George Lawson of Selkirk. VI: ‘Josiah Cargill’

‘Josiah Cargill’ is the name that Sir Walter Scott gives Lawson in his novel. A close student, sometimes absent-minded, indifferent to the concerns of the house (although in those days it was normal for the wife to be rtesponsible for those), plain and frugal in his lifestyle and not a little careless in his dress, Lawson certainly provided a tempting model for a novelist. Our subject in this post is George Lawson as a 'character.'
A kindly man, he was never more kindly than in his reproofs. On one occasion, soon after his settlement, a member of the congregation said to him that the people were very well pleased with his sermons, but that they did not like the texts. Lawson gave the person a hard look and said: “I should not have wondered if they had found fault with my discourses, but why should they find fault with the Word of God?”
“I do not know, but that’s what they say, and I aye like to speak all my mind.” the busybody replied.
“Do you know what Solomon says of such as you?” the young minister asked.
“No, what does Solomon say?”
“He says, ‘A fool uttereth all his mind.’” was the cutting reply.
On another occasion he was at dinner with a friend where another guest was fond of using the curse ‘the devil take me.’ Dinner had only just begun when Lawson rose and ordered his horse. His friend was puzzled and asked what was the matter.
“That gentleman has been praying pretty often this afternoon that the devil would take him, and as I have no desire to be present when it happens I beg leave to depart.” Lawson explained.
Suffering at another time from poor health, Lawson consulted a noted Edinburgh doctor. The doctor frequently used the Name of God in a profane manner. On leaving Lawson said to him: “Sir, it is written, ‘Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain.”
And George Lawson did not hold back when brother ministers were at fault. To one who behaved in a manner that Lawson thought was unseemly he said: “Sir, your predecessor was a grave, good, godly man.”
“You do not mean to insinuate that I am not?”
“I only say emphatically that your predecessor was an eminently godly man,” was all the reply Lawson gave.

So much, then, for George Lawson as a ‘character’. But his character was, as an old writer quaintly puts it, ‘bright as St. Mary’s Loch when the sun shine falls upon it.” He was beloved by all, and known as a scholar. The result of that we shall see, God willing, next time.