9^< 
 
 '<^ 
 
 / 
 
 SKKTCH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 LIFE AND LABORS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REV, 
 
 d 
 
 -Y 
 
 Of St. IVlarvs, N. S. 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. GEORGE PATTERSON, D. D, 
 
 (Reprinted froirj the H . &. F. M. Record of the Presbyteriaq Churcl^.) 
 
 »| 
 
 « 
 ^ 
 
 « 
 
 «^ 
 
 1889. 
 S. M. MACKENZ[E, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER, 
 
 New Glasgow, N. S 
 
 .^j^^^rinii ' II . 
 
 V 
 
 -^1 
 
SKBTCH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE AND LABORS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REV, JOHN giMPBELL 
 
 Of St. Marxs, N. S. 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. GEORGE PATTERSON, D. D. 
 
 (Reprinted frorT\ the H . &. M . Record of the Presbyteriaq Churchi. ) 
 
 ■■■ * 
 
 c- •..-,.:-:. V- :.'■.: -,-:. . .-■ 1889. 
 
 . . S. M. McKENZIE. KOOK AND JOB PRINTER. 
 Nkw Glasgow, N. S. 
 
^v '■ :( 
 
LATE REV. JOHN CAMPBELL. 
 
 EARLY TRAINING, 
 
 The Rev. John Campbell was bom at Scotch Hill, about four 
 miles from Pictou, on the 16th December, 1809. His parents 
 were pious emigrants from the island of Eig, one of the small 
 islands lying off the Western Coast of Scotland. They were per- 
 sons of little education, his father being unable to read, neither of 
 them familiar with English, Gaelic being their mother tongue. 
 They, however, feared God, his father being an elder in the con- 
 gregation of West River, then under the pastoral charge of the 
 late Rev. Duncan Ross. It is mentioned that, so well had he the 
 Scriptures stored in his memory, though himself unable to read, 
 that when his sons had acquired that art, though imperfectly, and 
 read the scriptures at family worship, he was able to correct them 
 when they made mistakes. He however died when his son was 
 yet young, leaving a considerable family in humble circum- 
 stances. His mother, however, survived to hear him preach the 
 gospel, and particularly rejoiced to hear it from him in the loved 
 strains of her own mountain tongue. 
 
 It will thus be seen that his youth was surrounded with few 
 outward advantages, so that he owed his progress in life ur.der 
 God mainly to his own exertions. The family being in but mod- 
 erate circumstances, and soon left without their natural head, 
 part of his early years was spent in severe toil, thus hardening 
 his bodily frame, which in after life showed an immense power 
 of endurance. But early his mind was directed to seek an edu- 
 cation, and for some time he daily walked from his home four 
 miles to attend the Grammar School at Pictou, and back at 
 night, having as companions in his daily journey Dr. Gordon, 
 since of Edinburgh, and Charles Robson, late of Halifax, both of 
 whom then resided on the West River road, some distance from 
 town. 
 
WAcnn 
 
 ('<)LLE(;iATK CUUhSE. 
 
 From tlie (Tramm.ir School he passed to liis colh'^iate course in 
 the Pictou Academy. Here, beside those just mentioned, h(; had 
 as fellow-students, several who have since distinguished them- 
 selves in various spheres, such as the late Dr. Ross, Principal of 
 Dalhousie Colle^^e, Sir Adams Archibald, Cliief Justice Ritchie of 
 the Supreme Court of Canada, and Dr. (Jeddie of Aneiteum. 
 
 In his course, V)oth at the (Grammar School and College, he mani- 
 fested those characteristics which distinguished him in after life. 
 As a student he was submissive to his superiors and attentive 
 to his duties. In his work he was plodding, and by industry suc- 
 ceeded in getting through his course with moderate credit, but 
 not njore. He never Ijore the palm of scholai'ship, and was sur- 
 passed by others, who have since either made little appearance in 
 life or have been totally unheard of. Hence, sonie who judged 
 from surface indications did not anticipate for him a brilliant 
 career. But, even then, he exhibited an originality of thought 
 and a native gift of expressing himself in out-of-the-way forms, 
 which to the more thoughtful indicated strong natural powers, 
 likely to make their impression in after years. Out of class he 
 was kind and generous, open-hearted, scorning everything like 
 meanness, and despising everything like show or pretence, with 
 Highland blood occasionally boiling over against wrong and in- 
 justice, gentle to the weak, but the very man to chastise a bully, 
 and foremost in everything calling for activity and daring. 
 
 THEOLOfiY. ^ 
 
 At the conclusion of his collegiate course he entered upon the 
 study of theology, under the late Dr. McCulloch. Till this time, 
 it must be admitted that he exhibited little of an earnest religious 
 character. He has himself said to us that up to the first year of 
 his Theological course, and to the preparation of his first sermon 
 for the Presbytery, (the text was John iii. 16) he had not given 
 an intelligent assent even to the doctrine of the atonement — that 
 his views of divine truth were altogether crude, and that, so far 
 as they had taken shape, they were opposed to the Evangelical 
 system. But about that time, by study and intercourse with 
 oti rs, particularly James McGregor of New Glasgow, when he 
 was there teaching, his views of the doctrines of grace became 
 clear and his adoption of them decided. From that time his 
 attachment to them only gathered strength with years, and his 
 religious course was as the shining light, shining more and more 
 unto the perfect day. 
 
 DEC 2 1950 
 
5 
 
 LICKXSUKK. 
 
 Ilavitiij coini)leted tho usual term of Thooloj^ical study, he was 
 licwnsed by tlie Presbytery of Pictou on the 2nd of May, IH.'il, 
 filonjj witli Dr. Geddie. It is somewhat sin<j;ular that two men, 
 who exhibited such shinini^ examples of devotion and self-sacri- 
 fieing toil, the one iu tlie Home Mission field and the other in the 
 Foreign, should luive thus started together. A more curious fact, 
 at least to the antiquarian, is that the minutes of the Presbytery 
 represent that the vote being put by the Moderator, "proceed to 
 license these young men or not," and being carried "proceed," an 
 aged father "craved that his dissent against this decision be 
 marked in the minutes." The fact would scarcely, for its sake, 
 Ix? worth digging out of the Presbytery records where, like a 
 celebrated Hy in amber, it is embalmed ; but the fact is of histori- 
 cal interest. The younger generation in the present day will 
 scarcely credit that up to this time, and even somewhat later, the 
 (question of training a native ministry was the subject of fierce 
 controversy- -that among Presbyterians outside of the Presby- 
 terian Cliurch of Nova Scotia the idea was not entei'tained for a 
 moment — and that even within her, not ignorant people merely, 
 but venerable ministers, looked upon nujasures for that end not 
 only with coldness, but with hostility, and that even later, native 
 ministers were not only held up to public ridicule, but found one 
 of their severest tiials in the want of sympathy, and even worse, 
 of fathers in the church, for the sole reason that they had been 
 boi-n and educated in America. The fact which we have quoted 
 was one of the latest manifestations of this prejudice, and we only 
 give it as throwing light on what may now be regarded as an 
 antiquarian curiosity in Ecclesiastical sentiment. 
 
 TWO PREACHERS. 
 
 r 
 
 On the following Sabbath they both commenced their public 
 ministry in the old Prince Street Church, Pictou ; and their ap- 
 pearance is one of the })ictures most vividly impressed upon the 
 memory of our boyhood. Similar as they were in spirit, there 
 was otherwise a great contrast lietween them. Dr. Geddie was 
 small in stature and in features, boyish looking, — ^he was just 22 
 years of age, — with modest and even seemingly diffident manner. 
 Mr. Campbell was some years his senior, tall, dark-complexioned, 
 while his thinly-compressed lips, firm set chin, and every line of 
 his countenance indicated manly energy and determination. In 
 speech, Mr. Geddie's doctrine distilled as the dew, as he gently 
 insinuated the truth in those regular and pleasing cadences, 
 
6 
 
 tliou;;)i of sli^^litly niclaiiclivily tone, afterward so faniiliH>* tlirou^h 
 tlie Churcli. Mr. Cainpl>ell appeared, as already discarding all 
 conventionalisiii of pulpit tone and expression, without any of the 
 arts of oratory, but in the firm tones of his powerful and melod- 
 ious voice, speak in<;; the truth in simplicity, hut with a decision 
 which bespoke a man that felt he had somethinj^ to say to you, 
 and meant that you should listen to it. Each had his gift, one 
 after this manner, and the other after that, and both have since 
 left their mark on the spheres where their lot was cast. 
 
 WORK OF A PUOBATIONER. 
 
 Being appointed to preach in St. Marys, he, on the 11th, 
 walked through to Lauchlan MoQuarry's, Caledonia, and on the 
 three following Sabbaths supplied that congregation. The result 
 was that the people immediately took steps to call liim to be their 
 minister. 
 
 At the end of that month he proceeded to Truro, the congre- 
 gation there then recjuiring a minister, owing to their pastor, the 
 Kev. John Waddell, being nearly incapacitated foi* public duty. 
 Here he preached on the first three Sabbatlis of June, and his 
 labors were so acceptable that urgent solicitations were addressed 
 to him by members of the congregation *"o settle there. 
 
 He was subsequently sent for six weeks to Prince Edward 
 Island, during which time he visited Cascumpeque. There was 
 then no road from Lot 16 to that place, and the only way of 
 reaching his destination was by travelling on foot. Young, 
 vigorous and determined, he would have thought little of this, 
 ])ut unfortunately he had put on a pair of boots so tight, that 
 before he had accomplished half the distance, his feet were blis- 
 tered in such a manner that he was scarcely able to proceed, 
 when he reached the house of a gentleman, who kindly sent him 
 around a considerable portion of the remaining distance in a boat. 
 He used to tell of a narrow escape for his life, which he had dur- 
 ing this visit. In crossing Cascumpeque Bay, the boat having 
 too little ballast, was nearly capsized. The passengers were 
 obliged to lie down in the bottom of the boat to help to keep her 
 steady, and only by great care on the part of those in charge was 
 she brought safely to the land. They were told afterward that 
 their escape was a miracle, as their situation was more dangerous 
 than any on board were aware of. 
 
 While a probationer, he also supplied Cape John, where be 
 tii*st attempted to preach in Gaelic. The result was that the 
 people there were led to make an eflbrt to obtain his services and 
 
took measures to \)e organized as a congro/^fation, but the violence 
 of party contention afterwards l»r'v:«(ht the movement to nouglit. 
 In the meantime tlie call from 8' . M.irys was sustained by the 
 Presbytery, and at their meeting on the '2'2i\d August it was pre- 
 sented to him. At the same meeting was presented "a petition 
 from the congiegation of Truro, representing that Mr. John 
 Campbell had been preaching to that congregation for some time 
 past with great acceptance, that they were very unanimous to 
 have him as their minister, and praying the Presbytery to post- 
 pone his settlement at St. Marys, till they have an opjmrtunity of 
 presenting him with a call." 
 
 SETTLEMENT. 
 
 He had, however, fixed his mind on St. Marys. Members of 
 the Presbytery had destined him for that place. " Man proposes 
 but God disposes." The adage is often quoted as pointing out 
 the difference between the purposes of God and of man. But in 
 this case the proposal of man, the disposal of God, and his own 
 inclination combined. The manner in which these tv/o congre- 
 gations have been supplied, we have always regarded as a remark- 
 able exhibition of the wisdom in which the great head of the 
 church raises up men suited to different sphei-es. 
 
 STATE OF ST. MARY's. 
 
 He was accordingly ordained at Glenelg, on the first of Nov- 
 ember, 1838. His congregation was then thinly scattered along 
 the St. Marys River from the Head of Caledonia to its mouth, a 
 distance of about thirty miles, and up the East Brfinch a distance 
 of twelve or fifteen more in another direction, embracing in fact 
 half of a county. In no part of the district was there a road fit 
 for a carriage, the only roads being mere footpaths or bridle paths, 
 in some places little more than mere openings cut in the woods 
 with a pathway full of holes, made by the horses feet, in regular 
 order, in which each animal stepped in most orthodox fashion, 
 with clay banks between them, varied by roots and rocks, render- 
 ing footing still more dangerous. There was not a wheeled car- 
 riage within the whole bounds of the congregation. We have 
 heard him tell, that a year or two after his settlement, some ladies 
 having come round from Halifax by water, and being desirous of 
 getting to Pictou by land, all they could get in the shape of con- 
 veyance for that purpose, consisted of the wheels and some other 
 remains of an old chaise, with which one of the Archibalds 
 
8 
 
 liad brought home his wife, and which, witli some patcliiiig, serv- 
 ed the purpose. 
 
 Even four years later, when lie was married, there was only one 
 wheeled carriage in his congregation. This was a heavy double 
 seated wagon, brought through by the late Jonathan Blanchard, 
 of Pictou, and purcliased by the late Alexander Archibald. Even 
 then Mr. C. had to hire a chaise on the East River of Pictou to 
 take home his bride, and such was the state of the roads that Mr. 
 A.'s wagon, having been employed for the conveyance of some 
 friends in the congregation, who accompanied him on the occasion, 
 was UDset on the way, and some of his wife's friends accompany- 
 ing him home in the chaise were thrown out by the jolting of 
 their vehicle as it passed over the roughnesses of the road. It was 
 a year later, or five years after his settlement, before there was 
 a wheeled carriage in Sherbrooke, the first being an old fashioned 
 '* fly," owned by Hugh McDonald, Esq. 
 
 IIARDSIIlrS. 
 
 These facts will give an idea of the physical toil, wich the dis- 
 charge of his pastoral duties involved. In other iespects, his 
 prospects were not more promising. The soil of the district, with 
 the exception of some intervale farms, is not of the best quality, 
 and the people relied largely on lumbering for subsistence, but for 
 the sale of farn) produce they were far from market, and the 
 lumber they were obliged to ship to Halifax, where after expenses 
 were paid, the return was often but small. In these circum- 
 stances money was rather a rare article. All the salary tliey could 
 then offer was the magnificent sum of one hundred pounds (| 400) 
 and he soon found that even this was not to be paid fully or re- 
 gularly. 
 
 At the time of his marriage, four years after his settlement, 
 there was nothing that could be called a shop, within the bounds 
 of the congregation, so that the family supplies, usually purchased 
 at such a place, required to be brought from Pictou, New Glasgow 
 or Halifax, and there was no resfular convevance to anv of them. 
 
 As to the moral and religious condition of the people, the 
 reports we have heard have not been by any means favourable. 
 The first settlers were cither from Pictou or Truro, and had re- 
 tained to some extent their religious habits, and he was supported 
 by a worthy band of elders, all of whom have fallen asleep. But the 
 population was mixed, and the state of religion and religious 
 morals low. In glancing at the minutes of the Session during 
 the first year of Mr. C.'s ministry, we find them refusing to bap- 
 
tise for certain parties, who had applied for that ordinance, as 
 they say, "on account of their total ignorance of the most es- 
 sential doctrines of religion." There were then only twelve com- 
 municants in Sherbrooke, and besides the people had become divi- 
 ded under the ministry of his predecessor. 
 
 Taking all the circumstances into consideration, we think that 
 but few of our ministers have entered upon a harder field, and we 
 think it scarcely possible, for a young man in our church at tlie 
 present day, to be called to a situation involving more difficulties 
 and hardships or presenting less hopeful prospects. And the 
 change since effected, affords, we think, strong encouragement to 
 our young ministers, to labor in hope amid whatever difficulties 
 tliey may be called to encounter. Though sowing in tears they 
 shall reap in joy. By persevering in toil, they shall in due time 
 come again, bringing tlieir sheaves and rejoicing. 
 
 t:a-;, -^ :,:•;-"'■;.: .--A..- ./' HIS WORK. 
 
 Difficult as tjie field was, however, it was the choice of his 
 Iieart. From the first he was strongly attached to his congrega- 
 tion, and he entered upon his labors with his whole soul. He 
 was not a man who could do anything by halves, and he tlwew 
 himself into his work with all the characteristic energy of his 
 nature. He preached regularly at three places, Glenelg and 
 Sheibrooke, where there were two old and small places of wor- 
 ship, and at Caledonia, where there was none, each of which 
 places was to receive a third of his time ; besides holding occasion- 
 al services in various nooks and corners of his congregation. For 
 this work he prepared carefully, studying diligently as his time 
 permitted, writing out his sermons in full and committing them 
 to memory. He also, regularly every year, visited all the families 
 in his congregation, and held diets of examination in the different 
 sections, besides attending to ti»e various calls from sickness and 
 other causes, which make such inroads upon a minister's time. 
 
 The discharge of these duties over so an extended field of labor 
 and in the state of tlie country at that time, involved an amount 
 of physical toil, which the present generation cannot appreciate. 
 For some time all liis travelling between the different sectiolis of 
 his congregation, as well as in pastoral work, was on horseback, 
 so that he was for days in the saddle. He was six or seven years 
 a minister before he had a carriage, partly from want of means 
 to get one, and partly from the state of tho roads, which rendered 
 riding on horseback the quickest, safest and most convenient 
 mode of travel. Even after he did get a carriage most of his 
 
10 
 
 travelling continued to be by the same mode. But no difficulties 
 deterred him from the prosecution of his work. Come storm, 
 come rain, be the roads in deep mire or deeper snow banks, he 
 would fulfil his appointments, even when the people did not ex- 
 pect him to do so, and wished him to avoid such exposure. 
 Naturally ardent in temperament, determined in what he under- 
 took, and adventurous in disposition, he seemed most at home in 
 encountering difficulties, which most other men would have re- 
 garded as impossibilities. Instances of this might be given, for 
 example of his starting ^rom home on Monday and riding all 
 night, and over the roads as they then were, to attend a meeting 
 of the Presbytery on Tuesday forenoon at Tatamagouche — of his 
 travelling to New Glasgow after a freshet, which had carried 
 away every bridge between the East River and Glenelg — of hear- 
 ing of his mother's illness after dark, and mounting his horse at 
 ten o'clock, to ride all night in the mud of December roads, and 
 through the long stretch of dark woods lying between Pictou and 
 St. Marys, to reach her home only to find that she had breathed 
 her last before his arrival — of his crossing Pictou harbor when 
 the ice was so bad that on arriving at the town he was obliged to 
 have planks placed from the ice to the wharf to land his horse — 
 of his returning home from a fatiguing mission to Guysboro and 
 Canso on Saturday evening, finding letters from Cape Breton in- 
 forming him that a congregation there was distracted, and in 
 danger even of being destroyed by the eflforts of sectaries, and 
 starting on Wednesday, riding the whole distance on horseback, 
 arriving on Saturday and preaching the same day, at once en- 
 countering the dogs who were tearing the little flock to pieces, 
 and ceasing not his labors until he had seen it established in 
 safety. Such feats, for we can call them nothing less, so long as 
 he had health, were his life and pleasure, and were thought and 
 spoken of as ordinary occurrences. We believe that at the time 
 of his death there was not a man in Nova Scotia that had ridden 
 as many miles on horseback as he had done. 
 
 In connection with his early life and settlement in St. Marys, 
 the following extract of a letter written on the occasion of the 
 death of the Rev. John McKinlay, of Pictou, may be of interest 
 to show how he traced his success to 
 
 PRAYER ANSWERED. 
 
 " I have some very agreeable reminiscences of him. I attended 
 the Grammar School when he taught it, and recollect his 
 appearance when in the full vigor of youth and health. He visited 
 
11 
 
 St. Mary's in 1836, a year before I came. The congregation was 
 vacant. He dispensed the Lord's Supper with them. After all 
 was over he encouraged them to wait with patience, and that a 
 minister would be sent — that there was one young man under 
 the Presbytery that would suit them — a young man too of a most 
 excellent character, as he knew him well, and that he would be 
 sent here, so soon as he was licensed. Your humble servant was 
 the young man. I did not hear of this for several years after I 
 came here, but I know that I was benefited by it. It strength- 
 ened my liands and placed me at once beyond suspicion among 
 strangers. 
 
 , "Mr. McK. ordained me here on the 1st Nov., 1837, thirteen 
 years ago. He knew very well that the ^jongregation was in a 
 distracted state — and that the minister who took charge of it 
 would have a difficult task, and he prayed very enmestly that I 
 might be qualified for the work and be successful. I believe I 
 have done, or been the means of doing something, and who 
 knows but his earnest supplication on my behalf on that day has 
 been the means through which I have been enabled to hold on. 
 But ho has left us. Yet how deep an interest he must now take 
 in us. Could he speak to us would he not say, work, work, your 
 Master is worthy of all and much more than you can do for him. 
 When you come here you will find that you have not been 
 sufficiently diligently in his services." 
 
 WONDERFUL DELIVERANCE. . J v^ ; - 
 
 In his early labors he met with many incidents, some ludicrous, 
 some serious and some even dangerous. We shall give one which 
 he regarded as the most remarkable deliverance from death 
 which he experienced during his life. It pccured a year or two 
 after his ordination. 
 
 He had been engaged to assist the late Rev. Mr. Patrick at his 
 communion in Merigomish, in the month of March. The winter 
 liad been stormy and the snow lay heavy on the ground. He 
 proceeded thither by way of Antigonish, travelling as usual on 
 horseback. He reached that place the first day and spent the 
 night at Mr. Trotter's. At that time there were only two routes 
 thence to Merigomish, the one by the post road round the Gulf 
 shore, the latter over the Antigonish mountains. The latter was 
 over steep hills and the road was extremely rough, but it was at 
 least ten miles shorter, and this circumstance induced many trav- 
 ellers to prefer it, as they could generally accomplish the distance 
 in a sliorter time and with less fatigue to their horses than they 
 
could be tlie otliei-. Mr. Campbell was led to choose this route 
 oil this occasion, and the next morning started after breakfast. 
 He had, however, not started long on his journey before snow com- 
 menced falling. Not anticipating danger, he still pressed on- 
 ward; but the snow continued even heavier than at lirst ; and the 
 wind ros'^. until he was involved in a regular snow stoi m. He was 
 then too far on to think of turning back, or at all events he 
 was so accustomed to go through with what he undertook, that 
 he thought only of going forward. The road, having been but 
 little travelled, was somewhat deep and difficult even at starting, 
 but as the snow continued it became worse and worse, and f^re, 
 long lie found it impossible to continue riding, and he was obliged, 
 to dismount, take the bridle in his hand and go ahead, trampling 
 the snow before the horse. On the most level spot the snow was 
 deep, so that this involved an amount of toil, which those only 
 who have tried to go any distance in deep snow or storm can un- 
 derstand; but then came bank after bank, in which for a time 
 his horse would sink, so that it required great exertion on the 
 part of both to extricate him. Thus h e continued all day, and 
 night came upon him when little more than half of his journey 
 had been accomplished. There were very few settlers on the 
 mountain, and owing to the failure of the ci-ops for some years, 
 several of them had left. He had therefore toiled all day without 
 meeting a place where he coul^ obtain shelter for either himself 
 or horse. 
 
 Those who have travelled the mountain road will recollect a 
 deep valley about half way a t. ss. There the road made a long 
 and rather steep despent on the one side, to mount by a long and 
 steep an ascent on the other. Night came upon him as he reached 
 this place, and the storm was sci».rcely, if at all, abated. The 
 strength of both himself and his horse was by this time nearly 
 gone. He managed, however, to descend the valley, but on at- 
 tempting to ascend the other side, the snow had accumulated to 
 suck a depth under the shelter of the hill, that with a few more 
 plunges, the horse got so deeply imersed in a snow bank as to 
 be utterly helpless to extricate himself, and his owner was equally 
 unable to do anything for his relief. 
 
 His case now seemed desperate. He was utterly unable to 
 rescue his horse, and his own strength, from the toil of the day 
 and want of food, was so nearly gone that he could scarcely pro- 
 ceed further, even if the road was passable. His only hope of 
 safety was to find a house. Mr. Trotter had warned him in the 
 morning that he would find a certain number of the houses he 
 first met were deserted, but after passing these he would 
 
13 
 
 reach one inhabited. And now, with what energy he could rally, 
 leaving his horse so nearly buried in the snow bank that only his 
 head and part of his neck was visible, he started in the hope of 
 finding some human habitation. Hope revived as he came to a 
 fsnce and a small clearing, but following the fence he was soon 
 filled with utter dismay., as the first view he got of a house showed 
 all the windows out, giving too plain indications that the inhabi- 
 tants had left. Now lie gave himself up entirely. He had strug- 
 gled all day with etforts the most fatiguing that can be conceived 
 — there was no hope of any person passing by to relieve him, as 
 little of his finding any house near, and if there werf. he would 
 scarcely have been able to reach it. In these circumstances he 
 sank down in utter exhaustion of body and blank despair of mind. 
 
 And then he began to think of his condition. After such 
 storms there was no hope of that road being travelled till the 
 melting of the snow in spring. He was to die, that was now cer- 
 tain, his body was to be buried in snow, and then he began to 
 picture the finding of his body in spring, perhaps half consumed. 
 With such thoughts a horror of thick darkness came over him. 
 But one resource remained, and accordingly he addressed his 
 earnest prayers for help to Him who rules the storm, and at the 
 same time gave a loud call for help. He told us that the cry was 
 uttered more from horror at his situation than from any expecta- 
 tion of relief, but to his amazement he heard the next instant the 
 bark of a dog. He used ever after to give it as an example of 
 speedy answer to prayer, and to him it was a practical demon- 
 stration tiiat God hears the supplications of his children, as con- 
 vincing as any experiTuent in Professor Tyndall's laboratory 
 would be of a truth in phisical science. Such was his desperate 
 condition at the time that he could scarcely believe it possible 
 that he had really heard the welcome sound, but still he believed 
 he could not be deceiv^ed. It was enough to rally his remaining 
 strength, and he again started up and proceeded in the direction 
 of the sound. Soon he saw a light, and soon again be ieached a 
 little hut. The door was opened by an Irishman, who looked at 
 him with an almost startled look, and whose first salutation, after 
 recovering a little from his astonishment, was an enquiry, coupled 
 with the name of the evil one, as to wbl) he was, and the second 
 was the complimentary exclamation : "What a fool you are to be 
 out an night like this." "Fool or not," was the reply, *'I am here 
 and my horse is in a snow bank, and I want something to eat 
 for myself and some help to get him out." 
 
 The family who were Irish Romanists, did not object to giving 
 him the shelter he asked, but it was with difficulty he could • per- 
 
suade tlie men to go to attempt to relieve his liorse. However 
 at his earnest solicitation, two men started with a little hay, he 
 promising to follow as soon as he had eaten and rested a little. 
 They had no food in the house but potatoes and a little milk. 
 Having partaken of this and rested a little, he started on his re- 
 turn to where he had left his horse, but had only proceeded »: 
 short distance when he met the men returning without his horse. 
 "A hundred men wouldn't take that horse out of there to-night," 
 was their exclamation. He could not, however, consent to give 
 up the poor brute in that way, and urged them to accompany him 
 to make another effort to extricate him. They were very un- 
 willing to do so, but yielded to his solicitations. On arriving at 
 the spot only ths horse's head was above the snow. He had, 
 however, eaten some of the hay that had been brought to him, and 
 refreshed, he was ready to make a new effort. The storm, too, 
 had now abated. With their united exertions, the horse was at 
 length relieved, and he was taken to shelter for the night. 
 
 He learned afterwards that the dog was an old useless creature 
 that usually lay about the chimney. On this occasion the man 
 had gone out to see if the storm was abating. He came in and 
 shut the door without observing that the dog was out, but almost 
 immediately atter heard the bark, and by this simple incident oc- 
 curring just at that instant Mr. Campbell's life was saved. 
 
 The next morning he was ready to proceed on his journey, but 
 it was hopeless for him to attempt to take his horse the rest of 
 the w^ay. He therefore obtained a pair of snow shoes, but in or- 
 dir to fasb3n them on hi^ f33t, he was obliged to use his pocket 
 handkerchief for the one and his neck handkerchief for the other. 
 Fitting himself out in this way, he proceeded to cross that part of 
 the mountain still lying between him and Merigomish, and in due 
 tim? reiched the houne of the late John McDonald, Barney's 
 River, which stood at the end of the mountain road, where it 
 comes out upon the Barney's River road. He was hospitably en- 
 tertained, and arrang3m3nt3 were mads to have the horse brought 
 roand by the Gulf. 
 
 OTHER INCIDENTS. 
 
 Ths iujidenb recorded at the close of our last notice, was not 
 the only one involving peril to life which we have heard. We 
 giv3 another eximple. A numbsr of years later, after "the 
 Guysboro Road," so cille:l, wa^ op3n, h3 was returning 
 hom3 from Gaysboro in his cirriaga The woods on the side 
 of the road caught fire, and his path was enveloped in smoke; 
 
;;,_-■;_ 15 : 
 
 Tf^ escape he urged his horse to a quicker pace, when a sudden 
 and &3vere gale of wind cleared away the smoke, but at the same 
 time brought a large tree crushing across the road right before 
 him. He did not see it coming until he was almost under it. 
 He iiad only time to draw his horse round a little out of the way, 
 when down it came, so near that some of the branches actually 
 brushed his horse and waggon. It was afterwards fo^ind, that 
 the bridle of his horse had scratches made upon it by some of the 
 limbs. One second later, and he or the horse, or probably both, 
 would have been crushed. 
 
 Passing by many incidents of his early ministry, by which in 
 later years, he was wont to interest or amuse his friends, in the 
 hours of his social intercourse, we shall give one which we deem 
 charp.cteristic of all concerned. A woman in his congregation 
 was married to a Roman Catholic. She retained her faith, and he 
 at least had nc"^ positively relinquished his. On his death Mr. C. 
 was sent for to visit the afflicted family. He immediately mount- 
 ed his horse, and rode toward the scene, which was some miles 
 distant. In the meantime word of his coming had circulated among 
 the Romanists, and their suspicions were excited that it was con- 
 nected with some designs upon the faith of the departed. They 
 accordingly assembled, determined to resist to the death any at- 
 tempt to convert him to Protestantism. As Mr. C. drew near, 
 he was met by some of his own people, who entreated him not to 
 go near the place — saying that the Irish had gathered and would 
 do Iiim bodily harm — that his life even would ?iot be safe among 
 them. With his usual boldness, he laughed at their fears, and 
 held on his way. As he approached the house, sure enough he 
 saw the Romanists gathered in a group in the pathway, right in 
 front of the house, and he could see in their sullen countenances 
 that mischief was in their hearts. Howe; er, he never drew" rein, 
 hiit came boldly forward, and as he came up to the group, seeing 
 that they did noc move to show any disposition to let him pass, 
 he plunged his spurs into his horse, which was a lively spirited 
 animal, and at one bound the faithful creature sprang into the 
 midst of them, scattering them right and left. Before they could 
 recover from their surprise, he waa through them, hearing iiuch 
 exclamations after him, as : "Ah, he's a bould fellow," while none 
 followed to molest him. 
 
 Tying his horse, he entered the house, and spent some time 
 with the afflicted family, ministering such consolation as he could, 
 the disconcerted party outside, meanwhile hovering around, still 
 doubtful as to what design the Protestant minister might have on 
 their departed brother. He then left the house and mounted his 
 
16 
 
 horse, and as he did so addressed them, "I suppose you thought I 
 intended to take M. and mako a Protestant of him after he was 
 dead. No, I came to comfort the living, to do the widow and 
 fatherless any good I can." After adding a few words explana- 
 tory of the Protestant opinion on the subject, he started for home. 
 
 OTHER CONGREGATIONAL LABOURS. 
 
 In country districts, and especially in the newer settlements, 
 the want of men of education and business habits, fitted to take 
 the lead in public affairs or to manage the general concerns of the 
 community, often throws upon ministers a large amount of 
 business, which does not properly belong to their olfice. The 
 position of matters in St. Marys at the time of Mr. Campbell's 
 settlement, devolved on him *or mpny years an unusual share of this 
 kind of work. In general cnurch as well as congregational busi- 
 ness, he had often to take the lead, or the matter would not be 
 attended to, while in regard to the general social interests of the 
 community he v. as often obliged to take an active part in matters 
 beyond the line of his proper ministerial work. The education of 
 the district largely depended upon him for improvement. He was for 
 a number of years Clerk of the Board of School Commissioners, an 
 office involving considerable labor. Apart from this he had 
 much to do in arousing the people to proper efforts to establish 
 and maintain schools among them ; and then again, it often be- 
 came his duty to press upon their representatives for improved 
 roads, or to enlighten the Government of the day as to the nec- 
 essity of increased postal accommodation. . 
 
 In illustration of the state of society previous to Mr. C's. 
 settlement was we may mentian that his predecessor had received 
 His then Gracious Majesty's commission as a justice of the peace. 
 "What ?" we can imagine a surprised reader exclaim "a Presbyte- 
 rian minister a magistrate. To issue summonses, to seize men's 
 goods, and to abjudge them to jail ! Did the Presbyterian 
 church really tolerate such a mingling of things sacred and civil ?" 
 Well don't be alarmad, the explanation is easy. At that time 
 Government issued licenses to marry, only to the ministers of the 
 Episcopal Church. Other ministers celebrated the ordinance 
 only by proclamation of banns. Around St. Marys were a 
 number of settlements where the people had no Episcopal minist- 
 ers to marry them by license, and no church in which to be pro- 
 claimed. But Government, that would not issue licences to 
 Presbyterian ministers would issue them to magistrates, without 
 inquiring as to what religious profession they belonged, orwhether 
 
they belonfjed to any. Hence there was not unfreqiiently 
 witnessed the farcical or disgusting scene of a drunken or godless 
 magistrate niuniblin ; prayer in connection with the solemn ser- 
 vice, v/hicli the dissenting minister, so called, was not pt'rmitted 
 to perform. But the Presbyterian minister of St. Marys was able 
 to solve the difficulty by getting a conmiission as a justice of the 
 peace, and thus was able to act in both capacities, and give the 
 parties the benefit of botli church and state. There being a large 
 district of country .around, witliout i minister of any denomin- 
 ation, a large number came to 1.' •. \om the surrounding harbors 
 and settlements, attracted perhap. j,s '^ell by tlie extra privileges 
 he was able to afford ; and as such extra privileges "were worthy 
 of extra pay, and liberal pay too, the business added sometiung to 
 his income. We think it worth while sometimes iookinjr a little 
 
 at the good old times. 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 While St. Marys, at the time of Mr. Campbell's settlement, ex- 
 hibited a community to some extent at least under religious in- 
 fluence, the settlements around the shore, where the people were 
 generally engaged in fisUing, were in a state of spiritual darkness 
 almost if not quite total. Mr Campbell used to give examples, 
 partly amusing and partly painful of the ignorance he founo 
 among them. When asking parties to what church they l?e- 
 longed, the common reply was "St. Paul's," alluding to the edifice 
 so named in Halifax, which they saw on their visits there, and 
 which they had been taught to recognize as their church. 
 
 Mr. Campbell, wliile always regular in discharging all the dut- 
 ies of the pastoral office throughout the whole extent of his con- 
 gregation, showed much Zealand spent much labor, especially in 
 the earlier period of his ministry, in extending the Gospel to the 
 regions beyond. Most of the settlements from St. Marys to 
 Canso, and some to the westward of St. Marys, w^ere visited by 
 him, and several times he visited Cape Breton, in portions of 
 which his lab urs are still remembered with gratitude. The fol- 
 lowing memorandum; found among his papers since his decease, 
 will afford an idea of his energy in prosecuting such work : 
 
 "Left home on Friday for Guysboro and Canso; arrived at 
 Guysboro, on Friday night ; preached at Clam Harbor on Satur- 
 day, and at Guysboro twice on Sabbath. On Monday preached 
 at Crow Harbor, on Tuesday and Wednesday at Canso. On 
 Thursday morning preached at Crow Harbor, at 12 o'clock at 
 Jamison's, and again at Guysboro at 4 o'clock. Returned by 
 
- 18 
 
 Antigonisli and readied home after dark on Saturday. Preached 
 at Caledonia on Sabbath. Found letters awaiting nie, urging me 
 to proceed to Mabou without delay. Left home on Wednesday, 
 preached at Port Hood on Friday, at Mabou on Saturday. Re- 
 mained t .vo Sabbaths, preaching almost eveiy day or evening. 
 Returning home was detained at the Strait of Canso by a storm, 
 and only got within eight miles of Glenelg on Saturday night. On 
 Sabbath morning reached the churcli and found my people all as- 
 sembled, waiting for rne. I bless God for putting me into the 
 ministry, and hope that I may be enabled to continue in it till the 
 end of my days. In four weeks and three days I have travelled 
 470 miles on the same horse, and preached 3.5 times, besides de- 
 livering private addresses." 
 
 The increase of his own congregation, and the failure of his 
 strength, to which we shall presently advert, prevented the pros- 
 ecution of this kind of work as he desired; and the want of minis- 
 ters at that time, prevented the Presbyterian Church from 
 following up his labours; and thus the opportunity of occupying 
 a large and promising field of home missionary effort passed away, 
 and even ground which had been occupied was lost. 
 
 INTEREST IN GENERAL CHURCH BUSINESS. 
 
 Mr Campbell, though his whole career, manifested the deepest 
 interest in all the efforts of our church, for the extension and 
 pei-petuation of the Redeemer's cause on earth. The intimate 
 companion of Dr. Geddie during his student life, he warmly sup- 
 ported the Foreign Mission from its inception. Often in public, 
 he invoked the Divine blessing on the movement; and, among his 
 jottings for private prayer, were found on his study table, when 
 he was removed from it, the words— "Missions, New Hebrides, 
 &c.— Dr. Geddie." 
 
 But we venture to say that Home Missions had quite as large 
 a place in his heart. His views of his call as a minister of Christ 
 and his circumstances, combined to make him as truly a mission- 
 ary as a pastor; and we know of no minister in our church, or in 
 the Lower Provinces, who displayed a more intelligent and 
 apostolic zeal for the evangelization of our whole population. 
 This zeal sometimes displayed itself in prayers and efforts to in- 
 crease the number of our students and ministers; and again in a 
 forwardness to seize on important positions to be occupied for 
 the Master, from which to press forward to others beyond. 
 As one example of this, we venture to say that his zeal and 
 promptings had more to do with the initiation and success of the 
 
19 
 
 movement, which issued in the formation of Pophvr CJrove now 
 Pcirk Street Church, than the efforts of any one person within or 
 without the city of Halifax. 
 
 But he loved tiie prosperity of Zion on every side and in all 
 aspects — rejoicing in the progress of his own church — but not the 
 less in every triumph of tiie Redeemer's Kingdom. He was never 
 absent from a meeting of Syiod, till ill-health forced him to stay 
 at home. And altiwugh his isolated position, distant from the 
 central portions of uhe church, prevented his being actively en- 
 gaged in the management of the public business of the church, 
 yet none felt deeper interest in all her measures, and, as far as he 
 had opportunity, he spared no etfoH for their promotion. 
 
 His active mind was often engaged in revolving plans for 
 the advancement of the interests of religion. The following ex- 
 tract of a letter, whatever weight we attach to his views, may 
 be regarded as characteristic of the man: — 
 
 ''I think we are not doing enough for the cause of our Master. 
 My own health has been so bad for some time, that I could 
 hardly get along at home. It is better now a great deal, but I 
 dare not venture above a certain distance yet. If my health con- 
 tinue, I will try to do more to advance the interests of religion 
 than I am doing. In Pictou, where there so many of our minis- 
 te?*s and people together, I think that more ought to be done. 
 The cause of general education is in a very backward state in our 
 Province, might tliere not be a meeting to stir up the people to do 
 more for it. The cause of sabbath schools is in a backward con- 
 dition, something should be done to advance it. It would answer 
 H good purpose to have meetings somethings for no other purpose, 
 than to advance the cause of piety. Our Presbyterial visitations 
 are very good, but sometimes more is needed. Two or three 
 ministers appointed to attend meetings of that nature in our 
 congregations, would do much good. We now have nothing 
 particular in the way of "confirming the churches." You know 
 I am not an Episcopalian, and you know I dont believe in their 
 confirmation. But it has originated in something that was done 
 by the apostles. Then churches were confirmed. There were 
 stated ministers no doubt in every church, but Paul went about 
 confirming and exhorting the churches. There is nothing of the 
 kind, now at least we do not recognize it as our duty to use any 
 particular means to confirm believers. Just think of it now. 
 Would it not be a good thing in your coixgregation, if one or two 
 good ministers appeared for the express purpose of strengthening 
 them in the faith. How freely they could speak to them respect- 
 ing matters that cannot be touchecf by yourself with safety. I 
 
20 
 
 am Rum soinetliinji: of tlie kind woulfl do ^'Ood l>ei*e. 
 
 "I think, after this, wo nuist be more purticular in the wlretion 
 of our moderator for Syno<l, and send him round during the year 
 to all our conjDfregations. Lot !iim attend all ordinations 
 and inductions, and preside in them. You are ahout to say, 
 its time for you to stop, but you need not. I can see no danger 
 from this and no Episcopacy in it." 
 
 » ' ;! ■ ; ' FAILUilE OF HEALTH 
 
 The view which we have given of Mr. Campbell's labours may 
 give an idea, hut it will )je a very imperfect one, of the toils 
 of his ministry, and the spirit in which he prosecuted it. But 
 one circumstance remains to l)e noticed, which, in the opinion of 
 those V>est acquainted with the case, probably more strikingly 
 manifested the energy and determination of his character, than 
 anything that has been mentioned. Tt is that for many years he 
 pursued his labours under bodily ailments of the most distressing 
 nature. Soon after his settlement, he began to experience occas- 
 ional bilious attacks, probably in some measure caused or at least 
 atjgravated by his almost constant riding on horse back. These in- 
 creased in frequency and violence, until he became subject to al- 
 most constant indigestion. Our opinion is that had he, at an 
 early stage of his complaint, taken an entire rest and gone from 
 home, it might have V)een the means of entire restoration. But 
 the necessities of the sphere of his labours seemed to allow him 
 no opportunity *or rest. During his whole ministry, he took only 
 two sabbaths to himself. Even when he went to svnod, if the 
 meeting was in Pictou or New Glasgow, he returned home on 
 Saturday to preach on Sabbath. The people in each of the sec- 
 tions, having preaching only once in three weeks, and in winter, the 
 weather so often being sucli that the old and very young could not 
 vei-y well attend, he felt the loss of one day in summer so much 
 to them that he would not beabsent if possible to avoid it. His ener- 
 getic nature carried him through his work, even amid pain and 
 langour. "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;" and 
 never have we known the saying more remarkably fulfilled, than 
 in the manner in which Mr. Campbell for years went through his 
 Avork, under a depressing and painful disorder, often and often, 
 whiU" in the pulpit, fairly bowed down with pain. For years, 
 scarcely did he enter it without some drug with him to swalloNv at 
 intervals, or immediately at the close of the service. Probably 
 not even his nearest relatives knew all that he endured, for he 
 bore his sufferings, as far as possible without .speaking about them. 
 
21 
 
 Yet for yenrs his life was little better than a protracttnl inartyr- 
 doni. rttill he continued hin Inbou s, giving his congregation tlie 
 full tale of service in public and private. 
 
 Soinotimes he obtained relief by medicine, but generally it was 
 only partial. Once especially he obtained what seemed to work an 
 entire cure; and then how grateful did he speak of the divine good- 
 ness, and with what a keen sen.se of en joyment did he go aliout his 
 work. But, after each revival of health, there came the relapse, 
 until his medical advi.sers insisted on his ceasing entirely fro-ii labor 
 and recommended his going from home for a time. His brethren 
 came forward to supply his pulpit. The result of this relaxation 
 of labours was highly l)eneticial; and had he at the same time, 
 taken a trip from liome, it might have been much more so. But, 
 remaining in his congregation, where there were other calls, and 
 resuming labors too soon, the restoration was only partial and tem- 
 porary. 
 
 That he eried at times in the amount of service he undertook, 
 he was afterwards sensible, as appears from the following letter ad- 
 dressed tv> the writer, which we quote as a warning to others: — 
 "My opinion is, you labor too hard, and you must slacken a little. 
 You have been preaching three times on Sabbath during la.st fall, 
 so I heard. Now you must give that up. You may stand it for 
 a while, when you are young, but it will soon reduce you. Now 
 don't laugh at this piece of advice. T have injured my health by 
 preaching three times on Sabbath, and riding long distances the 
 same day. I felt well about fourteen months ago, about as well 
 as I had been for a long time, and commenced tliree sermons on 
 Sabbath, with a ride of more than 20 miles every third Sabbath, 
 and T believe I injured my health very much by so doing. 
 T will hardly try the same thing again. The great John Wesley 
 would not allow his preachers, on any account, to preach three 
 times on a Sabbath, although he was known to do it himself." 
 
 FINANCIAL. 
 
 We have said that when Mr. Campbell was settled, the congre- 
 gation engaged to pay the sum of one hundred pounds in cash, 
 but this w^as irregularly paid ; and there were always some defici- 
 encies. And instead of tlie stipend being paid in cash, he had from 
 the beginning of his ministry to suffer from the evils of the pro- 
 duce payment. Some years after, the stipend was raided to one 
 hundred and fifty pounds, fifty pounds from each section. But 
 these irregularities as to time and mode of payment, he had to 
 endure during most of his ministry, perhaps to some extent, to 
 
the very close. We have just fallen upon the following extract, 
 of a communication which he proposed sending to one of our 
 religious periodicals: — 
 
 "We have a great many men in our country congregations, who 
 hoast of being worth hundreds of pounds, but who never pay 
 ten shillings a year, to the funds of the congregation. We have 
 others who like very well to be considered liberal, and who will 
 subscribe liberally, but who never pay, or if they do pay, they 
 take good care to do it in such a way and at such a time as to be 
 of little value to the receiver. Mr. O. subscribed £S a year, he is 
 worth he says <£500, but he can never think of paying a shilling 
 of it until after the expiration of the year; then he tries to find 
 out if any hay is wanted, or beef, &c. These things he 
 may sometimes send, when he cannot get money 
 for them elsewhere, or when they are so bad, that he dare not 
 i)ring them to market. When the time of settlement comes, 
 he is sure to charge a double price for articles, that perhaps were 
 never used owing to their badness. Mr. T., again imagines 
 tliat no man should put himself out to pay anything to the Gos- 
 pel. Mr. D., drinks so much tea and smokes so much tobacco, 
 that he can never pay any money for religious purposes." 
 
 While the above was intended to describe the state of matters 
 existing in many parts of the church, and which we know is not 
 extinct, it affords a glimpse of evils of which he had to bear his 
 full share. But in his ease there are three points worthy of notice. 
 Tlie first is the patience with tvhich he bore ivith the shortcomings of 
 h is people, at the same time that ho diligently trained them for 
 better things. 
 
 Instead of complaining he was always ready to conceal their 
 defects or to find excuses for them, which he could easily do in 
 the poverty of many, and the scarcity of circulating medium for 
 sometime after his settlement. While avowing that he did not 
 hold himself bound to one congregation, and if unable to live in 
 one place, he was ready to go elsewhere, as Providence might 
 direct, yet his heart was with his own people, and whatever 
 inconveniences or hardships he might have to endure (and these 
 were more than he ever told,) he never sought for another sphere. 
 At any time during the early part of his ministry, he might have 
 been called to congregations, where the physical toil would hive 
 been much less; and if nob actually called, measures were taken 
 for that purpose. But such an idea never received any encour- 
 agement from him. Whatever difficulties were in his way, he 
 felt it his mission to grapple with them, and with the aid of the 
 Most High, to surmount them. He had nothing of that idea, 
 
which, we fear, is becoming so prevalent among the younger minist- 
 ry, of our Church, of throwing up his work in a particular sphere 
 on the first serious difficulty, or without a persevering eflfort to 
 overcome existing evils. We might ask where would our 
 church, in its most flourishing portions, be at this moment, had 
 our tathers acted in this manner. Mr. C. knew the difficulties of 
 his people, and so far as these were the results of their circum- 
 stances, he deeply sympathised with them. And hence he felt 
 called upon to bear much. Nor did he dragoon or bully or scold 
 them on the matter of stipend. He manfully told tliem their 
 duty and his right, under the divine law, that "he that is taught 
 in the word should communicate to him that teacheth in all good 
 things," and that "they that preach the Gospel, should live of 
 the Gospel." He could, however, reprove the penurious, and that 
 severely, and even apply the lash of satire where Gospel motives 
 failed to reach the conscience. He, at the same time, sought in 
 the spirit of kindness, to guide them in the discharge of this 
 duty. When sections fell into arrears, he would wipe off all the 
 old and start them on a new footing, perhaps after a few years to 
 be obliged to repeat the same process. And all the time he did 
 his work in faith, that the Lord would provide for him. In 
 justice to the people it must be said that as their circumstances 
 improved, they endeavoured to do their duty towards him, and 
 he received many tokens of their gratitude and good will. 
 
 The second point to which we would advert in connection with 
 the subject, is that, from the beginning of his ministry he regular- 
 ly appealed to his congregation on behalf of all the schemes of the 
 churchy as well as for the Bible Society, and such other benovelent 
 objects as, from time to time, were presented in Providence. Thei e 
 is a mistaken idea, with some, that whatever a congregation gives 
 to Foreign Missions or similar objects, is so much taken from the 
 minister's salary. And hence, in some cases, ministers have 
 either refused to take collections for such objects, or have been 
 cold in their advocacy of them. The result has been, that dis- 
 couraging liberality in this form, instead of benefiting themselves, 
 the payment of stipend has become worse and worse. Mr. 
 Campbell, at the time that his own support was worst, warmly 
 entered into all the schemes of the church for the promotion of 
 religion at home and abroad, and endeavoured to enlist the 
 sympathies of all on their behalf. Regularly he brought up his 
 collections to Synod. They might not be large. Sometimes they 
 were small. But, at all events the congregation had the 
 privilege of doing something for the Lord's wo»*k, and were bless 
 ed in so doing; and, as might be expected, their liberality at home 
 
<yrew with their efforts abroad, so that the congregation, accord- 
 ing to their means, come to hold an honorable place in the body 
 for liberality. 
 
 The last point which we have to notice is, that all the self- 
 denial of his early life was rewarded hy a kind provision of 
 Providence^ for the comfort of himself and family at the close of 
 life. Not only did his congregation provide for hin, according to 
 their improved circumstances, but in addition, the great Head of 
 the church, in his own way, so ordered events that in his ad- 
 vanced years he was able to leave his family, not indeed in the 
 possession of wealth, but in the enjoyment of a competent portion 
 of the good things of life. This is an aspect of the Lord's dealing 
 with His faithful and self-sacrificing servants, that is often 
 overlooked. We often hear representations to our young men 
 that, if they enter the ministry, they will be doomed to a life of 
 poverty: whereas, if they only choose one of the other professions, 
 they may count on wealth. Even if this was the case, every 
 faithful minister would say that such a life, ended in poverty, was 
 more glorious and more happy that any secular employment even 
 if a fortune were its certain resultl At least, we know that this 
 was Mr. Campbell's feeling, after as hard an experience of toil 
 and self denial as perhaps any one in the church. But the fact 
 is, these representations are largely exaggerations, and largely un- 
 truths. It has been calculated that sixty per cent of those that 
 go into business fail at some period of their career; and in the 
 United States, tlie proportion has been rated still higher; we 
 have seen it placed even as high as ninety per cent. For making a 
 fortune, peculiar gifts are required, and those who have such 
 gifts, have an honorable calling; but in setting before our 
 young men the idea that, if they choose a secular employment, 
 they may naturally expect to become rich, we are simply holding 
 up to them a delusion and a snare. In the case of young men 
 whose gifts and education qualify them for tlie ministry, and 
 whom the Lord may be calling to serve him in the Gospel of His 
 Son, we would be much safer in telling them that, if they turn 
 aside to a seceular calling, they have at least the probability of a 
 life of toil and care, and of ending their days in poverty. 
 
 On the other hand, while the treatment by their congregations 
 is often shabby enough, and A-'e say not one word to excuse it, and 
 while undoubtedly they are sometimes called to make painful 
 sacrifices, yet we must magnify the divine faithfulness, in the 
 manner in which in the end, he manifests his goodness in tempor- 
 al things towards his servants and their seed, especially to those 
 who manifested the most self denial. Dr. McGregor died richer 
 
tliau Edward Mortimer, or any of the magnates of Pictou in iiis 
 day, and in one of the last conversations ve had with Mr. Camp- 
 bell, comparing his life even in a worldly point of view with his 
 early fellow students, as he thought of those who had gone into 
 Merchandising, Liiw or Politics, he emphatically expressed his con- 
 viction, that even as regards the present life, he would change 
 with none of them. And although lie had taken one of the 
 hardest fields in the Province, yet, with equal and perhaps great- 
 er emphasis, did he declare tlmt compared with his own position, 
 he saw nothing to envy in the situation of those in the ministry, 
 who had sought a wider sphere than Nova Scotia could afford, for 
 their talents or their ambition. We earnestly support all 
 proper eftbrts to bring our congregations to do their duty to their 
 ministers; but whatever they do, Ave will maintain the faithfulness 
 of Him who says, "There is no man that hath left house or 
 brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or 
 lands, for my sake and the Gospel, but he shall receive mi hund- 
 redfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and 
 mothers, and children, and lands with persecutions, and in the 
 world to come eternal life." 
 
 PRO<JRK.SS OF THE C0NV;REGATI0N. 
 
 Under such labours, the congregation gradually made progress. 
 The country advanced, roads were opened, and other elements of 
 civilization introduced. The population increased, and their 
 ci.cumstances in every way improved. At the same time the 
 congregation advanced with the progress of the country. Three 
 new churches were built and finished, schools were increased in 
 number and efficiency, and especially the community advanced in 
 liberality, intelligence, morality and religion. Souls were added 
 to the Lord, so that at the end of twenty -five years, he saw each 
 of tlu; three sections of his congregation abler to support a minister, 
 and in all respects in a better position than the whole had been 
 at the time of his settlement. The section of Sherbrooke, which 
 had only 14 members, including elders, when he was ordained, 
 had at his death 24:3, notwithstanding the large numbers, who, 
 from the roving disposition which has seized so many of our people 
 have removed to other places. The community as a whole, in 
 temperance and morality, in the discharge of the outward duties 
 of religion, and, so far as man can judge, in vital godliness, would 
 stand comparison probably with any in the churcli. 
 
 In these respects, but especially in regard to temperance, the 
 congregation was sorely tried by the discovery of gold in sevei-al 
 
places near Sheibrooke. Tiiis brouglit as usual a large population 
 much of it of very loose character, and with them the effort for 
 free drinking, and all its accompanying disorders. Few places 
 have stood the test better. The people rose in their might to 
 suppress intemperance, and to maintain order, and though at lirst 
 tliere were a few outbreaks, which were soon suppressed, yet ere 
 long the gold diggings became as quiet and orderly as any ordin- 
 ary settlement in the country, and much more so than many. 
 The temperance of St. Marys community is the more remarkable 
 that it has on the one side fishing settlements on the shore, and 
 on the other large settlements of Highlanders, mostly Catholics, 
 among both of which drinking usages still exist, such as in 
 older Protestant settlements, we only know by hearing our fathers 
 describe as prevalent among a former generation. 
 
 LABORS IN SHERBROOKE. 
 
 The increase of population and the state of Mr. Campbell's 
 health, rendered some diminution of labors necessary. The large 
 influx of population in the neighbourhood of Sherbrooke, through 
 the Gold Mines in the years 1861 and 1862 rendered an increase 
 of ministerial service in that section imperatively necssary. 
 Accordingly in the latter of these years, at the conclusion of 
 twenty-five years ministry, he resigned the charge of Glenelg and 
 Caledonia, and from that till his death, a period of nearly ten 
 years, his labours were confined to Sherbrooke and its vicinity. 
 The diminution of bodily toil, which this involved ijBvived his 
 strength, and he prosecuted his work in this more limited sphere 
 with renewed vigour, and for a time with something of his old 
 ardour. But it was not long, till his infirmities returned, and 
 each attack left him weaker than before. Still he would preach 
 and labour in private, whenever he was able, and indeed often 
 when unfit. Once and again his hrethern came to his relief. 
 But only when positively disabled, would he give up his work. 
 He loved preaching — he used to say lie could not understand how 
 ministers could give up preaching, unless positively disabled. 
 But for some time he was fighting against infirmity and at last 
 flesh and blood was obliged to succumb. But before referring to 
 the closing scenes, we must endeavour to describe what manner of 
 man he w^as in his going out and in among his people, during his 
 years of active service. 
 
27 
 
 MENTAL AND MORAL POIITRAITURE. 
 AN ORIGINAL. 
 
 The Hrst light in which we think Mr. Campbell would appear 
 both to strangers and those more intimately acquainted *vith 
 him, would ba as what is commonly called an original. His 
 thoughts never ran in beaten tracks, — his conceptions were not 
 moulded after any fixed pattern. On all important subjects on 
 which he had formed opinions, he liad hewn his own way to his 
 conclusions. Not that there was with him any of that boast of free 
 thinking w^hich is commonly only a name for reckless and unregu- 
 lated speculation, which involves itself in mist, and so often ends in 
 most lame and impotent conclusions. Truth, not freedom, was 
 the object of his worship, and in seeking it he had none of the 
 silly self-conceit which casts aside all the thinking {|f,nd explorat- 
 ions of past centuries, to propound its own crudities. Hence, 
 in examining a subject, he eagerly and even deferentially listened 
 to the opinions of others, on questions on which he supposed that 
 tliey Jiad particularly thought; but still his final opinions were the 
 result of independent thinking. He had a clear understanding, 
 and Adiat he knew, he knew distinctly. From the firm hold, 
 which he took of a particular truth, he was sometimes one-sided. 
 He was apt to look at it only from one point of view, and to 
 overlook other aspects, or to press it to an extreme. But still his 
 judgment was remarkably sound, and his opinions generally 
 worthy of attention. 
 
 In the same way, his religious convictions were not the result 
 of education but the product of earnest consideration and of deep 
 practical experience. Hence he preached tliem not as matters of 
 opinion, but as what formed the life of his soul. His manner of 
 doing so sometimes seemed dogmatical, but tliis was the working 
 of his earnest nature, employed in exhibiting the things which he 
 had himself seen and heard for salvation. In reality he received 
 the kingdom of heaven as a little child, and hence his soundness 
 in the faith. 
 
 From his independence of thought and peculiar cast of mind, 
 you always expected when he spoke in Synod or on other occa- 
 sions, to hear something fresh, — something you would feel to be 
 his own. You might not agree with him, but you were certain 
 to get something out of the beaten track — something worthy of 
 consideration, but at all events presented in a manner often stri- 
 king, and always interesting. 
 
28 
 
 But what gave the special flavour to his conceptions and ex- 
 pressions, was a peculiar wit, sometimes pungent, but predomin- 
 •\ntlv mirthful. Of that small kind ul wit, if it can be so called, 
 so prevalent in the literature of the pi .ent day, which labours so 
 pitifully in finding resemblance in i'^mere sound of words, we 
 may say that he was innocent. But that wit which deals v/ith 
 things, and in a form which has been regarded as characteristic- 
 ally Scottish, consisting of a mixture of irony, satire and humour 
 resting on a basis of good practical common sense and knowledge 
 of men, gave its own hue to all his expressions. The satire some- 
 times cut deep enough, especially where he had to deal with 
 hypocrisy or self ^onceHed insolence, or when the irritability of 
 disease infused some gall. But genei-ally the humor so overlaid 
 the sarcasm, that the victim almost enjoyed the operation. Thus 
 after his most telling reproofs, it was often impossible to take of- 
 fence. In private this shewed itself in playful sallies, and in the 
 zest with w-hich he enjoyed a harmless practical joke. In the 
 pulpit he was too serious ever to "court a grin," but we think 
 tliat he must have often put a great restraint on himself, and tho 
 outflow of this featuie of his mind, could not be altogether re- 
 pressed. Even there it showed itself in shrewd observations on 
 human life, and quaint forms of expression, which brought a 
 smile over the faces of his hearers. On other occasions, it was 
 unrestrained, and we venture to sry that many of his sayings will 
 float over that part of the country through the next generations, 
 in a similar manner to those of Rowland Hill and Henry Ward 
 Beecher, though his sound judgment kept him from those extrav- 
 agances and eccentricities into which men of that sttimp are so 
 liable to run and on which they are apt to pride themselves. 
 
 A STUDENT. 
 
 The work of his congregation, involving so much travelling, was 
 unfavourable for study. But he did not make this an excuse for 
 neglecting careful preparation for the pulpit, or for omitting to 
 '^give attendance to reading." For years his sermons were care- 
 fully written out and committed to memory. Tt may be mention- 
 ed, that having to preach in Gaelic in one portion of his charge, 
 and from disuse, having lost his familiarity with it, he was obliged 
 to prepare his discourses in that language with special care, so 
 that he used to say that one sermon in Gaelic cost him more labor 
 than three in English. Yet he had always a warm side to the 
 Celtic people. In one of the last interviews we had with him, he 
 said, that if he were a young man, it would be his desire to 
 
perfect himself in the language, and go and preach the gospel to 
 the Highlanders in Cape. Breton. 
 
 But. in order that he might be able to bring out of Iiis treasure 
 things new and old, he diligently studied theology, but especially 
 sought to make himself master of the Scriptures by diligent perusal 
 of the works of the best biblical scholars of Britain and America. 
 But he^studied the word of God for himself, and often made happy 
 application o^ it by quoting passages in a way which set them in a 
 new light, or brought them home with new force. As an evid- 
 ence of the manner in which he kept up his reading, we may men- 
 tion that, though so unwell for some time, he had, in his library, 
 among other late theological works, Hodge's first two volumes, 
 and had read them both, expressing high approval of them, but 
 saying that on some points he liked his old friend Dr. Dick 
 quite as well. 
 
 Tn his disccurses he aimed at the instruction of his hearers, and 
 that by delivering truth in the plainest manner. He had a 
 peculiar gift of presenting abstract truth in the Saxon of common 
 life. In his delivery he was plain, simple and natural, but in the 
 days of his vigor energetic and spirited. He was never exactly a 
 popular, but to intelligent minds, he was always an interesting 
 preacher. Wherever he went he was always listened to with 
 pleasure and his ministrations valued, while no minister in the 
 body was more highly esteemed in his own congregation. 
 
 AX HONEST MAN. 
 
 His moral qualities have been in some measure brought out in 
 the facts of his life, as we have given them: But we must notice as 
 a prominent; feature of his character, his downright straightforward 
 honesty. Anything underhand was his abhorrence, and for him- 
 self, he couid not stoop to do a mean thing to accomplish any end 
 whatever. This, with his naturally ardent temperament, rendered 
 him outspoken and at times blunt in his manner and speech. He 
 had enemies, i.rid sometimes did and said things which offended 
 friends. But one thing we are certain of, that they could never 
 accuse him of anything dibhoncrable in his dealings with them. 
 
 Along with this, he had an inveterate dislike of everything like 
 show or parade, but especially of anything like pretence in morals 
 or religion. Above all men we have ever known, he might have 
 used the language of the poet, 
 
 *'In my soul 
 I loathe all effectation. "Tis my perfect scorn, 
 Object of my implacable disgust. 
 

 30 
 
 Hence he never appeared as endeavoring to exhibit his own do- 
 ings. He simply did his work and disregarded the applause or 
 even the opinions of men. Indeed we think this disposition was 
 almost in excess, and were it not for his good sense and high 
 toned principle, it mifrht have appeared as a defe^ t of character. 
 Hence he loved to take down self-conceit, and with all his heart, 
 did he tear otf the veil from hypocrisy, which his knowledge of 
 human nature enabled him readily to detect, and to expose it in 
 its naked deformity. From these characteristics united he was 
 not only fearless in denouncing wrong but often most pointed 
 and even scathing. 
 
 A WARRIOR. 
 
 To these tbini^s we must add that there was much of the born 
 warrior in his constitution. In the days of his fathers, and upon 
 his ancestral hills, at the circling of the fiery cross he would have 
 been the first to seize claymore and targe, to haste to the appoint- 
 ed gathering place, and the readiest to strike for the honor of 
 chief or clan. 
 
 This showed itself in private in his readiness to do battle in 
 good humored argument with every comer or in the sallies with 
 which he assailed the cherished opinions of those with whom 
 he came in contact. Entertaining strong conWctions, and per- 
 haps extreme opinions, on most subjects, whether political, social 
 or religious, on which he had thought, he was always ready for 
 discussion and seemed to covet an encounter of wits, where he met 
 with those who held ditierent views. He was a most agreeable 
 companion, but much of the spice of bis conversation arose from 
 the curious mixture of the combative and the comic in his nature. 
 Not unfrequently the first salutation might be a sally against one 
 of your favorite notions, which left you for the moment uncertain 
 whether to bristle up and do battle for your liobby, or to laugh at 
 the absurd light in which he had placed it. 
 
 It appeared again in the controversies which were often forced 
 upon him, particularly in the early periods of his ministry. He 
 was brought into contact with sectaries who, while there were 
 plenty of places around, entirely destitute of spiritual light, spent 
 their energies in endeavouring to entice persons out of the Presby- 
 terian fold, — what John Angel James crJled " spiritual kidnap 
 ping," or what a father in Synod still more plainly designated 
 sheep stealing ; and for this purpose " compassing sea and land to 
 make one proselyte," — and resorting to every mean art, as he used 
 frequently to represent them, in the words of inspiration, " creep- 
 
ing into houses, and leadini? captive silly women," and all this 
 frequently under pretence of love and friendship. Holding 
 strongly the truths which he professed, and scorning everything 
 like underhand dealing, his whole nature was roused. In dealing 
 with such we need not wonder that hard knocks weie his rule. 
 He was no gentle knight, wielding a polished weapon amid a 
 profusion of chivalric courtesies. We should rather say that he 
 was a Shamgar, the son of Anath, peaceably engaged in tilling his 
 lislds but, assailed by prowling enemies, seizing his oxgoad, a 
 weapon intended for the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, but 
 wielded by a powerful arm, capable of doing gre^'^t execution, and 
 with it making no small slaughter among the Philistines. At all 
 events he was a most effective controversialist, and that princi- 
 pally f.rom the gift which he possessed of presenting the truth in 
 a plain and simple manner, using so much the language of com- 
 mon life, as to i*ender it obvious to the common understanding. 
 
 In the controversies of his early ministry, he might have ap- 
 peared to some to fail in Christian charity. And those who saw 
 him in the quiet close of life, when, his controversies were over, 
 and he received old opponents with christian cordiality, were apt 
 to imagine, that an entire change had come over him. That he 
 grew in catholicity of spirit may be admitted,, but we know, that 
 the vehemence which he manifested in his early combats, were 
 very far from bigotry. From his firm hold of the truths for which 
 he was contending, from his strong abhorrence of the arts to 
 which we have referred (arts to which he would not have stooped 
 to convert into Presbyterians all the other denominations in the 
 Province) and from his warm earnest nature, he was led to speak 
 strongly. But even then his heart was with all who loved the 
 Lord and he rejoiced in goodness wherever it was found. 
 
 But in his whole work, he manifested much of the stout war- 
 rior. He had little of the spirit of those, who as it has been said 
 in building up a temple for God, desire to give as little offence to 
 the devil as possible. Hence "though the furthest possible from 
 being contentious, for he was a most pea,ce-loving man," he 
 carried in his whole mien the spirit of a christian soldier, con- 
 tending with Satan and all his works. Hence in the pulpit 
 and in private, he was the stern reprover of sin, and, in whatever 
 form evil raised his head, he dealt his blows with vigor and ini- 
 partiality. 
 
32 
 
 A MAN OF TENDER HEART. 
 
 But in Jiim, as not unfrequently happens, this warrior spirit 
 was conjoined witli warm affections and deep tenderness of heart. 
 The man who was a lion in the Held was a lamb in the fold. His 
 going out and coming in among his people, was in the spirit of 
 kindness itself. He might have said, "I was gentle among you, 
 even as a nurse cherished her children." 
 
 Still he manifested a faithfulness and plainness in dealing with 
 every form of wrong, which, but for his unaffected kindness of 
 heart, would have often given offence. An instance may be 
 given. A man who had been residing near him, and who had been 
 for some time living in the neglect of religious ordinances, was 
 taken sick, and for a time it was thought, would die. But his 
 disease took a favorable turn, and Mr. C. went to visit him as 
 he began to recover. He enquired of the man how he felt when 
 he thought himself dying. "Quite peaceful," was the reply. 
 "I am very sorry to hear it," said Mr. C, in his usual decided 
 tone, "for with the life you have lived, if you had peace, it 
 must have been a false one." 
 
 His kindness of heart appeared in his open handed charily. 
 His congregation at first contained many, who were— not poor, 
 in the sense of, those destitute of property in cities, but poor 
 in the sense of though having land, being at times pressed for 
 means to obtain the necessaries of life. Often has he given out 
 of his own limited stores, to relieve such, not knowing when the 
 supply would be returned or whether it would be returned at all. 
 For a length of time, he was the friend to whom every man in 
 his congregation who was in difficulty, was ready to resort. 
 His sympathies were enlisted on behalf of such, and he was soon 
 interested in expedients for their relief, and his diligence seldom 
 relaxed until he saw them successful. 
 
 But his tenderness of nature especially appeared in the deep 
 concern, which he felt in the condition of his flock. To those 
 who saw him, the lion like champion of the truth, and the stern 
 denouncer of evil, it may be new, that such was the sensitiveness 
 of his nature, perhaps increased by ill health, that his mind was 
 often filled with the deepest concern, and his spirit often pressed 
 above measure, by matters in his congregation, or by the condi- 
 tion of individuals and families among them. Their afflictions he 
 sometimes took upon him as his own, but it was especially their 
 spiritual affairs that oppressed him. The discords among breth- 
 ren, the inconsistency of professors, the fall of some, the hopes 
 disappointed in regard to those who promised well, the careless- 
 
33 
 
 ness of sinners and the profligacy of others, at times ahnost 
 weighed him to the ground. These were troubles over which in- 
 deed "his soul wept in secret places," and how he carried them to 
 the Master, and how also he rejoiced in every manifestation of 
 .the Saviour's grace to his flock, will never bo fully known on 
 earth. A hint, however is given in the following, which appears 
 at the close of one of the Session books, i , . 
 
 "This book contains the record of the transactions of the 
 Session of Glenelg for a period of twenty years and of Sherbrooke 
 and Caledonia for a part of that term. From this date the trans- 
 actions of the Glenelg Session, will be inserted in the book kept 
 by the Glenelg Session. Should anyone feel disposed to 
 look into it after its present owners are removed to the unseen 
 world, let him know that it contains the record of a period full of 
 .an,xiety to at least the Moderator of Session. There were many 
 difficulties to be overcome, but having obtained help of God, we 
 have been enabled to persevere. The future, so far as we can 
 judge js not all that we could wish." :. . ' 
 
 In fact in the combination of energy and gentleness he was t|ie 
 
 best reproduction we have seen in actual life of the Mr. Greathcart 
 
 of Bunyan's Pilgrim. In him there was combined the fearless 
 
 Varrior and the tender shepherd. Ready to face every lion in 
 
 the way, or to buckle on his armour to do battle (and never 
 
 < feeble battle either) with every Giant Grim or Giant Slay good, 
 
 . ^ho might assail his charge, he was equally ready to talk with 
 
 L.Qhristina and the children — to condescend to Mr. Feeblemind — 
 
 tp cheer Mr. Pespondency — to gather the lambs with his arms 
 
 , (parry them in his bosomj and gently lead thpse who were with 
 
 , the young. 
 
 It was thus that he obtained that place in the affections of his 
 congregation, which he possessed, for few ministers indeed have 
 .been so much beloved by their people. [ l-^y. ^ i < ;. ; i j ^ , , 
 
 '^uil^^t'-:i.i^'^'h:rJi.. \-.M-i.:'.-y^'r SHADOWS. 
 
 /t» 
 
 Here, however we must draw a shade over the picture. We 
 
 are aware that strangers who only knew him during some of his 
 
 -later years, and, who saw but little of him, will regard our 
 
 ,u portrait as too highly colored. We wish to be candid, and his 
 
 ^ was a character that would afford to have its defects fairly ex- 
 
 '^.hibited. Sure we are that, could he address us as we are now em- 
 
 ^^ ployed, such was his inherent love of truth and hatred of every- 
 
 ^ thing like show or pretence; he would say, paint me as I was, 
 
 as Cromwell said to the painter, v/ho proposed omitting the 
 
warts on his countenance, "no, paint me, warts and all." Well, 
 we may acknowledge that there were times, when this picture 
 was considerably shaded. But equally certain are we, that this 
 was mainly the effect of disease. His complaint was one, which, 
 not entirely prostrating him, made the whole head sick and the 
 whole heai*t faint; and though his brave spirit stoutly resisted its 
 influence, yet gradually it showed its power in every part of his 
 work.|y[It; forced him to diminish his labors, it destroyed the 
 energy of his preaching and other public efforts. But especially 
 it affected his spirits and temper. One of the deepest mysteries 
 of our constitution,Jis[the connection of all our mental and even 
 spititual exercises, with the state of the biliary system. As his 
 disease reached its height, he would have therefore been more than 
 mortal, had he not shown its effects in his feelings and language. 
 Hence we may say candidly that there were times and especially 
 at the worst crisis of his disorder, when he showed an irritability 
 unlike himself before or after. But those who knew what he suffer- 
 ed not only forgave an occasional exhibition that might appear- 
 splenetic, but sympathized most cordially with him, and rather won- 
 dered that he was able so long to maintain so much christian 
 cheerfulness and christian meekness under a disorder so depress- 
 ing. The circumstances of the congregation at the same time 
 severely tried him. In a quiet and orderly community which he 
 had seen grow up in christian knowledge and conduct through 
 the discovery of gold iniquity came rolling in like a flood. He 
 was called to meet open wickedness, the spirit of wild disorder and 
 even blathnt infidelity. He was literally made the song of the 
 drunkard ribald verses having been composed in his dishonor. 
 Such a state of things would have disturbed the mind of any man, 
 but in his state cf health, it pressed upon his spirit above measure 
 and aggravated his ailments. But as he saw order and righteous- 
 ness triumphing and iniquity ashamed shutting her mouth, 
 his spirits recovered their tone, christian submission and meekness 
 triumphed over bodily infirmity and again he walked in the light 
 
 of the Lord. 
 
 -* ■ , 
 
 THE LAND BEULAH. ' 
 
 But whatever they may have been of this, especially at one 
 period of his life, it had all passed away some time before his 
 death, and his day closed with a sunset cloudless and serene. 
 For two or three years before his death his character, mellowed 
 by trials, exhibited a christian ripeness, that rendered intercourse 
 with him a pleasure and a privilege of no ordinary kind. During his 
 
35 
 
 period he was a beautiful picture of the Christian warrior rest- 
 ing from the toils of conflict, or the pilgrim with the trials of this 
 wilderness journey over, waiting on the brink of Jordan in full 
 view of the "land that is very far off." All irritability had given 
 way to a christian placidity of temperament. All his controver- 
 sies were over. Now patience had its perfect work — as he bore 
 his sufferings with entire resignation and continued his work aa 
 he was able, but felt ready for the Master's call, and gradually 
 had the conviction pressed upon him that his work on earth was 
 coming to a close. Now especially did he exhibit that character- 
 istic of the full grown saint — "being clothed with humility." If 
 he spoke of his own labors, it was only to magnify the grace of 
 God, and to accuse himself of having done so little for Him — 
 marvelling that God should have let him labor in so blessed a cause 
 and blessed his poor efforts for the good of souls, while the evid- 
 ence given in various ways of his^close and frequent communion 
 with the Saviour marked one "quite on the verge of heaven." 
 To use the imagery of the immortal dreamer, he was as if he had 
 been climbing the Delectable Mountains, amid rain, and mist, 
 and tempest, and now had reached an elevation, where he saw 
 the clouds below him, and the clearj^bright sun bathing their 
 summits in glory, and from the hill Clear the celestial city 
 breaking upon his vision. > ,: . v • , 
 
 CLOSING SCENES. , • i 
 
 r ■• 
 
 During the summer of 1872 his health appeared as good as it had 
 
 been for some time, so that he not only preached regularly, but 
 undertook a course of pastoral visitation of the families in his 
 congregation. He felt that this might be the last opportunity 
 he would have of addressing them in this manner, and he had 
 made up his mind to resign at the close of it, and allow his 
 congregation to secure a successor. He had nearly completed his 
 round when called away. He had also held four diets of cate- 
 chising. ^ 
 
 The congregation of Glenelg and Caledonia having Ibecome, 
 vacant, by the removing of Rev. Mr. Pitblado to Haliax, the 
 Presbytery of Pictou expressed a desire, that if Mr. C. felt able 
 he would preach to them and intimate the vacancy. The request 
 was agreeable to his own feelings, as it gave him an opportunity 
 • of once more preaching Christ to those among whom he had spent 
 his best years, and who still occupied a large place in his heart, 
 and of addressing to them his parting exhortations, more espec- 
 ially as they were now again without a pastor. He accordingly 
 
preached at Glenelg on the fourth Sabbath of July. He had 
 been asked to preach only once, but feeling well for him he held 
 two full services, and afterwards addressed the people and other- 
 wise fatigued himself in private*. The effort was too much, and 
 helped to extinguish the feeble light which was already flickering 
 in the socket. During the month of August his strength was 
 . manifestly decaying, but he continued to preach, and do private 
 pastoral work. On the last of that month, he was cheered by a 
 visit from his oldest and most valued friend, Charles Robson, of 
 'Halifax. He was then worse than he had been, but did not ex- 
 pect that the end was at hand. Up to Sabbath morning the first 
 of September, which proved his last on earth, he hoped to pi-each 
 on that day, but when the time camie, he felt it necessary to re- 
 linguish his intention, though, afterwards, he thought that he 
 should have carried it out. EvtsA the beginning of the following 
 week and almost to the last day of his life, Wednesday, 4th 
 September, it appeared as if he inight be spared to labor a little 
 longer. On the morning of that day, he was up and had worship 
 with his family. Still it was plain that he was sinking. The 
 possibility of death being near had long been familiar to him, and 
 when it became manifest that it was now approaching, he meekly 
 bowed to the divine decree, simply saying, "Thy will be done." 
 He, who during his own life could never seem other than he was, 
 could not but be his only simple self in a dying hour. With un- 
 ruffled spirit he gave his last instructions to the members of his 
 family present, both as to their temporal and spiritual affairs, and 
 sent farewell messages to the absent. Calmly as the laborer 
 who had fulfilled his day retiring to his evening repose, he went 
 up on his bed, to rest from his labors. On that day he rapidly 
 sank, without pain however, his mind clear, his voice firm, his 
 spirit in perfect peace, until about eleven oclock at night when 
 he passed away without a struggle, realizing the poet's descrip- 
 tion, 
 
 Sure the last end , . ; * 
 
 Of the good man is peace. How calm his exit, - •-*^ ' " 
 
 Ifight dews fall not more softly to the ground, :.. v: .> 'Lvi" 
 Nor weary, worn out winds expire so soft. 
 
 We may add that Mr. C. was married to a daughter of the lafe ' 
 Dr. McGregor, and that he has left six children. During his 
 ministry he baptized 882 persons and married 371 couples. 
 
 COXCLUSION. 
 
 But we must conclude our imperfect sketch. In doing iso we 
 indulge in no eulogies of the departed. We have simply en- 
 
deavoured to present » faithful minister of Christ as he was; and 
 we have done so because we believe, that the record of his labor 
 and patience, his faith and self-denial, his consecration to his one 
 work, is in various ways fitted to be an example and an encourage- 
 ment to our present and future ministry, and with the hope that the 
 church on the review of what he has done, may "glorify God in 
 him." For an} other reason we would have felt as if we were of- 
 fending his glorified spirit, in writing so much as we have done. 
 Above all other men we have ever known, he sought not the 
 honor that cometh of man, and reprobated everything like dis- 
 play of himself or his doings. And we cannot therefore close our 
 notice of him more in accordance with his own disposition, than 
 by representing him, as one who felt it his highest earthly honor 
 to be a preacher of Christ's word, who would have sought no 
 nobler title to be engraven on his tomb, and would have inscrib- 
 ed on all that he had done, ''God forbid that I should glory sav^ 
 in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." > 
 
 ^,nN1T0|^ 
 
 '■■■i.-