Christianity in the Scottish Highlands

This brief biographical account of Dr. Angus Mackintosh of Tain is taken from the  Historical and Biographical Introduction  found in the volume about his son,  Memorials of The Life and Ministry of Charles Calder Mackintosh, D.D. of Tain and Dunoon . The Introduction was written by Rev. William Taylor of Stirling. Angus MacIntosh, D.D., was a native of Strathdearn, in Inverness-shire.(1) Early dedicated to God by devoted parents, and converted by his grace, he was ordained as minister of a Gaelic chapel in Glasgow in 1792, was translated to Tain in 1797, and died in 1831, leaving a reputation for piety and ministerial excellencies unsurpassed by any of the more recently departed worthies of the northern Highlands. His Glasgow ministry was brief, but largely blessed. To Tain he was called by the voice of the people prevailing over an attempt to impose on them, by force of patronage, a minister they did not esteem. The magistrates and elders of that town had...

On Sabbath week (23d July, 1843) we enjoyed an opportunity of witnessing in the West Highlands one of those impressive spectacles which have been of frequent occurrence in the rural districts of the country since the disruption of the Church — the dispensation of the Lord’s Supper in the open air. The services were of such a peculiarly interesting character, and excited so much attention throughout an extensive tract of country, that, for the benefit of those who have never witnessed sacramental solemnities under similar circumstances, we shall endeavour to describe them. It was the communion at Ardchattan, a parish situated on the banks of Loch Etive, well known to tourists as one of the most beautiful lochs in Scotland. The Rev. Mr. Fraser, the excellent minister, has joined the Free Church with all his people, the exceptions being quite inconsiderable, and consisting only of a few lairds, and such of their dependents as their influence has retained in the bondage of the Establi...

What kind of man was John Macdonald? First, he was an organised man . When at home he divided his day into three sets of eight hours. Eight were spent in bed, eight were spent in study and prayer, and eight were spent in other matters connected to the church and home. Providence does not mean disorganisation. Second, he was a physically strong man . In his early days he travelled through regions without roads and had either to walk or ride, often through cold and stormy weather, crossing swollen rivers to preach to crowds who had gathered to hear him. Eventually such exertions caught up with him. But he refused to let tiredness or even illness prevent him preaching. On one occasion, he was seriously ill and was unable to perspire, which the doctors wanted him to do in order to get rid of the cause of his illness (I have no idea if that is good medical practice today). A local elder heard about the problem and arranged for a cure. He gathered people to the manse in order to hear a...