William Lindsay Alexander. IV.
William Lindsay Alexander's rise to popularity was almost unprecedented in Edinburgh. Despite, or perhaps because of, his own diffidence concerning his preaching powers, it was his powerful, Biblical preaching. An expository series on the first nine chapters of Genesis attracted great attention, and many flocked to hear him; like Dr. Lloyd-Jones in the 20th century, W. L. Alexander, he drew crowds, and retained them, by preaching the Word of God. Alexander's manner was natural, free and expressive, particularly in the early years of his ministry. One of his hearers from his early years said:
"His delivery of one discourse in particular I shall never forget. It was supurb. For power and pathos, for lofty and commanding eloquence, for heart-thrilling, soul-subduing effect, it far transcended any discourse from the pulpit I had ever heard before or have heard since."
Being a pastor, although much of his time was taken up in preparing sermons and preaching them, but he also had reponsibility to care for the members of his church. Like many pastors, he had trouble with some of his deacons. They were older men, and some of them thought the young pastor needed their supervision to perhaps a larger extent than he actually did. He also suffered the attention of men he called 'talkers', opinionative men who were always willing to tell the pastor exactly what was wrong, and what needed to be done to improve the Church. As a congregational pastor, Alexander had to deal with these people in church meetings. Sometimes he was discouraged after church meetings, feeling he actually had to 'recover' from them. But he used great tact and firmness in the meetings, and after the first few years, things became easier as church and pastor came to understand each other.
Young churches have their problems. But old established churches like North College Street have their own problems. In general there was a close fellowship among the members, but when there were fallings out, things could get very nasty. And the most trivial things could cause strife. One married lady in the congregation fell out with another because she had heard of the marriage of the daughter of another member from a third party, not the other member herself! Alexander laboured long and hard to recconcile the two women, and at last he thought they were recconciled. They came together, apologised one to another, and made to part. Then one brought the matter up again, and once again Alexander found himself in the middle of a violent argument!
But his ministry at North College Street was in general a happy ministry. His heart knitted with the congregation. He did not consider for a moment leaving them.
But he did have to leave New College Street. How and why we shall see next time, God willing.
"His delivery of one discourse in particular I shall never forget. It was supurb. For power and pathos, for lofty and commanding eloquence, for heart-thrilling, soul-subduing effect, it far transcended any discourse from the pulpit I had ever heard before or have heard since."
Being a pastor, although much of his time was taken up in preparing sermons and preaching them, but he also had reponsibility to care for the members of his church. Like many pastors, he had trouble with some of his deacons. They were older men, and some of them thought the young pastor needed their supervision to perhaps a larger extent than he actually did. He also suffered the attention of men he called 'talkers', opinionative men who were always willing to tell the pastor exactly what was wrong, and what needed to be done to improve the Church. As a congregational pastor, Alexander had to deal with these people in church meetings. Sometimes he was discouraged after church meetings, feeling he actually had to 'recover' from them. But he used great tact and firmness in the meetings, and after the first few years, things became easier as church and pastor came to understand each other.
Young churches have their problems. But old established churches like North College Street have their own problems. In general there was a close fellowship among the members, but when there were fallings out, things could get very nasty. And the most trivial things could cause strife. One married lady in the congregation fell out with another because she had heard of the marriage of the daughter of another member from a third party, not the other member herself! Alexander laboured long and hard to recconcile the two women, and at last he thought they were recconciled. They came together, apologised one to another, and made to part. Then one brought the matter up again, and once again Alexander found himself in the middle of a violent argument!
But his ministry at North College Street was in general a happy ministry. His heart knitted with the congregation. He did not consider for a moment leaving them.
But he did have to leave New College Street. How and why we shall see next time, God willing.
Labels: W. L. Alexander
posted by Highland Host at 10:30 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home