This letter was written to Mr. Maclagan, who was compiling
the 'History of St.George's,' in 1874, and is included in this.
These
excerpts have been taken from 'Memorials of Robert Smith Candlish,' D.D., by
William Wilson, D.D. (1880)
5th March, 1874
"It was November 1836 that I
came from Jedburgh (where I had been for eighteen months partly as a friend and
partly as a missionary with Mr. Purves) to be missionary in St. George's
parish.
So far as I can remember I was the first missionary. Rose Street
and William Street (the schoolroom in each of those streets furnished a place
of meeting) were the backbone of my mission district. The hostlers in those
streets formed part of my charge; there was a service for them at four o'clock
on Sabbath afternoon, and sometimes there might be four, sometimes twelve,
sometimes twenty, or even more, who came.
Occasionally Dr. Candlish
preached in the schoolrooms referred to. When about to begin my work I asked
him, 'Will you tell me how I shall go about visiting here, and what meetings I
should hold on week day and Sabbath?'
In his own way he replied, 'I'll tell
you nothing. Find out for yourself what may be best. Your way will be opened up
for you.'
And so I was entirely free to do less or more, and to take any
way I pleased. He liked me to call upon him in a morning now and then (he was
not so busy then) to report anything going on in the district. If I had a case
of sickness that seemed to fall to his hand more than mine (e.g. some member of
the congregation) I was welcome to call even on Saturday ; and sometimes he
most kindly told me what his lecture was to be, and would say, 'Now, does this
look fanciful?' or something to that effect."
"As to incidents, it would
require a little more time than I can get, I fear, to recall anything of real
interest to you.
He introduced me to my charge at Collace, preaching on 2
Cor. 5:11: 'Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.' That
day, his sermon shook the self-confidence of an old lady who came to hear, and
filled her with concern. In those days his love for Robert M'Cheyne was very
interesting. You know how it was his anxiety for Robert M'Cheyne's health that
led to the idea of the mission to the Jews, and the visit to Palestine. I have
the first draft of the petition to the Assembly to undertake a mission to the
Jews in Dr. Candlish's handwriting."
Transcribed from Reminiscences of Andrew A.Bonar D.D.
first published
LONDON, HODDER AND STOUGHTON,
27 Paternoster
Row
1895
HTML transcription files copyright © 2001-2006.
Jane Newble
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This letter added 23 July 2001