LECTURE ON DR GUTHRIE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1000, 5 September 1882, Page 3

LECTURE ON DR GUTHRIE.

On last Friday night the Eey W. Morley, ex-President of the ' Wesleyan Conference, delivered a lecture on the great Scotcli divine, Dr Guthrie. Considering that ( the fc rb‘v lectiirer is wellkndwn, and that the subject was a most interesting one, the, attendance was veiy small.

The lecture, was announced at- 7.30, but it wa? after 8 o’clock before the/ Rev T. Fee announced that the Rev D, Gordon had consented to take the chair.

The rev chairman, after offering up a prayer, introduced the lecturer, and said ho was surprised to see so few was present, bU' he was sure those who were absent would miss a treat. A mao occupying (helposition of^ex^President of thb Wesleyin Conference ought to have the room full to meet.

The Rev W. Morley then gave a very interesting sketch of the life of Dr Guthrie. Aftjma few prefatory remarks; he I said that Dr Guthrie was born in Brechan, in Forfordshire, Scotland,a place which bad a population of about 5000 people, amongst whom were a great many weavers. His father was : a farmer, and; not distinguished for anything except honesty and religiousness, His mother was .a noble, (all, strongminded, religious .woman, and Dr Guthrie inherited her characteristics. She had a great, deal to do in forming her son’s mind, 1 ahd he always felt indebted do hi* mother-for his> early training. There was nothing of Ihe goody-goody in his boyhood, was al ways ready for a stand- u p fight, a nd frequently challenged any boy of his own age to fight with one hand.' It may be .inferred what his capabilities were when it was-known*thatfat 18 years h e stood 6 feet 2 in height. Hi* youth was not dis*. tibgubhed by early piety. At 13 years Of age lie wa* sent to the Edinburgh University, where he remained 5 years without distingushing him«elf. He ■tudied natural history for the n«xt two years, and the next two year* he spent in France. An operiing having occurred in a bank through 1 the death of his brother, he spent another two year* as banker’s clerk, after which h* got a license to preach. On leaving the bank, the banker said to him that if he would preach as well as he kept accounts ho would succeed. For the 1 next fire years he did « not get more that £5 for his preaching. He next was appointed to a rural parish, where he remained until he removed to Grey Friars Church, in Edinburgh. Amongst this rural population he learned many of his quaint and humorous • stories for which he was afterwards distinguished. He found, after'going there, that three classes of peoplq pever attended church; one, the secessionist, who went 12 miles off to a church that suited him ; the other the man who could not read ; and (he third the cmzyman. He established Bible classes and brought these tegether, Aftei coining to Edinburgh he soon made his mark. at 5 And.was preparing his sermon until breakfast time. Ha next attended to his parish duties, in the after noon received visitors, and spent the evening with his family. Shortly afterwards came the great disruption of the Church. He was at one side and Norraan McLeod on the other, and, its magnitude might be understood f; wben ;i it known that 700 pamphlets were written on the subject in one year. The Strathbogie trial came o», and an interdict was issued that no one should preach there, Dr Guthrie went to preach there but was mat by bailiffs, who showed him the interdict, which, oa pain of imprisonment, commanded him not to preach there. Dr Guthrie complied with the interdict in not preaching in neither church nor eluhoolrooro, but when he

' ™fotJn3^ie >T‘ - o preach anywhere he train] hid it underfoot. In 1843 came the climax, when 500 clergymen in one day gave up their livings, and joined the Free Church of Scotland, which now has more churches than the established. Great privations were cllrWymehi |)e|n| 'cbmpbllhdW where they 1 " could'* study astronomy, but Dr Guthrie was appointed to collect. phoney. He,. announced that the ininirauin he would’take was £5, and as for the maximum they might try him. And, next day a nobleman tried him to* 1 the,,|uoe of'£sooo’, ? Hcwafe expected ; to A raise £50,C00, but in 12 months he collected £116,000 for building manses for the clergymen. He next set about proriding for the poor, and established ragged sehools, and had the satisfaction of seeing on* of bis own ragged school brys capped as master of arts. He also advorated national education. Over-work brought on illness, and for typo years, he did not preach. He next got’Dr Hanrisiy ; to assist him and they labored amicably for 15 tears together. In 1864 he resigned altogether through ill-health, and at one public meeting £SOOO was subscribed for his benefit. He then became editor of the Sunday Magazine, and increasedifs circulation immensely At the invitation of the Queen he was present at the marriage of Princess Louisa, and received many marks of esteem from Her Majesty. At last the fatal illness came, and uttering the words‘The just live by f kith/ 'he concluded a 40 years’ ministry amidst the regret of all who knew him. There were 30,000 people at his funeral, and when 250 of his own ragged school children strewed’flowers on his coffin, and sang “ There is a Happy Land; 1 far, far away," few eyes were dry. ■ The rev lecturer then told many amusing stories abbut Dr Guthrie, and also (he many good deeds he did in lifetime. The Rev T. Fee then moved a vote of thanks to the rev lecturer, and also to the rev chaiiman., When rthe report of the lecture went abroad he was sure many would b* sorry for not being present. | He'felt confident when next He came he would have a full house.' The Rev W. Morley said lie would feel fully repaid if those present would read the life and writings of Dr Guthrie, as they were sure to profit ; by them. The Rev, 1). Gordon said he was always most happy to meet Mr Fee, and felt more than, compensated in hearing the beautiful lecture they had beard on one of Scotland’s greatest sons, who lived in most trying times. He felt under a debt of gratitude to Mr Morley for the way he (a minister of another denominatibn) had ’handled the subject, arid hoped when nexfc he came he would hav* a crowded house. The Rev. T. Fee then pronounced tha benediction, and the proceedings terminated. ■ 1 ’ ■