St Kilda
The island of St. Kilda lies in the Atlantic, beyond the Outer Hebrides-"its bare rampart of precipitous rocks rising in rugged grandeur from the sea, inaccessible save where on the east there is an opening at which in certain states of the weather it is possible to land." In 1823 there were 108 inhabitants in St. Kilda. Only one man - John Ferguson- "could read to any purpose."
The first Protestant missionary since the reformation came to St Kilda in 1705. Although remaining initially for only four years, he was later ordained by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, and returned to the Island where he remained until his death in 1730. For the next hundred years although visited by a number of missionaries and ministers for short periods little seems to have been accomplished in respect of true religion.
In 1822, at the request of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, John MacDonald;
("THE APOSTLE OF THE NORTH") made his first visit to St. Kilda. On his way to the island MacDonald went to see a minister in Harris, who told him that St. Kilda was part of his parish, but stated that he had never seen it. By this time the church and manse, which had been built during the early 1700's, had long disintegrated from lack of use.The vessel in which MacDonald sailed belonged to "the tacksman" of the island, who went annually to receive his rents. On the 15th of September they sailed from the "Long Island" at 4.30 A.M., and although the voyage was delayed, by two o'clock they reached St. Kilda, -"where they were warmly welcomed, and the best accommodation which the island could afford was at once put at their disposal." That evening at six o'clock the whole population met in a barn, used as the schoolhouse of a Gaelic teacher who had been recently appointed. MacDonald preached, taking as his text the message of "goodwill to men."
It was the busiest season of the year - the scanty harvest of the island was being cut - the young solan geese, on which the people depended for their livelihood, had to be collected.
MacDonald informed the people that during the ten days during which the vessel remained, he would preach every evening when the work of the day was over.
Subsequent historians have used this incident to discredit MacDonald, his attitude and style of evangelism.* However in relation to the preaching MacDonald records - "I told them .... I would suit the hour of the meeting to their convience, which might in general be at six in the evening, or whenever the buisness of the day was over. To this they readily assented, and expressed their willingness to meet at any hour I chose."
McDonald's preaching it is said formed "a course of religious instruction, in which the hearers are carried forward through the most important truths relating to sin and salvation"
Rev. Thomas Brown comments as follows using some of MacDonald's notes -
16th Sept. - His discourse was on Rom. iii 12: Showing the evil and the extent of sin. "Some of the hearers discovered signs of being affected, as if the view presented was new and alarming."
17th Sept. -The text was Rom. iii. 19; compared with Gal. iii. 10: Showing man's natural state as condemned under the law. "All listened with uncommon attention, and some were evidently impressed."
18th Sept. - The subject was taken from Rom. iii. 20: The impossibility of being justified by our own good works. "I could perceive that some were affected, and disposed to ask, What must we do?"
19th Sept. - The fourth sermon was on Rom. iii. 21: The righteousness of Christ as the ground of a sinner's forgiveness and acceptance. "While speaking of the Redeemer's sufferings, some appeared to be deeply impressed; there was something like a melting under the Word. The Cross, I see, is that which chiefly moves the sinner."
20th Sept. - Preached from Rom. iii. 22, on the manner in which the righteousness of Christ becomes ours. "Some, both old and young, were affected to tears, among others an old man upwards of sixty years of age."
21st Sept. - Preached from Rom. v. 1, on The effects of justification. "The Gaelic teacher told me that he saw this morning one of the people engaged earnestly at prayer in one of the fields-a new thing in St. Kilda"
22nd Sept. - Preached on The work of the Spirit. "At one time almost all were in tears."
During his stay on the Island, MacDonald "went freely among the people in private." Writing of these events Rev. Thomas Brown comments - "All who ever met Dr. MacDonald know how frank and genial his nature was, and can well understand how welcome such intercourse must have been. One day, for example, he finds the whole population out in the harvest-field, every family busy cutting down their own small crop. They were eager for giving and receiving news. "I endeavoured to gratify them as much as I could, and they in return entertained me with all the little tales of their island. I found this gave me readier access to their minds."
Brown again states - "John MacDonald was the greatest Gaelic preacher of his day, dealing as none but he could with the minds of his Highland countrymen; but his grand object was to present God's truth objectively, so as to convince the reason, and through the reason to impress the heart.
This style of preaching was sought and relished all over the North. However much or however little of secular education the people might have, yet on the great principles of Divine truth it was no vague or superficial mode of treatment that would satisfy them. It is surely a striking illustration of this which meets us here, when Dr. MacDonald is breaking ground in St. Kilda, and asking these simple-minded people to enter into the strong arguments and powerful appeals of the great apostle."
During next winter his thoughts were often dwelling on St. Kilda, and the following May found him on his way to revisit the people. On catching sight of his approach they flew down to the shore, and when he stepped on land "they all pressed round me," he says, "and grasped my hand, each in his two, till I thought they would have wrung the very blood out of it." Few words passed, but there were tears- "God knows my heart was full"
On this occasion they had service twice a-day, with a still more systematic course of religious instruction, both doctrinal and practical-the details of which need not be given.
A resident teacher had been appointed by the Gaelic School Society, and Dr. MacDonald held an examination of his school The scholars numbered fifty-seven, including fifteen or sixteen married persons-fully half the population of the island "The appearance they made was wonderful."
On this second visit the hearts of the people were more open to receive the Gospel. The old man previously referred to had lost his eyesight. "On my saying it would be well if his mental eyes were opened- "I trust they are," he said. "But what then do you see?" "That I am blind-that in myself I am a ruined sinner, but Christ is an Almighty Saviour." "But what if He is not willing? ''Willing! would He die for sinners if He were not willing to save them? -No! no!" The impression seems to have been general. "It was delightful in the evening, between nine and ten o'clock, to hear the praises of God and prayer ascending from almost every family-a new thing in St. Kilda.""
He continues - "It was at the close of the services, however, that they began to show how the truth had taken hold of their minds." His last two sermons were from 2 Cor. v. 17. MacDonald noted in his diary - "Many were much impressed - some in tears - among others, the old man formerly referred to. On my hinting that this would be the closing sermon, they all began to weep. The scene quite overcame me. I concluded abruptly."
Next morning the whole-men, women, and children came down to the shore, and amidst cries and tears, in which my landlord and I were obliged to share, we shook hands. After we got under weigh they ascended the brow of a steep hill and sat, following us with their eyes, till our little bark became no longer visible."
It was not till the summer of 1830 that church buildings had been erected. Mr. N. Mackenzie was appointed as an ordained missionary, and John MacDonald went to introduce him to his flock. After a warm and cordial welcome and two weeks of preaching the parting came. In his last sermon he "sought to lead their views to the cross of Christ and fix them there, and told them I felt both joy and sorrow-joy that I left with them a Gospel minister-and sorrow that on this very account I should in all probability see them no more. After this it is said, the whole house became a "Bochim" (a place of weeping).
*
Charles Maclean, in his well known book on St. Kilda, "Island On The Edge Of The World", refers to John MacDonald as - "a puritanical hard-necked evangelist". He goes on to make the assertion that MacDonald - "set about the destruction of the island culture with all the zealous goodwill of a holy bigot". He further alleges that the islander's admiration and respect for John MacDonald - "were not returned".
In these and other comments Maclean shows himself to be, at best, less than honest, and at worst to be the bigot himself. Is it a coincidence that he has entitled his chapter on the matter - "Missionaries and Disease"? It appears that Maclean, either did not acquainted himself with MacDonald's true sentiments, or if he did, chose to ignore or misrepresent them. For instance MacLean quotes MacDonad as having said - "I did not find a single individual who could be truly called a decidedly religious person". However he fails to note that the sentence continued - " .... That is, one who has felt the influence of the truth on his soul, and who exhibits that influence in his life and conversation."
In relation to island culture MacDonald noted in his diary - "In regard to music and dancing in St Kilda, I may here observe that though the people are naturally fond of these exercise, yet as they are not connected with those habits of dissipation and debauchery which, alas, prevail too much in other places, and which oblige ministers of the Gospel for that very reason to lift up their voices against them, they are to them but comparatively harmless amusements" (The Apostle of the North - Appendices p282). Is this the statement of a man bent on the destruction of Island culture? I believe John MacDonald would have been greatly grieved by the cold hand of formalism and legalism which was to grip the Island and his Church some sixteen years after his death.
Anyone reading MacDonald's diaries cannot be but touched by the depth of his love and emotion for the people of St. Kilda. He had been praying or them long before his first visit. During his first journey he composed some verses in his native Gaelic regarding his feelings, part of which read - "Hunger and hardship I would bear, and the danger of the sea and storm would I brave, that I might see the people, and preach to them the gospel of peace".
As already recorded at the conclusion of the visit he records - "... all of them in a body (the children not excluded) followed us to the shore, and amidst cries and tears, in which my landlord and I were obliged to share, we shook hands with them and bade them a final adieu".
Referring to a service on 31st May 1824, shortly before leaving St. Kilda, he records - "During a considerable part of the discourse I felt much affected, so much so that I could at times scarcely give utterance to my sentiments, and the sobbings and crying of the people interrupted me not a little". Are these the sentiments of the man MacLean portrays?
Other bigoted opinion can be found in the book. However these may suffice to prove that the author does more to distort history in this respect rather than to simply record it.