What a wealth of knowledge was available to me as we travelled thousands of miles to and from conferences. It seems hard to believe but we used to sing together during our travels. I think that was the only thing I could do better than Mr. Boyd. When I heard he had passed away, my first thought was, "Now he can sing!"
My first contact with Mr. Boyd was in 1959 when I had opportunity of going to Sudbury as a summer student. Having never heard of him, I had no idea what I was getting into! My first taste of attempting to keep up with his pace happened at camp on a Friday evening. I asked him if I had any responsibilities over the weekend'. He told me I was to take his class at camp on Sunday, the morning camp service, the adult class at Minnow Lake Chapel in the afternoon, as well as their preaching service, then the evening service at the Berean Church. All of this while looking after a cabin full of boys. Needless to say, the poor folks didn't get much.
Who of campers can forget the porridge, the biscuits with creamed peas, stewed rhubarb, morning inspection, fire side, Bible drills and work groups; all done under Mr. Boyd's seemingly all-seeing eye. His lessons at camp, of course, were the highlight of the summer.
How challenged we were. by the March Conferences and the assigned topics that none of us speakers ever really understood (including Mr. McGregor) ! How the young people wrestled with the assigned reading and the discipline of the testing and the physical challenge of sitting on the particularly hard Berean pews. I am still using one of the Thompson Chain Reference Bibles that my daughter won.
I don't think that I ever really prayed for rain, but I did come close! One of the hardest things that I did was to stand on the street comer in Sudbury on Saturday evening knowing that when Mr. Boyd came up behind you, it was your turn to speak. Open Air Meetings! What an eye-opener': his energetic approaches to children's meetings and Vacation Bible Schools (3 in one day) were. I would never have initiated my own children's meetings and Vacation Bible Schools if I had not had his untiring example.
What a good friend he was! I will never forget the occasion when I was pastor at Lively in 1964 and was experiencing financial difficulty as a result of continual budget shortfall. I was in debt $200. (a lot of money in 1964) with no way of ever meeting my obligation. I happened to mention this to Mr. Boyd. and later that week there was a cheque for that amount in the mail!
But above all of this was his love for our Saviour, and for me Word of God. Every waking moment was devoted to establishing Christ's Kingdom in every possible way.
"While gazing on that City, Just o'er the narrow flood,
A band of holy angels
Came from the throne of God;
They bore him on their pinions
Safe o'er the dashing foam,
And joined him in his triumph: Deliverance had come!
We miss you, Mr. Boyd! "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."
Richard Thistle, Lindsay
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