Yuille - History of the Baptists in Scotland - Landmark Baptist

following, he was accompanied by two friends with whom he had been
associated in the preaching at Gilmerton, John Aikman and Joseph Rate. They
went as far as Westray, the north-westmost island of the Orkneys, and
November had come before their labours ceased.
The immediate result of this missionary effort was the formation by the
Haldanes and their friends of a Society for Propagating the Gospel at Home in
January, 1798, which set before itself the aim of evangelising the dark places
of the land through the agency of itinerants, catechists, and schoolmasters, and
most of the financial support during its existence came from Robert Haldane.
The supply of men qualified for the work was small, and to meet the urgent
demand Mr. Haldane established classes for instruction. This seminary
continued for ten years — until the connexion broke up and comprised nine
classes in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee. and a further class in Elgin, and
at a later date one was established in Grantown. Nearly three hundred
preachers were sent out, many of whom rendered invaluable service; and the
whole pecuniary burden was borne by Robert Haldane. The provision of large
Tabernacles on the model of the Whitefield Chapels in England, where a
succession of different evangelical ministers would declare the Gospel to a
multitude of hearers, was equally a part of his plan. His was the directing
mind, as his liberality was the source of maintenance. He sold the residential
portion of Airthrey in 1798 that he might have the means to support his
generous projects, and restricted himself to a moderate personal expenditure.
In doing so he found, as he modestly said, that his time was more at command
and his power of usefully employing property very considerably increased. In
this spirit of self-abnegation and of sacrificial love he expended within the
years covering 1799 to 1807 between £50,000 and £60,000 in propagating the
Gospel at home, and his biographer adds that by 1810 this exceeded £70,000.
What he gave later cannot be computed. James Haldane, not so gifted with
means, did not fall behind his brother in the grace of Christian liberality.
In pursuance of the Tabernacle plan, the Circus in Edinburgh was secured, and
Rowland Hill opened it in July, 1798. The glowing enthusiasm of these
earnest-minded brethren drew to their side many lovers of the truth. There was
no thought of founding a new denomination; the one desire was to reach the
unsaved. The size of the Tabernacles declared that they were for the multitude,
and not for an elect few. The Haldanes clung to the Established Church and
communicated there when possible, but the desire for a pure Communion,
unmixed with visible unbelievers, drove them from its pale.
In the Circus in Edinburgh the first of the New Congregational Churches was
formed in January, 1799, of 12 members, speedily increased to 310, and on 3rd
February James Haldane was ordained as its Pastor, he stipulating that he
should be at liberty to evangelise elsewhere as he found opportunity. The