valley, its pain and its darkness will melt away in the growing light. For pain is not remembered, but joy lives on; and so they enter the land that is very far off, and see the King in his beauty; and, as John Bunyan says, "I dreamed I saw its light, and when I saw it I wished myself among them."

R. H.-K.

.

HOW THERE CAME TO BE AN E. U. CHURCH IN EYEMOUTH.* By REV. WILLIAM WYLLIE, M.A. (with the exception of the sentence referring to himself.)

THE wise preacher said, long ago, "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good;" and the way in which our Gospel movement sometimes spreads still affords illustration of this truth. It does not always flourish in what are seemingly the most likely places. And occasionally it has gained a footing in others, where, to say the least, its chances of success were not great. Who, for example, could have said thirty, or even twenty, years ago, that there would be to-day, in the little fishing town of Eyemouth, a healthy, self-supporting E. U. Church? Yet the fact remains that, while many more populous towns have been passed over, and are still unoccupied by our Gospel ministry, the good seed has here found congenial soil.

Circumstances, too, of special interest, seem to have marked its introduction.

From the lips of some of the oldest members of the church we learn that, even as far back as 1843, the winds of controversy had blown the seeds of truth this way. Even at this early date a few friends here had heard of what were then called the new views." To them, however, these "views" seemed to be as old as God's truth, and to sound in their ears like a father's voice. Hence they met with a glad and hearty welcome. For in the doctrines of "free grace" and "unlimited atonement," those who were recently converted found satisfaction and nourishment for their newly quickened souls.

Shortly after these few sympathizers with the advocates of *A few months ago, when we were bringing our History of the Evangelical Union to a close, we wrote to the secretaries of one or two churches for information as to their origin. We regretted that the space available in our volume did not admit of our inserting two pretty lengthened replies which we received; and we have pleasure in publishing these statements in this number of the Repository; for it may interest readers at a distance to learn the early struggles which some of our brethren had to pass through. -ED, E. R.

an honest Gospel for every man had, in some incidental way, come to "the knowledge of the truth," they were greatly cheered by the summer visits of two E. U. friends-Mr. and Mrs. Thomson, of Haymount, near Kelso. While enjoying the sea-breeze and the grandeur of the scenery, Mr. and Mrs. Thomson formed the acquaintance of those who already loved the doctrines of the Evangelical Union. And it was under their leadership and guidance that the brethren first began to have regular meetings for exhortation and prayer.

These little kitchen meetings were continued for many years. Mr. Kirk's books and other publications of our Union were freely circulated. Occasionally an E. U. preacher would be asked to come and address a meeting. By these and other means the good seed was sown; the flame of love to our liberal theology was kept alive in a few hearts.

But by the time that the revival of 1859-60 swept over our land the little band had been so reduced by deaths and removals that even their kitchen meetings had been discontinued. Yet they had doubtless done a good work in spreading Gospel light among the people. By their acquaintance with the literature and preachers of our Union, they were also prepared to give direction to the new tide of spiritual life which the revival brought to the town, and to find supply for the want which it created.

For several of the recently converted individuals soon began to be dissatisfied with the spiritual food furnished to them by a Calvinistic theology. They were more inclined to cast in their lot with the Primitive Methodists. But, at that time, their chapel was often supplied by local preachers. These good brethren doubtless did the best they could. But, in some cases, the fishermen did not feel themselves edified by their ministrations.

While things were in this state, one of the young converts, after reading Light out of Darkness, said, "Could we not get that sort o' men to preach to us?"

"Yes;" answered the brother to whom the remark was made, "if you are willing to pay for them."

"Well," said the enthusiastic friend, who had asked the question, "I'm a poor man; but I'll be five shillings." Another said that he would be the same. And soon the required sum was promised. Mr. Salmon was accordingly asked to come and supply a vacant day in the Methodists' chapel.

Here it might be only just to this dear brother's memory to say that, while in Dunse, he had paid frequent visits to Eyemouth, and often addressed the kitchen meetings of former

But the second and real starting-point of our movement here was when he came, by special invitation, to preach in the Methodists' chapel. He had, it is said, scarcely got "under way" with his forenoon sermon, when the brother, who had been reading Kirk's Light out of Darkness, unable to restrain himself, turned round to his companions and said, "Now lads, drink it in; for that's it."

After such a demonstration it need hardly be said that a great impression was made by the day's preaching. And the result was that somewhere about a dozen brethren met and made up their minds that they would have more of it. The "Masons' Lodge" was taken, and another invitation sent to Mr. Salmon to come and preach. But, when the time for the forenoon service on that eventful day came round, the hearts of the bravest began to fail. For some of those who had pledged themselves now drew back. They did not "put in an appearance," and no others came in their stead. Mr. Salmon had only eight or nine of an audience, on that Sabbath morning. The numbers rose to thirteen in the afternoon. And the darkness of the evening helped to swell them to twenty-five.

The brethren were greatly discouraged. For, in their own warmth of enthusiasm, they thought that the place would be .filled. But Mr. Salmon knew better the strength of the prejudice against which we had to contend. He told them, therefore, not to be disheartened; but, since they had opened the hall, to try to keep it open-at least for some time longer. At his suggestion, then, regular supply was sought. Students and ministers continued to come for two years. By this time the little band had grown in strength and numbers. The lodge-room was now well filled every Sabbath evening. The clear, intelligent views of the Gospel held and expounded with such earnestness by our preachers had, so far, broken down prejudice, and won the hearts of the frank, open fishermen. Others, too, besides fishermen, found themselves blessed by the truth of a world-wide Gospel; for Mr. Robert Martin, afterwards E. U. minister of Westhills, was one of the converts of those early days.

Encouraged by their success, the brethren now began to look about them for a place on which to build. A site was secured, and they went to work with a will. They even found vent to their enthusiasm in the gathering of stones for the building. They went along the shore with their boats, and brought cargo after cargo of building material.

Thus, as they look at the "Zion" which they have built-as it now stands free of debt-they may well "take pleasure in

her stones, and favour the dust thereof;" for they and their fathers literally toiled and perspired at the building of her walls.

The little chapel had not been long opened for public worship when the church enjoyed a time of refreshing through a special visit from the Rev. James Strachan. He held meetings every night for a fortnight or three weeks. Several conversions and a revived state of feeling were the result. Other esteemed ministers and students carried forward the good work. The clear, world-embracing views of the Gospel which they held, and made known with such power, gave them an advantage over any other evangelists who had laboured in the district.

The subsequent history of the church is soon told. After being about two years in their new chapel, the Rev. Robert Finlay was called and happily settled as their first pastor. During the four years of his ministry here he did much to strengthen and establish the cause. He still lives in the hearts of many who were blessed by his labours.

But on his removal to Perth the brethren had once more to look to the Academy for supply. One of the young preachers sent was Mr. M. Dick, now settled near Adelaide, Australia. He was appointed to supply the pulpit during the first summer of the vacancy. And in the course of these three months a good work was done. Many meetings were held; deep impressions were produced; and not a few professed to be converted. Our young brother's health unfortunately broke down before the close of the next summer, so that he was constrained to decline the cordial and unanimous call which the church gave him to become their pastor.

Nearly other two years elapsed-making altogether a vacancy of about four years-before they had again one among them regularly breaking the bread of life. Their present pastor, the Rev. W. Wyllie, M.A., then received from them a very hearty welcome. Since his settlement three years of unbroken peace and quiet prosperity have already passed away. And now let the earnest prayer of all true friends of the Union, for this outlying and border church, be:

And may

say :

No. 10.

"Peace be within that sacred place,

And joy a constant guest;

With holy gifts and heavenly grac›
Be her attendants blessed."

each one of her children echo back the strain and

"My soul shall pray for Zion still,

While life or breath remains ;

There my best friends, my kindred dwell,
There God my Saviour reigns."

H

Vol. 3.

114

HOW THERE CAME TO BE AN E. U. CHURCH IN
SHAPINSHAY, ORKNEY.

BY REV. W. CROMBIE, MELROSE.

I BEG to lay before you a few of the facts in connection with the introduction of the Evangelical Union movement to the Orkneys, and which led ultimately to the establishment of a church in Shapinshay.

These groups of islands are separated, as you know, by sounds, or arms of the sea. On what may be called the main land stands Kirkwall, the capital of the islands—a town to the Orcadians of great importance. Shapinshay is separated from Kirkwall by four miles of a sound. The inhabitants of these islands have been known as a quiet, sober, and on the whole an industrious people. They possess a high respect and veneration for the Word of God and the ministers of the Gospel. In the Orkneys a minister is universally respected. This respect and veneration are manifested in various ways and by kindly acts, as, for instance, if a minister should have occasion to lodge in a hotel (although the houses of entertainment do not deserve the name, for they are generally farm houses), the host of such a hotel would not charge anything for the minister's accommodation. The people being sober, respectful, and given to venerate the Bible and their ministers, as I have said, seem to be very susceptible of spiritual impression and the reception of religious truth. The teaching in the churches of Orkney I found, at the time of my visit, nearly thirty years ago, to be more Calvinistic than in any other part of Scotland. When our distinctive views were introduced there were many earnest men groping their way to eternity in Calvinistic darkness, seeking sincerely after a clearer light upon the way that leads to God and heaven. There are a large number of U. P. Churches in Orkney; and Dr. Morison's expulsion from that church by the Synod, in 1841, had produced a wonderful interest in theology, and awakened hope in many anxious minds that light might arise to their souls out of the hyper Calvinistic darkness. The period of introduction of our views was from 1849 to 1851, and it was effected in the following somewhat remarkable way: J. Balfour, Esq., the excellent and enterprising proprietor of Shapinshay, had begun to build a castle as his own residence. This beautiful building required skilled workmen from the south. Amongst those sent was one young man belonging to Professor Kirk's church in Edinburgh. This workman was very quiet and modest, but in the full enjoyment of that peace and assurance which