"I Climb the Rainbow Through the Rain" George Matheson, VIII.

The people of Innellan came to love their blind pastor George Matheson, so much so, in fact, that when he was unwell and other men preached in his place, very few of the villagers would go along to hear the substitute! (the present author would condemn such a practice. We come to worship the Lord, not to listen to one servant or other).
The fact that Matheson was ministering in a village where the main industry was hospitality ensured that his name spread far and wide. People started to invite him to take special services in their various churches, hoping that the collection would be larger after a sermon by the pastor of Innellan.
But Matheson was not merely a preacher. He was a pastor, and he did his very best to be one. He visited the villagers, and he took particular care to visit those in sickness and in distress. During the winter months, when Innellan was rather a dull place, Matheson joined in with the various schemes of the populace to liven up the place, taking part in social events, giving lectures, and trying to raise the intellectual tone of the village.
George Matheson was only at Innellan for a few years before moves were taken to build a manse for him and to erect the charge into a full parish. This required some three thousand pounds to be collected - it was done by the end of 1873. A few years later the church had a spire added.
Matheson also had to lead a kirk-session, and that he led with great tact and diplomacy. He seemed to be a model reformed pastor. But changes were afoot in Innellan, and what those changes were we shall, God willing, see next time.