Thus the matter ended. The Bishop declined to do what we still believe would have been deemed to-day the brightest and most memorable act in his administrative career. A word is necessary on his lordship's letter. Any one, not knowing who the "Ecclesiastical Commissioners" were, in reading the above letter, would be likely to think that the Bishop had no connection with them but that of subjection to their commands. It was not so. He was himself a Commissioner-the Commissioner who had personal cognisance of the Ramsbottom case, and whose knowledge and counsel, in a matter within his own diocese, would guide his brethren to whatever conclusion they reached.1 But we shall allow the facts to speak for themselves. We have little heart to say more on the matter, in this connection. The worthy Bishop, as well as his Registrar, has now gone from amongst us "Issuing on a world beyond our mortal " like all the other leading actors in this strange ecclesiastical drama, leaving the wrong, unmoved and unmitigated, a sorely ravelled tangle, behind. In closing this chapter, we simply present our claim for restitution, before the great tribunal of the enfranchised British people. "The throne is established by righteousness," and "Righteousness exalteth a nation." 1 The Ecclesiastical Commissioners are: The two Archbishops; the 31 Bishops; 5 Cabinet Ministers; 4 Judges; 3 Deans; and 12 Laymen. 326 W 1869. CHAPTER IV. SECTION III.-1869-1891. E must now revert to the time immediately subsequent to the seizure of St Andrew's Church in The ejected congregation were allowed to occupy the old chapel at Dundee. The pulpit there was regularly supplied. In the course of 1870, Mr J. Kerr Craig, then a theological student, preached for some time with acceptance; and, after he was licensed, a call was given to him by the congregation on the 15th June 1871. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Lancashire in Dundee Chapel on the 13th of July 1871. A few days afterwards an intimation reached him from Mr William Grant "that Dundee' would be held at his disposal for service." About May 1st, 1872, Dundee manse was also given up by Mr Grant, but not the garden. After many years of investigation the writer happily found a solution of the whole difficulty with the Grants. Their deeds must have referred to a house at the foot of the manse garden, whose stones had evidently been used to build four of the seven cottages immediately below. This was our final suggestion. And fortunately, on referring to an old official Peel-plan in their agency office, they found a house faintly marked on the very spot. But that happy result was not reached till 1891. During Mr Craig's ministry the people determined upon a site, and proceeded to raise funds for the erection of a new church. The Synod of the Presbyterian Church made a grant of £750. Robert Barbour, Esq. of Bolesworth Castle, gave £500. Times were propitious. The foundation stone of the new church was laid in September 1872 by Thomas Matheson, Esq., Liverpool. It was opened on Thursday the 23d of October 1873. The Rev. Dr Donald Fraser of London preached on the occasion. On the Saturday evening and Sunday following, services were conducted by the Rev. Proessor Chalmers, D.D., of London, and the Rev. Thomas MacPherson, M.A., of Liverpool-the Moderator of Synod. For the new church the people themselves, encouraged by the minister and office-bearers, contributed liberally; and the appeal to friends outside met with a generous response. At the time of the opening it was announced that £ 4030 had been subscribed. The cost of the structure was estimated not to exceed £5000. It amounted, however, to over £7000, exclusive of the site1 on which it stands. That site is precisely the "hill-top" on which Mr William Grant said he "would like to see a fine church" planted. Soon after the opening of the new church, the Rev. J. K. Craig was translated to Chalmers Church, Ancoats, Manchester. A somewhat protracted vacancy followed. The present minister was inducted to the charge at Ramsbottom in St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, by the Presbytery of Manchester, on the 15th December 1874; and on the evening of that day the public reception meeting was held in Dundee Chapel. 1 The annual ground rent is over £32. |