The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-01
ROBERTSON or IRVINE.

OF IRVINE rs almost "A, lIilliltt ~ lhtt
OF Robertson of Brighton to English
and Scotch readers alike. IL was borne
by minister of the United Presbyte-
riau Church, a most eloquent preacher
and most lovable man Of unique and
picturesque personality. as may be
gathered from the portraits hich
adorn the memoir which his friend and
brother minister, DR.. James Brown, OF
Paisley, has just written Of him.
Robertson by birth belonged to the
Church of the secession founded by
lsDenozar Erskiue and his associates.
The character Of his father may be
guessed from the question asked by the
minister Of his biographer DO ye
no think. Mr. Brown. that John Robert
son is Just as guild a man as there's ony
use for 80 The same question might
have been asked Of his mother. whose
sister was one Of those deliciously quaint
old Scotch maiden ladies we like to read
of. ready Of wit and quick Of repartce.
a minister who had never succeeded in
getting Church. said to her one day
"a, she SAT busy with her unresting
needles. You and / are just alike.
Miss Kirkwood: YOU never got hus-
band. and never got kirk. ~ How
many calls had you, sir ; she quickly
asked. oh, ne said, II never receiy-
cd call at all. Then don't you be
cyenin yourself to me, vas her re-
ply Robertson studied both at Edin-
bursh ami Glasgow. aud it is worth
noting that ne owed his intellectual
quickoniug not to any learned professor
or other accredited agency, but to the
accident of his lighting on one or two
OF the works Of Dickens. then being is
sued as monthly serials, and also to
compauiouship with De QIincey. who
happened 10 this time TO be staying IN a
house of relative of Robertson 5. and
from whom. be says, he gained more
than from all his teachers. De Quincy
/ had arrived at this house one evening.
/ lis hostess discovered that some essen
tial part of his outgoing raiment was
wanting. and asked him to stay til
next morning. He accepted the invita-.
ton. and remained for three years
10 was by De Quincy 5 advice that
/ Robertson went to study in Germany
and laid the foundation of that love for
/ Continental travel which never left
him. Perhaps there is more truth OF a
kind than his biogIapher admits N
Tholuck's opinion If him-"Ah. he
will never come TO anything; he Is d
great iller. In the same way, hi'
boyish sobrQuet of Wandering vii
f DE" was. in o sense. true of him to the
end. After his ordination, for which he
would have been late had he not caught
a train OF catlle-trucks from one OF
which he cried "Bey.' to BIZ
b other in imitation of bis iellow-trayel
ers. he settled as minister at the
ancient bursh on the Ayrshire coas
which was heucoforth TO be associate,
with his own name. A quaint, clean
quiet old town De Quincy styled j
ON the only occasion he visited it t.
call ON his young friend. and was no
admitted by the land-lady on accoun
Of his suspicious appearance. Their
FOX several years Robertson preached
those eloquent sermons, orc Of which
his brother characterized thus: Ser
mony il was not a sermon at all: it wa
an epic poem. and which gained 70
him an extraordinary reputation 70
elooueuce. There he lived and labore'
as a true minister. caring for all. train
in his choir and writing hymn
, for them 10 sing 81 service
and gathering his riendsaround him t
listen to his wondrous talk. One eve
ming few young students fresh fror
, church history were talking Of th
b auaiut old scholastic question, HOY
many angels are supported on the poin
. of needleyr Five, said Mr.. Robert
son. with a decision, and justified hi
e answer with the following story: On
t wild. stormy night no was comm
, home late through some side street
I Irvine and saw light burning in I'll
e window OF q low room where he knee
r a poor woman lived 1hcse husband va
t at sea. He wondered what KEEP. her u
/ SO late. and, looking in, he saw h'
: busily sewing Dy her dim lamp, viii
2 tie five fair, rosy children were SCUM
T. asleep around her. And there was
$ needle supporting five angels.
e s. many were the attempts to get IL
p eloquent young preacher to GIasgo
that an old elder prayed that the Ola
d cow people might be forgiven for the
l. covstousness. Ii is not narrated wheLh
d this was the same elder thus described
r Hes 4 man who lives in commune
# with God aud makes shooa - shoes
e He was successful in getting what "
Il for Scotland in those days a magnifice
d new church, built for himself and |
Is ever-intreasing congregation. and W
Is among the first 10 improve I
rs bald form Of Presbyterian We
al ship by the introduction
K the organ and other socalled inn
n vations.r An old aady once reno
Id strated with HIM, saying, Il hear y
are introducing some dreadful innoS
tions into your church service. u
ks deed - he replied. What innovatio
is have we introduced - OH she sa
rs Il hear that you read the Commar
m meuts at the communion" us Il
all you have heard ~ was his rep