James Cameron was born in 1837 in the parish of Udny in Aberdeenshire. His father was a farmer and he and his wife brought up their family of five sons and six daughters. James’ education began with his mother who taught him the Shorter Catechism, which he was able to repeat, before going to the Free Church School in Udny when he was seven. She also taught him to read the Bible for himself.
In school, he made good progress, eventually going to Aberdeen Grammar School. Then he returned to the school at Udny as an assistant to the teacher, and among his daily tasks was precenting the opening psalm and the closing paraphrase. He still engaged in personal study and won a bursary to attend Marischal College in Aberdeen, where he excelled in Natural Philosophy and Mathematics.
James had been converted when he was young and from that time he had resolved to become a Free Church minister. So when he finished his undergraduate studies he moved to the Free Church College in Aberdeen. While there, he mastered Hebrew and German, even studying for a few months at a German university. He also participated in a mission outreach to a needy part of the city connected to Free Trinity Church.
When he completed his studies at the Free Church College in Aberdeen he became a home mission worker with the Free Church in Dumfries where Julius Wood was the minister. In 1864, after being there for about a year, he was called to the Free Church in Glenbervie in Angus where he remained minister for eleven years.
His preaching ministry was marked by painstaking preparation for the pulpit, by focused study of a personal nature on the Minor Prophets, and by frequent sermons for children. He wrote two sermons a week. His preaching was described as clear, concise and convincing. And he preached on a wide variety of topics. Moreover he engaged in evangelistic work in other places.
In 1870, he married Mary and they had three children (two girls and a boy). Sadly the marriage only lasted for five years because he passed away in 1875 from an illness connected to his lungs.
What can one say about his ministry? Today he is forgotten on earth, and in that respect he shares the experience of hundred of thousands of Christian pastors. His ministry was short, yet he knew spiritual success, some of which was due to the spiritual sowing of his predecessor as pastor of the congregation. No doubt, his successor experienced a similar contribution from him. Many from his parish are with him in heaven because his Master owned his preaching. And in heaven no-one forgets what the Lord did for him and through him.
