John Brown of Haddington
I have , lying on top of my piano in Hackett , a large heavy bible titled “ Brown ’ s Self Interpreting Bible ”. Brown ’ s bible with all its footnotes and notations was first published in 1789 and , in the Scotland of that time , many households had a copy . My copy has been handed down from generations of Chisholms from Breakay , Beauly in Inverness Shire . No doubt the bible will find its way to my son , and grandchildren , in due course .
On my recent trip to Scotland I had the notion to see John Brown ’ s church at Haddington , which is south east of Edinburgh . The Reverend John Brown ministered at St Mary ’ s church at Haddington for 30 years , from 1760 to 1790 , during which time he wrote his bible commentaries . He was buried in the Chancel of St Mary ’ s where a marble slab indicates the position . There is a beautiful stained glass window depicting the events in his life , some saddle bags , and most importantly , for me , two brass bound copies of his famous bible . St Mary ’ s was established in the 12th century and has seen some unruly times . It avoided the worst elements of the reformation , but suffered severely at the time of Cromwell ’ s invasion of Scotland .
Young John Brown was born of poor weaver parents , in Fife , and there was no money available for his education after elementary schooling . This did not deter young Brown who taught himself Greek and Latin whilst working as a herd boy on a neighbouring farm . Story goes that he walked to St Andrews to purchase a Greek bible . Not having sufficient money to purchase the bible , the kindly bookseller told the boy that if he could read a random page of the Greek text , he could have the bible . Needless to say Brown walked home with his bible !
It is wonderful that a self-taught boy could easily pass the examination to become a Minister , and then go on to write his bible notes and commentaries in a bible that is used today , in many pulpits throughout Australia .
- Allan Asquith
St Margaret ' s News 8 July 2017