Page:A. M. MacKay pioneer missionary of the Church Missionary Society to Uganda.djvu/23



IN the autumn of 1867, the family removed to Edinburgh, and Mackay entered the Free Church Training College for Teachers. In the admission examination, he gained one of the higher bur saries; indeed, of those who had not been pupil teachers, and thus specially prepared for the ex amination, he was the highest in Scotland of Free Church candidates. 1 All through his course he proved

1 The Rev. James Primrose, of Broxburn, a fellow-student, writes :

&quot;Mackay was one of my class-fellows; and though it is twenty years since then, I have a distinct impression of him. His manner was quiet and retiring, and he did not make many companions, yet those who were privileged to know him inti mately found him to be widely read, and with acquirements far beyond the average of students attending our Training Colleges.

&quot; Many a time we had talks together as we paced the College grounds.

&quot; He seemed in those days to be resolute in purpose, deter mined to do the work thoroughly that lay to his hand, and of steady, persevering habits sufficient to overcome any difficulties.

&quot; There was no fuss or ostentation about him, but a quiet, durable enthusiasm, characteristics that have shone out bril liantly in his later years, and rendered him worthy of the title The Hero of Uganda. &quot;