Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

240 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
These inscriptions, as I have abeady indicated, gave rise to
and emotions not easily suppressed, and some of which I commnnicatedi
to my reverend friend before he entered the pidpit ; and during the most ;
eloquent and impressive discourse which he afterwards delivered, he madej
such telling references thereto as visibly afi'ected many of his hearers. Mi
Watson is deservedly highly popular with the people, among whom he
has laboured for so many years. He is one of the small number oJ|
ministers who opposed the Union, recently entered into by all the Pres-
byterian Churches of Canada, and his congregation to a man adhered tc
him, though every one of them were quite willing to join if their pastoi
did so. borne of them, however, asked themselves the question, Whethei
it was best to go over and part with their minister, or adhere to a pastoi
whom they almost adored, as a godly, earnest, and hard-working man, tc
whom they looked up as their natural father and protector when anj
troubles or trials overtook them 1 The question of Union or not was pu
to them from the pulpit, their minister asking all those who were ii
favour of Union with the other churches to stand up. Not one responded
He then asked those who de?ired to continue as they were to show theii
wishes in the same manner, when every soul in tlie building sprang t(
their feet. The church in which they had been hitherto Avorshippinj
was antiquated and too small for the growing requirements of an increasin<
congregation ; and to show their conhdence in their minister, and to en
courage him still further, the time was considered appropriate to set oi
foot a subscription for the building of a new church. In a very shor
time a sum of £3500 was subscribed solely among his Highland friends
and all within the township. A handsome building, large enough to sea
yOO persons, Avas contracted for, and was ready to receive the congregatioi
the (Sunday after my visit, on which day it was to be formally opened
It is a pretty, neat structure, and every farthing of its cost was subscribe*
before tiie building contract was entered into, a fact which I am afraii
cannot be recorded of many, if any, churches in our Highland districts a
home. It will thus be seen that Mr Watson is happy in his people an(
surroundings, and he is equally so in his own family. His sons am
daughters are educated under the domestic roof by their father, who in th
most systematic manner devotes so many hours a-day to these paterna
duties. The ladies' performances on the piano were really remarkable
when the difficulties of the situation are taken into account ; and the;
sang Scotch and Highland airs with the natural simplicity and sweetnes
of the mavis, one of them especially j^ossessing a compass and comman(
of voice which, under professional training, would soon enable her ti
make her mark among the most accomplished vocalists of our time.
Mr Watson is, in many respects, quite a character. He is entirely
devoid of any ecclesiastical starch, but wholly devoted to benefiting physic
ally as well as morally and religiously, his fellow creatures ; and notwith
standing his genuine respect and love for the Old Church, he is thoroughly
catholic in his views, and on the most friendly terms with his neighbour
— Catholic as well as Presbyterian. His popularity among his neighbour,
was strongly evidenced by an intimation in the other Presbyterian churche
of the district that there would be no services held in them on the oc
casion of the opening, on the following Sunday, of Mr Watson's ne'W
church, so that all the neighbouring ministers and people might be abl'