TO
THE PARISHIONERS OF ST. STEPHEN’S, In issuing this
first number of the St. Stephen's Parish Magazine,
let me explain in a few sentences what the Magazine
is, and what it aims at. For many years there has
been a desire among the ministers of the Church of
Scotland for a publication which might be circulated
in their parishes, with a local supplement of one or
two pages where desired. Hitherto this want has been
met to some extent by English Magazines, which have
been localised in several parishes with considerable
success. At the same time it is obvious that these
magazines, which necessarily abound with allusions
and expressions unfamiliar to our ears, are more or
less unsuitable for circulation among Scottish
readers. Accordingly the last General Assembly
authorised the Committee on Christian Life and Work
to provide a Magazine of the kind now referred to,
should they find it practicable; and after mature
deliberation, it has been resolved to make the
attempt. The aim of the Committee is to provide a
Monthly Penny Magazine containing articles from
writers eminent in various walks of literature,
which may be read with profit by all classes of the
community, and while future numbers will doubtless
be more special in their contents, it is hoped that
this one may be regarded as a fair specimen of what
is to follow.
Then, with respect to the local supplement, it is
obvious that such a method of communication may be
turned to invaluable account in connection with our
Parochial and Congregational work. As minister of
the parish, I rejoice in such an opportunity of
addressing you from time to time on any points to
which it may appear necessary to direct particular
attention, and I shall endeavour to use it always
for edification. I trust it is scarcely necessary to
add that the Magazine will not be political or
sectarian in its character. True, it will claim to
speak to you in the name of the Church of Scotland,
one of its chief objects being to quicken and
increase your interest in all that affects the
well-being and prosperity of that Church. At no time
was the Church of Scotland more deserving of the
loyal support of all her children than she now is.
There never was a period in her history when the "Truth as it is in Jesus” was more faithfully
proclaimed from her pulpits; and never was she more
earnest in her endeavours worthily to occupy the
position which she holds as the National Church of
this country. There is no reason, therefore, why we
should be ashamed of the Church of our fathers. She
has many faults, and it is our duty to do everything
in our power to remedy these faults ; but no church
is perfect, and it is for those who are clamouring
for the destruction of the National Establishment to
tell us what they are prepared to substitute for
that admirable parochial system which has been for
so many ages the glory of our land. There is a vast
amount of misapprehension on the part of many with
regard to the whole subject; as, for instance, that
the endowments of the Established Church are paid
out of the taxes of the country, the fact of course
being that these endowments are almost wholly the
provision which the piety of former generations has
made for the supply of religious ordinances,
especially among the poor and destitute. There are
many points of this nature to which attention may
sometimes be directed in these pages, but surely it
is possible to vindicate our own Church without
attacking others, and I sincerely hope and believe
that no word will ever be found in this Magazine
which is calculated to give pain or just ground of
offence to the members of any Evangelical Church.
Its purpose is not controversial, but moral and
religious. The end contemplated, in short, is the
promotion of Christian Life and Work in all the
manifold forms of human activity and concern, and if
at any time it may be deemed necessary to say aught
in explanation or defence of the position of the
Church of Scotland, it is hoped that this will
invariably be done in the tone and spirit of
Christian courtesy. Such, being the general objects
of this new Magazine, let me commend it most warmly
to all the parishioners of St. Stephen’s, whether
they worship in the Parish Church or elsewhere. And
may the blessing of God rest on this endeavour, and
make it helpful in many ways for the diffusion of
“pure and undefiled religion” in our own and other
parishes.
And now a few words appropriate to the season.
This first number of our Parish Magazine will be put
into your hands at the commencement of the new year,
and it is only fitting that this additional channel
of communication with the parishioners of St.
Stephen’s should be opened, on my part, by the
expression of those kindly greetings which are
customary at this time. Most heartily do I wish you,
dear friends, “a Good New Year,” and may God, even
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, abundantly
bless and prosper you and yours in all things
temporal and spiritual. The year which has just
closed has been, in many respects, a singularly
disastrous one. How terrible have been the
catastrophes which have happened by sea and land !
How manifold the anxieties and dangers which have
agitated the public mind during the last twelve
months ! What distress of nations with
perplexity—men’s hearts failing them for fear, and
for looking after those things which are coming on
the earth ! The calamities which have overtaken the
commercial world in particular are, I suppose,
unprecedented, and hundreds and thousands of our
fellow-countrymen who were in comfort and affluence
at the commencement of last year have been reduced,
through no fault of their own, to a condition which
it is most painful to contemplate. The depression of
trade still continues, and it is to be feared that,
as the winter advances, there will be an exceptional
amount of suffering among the poorer classes. Most
earnestly is it to be hoped that all who have the
means of helping others may be found ready at this
time to extend, not their sympathy only, but the
succour of a practical benevolence and charity to
all such as are in any need. “If a brother or sister
be naked, and destitute of daily food, and ye say
unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things which
are needful to the body, what doth it profit?" But
while the circumstances of the moment are somewhat
dark, even those who have been most directly
afflicted by recent events can yet “sing of mercy as
well as of judgment,” and all have abundant reason
to "thank God, and take courage.” For some time back
the Parish has been remarkably free from all
infectious and epidemic disease. That is one great
cause of thankfulness. And how many are the
blessings which God has bestowed upon us as families
and individuals in the various relationships of life
I We can but say, “Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and
forget not all his benefits. Blessed be the name of
the Lord.” Nor would I have you to be unmindful at
this season of the many tokens of the Lord’s favour
which have been vouchsafed to us as a congregation
entrusted with great and solemn responsibilities.
Lately we commemorated, with becoming thankfulness,
the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the
Parish Church. Half a century is a long time in the
history of a congregation as well as of individuals;
and few now remain who were worshippers in the
church on the opening day. But the work then
commenced is still, thank God, in active operation.
“Other men have laboured, and we have entered into
their labours and I trust that we, in our turn, may
be enabled to leave to others, unimpaired, the
blessings we have ourselves inherited. To this end
may God bless and prosper us during the coming year
in every "good word and work;” forgiving all our
sloth and faithlessness, and quickening us to
greater zeal and diligence in His service.
“Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord
among us may have free course and be glorified.”
Norman Macleod.
Volume 1 January
to December 1879 (pdf)
Volume 4 January
to December 1882 (pdf)
