David Weekes Phd Thesis
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JOHN BUCHAN (1875-1940): A REASSESSMENT OF HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH AND PRACTICE David Weekes A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 31 August 2017 JOHN BUCHAN (1875-1940): A REASSESSMENT OF HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH AND PRACTICE David Weekes Full metadata for this item is available in Research@StAndrews: FullText at: http://rresearch-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: 050013603 http://hdl.handle.net This item is protected by original copyright This item is protected under a Creative Commons Licence Declarations 1. Candidate’s declarations: I, David Weekes hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 80,000 words in length, has been written by me, and that it is the record of work carried out by me, or principally by myself in collaboration with others as acknowledged, and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. I was admitted as a research student in September 2013 and as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in December 2014, the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2013 and 2017. Date.......................signature of candidate.................................................... 2. Supervisor’s declaration: I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date......................signature of supervisor.................................................... Copyright 3. Permission for Publication In submitting this thesis to the University of St Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and the Abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker, that my thesis will be electronically accessible for personal or research use unless exempt by award of an embargo as requested below, and that the library has the right to migrate my thesis into new electronic forms as required to ensure continued access to the thesis. I have obtained any third party copyright permissions that may be required in order to allow such access and migration, or have requested the appropriate embargo below. The following is an agreed request by candidate and supervisor regarding the publication of this thesis. PRINTED COPY No embargo on printed copy. ELECTRONIC COPY No embargo on electronic copy. Date.........................signature of candidate.................................................. Date.........................signature of supervisor................................................ JOHN BUCHAN (1875-1940): A REASSESSMENT OF HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH AND PRACTICE David Weekes A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 2017 Full metadata for this item is available in St Andrews Research Repository at: http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/12259 This item is protected by original copyright Abstract This thesis emphasises, as paramount, Buchan’s little explored life-long and deeply held Christian faith and practice. Much on-going discussion of his life and character ignores or misrepresents this essential motivation, favouring interpretations that stress his desire for fame or fortune. This is not, however, a full-scale presentation of Buchan’s doctrinal beliefs, perhaps impossible to achieve with so private a man. Many influences around Buchan, and choices he made throughout life, indicate that he remained faithful to his early experience of commitment to Christ. Neglected parts of books, articles, and sermons, together with archived letters, documents and papers, in Oxford, Glasgow, London, Elsfield, Edinburgh, and Queen’s Library, Kingston, Ontario, are used to inform Buchan’s Christianity. An examination of writings by Buchan’s father and sister revises the extent of a suggested alienation between father and son over expressions of the faith. Subsequent chapters consider how older friends, and youthful contemporaries encouraged Christian faith throughout his life. Most appear as rather shadowy figures in what has been written. Greater attention to little published biographical material clarifies their importance. Using local reminiscences of the inter-war years when the Buchans were very prominent in Elsfield, for the first time the absorbing significance of their involvement in village life receives the attention it deserves. Those arguing that Buchan’s more racist or anti-clerical fictional characters voice his own beliefs are challenged by closer examination of some of his historical and fictional writings, and other activities. It has been claimed that one of Buchan’s greatest novels, Sick Heart River, reveals his own spiritual pilgrimage, lacking a fully satisfying conversion experience until the close of life. This book is given a new interpretation. All the matters addressed more thoroughly here trenchantly focus Buchan’s life-long faith, wonderfully expressed in Greek on his grave, ‘Christ shall overcome’. 6 Acknowledgements In 2013, the Head of Department in the School of Divinity, Dr (now Professor) Mark Elliott, kindly accepted me as a potential student. I am most grateful to him and the Principal of St Mary’s, the Very Reverend Dr (since Professor) Ian Bradley, for their patient and generous supervision. The Reverend Tony Baker (once a fellow student) and Canon John Young (ditto) have been very supportive. Since 1980, members of The John Buchan Society provided much stimulation. After my books were destroyed by fire, Lady Stewartby (then Chairman), very kindly supplied a complete set of the Journal. Buchan’s biographer, Andrew Lownie (a former pupil, and kindness itself), replaced many books, and engaged in profitable discussion over his generous hospitality. Andrew Gilhooley (a fellow doctoral student) kindly read the draft and made helpful comments. Heather Home, of Queen’s, Ontario, was initially helpful over microfilm of Buchan’s Papers. Some other individuals are thanked within the text. Frequent references to Sir George Adam Smith (Chapter Two) stir memories of seven happy years with my close colleague, and his eldest grandson, the Reverend and Honourable George Adam Buchanan-Smith (1929-1983). Within the family, untold assistance came from my sons Dr Richard and the Reverend Robin (including much chaperoning when seriously ill in 2015); from my daughter-in-law, Dr Ursula of The Courtauld Institute, and her father, Professor Henry Mayr-Harting (both providing a better understanding of the mysteries of academic minds and interpreting their comments); from my daughter, Catriona, deprived of the company of her husband, Professor Saleem Bhatti, over long hours when he gave me unstinting help over practicalities, and the nightmare word of computing. Their elder daughter, Iona, and son, Alistair, have not been behind in assisting either, the one a classicist, the other a computerist. To those who I have made antagonists, let me express indebtedness for their great stimulation. After all, we are all on the same side in trying better to understand a man of intriguingly varied genius, who did much to cover his tracts and confuse us. I cannot apologise for my views, but do so most sincerely for any offence given. Recipient of so much help, I am, of course, entirely responsible for any errors. 7 DEDICATION To My ever Beloved Jean who long before it was fashionable, had occasion to describe herself as ‘a genealogical widow’; but with greater love and patience has endured neglect over a much longer period as ‘a Buchan widow’. 8 Abbreviations LJB Lownie, Andrew. John Buchan The Presbyterian Cavalier. London: Pimlico, 1995. SJB Smith, Janet Adam. John Buchan. London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1965. DNB Dictionary of National Biography. ODNB Matthew, H. Colin G. (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. WB Buchan, William. John Buchan a Memoir. London: Buchan and Enright, 1982. DD Daniell, David. The Interpreter’s House. London: Nelson, 1975. MHD Buchan, John. Memory Hold the Door. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1940 CMF Macdonald, Kate. John Buchan A Companion to the Mystery Fiction. Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2008. DF Buchan, John. The Dancing Floor. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1926. WF Tweedsmuir, Lady. John Buchan by his Wife and Friends. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1948. MG Green, Martin B. John Buchan and his Sister Anna. Lampeter: Edwin Mellon, 1990. JBM Buchan, John. Montrose. London: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1928. JBOC Buchan, John. Oliver Cromwell. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1934. SHR Buchan, John. Sick Heart River. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1941. NLS.1 National Library of Scotland. Acc.7214 microfilm Mf MSS 312 John Buchan Papers: Speeches (a) 1903-1935. NLS.2 National Library of Scotland. Acc.7214 microfilm Mf MSS 303-309 John Buchan Papers: General Correspondence 1895-07/02/1940. UU Buchan, Anna. Unforgettable, Unforgotten. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1945. WW Buchan, John. Witch Wood. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1927. 9 CONTENTS Introduction 12-20 1. Buchan Was More Than His Books – 2. His Posthumous Reputation – 3. Neglect of Buchan’s Christian Faith – 4. A Problem with The Buchan Family Books – 5. Christian Influences – 6. John Buchan’s Christianity – 7. The Purpose of This Thesis – 8. Some General Critical Difficulties Chapter One: The Reverend John Buchan (1847-1911), Buchan’s Father 21-42 1. The Critical Problem Explained – 2. Sources for Mr Buchan’s Life – 3. Early Life and Call – 4. His Ministries: Perth, Pathhead, Glasgow – 5. In Memoriam (Anna Buchan) – 6. Preacher – 7. His Own Two Books – 8. The Walkers – 9. Travel – 10. Retirement and Death – 11. What Manner of Man Was He? – 12.