Ten years in my first charge / by Alexander Hugh Scott.

Dedication

To Him who “counted me faithful,” putting me into the ministry ;

To my Wife who shared with me from “ behind the scenes,” the plannings, and beheld with me the outcome of the plannings of a difficult but delightful ministry ;

To Old and Young* who were brought by us to Christ, as well as to those who were helped by us to deeper interest in Heavenly things ;

Preface

Being enabled by grace to say, with Henry Martyn, “ Thank God, I am Christ’s minister,” I can scarely be charged with presumptuousness when I write, in the following pages, of matters that pertained to my early years in His public service.

It is now nearly three years since I bade farewell to the people with whom I spent the first ten years of my ministry. The interval has brought together new accumulations of experience that may some day find expression on the pages of another volume.

The first ministry that ran over a decade, and the first three years of work in my second charge give confirmation to the statement of “ Prediger There is no place without its difficulties ; by removing you may change them, it may be you will increase them ; but you cannot escape them.”

The experience of these thirteen years further confirms the declaration of Phillips Brooks on the work of the ministry ; — “ There is no career that can compare with it for a moment in the rich and satisfying relations into which it brings a man with his fellow-men, in the deep and interesting insight which it gives him into human nature, and in the chance of the best culture for his own character. Its delights never grow old, its interest never

X

Preface.

wanes, its stimulus is never exhausted. It is different to a man at each period of his life ; but, if he is the minister he ought to be, there is no age, from the earliest years ... to the late days ... in which the ministry has not some fresh charm and chance of usefulness to offer to the man whose heart is in it. Let us never think of it in any other way than this. Let us rejoice with one another that in a world where there are a great many good and happy things for men to do, God has given us the best and happiest, and made us preachers of His Truth.”

In these prefatory sentences I desire to express my obligations to my Toronto publishers for their interest in my book, as well as for the skill and finish that mark their part of the work ; to my two literary friends, the one in Ontario, the other in Quebec, who have assisted me in the examination of proof-sheets ; to the donor whose gift is referred to on another page, and to advance subscribers in Glengarry, Owen Sound, Carleton Place, and Perth, who have given tangible assurances of interest in my book which forbid pecuniary anxiety about the first issue.

When I survey the period covered by my early ministry I am prompted to ask, with the apostle, — “ What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing V And when I think that during that period many souls were brought to Jesus, and many of the Lord’s attached followers were helped Heavenward, I am prompted to give the Apostle’s answer : Ye are my glory and joy.”

Preface,

XI

I'his contribution I lay “ at the feet of Jesus,” praying that, through the blessing of the Holy Spirit, and “ the thanksgiving of many,” it may “ redound to the glory of God”

A. H. S.

St. Andrew’s Manse,

Perth, April, 1891.

Contents

CHAPTER L

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

The Lord to the first place at the outset — If not, yet not, by God’s grace —

Chapter II. Between Tpie University And The Pastorate

Two special seasons in life — From home to University City — Lord Lytton to young men — Undergraduates for mission work — First mission field — Seasickness not conducive to doctrinal talk — Hillier and Consecon — First sermon — The text, and comments upon the sermon — Six months in Bruce — Rev. John Ferguson — Ministers are targets — 2nd Thess., 3rd chap, disturbing — What Pinkerton has given to the

XIV

Contents.

Church — “ The first person that ever spoke to me about my soul ” —

Last session in College — A congregation "wanting a minister — A recommendation — Two Sabbaths in Owen Sound — Owen Sound not Edinburgh — Correspondence relating to a call — “ Of the Lord ” — Call accepted — The new pastor’s welcome 37-6i

Chapter III. A Start In My First Charge

Retiring minister’s farewell — New pastor’s inaugural — Face to face with a pastoral charge — Strain of installation — “ Under the juniper tree” — Lover-like turning to letters — The panacea — Norman MacLeod beginning work in his first charge — His memoir a prized volume — “ On thy way” — Indescribable longing for souls — “The place is awfully dead ” — Applying the remedy — Topics of first series of sermons — The first convert — Preciousness of first-fruits — True associates-—Leal followers— A sworn band — Downright hard work — Letters from Glasgow and Anwoth Manse — Encouraging words — Cheering view of Christ—- “ The labor we delight in physics pain ” — Till working days are done 62-74

Chapter IV. In The School Of Affliction

Individuality merged into duality — A strange halting place — Invalid father in one room — In a dark room a sister — A remarkable restoration —

The furnace many times heated — Consultation of doctors — Prospect of death — Everlasting arms underneath — No intimation of the future — Exactly three years of pain and profit — “ Fear thou not O my servant ” — Carrie Judd — Mother moved back aghast — Speechless and wondering — The light of day once more — The country astir — Special correspondent from Montreal press on the spot — Tidings of the restoration — A densely crowded audience— An influence that led students to the University — En route to China — The waving handkerchief— By Cherith — Rubbed plants emitting fragrance — Working for good — The winter of distress before the flowers of grace — Marah then Elim 75~96

Contents.

XV

CHAPTER V. TANGfELE TOKEN ADDED TO TESTIMONY

ReHections from a trip through Norway and Sweden — Stockholm the objective point — “ S. S. Sirius ” — Genuineness of the Swedish heart — Favours from the Royal family, city official, rich and poor — From Stockholm to Copenhagen — With a friend in Botanisk Have — Most impressive incident in Denmark — A happy mean — Helpfulness of testimony — With clasped hand giving thanks — “One thing I have been wanting to tell you ” — One more sermon like that and I’ll be a Christian — A motherless boy testifying to the helpfulness of a sermon — A widowed mother’s testimony — Another testimony given in Boston — The three P’s elaborated in Dumfries — Boston and Scotland helped by what helped in Canada — Testimony from a young man — An aged parishioner nearing the boundary — His acknowledgments and suggestions— Five tangible tokens — Deputations bearing gifts — “In the tribute of the hour I see ” — Giving feeds love — Humbled through kindness — Spurred on to increased faithfulness 97-130

Chapter VI. The Furnace, The Forge, And The File

Another side to the ministry — No promises of beds of ease — Efficient servants with the Master’s experiences — Mistaken inferences by a minister’s wife — “ Fine positions ” and “ delightful times ” — Entitled to a better position — Adulation and jeremiad — Not have you reached position, but have you been faithful — Outward appearances sometimes untrustworthy — The fiery furnace — The hammer-beat on the forge of trial — The file of grace at work — Encroachments upon the devil’s domain — Satanic noises — Displeased with reformation — One cause of ministers’ troubles — A second cause — Hosannas to-day — Going back to-morrow — With a view to the loaves and fishes — The hangers on —

The English language failing in a term — “ That man can’t preach” — Anonymous letters — Arithmetic of multiplication by subtraction — Lies strangled to death — A veil thrown over — One great benefit from painfulness in the ministry — Another benefit — The gale makes the furnace draw — Two helpful lists — “My God, why should I complain!” —

Two additional benefits — A persecutor now preaching — Concluding benefit — As God will ! — In the hottest fire — “ He knoweth the way that I take.” 131-156

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Contents.

Chapter VII. Christ’s Minister

A chapter for the fulfilment of a promise — A request two years after the delivery of an Address — The request repeated — Through living voice and printed page — To others because a power to one’s self — The most sacred relationship on earth — The minister of Christ solemnly related to three parties — Two calls to the minister — A worshiper’s pungent remark — God never saved any man for being a preacher, nor because he was an able preacher — The most monstrous sham — Enriching delights of Grace — Resources through quiet and prolonged contact with Christ — On the Mount like Moses — More of souls than of salary — Clean hands — Spiritual deliverance through delegated messengers —

A creation to be ignored by ministers — Possession of the grandest possibilities— One of the comforts of the ministry — A starving pulpit —

“ Evangelical ” and “Evangelistic” — The message for dying men —

A promise for Christ’s minister — Science and Philosophy at the feet of Jesus — Moody’s discovery — Watchwords for ministers — To Him upon the throne 157*177

Chapter VIII. In The Homes Of The People

Much treasure — Minister and pastor — The home — Away from the crowd — A whole audience converted — Is the home more powerful than the pulpit ? — The family in olden days — Christian work began in a family — Better than orchestra or oratory — Reciprocity between church and home — How not to do pastoral visitation — Going out to dress — Coming in dressed — A faulty method discarded — Intimated calls — Should an elder accompany the pastor ? — ^^Congregational economy in visitation — The pastor’s first requirement — The family’s responsibility — Many a road to Charing Cross — Pastoral visitation a pleasure — An amusing incident — Brickmaking and soul-saving — What the pastor gives and the people get and vice versa — The grasp of an old man’s hand — A lift heavenward — Sixty years to Satan — A striking incident — Sanctified Episcopalianism and consecrated Presbyterianism— -Enmity between religion and dirt — Works before faith — A “ little boy ” like the “ little maid” — Cruel critics — “Put yourself in his place” — Sympathy a need of the age — The minister behind the scenes — To the hen-house

Contents.

XVIL or rafters — Pearls in shells — Four things found in homes — Rewards of pastoral visitation — The choice of texts — Between Chicago and New York — On an Allan steamer — In Sweden — A whole family led to Christ — The nursery of the church in every generation 1 78-2 1 5..

CHAPTER IX. “ A pastor’s sketches.”

First sketch — Difference between a proverb and a truth — Competition and contention — Discord among brethren — Understanding between two pastors in a town — Saved from jarrings — Hearts of the best of people in need of guarding —Second sketch — On the street — A letter from an inquirer — Could not live, and not prepared to die — A convert — Third sketch — A good text but a disturbing sermon — A stalwart worshipper looking daggers — Only one part of the sermon pleasing — The heads of the discourse given — Denominational rivalry — Away in a rage — The same text with other results — Does the Lord come in dreams now-adays ? — Answered in the affirmative — A striking dream — The dreamer’s testimony — Fourth sketch — Webster and gossips — Commendable gossip — Among the maples and lindens — “ One touch of nature ” — Drinking tea and talking vitrol — Gossip deteriorating — Capital advice from a competent instructor — Killing ducks for one feather — A case in point — “ Good sister, your turn next ” — Church scissors to be used — Fifth sketch — A class of intolerable nuisances — Scriptural description — A visit from a “revivalist” — Who “ Rounders ” are — Different classes — What they like and do not like — Undesirable accessions — Sixth sketch — Ejecting from a pew — In City Temple, London — A stout dame in velvet and diamonds — Attractions to saloons and churches — 1 wo visitors from Britain in church — What impressed them most on this continent — A hint to congregations Remedy for empty pews and small Sunday-Schools — Swayed toward Christ 216-252:*

Chapter X. *

ADDITIONAL SKETCHES.

Seventh sketch — Warning to unwary travellers — Two sisters at a marriage ceremony — No. 103 on my marriage register — One of the sisters in gaol — “ I began to go astray when I left your Bible-class ” — Eighth sketch — On the scaffold with a blind man — His testimony — Preferred.

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Contents.

the wrong way — The execution — Ninth sketch — Two different effects of a sermon — “ I want to thank you ” — “ Never darken the doors of the church again ” — What the Scriptures say — Savour of death unto death — Of life unto life — Tenth sketch — Should have missed me — Asking for a certificate — Is it a minister’s business to take the census of his audience? — A case in contrast — Remarkable application of Isa. 30, 1-3 — Eleventh sketch — Two baneful influences — David Ilume and his mother — Infidel wolves in sheep’s clothing — Deadened sensibilities— Guard against the unholy tendencies — A mother and her erring boys — “You have talked all my influence away ” — Twelfth sketch —What a child can do — A swearing father changed — Two profitable ministries — “ Neither do I condemn thee ” — Thirteenth sketch — Brittleness of life’s thread — “ Put up a prayer for my boy ” — Four touching incidents — Fourteenth sketch — First Avenue hotel, London — The two most impressive scenes in London — Congregational incidents — Fifteenth sketch — Religion of giving — A loquacious murmurer — Vacuous condition of a church treasury — Why so?— A loud talker taught — Giving for Christ’s sake — An illustration — Set apart for the Lord first — Pleasure in the right way 253-

Chapter XI. Farewell To Pastor And People

At work like Elisha — An unlooked for communication — Why one field of labour was left for another — Released by Presbytery from my first charge — Closing scenes — Last Sabbath morning service — Exceptional circumstances — Because of the conspicuous place given to Christ — What was the staple of the Gospel for ten years — You have Christ because Christ has you -Twenty-eight new communicants at last service — All caught in Christ’s net — Last words to the unregenerate — An unfailing rule for the Christian — How genuine prosperity comes to congregations — At the Lord’s table — Two names of higher note than “mother” and “home” — Press accounts of the public farewell — Town Hall filled — On the platform — Long into the night — Such a leave-taking as is not often witnessed — Addresses — United address from .Session, Board of Management and Sabbath-school — “ Better years we never expect to see in this world ” — To the new field — Thankful for the ten years’ service — “ You will never meet with faces that will give you a gladder welcome ” — The pastor’s wife — From the Ladies’ Association — The pastor’s last words — Adieu and ''.ounsel — Forward — Statement in address on prosperity— Not a new church

Contents.

XIX hunter — To do with others what has been done with you — A trust to maintain — Love and peace — Sorrowful things about the farewell — Joyful things — Five hundred and seventy new members — Success gauged by faithfulness rather than by figures — “ Finally, brethren, farewell ” — Heaven at last 294-331

Chapter XII. Gleanings From Experience For Young Ministers

Statement of Phillips Brooks — Certain first principles to be taken for granted — Plan of this closing chapter — Young men to-day where the anthor was thirteen years ago — Asking for a leaf from another’s experience— Frankly, as a brother to brethren — Nine gleanings from experience— The first — Three terrible charges against ministers — Allow them not to be laid at your door — Hodge’s Systematic Theology — Another book by Hodge — Nebulous preaching — The second — Dugald Stewart — Is there danger of Bibliolatry ? — More out of the Book, less about it — Colenso, Huxley, Darwin to show off — The Science of the Cross — Philosophy of Christ’s substitution — Magi ahead of the Pharisees— The Gospel of Christ is no cripple — The third — Drs. John Hall, Duff, and Pierson — Ministers’ power to kindle or destroy missionary ardor — Stagnant waters breed croakers — Away from home and at home — The fourth — A good wife, a good Session, a good Managing Board for a minister — Main dependence upon two others — Self-renunciation and self-dependence — How to get common sense — Stand on your own feet — World does not look through true minister’s glasses — What does your minister think of you ? — The fifth — Ministers must be fighters — Riddled banners — In a European city — Lessons with a friend — The hymnology of our day — What battalions get heartiest cheers ? — Scars and trophies — The sixth — H. Clay Trumbull — The grace of overlooking — The house fly for the dirty spot — Brutus and Cassius — The Arena at Rome — Victor Hugo — Love — The seventh — vixlp Xpiarov ministers — The best marked leaf in my experience— Take it in capital letters — “ Position,” “ cloth,” “ambassadorship ” — The eighth — Hungry persons need food — Expository preaching— “Less gilding and more carving” — Ornate periods — Praying for their minister that he may preach the Word — Insulting Christ — Power in symplicity — Enamelling the lily — The ninth — Last but not least — Luther’s six minutes out of ten — Requirement of congregations. Professors, and Ministers — Spiritual equipment — Your people and you — In demonstration of the Spirit 332-357

TEN YEARS IN MY FIRST CHARGE.

Chapter I. Special Introductory Acknowledgments

“Them that honour Me I will honour” — The old fire-side — A grand parents due — “The hand that rocks the cradle” — Effect of the text, “He brought him to Jesus” — The book that led the author to Christ — Mourning by the Atlantic — New obligations expressed — With Spurgeon in London — “Old fashioned” and “disappointed”— Two names from College days — “The Greatest man in Canada to-day ” — On the platform in Exeter Hall, London — A New York Divine — Mr. Sage’s $10,000 — Classed with the two. Timothies and Titus — At Hawarden, Gladstone’s country seat — Chester’s chief attraction — Archibald Alexander’s testimony — In< the chair of the “ peerless expositor ” — A good man’s enduring, monument.

an early period in my life I became impressed' with the Scriptural words: — “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” As the years go by I find in this passage increasing pleasure and power. In inviting those who may become readers of this book to the record of a young man’s first ministry, It Is becoming that I should lift my Lord to the first place at the very outset. All through the period included in these chapters, amid many ups and downs, God has been sustaining his servant in a remarkable way. To Him, therefore, my earliest acknowledgments are due. To Him they are rendered. With special meaning can I engage with the Rev. John Newton in a recorded soliloquy : — “ I am not what I ought to be. Ah ! how imperfect and deficient. I am not what I wish to be. . . Nor

am I what I hope to be. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say that I am not what I once was, and I can heartily join with the apostle and acknowledge, “ by the grace of God I am what I am.”

Next to the Lord, I must express my indebtedness to a Christian home. Among my earliest recollections of that home are those of my father s father. With the passage of years remembrance seems in no way to be blunted of that good man,

‘ between whose knees I often stood when a little boy, to hear the name of Father and of God. When my young mind was becoming susceptible to impressions this aged grandsire taught me the distinction between right and wrong, and let me know, if I were to “see good days,” that I special hitrodiictory Acknoivledgments. ii

must “eschew evil, and do good.” In those days it was no uncommon thing for my grandfathers most intimate friends to come to the old home, in order that he and they might encourage one another in God. I sat with an advanced Christian and -my grandfather on one occasion as they spent part of a summer s evening in talking of the Saviour, the soul, and the future. At the time I understood not, as I now understand, the topics that interested them so deeply. But the recollections that attach to the spot, where these two men of God conversed on spiritual themes at eventide, draw me to Him whom they called theirs and whom, thanks to His love, I call mine. The impressions created in my mind as I knelt at the same chair, when that good man was conducting the family devotions ; the memories that continue of the early days when he gathered the children about him on Sabbath afternoon for “ the questions the doctrines he instilled into me when a little lad ; the instruction he imparted by precept and by example ; these combine to keep alive my gratitude to the Lord for having brought me into a home honored with such a head.

I am under deep obligation to my parents. But,

12 Ten Years in My First Charste.

in these opening acknowledgments, faithfulness prompts me to make special mention of her who bore me. As soon as I was born my mother dedicated me to the Lord. In infant days the touch of her hand was felt, though I was yet unconscious of its tender influence. When I became able to think she pointed me to Jesus. I think of the days when I required the rod, and when I smarted under its severity in my mother’s hand. But something has left a deeper impression upon my being than the punishment ; for after the punishment had been rendered, the same hand held mine, as I was brought, on bended knee with her, to tell the fault to Him who forgiveth sins, and to ask of Him the strength required to make and keep me better for after days. Piety is a word that does not embrace all that is contained in the religion possessed by her, whose worth a son feels more than his tongue or pen can express. If ten years in my first charge have been fruitful in conversions to the Lord, and in the upbuilding of the Lord’s people, the servant, along with his obligations to the Master, most loyally, as a son, speaks out his indebtedness to his mother. In her were combined discernment special hitroductory Acknowledgments. 13

and discretion, perseverance and patience, a large heart and large expectations, vigor and faith. She had seen the grace of God herself and exhorted her children, “that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”

Like the oak on the hill top, my old home felt the winds. “Mount Joy” had its trials and afflictions, and our mother had a heavy share of them to bear. They did good. They drove the roots of faith deeper into Christ. But our home had its brightness and gladness, yes, its unspeakable joys. We were a family of ten, of which I was the first born. Never shall I forget, as I returned on one holiday occasion to the home of my childhood, how mothers face glowed with delight, the tear drop of gratefulness appearing at the time, as she expressed to me her assurance that the youngest in the family had just come to the consciousness of a personal interest in Christ. “ My son,” she added, and although it is years since it was said, I think I hear the words as I write, “ your mother’s heart is full, for now I know that all my children are on the side of Christ.” Thank God for His grace, and for our Christian mothers.

To their teaching and influence much of what is termed our successes is to be ascribed. The longer I live the more I see in the poet’s lines—

“ The hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that moves the world.”

The opening sentence in John’s gospel, chapter hrst, and verse forty-second, has a special meaning to me, and impresses me with its lich suggestiveness. “And he brought him to Jesus” was the text for the evening sermon on a certain Sabbath day with my first congregation. As the worshippers were retiring from the house of prayer, a Christian lady came to express her gratitude for the benefit she had received through my words. She had been stirred into spiritual activity by Andrew’s example. Peter, whom he brought to Jesus, overshadows his brother, in the estimation of some scriptural readers. But the more one rejoices over Peter’s rewards on the day of Pentecost, and reflects upon the signal honors that fell to this apostle, the more significance attaches to the scene indicated in the chapter just mentioned. Behind the great sermon, and the great acts of Peter, is this quiet service of Andrew.

During my ministry I thank the Lord that He special Introductory Ackyiozvledgments. i 5

has honored His servant by enabling him to bring many a one to the Saviour. With each new instance of conversion in my work with men I am more enraptured with the sentence of Scripture above referred to^ because it freshens my remembrance of the man who brought me to Jesus. Nohuman being but myself knew the weary weeks that I spent in struggling with the inquiry, “ how then, can man be justified with God ?” “Wormwood and gall ” were my portion for long days and wretched nights before I came to appreciate Christ as a personal Saviour. I tried to rid myself of a pressing spiritual burden, but that burden seemed togrow heavier. Dissatisfied, and in deep distress, I resorted to the Bible, and I cried unto the Lord about my soul. In the midst of the agitations a little book was thrown in my way. I was struck with the title — “ God s Way of Peace.” It was peace above all other things that I was wanting then. I seized the book, and went away to a

retired spot. The heading of the first chapter, and the scriptural references with which it was associated, emphasized truth with which my heart was becoming acquainted. As I read on, and examined reference after reference, the light and comfort from heaven were beginning to be felt. Before the closing chapters had been reached the Spirit of God had wrought the great change. He wrought it through the instrumentality of this little book. By “ God’s Way of Peace” Horatius Bonar brought me to Jesus.

When down on the Atlantic seaboard spending my vacation season during the summer of 1889, the cable carried from another continent the tidings of Dr. Bonar’s death. The daily Press had brief notices the following day. The religious papers gave touching tributes to a worthy man. Some around me spoke the merits of his hymn, “ I lay my sins on Jesus.” Others expressed their preference for what they termed his choicest effusion, “ I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Come unto Me and rest,’ &c.” Had I not known anything of the honor bestowed by God upon his voice and pen with others, I could say that Horatius Bonar will have at least one jewel in his crown on rewarding-day, for it was he who led me to the enjoyment of salvation through “Jesus Only.”

It was, indeed, a precious satisfaction that I enjoyed as the newly-brought peace told me of “ Christ in you the hope of glory.” I had been special Introductory Acknowledf^ments. \y

hearing of Christ ever since I had ears to hear ; but now I heard of Him as I never had heard before. In a charming sense, old things had passed away and all things had become new. And the newest of the new were the discoveries in the Holy Scriptures.