George Lawson of Selkirk. IV: The Itinerant

George Lawson had finished his theological training and been licenced to preach by his Presbytery. His next step was to seek out a settlement. As it does today, this meant travelling around and preaching in vacant churches. Unlike today, however, when a man travels in the relative comfort of a car, train, ‘bus or coach, in the late 18th century he either had to walk or, if he could afford it, ride a horse.
Lawson was blessed with an industrious and comfortably-off father who gave him a horse to ride. The young preacher’s Bible and other necessities were loaded into saddlebags and Lawson went forth to preach the Gospel. Then, as now, he was provided with free board and lodging for himself and for his horse, and paid a small amount in ‘expenses’; half-a-guinea for each engagement was the amount set by the Synod in those days.
And George Lawson was appreciated. Not only was his conduct such as is becoming to a minister of the Gospel, but his sermons were rich, solid yet transparent. He had a message to deliver and God’s people heard him gladly. He was not the sort of man who could stay unsettled for long.
One of his engagements was in a market town in the Southern Uplands called Selkirk. Then a small town, Selkirk is surrounded by splendid scenery and hallowed by notable associations. It was at Riskinhope Farm at the top of the Loch of the Lowes that the Martyr Renwick preached his last sermon. It was at nearby Ettrick that Thomas Boston had laboured in those barren days before the Great Awakening.
And it was to Selkirk that George Lawson was called. He accepted and was ordained to the pastorate of Selkirk. There he was to spend the rest of his life and ministry until his death in 1820.

Next time, God willing, we shall speak of the opening of the Selkirk ministry.