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IT is interesting to note that one
of the earliest Glasgow experiences of this eminent man, whose capacious
mind grappled with some’ of the greatest religious, moral, social, and,
scientific problems of the age, was a singular attachment to a youthful
citizen, who was one of the trophies of
Dr.
Chalmers’ ministry in Glasgow. This was Mr. Thomas Smith, the son of the
father of the Glasgow bookselling trade. This young man was qualifying
himself for the profession of a writer or attorney, and the friendship
between him and Dr. Chalmers was of the most affectionate nature. Scarcely
a day passed without their seeing each other, and, in addition to that,
scarcely a day passed without one or more letters being sent by the pastor
to his young convert.
A trysting-place was appointed on
the banks of the Monkland Canal, where each day at a set hour they met,
and here " the general
conversation of ordinary friendship soon flowed in that new channel into
which it was directed by a heart yearning for the spiritual and eternal
welfare of its object." Mr. Smith was unfortunately in delicate health,
and died within a year of Dr. Chalmers’ induction; and doubtless the
premonitions of this event would give an earnestness and a pathos of a
peculiar and touching description to the friendship between him and his
pastor. But we are so apt to connect the name of Dr. Chalmers with large
schemes of public and national interest that it is refreshing to get such
a glimpse into the heart of the man, and to learn that a deep and undying
love to the human soul was the root principle out of which all his public
zeal and enterprise grew. |
