Eden Lane
Morningside[2]
April 30th, 1868
Dear Smith,
Endure with calmness the sad news — Macgregor is first in the Board Exams — then came (2) Nicol (3) Kennedy — all three “able young men” getting Cunningham Fellowships — (4) Kay, (5) Cameron, (6) Moir, (7) M. P. Johnstone.[3]
One fact enrages me. Kay worked only one month, then stopt because he was to be Blaikie’s Assistant. Now that Blaikie[4] is sure of a chair the engagement falls to the ground — and Kay loses both Assistantship and Fellowship.
I suppose Dodds[5] and Blaikie are pretty sure of the vacant Chairs. It is thought very likely that if these men get in Smeaton[6] will be set into the System. Theol. Chair, Dodds get the Exegetics, and Blaikie the Apologetics. The arrangement would be admirable.
I think Dodds is certain to get a chair. I’m not so sure of Blaikie. Dr Thos Smith’s[7] chances are small. Only the Begg section are going in for him. I saw Dr Bonar[8] last night. He is strong for Dodds, and says that “Dodds is the only man in the Free Church who would realise his ideal of a Professor” — “this ideal is at present realised in one man only and that is Davidson.
Dr Bonar is strongly against Blaikie. He says Blaikie has no scholarship and his published writings have no trace of vigorous thought. He admitted however that Blaikie would do well for fourth year students.
I do not think he will work for any one but Dodds — altho’ he inclines to McGregor[9] of Paisley for Bannerman’s place.[10] He described McGregor very well tho’, as a man of great learning with a mind too narrow to make the proper use of it.
Upon the whole I am inclined to think that Dodds will come in safely — but that the whole weight of the Conservative Party will be brought to bear against Blaikie, and perhaps to make things easier Begg will drop Dr T. Smith and take up McGregor.
McGregor has been writing some vigorous anti-Union letters against his own office-bearers, thereby making emptier his nearly empty church. This of course will help him. What could be said in favour of Rainy,[11] on his appointment, but that he had emptied his church.
I believe that Begg intends to get rid of Blaikie by stratagem. The dodge is — Buchanan’s chair is not yet vacant — he has resigned but the church has not accepted the resignation nor can it be accepted until the Assembly meets - the successor cannot be appointed until the next Assembly. This leaves only one chair to be filled up — and Dodds will get it ——. No one will put Blaikie up next year for the System. Theol. Chair, and that will fall to McGregor or Smith. I do not believe the trick will be tried — it is too flimsy and will never succeed. But people say it is to be done and Begg hinted at it in the Presbytery on Monday.
I am not going to Corsock[12] until the first of June. I shall be down to see you in Rothesay in ten or twelve days — when I shall know better what my plans are.
Grant’s chances are still fair — tho by no means certain. Fraser says the whole thing will be decided by this day eight days, and wishes me to stay in Edinburgh until then.
My wishes for Grant are greatly strengthened for I have now a personal interest in the matter. I am to be Grant’s assistant if the thing comes right.
I remain
Yours in haste
Thos M Lindsay
[2] Morningside was and remains a prosperous district of south-west Edinburgh.
[3] The College Report to the 1868 Assembly (PFCA, Report V, p.8) records that Cunningham Fellowships were awarded to Robert McGregor (2 years), James Nicoll and James Kennedy. The others named by Lindsay were Charles Kay, Alex. Cameron, David Moir and Peter Johnstone, all seven being final year New College students.
[4] Lindsay was correct in this case, though wrong with regard to Marcus Dods who withdrew his candidature in May. William G. Blaikie (1820–1899) was appointed to the chair of Apologetics and Pastoral Theology at New College in 1868.
[5] Lindsay’s spelling is erratic: he refers here to Marcus Dods (1834–1909) who completed his New College course in 1858 but was only inducted to a Free Church charge (Glasgow Renfield Street) in 1864. Of liberal views, he was more than once (1877 and 1890) suspected of heterodox opinions but no action was taken by the Assembly in either case. In 1869 he declined an offer to become assistant to Robert Candlish at St George’s Free Church, Edinburgh, but in 1889 was appointed to the chair of NT exegesis at New College and ultimately became Principal there in 1909, although by then too ill to take up his duties in that post.
[6] Smeaton, George: who in fact was appointed to the chair of New Testament Language and Literature.
[7] Smith, Dr Thomas (b.1817): was minister at Cowgate West, Edinburgh. A staunch supporter of Dr James Begg he wrote the Memoirs of James Begg D.D. (1888).
[8] Either Dr Andrew Bonar (1810–1892) or his younger brother, Dr Horatius Bonar (1808–1889).
[9] Macgregor, Dr James (1830–1894): was educated at Edinburgh University and New College. He ministered at the Free High Church Paisley before being appointed Professor of Systematic Theology at New College in 1868. Resigning in 1882, he emigrated to New Zealand.
[10] I.e. the chair of Apologetics.
[11] Rainy, Robert (1826–1906): became minister of Huntly F.C. in 1851 before being called to the Free High Church, Edinburgh, in 1854. In 1862 he was appointed Professor of Church History at New College and became Principal there from 1874. For many decades he was effectively leader of the Free Church of Scotland.
[12] Near New Galloway in Kirkcudbrightshire.