through life," the boy was father of the man." Then, as afterwards, to know him was to love him. He had always great delight in attending, when in his power, the meetings at which the now sadly thinned ranks of his compeers of "Douie's class" mustered from time to time, for the "olim meminisse juvabit" of which Virgil had sung to them in their boyhood.

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In 1814 Mr M'Gregor entered as a student the University of Glasgow, and attended successively the different classes in "arts," till he was qualified to join the class of divinity. In the progress of his studies his prospect was dimmed for a time by the death of his father. This calamity, however, was not suffered to interrupt him in the prosecution of his learning. His mother, as soon as the sharp stroke which removed her earthly stay had left her with her young family hostages to providence,"-in a sense in which only the widow and the fatherless know, learned to appropriate that rich inheritance of promises which belongs to the widow and the fatherless as their peculiar portion. Bracing herself for her new position, she found strength suited to her day. At this time she became a member of the Gorbals Independent church, which, with its pastor, the Rev. Mr Campbell, afterwards joined the United Associate Synod, and now forms the congregation of " Erskine Church," the Rev. Dr M'Farlane's. In the meantime, the younger of her two daughters had become the wife of the Rev. John Kesson, minister of the Relief Church, Kilbarchan. By this connection the young student was brought into close contact with Relief principles, and on his sister becoming a widow (1816) and returning to live in her native city, John, now a student in philosophy, was accustomed to attend with her the ministrations of the Rev. Robert Brodie, Campbell Street. His services in promoting schemes of usefulness prosecuted by the Campbell Street Church, especially in organising the congregational library, are still spoken of with gratitude and respect by friends in that congregation.

At the time when Mr M'Gregor came to enter on the study of theology, the Relief Synod had no theological professor of its own, and students looking forward to the ministry in its connection, were required to attend one of the chartered universities. He accordingly joined the class of the Rev. Professor M'Gill, of Glasgow College, where he was associated with others holding the same ecclesiastical views, and like himself prosecuting their studies under the superintendence of the Relief Synod. The young brethren felt themselves uncomfortable in their exotic state; and taking into account the more serious hardships inflicted on Relief students who sought to attend the divinity class of another university, they resolved to petition the Synod in favour of a proposal then under its consideration, to erect a separate theological institution. This petition was presented at the close of the last session of Mr M'Gregor's attendance at the university, and was subscribed by him as chairman. The overture it was intended to support was adopted by the Synod that same year, and in the year following the Rev. Dr Thomson, of Paisley, was elected professor of divinity.

In October 1823, Mr M'Gregor was licensed by the presbytery of Glasgow to preach the everlasting Gospel. One of his first appointments as a preacher was to the newly formed and still vacant congregation of Stranraer. So effectually did his engaging talents in the pulpit, and the graceful christian courtesy of his manners in private, commend him to the affections of the christian people in that church, that in December following, at the earliest date which the forms of presbytery permitted, he was called to be their minister. The thought of his youth and inexperience, and of the distance at which he should be removed from brethren in the ministry of the same ecclesiastical body, should he settle in Stranraer, filled him with "fear and much trembling," when deliberating on the call he had received; but casting himself on the divinely promised help, he resolved upon its acceptance. After a little breathing time, most requisite in the circumstances, he was ordained to the ministry on 5th May 1824, and on the following Sabbath, was introduced to the congregation by his friend and former pastor, the Rev. Robert Brodie.

Mr M'Gregor's experience as a minister at Stranraer was marked by many tokens of Divine favour. His public services, his instruction of the young in Sabbath classes, his domiciliary visitation of his flock, and his general intercourse withi

society, all partook of the kindly and winning qualities which had previously rendered him a favourite with all his acquaintance. His discourses were rich in evangelical doctrine, and radiant with natural and striking illustrations; while the modest and fervid eloquence of his gesture and utterance, served to engage the sympathies of his hearers, and prepare access for the truth to their hearts. He never sought to dazzle by mere novelties, or surprise by paradoxes and dark sayings. He seldom indulged in extended doctrinal discussion, like Paul; but, for the most part, sought rather, like the beloved John, to commend the Gospel, by pointing to its living embodiment, drawing his examples from the record of scripture saints, and from his reading, observation, and experience of Christianity in more recent times. In the selection of his subjects for pulpit ministration, this preference for the practical and experimental was apparent. His preaching knew nothing of that phosphorescent gleam, which

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Plays round the head, and comes not near the heart."

But whatever the subject with which he was dealing, one could see, or rather feel, in his treatment of it, the reflection of the cordial glow which it had kindled within the speaker himself. The few discourses which he could be prevailed upon to prepare for the press, amply bear out this representation; and a series of Sabbath evening lectures, on "Female Scripture Biography," which occupied much of his attention during the last two years of his life, and which, had he been spared a little longer in vigorous health, he might have been induced to publish, would, we are persuaded, have more than sustained our favourable estimate of his preaching talents.

The congregation of Bridge Street, when Mr M'Gregor entered on its charge, was comparatively small and feeble, insomuch that, that some good people witnessing its rise and early history, were not slow to express their regrets, that the interesting young minister had come so far, to ally himself to a cause so hopeless! It was not long, however, till he gathered round him a considerable body of people, not a few of whom were eminent in the district for their christian worth, and their influential position in society. The incumbent of the parish at the time, was the same who afterwards furnished the Stranraer case of discipline, well known in connection with the General Assembly's struggle for "spiritual independence." Many of his hearers gave in their adhesion to the new cause without renouncing as the Relief principles of communion did not require they should renounce their convictions of the necessity, or christian expediency, of state churches. At this period, the question of church and state connection, though sometimes discussed by studious and speculative persons, did not affect, as it came afterwards to do, the relations of social life, and seldom demanded that ministers of the Gospel should formally take a side regarding it. After 1831, when the Reform Bill and its attendant agitation had begun to bring out into practical view, various subjects which had previously belonged to the region of speculation and theory, the Voluntary Church question started into prominence all over Scotland. Mr M'Gregor was a lover of all good men, an ardent friend of christian union, and in terms of neighbourly correspondence with Christians of all ranks of society, and all evangelical denominations, around him. But, with all his remarkable suavity in the general intercourse of life, he was bold as a lion in the maintenance of what he held to be important Scripture doctrine. He sought to "please all men for their good to edification;" but to please them by withholding his testimony to a truth, for the defence of which he held himself to be set, was not accordant with his open frank nature. Besides, his warm sympathy-ever a prominent feature in his character-with his brethren in the ministry of the same church, many of whom were testifying and suffering for their principles elsewhere, would not admit of his taking advantage of his isolated position, for declining to share in their witness-bearing. Instead, therefore, of furling or lowering his flag, and so causing a doubt as to which side he belonged to in this sifting controversy, he was ever ready, in public and in private, to identify himself with the Voluntary Church movement, notwithstanding the disaffection he saw it was raising toward him among some of his most intimate and most valued friends. One of a number who withdrew from his ministry—

constrained by what they deemed a sense of consistency, as persons holding and avowing the doctrines of Church Establishments, was the late General M'Dowall, a member of his session, and a man held in the highest esteem for the warmth of his piety, and his devoted christian benevolence. That Mr M'Gregor felt much the loss of those who on this ground turned and walked no more with him, all who "knew the man and his communications" will readily conclude; but as little will they doubt that he would have been prepared to make the sacrifice many times over, rather than conceal or compromise principle. We have often thought that an interesting chapter in the minor martyrology of recent times, might be gleaned from the troubles and anxieties endured for conscience' sake, by dissenting ministers in Scotland, who were found in the van of the Voluntary Church controversy twenty years ago.

Trials of a different kind, also, fell to Mr M'Gregor's lot, ere he had been long a minister. Some two years after his ordination he was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Ker-one of his own flock, and truly a help meet for him: a lady singularly qualified by nature, education, and grace, for the responsible position of a minister's wife. They had seven children; but again and again the happiness of their little household was shaded by the dark wing of the angel of death passing over it, when, one after another, six out of the seven were in infancy or early childhood numbered with the dead. One only daughter remained at the deathbed of both parents successively, rendering them the last offices of affection, and relieving them from the sad thought that their coal was quenched in Israel. These repeated bereavements led them to drink often and deep at the fountain of Divine comfort, and probably furnish the explanation of Mr M'Gregor's rare gift as a son of consolation. Living in a district whence many of the youth are regularly drafted off among those who "go down to the sea in ships, and do business in the great waters," it was often his sad task to announce to families on shore the loss of their friends at sea-his experience of similar griefs qualifying him to deal, as few can, with a Rachel weeping for her children-" comforting others with the same comfort wherewith he himself had been comforted of God." The thrilling and persuasive tones of his voice when, on such occasions, he spake to the bereaved, of the time when "the sea shall give up the dead which are in it," will be remembered by many, in unbroken connection with those events for which, probably, they have not yet ceased to have great heaviness of heart.

While Mr M Gregor was minister of a congregation, and in that capacity had his labours most abundant, he never forgot, at the same time, that he was a minister of the religious body to which he belonged, and of the church at large. Never, perhaps, was there a more faithful and regular attendant at the meetings of presbytery. From the date of his ordination, he never was absent from a meeting of Synod, till May last, when he was detained at home by the illness of which he died. The want of his presence on that occasion was felt as a mournful blank by many of his brethren in the ministry, who, to the number of twentyfour, united in sending him a letter of condolence. A sentence from this joint letter, dated at Edinburgh, 6th May 1852, will serve to show the peculiar regard in which he was held by his brethren :-"The warm interest you took in the welfare of the church with which you are connected; your sympathy with all that was lovely and honourable, and of good report; your bland brotherly counsel, and the persuasive influence of your own character, in promoting unity and peace among the brethren; your fine catholic spirit, which made you at home with all good men, and led you to think well of every one; your generous frank nature, which threw a gleam of sunshine into every friendly circle in which you appeared, all conspire to render us sad at being deprived of your presence on this occasion. * * Our thoughts are all the sadder, that there is little prospect of our seeing you here again. Still we say, 'Father, thy will be done;' and we trust we shall meet together in the general assembly and church of the Firstborn."

Firmly as he held by the principles of his own denomination, never, perhaps, was true Christian less of a bigot than John M'Gregor. No man who knew him could ever say that he

"To party gave up what was meant for mankind.".

Gospel ministers of every name were welcome to his house and to his pulpit; and he was quite as ready to be serviceable to them in their own spheres of labour. A tour which he undertook to Ireland, as a representative of the Scottish Missionary Society, and to obtain collections for its funds, brought him into acquaintance with many evangelical ministers in that country, with some of whom, members of the Synod of Ulster, he afterwards more than once interchanged service in the way of assisting at the Lord's Supper.* Perhaps the best proof of the esteem entertained for him by brethren of other denominations, is the fact, that during the long period of his illness, extending to eight months, the pulpit of Bridge Street was, for the most part, occupied by neighbouring ministers, and there was scarcely a minister in the whole district, whether parochial or dissenting, who did not offer his aid in this service of brotherly love.

Our space requires that we be brief with what remains of this notice. Mr M'Gregor having lost the wife of his youth early in the year 1845, remained for some years a widower, after which he entered anew into the marriage relation. In this case, as before, the lady who became his wife, Miss Torrance, was one of his own flock, and their union seemed to give promise of a large measure of domestic felicity; but after it had lasted only a few months, "the desire of his eyes was removed with a stroke." Though his buoyant nature, sustained by christian grace, had borne up with remarkable composure amidst his repeated bereavements, there is reason now to believe that they had wounded him more severely than appeared on the surface. To us who knew him intimately, it seemed, after this last trial, as if he were never quite the same man; and we learn that when exposed to any unusual exertion, as at the close of a day's pastoral visitation, a heart complaint, to which, probably, he had an hereditary tendency, began to show itself in symptoms which gave some uneasiness to his friends. At length, in January last, on a Monday evening, after the labours of a communion Sabbath in a neighbouring town, an effort to overtake the mail coach which had been suffered to pass him for a little distance, brought the disease to a head. He reached home, and was able next day to carry out an intention of proceeding to Edinburgh, on urgent business. On his return by Glasgow, he consulted the highest medical authorities there. By them his state was pronounced to be most critical; and he returned home with a sentence of death upon him. At times he rallied, and was able to move about in his room, and even to take an airing out of doors; but these were mere halts in a slow and sure progress by which the malady was bringing him down to death. When his pains abated for a little, he clung fondly to the hope of prolonged usefulness; but with returning prostration and paroxysm, the meek and quiet spirit of christian resignation never failed him. He says in a letter to us, dictated from his dying bed,-"My comparative ease has passed away, and I am again a sufferer, unable to make any manual or mental effort. It is the Lord, and oh! I trust, I am able to say, 'Let Him do what seemeth good.' My times are in his hands, and they could not be in better." The kind attentions of his brethren served much to sweeten his cup of suffering. "I now," he continues, "heartily thank you and my other friends for the refreshment afforded me by your joint epistle. I trust that the Lord will reward their labour of love-their effort to comfort a weak and suffering brother. Oh that, indeed, we may meet in the place where Christ is, and where the inhabitants are no more sick, and where all sympathy is the sympathy of joy and delight in pursuits and pleasures which are for evermore." Along with his Bible, he had constantly within reach " Montgomery's Christian Psalmist," and in these volumes, almost exclusively, he found his "songs in the night." The Sabbath was usually a nervous and anxious day with him; his soul longing, yea, fainting, for the courts of God's house: thinking much about his assembled flock, and feeling then especially the deprivation of his former ability to labour amongst them. He spoke gratefully of the comfort he enjoyed when an interval of quiet

In consequence of his frequent intercourse with Irish ministers, Mr M'Gregor was, in 1837, appointed by his Synod to visit Ireland, along with the Rev. Dr Struthers, for the purpose of obtaining information as to the getting up of a mission among the Erse-speaking population-a scheme which the Synod had soon to abandon, only for the sake of attending to the Caffre mission, then unexpectedly demanding its exclusive care.

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gave him opportunity for undisturbed meditation; and observed that, at such times, the "realities of eternity,' ""dependence on the Saviour," an unprofitable servant," conveyed much more meaning than in the season of health. Like many others, of whose sincerity in the faith there could be no doubt, he was not lavishi in expressions as to his own personal attainments and prospects; but he spoke of the near approach of eternity without anything like ecstacy on the one hand, or depression on the other,-laying hold on the doctrines of grace, and the exceeding great and precious promises, as the only sure ground of a sinner's hope.

Within a week from his death, his complaint seemed so much abated, that he was removed for change of air to Cairn Ryan, a few miles from Stranraer. The day following his arrival there he was able to walk through the village; next day, alarming symptoms appeared, an attack of erysipelas laid him prostrate; and he remained in a comatose state till the great change arrived.

"Lo! the prisoner was released,
Lightened of his fleshly load:
Where the weary are at rest,

He was gathered to his God."

After arrangements had been made for his funeral, it was found necessary to hasten the interment ; and friends at a distance, preparing to set out to it, were warned that the grave would be closed over him before they could reach Stranraer. Deprived of the mournful satisfaction of sharing in the last offices of respect to his dust, we are indebted to a member of his session, an intimate friend of his own, for the following statement concerning the funeral day :-"It is difficult," he says, "in my limited space, to convey any idea of the warm regard entertained toward him by the general public of all classes. If you could conceive him to have been the sole minister of the place, and that each of his people had some personal obligation for which to be grateful to him, you might have some conception of the esteem in which he was held. The shops were all shut, at least in the line of the procession." On the following Sabbath, in accordance with a desire he had expressed on his death-bed, the Rev. William Smellie of Stranraer, preached to the congregation of Bridge Street Church, and gave an able and instructive sketch of the life and character of their departed minister. Speaking of his own personal relation to the deceased, the preacher gracefully observed,-"By the death of the Rev. John M'Gregor, I have lost a friend. During twenty-eight years, our friendship was unbroken. We had perfect confidence in each other's sincerity; and whether in separate denominations, or united in one, we loved each other as brethren."

Few men have possessed more largely than the subject of this sketch, the qualities which are fitted to gain affection and esteem. With his prompt disinterested sympathies, the happy and the sorrowful, the young and the old, the noble and the mean, the learned and the illiterate, all found in him that which drew forth their warm attachment; and now that he is gone, not a few in these different classes will cherish among the pleasing memories of the past, the name of the Rev. John M'Gregor.

Correspondence.

STATE OF AFFAIRS IN CAFFRARIA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE.

MY DEAR SIR,-Matters in Caffraria are still in a disjointed and deplorable state. The Caffres have not yet submitted to British rule. To all appearance they will soon be compelled to do it. By the letters and newspapers which I have received by this mail from the colony, it appears that British troops are now occupying the Waterkloof, which was Macomo's stronghold, while the Caffres, without food or ammunition, are skulking about in parties, pillaging cattle from the farmers.