In All the Annals

“Inlooking back over the history of the Christian Church, and thinking of thegreat men who have from time to time appeared on her stage, I cannot recall anyman who so brilliantly combined so many qualities of greatness as ThomasChalmers.  We may find some men asdistinguished in certain properties, natural or acquired: in learning—of bothclassical and theological erudition—in precise reasoning, in ready powers ofdiscussion and debate, in eloquence, in holiness of life, in regularity ofpurpose, in determined leadership, in steadfastness even in adversity, inenergy of character, in sagacity and humor, in attainment in science, in depthof artistry, and in influence upon the widest array in society—equally at homewith princes and with paupers, with devout and with doubters, with thethoughtful and with the thoughtless. Where however, shall we find a case in which so much original genius isblended and concentrated in one individual?  Where shall we find a case in which all these rare elementscombined with loftiest Christian principle and devotedness, and the exercise ofthe most humble, gentle, generous, cheerful Christian virtues?  Surely, such graces are precious few inall the annals of the world.” John Gordon Lorimer (1808-68), Pastor of Free St. David’s, Glasgow