12
June 1774 A.D. Rev.
Alexander McLeod Born
June 12: Rev.
Alexander McLeod [1774-1833]
The Purity of Our Religion
“Whereas,
amongst the infinite blessings of Almighty God upon this nation, none is nor
can be more dear unto us than the purity of our religion; … “. So begins the
document which formally established the Westminster Assembly of Divines on June 12, 1643. It was
concern for the “purity of our religion” which lay at the foundation of our
Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. This purity could not be
maintained without protest against impurity. This same document specifies
further that the Westminster Assembly was convened in protest against “… that
present church-government by archbishops, their chancellors, commissars, deans
… ” etc. because such a “hierarchy is evil, and justly offensive and burdensome
to the kingdom, a great impediment to reformation and growth of religion . . .
“. In undertaking their work the members of the Assembly were “. . . resolved …
that such a government be settled in the church as may be most agreeable to
God’s holy Word, and most apt to procure and preserve the peace of the church.
. . “.
[excerpted
from the RPCES report on "Apostasy as it relates to Ecclesiastical
Separation." (1978)]
The Man Whom God Prepares
ALEXANDER
McLEOD, D.D.*
Alexander McLeod was born at Ardcrisinish, in the Isle of
Mull, Scotland, June 12, 1774. His father was the Rev. Niel McLeod, who was
connected with the Established Church of Scotland, and was Minister of the
United Parishes of Kilfinichen and Kilvichewen. His mother was Margaret McLean,
daughter of the Kev. Archibald McLean, who was the immediate predecessor of his
son-in-law, Mr. McLeod, in the same charge. Both his parents were eminent for
talents and piety. The great Dr. Johnson, in his tour through the “Western
Islands, was a visitor at his father’s house, and, in referring to the
circumstance, Johnson says,—” We were entertained by Mr. McLean,” (by mistake
he used the name of the lady for that of her husband,) ” a minister that lives
upon the coast, whose elegance of conversation and strength of judgment would
make him conspicuous in places of greater celebrity.”
At the age of five years, Alexander McLeod lost his
father; but, even at that early period, his mind seems to have been alive to
religious impressions; for when the tidings of his father’s death were
announced to the family, the child was upon his knees in prayer. From that time
for several years the general conduct of his education devolved upon his
mother, than whom perhaps no mother could have contributed more effectually to
the development and right direction of his faculties. His mother, however,
employed a tutor in the house, who immediately superintended his studies; and
his uncommon quickness of apprehension and facility at acquiring knowledge,
were indicated by the fact that he had mastered his Latin Grammar before he had
completed his sixth year. He subsequently attended the parish school of
Braeadale, in the Island of Skye, for three or four years, and availed himself
also of the advantages furnished by other schools, with reference to particular
branches, which were understood to be taught in them with unusual efficiency.
He lost his mother at the age of about fifteen, when he was absent from home at
school. So deeply was he affected by the tidings of her death, that, for a
time, there were serious apprehensions that it would be the occasion of
depriving him of his reason. As he was consecrated to the ministry in the
intention of his parents, he seems, before he was six years old, to have formed
a distinct purpose of carrying out their intention; and of that purpose he
never lost sight, amidst all the subsequent vicissitudes which he experienced.
He was always remarkable for an intrepid and adventurous spirit, and was not
infrequently confined by injuries which he received in consequence of too
freely indulging it.
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