SPEYSIDE RECOLECTIONS
BY MRS. INNES, NETHERTON.
The first time Mr Ross visited Aberlour was in the spring of 1869, when he was superintendent of the North-East Coast Mission. Two of the agents of that Mission had been here previous to this; and, although the people did not turn out in any number to hear the Word, there were two conversions. Meetings were begun in the village of Aberlour a few weeks later, and there the Lord did a great work; many old and young were at that time brought to the Lord. Mr Ross came to help in the work, and he preached and taught from the Word what was new to most of us - the believer's assurance, his place in Christ, separation from the world, and other truths. Those who were newly saved, and others who had been Christians before, drank in the World, which came with much power to our hearts, bringing joy and gladness. It was a glorious time, and will never be forgotten by those who shared it.
Speaking of the workers of the Mission, he said, "I wish there were seventy more to let loose, like a pack of hounds, to hunt the people out of their holes; aye, and to chase some of you who are God's people out of your hiding-places, where you are sneaking away to heaven as if you were ashamed to own your Father, hiding any light you have beneath a bushel. God have mercy on you, and shake you up, so that people may be sure what you are! "
He was very severe on worldly Christians who were settled upon their lees, with no difference between them and unconverted worldlings. He would say, "Hoarding up your bawbees, and sometimes putting them into a bag with holes, where they slip out the wrong way." He never courted anyone's favour or feared to speak the truth, whether it gave offence or not. How much faithful men of his kind are needed, who will seek no man's smile and fear no man's frown, but honour God, seeking His glory!
He exposed and laid bare the hollow sham of the world's religious systems, with their unconverted ministers and members, with a force and power that carried conviction to our consciences and opened the eyes of many who were associated with them to the sin of being unequally yoked with unbelievers. He was not at this time fully separated from the denominations, although he was much exercised about his path; so that, when some asked, "What can we do, or where can we go? "he replied," I dinna ken that mysel'."
Some of us found it impossible to go any longer, and for a time went nowhere, but searched the Word of God, seeking light on our path. Baptism was made plain to us, and several were baptised and went for a time with the Baptists, who were nearer the truth than what we had left.
It was about this time that Mr Ross gave up his superintendency of the Mission, and soon after came out from all connection with systems, to be the servant of the Lord alone, guided by His Spirit, and controlled, by His Word.
He sent a sheet of paper with a man drawn in the centre and a number of men and women sitting around him, to illustrate our position in the Baptist Church, with its one-man minister, which we did not like at all. When he came next to, Aberflour, he was outside the camp to the Lord and taught what he had learned from the Word. He found some of us hard to convince that our position in the Baptist denomination was wrong, but he let the Word of God speak, and it did its own work, breaking down prejudice and giving clear light on the path. The Lord greatly used his solemn, searching ministry, and the results remain in measure to this day. When the news reached us of his home call, we were all sad, for very few there are to speak the Word plainly and honestly as he did, and there are few who, through a long life like his, keep in harness and run well up to the end. May we be all stirred afresh to live for God and finish our course with joy, as he was enabled to do!
From, "Donald Ross, Pioneer Evangelist," pages 202-4.