Christianity in the Scottish Highlands

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...

John Macdonald was born on November 12th, 1779, in the parish of Reay in the north of Scotland. His father, James Macdonald, was the local catechist and lay-preacher, despite being unable to read or write. Yet he knew the Bible by heart, it was said. Life was hard in those days and James resolved to emigrate to America with his wife and then family. They were prevented from doing so by a fierce storm in the Pentland Firth. John had not then been born, but providence prevented him going there. After all, if he had, John would not have been born. You may ask, Would he not have been born in America? The answer to that question is no because the then wife of James would not be the mother of John. Sadly, James’ first wife died shortly after the aborted trip to America. In 1775, James remarried, this time to the daughter of a Christian man who lived near him, and to them was born John four years later (he was their second child). Divine providence arranged for John Macdonald to be b...