody in these days seen about either one nation or another that has not been seen and discussed long, long ago ? I claim nothing new. I have no patent to present. But one thing I say, that my limited range of reading has not been favoured with any discussion on tlie subject at issue. My desire is to lay before you grounds for my belief that there is a large amount of gentleness in Scotch character. I mean not a mere trace in rare individuals, but such an amount of sweetness and light as are to be placed to the national credit. It is too true that men rarely find more than what they are looking for, and in many instances are sure to find what is earnestly desired. This weakness in man is illustrated by Sir William Hamilton in his lectures, somewhat as follows : A reverend parson and lady went together to get a peep at the moon through a powerful telescope. By the law of politeness, Miss put her eye first to the glass. After a good survey, she, in fine spirits, exclaimed that the view was very dis- tinct, and that, amongst other objects, she saw two standing close by each other, who, she felt sure, were two lovers. ''Let me see," said his young reverence. After due time for a deliberate judgment he said ; Lectures. 175 ** Madam, I assure you that you are mistaken, these two objects I saw clearly; they are not two lovers, but two church steeples." Of course the lesson is, the lady was desirous of a sweetheart ; he was in need of a church, or at least of the salary. It is a difficult thing to know man. It is very diffi- cult for a man to know himself. It is the old story of two knights meeting, and looking from opposite sides at a painted shield (you will excuse my lack of memory). One said it was silver, the other said it was gold. From words they came to blows ; when a third came, and said "Hold." They tell their story. Both right, but one-sided. True knowledge is many-sided. Along the whole line of humanity the vision is rarely given, " To see oorsels as ithers see us." Having only two eyes, and these in front, it is simply impossible to see our bodily whole. I imagine there is some analogy to this in mental vision. It is not permitted by the all-wise Creator to see our whole soal ; yet, though a man has not seen his whole hinder parts, he can nearly touch all, and become pretty well assured that he has no wings. How do others see both individuals and nations ? Alas ! for others, as well as self. If self- esteem leadb to error in one case, so fellow-hatred leads to equally false judgment on the other hand. Nothing rarer than a candid, intelligent critic, in describing national habits. It is a conceit that is never to be in- dulged in that we are faultless, that we are model men, that all ought to regulate their conduct by our example. It is a crime against our common nature that personal or national sins should be covered with a large mantle of charity, and no mercy be shown to sins peculiar to 176 Liter aif^j Remains of Rev. Walter Inglis. other lands. In order to think and do the right we require a universal standard of right and wrong, bind- ing the conscience of all nations. My subject is one on which all nations are qualified to judge : " gentle," ''harmless," and their opposites,come within the range of instinct, not to speak of reason. There is a wonder- ful variety of cha^racter amongst the nations. Yet we have two poles — the most gentle, the most vicious and injurious. Speaking of individuals — some have no fight in them ; others seem to be all fight, ever ready to pick a quf.,rrel with either man or beast. I, for one, admit that lay countrymen have been a warlike, fight- ing people. I admit that Scotland, compared with most other lands, is a sterile country. " 0, Caledonia, stern and wild !" exclaims Sir Walter Scott — a meet nurse for poets, spare in bread. So late as the begin- ning of this century it was suggested by the witty Sydney Smith to the incipient Edinburgh Eeviewers, that they should cultivate literature on a little oat- meal. When I say warlike, I beg to discern rightly in om: wars and fightings. Ours have, as an historic wholo, been defensive wars. The Norman-English wars have been aggressive and Imperial. The thr(;e great wars which the Scotch fought to the bitter end, and to tri- umphant success, were defensive. I. The war of political independence. Scotb wba hae wi' Wallace bled, Scots wham Bruce has oftea led. It need not then be wondered at that a few poor people, having resolved to be free at, all hazards, were Lectures. 177 fired with a stern and lofty resolve to scorn the weak- ness of even a grin, let alone a smile. Who can blame them if their bowels and mercies became congealed, and their hands grasped death and cold steel as their father's legacy, their cup rendered bitter by false knaves and traitors among their own nobles ? II. Then came the war of freedom to worship God, apart from ''Pope and priest." Why should not this spiritual, mental conflict deepen the lines of grave countenances ? For the first time in my country's history John Knox gave the trumpet key-note : " Let schools be erected all over the land, let the people read and think for themselves. Who but base tyrants would say: 'Nay'?" III. After a time came the long weary war against "black prelacy." "That transmogrified Scotch Solo- mon," James VI. and I., said : " No bishop, no crown." Greedy, false nobles said: "Amen." The Scotch peasantry fought on, and a watchful Providence gave them relief from the unequal strife. IV. Long and bitter has been the conflict against patronage and its attendant evils. All these have been defensive wars. No wonder, I say again, after such centuries of conflict to hold their sacred rights, that such a people should be a grave people, jealous of their sacred inheritance. I can pardon the ignorance of foreigners, and the oitter pompous prejudices of the English. But what word of apology have we for Scotsmen who seem to have lost all sympathy with their countrymen in the conflict against Prelacy especially ? There is much that is offensive and sad in finding the pages of some of our best writers all 178 Literary Remains of Rev. Walter Inglis. blurred with sneer and caricature concerning men who crowned the labours of Wallace and Bruce. Down to my own day the much-belauded Govern- ment of Britain has tried in eve'ry possible fashion to fetter and cramp the expanding souls of freemen. Take Sir Walter Scott, Scotchman par excellence. You find him devoting all the wealth of his descriptive powers to exhibit the Scotch warrior fighting to defend his bleak country from the greedy grasp of an ambitious neighbour. He pours forth his lay in heroic numbers to the setting in sunlight glow of Highland cateran and border riever, but not a word even of apology for the *' Covenanters." It would have been much better if he had left the religious life of Scotland untouched than to have mangled it in the way he has done. " Jeanie Deans " is drawn as a true, loving, heroic girl ; but her father is only "Douce Davie," narrow, repulsive, fanatical ; and yet this poor fellow is made to do duty as a representative man of the " Covenanters," yea, of the Presbyterians. Think of the kindly heart oi Scott having a sly stab at the religious life of Scotland. We have all seen Davie Deans. He is, and has been, amongst us, but not as our leader; far from it. Have you never been struck with the fact that our novel writers have a much better class of women than of men ? Aye ! Water can never rise above its level. They dare not describe a better man than themselves. Is it possible to think of a nation of good women and bad men ? Nay, verily. Turn to Hogg's ** Broonie o' Bodsbeck." Auld Wat Tait's daughter is a true, noble woman, "wige and courageous like my countrywomen. But Lectures. 179 why make the leader of the Covenanters a hunchback and a noodle ? Our fathers were quaint men, but who ever heard such a prayer as Davie Tait's ? It is too clever by one-half. The leaders of Scotch Reformers have all been men with the Bible in their hands, and a goodly portion in their memory. This being so, there has been, as there now is, where our fine old patriarchal character still exists, a homely dignity becoming a worm of the dust, speaking to the Eternal God. Hogg is nearer the truth than Scott. Wilson, poor fellow, with all his genius, has much of nature, a splendid physique, representative of the singing, fishing, drinking and rollicking Scotchman. To me the only true picture of the genuine Scotch peasant is Burns' " Cottar's Saturday Night." All is natural, manly ; not a word of caricature. The father is kind, respected, loved, no cant or humbug in the presence of his children. Allan Ramsay's " Gentle Shepherd " is unique in the history of literature. It gives a view of pastoral simplicity which has no parallel — a picture of our " fathers " two centuries ago. An important question naturally arises, How is it that so many veritable Scotchmen amongst our popu- lar writers have utterly failed to represent the deep religious heart of their country ? The reason seems to lie in deep organic, mental and moral differences. This is seen in a very striking manner amongst the Jews. The influence of mothers in giving tone and character to a people is easily realized in the case of Ishmael and Isaac. It is far more subtile in the case of the twins, Esau and Jacob, This law of difference 180 Literary Remains of Rev. Walter Inglis. adheres to that wonderful people to the present day. There is the noble, princely Jew, the true descendant of Abraham. There is also the " pedlar Jew," the sharp, tricky trader, a true descendant of Jacob and Laban. Joseph and his brethren made peace, but they never coalesced. Something of the same sort lies at the root of Scotch character. A striking instance of this sort is related of Dr. Chalmers and his brother Sandy. This elder brother was in business in London. He boarded in a house where some young men resided. Dr. Chalmers was preaching in London with great popularity. One or more of these young men went to hear him. They spoke with rapturous praise. Sandy as drily remarked "that he never could see anything to make such a talk aboot Chalmers." " Did you ever hear him ? " asked one of them. " Hear him," said Sandy, " hear him ; umph ! I heard him half an 'oor after he was born." This was the fir it hint of his being Dr. Chalmers' brother. In many, many instances you have brothers, aye, and sisters, never able to understand each other. This now brings us to the mental characteristic we desire to illustrate and enforce. We have Whig and Tory very pronounced. We have religious and irreligious ; we have hard and soft, the rude and the gentle. In entering upon the subject of lecture, I may say that I am not going to make a fool of myself by groping my way into the higher circles or the so-called genteel. Like most writers I am not seeking after good manners and polished address. My question is, What have been the tone and temper of the shepherds and ploughmen, the farmers and tradespeople, the religious heart of Lectures. 181 the Scotch plain people ? their family affections ? Let us deal with facts and not fancies. I take it to be a fact, that from the days of John Knox the parish school and the Bible have made a greater mass of the poor people of Scotland to be readers and clear thinkers than this world ever saw amongst a people of the same number. I know that many have remained ignorant and wicked ; some districts less, others more. One thing became very, noticeable in Scotland, and that was the strong hold which reading the Bible attained amongst the solitary shepherds and stock farmers. Nothing like it took place in England or Germany. No, not even in Switzerland and Holland. It became the passion of the Lowland Scotch, from the Grampians to the Cheviots, to teach their children to read. Their read- ing consisted of the Book of books, with a few other religious books as they slowly issued from the press. I am. so old-fashioned as to believe that never was a people so highly privileged for the cultivation of the loving and the gentle as these children of the Reformers were. I know many superstitions clung to them, yet above all these voices, "Thus saiththe Lord" sounded louder far than aught of "Witch or Warlock." Then, as now, some hearts were open to receive all the words of eternal life. The union of Scotland with England took place. The gentry went to London, to Parliament, etc., and learned English ways ; ambition began its dark career in the eighteenth century ; patronage showed its sad fruits ; Secession protested ; morals relapsed, and, sad to say, poor misguided Burns was disgusted with the cant and hypocrisy he saw around him in religious circles. 182 Literary Remains of Rev. Walter Inglis. I know not against whom he specially levels his sharp, stinging arrows. One thing is certain, if he had been consistent with his indomitable love of liberty he ought to have been a Seceder, and to have stood by the religion that helped the poor man against the great, a thing ** State clergy" never have done, except in rare instances.* The issue of all is that through storm and sunshine, through good report and bad report the Scotch glens and moorlands nursed a people, intelli- gent — for they knew their Bible; gentle — for their hearts were not torn by ambition ; loving — for they did not ramble up and down the country amongst strangers seeking new things. I know well the havoc wrought by the run of events on to the close of the eighteenth century. Yet a goodly remnant has continued to the present time. I know the kindness of the citizen, of the learned, of the public character, mingling largely as I have done -^^'ith men. I have tasted the freshness of the large-hearted English woman. Much kindness have I re- ceived, both in Africa and Canada. Yet, in spite of many compensating advantages, enjoyed by others, I have known no heart so gentle and so sweet as that of the woman or man who knew nothing, or at least very little, of the ways of the world, but loved the Bible and served the Lord God with a steadfastness that is to me won- derful. Sweetness and temper, tried with many tempta- tions from the sharp snell Scotch temper, that some- times plays like forked lightning around the gentle one. * As a matter of fact, Burns often went to hear the Rev. William Inglis, then Seceder Minister in Dumfries, and was, for doing so, frequently twitted by his cronies among the Established clergy. The reply of the poet was characteristic, and to the point :~*'I gang to hear Mr. Inglia because he is the only man amang ye that believes a word he says," Lectures. 183 High above passion's thunder-cloud the loving gentle heart held fellowship with God and man with unfal- tering peace. I beg you to mark this : this is not the gentleness of 'weakness, but the moral force of a won- derfully balanced mind. I dare say some can give instances of fiery quick-tempered men becoming calm at the very sight of their wives. I knew a man in this country whose temper seemed at times to be beyond all control, yet he never was known to meet his wife with a frown. There is a peace that passeth understanding, and I am convinced that amongst my countrymen, and especi- ally my countrywomen, there is a gentleness that no rudeness can shake, no bitterness sour. Yea, I have known instances of the gentle and the crabbed matched against each other for forty years, acting and re-acting upon each other with the varied play of life-producing influences. Whilst the perverse temper did not melt into thin air and chill the family atmosphere no more, this, I am certain, is the truth, that many a large lump of sweetness was thrown into the cup of the restless one, and rarely, very rarely, did the tartaric acid froth the cup of the strong, gentle spirit. There is such a thing as weak natural amiability yielding to the strong-willed, irregular, rasping temper, and becoming in old age a complaining, weary traveller in the journey of life, whining, ever whining. You will find others gathering dignified composure through the very troubles that have assailed them by the way. How fine to see a woman's heart tempered like a " Damascus blade," bending till ends meet, yet springing back without a twist or increase of weakness. My illustration is 184 Literary Remains of Rev. Walter tnglis. feeble, for the best of steel is not strengthened or improved by rough handlinst, but the true soul grows more elastic every time it is tried — break, never ; heroic evermore ; returning good for evil, not railing for railing ; no fits of concentrated gloom ; no freezing and thawing of tender affection ; no pouts and zeal for the good and the right, with impatient fervour. There are some people who imagine that husband and wife must have far less affection for each other in old age than in youth. Not necessarily so. You have all read and heard sung, ** John Anderson, my Jo, John." Burns was no dreaming German idealist : he photographed what he saw. His poetry is like glowing gold, crushed out of the hard quartz of everyday life. He had seen that kind, gentle, auld wifie, whose life was worthy of such words. Hats ever off, men, when they are said or sung — John Anderson, my Jo, John, we clamb the hill thegither, And mony a canty day, John, we've had wi' ane anither; Now, we maun totter doon, John, but hand-in-hand we'll go, And we'll sleep thegither at the fit, John Anderson, my Jo. Why this fresh, loving old age'? The childhood of all countries has a large amount of sameness ; but no- where can you find eld age presenting venerable sweet- ness, except where the Bible has been the life-long food of the tottering one. The charm to others of such characters is their humble unconsciousness of worth. There are very worthy people founa in society, but they know it as well. Aye, clever fellows, ready to teach everybody, both by word and example. Not so the genuine old Scot, whether man or woman. They Lectures. 185 never weary of the A B C of life ; let me reverse the keen, often-quoted lines of Burns : O wad some power the giftie gie us, To see oorsels as ithers see us ; It wad frae mony a blunder free us, And foolish notion. What a pity that our national bard was not granted vision, to sing in immortal verse the worth of those who never saw themselves as others see them ! Many, very many, there are that never could see anything in themselves but worthless weakness and sin, while others saw them far above their fellows in a beautiful, gentle life. Why this ignorance of self ? The reason to me is. very plain. Their vision has been arrested, like the Apostle John in the Isle of Patmos, with a sight of the Son of Man. It is impossible to see such a sight, and ever again be deceived by self-beauty or importance. There is such law in our nature as fasci- nation. Why ? It is in the lower animals. A head white as snow, emblematic of great age ; the Ancient of Days, worthy of reverence from the child of years. And what are ** threescore and ten " ? "A watch in the night." His eyes like fire (in such writing marvellous genius). Though the head is hoary, the eye is full of youthful fire; his feet like a warrior's limbs sheathed in polished brass, showing the kingly character ; his voice or words falling upon the ear like many waters ; the conscience hearing law like the coming in of old Ocean's tide. Just think of homely peasants keeping such exalted company, through all the toils and drud- geries of life ! When they thought of His toils and suf- ferings for them — for poor humanity — they felt them- 18i3 Literary Remains of Rev. Walter Inglia. selves equal to minister with a loving, gentle hand and heart to their family and neighbours. " See themselves as ithers see them." Aye, that would be a sight ! Others, looking upon all this wealth of soul of such utter unconsciousness, have been led to earnest prayer that a small portion of such a spirit may rest upon the poor, vain heart desirous of the praise of man. This is not fancy but fact, due to the memory of departed ones, dear, I trust, to many in this meeting. Alas ! for those whose recollections have no trace of men and women far, far superior to us. Due, I say, again, to the solitary shepherd's cot and peasant's humble home — due to the Giver of all good ; lifting up the poor from the dunghill. I know nothing of cloistered Madonnas. My countrywomen have been daughters of honest toil. One thing, the drooping eye, thought by many to be a sign of exalted piety is nowhere found in the glens and vales of Scot- land. Yet we have all seen eyes with guileless serenity able to look sin out of countenance. Before I pass to another division of my subject I desire to enter my protest against the vulgar fashion in laboured descriptions of youth and beauty to the neglect of grander middle and old age. So far as I am aware (but I have to admit my reading limited), a full-drawn portrait of the genuine Scotch mother is yet a want in literature. Dr. Brown, the celebrated author of "Bab and his Friends," seems to me the type of writer of such high and sacred work. He draws from life to the life. Who can ever forget the picture he draws of that gentle, suffering woman en- during the pangs of an operation for qanqer in the Lectures. ■ ' ' 187 breast in the hospital at Edinburgh ? No chloroform in those days to dull the edge of the knife as it went through quivering flesh. How the company of stu- dents were silenced and softened as she tendered her humble apology for any misconduct during the opera- tion. The conduct of James, the guidman, draws forth appreciation in the whole sad scene. Those of you who have not read the story cannot do better than join ^our library, were it for no other purpose than reading for yourselves the possibilities of human life. 0, that I could write an ode, an epic, on behalf of such patient, peaceful sufferers. .■^' I hear some one saying : ** Granted that there are many gentle, warm-hearted women, and some few, kind noodles of men. But what of the great mass of Scotchmen?" I wish to make this the backbone of my lecture. Further, I know that the great complaint against my countrymen is not the perfervidum inge- nium. ''Fine fellow, fine fellow; quick, like gun- powder, but it soon passes. I like him," quoth Mr. Highbent. The crime of Scotchmen, with many, is being Calvinistic and Presbyterian. ** It is not possible, sir, for such a man to be anything else than a sour, lean fanatic. Here's the rub ! Such men led on by these rude, ungentlemanly ministers' long harangues of sermons ; no genius in them — no geniality. The gloom of a Scotch Sabbath is fitted to ruii. any mind." One would think, to hear some folks talk, thaf John Knox ruined a fine people, and brought gloom to every man's hearth and pulpit throughout the length and breadth of the land. Let me ask men of all descrip- tions. What is there in Calvinism to make any man 188 Literary Remains of Rev. Walter Inglia, a gloomy, sour fanatic ? I know of nothing more ad- verse to a Calvinistic man than when the great Crea- tor tells a farmer to plough, sow, and reap, in order that he may eat. Why do men not turn lazy, surly knaves because God has burdened life with such in- tolerable burdens to genteel fingers ? Calvinism is certainly guilty of this. " Work out life " — don't try to dance it out. Presbyterianism ! Heigho ! Why, sir, Presbyterianism is becoming the balanced middle, both in Church and State, all over the world. The ghost of election has frightened some men to such an extent that it won't allow people to elect their minister, councils, or members of Parliament. What is Presby- terianism but in a constitutional sense the rights and liberties we so richly enjoy, both in the British Empire and the United States. ''Hold on," says Mr. Gay Jumping Jack, '*it is that awful, silent Scotch Sab- bath, backed by the Shorter Catechism, that has spoiled you — horrid creatures, that dare cease from babbling and gossip for one whole day!" "That is what has made Scotchmen long-faced, with high cheek bones and thin noses," says Mr. Lightfoot. If so, it will be interesting to watch the effects of the teachings of the various sects upon the flat-nosed faces. Let me ask. Are all grave men sour, bitter, fanatical ? Facts tell another tale. There is a grave man before you. He was once a gay-hearted youth. Why the change ? His sky became clouded; a dark, thunder -tempest burst over his soul. His fair, loved one, his young wife, withered and passed away. Or it may be a loved child, or some very dear friend, passed through the dark shadow of death. He is sad, but not sour ; Lectures. 189 grave, but not sullen. This is the case with true, gentle hearts in all lands. This is the cause of mul- titudes of Scotchmen being grave. The very depth and tenderness of their inmost souls render them incapable of ever forgetting the dear past. Hear the beatings of the true English heart in the words of the late Hon. Mrs. Norton : But many who thus mourn for thee sadly Soon joyous as ever shall be ; Thy fond orphan boy shall laugh gladly, As he sits on some kind comrade's knee. There is one who will still pay the duty Of tears for the true and the brave, As when first in the bloom of her beauty She wept o'er her soldier's grave. Aye, there is a love strong as death. Life strings broken, never to be mended. Why not with a tender conscience ? This is the very essence of Christianity. It is an old tradition that Jesus Christ was never known to laugh. Whatever truth there may be in tb ) legend, it is a fact, belonging to all ages and countries, that the purest, most loving, and intelligent men and women this world has ever seen have had an inex- pressible charm of the grave and dignified. This has been my experience. Without trenching upon the odious in comparison, the case with my countrymen stands thus : Their very intellectual power, their com- prehensive far-sightedness, the difficulties of life, both spiritual and temporal, render them deeply sensitive and relatively grave amongst the nations. This to me is a universal truth. Why those terrible fits of gloom that overshadowed i 190 Literary Remains of Rev. Walter Inglis. Burns' mind ? Hear him, poor fellow, addressing the **mousie": But, mousie, thou art no thy lane, In proving foresight maybe vain ; The best-laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft a-gley. And lea'e us nought but grief and pain For promised joy. Oh, sad words, the closing verse : Still thou art blessed compared wi' me, The present only toucheth thee ; But, och, I backward cast my e'e On prospects drear, An' forward though I canna see, I guess and fear. What scalding tears must have heen shed when he wrote the closing verses to a ** daisy " : Even thou who mourn'st the daisy's fate. That fate is thine —no distant date ; Stern Ruin's ploughshare drives elate, Full on thv bloom, Till crushed beneath the furrow's weight Shall be thy doom. The position that I take can be proved from our fine national music and songs. This is a subject for my musical brother, Mr. Thompson. Excuse a few words on both. The music of war's wild note is sharp and quick. Notes that kindle the heart to the white- heat glow of patriotic fire, the irresistible and fearless advanse upon the foe, is given in " Scots wha hae." But the deadly fray is over, and mourning for the dead commences. The same music is drawn out to double Lectures. 191 length, and you have the pathetic dirge of the '* Land o' the Leal." Hence the music of gentle mourners is all long-drawn semibreves. The wailing soul lingers on each note and word. Take the ** Flowers o' the Forest." The refrain is the very perfection of love and grief interpenetrated. ** Oor braw foresters are a' wed awa'." Again, ** Ma dear Heeland Laddie " : Ah, wae's me wi' their sodgerin sae gaudy O, The laird's wised awa' ma dear Heeland laddie ; Misty are the glens, and the dark hills sae dreary O, That aye seemed sae blythe wi' ma dear Heeland laddie O. Let me stop, for the number of such is manifold. The man that has no appreciation for such words and tunes has little in him. The same spirit delights in the long-drawn tunes in our churches. V/hen a church delights in nothing but lilts and reel tunes, you know for certain that all pathos has gone. This fact of pathos is not exclusively the expression of sorrow. Hear the fine song, "Braw, Braw Lads on Yarrow Braes"; or, — " Ca' the yowes tae the knowea, Ca' them where the heather grows, Ca' them where the burnie rows. My bonnie dearie. Hence the national heart can only be expressed by that marvellous use of the bow-hand when you make the violin give forth the finest of all instrumental music : Let organs bum wi' ghostly soond. Pianos peep and squall, man ; Gie me the fiddle's sweetest soond Tae mak' the tears doon fa', man. To beat time to the Scotch passions you have 192 Literary Remains of Rev. Walter Inglia. nowhere a quicker step in youthful joy and war's wild charge, neither have you a slower in lover's bower and sorrow's chamber. Oh ! very well, says a critical friend ; the class you speak of is comparatively small. You have admitted that the Scotch are a warlike race. How do you reconcile gentleness and war? I have stated that my countrymen have never shown an aggressive spirit. We have nearly always been on the defensive. Such a man can easily be bold and gentle. Take the following verses as a sample : He turned and left the spot ; * O, do not deem him weak ; * ; For dauntless wa