42 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Mr. Haldane continued to preach to a large congregation ; and, during the forty
years he was so engaged, his disinterested labours were rather the occasion of
his spending than of his receiving money. The seats were all free; and he
derived no emolument whatever from his office.
Had it been the object of the Messrs. Haldane to gain a name, and become
the founders of a sect, their ambition might easily have been gratified. The
success which attended their joint labours was at first very great, and their
chapels were well attended. But this never formed any part of their scheme ;
and their adoption of Baptist sentiments separated them from many of those
with whom they formerly acted. Since the agitation of the voluntary question,
they have taken no part in opposition to the Established Church, considering it to
be rather a political than a religious controversy.
In the early part of their career their motives were often questioned ; and
it happened more than once that Mr. James Haldane was interrupted by the
civil authorities when preaching in the open air. This happened in particular
at Ayr, at North Berwick, and in Aberdeen ; and on one occasion an action
might have been brought against an Argyleshire magistrate for arresting Mr.
Haldane and Mr. John Campbell, afterwards well known as a missionary and
traveller in Africa. Mr. Haldane, however, contented himself, after having been
liberated by the sheriff, with going over the same ground which he had
previously intended ; and the interest excited by his arrestment drew forth such
numbers to hear him as amply compensated for his previous interruption.
Mr. Robert Haldane has been also laboriously engaged in the same work to
which both he and his brother devoted themselves in their early manhood. On
the Continent, and particularly at Geneva, and at Montambau, Mr. Haldane
resided for several years after the peace, and was the means of effecting much
good among the ministers and theological students in these celebrated Protestant
seminaries. He also expended very large sums in education ‘of young
men as ministers, both in England, Scotland, and the Continent. We believe
the number amounted to little short of four hundred. Among these there were
several men of great eminence, such as Principal Dewar of Aberdeen, Mr.
Russell of Dundee, Mr. Angel1 James of Birmingham, Drs. Paterson, Henderson,
etc. Mr. Robert Haldane also published several works of very considerabIe value,
particularly one on the Evidences of Christianity, and another containing a very
elaborate Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans.
Mr. James Haldane held three services every Sunday at the Tabernacle, as
well as a week-day service ; and his labours in Edinburgh, together with his
former numerous itinerating tours through Scotland, and also in England and
Ireland, have been the means of awakening thousands to concern for their eternal
welfare. It was remarked by a late eminent minister of the Church of Scotland
in Edinburgh, that wheh conversing with his communicants, it was surprising in
how many instances they attributed their first serious impressions to Mr. Haldane’s
preaching. Both brothers continued with unabated energy to pursue
the same schemes of usefulness. At the period they commenced their public
