From the Free Presbyterian Magazine Vol. 17, pp: 52-57. 1912.

The late Mr. John Morrison, Bruce County, Ontario.

WE have learned with sincere sorrow that Mr. John Morrison, elder, County Bruce, Ontario, finished his course in this world on the last day of March. He was a man who lived so as to be missed, and the friends from this country who were privileged to make his acquaintance will join with bereaved friends in Canada in sorrow for the departed.

Mr. Morrison left his native district, Scourie in Sutherlandshire, in company with his parents, when he was yet but a boy of ten – upwards of seventy years ago. Not a few eminently pious people left the Reay country for Ontario at the same time, such as Angus M`Eachainn, John Mackenzie, and Alastair Adam, and young Morrison came early under the influence of the living piety of those and other worthies. His education was well attended to, with the result that he spent the most active-perhaps not the longest -part of his life as a schoolmaster. Failing eyesight compelled him, however, many years since, to give up teaching, and when he could no longer teach he turned to farming. It is a few years, we believe, since he was done with farming too, and his last days were spent in the township of Huron.

Mr. Morrison was altogether a valuable member of society. Although, as already said, lie came early in life under profound religious influences, he himself connected his first serious impressions with the short ministry of the Rev. William Burns (the famous China missionary) in Canada. He never tired expatiating on the man and the preacher Mr. Burns was. As showing Mr. Burns’ zeal for the Lord’s day, he would tell the following incident:-On one occasion Mr. Burns was going along the streets of Toronto on a Sabbath day, on his way to preach, and one of Toronto’s leading citizens, whose guest Mr. Burns was, went arm in arm with him. As they passed some new buildings, this Toronto magnate took upon himself to point to the new buildings in their neighbourhood as a proof of how things were progressing in Canada. Instead of listening with appreciation, Mr. Burns withdrew his arm, saying to his companion, that his own mind was sufficiently carnal and worldly already on the Lord’s day, although he shouldn’t help it to be more so.

A more piously affectionate man than Mr. Morrison we never saw. When any of our ministers who were delegates to Canada visited him, his own and his family’s kindness and welcome were felt to be something very cheering, and he could scarcely part with dear Christian friends at any time but he was in tears. He was a cultured gentleman of the old school, and his powers of conversation were quite memorable.

It is some nine years since the writer last saw the late Mr. Morrison, and these are only a few imperfect recollections, which he hopes friends in Ontario will read with indulgence. He is glad that a supplementary sketch by a Canadian friend follows this notice.

It is not too much to say, in conclusion, that the Mission in Canada is much the poorer through Mr. Morrison’s removal. To his surviving, lifelong friends and companions in Christ’s cause in Canada, the writer should like to convey the expression of the sincere sympathy of friends in the home country. That the Lord would prove the help of the widow and the stay of the orphaned, is our united prayer.
J. R. M.

Mr John Morrison was born at Foindle, Scourie, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1831. He came out to Canada ten years later, and settled, with many others from the same parts of the homeland, in Oxford County, Ontario. From his early days he was the subject of what in the event proved to be the saving operations of the Holy Spirit. Especially when about fifteen years of age was his youthful mind seriously exercised regarding his eternal salvation. He used to spend his Sabbaths in prayer and in reading Bunyan’s “Grace Abounding” as well as his Bible. Thus he sought and in due time he found, though for the time the treasure he sought was not made known to him. So faithful is our Lord. “They that seek me early shall find me.”

It was about this time that he had the privilege of hearing that faithful servant of God, William C. Burns. It was edifying to hear the aged pilgrim recall those days of solemn memory, when thousands used to gather-coming long distances with what, at this date, would be considered great inconvenience-to hear the message from his lips. Mr. Morrison was by no means an emotional man, but the tear drops would silently course down his cheeks as he related God’s gracious dealings with him, in giving him to hear the Gospel from such an honoured servant. Especially did he recall with peculiar effect a sermon preached by Mr. Burns on the “Great White Throne.” The Word of God seemed to be something different as he read it out in his emphatic, weighty manner. The deep solemnity of his voice, the singular effectiveness of his actions, the moving pathos of his eloquence, the searching power of his preaching, and the great earnestness of his manner he felt he never could forget. To hear him speak of these times one was prone to conclude that now was arrived the happy time of his release from bondage. But it was not so. Often did he go out to hear, hoping that the Lord might meet with him, but though frequently melted to tears under the preaching, he could not say that he was brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus at this time. On one occasion Mr. Burns, being at dinner after service, noticed a stranger amongst his host’s children. He remarked to the hostess that this child was not hers, and she said he was not. So he called the little stranger to him, and asked him who he was, how far he had come, and why. On being told that he had come on foot a number of miles to hear him preach, the compassionate minister solemnly placed his hand upon the lad’s head, saying, ” So you have come so far to hear me preach. May God bless you, my dear little emigrant boy.” This, Mr. Morrison would relate with evident emotion, adding with affection that it was to him even as “the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery.”

In 1850 he removed to the vicinity of Kincardine, Ontario, where he was engaged as a public school teacher. He was still of serious mind, though not so deeply concerned as some years before, and it seemed as if the Lord had to say to him, as to Ephraim and Judah of old, “Oh, Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? Oh, Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.” So in the winter of 1854 it pleased the Lord to have him laid very low with a serious illness from which he was not expected to recover. Yet it was his state as a sinner that troubled and concerned him, rather than his state as a patient in a doubting doctor’s hands. However, it came about he was convinced that he was a sinner, facing the judgment-seat of Christ, not far off but near at hand. His sins all were brought before his face, and there seemed to be for him only “a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation that shall devour the adversaries.” His sins were facts ; his sinful nature a fact; the binding authority of God’s law a fact; the neglected salvation through Christ crucified, freely offered in the Gospel, a fact; God’s justice a fact; the judgment-seat of Christ a fact ; and, too, eternal ruin under God’s righteous wrath an awful fact. No wonder he was a sadly-concerned soul. Long had Christ, and often, said, “Come unto me,” but now he was awaiting the awful command, “Depart from me for ever.” At the height of this experience, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee,” was spoken to him with great authority and peace-giving power as by one at his very bedside. Thus did the Lord teach him the meaning of grace. So overwhelmed was he now with the love of God, and so bitter had sin been made and so exceeding sinful, that he longed to be taken home, lest he might return to sin. He had no doubt then of his gracious state; but now he would say in his old age-a pilgrim for many years in the way of holiness” I have not that same confidence, for my life has not been like that of one to whom the Lord showed such kindness.” On being asked if he observed a difference in his point of view then and now, he did not at first quite understand. On being asked if Christ was not then the whole object of his confidence and also the sole object of his vision, as God’s provided Redeemer, while now he was looking within for evidence of interest in that redemption, he exclaimed, “Oh, yes, election is my source of comfort. Where would we be but for that? Then,” said he, “I could not doubt my interest, but now it is so different. The word I try to get comfort from now is, `Blessed are the poor in spirit,’ for I find myself so poor. My righteousness is all spoiled on me, and I feel that I could go to heaven as well on my sins as on my own righteousness.” Such evidence was our dear friend giving of being made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.

He was elected an elder in 1867 or 1868, but felt very reluctant about accepting the office, though urged to do so by much esteemed friends and godly acquaintances. “Many a time since, he said with deep and scarcely-restrained feeling, ” I have feared that I did wrong, and it has cost me many a pang.” When corruptions from the simplicity of the Gospel, both in doctrine and in worship, began to appear, he made his presence felt both in Session and in Presbytery. His opposition to all such was so able and determined that he won for himself a place, not exactly of affection and esteem, in the hearts and minds of many who had evidently not been taught as he was to prize the observation of all things whatsoever Christ commanded us, not only for His name’s sake, but for the sake of the peace and prosperity of Sion too. He soon found himself so placed that he had to look outside the congregation and Church in which for many years he had so faithfully and ardently laboured, for congenial companionship ; and with hearty attachment he became, some years previous to that event, one of those in Ontario who sought and found a sympathetic connection with the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1902.

Mr. Morrison was one of those who adorn their profession of being Christ’s. No one was more conscious than he of those infirmities in his flesh which led the great Apostle to the Gentiles to exclaim, “O, wretched man that I am ! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” He mourned as one who felt himself a disfiguring rather than an adorning member of Christ’s visible Church, but that did not lead him to be the less an enemy of sin, but the rather to be severe in judging himself, according as it is written, “If we would judge ourselves we should not he judged.” There-fore, with much emphasis he would say, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” In prayer he gave evidence of that clearness and precision of thought which gave his utterances a character of their own. He was definite in his confessions, petitions, and intercessions, as well as in adoration and in thanksgiving. It seemed that he could not well he other-wise, and that is proper, for we are much inclined to suffer from our lack of definiteness. Thus every word he uttered seemed necessary to express his thought, and seemed to get its place as if it would not do elsewhere, and the unction which would often be noticeable as he poured out his heart before the Lord in prayer, made it a profitable thing to hear him so engaged.

And now he has fallen asleep. He has found out the soundness of his gracious judgment, that, however low he would get through the appalling view of his unworthiness, his backslidings, his barrenness, his lack of zeal for his Lord’s glory, and his altogether sinful heart, he would still riot entertain for a moment the thought of changing places with the greatest of the great according to this world’s judgment. His warm attachment to the brethren in Christ-his simple, straightforward manner where he had either to approve or rebuke-his cautious regard to peaceable ways and means-all combine to make his loss keenly felt by all in whose circle he moved. He was not given to speaking of himself, and it was only with great manifest reluctance that he unbosomed himself to make known such details as are herein recorded, and then he added that he had never before made known the facts of his conversion to anyone, saying that he seemed so unlike one who truly had such things to tell. He was quite blind for many years before his course was run, but bore the affliction with much patience.

On one occasion a party said to him, “‘That’s your cross, Mr. Morrison,” referring to his blindness. To this he replied that it was not; that was light compared to his cross, which was an evil heart of unbelief, that was continually departing from the living God. But now he has neither blindness nor an evil heart of unbelief, but is gone to the place prepared for him and for which he was prepared while here, to praise for evermore Him who becomes “the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him.”

To his sorrowing widow and family, of whom we would specially mention the daughter who so kindly acted as his needed assistant in reading and writing, we extend warm sympathy. May the God of their father hear his prayers for them, and bless them abundantly with His grace and knowledge. When thus the Lord is gathering home the righteous, the question arises, “By whom shall Jacob arise, for he is small?”
W. M.

Since the above notices were written, we have received the following brief particulars of Mr. Morrison’s last hours, sent by a member of his family to a relative in the home country:-” He was conscious all through the previous night (before he died), and spent much of his time wrestling in prayer in Gaelic. He concluded with the words,  I have gained the Kingdom : the Kingdom is won!’ His last words were: `No, I want for nothing.'” We have much pleasure in giving the following extract from a letter, dated 27th September, 1905, written by Mr. Morrison himself to the above relative at home. It confirms interesting particulars in above sketches.

After making appreciative reference to the preaching of the Free Presbyterian ministers in the Ontario Mission, he proceeds “As I have nothing to say of much interest to you, I will make a few personal remarks. I had inflammation of the eyes when very young; was blind for some weeks. Though partially restored I never had normal sight. When about forty years of age a forest fire raging for some weeks impaired my sight very much. Three years after another fire completely ruined my sight. Since then, that is to say nearly thirty years, I have not been able to read any print. I see no object now, but I know day from night. If I had my eyesight, though I am near seventy-five, I would see the friends in dear old Scotland yet. Our grandmother, of whom you spoke, was a very precious woman. My earliest recollection of her is hearing her praying in the barn on Sabbath afternoon. She prayed for herself, her family, and the Church of God. Her prayers led me to the first serious thoughts, when a child of about seven or eight. Soon after I read Bunyan’s Grace Abounding, which impressed me very much. Later on I heard W. C. Burns when I was in some concern for my soul, but alas, all soon vanished. But it pleased the Lord in the winter of 1854 to lay me on a sick bed, during which time I thought all His waves went over me. At last that sweet word in Jeremiah 30 and 3 was powerfully borne in upon my spirit, so that I was filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory; but alas, often, very often, owing to the working of indwelling sin, I fear that all was a delusion and that I am only deceiving myself.”