1725-1890's BONAR FAMILY ARCHIVE. Over 1,000 Pages of Bonar Family Manuscripts!

A wonderful archive from one of the most influential families in Evangelical history. It begins with two volumes of unpublished sermons by John Bonar of the Cambuslang Revival, an extensive collection of letters between Mary Gifford and Isabella Gifford [over 300 pages] from the period of the Revival at Dundee with extensive content on Robert Murray M'Cheyne, manuscripts and letters by John James Bonar, Horatius Bonar, Andrew Bonar, and more. 

The material consists of:

*Andrew Bonar. Diary and Letters. By His Daughter, Marjory Bonar. 1894. 

This appears to have been Marjory's working copy and it includes extensive notes, original letters, photographs, etc. stuffed into the pages.

These include: An 1875 ALS from A. A. Bonar to James Bonar [the son]; a photograph of Andrew Bonar's office, ALS from Andrew to Horatius, letter from J. W. Stoughton to James Bonar, letter to Marjory from D. M. M'Intyre [who was Andrew's son-in-law, Keswick divine, and author of the classic, The Hidden Life of Prayer], A printed circular from 1837 announcing a Parish sermon, presumably by Andrew Bonar, letter from D. M. M'Intyre to James Bonar, another letter from D. M. M. to James Bonar, letter from Jamie Bonar to James Bonar, extensive letter from Marjory Bonar to Mary Bonar regarding Andrew's death, tract entitled The Yielded Heart by D. M. M'Intyre with extensive notes in the hand of M'Intyre, letter to Mary Bonar from Jamie Bonar, a slip of handwritten Bonar family history in the hand of Andrew A. Bonar, occasional marginal notes, additions, and corrections, seemingly in the hand of Marjory, another slip of Bonar family history in the hand of Andrew, an 1843 [year of the Disruption] ALS from A. A. Bonar to Rev. John Roger entirely in shorthand; 1843 letter of Andrew Bonar related to the Disruption [holograph in the hand of Marjory], superb 1847 ALS from Horatius Bonar to Andrew on the death of Thomas Chalmers, original tract Recollections of Robert Murray M'Cheyne by Andrew Bonar, a notice of the monthly prayer meeting which will be headed up by Alexander Moody Stuart, J. J. Bonar, Horatius Bonar, Andrew A. Bonar, etc. note from Andrew Bonar to Mary Bonar on his birthday, Photograph presumably of Mary, 1863 ALS from Andrew Bonar to his son James [superb letter], shorthand answer to a letter from Robert S. Candlish, Telegraph from 1877 notifying Dr. Bonar of his being unanimously nominated, letter to Marjory from Andrew, an absolutely wonderful letter from T. L. Cuyler to Andrew Bonar, mentioning D. L. Moody and the revival work in England, etc. another letter from Andrew to his son James, etc. etc. 

*Memorials of Mrs. Andrew A. Bonar. For the Use of the Family in After Days. 

Entirely manuscript letters, etc., in 388 numbered pages plus perhaps another 40-50 days of letters, manuscripts etc. in the rear. This was complied by an early friend of Isabella Bonar's from the time during the revivals of the 1840's. Worth research and publication.

This item includes original MSs accounts of prayer meetings led by M'Cheyne during the revival in Dundee, extensive recollections of M'Cheyne never before published, an original copy of To the Lambs of the Flock by M'Cheyne published in 1842 [we have never seen an original of this], Andrew A. Bonar's early business card, a letter from Mary Gifford to Isabella Dickson [later Bonar], extensive and deeply spiritual correspondence between Isabella Dickson [later Bonar] and Mary Gifford, a beautiful letter on the death of M'Cheyne in 1843, beautiful love letter from Isabella to Andrew, Isabella's copy of Thankfulness by James Hamilton, a MSs sermon by Rev. J. J. Bonar of Greenock shortly after Isabbela's death, CDV's of Andrew and Isabella, etc.

*Three sermon notes from "Mr. Bonar at Largo," 1781 and 1782. These would be from Archibald Bonar, minister at Largo from 1779 to 1783. 

*Leather volume entitled Gorbals Gleanings which is a scrapbook for D. C. McNicol, who married one of the Bonar daughters. 

It includes extensive print and manuscript material related to Gorbals Tabernacle and Rev. D. C. McNicol

*Volume entitled Miscellany Bonar's. Nearly all manuscript material.

Includes a superb 1739 letter from John Bonar of Torphichen [1692-1747] of the Cambuslang Revival to his son with a full transcription; an early receipt of John Bonar of the Cambuslang Revival [perhaps for preaching there]; transcriptions of sermons by John Bonar from the Revival Period along with print editions, manuscript sermon by John Bonar of Perth; Print Sermon by John Bonar of Cockpen [formerly Perth], 1752; 1760 print sermon by John Bonar of Perth; MSs Sacramental Hymn by John Bonar of Cockpen; MSs Poem / Hymn by John Bonar of Cockpen on hearing Archibald Bonar [his brother] Preach from Acts 1.9-10; a Variety of early Printed Sermons of Horatius Bonar [notated as grandson of John Bonar of Cockpen & Perth]; etc. 

*Volume Entitled "John Bonar," with manuscript and print material.

Includes an extensive 1843 letter to John on the use of music in church; printed Not Calvary, nor Canaan, but Christ by J. J. Bonar, Divine Judgment in Two Discourses by J. J. Bonar of Greenock - Inscribed to Eliza Bonar; Submission to the Will of God - an 1835 Sermon by John Bonar on the Death of John Brown; Another copy of Divine Judgment but inscribed to Mr. A. A. Bonar from the Author; Sermon on Isaiah's Vision of Christ's Glory by J. J. Bonar of Greenock; The Lessons of 1860 - An Address at St. Andrew's Free Church by J. J. Bonar; Man's Boast and God's Rebuke by J. J. Bonar of Greenock; Edward Bickersteth: A Model and a Motive for Young Men by J. J. Bonar of Greenock; A printed broadside letter from J. J. Bonar to the Sabbath School Children; Work and Wealth by J. J. Bonar; Retrospect and Anticipation. A Sermon by J. J. Bonar; Plain Counsels for Perilous Times by J. J. Bonar; Funeral Announcement for J. J. Bonar, etc. Plus miscellaneous early bookplate of the Bonar family, sketches of the life of A. A. Bonar in manuscript, tract by Andrew Bonar, etc.

*Reminiscences of Andrew A. Bonar. By Marjory Bonar. Inscribed from Marjory to D. M. M'Intyre.

*Parting Memorial of John James Bonar. First Minister of Saint Andrew's Parish and Congregation Greenock. James MacKelvie & Sons. 1892. 

*338pp book entirely in the hand of John James Bonar of Greenock, containing extracts, thoughts, etc., but, alas, entirely in shorthand. Worth investigation. 

*Marjory Bonar's 1889 Diary [i.e. Planner].

*Superbly important piece of Scottish Evangelical and revival history. John Bonar's Communion Sermons for 1725 - 1731. 

John Bonar experienced marked seasons of revival at his own church in Torphichen [where these were preached] and was instrumental as part of the Cambuslang Revival. The account of his aged, Simon-like presence there, having long-awaited the coming of the Lord, is particularly moving. See HERE and Christ is All. The Piety of Horatius Bonar, where we find historical record of George Whitefield commending the thundering, revivalist, Christo-centric preaching of old John Bonar of Torphichen. 

193pp, entirely legible. 

*Another fine volume of sermons by John Bonar of Torphichen. 172pp, entirely legible.

Both this and the previous should be researched and published. Each also includes a textual index in the hand of Andrew Bonar. He transcribed and published a few examples in various periodicals over the course of his lifetime.