William Lindsay Alexander. VIII.

After forty-two and a half years, Dr. William Lindsay Alexander felt he had to resign from the pastorate of Augustine Church. He often preached in Augustine Church in the remainder of his ministry, but he was called to another work. The Congregational Union Theological Hall had recently been given £10,000, the income from which was to be used to pay a full time Professor of Systematic Theology. Before this all tutors in the Hall had been pastors, lecturing as an extra burden. The full-time Professor would also have the pastoral care of the students.
The committee in charge of the Hall asked Dr. Alexander to take up the post. He accepted, but he made it clear that he did so only as a temporary measure, saying that it would be better to appoint a younger man to the post.
Dr. Alexander was a well-loved professor. He had the happiest relations with the students, who respected him as a professor, and who felt he was a man they could talk to. He was their pastor, and their friend.
Dr. Alexander worked in the post happily until 1881. He wrote a couple of commentaries, one on Zechariah for the Homiletic Magazine, and one on Deuteronomy for the Pulpit Commentary. But he was getting old, and in July 1881 he resigned his appointments.
Yet, until his successor was appointed, Alexander agreed to remain in his post until his successor was appointed. He contined in the work into 1882, when the committee tried to get him to withdraw his resignation, but he refused. At the end of 1882 he finally left the work.
He remained interested in the Hall and Augustine Church, but he was old, and his health declined. Dr. William Lindsay Alexander departed from this world at 11.30 am, 20th December 1884. He was honoured by his colleagues in the ministry, and rightly so, for he always sought to serve God faithfully. Dr. Alexander described the death of an aged believer in one of his hymns:

At length the door is opened, and free from pain and sin,
With joy and gladness on his head, the pilgrim enters in;
The Master bids him welcome, and on the Father's breast,
By loving arms enfolded, the weary is ar rest.

The pilgrim's staff is left behind, behind the sword, the shield,
The armour dimmed and dinted on many a hard-fought field;
His now the shining palace, the garden of delight,
The palm, the robe, the diadem, the glory ever bright!

William Lindsay Alexander fell asleep, having served his generation by the will of God.

William Lindsay Alexander. VII.

William Lindsay Alexander's ministry at Augustine Church was greatly blessed by God. He had become a leader in the congregational denomination, and that brought responsibility.
Congregational Churches are independent of one another, and the Congregational Union was only a loose fellowship. They had no formal creed, and no church courts. So long as the Congregational Churches of Scotland were all Calvinist, everything went well, but in early 1866 a controversy blew up.
Rev. James Cranbrook, pastor of Albany Street Congregational Church, Edinburgh, had been preaching extremely unorthodox sermons. Mr. Cranbrook had settled in Edinburgh in 1865 after a period of ministry in Liverpool. But before he became pastor of a congregational church in liverpool, Cranbrook had been a Unitarian minister. He had been assumed by some to be an ex-unitarian, but it became clear that his theology was not Biblical; it departed from the faith once delivered to the saints in several vital points. This was the first time heresy had reared its ugly head among the Scottish Congregationalists, and Dr. Alexander and his fellow leaders in the denomination realised that people would hear that Cranbrook was a 'Congregationalist' and assume that all Congregationalists agreed with him. What was worse, a number of Edinburgh Congregational ministers had been present at Cranbrook's recognition service at Albany Street. Alexander sent Cranbrook a brotherly letter, and Cranbrook replied angrily, accusing the ministers in whose name Dr. Alexander had written of constituting themselves an inquisition. A letter was sent in reply stating that Dr. Alexander and the other ministers had to suspend ministerial communion with Mr. Cranbrook.
Cranbrook went from bad to worse, and finally he separated from Albany Street and gathered a little congregation of his admirers around himself. Held together only by his preaching, the congregation broke up after Cranbrook's death in 1869.
Meanwhile Dr. Alexander's ministry continued, both at Augustine Church, and in the wider Church. But by 1877 his health and his pulpit ability were starting to fail. He felt that God had brought his ministry to an end at Augustine Church, and on 6th June 1877 he resigned the pastorate. He had ministered in the congregation for forty-two and a half years.

But Dr. Alexander's ministry was not over. Where God called him after Augustine Church we shall see, God willing, next time.

William Lindsay Alexander. VI.

Following a government purchase of their building in 1855, the old North College Street Church had to build a new home for themselves. As their pastor, Dr. William Lindsay Alexander was intimately involved with the project. He was original in both name and design. The style of the building was something of a novelty for 1850s Edinburgh, which preferred Neoclassical architecture, and the name he chose was unusual - he called it 'Augustine Church', after his favourite Church Father (Michael Haykin would probably like Dr. Alexander). The Church is illustrated here.
Although they had some problems with the construction of the building, it was finally opened on 8th November 1861. Alexander led the opening service, explaining that congregationalists attatch no particular sanctity to buildings, but that they dedicated their building in prayer to God's service, for it had been built to his glory. It is an evidence of Dr. Alexander's reformed 'ecumenicity' that the sermon at the opening of the church was preached by Dr. Guthrie of the Free Church of Scotland.
There had been no organ at North College Street, and the congregational singing, led by an excellent choir, had been incredibly impressive; North College Street had "the best sung congregation in Edinburgh." Just to hear the singing there was a blessing. At first Augustine Church had no organ, but in 1863 a brand new organ was presented to the church. It was not the blessing some thought it would be, for congregational singing at Augustine Church was never the same again.
The ministry of Dr. Alexander at Augustine Church was blessed as his ministry at North College Street had been. But Dr. Alexander was now a leader in the Scottish Congregationalists. A decided Calvinist (or Augustinian!) himself, Dr. Alexander deplored the sort of theological laxity that some Congregationalists displayed. He found himself involved for that reason in two theological controversies, which we shall, God willing, address next time.

William Lindsay Alexander. V.

William Lindsay Alexander loved the church at New College Street, and he had no thought of leaving. In 1855 the Government informed the church that they required the New College Street Church for part of the site of the Industrial Museum. The Church sought a new site, and they met for the last time in the old chapel on 28th October 1855.
The old chapel had seen all sorts of people under Dr. Alexander's (for Alexander had been awarded a doctorate by now) ministry. Many of the 'mixed multitude' of visitors tended to sit in the gallery, with the result that the gallery became the scene of a number of interesting incidents. A number of these called forth some of Dr. Alexander's more caustic rebukes. On one occasion he was reading the chapter in Acts recording the fall of Eutychus from the 'third loft' when one of the gallery doorkeepers, who had fallen asleep, nodded back against the panelling at the back of the gallery. The noise caused Alexander to start, and some young men in the gallery smiled. "You young men up there had better take care, or perhaps some accident of the kind may happen to you!"
It was not the doorkeeper's fault. His job kept him on his feet all day, and he had to work long hours. On another occasion he was so worn out that he fell against the door of his box-pew. It fell open, and he fell onto the gallery stairs. Dr. Alexander looked towards the startled man and said softly, "I knew it would come to that some day!"
Often umbrellas fell in the gallery, and on one occasion after one umbrella too many had fallen down.
"Might I ask those of you who are in the habit of going to sleep, before doing so to put your sticks and umbrellas in a safe place, so that those who are awake may not be unnecessarily disturbed!"
For six years the church were without a building of their own, and they met in the Queen Street Hall. Dr. Alexander was at the height of his powers, and the ministry was greatly blessed. Attempts were made to draw him off to a teaching post somewhere, but he was resolute. He was a preacher, not an academic. In any case, he had to look after his church while they built a new meeting-house. He remained with his people.

Next time we shall, God willing, look at Dr. Alexander's ministry in the new building.

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.

William Lindsay Alexander. III.

William Lindsay Alexander was to be ordained to the ministry at North College Street Congregational Church, Edinburgh, on February5th 1835, but his ministry in that place began on 1st January of that year. He was officially ordained on February 5th.
The North College Street Church was an historic one, and they met in a plain stone chapel without ornamentation. The Church membership included some of Edinburgh's most distinguished men, but Alexander was without respect of persons. He set himself to be the most loyal minister in all Edinburgh. God had brought him into the ministry, not man, and so he would give God his best.
William Lindsay Alexander laid down two rules for himself as he entered the ministry, and they bear repeating. First he resolved that he would not attempt to 'make great sermons.' That would be a waste of his time and energy. He would be a simple expositor of the Scriptures, not a great orator. Second, he resolved never to have 'an hour to spare'. He systematically organised his time so as to make the best use of it for God. He adhered to these rules through all his life.
Although he had resolved not to try to make 'fine sermons', this did not mean he skimped preparation. Quite the reverse; instead of agonising over words and expressions, he agonised in making careful and exact exegesis of his text. At the same time he had to guard against merely giving a commentary on the text. He identified one or more key themes - usually just one - in the text, and centred the whole sermon on this.
Like DR. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in the 20th Century, W.L. Alexander believed very strongly in expository preaching. He believed that only expository preaching could awaken and maintain the interest of a congregation throughout a ministry of any length. If he had felt compelled to be a mere preacher on 'subjects', or topics, he would never have been able to stay in the ministry. He shrank at the thought of the 'mental drugery' involved in selecting a topic, then hunting for a text to attach to it. No, he thought, only the full power and variety, freshness and enduring interest and importance of the whole Word of God could possibly sustain him. He noted that there were two sorts of preachers, those who made their hearers say, "what a man!" and those who made their hearers say, "What a Gospel!" His aim was the latter.
Like many men, Alexander started out writing his sermons out in full , but later abandonded the practice and wrote out only notes. From 1850 onwards he wrote out most of his morning sermon, and delivered his evening discourse extempore.
He rose rapidly to popularity, and North College Street Chapel was soon filled with people from all parts of the city. The effects of this we shall, God willing, see next time.

William Lindsay Alexander. II.

William Lindsay Alexander found every door shut before him in 1831. Then, as he was passing through Liverpool in 1832, the friend with whom he was staying said to him: "You have come just in the nick of time. We have been disappointed in not getting a minister for our chapel next sabbath, so you will come and preach for us."
Alexander was not keen. He made the excuse that he had no black coat, but the friend replied that there was no problem, for the Church had a very nice pulpit gown that he could wear. One Sunday's preaching engagement became an informal pastorate of a year and a half! Despite himself, William Lindsay Alexander had become a Congregational minister. He had struggled against the purposes of God, and God had conquered him. It is no surprise that Alexander was a Calvinist all his days!
God blessed the pastorate at Newington Independent Church, Liverpool. Many were brought into Church membership, and the chapel filled rapidly. The news of this Scottish congregational pastor spread rapidly.
In October 1833 Alexander recieved a letter from Rev. John Aikman of the Argyle Square Congregational Church, Edinburgh, inviting him on behalf of the Church to come and preach for them with a view to becoming assistant minister to Mr. Aikman.
Alexander, conscious that he was still a young man, relatively untaught, saw at once the advantages of working with a more experienced man. However, he worried that his powers were not sufficient for Edinburgh, and that Newington Church needed him to remain there. But then God slowly closed the door at Newington, and in 1834 he was finally forced to leave Newington. In the meantime the door at Edinburgh had closed too, and so Alexander found himself once more unsettled. But Newington had settled him in one thing; he was a Congregational minister, and so he would remain.
He used his time out of the settled ministry to study theology in Germany, among the more orthodox German theologians. After his return from Germany he was asked to preach several times at the very Church he had previously turned down, Argyle Square, otherwise known as North College Street Church, Edinburgh. Eventually North College Street called him to supply the pulpit for six months with a view to becoming their pastor. Alexander declined; the Church was divided, and he was sure he would be unhappy there. He was therefore astonished when, on 1st November 1834, he was invited to become pastor of the Church! The call was all but unanimous, and Alexander, after three weeks of careful consideration, accepted.

God willing next time we shall look at W.L. Alexander's ministry at North College Street.

William Lindsay Alexander. I.

Scottish Christianity is best known in the world in its Presbyterian dress, but of course there are other varieties of it. One of the oldest is Scottish Congregationalism, now sadly all but swallowed up in what is generally known as the United Reformed Church. Scottish Congregationalism has produced a number of notable men, one of the chief of whom was William Lindsay Alexander.
William Lindsay Alexander was the son of William Alexander and Elizabeth Lindsay. He was born at Leith, the port of Edinburgh, on 24th August 1808. William Alexander came from Moffat, and in his youth he had studied for the Congregational ministry, but serious health problems prevented his entering the ministry, or even completing his theological course. Instead he entered into business with an Edinburgh wine merchant. At the same time he joined the Church assembling at the Tabernacle under the pastorate of J.A. Haldane, embracing Baptist views. Mr. Alexander was a liberal giver to Christian work, and he brought up his son in the fear of the Lord.
William Lindsay Alexander was educated at first in the local schools, then at the University of Edinburgh. From there he moved to the University of St. Andrews. He profited greatly from the lectures of Thomas Chalmers in Moral Philosophy.
During his time at St. Andrews, Alexander joined the Congregational Church at Leith, thus declaring that he could not share his parents' Baptist views. Still, he often attended his parents' Church.
At St. Andrews, Alexander first began to preach in public. A number of small local Congregational Churches were without pastors, and were supplied by the Church to which Alexander belonged. He was an enthusiastic preacher, and his father seems to have persuaded the pastor of the Church to which he belonged to allow William Lindsay Alexander to preach in Swinton Row Baptist Church, Edinburgh.
In 1827, William Lindsay Alexander entered the Glasgow Theological Academy of the Scottish Congregational Churches, which was taught at that time by Rev. Dr. Ralph Wardlaw and Rev. Greville Ewing. He did not seem to get on well there, and he moved to take the post of Classical Tutor of the Blackburn Theological Academy, Lancashire. Alexander was soon teaching a lot more than the Classics - and he was not yet twenty!
But W.L. Alexander was not going to remain a tutor in a theological academy. Although he wanted to become an academic, God closed every door in his face. Alexander decided to study for a medical career. That failed too, but still Alexander resisted the call to the ministry.

We shall, God willing, see how God disposed next time.