ALEXANDER BALFOUR.
[Illustration: _From a copyright photograph by Brown, Barnes & Bell
photographers to the Queen._
Signature.]
ALEXANDER BALFOUR.
A Memoir
BY
R. H. LUNDIE, M.A.
LIVERPOOL.
“Thoughts of the marvellous progress of God’s work in Liverpool
afford me more comfort and rejoicing, than the perusal of any poem,
or the reading of any novel.”
A. BALFOUR.
Fifth Edition.
LONDON:
JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET.
LIVERPOOL: PHILIP, SON & NEPHEW.
1890.
PREFACE.
In the following pages the aim has been to give, not an extended
biography, but a sketch of Alexander Balfour. He was not an
autobiographic man, either in his conversation or his letters. The
latter, even when dealing with philanthropic or Christian effort, were
generally brief and business-like, touching some practical matter of
detail which required attention at the moment. From these, with some
exceptions at the commencement and at the close of his life, little help
can be got for the biographer. Had it been otherwise, we should gladly
have let him speak for himself. But those who knew him, know that to
speak for himself was the last thing in the thought or practice of
Alexander Balfour. We are constrained, therefore, to give some record of
the deeds that speak for him, and to glean some of the impressions and
recollections which remain in the minds of those who were associated
with him.
In doing this we have aimed at brevity, always welcome in a busy age.
Throughout, we have been painfully reminded of the words of Lord Bacon,
“The best part of beauty is that which the painter cannot express.”
Narrative is incapable of conveying any adequate idea of the enthusiasm,
the affection, the humility, the gentleness, the magnetic influence that
glowed in wonderful combination in his countenance, and in his whole
person while prosecuting some loved cause. When we can in words describe
the fragrance of the mountain thyme, we may with ink and pen depict the
finer and the subtler charm which threw its fascination over his
friends. When such a man passes away from us, much passes with him which
may in part be recalled by those who knew him, but which can never be
conveyed to those who knew him not. Facts, incidents, narrative, and
even impressions limited and hedged in by words, seem cold. Yet these,
alas! are all we have to give.
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
I. PARENTAGE AND BOYHOOD 1
II. EARLY LIVERPOOL LIFE 17
III. THE CHRISTIAN MERCHANT 35
IV. SERVICE 49
V. FOOTSTEPS AMONG SEAMEN 89
VI. FOOTSTEPS AMONG SEAMEN--(_continued_) 121
VII. COUNCIL OF EDUCATION 143
VIII. MOUNT ALYN: HOME LIFE 161
IX. CONFLICT--LICENSE-LAW; ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM 187
X. LICENSE-LAW--LEGISLATIVE REFORM 211
XI. VALPARAISO 237
XII. PALESTINE 263
XIII. JOTTINGS FROM JOURNALS 273
XIV. CLOSING DAYS 285
APPENDIX A.--FUNERAL SERMON, &C. 321
“ B.--LETTER OF COUNSEL TO YOUNG
PARTNERS IN BUSINESS 343
CHAPTER I.
PARENTAGE AND BOYHOOD.
“I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent
to the Lord.”--I SAM. i. 28.
“My heart
Is little, and a little rain will fill
The lily’s cup, which hardly moists the field.”
--EDWIN ARNOLD.