Rev George Gunn M.A. (1851-1900)

Early Days

George was born on June 3^rd 1851.

In the autumn of 1860, George (Snr) took ill, and died on May 19th 1861, George (Jnr) being just ten years old.

George's mother, Margaret, was a Bryce; one of a family of highly respected gunmakers in Edinburgh. She, in fact, outlived both Georges, father and son, and a younger son, John.

George found himself, then, at the age of ten, the male head of the family, his youngest brother being only six months old.

George was at the High School, but was not able to stay there long enough to gain proficiency in his mathematical sciences. He made a lot of friends at the school and kept in touch with them for the rest of his life.

Lack of education was to prove a struggle, but struggle he did, and, with much burning of the midnight oil, and many greetings of the morning sun, George made up for the deficiencies of the earlier years. Indeed, in later years, he became a successful private tutor and also a teacher in public schools.

George liked to play cricket, and was considered a good prospect in his early years. He also enjoyed fishing, and could often be seen at some of the local streams such as Gogar Burn, Bavelaw Burn and the River Almond.

Adolescent Years

As soon as he was fourteen years of age, he went, as an apprentice, to a firm of solicitors in George Street. He had found this post by his own efforts, searching the local newspaper for suitable vacancies. His hours of work were from 9.30am till 5pm, but it was frequently midnight before he reached home after a hard day's work.

His masters, from very early on, valued and respected him and they allowed him to take time off during the day to attend the classes at the University, but he had to make up the time in the evenings.

His Arts course was punctuated by the three examinations necessary, at that time, for the Master of Arts degree. He passed them all, and by so doing was awarded the MA degree which at one time must have seemed well-nigh unattainable.

His apprenticeship then came to an end, and he went into teaching.

Throughout this time, he had not only supported himself at college, but had also greatly supported the household from his earnings and his bursary. Indeed, he looked upon his family as his first responsibility, always.

His ambition had always been to be a minister.

It was a very difficult road, and at many a time the idea must have seemed almost impossible, but George, still determined, entered Divinity Hall, not in the spirit of seeking a profession, but in the acceptance of answering a call stirring within his own heart. His life now became harder than ever; during the next five years he was never without five hours teaching per day. About half was in public schools. Both as a schoolmaster and as a private tutor he was a great success, being respected by fellow teachers and pupils alike.

George lived in the family home on the north side of Edinburgh, and it was a long walk across the city to one of his schools which was out in Morningside. Thereafter to the University for his various classes, and, at night, a weary walk to the homes of his different private pupils, some of whom were older than himself. Then, laborious study, not only for his college classes, but also his preparation for the tuition of the following day.

And yet, at this time, he still had time for others. One of his younger brothers, who had been educated away from home, had lost a year's education through ill health.

Despite this, he had been promoted to a higher class. One result of this was that he found himself far behind his classmates in Latin. The Classics Master knew no other punishment than the cane and the young lad suffered inhuman punishment, daily, and, of course, for want of explanation did not improve. George, in order to save him, rose an hour earlier than usual, at about 4am, and in a few weeks supplied the lad with written explanations of every exercise in the Latin composition book - some one hundred and thirty in all. The only condition attached to this was that every boy in the class should have access to them, so that all might have the same chance. The outcome was a particularly happy one, as there was no more punishment and the master could never understand the sudden and extraordinary proficiency of that class, in particular.

At this time George and Robert Louis Stevenson became friends. They were in the same classes at University, and were in the habit of walking home together. Their families both sat in St Stephen's Church and the two young men attended the young communicants class together. They became close and might have done more together if George had had more leisure time; but it was not to be and they eventually went their separate ways.

Sunday was his day of rest; or rather he found recreation in a change of work. He went to church twice and was also a Sunday School teacher, as well as being involved in other church activities.

Entering the Ministry

Eventually, George was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Edinburgh.

He preached his first sermon in St David's, Gardner's Crescent (near Tollcross). As well as being an ordeal for him, it was also one for his family who were scattered in obscure corners of the church, proud yet anxious. That first sermon was successfully accomplished with earnestness and courage.

His great purpose in seeking an Assistantship in Edinburgh was so that the house in town might be kept on for his mother and the family, with the boys now at University in the city. George could hardly believe his good fortune when an Assistantship became vacant at his own church, St Stephens. George was on the short leet of three who were to preach to the Kirk Session and congregation of the church which they had attended for the last ten years. His family being connected to the church demanded that no partiality be shown, and he was asked to preach again, before being appointed as Assistant.

For eighteen months he gave of his all to the work, but he had always had the ambition to have a parish of his own, and when the parish of Stichill and Hume became vacant, he applied for the charge.

As is usual in Scotland, a leet of candidates had preached before the congregation, and their choice seemed to lie between George and an old college friend of his.

In due course he heard that he had been successful and he was 'called' to the charge of Stichill and Hume.

Minister of Stichill and Hume

George Gunn's ordination took place on 21st June 1878 in the Parish Church of Stichill.

This was the consummation of seventeen years of laborious toil and self-denial. Preached in by the Rev Adam Davidson, Minister of Yetholm, he was ordained by the laying on of hands by the members of the Presbytery of Kelso.

Few Manses were more beautifully situated than that of Stichill, and George felt that "this place is too good for me".

His mother stayed in Edinburgh to look after the family there, while his sister, Margaret, came down to look after George and the Manse.

George's first duty was to make himself known by visiting all of his parishioners in the two parishes of Stichill and Hume.

Hume, being more distant from the manse, was visited more often, as he had less chance of casually meeting these parishioners. The spirit of Christian unity and conciliation was George's great characteristic, and he and the Rev David Cairns, from the UP Church in the village, took counsel together in all matters affecting the spiritual and moral welfare of the district. The two families were close friends; the monthly evening services alternated between the two buildings with each Minister happily filling the other's pulpit; there was a joint Sunday School and Superintendent and shared entertainments.

There being no church in Hume, the afternoon service on a Sunday was taken alternately by George and the Rev Alexander Cameron of the Free Church in Greenlaw. This happy state of co-operation between the churches continued throughout the whole term of his ministry.

Later Life

George never married, putting the needs of his mother and sister ahead of any of his own.

He loved collies and always had one called "Laddie". The minister and Laddie were welcomed throughout the parishes.

On coming to Stichill, his sporting interests changed from cricket to curling, tennis and walking, but his love of angling continued. Indoors he took up chess and whist. His door was always open to all, and he was prepared to give of all that he had for others.

He was often to be found teaching in the schools, and taking evening classes for those at work during the day. He joined the Berwickshire Naturalist's Club in 1879, becoming Secretary in 1898. He wrote widely on agriculture, botany, history and the Church. For nearly twenty years he was a prominent figure in the Kelso Lodge No 58, being installed as Worshipful Grand Master in 1887, Provincial Grand Chaplain of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles in 1891 and Chaplain to the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1893.

In 1898, with two close friends, he set off on an expedition to the continent to find alpine specimens to add to his garden. He wrote a paper on his excursion, "Botanical Notes of a Tour in Upper Engadine and Southern Tyrol", which he presented to the Edinburgh Botanical Society on 13th April 1899.

As time passed so his brothers and sister had made lives of their own. Of his brothers, one was an advocate, another Minister at Oxnam, near Jedburgh, and the youngest a doctor at Peebles. His sister Margaret had married the Minister at West Linton. His mother now lived in Stichill with George.

On 13th January 1899, at a church social in Stichill he was presented with new puplit robes and a watch and chain. Little did he know that one year on, to the day, would be his last on this earth. That year was to be the busiest of his life, with his ministerial duties by day and his writing by night. He never felt better intellectually, but was more easily tired than usual. Never one to rest, he went off to Westmorland on a fern-hunting expedition with his friends, as an intended holiday, but he returned feeling little better. His friends and family urged him to rest and very reluctantly he agreed.

He preached what was to prove to be his last sermon in Stichill on November 5th 1899. The following week he bade goodbye to his flock from the pulpit and went, with his mother, to stay with his brother, the doctor, in Peebles.

He died on January 12th 1900.

In Stichill, the Rev Dr Paul of Robertson Memorial Church, and formerly of Roxburgh, preached the funeral sermon on the death; in Lindores, Peebles there was a service for the family and local friends; and at Grange Church, Edinburgh, passages from Scripture were read by Dr Paul, Rev Mr McLintock of West Lothian (his brother-in-law) and the prayer offered by Very Rev Dr Leishman of Linton (near Morebattle). The Choir sang Paraphrases 61 and 66, and as the funeral procession left the church, the Dead March in Saul was played on the organ. The prayer of committal to the grave was said by his life-long friend the Rev James Goldie of Walkerburn.

So ended the life of a man who committed his whole life to others and gave unstintingly of himself whenever need called.

He was only 48 years old.

In Memoriam

His life is best summed up in a memorial poem written by T Brotherstone of Humebyres:

In Memoriam

The Rev George Gunn MA

Minister of Stichill and Hume

Gone thou faithful pastor, friend,

E're manhood's tears their course had run,

Only "The Father" knoweth best -

Remember him who needeth rest.

Glorious now is his reward:

Ever with his loving Lord.

Good and upright, faithful, true,

Unselfish, meek, and loving too:

No unkind or stinging word -

Never self-love from him heard

Miss him will the rich, the poor,

Always welcome to their door.

• With thanks to Stichill Millennium Project for the material on which this is based

See also

Records of the Baron Court of Stitchill 1655-1807

https://digital.nls.uk/scottish-history-society-publications/browse/archive/125651987#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-1499%2C321%2C4562%2C2240