499 
his name is now always associated, and which owed so much of its 
success to his labours and his wisdom. The intention of the scheme 
is to create and endow above sixty new parishes in connection with the 
Established Church. He was mainly instrumental in raising, by im- 
mediate or by deferred payments, for this great object, a sum of nearly 
half a million; and on this portion of his life l am anxious to say a few 
words, and I do so not only because it called forth a marked feature of 
his own character, and because it indicated a special power of his own 
mind, but because I conceive it affords a most useful general lesson, and 
supplies an honourable example for all men who are engaged in prac- 
tical work, and who have to aid in plans of advancing the interests of 
religion, of charity, or of any improvement in social life. I refer to 
his labours as secretary, or convener, in which he practically advanced 
the details of that object of which I have made mention. The scheme 
was most important, and in every way praiseworthy. It called upon 
the members of the Established Church to join in a great and well- 
organised scheme for church extension. I need not dwell upon the 
particular constitution of the plan, the special object it placed before 
the community, or the special means it had in view for attaining 
those objects. What I wish now mainly to notice is the manner in 
which our late member worked the machinery of the scheme, — the 
diligence he displayed — the cool, yet earnest decision with which that 
diligence was accompanied. I would refer to his clear and powerful 
statements of the case he advocated ; I would point to his never-fail- 
ing attendance at meetings throughout the country, his constant 
readiness to avail himself of all advantages, to meet all deficiencies, 
and to correct all mistakes. His labours never seemed to be at rest ; 
his sagacity was never at fault. It was such qualities advanced into full 
action that, under the favour of God’s approval, brought the scheme 
to its present condition of efficiency, and opened its prospect of ulti- 
mate success. What I would mark out and recommend for approval 
and imitation, are those very exertions by which the efficiency of the 
scheme was promoted. Hr Kobertson was a man of business, and 
such men are wanted amongst us, — wanted because they are scarce, 
and wanted because they are valuable. In vain will you have men 
of learning, eloquence, or acuteness upon your committees in great 
associations for advancing good purposes : if you have not men of 
business , the schemes will fail to the ground, or languish and decay. 
Experto crede . I have some little experience of such matters my- 
vol. vi. 3 x 
