CHAPTER XXII - IN AMERICA AND CANADA.—SECOND FAREWELL TO CHRISTENDOM

Summary

Among the American visitors to Edinburgh, the historical capital of Presbyterianism, in 1851, was Mr. George H. Stuart, a merchant of Philadelphia. With what Dr. Duff afterwards described as “all that marvellous readiness and frankness peculiar to the American character, though himself originally an Irishman, a combination therefore of the excellencies of the two characters,” he introduced himself to the Moderator of the General Assembly at the official residence. As he had sat spell-bound by the addresses of that year, and had been roused by the contagious enthusiasm of the Missionary-Moderator, he determined to invite Dr. Duff to visit the Churches of the United States. “You must come to America,” exclaimed Mr. Stuart as he burst in upon the wearied orator, “you shall have a cordial welcome.” And observing the gathering frown of dissent, he prevented refusal by the one argument which was irresistible, “We want to be stirred up there; there is plenty of material there, we need only to be stirred up.” At the beginning merely of his financial crusade, Dr. Duff had anew to stir up his own Church and country. But it came to be understood that, if the invitation were renewed when that should have been completed, it would be considered. Meanwhile a formal request for a visit came from the Synod of Canada. Repeatedly did Mr. Stuart write and plead, and cause not a few ecclesiastical and public bodies to do the same.