In reading the proceedings of the famous Westminster
Assembly, there is one of the scribes (or clerks as we would call them),
Adoniram Byfield, to whom our eye turns from time to time, amid all the
discussions. His services are much in request, and he has evidently great
sagacity and skill in his department of work. Such another clerk was Thomas
Pitcairn, in the Convocation and in the early days of our Free Church General
Assembly.
He was born at Edinburgh, 6th February 1800. His father, Mr
Alexander Pitcairn, was a merchant in Leith and Edinburgh, and was well-known
as an elder in Lady Glenorchy's Chapel, where the venerable Dr Jones ministered
as pastor for more than fifty years. It was while under the ministrations of Dr
Jones that Mr Pitcairn was led to the truth and often in after days did he
relate incidents connected with the preaching and labours of that man of God,
who so long and so faithfully witnessed for evangelical truth in Edinburgh, in
the Moderate era that preceded the times of Dr Andrew Thomson.
After
finishing the usual literary curriculum at College, he gave himself for a time
to business, with considerable prospects of success in that department opening
up to him. But as the work of grace in his soul deepened, his thoughts turned
to the ministry, and he abandoned without regret all hopes of worldly
advancement. Having passed through the Edinburgh Divinity Hall he was licensed
by the Presbytery to preach in 1828. While still a probationer, he assisted
successively Dr Stewart of Erskine, and Dr William Thomson of Perth; and
thereafter was ordained assistant and successsor to Dr Grierson of Cockpen.
Cockpen is in the Presbytery of Dalkeith — its name chiefly known by old
ballad song. Here Mr Pitcairn found work to do for his Master, among a
population partly rural and partly connected with the collieries of the
neighbourhood. His preaching was solid and scriptural; he handled the truths of
the Atonement and divine grace with deep earnestness and power from the pulpit,
and in his visitings enforced what preached. His consistent life and godly
sincerity gave weight to all he taught; while his pleasant, kindly manner,
ensured him access to the people, and won their affection as well as respect.
Nor was his labour in vain. The writer of this notice was one day in Glasgow,
visiting at the house of an intelligent ship-carpenter, whose wife manifested
much interest in the conversation. He at length asked her if she had long known
the Saviour as her Saviour. She replied, "Many years ago—more than
thirty—I was brought to Christ on a Communion Sabbath, when I was in the
parish of Cockpen. Mr Pitcairn preached on 'The Rock that is higher than I,'
and that day my heart was opened to receive Christ." And to this hour often
does she speak with grateful delight of that sermon, and of Mr Pitcairn.
An incident like this gives a glimpse of the blessing that attends on the work
of a true pastor. And Mr Pitcairn was such, during the twenty-two years he
laboured there, animated by zeal for his Master's glory, and by the desire to
win souls. But his former years of business-life were not without use to him..
A man little knows what he may be preparing for by what he passes through in
early days. Divine wisdom has a special view to the future in the secular
training of one who is to be a vessel to carry the name of Christ. Mr
Pitcairn's experience in business fitted him to be specially useful in after
years, and was soon recognised by his brethren. In 1837, he was chosen to be
Clerk to the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale. Then came on the days of trial to
the Church of Scotland, when the Government refused to acknowledge her right to
spiritual independence. When matters had come to a point, the memorable
Convocation was held at Edinburgh, 17th November 1842, at which were present,
from all quarters of Scotland, those ministers who saw that now they must look
forward to a Disruption, since their liberties were invaded. Above four hundred
and fifty were present; they met in Roxburgh Church. Dr Chalmers was called to
preside, and after the proceedings had been opened by prayer, the first step
was to choose a clerk.Uanimously, Mr Pitcairn was fixed upon. When, next year,
the Disruption did take place, with the same unanimity Mr Pitcairn was chosen,
along with Dr Clason of Edinburgh, to the Clerkship of the Free Church General
Assembly. And all the brethren who remember him will testify to the fidelity,
sagacity, and skill, which characterised his discharge of duty. Unobtrusive,
yet ready to act, with a remarkable command of temper, always courteous and
obliging, he evidently had special qualities for that office. Methodical and
correct, possessed of firmness, with great equanimity of spirit, he was able to
go through perplexing business unruffled; and often did his brethren remark to
each other the masterly manner in which he was able to minute the proceedings
of the Assembly. He was thus able to render invaluable service to the Church at
that important juncture.
In the year of the Disruption, those of the
people of Cockpen who left the Established Church.with him built for him a
church at Bonnyrig, in the same parish. There he ministered to the day of his
death. He was conscientiously regular in his visits to his flock; took much
interest in the young; and was ever ready to attend a call of sickness or
distress. At the same time, he gave his labours cheerfully to several stations
in the neighbourhood, then in their infancy, and held most brotherly
intercourse with his co-presbyters. They used to speak of his coming in among
them at a meeting as bringing sunshine, there was so much of radiant
benevolence in his broad countenance.
In 1854, near the beginning of the
year, he was suddenly seized with what proved a fatal illness. It lasted many
months. He had been a man of robust health, accustomed to the activities of
life; yet when laid on his sickbed, and called to endure a long and painful
illness, was upheld in patience and cheerfulness. Even then he undertook a
public duty; for the General Assembly having agreed to send a Pastoral Letter
to their people in regard to the calamities of pestilence and war, at that time
visiting the nations of Europe, he drew up the letter on his sickbed.
"From week to week," says his brother, "I found him enjoying that true rest
that can come only from the Blood of the Cross." One day his friend, Mr James
Crawford, had come to see him. Mr Crawford in conversing with him had said that
there was a grace of the Spirit which he would be enabled to manifest now in a
new manner, viz., that of being "patient in tribulation" (Rom. 12:12.) Mr
Pitcairn very pleasantly replied, "But see, Crawford, what is on each side of
the 'patience.' On the one side is, 'rejoicing in hope' and on the other,
'continuing instant in prayer.' I must have these also, for 'patience' is
between them."
He fell asleep on 21st December 1854. When the Commission
of the Free Church Assembly met in March following, in referring to the great
loss they had sustained by his death, they record "the affectionate respect
entertained for their departed brother ;" and they add their conviction, "that,
in no small measure, the Free Church has been indebted to him for much of what
is good in the tone and character of the proceedings of her supreme court, and
in the general conduct of her ecclesiastical affairs."
In 1836, he was
married to Miss Trotter of Broomhouse, Berwickshire. She died in 1862. He left
an only son, Alexander Young Pitcairn, W.S., Edinburgh. He is buried in the
Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh, in hope of the Resurrection of the Just and the
Crown of Life.
A. A. B.
Transcribed from Disruption Worthies, pp. 99 - 102
A
Memorial of 1843
EDINBURGH, John Greig & Son
1876
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Jane Newble
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This article added 11 July 2001