Memoir of the Rev. John Bayne, D.D. of Galt

Front matter

by

Scarborough College Library

MEMOIR

Preface

from the pens of the Rev. James George, D.D., Rev. R. Irvine, D.D., Rev. M. Y. Stark, and Rev. A. C. Gt^ikie, and that he has taken the Uberty of making a free use of these notices, frequently quoting short passages, without even the usual acknowledgment of extract, by means of inverted commas.

It was thought desirable to preserve, and present in their proper order, several documents, testifying to the estimation in which the subject of this memoir was held, and therefore, although the current of the narrative has been a little retarded, and repetition became unavoidable — these, instead of being thrown into the form of an appendix^ have been introduced in their relative places in chapter second.

Without a somewhat minute description of the physique — the mental idiosyncracies — the habits and general character, &c., of our subject, it was judged that in the absence of any diary ^ correspondence^ or written remains of almost any kind, a memoir of him would have been imperfect, and hence the third and last chapter.

When we commenced our memoir, we expected that it would form only the introduction to some of the valuable thoughts of him of whom we have written, as fragrant memorials among an attached people ; but from the circumstances referred to in our concluding pages, we have been disappointed. We have, however, been advised, and have yielded to the suggestion, to reprint the essay on " Mait^s responsibility for his belief and with regret at the partial failure of our object, we now take leave of our solemn yet

PREFACE.

V pleasing and honourable task, commending the eminent example presented in the narrative to our brethren in the ministry, and praying that in the case, more especially, of those who once were hearers of Dr. Bayne, the effect of the recollection of facts and truths, and impressions called up by the perusal of this little volume, may be, that " he being dead, yet speaketh."

G. S.

Contents

PAGE

Chapter I

From his Birth to his removal to Canada — Parentage — Boyhood — Education — Formation of Character — Choice of a Profession— Afflictive Experience — Commencement of Preaching. i

CHAPTER n.

From his removal to Canada to his death — Settlement in Gait — Visit to Britain in 1842 — Disruption in Canada — Publication of Address and Pamphlet — Public discussion with Dr. Liddell — Sustentation scheme — Moderator, and visit to Scotland in 1846 — Call to Cote vStreet Church, Montreal — Committee on Union — Invitation to Professorship — Degree of D.D — Decline of health — Assistant — Death — Notices and references to the Church's loss 16

Chapter III

Descriptive Portraiture — Personal appearance — Mental and social qualities, humour, sarcasm, sensibility, faithfulness as a friend, solemn mode of dealing, discernment of character— Poetical temperament — Christian character and tastes — Power as a speaker, and influence in church courts — Eminence as a preacher — Mode of preparing discourses — Manner in devotional exercises — Zeal against heresy and remains 43 viii

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Appendix

A Mother's Lament for her Withered Flower 70

Minute entered on the Record of the Presbytery of Hamilton,

in reference to the lamented death of Dr. Bayne 74

Extract from a short sketch of the life of Dr. Bayne, by one of his co-presbyters, which appeared in the ' ' Ecclesiastical and Missionary Record," in December, 1859 77

Extract from Memorial Notice of the late Dr. Bayne, by the

Rev. A. C. Geikie , 81

Is Man Responsible for his Belief? A Lecture delivered before the Members of the Hamilton Mercantile Library Association, on the evening of the i8th of February, 1851, by the Rev. John Bayne, of Knox's Church, Gait 91

Addenda..., 136

REV.

MEMOIR

OF THE

JOHN BAYNE, D.D.

Chapter I

FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS REMOVAL TO CANADA — PAR- ENTAGE — BOYHOOD — EDUCATION — FORMATION OF CHARACTER — CHOICE OF A PROFESSION — AFFLIC- TIVE EXPERIENCE— COMMENCEMENT OF PREACHING.

OHN BAYNE was born in the West parish of Greenock, Scotland, on the i6th November, 1806. His father, the Rev. Kenneth Bayne, A. M., then minister of the Gaelic Chapel of that town, — was a man of superior natural parts ; and according to the testimony of those who were acquainted with the different branches of the family, belonged to a race that were remarkable for mental endowments. His mother, Margaret Hayj was daughter of James Hay, D. D., minister successively of Inverary, Dyce and Elgin, — a zealous and affectionate preacher, a faithful and successful

MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D.

labourer, and a very spiritually-minded man. She, too, was possessed of great natural gifts, and previous to her marriage in 1793, had made no ordinary attainments in Christian experience, and, throughout the whole subsequent course of her life, was distinguished for great sweetness of temper, uncommon prudence and affectionate devotedness to her family ; and was, altogether, a worthy helpmeet for her husband* Both parents, being decided Christians, seem to have bestowed exemplary care on the religious education of their children. To quote a sentence from a memoir of their daughter, Mrs. Wilson of the Bombay Mission, — *^both of them were eminent for piety and Christian worth, and it was their uniform and unremitting endeavour to inculcate upon their children those high and holy principles by which, under the divine blessing, "they were themselves habitually actuated.^' Of the father, it is stated that " on the evenings of the Sabbath, when the labours of the day were ended, in the retirement

* Note. — In one memorial notice issued^at the time of the death of the subject of our menioir, it was stated that **by the father's ** side, he was a Bayne of Tulloch, an estate held by his ancestors **for eight hundred years, and which became the property of a

Davidson by marriage with the heiress of the ancient race. On " the mother's side, he was a. Hay, his grandfather being the eldest ** cadet of the house of Errol." However, this may be, he never alluded to such matters. He rather manifested in general contempt for the prevalent tendency to pique oneself on supposed rank, or family connection ; and used to say that the longer he lived he learned more and more to estimate persons according to their Christian character, and not according to adventitious circumstances.

of the domestic circle, his whole soul seemed to expand, and his conversation breathed forth those heavenly feehngs and affections which overflov/ed his heart. And on other occasions, with holy earnestness, and glowing affection, he warned and admonished his children ; and he would interperse his remarks and entreaties with portions of his own past life and experience, — all making it clear to their young minds that nothing was worth living for, except in so far as it was connected with immortal interests, and the concerns of eternity.^'

In the godly up-bringing of their children, Mr. and Mrs. Bayne were evidently very successful, and realized in no ordinary degree the fulfilment of God^s covenant promise to his people, — " I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed after thee.'^ And although we have not been able to procure many incidents of the early life of the subject of this memoir, yet we gather from re^ collections of conversations with himself, that parental example, instruction and discipline were powerfully instrumental in forming his character and producing, at a tender age, deep and lasting impressions of divine things. He related that on one occasion, when he had been guilty of some offence, his father affectionately took him into a private apartment, knelt down and prayed with him. The treatment was, perhaps, different from what he expected^ and different from the course often pursued by parents in correcting their offspring. The circumstance was never forgotten by him, and it m^y afford a salutary lesson to others regarding the right spirit and method of carrying out family discipline.

" He was very fond/' says Mr. Geikie, in the following extract from a memorial notice written by him : — of speaking of his childhood ; he ever spoke of it as a very happy one. Many a time did he retail with intense pleasure the doings of his early days. He would tell how, when his little brother died, himself a child, he awoke every morning to weep in bed over his loss. Or he would tell how, with his honoured father, he sailed from Greenock in a hired yacht on a visit to the Highlands, recalling the splendours of the scenery they passed through, the primitive manners of the groups who watched them whenever they landed, the tedious journey overland to his uncle at Kiltarlity, the astonishment he excited among the simple people there when he narrated the story of Rip Van Winkle, and the oracular utterances which he gave forth to the school-boys of Greenock when he returned from his travels. He would speak of the thoughtlessness of the young, of the anxiety which, in sheer heedlessness, they give, of the fears his family often entertained, lest, in his venturesome sports he should do himself harm. Then he would speak of these sports themselves, and enjoy them all once more ; of Saturday rambles and fatigues, of watching the hounds as they followed the hare, and of the short cuts by which he and his companions sought to come in at the death. Or he would tell of the delight with which, in all weathers, he would fish far from land, and of the fact that his boy ambition had been himself to become a sailor. Indeed he never wearied on this theme. Dull and ailing he Inight be, and inclined to silence, but if this past period of life were recalled, he quickened at once, and forgot present pain in the joys of memory."

He attended the Grammar School of his native town, in which the classical department was conducted by Mr. Peter Macfarlane, a licentiate of the Church of Scotland, and an able and successful teacher. According to one testimony, — " obedient to his parents, fond of his sisters, honourable with his companions, John Bayne was an open-handed, quick-eyed, strong-handed, truthful boy, hating cruelty and injustice, ready to defend the weak, to humble the arrogant, — a boy whom boys love, whom parents rejoice over with trembling, and one out of whom by divine grace men and Christians of the highest style are finally developed." And according to others, he was at the same time, a very quiet and thoughtful boy, diligent at school, and rather in advance than otherwise of boys of his own standing. His sisters used jestingly to call him the young philosopher. It would appear that he and the son of another clergyman in the town of Greenock divided all the honours of the school between them.

He entered the University of Glasgow in November, 18 1 9, and prosecuted his studies there during six consecutive sessions. Whilst attending the Divinity Hall he also took a course of anatomy and chemistry. His theological studies were completed at the University of Edinburgh. During his studies in Glasgow, he resided in the family of the Rev. John Mackenzie, minister of the Gaelic Chapel, Gorbals, — an intimate friend of his father. And the Rev. Mr. Mackenzie, of Bo'ness, thus Avrites " that he was always very correct in his conduct and regular in his habits. He was a diligent student, and carefully prepared his class exercises and essays. In studying a particular subject, his usual practice was to meditate intently upon it, perhaps reading suitable books, and arranging the matter in his mind, until he acquired a comprehensive and firm grasp of the whole subject. He might take notes of his reading, and of the train of thoughts in his meditations : but he seldom ^vrote his thoughts fully out,— unless on particular occasions, and for special purposes, such as essays and discourses for his classes. He practised meditation more than composition. In this way, however, he acquired remarkable vigour and precision of thought. He was fond of discussion, and often displayed great power, acuteness and ingenuity in argument."

Of the time when serious thoughts dawned or when he first formed the intention of devoting himself to the ministry of the Gospel, little is known.* But most probably, the thorough religious training of his youth, the remarkable example of his father, and habitual intercourse with godly ministers with whose private character and public labours he was well acquainted, awakened at an early period the desire, and gradually confirmed the

Note. — No diary has been left behind him, from which might be gathered hints as to his intentions in early life, or his experience in more advanced years.

resolution of giving himself to that work. The Rev. Henry Gordon, of Gananoque, who at a subsequent period became very intimate with him, in favouring the writer with answers to some queries on the subject, and calling Mr. Bayne ^' My valued friend, — I might say — my bosom friend,"— expresses the opinion that the atmosphere of vigorous intelligence and deep earnest piety in which he grew up may well account, under God, for the formation of his character and the direction of his views to the ministry. He particularly mentions that " Dr, Love, so well known for his piety, and deep thinking style of mind, was an intimate friend of the father and favourite in the family. And John, as I was accustomed to name our friend, was a great admirer of Dr. Love." He adds, ^' My own impression, formed from conversations with himself and sisters, is that, before entrance upon his studies for the ministry, he had gone through a spiritual experience of a very deep character — ^that he had received a sight of the exceeding breadth and spirituality of the divine laws, and of sin's exceeding sinfulness. I cannot say what was the interval between the sight and conviction of sin,^and sight of the glorious completeness in Christ, the provided substitute, and his substituted righteousness. But there was a vividness and depth in his sight of both that deeply tinctured all our friend's future theological views and preaching. Of his admiration and love of President Edwards, and his theology, and of his having bathed his soul in it, you know. I have an abiding impression of the graphic, terrific pictures which he drew of sin, and of his own personal state and character by nature. And his conversations with me on this subject seemed to aim at leaving the impression that his natural character and temperament were such as to give grace, or rather Christ its source, and the Holy Spirit, its applier, more to do in changing him than it had with other men."

If fatherly chastisement be a token of God's faithfulness and love to His children, Mr, Bayne was not without such pledge. He was made to bear the yoke in his youth, and learned much in the school of affliction. He was old enough at his mother's death in iSii to bear his part in the sorrows of the family, under that heavy affliction. Two years afterwards his only and beloved brother James, aged four years, a remarkably engaging and promising child, after a lingering illness departed this life in a most hopeful state of mind, an event which deeply impressed him, and to which he often referred. And in 182 1 the family passed through their greatest trial in the sudden death of their father. John's calm submission, and prudent demeanour on that occasion, when so young, surprised his friends, and his affectionate attention to his sisters was a great comfort and blessing to them. In 1823 he was again brought into contact with sorrow and death. The second son of Mr. Mackenzie with whom he resided, while a student at the University, died in April, and Mr. Mackenzie himself in November. And on both occasions Mr. Bayne showed the sincerest sympathy with the bereaved family in their grief. Subsequently to the death of their venerable father, the Bayne family, after remaining a few years in Greenock, went to reside for a short period in Inverness-shire ; and removed to Edinburgh in 1827, when they took up their abode in a cottage at Comely Bank. And the year following this change, the subject of our memoir was, in the providence of God, called to mourn over the death of his sister Eliza' who after a protracted illness was taken away in the prime of life but not before she, like her deceased brother, was ripe for glory ; and for whom therefore, he could not sorrow as those who have no hope. ^'The closing scene of her life," it is recorded, was most solemn and impressive to all the members of the family. Her affectionate spiritual communings with her brother were comforting to her and edifying to him. Her end was peaceful and blessed — full of the hope and joy of immortality. His sensitive nature was, however, afresh and severely agonized by the sudden and affecting loss in 1832 of two sisters at a stroke. He had accompanied them to the Bridge of Allan, a watering place near Stirling, for the benefit of the health of the younger of the two ; remained with them for about two weeks ; and then took leave of them, delighted, it is said, with the improvement which had taken place in the health of the invahd. But in the course of the following week, the two sisters who had gone to the river to bathe, were one day found accidentally drowned together.''' John was the last of

Note. — A particular account of this melancholy event is given in the memoir of their sister, Mrs, Wilson, the family with whom they had parted, and it was his sad duty to convey their remains to Edinburgh. At this time he penned the following striking resolutions, for his future Christian guidance, which were found among his papers after his death, and which on their discovery were given to the public in the M. & E. Record of the Church, but which we deem worthy of being reprinted and put among the memorials of him which remain.

Tuesday, May 22nd, 1832.

On Tuesday the eighth day of this month I saw laid side by side, in the same grave, the bodies of my two sisters Mary and Isabella. Their sudden and unexpected death I have felt as a very deep affliction, and a solemn call from God to live more as a Christian^ and to be ever ready for the coming of the Lord.

desire to improve, for God's glory and my own good, this very solemn dispensation, and would now, as in the presence of the great * Searcher of hearts,' record several resolutions, to which I purpose, in the strength of divine grace, hereafter to adhere.

"To this Record I intend, God willing, in time to come frequently to refer, that I may never forget the impression of this solemn season, or violate the obligations under which I have come, or cease to hear the voice which seems so loudly to say from the grave of my departed sisters, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh."

" I resolve, in the strength of divine grace :

MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. II

" I. To have eternity ever before me, and to seek to have in Time the same views of the nature and value of things, which I shall have of them in Eteriiity,

" II. To keep a continual watch over my heart and members, lest sin, sense, Satan, or the world should gain, insidiously^ any dominion over me ; and, in particular, to attend to the state of my heart in secret prayer.

" III. To engage, from time to time, in solemn self examination, in order that I may ascertain how far I have watched successfully against the assaults of sin, and whether I have been progressing or declining in the divine life.

IV. To repent and humble myself before God on the discovery of sin, and to do so without delay ^ while my conscience is tender and my feelings are warm, ere fear and suspicion of God have begun to intrude, and before sin has acquired the strength and relish of habit.

" V. Never, in my intercourse with others, myself to forget, or to let others forget, that I am a Christian,

" VI. Never to meet with an acquaintance or friend, without asking myself, how I may do good to his soul — how, if he be a sinner^ I may recommend Christ to his acceptance, or, if he be a Christian^ I may stir up the love of Christ in his heart.

"VII. Never to defer, till another opportunity, doing for the good of another, what may be done now^ remembering always that we may never meet again.

"VIII. Always to remember that God is near, and never to think, speak, or act, without first considering whether it is consistent with the presence of Majesty so awful, and HoHness so pure.

*'IX. Ahvays to approach God and to transact with Him, tkrotcgh the Mediator.

" X. Always to make love to God, as much as possible, the spring of my actions.

" XI. Always to seek the glory of God as the great end of my life.

"XII. To think much of Heaven."

Although his spirits were naturally buoyant, and in congenial society he made himself most agreeable, yet the whole tone of his mind seems to have been subdued by these experiences. And this, together with a marked native reserve, habitual thoughtfulness, and deep religious solemnity — imparted a general melancholy cast to his countenance and manner, which was only occasionally thrown aside, and beyond which strangers seldom penetrated.

Intellectually, he was precocious. Yet his friend Mr. Gordon says, " The public evidences of his mental and spiritual endowments in his college life were greatly less than the true knowledge of him. might have v/arranted us to expect. For of all men that I ever knew, I never knew any that I thought was so little covetous of the praise of men, or more single-eyed and earnest in seeking the approbation of God. There was as little of the spirit of vain glory in him as in any man I ever met with. There was a beautiful simplicity of character in him, — iji zuit a man, i?i sinplicity a child. * * It may not be uninteresting/' he adds, ^^that with all his self-hiding, when master minds came into contact v/ith him, they instinctively discovered his superiority. Dr. Chalmers did so. When about the year 1829 or 1830 the choice of a minister for South Carolina, U. S. was devolved upon him, he made the first offer to Mr. Bayne." It has also been stated that when that eminent man was engaged in his operations at the Water of Leith, Mr. Bayne aided him in the collection of statistics, and in household visitation. During his residence in Edinburgh, too, our subject was on very intimate terms with Dr, Andrev/ Thomson, of St. George's Church, who, in his later years, was the acknowledged leader of the evangelical party in the Church ; also with Dr. Abercromby, a distinguished physician, an eminent Christian, and the author of several works connected with mental philosophy and practical religion. And as an evidence of his early maturity, one of the ministers of Edinburgh on a certain occasion, alluding to a saying of the late venerable Dr. Gordon, of that city, to the effect that this was the age of young men, remarked, "but Mr. Bayne never was a young man.^'

Mr. Gordon, of Gananoque, referring to his intimacy with Mr. Bayne, writes : " But in this delightful intercommunion of soul, I got from Mr. Bayne's deep, comprehensive mind, penetrating judgment, extended, accurate, miscellaneous, varied information, practical knowledge of man and manners, and, withal, deep-toned piety, an impulse to my mind and spirit that all books could never have given. And the modesty, simplicity, disinterestedness, generosity, and, withal, playful vivacity and sociality of his character, I had long the enjoyment of." He adds, "During my visit to Scotland in 1856-7, I often saw that good man, Mr. Bonar, who lived so much to the Colonial Church cause. Now Dr. Bayne, when he went to Britain to recruit his health, avoided public appearances, and seldom preached, but was a good deal in Mr. Bonafs company. And Mr. Bonar used to say to me, " When did you last hear from Dr. Bayne ? What a precious man that is ! I know of none from whose conversation I ever got more profit or refreshment."

While resident in Edinburgh, Mr. Bayne joined a village Sabbath School society^ whose members went to various towns and villages in the neighbourhood, instructing the young and others in Sabbath Schools. His ability, piety and zeal, in this interesting field of labour, were considered remarkable ; and his services were highly valued by the members of the society and by those to whom their efforts were directed.

About this stage, when his course of study at the university was completed, he visited Norway in company with Mr. Lawrie, afterwards his brother-in-law ; and, on the departure of Dr. and Mrs. Wilson for India, he accompanied them to London and Portsmouth.

Mr. Bayne was Ucensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Dingwall, on the 8th September, 1830. Doubtless he entered upon his work under a profound isense of its responsibility, and with a resolution to be faithful. He at once evinced both power and great fervour. In 1833 he accepted of an appointment as assistant to the late Rev. John Barry, of Shapinshay, one of the Orkney Islands, where he remained for a year,^ preaching with much acceptance, and, we have reason to believe, not without success. To his clear and forcible expositions of the truth, while there, we have been informed that a gentleman of some standing in society owed the correct and evangelical views which he latterly held ; and that the same intelligent person acknowledged that he never apprehended aright the doctrine of justification by faith until he heard it expounded by Mr. Bayne. And the memory of that then young preacher is still fragrant in the island where he laboured.

*N0TE. — It was during his stay in Orkney that the writer first met with him.

CHAPTER 11.

FROM HIS REMOVAL TO CANADA TO HIS DEATH — SETTLE- MENT IN GALT — VISIT TO BRITAIN IN 1842 — DISRUPTION IN CANADA — PUBLICATION OF ADDRESS AND PAMPHLET — PUBLIC DISCUSSION WITH DR. LIDDELL — SUSTENTATION SCHEME — MODERATOR, AND VISIT TO SCOTLAND IN 1 846 — CALL TO COTE ST. CHUECH, MONTREAL — COMMITTEE ON UNION — INVITATION TO PROFESSORSHIP — DEGREE OF D.D. — DECLINE OF HEALTH — ASSISTANT — DEATH — NOTICES AND REFERENCES TO THE CHURCH'S LOSS.

NWILLING, we believe, to let his talents lie in abeyance, and wait on for preferment in the Church at home, as was too common in those days ; and somewhat disgusted with the system of lay patronage, according to which the offices in the ministry were generally distributed in the established Church of Scotland, Mr. Bayne resolved to emigrate to one of the British Colonies. And having been appointed to Canada by the Colonial Committee of the Church, before leaving his native country he was ordained by the Presbytery of Dingwall on the 3rd September, 1834. After his arrival in Canada, he was called to fill the pulpit of the Rev, W. Leach, the newly-chosen pastor of St. Andrew's Church, Toronto, until his return from a visit to Scotland. In this position, which he continued to occupy till the summer of the following year, it was not long before his commanding intellect, his high gifts as a preacher, and his many admirable qualities as a man and a minister, were duly appreciated, and obtained for him, from the members of the congregation generally, a large share* of esteem and attachment. After his period of service at Toronto was completed, he received a call from the congregation at Gait, in the Township of Dumfries, one of the most flourishing districts of Western Canada, the in-- habitants of which were composed almost exclusively of a respectable class of Lowland Scotch farmers. Under his predecessor, the Rev, Wm, Stewart, a man of fine mind and of deep piety, but of feeble health, and who had accepted a call to Demerara, where he shortly afterwards died — the congregation at Gait had never greatly flourished. But Mr. Bayne drew around him from a circuit of fifteen miles a large congregation, numbers of whom were fully competent to discern and to value his intellectual endowments, his remarkable pulpit gifts, and his hightoned piety. And while this congregation was growing in intelligence, grace, and power under his faithful ministry, there sprang up around it other congregations in Paris, Ayr, Doon, Berlin, New Hope, and the two Puslinches, all of which have been organized, and are now under efficient pastors. Yet Gait, the mother of them all,

c never drooped nor dwindled, but throve and ripened all the while. Mr. Bayne's labours, direct and indirect, in founding and fostering the congregations referred to, and the constant growth of his own charge at the same time, furnish a striking exemplification of the truth, " there is that scattereth and yet increaseth."

His preaching was pointed, — often mistaken for being personal^ in an unworthy sense ; and he was unsparing in condemning sin and hypocrisy. His services were long, his sermons seldom taking less than an hour and a half, and sometimes taking more than two hours in delivery. Add to this that he was not always very punctual in attending to the time of meeting, nor to other arrangements of inferior moment in themselves, though of importance in their place : and to those who know human nature, and the tendencies of the present age, it must be apparent that he could not have long retained his hold on such a body of people but through the power of a master mind, and of one that evidently sought their highest welfare. But, nevertheless, his lucid and profound and scriptural exhibitions of divine truth, together with faithful and earnest dealing with his people in public and in private, and a conscientious, consistent, and impartial carrying out of the Church's discipline, rivetted to him in process of time a large number of intelligent and sincere friends.