Glimpses of old Glasgow

Foreign Missionaries

The Brothers William and Gavin Martin.

SIXTY years ago foreign missionary biographies were very limited in number, little interest being taken in missions to foreign fields. When John Williams' "Missionary Enterprises," and the lives of Drs. Moffat and Livingstone appeared, the interest increased. Since their issue, biographies of Dr. Duff, Bishop Hannington, Mackay of Uganda, Gilmour of Mongolia, and Dr. Paton of the South Seas, have been published. Besides these there have been others of lesser magnitude, but still of precious interest. One of these volumes is the "Martin Memorials."

James Martin, the father of the two brothers whose names head this notice, was a farmer near Strathaven, not far from Drumclog. He was warmly attached to one of the United Presbyterian churches of Stra'ven. His wife, while attending to all her domestic and farming duties, took a devoted interest in home and foreign missions, but specially in the foreign. Their first-born, as well as two other sons, were consecrated to the service of the Lord for the mission field. As these youths grew up their mother's force of character and marked religious nature greatly impressed them; while the Nathanael character of their father further influenced their lives for good. In their early teens they came under the influence of saving truth, so that the limited time at their disposal was occupied in doing good among the ignorant and careless around them.

These sons in due time came one after the other to attend the University of Glasgow. When their art studies were finished, they entered the divinity hall of the United Presbyterian Church. During the recess William was employed as a missionary in connection with Claremont church. The other two brothers were devoted in other departments of Christian agency. After they had finished their theological studies and been duly licensed as preachers of the gospel, their offer to go to foreign lands as ambassadors of the cross was accepted by the foreign mission hoard of the United Presbyterian Church. The subjects of this sketch went to India. James Martin went to Jamaica in 1854 and was settled as missionary at Carronhall.

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Earnest in Christian labour at home, William and Gavin manifested even greater zeal and earnestness in India. Perhaps no two missionaries of the United Presbyterian Church were ever more zealous in proclaiming the "unsearchable riches of Christ." In spiritual duties abundant, they neglected not such enterprises as tended to the physical, social, educational, and industrial well-being of the people of India. During the harassing time of famine their self-denial and philanthropy shone forth. Their work being so incessant they were often weakened by the way, but no sooner were they able for duty than they again began their delightful labours.

When they came back to their fatherland for rest, and with the hope of regaining health, their addresses whether in the churches or in the Sabbath schools gave fresh inspiration to all who loved the Lord and the increase of His knowledge in foreign lands. No sooner had they gathered fresh strength for their work than they were off to India.

In March, 1872, symptoms of chest weakness in Gavin made their appearance. At once he was ordered to "take a change of air and rest." To be laid aside from his work pressed heavily upon him. For more than two years he had striven to fulfil his duties in an impaired state of health. After a partial recovery he was once more in harness, but the following year he was again prostrated. His future work was discharged in bodily feebleness, yet in buoyancy of spirit. But the end was nigh. He became ill, and bidding those who stood around his deathbed a calm good-bye, he fell asleep in the arms of that Saviour whom he had loved to serve. He died in the thirty-sixth year of his life and the eleventh of his service as a missionary. One of his fellow-students said of him, "His loss was to be mourned not so much as that of a comrade in arms, as of a sainted knight who outshone us all in love to the Captain of our Salvation."

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Early in 1880 William Martin's health was in a critical condition. He arrived in Scotland in the month of May, and was at the meeting of the United Presbyterian Synod. This was a great pleasure to him, as there he met some of his relatives and many of his old and loved friends. He stayed for a short time in Strathaven with his revered mother, who was in her ninth decade. After his return to India he again resumed the work he had sorrowed to leave, but ere long his health broke down. At one of the mission stations he complained of fever and a severe headache. In two or three days he somewhat recovered, but his complaint returning with much severity, after a few hours' illness, at midnight on the 25th October, 1883, this zealous missionary entered into his Master's presence. His death brought deep sorrow to many a native heart. The cry was, "Our father has died." Military honours were given to his mortal remains. Four native Christians carried on their shoulders to the grave the coffin from the gun carriage which was drawn by six horses. For twenty-three years William Martin laboured in India.