280 EIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Owing to the crowded state of the church in Rose Street, and from the
impossibility of enlarging it, ground was feued for the erection of a new place of
worship. This caused a considerable difference of opinion in the congregation,
and about four hundred resolved on remaining where they were. On the 29th
of May 1821 Dr. Hall opened the new church in Broughton Place, which
was the third that had been built for him since the commencement of his
ministry, and in all of which he attracted large congregations.’
He was allowed to possess, in an eminent measure, the peculiar requisites
of a Christian orator. His appearance, especially while young, was uncommonly
interesting. His voice, though
not sonorous, was clear, extensive, and mellifluent-modulated with natural taste
and impressive variety.
Dr. Hall was extremely attentive to the private duties of his office while he
continued able to perform them. In visiting the sick, his presence, his prayers,
and his converse, were peculiarly acceptable and consolatory, not only to his
own people, but to many of different religious opinions. About ten years prior
to his death he was afflicted with an inflammation of. his liver, by which his
life was thought to be in imminent danger ; and though he gradually regained
a considerable share of health, he was ever afterwards subject to internal
complaints, that rendered him unable to endure any great degree of fatigue.
As a member of the ecclesiastical courts, his judgment was more than usually
respected. He assumed no dictatorial airs, no superiority of discernment, no
disposition to become the leader of a party; but his thorough acquaintance
with the forms of business-the deep interest he took in the concerns of the
church-his impartiality in the weighing of evidence-and his unbiassed attachment
to equity, justice, and the general interest of religion-gave a peculiar
weight to his sentiments, and his opinions were uniformly respected.
Though somewhat warm in temper, he was open, generous, and affectionate.
Induced by plausible propositions, and desirous to be serviceable to his friends,
he unhappily entered into a mercantile speculation, which proving ruinous, he
was for a time subject to very disagreeable consequences, and had the mortification
of incurring the censure of many who were ignorant of the motives that
had prompted him to engage in secular matters, His open, manly statement,
and ingenuous exposition of the causes which led to his embarrassments, coupled
with his willingness to make every sacrifice calculated to repair any injury which
his failure had occasioned, proved perfectly satisfactory to all concerned. He
continued to discharge his public duties pretty regularly, and with great acceptability,
till about a year and three quarters before his death, when he was again
seized by his former complaint, which confined him nearly three months ; after
which he appeared only occasionally in the pulpit.
His person was tall, handsome, and dignified.
His action was animated, graceful, and appropriate.
He was succeeded in his former place of worship by the Rev. John (afterwards Dr. Brown of
Broughton Place) ; and, notwithstanding the split that had taken place among the members, the
utmost friendship subsisted betwixt Dr. Hall and Mr. Brnwn, the latter experiencing from him the
kindness and solicitude of a father.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 281
In 1824 Dr. Hall assisted at the dispensation of the Lord‘s Supper in his
old place of worship in Cumnock. As this was his first and only visit, from
the time of his removal to Edinburgh in 1786-a period of thirty-eight yearsthe
occasion was one of no ordinary interest. For the following particulars
we are indebted to the communication of a friend :-
“ I met him at the Coach-office, on his arrival from Edinburgh, and walked with him tb my
house. On reaching the bridge over the far-famed Lugar, he stood entranced, as it were, and
would not move, till, in thoughtful silence, he enjoyed for a time the scene on which, as he said,
his eye in youth had so often rested with delight He abode with me a week, nearly the whole
of which, excepting the time devoted to religious services, we spent in visiting scenes with
which he had been formerly familiar. In our walks he
seemed keenly to recall former associations. On one occasion, as we walked along the banks
of the Lugar, in a very lovely dell, he exclaimed-‘ Oh, I remember that stone ! (alluding to a
large stone in the bed of the river). Time has produced no change on it ; but (turning round,
he added) these trees have grown beyond my knowledge.’ We called on such of the old people
as had been members of his congregation, and on the descendants of others. He seemed to feel,
and, in tones which were peculiar to his manner, expressed a deep interest in them. The
daughter of a valued friend, who had long ago descended into the grave, we found lying on a
bed of sickness. He prayed ; and, on takiug leave, affectionately kissed her, as he said, for her
father’s sake. In-the course of our conversations, he told me that during his residence here he
had made himself master of the theology of the Cromwellian age; from which, as it seems to
me, his style of preaching, in all probability, derived much of that raciness for which he was so
much distinguished.
Nor
was the exercise of this esteem confined to the beople who enjoyed the benefit of his ministry.
Among others who sought and cultivated his friendship, may be mentioned the late Lord and
Lady Dumfries, who often entertained him at their table, and in return visited him-a circumstance
not common between dissenting ministers and persons of their rank
A few of these are very picturesque.
“ Dr. Hall was a highly popular and much esteemed miniiter while he laboured here.
Dr. Hall died on the morning of November 28, 1826, in the seventy-first
year of his age, and fiftieth of his ministry. He suffered much during the continuance
of his trouble; but he bore his affliction with exemplary fortitude
aod resignation. The interest it excited was
obvious at his funeral, and especially at the appropriate sermon preached in his
church on the subsequent Sabbath, by the Rev. John Brown (who had succeeded
him in Rose Street), when at least two-thirds of the vast multitude that
appeared solicitous to hear it were unable to gain admission.
Among other affairs of moment affecting the prosperity of the church that
deeply engaged the attention of the Doctor, was the long-wished-for union of
the two great dissenting bodies in Scotland ; and no one rejoiced more than he
did at its accomplishment. At his death he was father of his Presbytery,
and had the satisfaction of being Convener of the Committee of the United
Synod for preparing the “Testimony,” which has since been issued by that
body.
In Broughton Place Church a handsome tablet is erected to his memory.
His death was deeply regretted.
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