_EARLY LIVERPOOL LIFE._
In August 1844, in consequence of the lamentable state of commerce in
Dundee at the time, and of the business affairs of his much respected
grandfather “the Provost,” Alexander Balfour removed to Liverpool, to
push his fortune there. His path at first was by no means a path of
roses, as appears from a number of letters written at that period, which
he had never found in his heart to destroy. One of his most intimate
friends in Dundee writes to him under date 3rd August 1844: “I know it
is very hard to keep one’s spirit up in a situation like yours. I
scarcely like to speak of equanimity, lest it should seem as if I did
not feel for you so deeply as I do. But still I hope you will be able to
meet disappointment, if it be before you, manfully, _like yourself_.”
He succeeded, however, in obtaining a situation as clerk, in the office
of Mr. Manuel Blandin, a Spanish merchant in the Mexican trade. Under
date 30th October 1844, he writes thus: “Getting a good berth here has
been an exceedingly difficult matter. I do not know that I should
undergo the same ordeal to obtain it again. The anxiety and trouble I
had no idea of till I tried. I was struck with the coldness some folks I
had letters to, showed, when they knew my errand: ‘Would be glad to do
anything that lay in their power, _but_, &c. &c.’ Such was the usual
reception; not, however, in the case of Mr. I.”
It can hardly be doubted that the delay, disappointment, and rebuff
through which he passed at this time was a valuable discipline, and
helped to produce the peculiar interest which he felt through life in
young men coming as strangers to our large towns. He was kind and
considerate to such youths to an extraordinary degree. His own
sufferings turned to the solace of many.
So much did Alexander Balfour commend himself to Mr. Blandin that the
latter offered him a partnership before he quitted his office. But he
preferred to enter the employ of Messrs. Graham, Kelly, and Co., where
his services were highly appreciated, and where it was put in his power
to go abroad, charged with responsible duties. Circumstances, however,
did not permit him to avail himself of this offer.
One of the closest companions of Mr. Balfour’s Liverpool life from its
commencement to its close says that as a youth he was the brightest of
the bright; happy, and always trying to make others happy. In his
lodgings he was full of generous hospitality. Friends of his youth who
survive, still speak of his joyous companionship, in long walks after
office-hours on bright summer evenings, to Childwall Abbey and other
favourite resorts. He was then in the vigour of his early manhood--a
manhood full of enthusiasm for whatsoever things are true, pure, and
lovely, and which could not but communicate its influence to his friends
and associates. His delight was to have young men about him. His voice
was fine and his musical taste delicate: and sometimes at this period he
would enliven an evening with a cheerful song.
Two events occurred in his early manhood which much affected him, the
illness and death of his father, of which we shall by-and-by speak, and
the death of his beloved brother Robert. He grew more serious and
thoughtful. “What is life?” he would ask, and “Why are we here?” A
visible change came over him. The great issues of our present condition
seemed now to weigh upon him. The alteration in his habits grew
naturally out of the deep, if almost insensible, change which had taken
place within him. There was from that time a marked ripening of
character, which was carried further, when troubles and perplexities
overtook him some years later. But already he was a different man. His
life had taken a new and final direction. He spoke little of his
feelings, but his religious convictions were visible in all he did.
The friend by whom these reminiscences are furnished was never separated
from him, at that time, for a single day. And he is able to testify that
he never heard from Mr. Balfour’s lips, even in his merriest days, a
story that was not absolutely pure and unobjectionable; nor would Mr.
Balfour ever join in merriment caused by any utterance unbecoming a
Christian and a gentleman.
Mr. Stephen Williamson, afterwards his partner in business, writes: “The
first time I saw Alexander Balfour was in Fifeshire, at Leven, his
native place. I was passing through, and went to Durie Foundry to see my
school-fellow, his beloved brother Robert. Alexander was our senior by
several years. He had been on the links golfing and had broken his club.
His visit to the foundry was to see his brother, then in the moulding
shop, and to get him to mend the broken club. I remember most vividly
his sunny, joyous manner; but what struck me most of all was the tender
affectionate bearing of the elder brother towards the younger. I had
often seen a different course of action on the part of elder brothers:
and Alexander’s conduct at this first interview left an indelible
impression on my mind. At that early age there had begun to flow through
his whole being the deep current of tender human sympathy which never
ceased during all his life, but which broadened and deepened to the very
end.
“I did not meet him again for several years. His brother, my old
school-fellow, was learning his profession of engineering in Liverpool.
Alexander was in an office in the same town, and the two brothers lived
together for a time in lodgings in Wilton Street. I had just come from
Scotland to an office in Liverpool. My first visit was to my old
school-fellow at his lodgings, when I again met his brother Alexander.
From that hour, during my stay in Liverpool before going abroad, he was
my dearest and best friend, the one whose society was most congenial to
me, and gave me the greatest happiness. To my great satisfaction we
seemed to be mutually drawn together, and not many months elapsed before
we arrived at an agreement or understanding, that if ever we were
permitted to begin business, we should do so as partners. To that
understanding we remained faithful; and I cherish with gratitude the
recollection of the fact that, on more than one occasion, my dear
friend set aside tempting offers, and remained faithful to our unwritten
and even dimly conceived pledges to each other. The time arrived when in
God’s good providence we were permitted to embark in business together,
in Liverpool. It was in February 1851, the late Mr. David Duncan,
afterwards M.P. for a Liverpool constituency, being associated with us
from that time till 1863.”
A document is still preserved bearing date, Sabbath, 20th October 1850,
and signed A. B., which reveals to us some of the deep springs of his
unselfish and elevated life. If we sometimes wonder at the unworldly
ways and the marvellous self-abnegation of the man, we find the root of
these things here. A fine natural character was purified, deepened,
sweetened by heavenly influences. Self-sacrifice and devotion to the
good of others, fed from such a source, became natural, and, as it were,
indispensable to him. In all the relations of life, his desire was to
obey his God, and bless his generation; labour, cost, difficulty counted
for little with him if these ends could be attained.
The document to which we refer is a solemn covenant which the
distinguished Thomas Boston of Etterick made with God “on the 2nd day of
December 1729.” This was copied out and apparently adopted as his own
by Alexander Balfour. A portion of it is subjoined. The italics are Mr.
Balfour’s.
“In obedience to Thy command and call, I, in myself a poor sinner, do
now again _take hold_ of that Covenant of life and salvation to _me_,
believing in the name of Christ crucified, who is offered to me as the
Great High Priest, who by the sacrifice of Himself, hath made atonement,
paid the ransom, and brought in everlasting righteousness for sinners.
“I _credit_ His word of grace to me, and trust in Him, that He with His
righteousness will be mine, and that in and through Him, God will be my
God, and I shall be one of His people, to be made holy and happy for
ever.
“My God, I do by Thy grace acquiesce in that Covenant, as all my
salvation, and all my desire, with my whole heart and soul. The Son
incarnate is my only Priest, my Surety, my Intercessor, and my Redeemer;
and in Him, His Father is my Father, the Holy Ghost is my sanctifier,
God is my God.
“I resign myself soul and body to Him, renouncing all confidence in my
own righteousness, doings, and sufferings. With my whole heart and soul,
I take Him to be my very Head, and I am His only, wholly, and for ever,
to live by Him, to Him, and for Him.... I am with my whole heart
content, (Lord, Thou knowest), to part with and to renounce every known
sin, lust, or idol, particularly that sin which most easily besets me,
together with my own foolish will, and all other lords besides Him,
_without reservation_, and _without exception_, at His cross.
* * * * *
“Let it be recorded in Heaven, O God, that I, though most unworthy, have
this day taken hold of and come into Thy Covenant of Grace, offered to
me, in Thy gospel, for time and eternity, that Thou art my God, and I am
one of Thy people, from henceforth and for ever.”
Thus did Mr. Balfour, with the faith of a little child, accept the offer
of the gospel, and cling to the Person of the Redeemer. In every duty he
looked up to His loving eye for guidance, and leant on His strong arm
for help. In the way of obedience he scarcely knew what difficulty was;
he went right onward, and often did the mountain before him become a
plain. He found the paths of wisdom, paths of peace, and in them he
seems to have been harassed with no doubts.
On getting such glimpses into the inner life of Mr. Balfour, one can
understand how it was that, on one occasion, when a busy merchant whom
he frequently encountered parted with him in the street, he said of Mr.
Balfour to a friend he met, “that man makes me tremble with his
religious earnestness.”
In 1854 Mr. Balfour’s father was seized with alarming sickness. During
his illness and convalescence, Alexander showed the greatest solicitude
on his behalf. A letter to his father which he penned at this time is
remarkable as addressed by a son to a parent. It bears date, Grange
Lane, Birkenhead, 2nd June 1854. After expressing his joy at the
improvement in his father’s health, he says: “I trust, my dear father,
you have now been enabled by the help of God’s own good Spirit,
renouncing every other confidence or hope, to lay hold on the Lord Jesus
Christ as your Saviour. I sincerely trust that no unbelieving doubts or
hesitations keep you from cordially and truly obeying His injunction,
‘Come unto _Me_, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.’ I am sure that every possible encouragement that could be
conceived of is employed to gain the confidence of those who are seeking
salvation.” After dwelling at some length on Rev. i. 5, 6, he concludes:
“How we are struck dumb at the riches of His grace; not only that He
should love us, but should wash us from our sins in His own blood, and
should make us kings and priests unto God and His Father! Then let us
sing, ‘To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen.’ Let us
seek that His most precious blood be indeed sprinkled on our souls--that
we may be washed, may be clean, may be new creatures, and may have
praise in our hearts to Him for ever and ever.”
When he went to Liverpool, Alexander Balfour was furnished with a letter
of introduction from his mother to Mr. William Kay Coubrough. Mr.
Coubrough thus became his first friend in his new place of abode, and
Alexander was much with him, spending his Sunday afternoons regularly in
the congenial atmosphere of his family. Alexander never could forget
kindnesses, and he retained the warmest regard for Mr. Coubrough, amid
striking vicissitudes of prosperity and adversity, to the close of his
own life. His aged friend, Mr. Coubrough, was among the truest mourners
over his removal. His friendship helped to open the way to many other
friends.
Among these was Mr. Robert Gibson, a youth like himself, in lodgings in
Liverpool. A warm and life-long friendship grew up between them, of
which a few particulars may here be given. In May 1847 they both crossed
the Mersey to lodge in Birkenhead. Their opportunities for congenial
intercourse were increased by the circumstance that they both belonged
to Canning Street Presbyterian Church, Liverpool, then under the care
of the Rev. Joseph R. Welsh, and for a considerable time continued to
attend his ministry. They used to meet regularly in the Woodside boat on
their way to church, and had pleasant converse as they walked up
together to the house of God. On one occasion the two young friends
visited the Sabbath school of the Rev. James Towers, Grange Lane,
Birkenhead, when they were enlisted as teachers, and became greatly
interested in the work.
Some years later, the materials for the great Montreal Bridge were being
prepared at the Canada Engineering Works, Birkenhead, and a large number
of artisans, of whom a considerable proportion were from Scotland, took
up their abode in the “Dock Cottages,” near the workshops. The district
referred to is at some distance from town, and Mr. Balfour thought it
would be of advantage to plant a Sabbath school in the heart of the Dock
Cottages. This was done by the two young friends in 1855. A goodly
number of children were gathered, and the assistance of several
intelligent engineers was secured for the work of teaching. Two or three
young gentlemen were also drawn in to give their help. Mr. Balfour and
Mr. Gibson for the first year or two, before their engagements were too
numerous to admit of such occupation, used to go on week days to visit
the parents of the scholars. They also secured for the Dock Cottages,
lectures on useful and popular subjects; they gave the children treats
in winter, and took them on pleasure excursions in summer. Mr. Balfour,
it need not be said, prosecuted this work with all his natural
enthusiasm; and while the effort benefited many, it was unquestionably
of great value to himself, helping to educate him for the Christian work
which lay before him in after life.
In 1860 business arrangements required Mr. Balfour to go abroad, and
thus, among other things, to sever his connection with his loved labours
in the Dock Cottages, to whose inhabitants he had greatly endeared
himself. On the 8th of May 1860 he wrote to his friend Mr. Gibson from
on board the S.S. _Europa_, a letter which bears the stamp of his
continual tendency to take the lowest place, and to appraise at a high
value whatever good was done by others. “For all the instances of your
regard I would cherish grateful feelings: I feel how unworthy I am to
receive them; but this should not prevent my making acknowledgment to a
gracious God who has provided the comfort and blessing I have had by
your friendship, and the rich associations I am able to connect with it.
How can I ever forget the pleasure, pure and full, which has been
received in our walks on the Sabbath afternoons, home from ‘the
cottages,’ when pleasant conversation occupied us, and the unveiling to
one another of similar thoughts. How do such recollections cause the
moments thus enjoyed to sparkle in the retrospect.... I would thank you
all for the forbearance which my weakness and thoughtlessness may at any
time have called forth. I would desire to offer the prayer that of His
mercy God may be pleased to keep us from all evil; that we may cultivate
humility and self-denial, and a desire for the welfare of others, and
every grace; that He may give us His peace and cause His face to shine
on us.” Thus did he school himself and make inquisition of his own
heart. The foundations of an energetic, eager, unselfish character were
being strengthened in this early sphere of modest but useful effort.
It may be mentioned in this connection that in November 1850, Mr.
Balfour, for the first time, sat down at the Lord’s Table. It was a
matter upon which the two young friends often had communication with one
another. On this subject Mr. Balfour had shown hesitation, which arose
from his lowly estimate of his own character and preparedness for the
sacred ordinance. When at last he made up his mind to join with the
Lord’s people in the open confession of Christ in Canning Street
Presbyterian Church, it was a matter of great joy to his comrade, who
had some years previously taken this step. Mr. Gibson wrote him a letter
of earnest welcome on his decision being taken, and to this letter Mr.
Balfour sent the following reply, conceived in his own spirit of
lowliness, yet of humble trust in his Redeemer.
“BIRKENHEAD, _2nd November 1850_.
“MY DEAR GIBSON,--I have just received your letter, and I accept,
with the most cordial satisfaction, the right hand of fellowship
stretched out to me, now that I am on the eve of sitting down with
Christ’s people at His Table.... Let us seek with our whole heart
to do honour to ‘Him that has loved us;’ oh for firm faith to add,
‘and washed us from our sins in His own blood: to Him be glory and
dominion for ever and ever.’ Let me entreat you to pray that the
services of to-morrow may be blessed to us, and that we may feel
individually, that partaking of those elements of bread and wine
may be both a sign and a seal of the benefits of Christ’s death to
our otherwise ruined souls.
“I am distressed by the prevalence of sin in every one thing.
Accordingly I would tell all men, and would tell the Lord Jesus, I
am not worthy to appear at this feast. I can only cry, ‘God be
merciful to me a sinner.’ Yet I go to Christ’s Table to-morrow
with something like joy. I desire to believe the testimony given,
Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance! Is
there not encouragement to the vilest, if only there be belief in
this gracious Saviour? Let our cry then be, ‘Increase our faith,’
‘Help our unbelief.’
“I hope for your friendly counsel, forbearance, and help, to avoid
the danger of walking in a way unworthy of my profession, and that
we may go on to more sure acquaintance with the things that belong
to our peace. And now, in expectation of the great feast, let
Christ, with whom we are to hold communion, be all our salvation
and all our desire. And think, think, O my soul! of the sacredness
of to-morrow, which is to furnish a foretaste of the eternal joy of
having fellowship with the Saviour in heaven.”