Archibald Cook
Archibald Cook was a famous
preacher. He was a minister in the
Free Church in Daviot, near
Inverness. That was in the middle
of the 19th Century. Hundreds went
to listen to his sermons. He was
preaching in Gaelic and English.
It is Gaelic congregations he had
in every place where he was a
minister. That was in Caithness,
Inverness and Daviot.
Cook had unusual opinions
on some things. He was of the
opinion that the soul of a man
came from his parents. Most of the
people in his church were of the
opinion that the soul came from
God.
And Cook wasn’t supportive
of the campaign against alcohol.
Many in the Free Church were
against alcohol. Cook was of the
opinion that people needed
spiritual renewal. He didn’t look
on the avoidance of alcohol as
spiritual renewal.
And Cook was against music
and dancing. He was of the
opinion that they were sinful. But
he wasn’t alone in that opinion.
Cook was strongly against the clearances. Even in Daviot clearances were happening. That was at the end of the fifties. There was an auction for crofts. People were renting a croft. The rent was increasing. Poor people were evicted from their crofts. “They covet their neighbour’s land,” said Cook about the people that were putting others out.
Before Cook went to Daviot, a congregation in Canada was wanting him as a minister. That was on Cape Breton Island. They asked the famous minister over there – Rev. Norman MacLeod – to write to Cook. MacLeod did that. Letters passed between MacLeod and Cook. But it appears that MacLeod criticized Cook. That was the end of the matter. Cook remained in Scotland.
Cook suffered strokes. He died in 1865. But people still remember him in Daviot and Strathnairn.
Gilleasbaig Cook
Bha Gilleasbaig, no Archibald, Cook na
shàr-shearmonaiche. Bha e na mhinistear
anns an Eaglais Shaoir ann an Deimhidh,
faisg air Inbhir Nis. Bha sin ann am
meadhan an naoidheamh linn deug. Bha
na ceudan a’ dol a dh’èisteachd ris na
searmonan aige. Bha e a’ searmonachadh ann an Gàidhlig agus ann am
Beurla. ’S e coitheanalan Gàidhlig a bha
aige anns gach àite far an robh e na
mhinistear. Bha sin ann an Gallaibh,
Inbhir Nis agus Deimhidh.
Bha beachdan neo-àbhaisteach
aig Cook air cuid de rudan. Bha e dhen
bheachd gun robh anam duine a’ tighinn
bho a phàrantan. Bha a’ chuid mhòr anns
an eaglais aige dhen bheachd gun robh
an t-anam a’ tighinn bho Dhia.
Agus cha robh Cook taiceil don
iomairt an aghaidh deoch làidir. Bha
mòran anns an Eaglais Shaoir an
aghaidh deoch làidir. Bha Cook dhen
bheachd gur e ùrachadh spioradail a bha
a dhìth air daoine. Cha robh e a’
coimhead air seachnadh deoch làidir mar
ùrachadh spioradail.
Agus bha Cook an aghaidh ceòl is
dannsadh. Bha e dhen bheachd gun robh
iad peacach. Ach cha robh e leis fhèin anns a’ bheachd sin. Bha Cook gu làidir an aghaidh nam fuadaichean. Eadhon ann an Deimhidh bha fuadaichean a’ tachairt. Bha sin aig deireadh nan caogadan. Bha rup ann airson cHroitean. Bha daoine a’ faighinn croit air mhàl. Bha am màl a’ dol suas. Bha daoine bochda air an cur a-mach às na croitean aca. “Sanntaichidh iad fearann an nàbaidh,” thuirt Cook mu na daoine a bha a’ cur feadhainn eile a-mach.
Mus deach Cook gu Deimhidh, bha coitheanal ann an Canada ga iarraidh mar mhinistear. Bha sin ann an Ceap Breatainn. Dh’iarr iad air a’ mhinistear ainmeil thall an sin – an t-Urramach Tormod MacLeòid – sgrìobhadh gu Cook. Rinn MacLeòid sin. Chaidh litrichean eadar MacLeòid is Cook. Ach tha e coltach gun do chàin MacLeòid Cook. B’ e sin deireadh a’ ghnothaich. Dh’fhuirich Cook ann an Alba.
Dh’fhuiling Cook stròcan. Chaochail e ann an ochd ceud deug, seasgad ’s a còig (1865). Ach tha daoine ga chuimhneachadh fhathast ann an Deimhidh is Srath Narann.
