Blair Collection > Caraid nan Gàidheal

XVm BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
reviving the teiit service ; but I had made up my
mind. My brethren having declined to assist me, I
firmly stated to tliera tbat, being minister of the
parisb, I should postpone the day of the sacrament,
and tell my people the reason for my so doiug, and
tbat I could find abundance of assistance from my
friends in the upper part of Argylesbire. Mr.
Mackeich, minister of Southend, who had ordained
me, and who had no great love for some of the
brethren, came boldly forward and said that he
would not see his ' young son ' (as he called me)
oppressed, and that although he was not strong he
would assist me, if he shoukl fall in the act. A
report of this dispute got abroad, and was of the
greatest advantage to me, as the wliole Gaelic con-
gregation (remembering the efforts of Dr. Smith)
were to a man determined to stand by me. Tbere
being no tent to be fouud, I sent for a wright,
and ordered him to get up a tent as rapidly as
he could, and to let it be of the handsomest kind.
Dr. Robertson laughed very much at what he called
my 'juvenile folly,' asking me how I meant to pay
for tbe tent, as he would not allow any of the fuuds
of the church to be given for that purpose. I
brought all this before the notice of my GaeUc con-
gregation, stating that the eklers and others appointed
along with them would call on the congregation,
and would receive a subscription for the payment of
the tent from such as were willing to give it, but
tbat no individual was to give more than a shiÌling,
Well did I know from the expression of their coun-
tenances that the money would be soon fortbcoming;
and so it was, for in the course of a few days £14
more than the price of the tent were subscribed.
This tent was used on the Thursday previous to the