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THE LIBRARl
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HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATIONS OF THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
FROM 1733 TO 1900
HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATIONS
OF THE
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
FROM 1733 TO 1900
Rev, ROBERT SMALL, D.D., Edinburgh
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOLUME 1l
EDINBURGH
DAVID M. SMALL, 3 HOWARD STREET
1904
THE RIVERSIDE PRESS LIMITHD, EDINBURGH.
PREFACE
The second volume, though too long deferred, is less complete than I could have wished. First, it was intended that a list of all the Moderators in the various Synods from 1745 to 1900 should appear in the Appendix, but up to 1820, owing to the smallness of the three Synods, the occupancy of the Chair went for little, and since 1847 the names have been given in faithful array in the Clerical Almanac, so that it was thought this addition might be fitly dispensed with. Hence some who attained to this dignity among us have the fact passed over, though with most of them it is incidentally mentioned. Second, I would have much inclined to annotate and correct the list of students given at the close of Dr M'Kelvie's Annals, especially that part which includes the Antiburgher section. Though both Dr M'Kelvie and Dr George Brown profess to give the names of the students who entered the Antiburgher Hall each session, they can have had no authentic documents to draw from, and must have ever and again made entries and determined dates by conjecture. We have means for sup- plementing their defects, but, unfortunately, time is wanting, and also ability to prosecute the needed inquiries.
The reception which the first volume has met with is more encouraging than I had ventured to hope for. Interest, of course, has been confined very much to the United Free Church and, as was to be expected, to the United Presbyterian section thereof. After two rivers have peacefully coalesced they may show for a time by the colour of their waters that they had flowed in separate channels. The bitterest complaint I have met with has been the reverse of what was looked for. I have been blamed for conceal- ment of facts — one example being that I wound up a minister's course by simply stating that he was loosed from his charge ; whereas I ought to have told that the root evil was drink. There are cases in which more may be read between the lines than is expressed, and balancing between the feelings of relatives and the claims of truth is like attempting to split the apple under the terror of wounding the child.
Looking back over the completed work I see many omissions which cannot now be supplied, e.g. books ignored, owing to the author's limited reading, or because they did not come within the current of his narrative. Minor inaccuracies are certain to be discovered. It is as when a wayfaring man, having passed through a locality, describes it to a general audience, among whom one or two are natives of the place and familiar with its every nook and crevice,
(ireat are my obligations to Mr William Crawford for the invaluable service he has done me in my disabled condition. But for him and members of my own family the present volume must have been either held back indefinitely or given to the press in an unrevised and unfinished state. Thanks are also due to those brethren who have favoured me with com- munications of which readers will get the benefit in the list of corrections and additions. R. S.
46 CoMisTON Drive,
Edinburgh, December 1904.
CONTENTS
PRESBYTERIES
Galloway
Glasgow
Eastern Division Southern Division Northern Division West Highland Churches
Greenock
Hamilton
Kelso .
Kilmarnock and Ayr Southern Division
Kirkcaldy
Lanark
Melrose
Orkney
Paisley
Perth .
Eastern Division Southern Division Western Division Northern Division
Shetland
Stirling
FAGE I
22
123
161 168 211
246 277
352 403 428
475 510 544 565 583 606 636
653 663
APPENDIX The Church Case in the Light of Secession and Relief History 718
INDEX
I. Congregations . II. Ministers and others .
Corrections and Additions vii
725 728
743
I
History of the Congregations of the United Presbyterian Church
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY WIGTOWN (Antiburgher)
The first distinct mention of Wigtown congregation in early Secession records is at the Antiburgher Synod in February 1750. They had given a unanimous call to Mr John Tennant, whom they wished recalled from Ireland to be ordained over them. It was decided, however, to continue him there till next meeting, and by that time he had calls from several congrega- tions in Ireland. The result was that in August 1750 Wigtown people had to surrender Mr Tennant to more pressing claims, and next year he was ordained at Roseyards, in the county of Antrim. When the Seceders about Wigtown were congregated cannot be ascertained, but the title-deeds of their property are dated 21st October 1749, and the church was finished some time in the following year. The membership was drawn at first from a wide range, extending to Stranraer on the west, a distance of twenty-six miles, and taking in a great part of Galloway. The places mentioned as receiving occasional supply of sermon are Minnigaff, Mochrum, and Kirk- cowan, and the preacher who appeared oftenest among them was Mr John Swanston. At the rupture of 1747 they must have taken the Antiburgher side almost in a body, as these names never again occur in the Minutes of the Burgher Presbytery of Glasgow. Soon after this the county town seems to have been fixed on as the seat of the congregation.
First Minister. — Andrew Ogilvie, from Marnock, who, before acceding to the Secession Presbytery, had been parochial teacher in Botriphnie, of which Mr Campbell, a man of great evangelical fervour, was minister. Ordained at Wigtown, in September 1751, the call being signed by 86 male members, who must have formed a widely-ramified family. They had diffi- culty for years in supporting a fijced ministry, and hence, prior to 1755, the Presbytery declared him "transportable." The meaning was that they were prepared to remove him from Wigtown whenever he should obtain a call to another place. In 1757 the congregation was behind with the stipend, and this led the members about Stranraer, as is to be related elsewhere, to propose to have him "transported to that corner altogether." In 1763 the people, afraid of losing their minister, reported that they had paid up most of their arrears, and had also adopted a method for ministering more effectu- ally to his support in time coming. The financial arrangements in old Secession congregations were seriously defective owing to the ordinary funds being drawn almost exclusively from seat rents, the weekly collections going to side purposes. Mr Ogilvie died, 25th April 1783, in the sixty-second
k'
2 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
year of his age and thirty-second of his ministry. Of his two sons, who entered the Hall together, Andrew, the younger, after being eleven years a probationer, received ordination on 2ist April 1801, with the view of dis- pensing sealing ordinances in Orkney, but he continued on the preachers' list till the end. He died, 5th June 1835, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.
Second Minister. — Alexander Ogilvie, son of the former minister. In the earlier part of the vacancy the congregation called Mr James Biggar, afterwards of Urr, but he was appointed by the Synod to Newtonards, in Ireland. Mr Ogilvie was ordained, 12th April 1786. The call was signed by 97 male members, 12 of whom were elders. The church had been enlarged shortly before by the erection of galleries, which increased the sittings to 450. Mr Ogilvie died, 21st January 1831, in the seventy-third year of his age and forty-fifth of his ministry. A daughter of his became the wife of the Rev. Peter Hannay, one of his successors in Wigtown. At a moderation six months after Mr Ogilvie's death 43 voted for Mr Hannay, and 45 for Mr Thomas Nicol, afterwards of Pitrodie. Objections to the sustaining were advanced on the plea of undue influence, and after witnesses were examined 2 votes had to be discounted, which produced a tie, and the call was set aside.
Third Minister. — James Towers, from Airth. Called also to Dairy, Ayrshire. Ordained, 28th November 1833. In September 1836 the com- municants numbered 307, having increased 75 since Mr Towers' ordination. Nearly one-third of these were from other parishes, most of them from Kirkinner, a number from Penninghame, and a few from Sorbie and Minni- gaff. Fifteen families were from more than six miles, yet the minister could testify that they attended as regularly as any in the congregation. The stipend was ^120, with ;^io for sacramental expenses, but there was no manse. The debt was inconsiderable. The church was rebuilt in 1845, with sittings for 600. On 6th January 1847 Mr Towers accepted a call to Grange Road, Birkenhead, a newly-formed congregation, whose call was signed by 71 members and 47 adherents, the stipend promised being £,100. The church was opened in the following year, and in 1854 a gallery had to be erected, which mcreased the sittings from 600 to 738. Thus Grange Road grew under the ministry of Mr Towers till it became not only a strong church but the mother of churches. In 1879 ^^ retired from active service to make way for a colleague, and died, 29th July 1891, in the eighty-fourth year of his age and fifty-eighth of his ministry.
Fourth Minister. — Peter Hannay, translated from Creetown after a ministry there of eleven years, and inducted to Wigtown, his native congre- gation, on 3rd January 1849. The Rev. Alexander Dalrymple, junior minister at Tarbolton, had been previously called. The stipend was now ;^I35, with ^24 for house rent. Mr Hannay died, after a brief illness, 26th May 1855, in the fifty-first year of his age and eighteenth of his ministry. The congregation had a new manse ready for occupancy, and Mr Hannay was about to take possession, when the summons came to " the house ap- pointed for all living." Next year a volume of his sermons was published, with a Memoir by the Rev. James Inglis of Johnstone. It also contains a historical sketch of the Secession in Wigtownshire, which appeared ten years before as an Appendix to a sermon preached at the closing service in the old church.
Fifth Minister. — ]OYm Stevenson, who had resigned Haddington (West) owing to ill-health two years before. Believing himself restored to fitness for regular work he had accepted a call to Zion Chapel, Newcastle ; but when the induction day came he did not appear, and at a meeting
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY 3
of Presbytery the following week he withdrew his acceptance. He was inducted to Wigtown, 3rd June 1856. But again the nervjus system yielded to the strain, and the connection had to be dissolved, 9th June 1857. He then retired to the family residence near Kilmarnock, where he officiated as an elder in Princes Street Church. He died at Saltcoats, 8th January 1897, in his seventy-third year. In a few months Mr John Hinshelwood, after- wards of Haddington (East), was called to be Mr Stevenson's successor at Wigtown, but declined.
Sixth Minister. — JOHN Squair, from Nairn. Mr Squair was first called to three other vacancies in close succession — Hartlepool (West) ; Burray, in Orkney ; and Kendal ; but Wigtown came in, and was accepted. Ordained, 24th May 1859. The stipend was ^150, with manse, garden, and an acre of ground lying in grass. There was a debt at this time of ;^8oo, contracted mainly by the building of the manse ; but as years passed it gradually de- creased, and at last entirely disappeared. Within the last thirty years the population of the parish has decreased over a third, and at the close of 1899 the membership was 153, and the stipend from the people ^175, with the manse.
WIGTOWN (Relief)
The attempt to have a Relief congregation in this place was a blunder from first to last. A beginning was made by Glasgow Presbyteiy on nth February 1834 in consequence of a letter from Mr Reston of Newton-Stewart, who had preached by request at Wigtown on Sabbath week, and had a large audience m the evening. The Court Hall, he ascertained, could be had free of e.\- pense, and " many of the inhabitants expressed their willingness to pay for supply." A preacher was sent at once, to remain till the end of March. Sermon having been kept up for o\er a year a congregation was organised on loth August 1835, with 20 names on the communion roll. In the spring of 1837 the people were engaged in erecting a place of worship, and the Presbytery promised collections to aid them in the undertaking ; but progress was hindered for want of funds, though grants were made to Wigtown by the Synod year after year. In June 1838 it was found that ^55 had been raised by subscription in the town and neighbourhood, and ^26 had been received from five sister congregations, but there was a debt contracted of ^174. In
1840 the place of worship was still unfinished ; pecuniary difficulties were great, and a legal prosecution was threatened. By the end of that year ^343 had been sunk on the building, and ^130 was still to pay. In May
1 84 1 the Presbytery of Newton-Stewart reported to the Synod that the roof was on, but the windows were not in, the walls were not plastered, and no seats were fitted up. The end came on 8th July 1843, when the Minute of a congregational meeting was laid before the Presbytery, at which it had been unanimously agreed to sell the church, and on 27th August it was intimated that it had been bought by the Free Church congregation for £,200. The debts so far as known were slightly over ^150, but £,\ was all that remained to reimburse denominational funds after expenses were paid. At next Synod the Presbytery reported that "the congregation at Wigtown had ceased to exist." Had it gone on the two U.P. congregations would only have weakened each other.
4 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
STRANRAER, IVY PLACE (Antiburgher)
The early Minutes of the Antiburgher Presbytery of Glasgow having dis- appeared we have no means of tracing the history of this congregation back to the beginning. The earliest reliable notice is in May 1757, when the Antiburgher Presbytery of Dumfries had a petition from Stranraer craving that a probationer might be appointed to continue among them for some time to assist their minister, the Rev. Mr Ogilvie. This shows that they formed a branch of Wigtown congregation, though the two places are twenty-six miles apart. At next meeting they urged that Mr Ogilvie should either be transferred to Stranraer altogether or that they should be allowed to call a minister for themselves. A disjunction from Wigtown must have been obtained soon after.
First Minister. — James Douglas, from Wigtown. Ordained, 2nd May 1759, the call signed by yj male members. Dr George Brown states that, owing to some dissatisfaction with Mr Douglas' marriage, a number of his people became Cameronians. There is a reference in the Presbytery Minutes, of date nth February 1761, to trouble the session of Stranraer had had with several in the congregation, who found fault with Mr Douglas' father-in-law. That gentleman had caused an Irishman to be apprehended when the com- munion was being observed, and Mr Douglas had intimated from the pulpit the satisfaction of the session with what had been done. The Presbytery approved of this as just and reasonable, and the parties who had caused the turmoil were to be dealt with. Hence, probably, the uprise of Reformed Presbyterians in the town. Mr Douglas died of fever in October 1772, in the fourteenth year of his ministry. There was a membership in 1767, according to Dr Brown, of 240.
Second Minister.— ^\\AA.\y\. Drysdale, from Muckart. Ordained, 20th April 1774. In 1791, as we find from the Old Statistical History, there were 443 names on the examination roll of this congregation, and they were scattered over the whole of Rhinns. It was not till after Mr Douglas' death that their regular place of worship was built, their meetings having previously been held in what was originally a dwelling-house. A new gallery was put up in 1800, a token of increase, though a disruption was experienced at the time of the Lifter Controversy some years before. Mr Drysdale died, loth April 1810, in the sixty-fourth year of his age and thirty-sixth of his ministry. His last illness was erysipelas, brought on by exposure to the chill March winds, and it speedily reached a fatal issue. He was never married.
Third Minister. — John Robertson, who had resigned Rothesay a year and a half before. Inducted, loth July 181 1. The people had intended to make the stipend ;^90 ; but now by an enactment of Synod no one was to be. settled in a town on less than ^100. Hence they agreed to name that sum, and pay the rent of a dwelling-house besides. Mr Robertson in his second charge had his lot cast among a people deeply imbued with the Covenanting spirit. The congregation was widely scattered, extending from north to south thirty-six miles, and from east to west eighteen. This was a remnant of Antiburgher times. It was when away preaching one Sabbath at a station eleven miles distant that Mr Robertson's public work came to an end. After four months' illness he died on 19th January 1835, in the sixty-first year of his age and thirty-fifth of his ministry. A sermon of his appeared in one of the two volumes published in 1820 by ministers of the Antiburgher Synod.
In 1836 the communicants of this congregation numbered 250, of whom only a fourth resided in the parish. Of the others fully two-fifths were from the parish of Inch, which comes close in to the town of Stranraer. Leswalt
I
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY 5
stands next with about half the number, and then other parishes in the following order : — Portpatrick, Stoneykirk, Ballantrae, Kirkcolm, and Glen- luce. About 30 families came from more than six miles. The late minister's stipend was ^120, and he had a manse, on which some debt rested, but the church was unburdened. Instead of seat-letting the con- gregation met and apportioned among themselves the expenses of stipend. The highest subscription was ^5, 5s. and the lowest is. 6d., the average being about 15s. The people appear thus far to have wrought harmoniously together, but they were now passing through a period of unrest which lasted four and a half years.
Soon after Mr Robertson's death the Rev. James M'Crie of Old Meldrum, a licentiate of Wigtown Presbytery, was brought south to assist at the com- munion. Nothing followed till the end of the year, when a moderation resulted as follows : — For the Rev. James M'Crie, 38 ; for Mr Adam Lind, afterwards of Elgin, 24 ; and for Mr Alexander M'Gregor, afterwards of Kilwinning, 12. This gave Mr M'Crie an absolute majority of 2 ; but when the call came before the Presbytery a complaint was made that the voting had been confined to male communicants. The case was referred to the Synod, by whom the call was set aside.*
In November 1836 Ivy Place congregation called Mr David Croom, but Mr M'Crie's former supporters kept aloof. Those who knew Mr Croom in after years do not require to be told that, though he had nothing else in sight, he was certain m these circumstances to put aside the Stranraer invitation, and give the people in that place no further trouble. But feeling kept as strong as ever, and in February 1837 a petition for disjunction signed by 30 male and 41 female members came before the Presbytery, and was carried by protest to the Synod. This led to a meeting of a Synodical Committee at Stranraer on 7th June to endeavour along with the Presbytery to restore peace to the congregation. After grievances had been fully ventilated they had a very agreeable conversation with six representative men from each side, and it was thought that, if meetings for prayer were arranged for, and the Lord's Supper observed, brotherly feeling might be restored. However, at the Synod in September the requisitionists were up again, "adhering to their petition for disjunction as strongly as ever." They were told that they might apply individually to the session for certificates of membership, but the Synod could in no way countenance the setting up of a third congregation in Stranraer. Six months after this the appearance of Mr John Pedcn brought the two parties into oneness, and a moderation was applied for, the stipend promised being ^30 higher than before, and leading men among the disjunctionists acting as commissioners ; but Mr Peden had a prior call to East Regent Place, Glasgow, which he accepted, much to his own regret before many years had passed. The way was clear now for harmonious action.
Fourth Minister. — Robert Hogarth, from Dairy, Ayrshire. Ordained, 6th August 1839. The call was signed by 130 members and 72 adherents, and the stipend was to be ^130, with manse and garden, which was ultimately increased ^70. During the first twenty years of Mr Hogarth's ministry the cong.cgation was much borne down with debt, and yet they were able to show an annual return of nearly ^40 for missionaiy and benevolent purposes. In 1844 they made a special effort and reduced the burden by ^200, and in 1859 the last of it, amounting to ^540, was cleared off under the stimulus of ^100 from the Board. On 23rd August 1881 Mr Hogarth's demission was accepted. He had been laid aside for some time from all official duty by illness, and, there being no hope of speedy restora-
* See vol. i. p. 715.
6 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
tion, he intimated his wish to retire, waiving all claim to the manse or to any allowance from the congregation. As he intended to leave Stranraer he believed that it would be better for all parties that he should not hold the position of senior minister. Though the people would gladly have retained him among them they acquiesced in the proposal he had made. Thus the church was preached vacant, Mr Hogarth retaining his seat in Presbytery and Synod. He now removed to Glasgow, and ultimately to Stirling, where he died, 12th March 1893, in his seventy-sixth year. Three of his sons are in the ministry of the U.P. Church — the Rev. John P. Hogarth, Renfrew ; the Rev. William Hogarth, Rigg-of-Gretna ; and the Rev. Thomas Biggart Hogarth, Clackmannan. The last name reminds us that their father was a nephew of Thomas Biggart, Esq., of Dairy, Ayrshire, a wealthy friend and benefactor of the U.P. Church.
Fifth Minister. — GEORGE Hunter, M.A., from Sydney Place, Glasgow. The stipend was now ^225 in all, and the ordination took place, 27th June 1882. After labouring in Stranraer for seven years with much devotedness Mr Hunter offered himself to the China Inland Mission, and was accepted. The congregation, believing that his resolution had been arrived at under divine guidance, agreed to the severance, and he was loosed from his charge, 29th October 1889. But Mr Hunter's course in China was comparatively brief On his way to a distant station he was seized with malarial fever, and he died, 12th March 1900, leaving a widow and two children. He was in the forty-fourth year of his age and eighteenth of his ministry.
Sixth Minister. — James S. Smith, M.A., from Bonkle. Ordained, loth June 1890. The stipend was the same as before, with a manse. A new church, with 530 sittings, was opened on Wednesday, i6th March 1898, by the Rev. William Watson of Birkenhead. It cost about ;^4ooo, and the collections that day and on the following Sabbath, when Dr Hutchison, the Moderator of Synod, preached, amounted to ^260. The money previ- ously subscribed was over ^3000, and ^250 was received from the Church Building Fund. The membership at the close of the following year was 305, and the stipend as before.
STRANRAER, BELLEVILLA (Burgher)
On 31st July 1793 the Burgher Presbytery of Glasgow received a petition for sermon from 23 persons in Stranraer. These were the remains of a little party which had broken off from the Antiburgher congregation over the "Lifter" question, and to them the Old Statistical History refers two years before as " Smytonians," and states that, like another class of " sectaries " in the place — the M'Millanites, they were not numerous. In Dr M'Kelvie's Annals it is explained that their minister, Mr Drysdale, had given them offence by siding with Mr Smyton of Kilmaurs for a time, and then for- saking him, but there is no trace of any such thing in the Synod records. When the "Lifter Presbytery" fell into fragments the Smytonians in Stranraer, like most of their brethren, sought and found an asylum among the Burghers, and on the first two Sabbaths of September Mr Dewar of Fenwick preached to them by appointment of the Burgher Presbytery of Kilmarnock. This was followed on 15th October by a paper from some people in and about the town expressing satisfaction with Burgher principles, and desiring to be taken under the Presbytery's inspection. From this time Stranraer ranked as a vacancy, the preachers generally remaining several Sabbaths at a time owing to the distance. In February 1797 Mr Dewar was again sent two Sabbaths to Stranraer to preach and
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY 7
set in order the things that were wanting. They had two elders among them already, and the people wished these men constituted into a session, which was done. Next came a call to himself signed by 45 members and 69 adherents, besides an unattested paper said to contain nearly 200 names, but it was agreed without a vote to continue him at Fenwick.
First Minister. — William Irving, from Ecclefechan. The stipend promised was ^70, with sacramental expenses, but before granting a moderation the Presbytery wished to make sure that the meeting-house was in course of being roofed in. The call to Mr Irving was sustained in August 1798, and preferred at next meeting to another from Mauchline, but for a whole twelvemonth the state of the building kept the ordination back. In February 1799 the commissioners informed the Presbytery that they had been disappointed in not getting the wood forward from Liverpool, and this caused delay till 25th September, and then Mr Irving was ordained in their own place of worship. The cost was put, forty years after, at between ^500 and £,boo. Stranraer was reckoned so far apart in those days that the minister had regularly to apply to the Presbytery for assistance at his yearly communion, and two of their number were usually appointed. But in the beginning of 1818 Mr Irving requested a visit from a committee to inquire into the state of the congregation, where everything was running into disorder. Stipend was in arrears, elders and others were deserting his ministry, and the managers were neither collecting the seat rents nor fulfilling their obligations. The Synod found that Mr Irving's conduct had been irreproachable, and they recommended the congregation to conduct themselves towards him as became Church members by supporting him and encouraging his heart in the service of the gospel. The Presbytery, however, followed another line of action, and at a special meeting in Stranraer on 4th November 1818 they accepted Mr Irving's demission. The congregation fulfilled their part of the contract by paying him over ^230, the amount of his claims, and the church was preached vacant.
Mr Irving now itinerated as a probationer for about two years. The following account of his death, on 17th October 1820, is abridged from the Recorder., a short - lived but ably - conducted Union magazine : — He was passing from Auchterarder to Dunning, and had reached the west end of the village, when he left the public road, to allow his horse to water at a well. The horse suddenly falling he was thrown forward into the well, and, though taken out at once, he almost immediately expired. Dislocation of the neck was ascertained to have been the cause of death. The sad recital closes thus : " His fervent piety, irreproachable conduct, and amiable manners endear his memory to his friends, and soothe their sorrow for his departure."
Stranraer congregation had supply of sermon regularly in their vacant state, and after a year and a half they called Mr William Rutherford, who was appointed by the Synod to Newtown St Boswells. The call purported to carry the names of 62 persons in full communion, but the Presbytery reduced the number to 51. Of ordinary hearers there were 45, and the stipend undertaken was ^iio.
Second Minister. — William Smellie, M.A., from Tarbolton. The call was signed by 90 members and 60 adherents, male and female. This being the first call presented to the United Presbytery of Wigtown Mr Smith of Whithorn could not but express his disapproval of females being admitted to vote or subscribe. It was opposed, he maintained, to the apostolic rule and the constitution of human society, and though it was allowed by the late Burgher Synod, he would resist any attempt to make it a law of the United Church. The question of woman's vote comes up again under the
8 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
history of Ivy Place congregation. Mr Smellie was ordained, 17th April 1822, and in less than a dozen years his church was much ahead of the older Secession congregation in membership. In 1836 the communicants were returned at 347, and the stipend was ^138, with an occasional allowance for travelling expenses. More than two-thirds of the families were in nearly equal numbers from Leswalt, Inch, Stoneykirk, and Portpatrick, with a few from Kirkcolm and Kirkmaiden. P'ifty families came from more than six miles. The debt, which must have been long burdensome, was now under ^100. Mr Smellie died, 24th April 1863, in the sixty-ninth year of his age and forty-second of his ministry.
Third Minister. — Thomas Dobbie, M.A., son of the Rev. James Dobbie of Annan. Called some time before to Everton, in Lancashire, and also to be Dr M'Kerrow's colleague at Manchester ; but after his trials for ordination at Everton had been sustained, and all looked well for the young congrega- tion, progress was arrested owing to the sudden failure of Mr Dobbie's health. Ordained at Stranraer, 13th April 1864. The stipend was to be ^200, and there was the promise of a manse as soon as possible. On 20th December 1867 Mr Dobbie declined a call to Thread Street, Paisley, and at the same meeting Mr Matthews of Bridge Street Church gave in the demission of his charge. Union follo*ved, and at this point we pause, to resume with the history of the United congregation.
STRANRAER, BRIDGE STREET (Relief)
The first application from Stranraer to the Relief Presbytery of Glasgow for sermon was on 17th November 1817. It came from "a number of respect- able people," and Mr Nichol of Ayr having preached to them and reported favourably of their prospects they were recognised as a forming congregation on 3rd March 1818. It was not till 1821 that their church, with 650 sittings, was built, the cost being ^800, the greater part of which was derived from borrowed money. It is not correct to say that it was the preaching of Mr Symington of the Reformed Presbyterian Church which prompted this movement, as he was not ordained at Stranraer till two years after the congregation was formed.
First Minister. — John M'Gregor, from Glasgow (East Campbell Street). Ordained in the open air on 5th May 1824 "on account of the multitude who had assembled." The stipend promised was ^130, with an increase of ^5 for every ^100 of debt paid off. In 1836 the membership amounted to 363, of whom nearly one-half came from other parishes, Leswalt taking the lead by a great way ; while Inch, Portpatrick, and Stoneykirk followed, with a few stragglers from Kirkcolm, Ballantrae, and Kirkmaiden. Of these families 31 were from farther than four miles. The stipend was now ;^i40, and the debt of ^500 was being gradually reduced. Mr M'Gregor died, 24th September 1852, in the fifty-second year of his age and twenty- ninth of his ministry. The congregation in the following year got into confusion over a divided call to Mr George Barlas, and feeling ran so high that 78 members, including 5 of the session, craved a disjunction, which Presbytery and Synod alike refused to grant. Mr Barlas had now accepted Auchtermuchty (East), so that the parties came together again. A unanimous call followed to Mr John M'Laren, who set all other invitations aside in favour of Cowcaddens, Glasgow.
Second Minister. — GEORGE D. Matthews, B.A., from Kilkenny, Ireland. Having graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, Mr Matthews entered our Theological Hall in 1848. Ordained at Stranraer, 31st August
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY 9
1854, the stipend being ^140, and 110 members and 30 adherents having signed the call. Towards the close of 1867 Mr Matthews was invited to undertake the charge of Jane Street Church, New York, and his resignation was accepted on 3rd March 1868. At this point the history of Bridge Street congregation merges in that of Bellevilla, under the name of the West Church. In 1874 Mr Matthews removed to Canada, where he became minister of Chalmers' Church, Quebec. He after\vards filled the Chair, first of Systematic Theology and then of Moral Philosophy, in Morrin College, Quebec. In 1888 he retired from professorial work, and became General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance, and in that capacity he resides in London. Bridge Street Church is now used for Sabbath school purposes by the two congregations of the Established Church.
STRANRAER, WEST (Bellevilla and Bridge Street United)
As already stated, when Mr Matthews' resignation of Bridge Street was pending commissioners from the congregation expressed the wish of the people to enter into union with Bellevilla under the pastorate of Mr Dobbie. The movement being gone into with entire unanimity on both sides the Presbytery on 3rd March 1868, after accepting Mr Matthews' resignation, declared the two congregations united. For a time they met in Bridge Street Church, and within six months the stipend was raised to ^300. On 22nd February 1870 Mr Dobbie declined a call to Bristo Church, Edin- burgh, but on 25th February 1873 he accepted St Andrew's Place, Leith. During the ensuing vacancy the congregation called Mr Walter Duncan, who preferred Dumbarton (Bridgend), and Mr William Thomson, who pre- ferred Alloa (West).
Second Minister.— ^\\AAX^\. Muirhead, M.A., from Lothian Road, Edinburgh. Called also to Kelso (East), and Irvine (Trinity), and ordained at Stranraer, 9th March 1875. The present church, with 500 sittings, and built at a cost of ^3000, was opened on Wednesday, 22nd October 1884, by Principal Cairns. The openmg collections that day and the next two Sabbaths amounted to nearly ^250, and cleared the debt entirely away. The West manse was built by Bellevilla congregation two or three years before the union with Bridge Street. The cost was ^700, of which ^100 was received from the Manse Board. The membership at the close of 1899 was 229, and the stipend ^310, with the manse.
WHITHORN (Antiburgher)
The first distinct mention of this congregation in Secession records is at
tthe Synod in May 1793, when they brought up a call to Mr John Mitchell
'n competition with another from Anderston, Glasgow (now Wellington
'hurch). The call from Whithorn was subscribed by 18 male members,
>nd when the vote was taken Glasgow carried by 20 to 16. The church,
irith 600 sittings, is said to have been built in 1790. It is also stated that
"le nucleus of the congregation consisted of a very few who had been wont
attend at Wigtown, eleven miles to the north. In 1794 they called Mr
Lndrew Small, but 4 members and some adherents alleged rashness of pro-
fcedure and the unripeness of the congregation for supporting a minister.
he objections being overruled as frivolous Mr Small accepted, on con-
lition of having it in his power to draw back should the opposition prove
formidable. At a subsequent meeting he gave in reasons for asking to be
lo HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
set free, and commissioners from Whithorn having been heard this was agreed to, the Presbytery expressing very strong disapproval of "the irregular and almost unprecedented conduct of the remonstrants." Mr Small's name appeared for many years on the preachers' list, but he never got another call. He then settled down in Abernethy, his native place, where the family name figured at an early period in the session records of that place. In 1823 Mr vSmall published a book on "Roman Antiquities discovered in Fife." In the Autobiography of James Skinner he stands forth graphically as spellbound among the superstitions of an earlier age. He died at Abernethy, i6th March 1852, in his eighty-sixth year.
First Minister. — John Smith, from Auchinleck, where his father had been an elder, first in the Established Church and then in the Secession. Licensed in 1778, and after itinerating as a preacher for nine years he was called to Belmont Street, Aberdeen, but owing to want of harmony the call was put aside. Mr Smith's English accent, like that of Dr Jamieson in similar circumstances, was objected to as savouring of affectation. Dis- couraged by want of success he turned aside to business for a time ; but in May 1794 the Synod considered it desirable to have a preacher ordained for location in distant places, and Mr Smith was fixed on. At next meeting Kilmarnock Presbytery reported that they had ordained Mr Smith as instructed, and that he was now under call to Whithorn. A stray Minute of session has come down to us, recording the order followed on the modera- tion day. After prayer for direction in the solemn work before them the minister who preached and presided suggested the Rev. John Smith, the candidate whom the session had previously agreed on. He then asked three times if there were any other names to be added, and there was no response. A show of hands being taken a considerable number were held up for Mr Smith, and only one against him, and he was declared duly elected. Then, a blessing being invoked on the work of the day, the call was read in the hearing of the congregation, who were desired to attend the session in order to append their names. The number who subscribed was 26. They were but a little company, reminding us of the disdainful state- ment in the Old Statistical History that the parishioners of Whithorn in- cluded among them "a few sectaries of the Cameronian and Antiburgher description."
Mr Smith was inducted, 3rd June 1795 — ^ vndin whose talents came to be much appreciated both in his own congregation and among his clerical brethren, and under his ministry solid work went on. He died, 24th April 1830, in the seventy-ninth year of his age and thirty-fifth of his ministry. He had been incapacitated for pulpit work for a considerable time, and arrangements were being made for providing him with a colleague when the end came. Mr Smith's eldest son, the Sheriff-Clerk of the county, was for fifty-six years an elder in Whithorn church. The congregation during this vacancy called Mr William Marshall, the call being signed by ']^ members and 21 adherents, all males — a limitation to which their late minister attached much importance, as comes out under Stranraer (Bellevilla). The stipend promised was ^120, the same as before, and they were to add a house or give an equivalent, but Mr Marshall, according to his own wishes, was appointed by the Synod to Coupar-Angus.
Second Minister. — JOHN Henry Gardiner, son of the Rev. James Gardiner of Newtonards, Ireland, and a grandson of the Rev. John Eraser, Auchtermuchty. Ordained, 13th July 1831. The services were conducted in a tent. Dr Taylor of Auchtermuchty preached, and the Rev. John Skinner of Partick, another grandson of Mr Eraser, was present as a cor- responding mcmbe?. Mr Gardiner died, loth April 1833, in the twenty-sixth
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY ii
year of his age and second of his ministry. His Life and Diary was pub- lished by his uncle, the Rev. Dr Fraser of Kennoway, in 1836. During this vacancy the congregation called Mr James Boyd, afterwards of Brechin, but owing to want of harmony the Presbytery set the call aside.
Third Minister. — J AMES GlBSON, from East Campbell Street, Glasgow. Ordained, nth February 1835. The stipend was now ^105, but there is no mention of a manse. On 8th December 1840 Mr Gibson accepted a call to Maygate, Dunfermline.
Fourth Minister. — James Fleming, son of the Rev. William Fleming, West Calder. Called when a preacher first to Holywell, which had newly come in from the Established Church, and next to Livery Street, Bathgate, but these calls he declined. Whithorn came next, and after it Pell Street, London, which passed out of existence not long after. Ordained at Whit- horn, 6th July 1842. This was followed by a ministry of more than half-a- century. In 1865 Whithorn congregation took advantage of the Synod's newly-launched scheme to get themselves equipped with a dwelling-house for their minister. Their first manse was built at a cost of ^750, the Board allowing ^150. Mr Fleming held the office of Presbytery clerk for thirty- two years, and at the Synod of 1890 he was promoted to the Moderator's Chair. The 9th of March 1892 was a marked day in the annals of Whithorn congregation. The new church was opened by Dr Monro Gibson of London, the son of Mr Fleming's predecessor, and the jubilee of their minister was celebrated the same day, when he was presented with ^160. But the night shadows were now beginning to gather, and at the close of
1895 the congregation, at Mr Fleming's suggestion, made arrangements to provide him with a colleague. Besides retaining the manse he was to have ^40 a year from the congregation, and the junior minister ^130. In March
1896 Mr Alexander Steele, now of Ecclefechan, was chosen by a majority of 3 over other two candidates combined, but the call being opposed by 42 members the Presbytery saw good reason for setting it aside.
Fifth Minister. — Adam F. Findlay, M.A., from Johnshaven. Ordained, 29th July 1896. In issuing this call there was again want of harmony, though the antagonism was less pronounced than before. We find, however, that during 1896 the communion roll came down from 149 to 11 1. It must have been a trying experience for Mr Fleming towards the close of the day. At the Union in October 1900 he still survives, in the fifty-ninth year of his ministry. His son, the Rev. John Dick Fleming, B.D., is minister in Tranent, and an older son was for three and a half years minister of Boston Church, Cupar, but died early. The membership of Whithorn at the close of 1899 was 106, and the stipend from the people the same as before.
NEWTON-STEWART (Relief)
This small burgh is situated on the river Cree, between the parishes of Penninghame and Minnigaff", and towards the end of last century it had a population of 900, but no church, either of the Secession or Relief, nearer than Wigtown, eight miles to the north. On i6th August 1791 the Relief Presbytery of (Glasgow had the wants of the place brought under their notice by a letter from a certain residenter, but they wished to know if they might count on as many people coming forward as could support a minister, and also what their motives might be for leaving the Established Church. At next meeting a formal petition for supply was received, and the Rev. William Thomson of Beith was commissioned to visit Newton-Stewart and preach there two Sabbaths. Next year a church was built with 4C0 sittings — " a
12 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
dreary, barn-like building at the north end of the town." The cost was so far met by voluntary subscription and voluntary labour, but a considerable amount of debt seems to have rested on the property. The first preacher they called, but without success, was a highly popular young man, Mr John Pitcairn, afterwards of Kelso (East).
First Minister. — William Strang, from Dovehill, Glasgow. Ordained, 3rd October 1 793. At next meeting a list of elders was approved of, and orders were given to have them ordained. In 1805 Mr Strang brought up certain complaints against his people bearing on money matters. He alleged that on accepting their call he had the verbal promise of a dwelling- house and garden, but had never obtained them. He also accused certain elders and managers of combining together to destroy his usefulness, and scatter the congregation. The subscribers for the meeting-house on their part petitioned either to have Mr Strang removed or their connection with the society ended. On inquiry it was found that there had been talk about inability, leaving Mr Strang to preach to the bare walls. His resignation was given in, and accepted on 5th November 1805 on the understanding that arrears of stipend, amounting to ^84, were to be paid. Mr Strang was inducted to Ford in the early part of 1807. It was mentioned in the Edinburgh Courant at the time of his death that it was he who first brought the celebrated Alexander Murray, Professor of Oriental Languages in Edin- burgh University, into notice, having in one of his rambles when at Newton- Stewart found him sitting on a moor, a shepherd boy, with some Greek and Latin books at his side.
Second Minister. — James Jardine, from Dundee (The Tabernacle). Ordained, 16th June 1807. The stipend was to be ;^ 70, with dwelling- house, and a garden in front of the church and a little park behind it, also ;^2, los. at each communion. Accepted a call to Newlands, 28th September 1809.
Third Minister.— ] A.MES Kerr, from Earlston (West). Ordained, 25th October 18 10. The stipend was now ^80, with ^3 at each communion, and ^i, los. for public burdens. From a Memoir of Mr Kerr in the Christian Journal for 1842 it is evident that he was a man who "walked with God," and a minister in whose preaching Christ was all in all. But he was far from popular, owing partly to an injury which had affected his organs of speech, and his discourses were better fitted for building up than for gather- ing in. After labouring faithfully at Newton-Stewart for fourteen years he resolved, from conscientious motives, to retire, believing that another might occupy the field to greater advantage. His resignation was accepted on 9th November 1824, but the remembrance of his humble, deep-toned. Christian character remained. He was engaged as a preacher till a few months before his death, on 15th May 1842, in the seventy-second year of his age and thirty-second of his ministry. The first Sabbath school in Newton-Stewart was begun under his fostering care.
Fourth Minister. — James Reston, from Tollcross, a brother of the Rev. David Reston, Coupar-Angus. Ordained, nth August 1825. Eleven years after this the communicants were given at 250, of whom about 30 were from other parishes — Minnigaff and Kirkcowan in particular. Six families came from beyond six miles. On 4th December 1837 Mr Reston accepted a call to what is now James' Church, Dundee. The congregation some time after called Mr James Hamilton, who declined acceptance "owing to the smallness of the number that had voted for him." The Presbytery wrote to him ex- plaining that the failure was owing to a great public market being held on that day, but they were answered with a full and final refusal. It was quite in keeping with his bearing when ordained at Largo, and when he
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY 13
resigned. Another call, addressed to Mr Matthew Battersby, was unanimous ; but he promptly declined, and got Hamilton (Auchingramont) instead.
Fifth Minister. — WiLLlAM Reid, from Dunfermline (Gillespie Church). Ordamed, i8th August 1841. The stipend promised was ^90, with manse, garden, and glebe. Of Mr Reid we have ascertained little beyond this, that he was married to a daughter of the Rev. John More of Cairneyhill, and that the manse at Newton-Stewart became a seminary for young ladies somewhat like that from which Mrs Reid had come. In September 1863 it was intimated to the Presbytery that Mr Reid was laid aside by illness, and at next meeting that he was still very unwell. He died, 29th November, in the fifty-fourth year of his age and twenty-third of his ministry.
Sixth Minister. — Ephraim Smith, from Sydney Place, Glasgow. Or- dained, 5th October 1864. The stipend promised was ^iio, with the manse, which was superseded by another in the following year, built at a cost of £62(), exclusive of what was got for the old manse, the Board aiding to the extent of ^250. A new church, with 400 sittings, was opened on Thursday, nth July 1878, by Ur Logan Aikman, and though it cost ^2500 it was entered free of debt. On Sabbath, ist June 1890, Mr Smith was seized with apoplexy when preaching in Garlieston Free Church, and though he rallied for a little a relapse came, and he died on the iith of that month, in the sixty-first year of his age and twenty-sixth of his ministry.
Se^ienth Minister. — James A. Dawson, from East Campbell Street, Glasgow. Having emigrated to New Zealand at the close of his literary course Mr Dawson pursued his theological studies there under the Assembly's Board of Examination. After obtaining licence he was ordained at New Plymouth, 26th May 1885, but resigned in the following spring owing to ill-health, and returned to .Scotland. At the Synod in May 1888 the Presby- tery of Glasgow (North) was authorised to receive Mr Dawson to the status of an ordained probationer on condition that he attended a session at the Theological Hall and passed the exit examination. Inducted to Newton- Stewart, loth February 1891. The membership at the close of 1899 was 146, and the stipend from the people the same as he has had all along — ;^iio, with the manse.
KIRKMAIDEN (Burgher)
This short-lived congregation began in a petition for sermon from Kirk- maiden — " Maiden Kirk" — to the Burgher Presbytery of Kilmarnock on 17th June 1806. Mr Wilson of Cumnock was appointed to preach there two Sabbaths in July, and this led to a further application of the same kind from 80 persons, most of them heads of families. This was a large beginning, and sermon v/as afterwards kept up about two successive Sabbaths each month. But distance was the great drawback, Stranraer* being the only place in Wigtownshire where there was a fully-foiTned Burgher congregation, and this was ten miles away. However, though supply was irregular applicants were admitted into Church fellowship, and on the third Sabbath of January 1810 three elders were ordained. But at this point vitality ebbed, and for nearly two years the cause was in a state of suspended animation. Tokens of life having reappeared in the early part of 181 2 appointments were re- newed much as before, and in the summer of 181 5 two members of Presbytery were sent within the bounds to encourage and stimulate the people of Kirkmaiden and Glenluce. The expenses of the journey came to over ^5, a sum sufficient to prevent the experiment from being repeated, and aid had to be sought from the Synod Fund on behalf of these two places. In this
14 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
unsatisfactory state matters continued at Kirkmaiden till 1817, when the name appears on the Presbytery roll for the last time.
After this sermon was occasionally kept up at Drumore, a village of 300 inhabitants, about a mile to the north of Kirkmaiden parish church. Mr Smellie, who was ordained at Stranraer in 1822, was accustomed to preach there at least once a year, and in 1841 services were arranged for during summer, a few individuals boarding the preachers gratis, and the attendance being reported at 100. In 1836 Mr Smellie had 11 members from the parish of Kirkmaiden, great as the distance was, and in the Relief congregation and the first Secession there were also a few, besides some who had con- nection with Glenluce. This was all that remained of what promised once to be a vigorous church in the southern division of western Galloway.
GLENLUCE (Burgher)
This congregation had its beginning in a brief evangelistic tour of Mr Schaw of Ayr to Galloway in the summer of 1808. Along with the report he gave in to the Burgher Presbytery of Kilmarnock a petition was received from Glenluce for sermon, and supply appointed for the fourth Sabbath of August and the first of September. The mission was renewed next summer, and in September Mr Irving of Stranraer, the only Burgher minister within reach, was appointed to examine applicants for membership. Some time after this Glenluce disappeared from the Presbytery records, but in 18 13 the Synod allowed ^12 to pay for sermon there, and a year later a Presbyterial inquiry brought out a membership of 14, with an attendance of about 300. A further application for aid from the Synod Fund was recommended, which brought them other ^10. Still matters kept in a languid state, sermon not being formally asked for till nth March 1817, when 61 persons applied to be organised into a congregation. Mr Irving was to converse with parties wishing to be received into Church fellowship, and on 22nd April those approved of were congregated, but how many came forward for examination, or stood the test, is not stated. On the first Sabbath of November three elders were ordained, and at next meeting a moderation was applied for, with the promise of ^100 of stipend.
First Minister. — Thomas Hill, from Blackfriars, Jedburgh. Ordained 13th May 1818, the call having been signed by 28 members in all. The place of worship, with 320 sittings, seems to have been taken possession of by this time. In little more than a year Mr Hill complained to the Presby- tery that his usefulness was much impaired by a fama which had gone abroad concerning him, and both he and his elder stated that something would have to be done if the congregation were to be preserved. Investiga- tion conducted at Glenluce on 2nd November 18 19 brought out untimely hours and other accessories, with an attempt to prove an alibi. The con- gregation was divided in opinion, some believing their minister had made his defence good, and others declaring their resolution to pay him no more stipend. The Presbytery decided unanimously for suspension sine die. At next meeting, on the 30th, Mr Hill offered to demit his charge, and withdraw the protest he had tabled, if the Presbytery would uplift the sentence and vindicate his character, but they refused to treat with him on any such terms. Mr Hill afterwards acknowledged the sentence to be just, and submitted to censure in order to be restored to his status as a preacher. The Presbytery, being deeply affected with what they now heard, allowed the protest to be withdrawn, and agreed to administer solemn rebuke. On ;ith April 1820 his demission was accepted, and a minister appointed to
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY 15
preach the church vacant, and give his best advice to the congregation. After a vacancy of nearly two years they called Mr James Thomson ; but a rival call followed from Maybole, and to save trouble and expense they asked liberty to sist procedure, as they had no prospect of success in the com- petition. After what they had passed through they could not promise more than ^80 ; but, they argued, " though the stipend is inadequate, if the young man is pleased to accept, the Presbytery ought not to interfere." The answer was that, from want of acquaintance with the world, preachers are generally incompetent to judge as to adequate support. The call, however, was allowed to drop.
Mr Hill removed to Hawick, and in May 1822 he applied to the Synod to be restored to office, which, after careful inquiry and a year's delay, was agreed to. He died suddenly at Montreal on 14th March 1824. The newspaper notice states that he had been preaching in St Petei-'s Street Church since his arrival in Canada "last fall," as assistant to the Rev. Mr Easton, and that after conducting morning service that Sunday "he returned to his lodgings, and had just seated himself, when he fell to the floor lifeless."
Second Minister. — James Pullar, from Barrhead. Ordained, ist April 1823. The call was signed by 40 members, male and female, and 53 adherents. Twenty years afterwards there were 80 communicants, and an average attendance of 150. In 1845 a debt of ^85, probably of long standing, was extinguished by the aid of ;^35 from the Liquidation Board. On 4th February 1868 Mr Pullar's resignation was accepted. He was now in the forty-fifth year of his ministry, and during a great part of that period he preached three discourses each Sabbath. Possessing ample means of his own he would take no allowance either from Glenluce congregation or the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund. He died at Glenluce, 23rd January 1874, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, after a long and severe illness. The Rev. John Squair of Wigtown is Mr Pullar's son-in-law.
Third Minister.— ^KOKK^T Carslaw, from Eaglesham. Ordained, 22nd September 1868. On Tuesday, i8th Februaiy 1890, the present church, built at a cost of over ^1500, and seated for 300, was opened by Dr Drummond, Moderator of Synod. The collection on the occasion reached ;^67. The small amount of debt which remained was entirely cleared off in 1897. The membership at the close of 1899 was in, whereas twenty years before it was only 78, and the stipend from the people had risen from ;^8o to ;{^ioo. The congregation seems never to have had a manse. Mr Carslaw is married to a daughter of the late Dr Simpson of Sanquhar.
CREETOWN (Burgher)
This congregation owed its origin to a mission into Galloway of Messrs Jrown of Biggar and Law of Newcastleton by appointment of Synod in "le summer of 18 19, and on 31st August of that year several respectable ihabitants of Creetown sent up a petition to the Burgher Presbytery of Lnnan for sermon. Supply was henceforth kept up with few blank Sabbaths jU after the Union in 1820. The station was congregated in April of that ear, with a membership of 14, admitted after examination, and in July 1821 iree elders were ordained. For a long course of years there was much to try the spirits of the people, though members of Presbytery encouraged them by Sabbath services, and in other ways as opportunity offered. In 1 83 1 it was feared that they might never reach the position of a fully- organised church, and that it might be expedient to place them on the
i6 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
missionary platform. But the people hoped for something better, and in the end of 1835 they asked for a moderation, undertaking to give ;^6o a year for stipend, besides a dwelling-house, and it was calculated that ^10 would be obtained from the Mission Board. This issued in a call to Mr George Morris, of whom some particulars are given under Lumsden, Aberdeenshire. Disappointment followed, as Mr Morris wrote to the Presbytery intimating that the debility of his frame told him he would not consult the interests of Creetown congregation if he agreed to become their minister. They were again disappointed through Mr Andrew Reid, after- wards of Lossiemouth, who had been located a considerable time among them, declining their call. Before this the people had fitted up a place of worship, with 170 sittings, in an economical way, of which more further on.
First Minister. — PETER Hannay, from Wigtown. Ordained as a missionary preacher, 5th May 1835, and located at Oban in that capacity. Remained there till February 1837, when he left with the intention of going abroad. After being stationed for a short time at Kirkcowan he was called to Creetown, and inducted, 26th July 1837. It was a time of embittered feeling, and certain aspersions were thrown out against the Secession cause at Creetown by the Church of Scotland Magazine in the following year. There the congregation is described as consisting of 20 or 30 members, their place of worship an old house rented or bought, and their minister the late missionary at Oban, " to whom salary is no object." The answer was that, though Mr Hannay's flock was small, the communicants were 70 in number, and we know that before long they made his stipend ^80. The relation lasted till 5th December 1848, when he accepted a call to Wigtown, his native congregation.
Second Minister. — James R. Scott, from Rose Street, Edinburgh. Ordained, 6th June 1849. There was now a membership of 100, and a stipend of ^85, which was supplemented to ^100. In 1852 Mr Scott had the offer of Mossbank, vShetland, but, as was to be expected, he remained in Creetown. Resolving to emigrate to Canada under the auspices of the Mission Board he was loosed from his charge, with the reluctant ac- quiescence of his people, on 15th June 1858. Before the end of the year he was inducted to Perry Town, in that colony. He afterwards laboured at Whitby and then at Cambray. He retired owing to fail- ing health in 1875, and died on 25th February 1893, in the forty-fourth year of his ministry. Creetown congregation after a vacancy of half-a-year called Mr George Black, from Hutchesontown, Glasgow ; but he accepted Walker, near Newcastle, where he was ordained, 22nd June 1859, and died, 2 1st September 1864, in the thirty-fourth year of his age and sixth of his ministry. Of one of Mr Black's predecessors it was said : " The atmos- phere of the place, heavily charged with noxious vapours, proved almost fatal to him." He left in time ; but Mr Black kept at his post till the lungs were hopelessly diseased, and then returned to his old home to die.
Third Minister. — James Brown, M.A., from Moffat. Ordained, 17th August 1859. The stipend from the people was to be ^80, including every- thing. On Friday, 19th April 1861, a new church, with accommodation for nearly 300, and built at a cost of over j^8oo, was opened by Dr Edmond of London. On ist November 1864 Mr Brown accepted a call to Morningside, Edinburgh, but during his ministry at Creetown an important point had been gained by the congregation obtaining an attractive place of worship.
Fourth Minister — John Munro, who had retired from Gardenstown three years before. Inducted, 6th June 1865, and his demission was accepted, 6th November 1866. He now returned anew to the preachers' list, and
J
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY 17
aftenvards resided in Edinburgh, where he died, nth April 1875, '" the sixty-third year of his age and twenty-eighth of his ministerial life.
Fifth Mtnister.—ROBKRT Lindsay, M.A., from Dairy, Galloway. Called also to Sandwick, in Orkney, and to Lochmaben. Ordained, 3rd March 1868. The present manse was built soon after at a cost of ^585, of which the Board contributed fully one-half. After he had laboured on for twenty-six years in uninterrupted health illness set in one Sabbath evening in June 1894, and his stately form was to be seen in the pulpit or in the Synod Hall no more. He died on 23rd August, aged fifty-four. In May next year the congregation brought up a call for Mr Donald Ross, who intimated that he had accepted Westray.
Sz'xt/i Minister. — Alexander W. Black, from Berkeley Street, Glasgow. Ordained, 12th September 1895. The membership at the close of 1899 was 91, and the stipend from the people ^90, with the manse.
PORT-WILLIAM (Relief)
In the parish of Mochrum, in the southern division of Wigtownshire, the Secession obtained a slight footing so early as 1746, as appears from what is given under Kirkcowan, and it is likely that the Antiburgher congregation of Wigtown had a few families in that district from the first. But it was not till 1832 that the movement took shape which issued in the erection of what is now the U.P. congregation of Port-William. At this time there were about a dozen members of the Secession church at Whithorn residing in the parish — the scanty remains of what had been. On ist May of that year a number of the inhabitants were granted sermon by the Relief Presbytery of Glasgow, and next year a church, with 330 sittings, was built. Port- William had a population at this time of 400, and it is two miles from the parish church.
First Minister.— GKOYt^Gls. WALKER, from Falkirk (West). Ordained, 29th May 1833. The stipend promised was ^90, with hopes of increase. On 7th December 1835 Mr Walker stated to the Presbytery that it was highly expedient his lalDours at Port-William should come to an end, and the congregation, while regretting the circumstances which made this step desirable, ofTered no objections. The Presbytery, on the ground that the desire for separation was mutual, dissolved the relation. In Dr M'Kelvie's Annals it is stated that Mr Walker now emigrated to America, and became minister of a congregation in Dobbsferry, State of New York. All we know- further with certainty is derived from the following newspaper notice : — "Died at New York, loth February 1843, Rev. George Walker, a native of Falkirk." His age was given as thirty-five.
Second Minister. — WiLLlAM Dunlop, from Irvine (Relief). Ordained, 2nd November 1836. The stipend at this time was ^100, and the member- ship 1 10. In 1865 the congregation, under the impulse of the Synod's scheme, set about building their first manse, which was done at the very moderate figure of .^510, the Board granting ^250. Mr Dunlop, after labouring on for nearly forty years, was so completely disabled by paralysis hat only on one or two occasions did he take part in public work again. A colleague thus became indispensable, and it was arranged that Mr Dunlop should have his lifetime of the manse and an allowance of ^20 from the congregation. They were to give the junior minister ;^5o, which it was expected would be made up to ^220 from Central Funds and the Ferguson
^^.Bequest.
^B Third Minister. — JAMES Adam, from Lochee. Ordained, 28th August
■ si
i8 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
1877. It augured ill for the permanence of the relationship that within ten months one of the members complained to the Presbytery about a letter he had received from the minister, and Mr Dunlop concurred in the complaint. The matter being looked into, and parties heard, the Presbytery enjoined Mr Adam to withdraw the offensive document and apologise for having penned it, a decision to which he submitted. Mr Dunlop died, 2nd November 1 88 1, the very day on which he had been ordained forty-five years before. He was in the sixty-ninth year of his age. He had two brothers who became U.P. ministers — Hugh, who was for a time in Bankhill Church, Berwick * ; and James, who was first in Biggar (South) and then in Mother- well.
Mr Adam was now sole pastor for five years, but in April 1886 a dispute between him and the managers wrought on till it ended the connection. It appears that at Mr Dunlop's death the manse needed repairs, and to stimu- late the liberality of the congregation Mr Adam told the managers he would let the ^25 go which they owed him for stipend if they raised the ^15 needed to put the house in proper order. They thanked him for his generosity and agreed to the proposal, and the money was expended as had been arranged. But, though they understood the debt to be cancelled, Mr Adam explained that he only agreed to postpone the term of payment, and the result was a display of acrimonious feeling, which, in the opinion of the Presbytery's committee, gave little promise of either financial or spiritual prosperity to the congregation. Mr Adam now felt constrained to demit his charge, and, the commissioners from Port-William offering no opposi- tion, the resignation was accepted on 9th November 1886. At the Synod in 1888 he applied to be admitted to the probationer list, but it was pro- nounced inexpedient to grant the application. Next year he craved a recommendation, to be used by him in Queensland, but this also was refused. His name again came up at the Synod in 1897, when he renewed his request to have his name placed on the roll of probationers. It appeared that he had been engaged in mission work under the Church Extension Com- mittee at Victoria, where he was faithful in the discharge of his duties. He had since returned to Scotland, and was in the membership of the U.P. congregation at Bearsden. The decision come to was that, though he might be employed as occasional supply, his name was not to be placed on the regular list. Mr Adam retained his ministerial status all through from the time he left Port-William.
Fourth Minister. — John Langlands, M.A., from Montrose (Knox's Church). Ordained, 22nd June 1887. The membership had been somewhat reduced within recent years, but the people were still to make their part of the stipend ^70, with the manse. In the early part of 1900 circumstances favoured a union with the Free Church congregation, an object much to be desired, as the united membership would not have been more than 200. On 20th March the Presbytery, in answer to a request from the f^ree Presbytery of Wigtown for an expression of opinion on the subject, intimated full approval of what was proposed, and a joint committee was appointed to confer with all concerned. It was found m the end that the U.P. congrega- tion was willing to go into the union provided Mr Langlands were to be retained, but this was a condition which the other congregation refused to accept. It was vain to attempt pressing the matter further, and it was
* The Rfv. Hugh Dunlop was ordained at Berwick, 2nd August 1848 ; but the cause refused to be revived, and he resigned, nth March 1851. After acting as a probationer for three years he gave himself to mission work, first in Ayr, and after- wards in connection with Queen's Park, Glasgow. He died, 31st January 1888, aged seventy-one.
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY 19
agreed that ordinances should be kept up in the Free Church by a retired minister meanwhile, or in some similar way, and the door kept open for resuming negotiations when better feelings should prevail. The names on Mr Langlands' communion roll at that time numbered 83, and the stipend from all sources was ^186, and the manse.
GATEHOUSE (United Secp:ssion)
The earliest attempt to form a Secession congregation in this place was made in 1816. On 25th June of that year a gentleman in the locality represented to the Burgher Presbytery of Annan by letter that circumstances were favourable for entering on mission work there, and that a number of people wished sermon in connection with the Secession. The Rev. John Law of Newcastleton was accordingly sent to preach one or more Sabbaths in that part of Galloway, and on 29th October a petition for occasional supply followed, with 53 signatures. Supply was kept up with regularity two Sabbaths each month till February 1818, when intimation came from the people that, as they had no convenient place to meet in, preaching would have to be discontinued for the time. A new church was in course of erection at Gatehouse for the parish of Girthon, to supersede the now roofless ruin which stands over two miles to the south, and this may have abated the desire for sermon from any other quarter. Thus the scene closed, not to be reopened till after a break of nineteen years.
The Secession Presbytery of Wigtown arranged on 20th February 1837 to have a preacher sent two Sabbaths to begin mission work in Gatehouse as soon as convenient, and at next meeting Mr Towers of Wigtown stated that he had addressed respectable audiences there on the second Sabbath of March, and that supply should be provided for the whole of April. After this reports that the station continued to prosper were brought in from time to time, and in the summer of 1838 a site was looked out for a place of worship. Three probationers were now located for periods of six months in succession ; Mr A. R. Johnston, who left to be ordained at Duntocher ; the Rev. David Hogg, formerly of Rattray ; and Mr Alexander Paterson, afterwards of Dairy, in Galloway. The station was congreg^ated on 20th February 1839, with a membership of about 50. The church, with 200 sittings, was to be opened on Sabbath, 24th May 1840, by the Rev. John Young, M.A., of London, and, failing him, by Mr Johnston of Duntocher. The cost seems to have been about ^390, of which the Board granted ;^ioo, and the people raised ^130. The population at that time was about 20CX3. The village is partly in the parish of Girthon and partly in that of Anwoth, two parishes from which the congregation of Kirkcudbright, eight miles distant, had about 20 adherents, young and old, so that there was some Secession material to draw from. In August 1840 a call was addressed to Mr Walter Muckersie, who, after taking time for deliberation, declined, and was afterwards ordained at Ferry-Port-on-Craig.
First Minister. — JAMES FALCONER, from Glasgow (now Sydney Place). The call was signed by 41 members and 36 adherents, and the stipend of £60 from the people was to be made up to ^80 by a grant from the Mission Board. Ordamed, 5th April 1842; and in 1845 the building was freed from debt, the people raising ^80, and an equal sum being granted by the Liquidation Board. On 30th March 1847 Mr F'alconer resigned his charge. The membership was now reduced to 36 and the average attendance to about 50. On 20th April the resignation was accepted, the Presbytery recording it as their conviction that the decline had arisen from circum-
20 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
stances over which the minister had no control. They instanced the removal of some who had taken a lively interest in the congregation, and they also expressed disappointment at the want of steadfastness on the part of others from whom better things might have been expected. Mr Falconer was inducted as colleague at Spittal on nth July 1848, but resigned on account of ill-health, loth October 1849, and died at Glasgow, 20th April 1851.
Second Minister. — John Thorburn, who under pressure accepted the call, and was loosed from Dunning (Relief) that the way might be opened for union between the two congregations there. Inducted, 14th January 1851. This relationship lasted eight and a half years, and had then to be dissolved owing to a serious act of forgetfulness on his part and deep dissatisfaction on the part of his people. On 23rd August 1 859, after being rebuked, he was loosed from his charge, and his name recommended to be put on the probationer list. He itinerated as a preacher from September 1861 to December 1864, and died in the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, on 21st February 1865, in the fiftieth year of his age. Mr Thorburn, so far as we can gather, and as appears from some slight productions of his pen, was a preacher of more than average ability, but somehow ill-fortune attended him in each of his three successive charges.
Third Minister. — Andrew Clark, from Paisley (Thread Street). Or- dained, 23rd October i860. The stipend from the people was ^60, and the call was signed by 40 members and 16 adherents. Under his ministry com- pacting went on, though there was no very great building up. Mr Clark died at Largs, i6th July 1883, in the fifty-first year of his age and twenty-third of his ministry. There was a membership at this time of "]"]., and the funds yielded ^75 of stipend.
Fourth Minister. — Alexander B. Dykes, M.A., from Shamrock Street, Glasgow. Ordained, 27th February 1884, and translated to Gorebridge, 4th October 1887. With a declining population around numerical increase, even under a young minister, was scarcely to be expected.
Fifth Minister. — James G. Clark, M.A., son of the Rev. John Clark of Urr. Ordained, 15th Januar}^ 1889. At the close of 1899 there were 70 names on the communion roll, and the stipend from the people was ^70, which was made up to ^206 in all by Supplement, Surplus, and ^40 from the Ferguson Bequest Fund. There is no manse, and never has been.
KIRKCOWAN (United Secession)
The name of Kirkcowan, along with that of Mochrum, comes up in the old Secession records so early as 7th October 1746, when an accession was given in from some people in these parishes, and Mr John Swanston was appointed to preach to them on his way to Ireland, and again some months afterwards on his way back. Between these passing visits they had one Sabbath filled up, and then they merge in the Associate congregation of Galloway, with its seat in Wigtown. It was not till nearly a century after that the Secession Presbytery of the bounds commenced evangelistic opera- tions at Kirkcowan, a village at this time of 500 inhabitants. In the Missionary Report for 1837 it is stated that the station began in 1835, the circumstances being as follows : — A Baptist minister had been preaching in the village for two years. Of those who had been waiting on his ministra- tions about a dozen were deprived of their Christian privileges by the parish church session for promoting "divisive courses." Joined by a number more they had sermon from the Relief Presbytery of Glasgow from the middle of
I
PRESBYTERY OF GALLOWAY 21
October to the end of November 1835. Then the Secession Presbytery of Wigtown stepped in, and agreed, on 20th September 1836, to send preachers to Kirkcowan for six months, the meetings being held in a private house fitted up for the purpose. On 21st March 1837 the supporters of the station, to the number of 60, petitioned for regular supply during summer. The Rev. Peter Hannay now ministered to them for some months while pausing between Oban and Creetown. The feeble cause at Kirkcowan owed much at this time to the minister and congregation of Eaglesham, who interested themselves deeply in its welfare, and aided to the extent of ^30 a year.
First Minister. — Thomas Smah., from Ecclefechan, who got licence in 18 1 7, and after twenty years of probationer life might find it a relief to undertake regular work even in a very humble sphere. His location at Kirkcowan began in June 1838, and his salary was to Ije ^80 a year, and on 24th July he received ordination, the services being conducted in a tent. It was deemed expedient to have Mr Small qualified to administer sealing ordinances, but there was no pastoral bond formed. In another year the station was congregated, there being a membership of about 70. Four elders were next elected and ordained, but it was not till i6th July 1844 that Mr Smail was inducted. The call was signed by 33 members and 8 adherents. The stipend promised by the people was ^40, and Eaglesham was to furnish ^10 for three years, and the Board was expected to grant other ^10. Matters continued on this level for seventeen years ; but in i860 the membership was down to 55, and the people could not offer more than ^25 in addition to keeping their humble place of worship in repair. But Mr Smail was now among infirmities, and on 17th April of that year his resignation was accepted. He survived only nine days, dying on the 26th, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. The name figures in Thomas Carlyle's Reminiscences, whose fellow-townsman he was, as well as fellow- student,and at whose hand he g^ets contemptuous treatment. He speaks of him, however, as having developed into " a flowery preacher," a description the accuracy of which there is nothing to confirm. But we know at least that Mr Smail held the fort faithfully at Kirkcowan for upwards of twenty years.
Second Minister. — John Dawson, from Queen Street, Edinburgh. Or- dained, 26th June 1861. The stipend was ^40 from the people, ^30 from the Board, and ^50 was expected from the Ferguson Fund. On i6th March 1862 the congregation took possession of a new church, with 220 sittings, built at a cost of £700. It was opened by Dr MacGill, the Home Mission Secretary, and was nearly free of debt. Four years afterwards a manse was erected, which also cost ^700, of which ^385 was raised by the people or their minister, and ^315 was granted them by the Board. Mr Dawson died, 17th August 1871, after a long and painful illness, in the forty-sixth year of his age and eleventh of his ministry. Those who knew Mr Dawson when a divinity student can attest that he was a man of high-toned Christian character.
T/iird Minister. — David F. Mitchell, from Carnwath. Ordained, 17th December 1872. The congregation prior to this had called, without success, Mr Adam Gray, now of Kirn. Mr Mitchell, acting under medical advice, demitted his charge before the third year of his ministry was com- pleted, with the view of emigrating to a milder climate, and the connection was dissolved, 21st September 1875. He is now minister of a Presbyterian congregation in South Brisbane, Queensland.
Fourth Minister. — Alkxander Scott, B.D., from Quecnsferry. Or- dained at Ballyfrenis, in Ireland, 12th March 1868, and inducted to Kirk- cowan, i8th October 1876. Accepted Musselburgh (Bridge Street), 6th June 1882. Kirkcowan membership had now come up from 68 to 83. A
22 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
short time after Mr Scott's removal the congregation called Mr William Yule, who declined, and obtained Baillieston.
Fifth Minisfer.—V^l-LhlXM Henderson, from Selkirk (First). Ordained, 26th June 1883. At the close of 1899 there was a membership of 90, and a stipend of £70 from the people, which was made up from the Ferguson Bequest and Central Funds to ^186, with the manse.
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW
GREYFRIARS (Burgher)
On 13th December 1738 a petition signed by 83 persons, members of Praying Societies in and about Glasgow, was presented to the Associate Presbytery craving to be taken under their inspection. The first time they had sermon was on Thursday, 26th April 1739, when the services were con- ducted by Messrs Ebenezer and Ralph Erskine and Mr James Thomson of Burntisland. As Ralph Erskine states in his Diary, two tents were erected for them within two miles of the town. The Association had branches already in Rutherglen, Gadder, and New Kilpatrick, and they were after- wards joined by Praying Societies in Mearns, Neilston, Kirkintilloch, Old Monkland, and other parishes around. The first session was constituted on 9th February 1740, and consisted of six elders and three deacons. Mean- while there was occasional sermon at various places in the neighbourhood, and even before acceding to the Presbytery an attempt was made to ascer- tain what the several societies would subscribe for the maintenance of a minister.
First Minister. — James Fisher, formerly of Kinclaven. Elected, 5th June 1740, with great unanimity, 17 who had voted for Ralph Erskine signing the call. For thirteen months the decision was put off from meeting to meeting, Mr Moncrieff of Abernethy being bent on retaining Mr Fisher in Kinclaven, but on 8th October 1741 he was inducted into his new charge. Ebenezer Erskine, his father-in-law, preached from the text : " I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed," and the sermon appears among the author's published discourses. In addressing the people he brought in the duty of proceeding with the erection of a regular place of worship. They had been meeting for some time at Crossbill, and there the induction took place, but on the first Sabbath of November 1742 they took possession of the church they had built in Shuttle Street. Into the Controversy on the Burgess Oath Mr Fisher threw himself with indignant warmth, and along with Ralph Erskine took the lead on the side of forbearance. Adam Gib was bold enough to impute the attitude he took up on this question to hostility to Mr Moncrieff for having tried to fix him down at Kinclaven, and this story was brought up in .Struthers' "History of Scotland" so late as 1828.
Mr Fisher published a pamphlet in 1748, entitled "A Serious Enquiry into the Burgess Oaths of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Perth," in which the subject is reasoned out with comparative calmness. A year later he wrote another, addressed to members of his congregation who had gone to form " The Mother Antiburgher Church " in Glasgow. For his misdeeds by speech and pen Mr Fisher was one of three selected at the outset to undergo the sentence of the greater excommunication at the hands of the Antiburgher Synod — " the first droppings of a thunder-shower." But before this he was chosen by his own Synod to be their Theological Professor, an office which
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 23
he held till 1764, when failing strength and the demands of an overgrown congregation compelled him to resign. Two years later, when he was verging on threescore and ten, he expressed a strong desire to have the help of a colleague, and also to see the congregation comfortably settled before his death.
The first call came out in the early part of 1768. It was addressed to the Rev James Clunie, who had been settled in Dundee only three months before. The signatures numbered 1162, adherents included, but none of them under the age of sixteen. The sad issue is^iven under the histoiy of School Wynd, Dundee. A call followed in 1770 to Mr William Fletcher signed by 564 and dissented from by 210. The Presbytery referred the call to the Synod, by whom it was laid aside " as improper to be carried into execution in the present embroiled state of the congregation." Bridge of Teith became the scene of Mr Fletcher's labours.
Second Minister. — George Henderson, from Kinross (West). A rival call from Cambusnethan was sustained on the same day, but Mr Henderson was, with some reluctance, ordained colleague and successor to Mr Fisher on 22nd August 1 77 1. His intimate friend, the Rev. George Lawson of Selkirk, was present as a corresponding member, but it was not he who preached the ordination sermon, as his biographer supposed. There were three discourses preached on the occasion, but all by members of Presbytery, as had been previously arranged. The stipend was to be ^80 meanwhile, but should he become sole pastor it was to be raised to what the senior minister had — ^100, with the manse. Mr Fisher died, 28th September 1775, in the seventy-ninth year of his age and fiftieth of his ministry. Of his family one daughter became the wife of her mother's cousin, the Rev. James Erskine of Stirling ; another was married to Mr Erskine's successor, the Rev. Robert Campbell, but they both died early ; a third was the mother of the Rev. Dr Wardlaw of Glasgow ; and a fourth left an infant daughter a few days old — Erskine Gray — who became the wife of the Rev. Ebenezer Brown of Inverkeithing. A very faithfully prepared Life of Fisher by Dr Brown of Broughton Place, Edinburgh, with a large amount of valuable information drawn from original sources, forms a half volume of the " United Presbyterian Fathers."
Of Mr Fisher's publications one, which appeared in 1742, relates to the great Revival in the west of Scotland. It is very much an amplification of the Associate Presbytery's judgment on George Whitefield as a priest of the Church of England, whom it was wrong in the friends of a covenanted reformation to countenance, and in it Mr Fisher, like his brethren, deplored " the symptoms of delusion attending the present awful work upon the bodies and spirits of men." The Secession Fathers consistently set themselves against those physical manifestations which some ascribed with confidence to the operations of the Spirit of God. Twice effects of a similar kind showed themselves in their own congrega- tions on communion occasions — once at Orwell and once at Abemethy, under the preaching of the Rev. David Smyton of Kilmaurs — when "the noise among the hearers was so great as to interrupt the progress of the service ; but Mr Ralph Erskine, who was present, wisely put a stop to the commotion by solemnly rebuking the people and warning them that nothing extravagant or disorderly could be supposed to proceed from Divine influence." * But it was by the Catechism which bears his name that Mr Fisher did most service with his pen to the Secession Church and to the cause of revealed truth. It is an exposition of the Shorter Catechism by way of question and answer, and it did much in our fathers' days to * Christian Repository for 1820, p. 168.
24 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
train both young and old to a master}' of sound theology. Of the book itself Dr William Anderson wrote as follows : — " It is the glory of the faith, the mental philosophy and the theology of Scotland. In scholastic subtlety of distinction it ecjuals that of Aquinas and Scotus, while it is clothed with a charm of piety, and advances with a power of scripture proof in which they were so deficient."
After Mr Fisher's death Mr Henderson went on single-handed for five years, but in March 1781 a petition for pulpit supply was presented by the congregation to the J^resbytery "because of their minister's present indisposition." For a time the pulpit was filled almost every Sabbath by ordained ministers, and in a few months Mr Henderson expressed to the session his felt need of a colleague. This was followed by a request for a moderation, the stipend of the junior pastor to be ^100.
Third Mittister. — Alexander Pirie, from Linlithgow, where he had been ordained only a year and a half before. Inducted, nth June 1782. Mr Henderson was so far recovered that he preached and presided on the occasion. He may also have been able to take a regular share of the work at first, but in August of the following year Mr Lawson of Selkirk wrote him : " I am sorry to hear that you are still in a poor state of health, but glad, at the same time, to hear that you do not murmur at the hand by which you are afflicted." But there is nothing in the letter to indicate the prospect of ultimate recovery. The end must have been sudden. Dr M'Kelvie states in a note appended to his Life of Michael Bruce that Mr Henderson preached on Sabbath and died on the following Thursday. This answers to the 2nd of December 1784, the date given in the Scots Magazine. He was in the thirty-ninth year of his age and fourteenth of his ministry. Mr Henderson was a close friend of Bruce, and his name is well known in that connection. It is to him that the poet refers in his " Lochleven " as " Lelius I partner of my youthful hours."
Five of Mr Henderson's sermons were put into print by his son, with a brief Memoir prefixed, so late as 1859. His widow, a daughter of Bailie Buchanan, Greenock, survived her husband fifty-three years.
Ten years after Mr Pirie was left sole pastor the congregation got deeply involved in the controversy about the magistrate's power, and petitions against interference with the Formula went up to successive meetings of Synod, one of them subscribed by 109 members. As the crisis drew on the session was troubled by members betaking themselves for baptism to Pollok- shaws, where Old Light views prevailed. For nearly a year before the rupture in the Synod the dissatisfied party in Glasgow formed themselves into a society, and were holding meetings " for prayer and conversation." They issued a strongly expressed manifesto on the Original Principles of the Secession, with charges of apostasy against the Synod in general and certain of their leaders in particular.* This party had two retired ministers among them, both of whom were from Shuttle Street — the Rev. John Thomson, recently of Kirkintilloch ; and the Rev. George Thomson, who had been in Rathillet long before. So the Original Burgher congregation in Glasgow sprung into existence 500 strong. The withdrawals in 1799 must have thinned the pews of Shuttle Street Church, though it is too much to say that they reduced the congregation to "a shadow." When the worst was coming it was resolved to have Mr Pirie provided with a colleague, the stipend to be ^160. The Rev. Ebenezer Brown of Inverkeithing was first fixed on ; but he was averse to a change, and the Synod in April 1800 de- ggided accordingly.
SynoThis "Testimony " is dated 18th January 1799, nine months before any member chosen i gave in a declinature-
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 25
Fourth Minister. — John Dick, M.A., who had been fourteen years in Slateford. Inducted, 21st May 1801. While the collegiate relation lasted Mr Dick used to conduct service on Sabbath evening once a month. Hence his able volume of Lectures on the Acts of the Apostles, published in 1808. But Mr Pirie died, 28th February 1810, in the sixty-second year of his age and thirty-sixth of his ministry, and these services were discontinued. In 181 5 Mr Dick obtained the degree of D.D. from Princeton College, New Jersey. In 1817 Shuttle Street stipend was ^320, the highest received by any Dis- senting minister in Glasgow. In April 1820 Dr'Dick was appointed Pro- fessor of Theology, an office which he accepted with much reluctance. During the first session he had only the Burgher students in his class, but afterwards, owing to Professor Paxton's refusal to concur in the Union, he had both sections under his care. This continued till 1825, when there were 154 in attendance, and that year Dr Mitchell was appointed to the Chair of Biblical Criticism, relieving Dr Dick of the first and second year students. On 1 8th November 1821 Greyfriars Church was opened, with 1500 sittings, built at a cost of ^8300. The collection was ^260, which a newspaper of the day spoke of as " the largest sum ever collected on such an occasion in Glasgow." The Professor died after a very brief illness on 25th January 1833, in the sixty-ninth year of his age and forty-seventh of his ministry. It was apoplexy in the end, and, "such were the rapid advances of disease," wrote Dr Heugh, "that I could not have recognised the well-known face of Dr Dick." His Lectures on Theology were published a year after his death, in four volumes, which used to hold a high place in the examination of students and in the manses of the U.P. Church. The Biography prefixed was written by his son, Mr A. Coventry Dick, advocate, the author of a masterly "Dissertation on Church Polity," which appeared in 1835 as a contribution to the discussion on Voluntaryism. Dr Dick was a son-in-law of the Rev. George Coventry of Stitchel.
Fifth Minister. — David King, translated from Dalkeith, where he had been little more than three years. At their meeting in September 1833 the Synod decided that in the case of transporting or competing calls the decision shall be left to the individual more particularly concerned, and accordingly Mr King's preference was endorsed without a vote. It was the end of the old dispensation, and Greyfriars induction took place, 15th October 1833. As the call was signed by only 454 members it would seem that the congregation had come down from what it used to be. Dr Dick was too thoughtful and self-restrained to be aboundingly popular, and as years advanced he may have waned before younger men. But now there was the setting in of a springtide of prosperity, which declined only with Dr King's decline. In 1836 the communicants numbered 820, and there was a stipend of ^370. The congregation was also expending ^60 a year on the missionary station at Oban, besides paying an annuity of ^100 to Dr Dick's widow. In 1840 Dr King published a pamphlet on the Voluntary question, entitled " The True Independence of the Church of Christ." In the Atonement Controversy he also figured, taking his stand on the side of forbearance, and all the while there was the high standard of pulpit efficiency maintained. "The sun of his intellectual power, I am afraid, shines too bright to last long," was a lady's verdict when his Glasgow ministry opened ; but year after year the work went on amidst nervous tension and a great amount of mental tear and wear. We think now, If he had but learned to rest, and rest in time ; but even when abroad in 1848 his pen was all activity, and this was followed by his volume on the " State and Prospects of Jamaica." That same year appeared his "Geology and Religion," which passed rapidly through five editions. In 1854 we read, with painful interest,
26 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
of his powers being so strung up that even in sleep a sermon would be composed, to be traced out in pencil before it faded from the tablets of the mind. Then the fainting, the restlessness, and the long, deep, deathlike slumber. We recall what he wrote of John Bright, whom he once met at a hydropathic in Yorkshire : " He has overdone his brain, and is here, a nervous patient, dispirited, tremulous, and disabled." On 13th March 1855 Dr King wrote the Presbytery intimating his wish, on account of impaired health, to retire from the active superintendence of Greyfriars congregation. The arrangement come to was that he should retain his status, and receive an allowance of £2)7o for two years, and afterwards ^270. This leads us on to the retreat at Kilcreggan, where work was resumed on a quiet scale, and where we shall take up the broken thread. It is enough to add here that Dr King's resignation was accepted on 27th October 1862, that he might accept a call to London (Westbourne Grove).
In April 1855 Greyfriars congregation presented to the Rev. John Cairns of Berwick what was described as the only perfectly unanimous call that church had ever given, but Glasgow was to be baffled, as Edinburgh had been already. At the next moderation the Rev. James Knox of Ayr was carried over the Rev. Alexander MacEwen of Helensburgh by a majority of 63. The call was declined, and in a few months Mr Knox was brought in to Pollok Street, and Mr MacEwen to Claremont Church, which may have told doubly on the membership of Greyfriars. When a moderation was next applied for the stipend was made ^400 instead of ^500.
Sixth Minister. — Henry Calderwood, M.A., from Edinburgh (Rose Street), but a native of Peebles. Ordained, i6th September 1856. Mr Calderwood had acquired distinction before the close of his theological course by his well-known work on the " Philosophy of the Infinite," in which he tried conclusions on high themes with his old professor Sir William Hamilton. Though weighted with the cares of a large congrega- tion he was not turned aside from his favourite study, as his article on John S. Mill's Utilitarianism in the British and Foreign for 1867 attested. Another article, on Professor Ferrier of St Andrews, which appeared soon after, is perhaps in its own way the most masterly thing he ever penned. Two years before this Glasgow University had conferred on him the degree of LL.D., and in 1868 he was appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh. His resignation of Greyfriars Church was accepted on 8th September of that year, and he girt himself for onerous duties of another kind, though he never turned his back upon his former profession or his denominational connection. In 1880 he was Moderator of the U.P. Synod. He also edited the denominational magazine from 1884 to i8gr, and contributed largely to its columns, without emolument or reward. But the side work he undertook along with his regular round of duty told upon the springs of life ; the heart's functions got disturbed, and he died suddenly on 19th November 1897, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. A list of Professor Calderwood's published works, ending with his unfinished Life of David Hume for the Famous Scots Series, need not be inserted here. His Life, with its wide range of activity, has been befit- tingly given to the public by his son, Mr W. L. Calderwood, Edinburgh, and his son-in-law, the Rev. David Woodside, B.D., Glasgow.
Seventh Mi7iister. — JAMES BUCHANAN, translated from Linlithgow (West), where he had been six years. Inducted, 29th April 1869. Loosed from his charge, 26th May 1881, having been chosen by the Synod to succeed Dr MacGill as Foreign Mission Secretary. Mr Buchanan's business talents, along with a serious inbreak on his health, recommended his trans- ference to this situation, the duties of which he has since discharged with
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 27
systematic efficiency. During this vacancy the congregation called Mr Walter Brown ; but the youngest congregation in Edinburgh was to be his choice and not the oldest congregation in Glasgow.
Eighth Minister. — William S. Goodall, M.A. from Stewarton, where he had ministered for five years. Inducted, 12th September 1883. As the position was known to be difficult he was invited in 1890 to remove to Dunbeth, Coatbridge, but remained in Greyfriars. Though the congrega- tion is changed from what it was in Dr King's time there was a membership of nearly 700 at the close of 1899, and the stipend was ^520.
CATHEDRAL SQUARE (Antiburgher)
This is " The Mother Antiburgher Church in Glasgow " in a new domicile and under a new name. It began in the withdrawal of certain "burgesses and others" from the ministry of Mr Fisher at the Breach of 1747. On 6th August of that year the Antiburgher Synod received a petition from a considerable number of Glasgow congregation craving advice, supply, and "a constitute session." All they obtained, meanwhile, was liberty to receive sealing ordinances from neighbouring ministers. In this state matters con- tinued till Mr Mair of Orwell was appointed to preach to them on the first Sabbath of June and intimate that their former minister was under sus- pension. He was also to constitute two elders and two deacons into a session if it were thought necessary. In 1749 the Praying Societies were told to look out for six elders and four deacons. One elder was needed for the parish of Monkland, another for Cambuslang, and a deacon for the parish of Cadder. The congregation met at this time in a hall in what is now Queen Street. In February 1752 the Synod refused to sustain a call from Glasgow to Mr Alexander Niramo as it was given by "a scrimp majority," and he was ordained soon after at Newcastle (now Blackett Street). [Vol. I. page 567.]
First Minister. — JOHN J.\MlE.sON, from Craigmailen. His father was a farmer near Linlithgow, of whom Dr George Johnston has said : " It is a singular fact that this man, the father and grandfather of two Antiburgher ministers, was himself a rigid Episcopalian, and died a churchwarden of the vicar of Riccarton." At the close of his theological course in 1751 the Presbyter)' of Perth and Dunfermline were instructed to take Mr Jamieson •on trials for licence that he might undertake a mission to Pennsylvania ; but a call from Glasgow came in, and his ordination took place, iith January 1753. Next year ground was bought in Havannah Street, on which to build a church. Mr Jamieson laboured on for seventeen years, generally conduct- ing three services each Lord's Day, but on the third Sabbath of May 1770 he was seized with palsy in the pulpit. The congregatipn were annoyed to find that some people ascribed this serious and sudden illness of their minister to the amount of work they had laid upon him, and, since "from the nature of his trouble it was the universal opinion he would never be able in the best state of health to discharge his functions as formerly," a colleague was the inevitable resource. Mr Jamieson, who was feeling himself greatly better, looked with disfavour on the proposal ; but, seeing the people fixed in their purpose, he expressed concurrence. His stipend had been /70, but they were now to make it ^80, and the junior colleague was to have ^60.
Second Minister. — James Ramsay, from Whitehaven. Like Mr Jamieson, he had been fixed on for America, but in him Presbyter}- and Synod had a refractor)' subject to deal with. Under pressure he accepted ordination on 1st August 1770, but with the proviso that he would go "only if he could by any means get over his difficulties." These thickened in as time passed ;
28 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
and he was, moreover, in demand for Glasgow, to say nothing of his native congregation at Whitehaven. For resistance to his superiors he was sus- pended for a time from preaching, but when the sentence ran out the Synod appointed him to the Havannah. He was inducted on 30th June 1772, the call being signed by 237 male members. From Mr Ramsay's pamphlet of 390 pages, entitled " Conscience Disburdened in a Flight from Persecution," we can trace through a dark-coloured medium the windings of his ministerial life. He possessed rare pulpit gifts, but they were linked to a most unhappy temperament. None the less, and largely through the influx of Seceders into Glasgow, the congregation prospered and the church required to be greatly enlarged. Mr Ramsay, by his own showing, was amidst down- bearing labours. For several summers there were three services on Sabbath, and a discourse on Thursday evening, and his colleague could never take more than one service, and during the inclement season he only preached on alternate Sabbaths. For himself, he made a point of visiting his whole congregation of 900 members once a year, except the families in Anderston, where Mr Jamieson resided. This work engaged him more or less three days every week during five months in winter and the early spring.
The setting up of a congregation in Anderston fretted Mr Ramsay, though he tells that he opened their church, concurred in Mr Mitchell's ordination, "and promised himself better days than he had feared." But offences came owing to parties on the Havannah side crossing the dividing line at Jamaica Street and worshipping at Anderston. While he was in this un- happy state of mind Mr Jamieson died on 15th December 1793, in the sixty-eighth year of his age and forty-first of his ministry. Mr Ramsay being unreliable for regular pulpit work some of the people began in a very few years to talk of a colleague.
Third Minister. — Robert Muter, from Strathaven, where he had been brought up in the Established Church, but joined the Secession when a student. Having obtained licence in March 1799 he preached in the Havannah, and the first discourse he gave was delivered, we read, with all the " readiness and vivacity of popular oratory, and in a capital voice, which had been a great desideratum among the preachers." After a further trial of his gifts the call came out with comparative unanimity to Mr Muter, and was preferred by the Synod to another from Leslie (West). The senior minister was to have ^140 and the junior ^130. But Mr Ramsay's ill- disguised aversions were now to burst forth and bear down every semblance of his better nature. Believing that there was a lion in the way Mr Muter drew back from ordination at Glasgow, and was even drawn into corre- spondence with Leslie ; but at last he accepted the call, and Mr Ramsay instantly resigned. Remonstrances followed, and there was delay from one meeting to another. On 8th April 1800 the culmination was reached. That day Mr Ramsay opened out before the Presbytery what he called his Defence, a bulky document consisting of eighty-six large quarto pages. At the first sederunt he overtook twenty-four pages, dealing with Mr Muter's delinquencies in seven divisions. Then there was an adjournment till six o'clock, when he commenced anew before an audience of, he supposed, 2000 people. Other thirty-three pages brought them to nine or ten o'clock, when he needed to pause, having been " on his feet all day, and reading^ as loud as he usually spoke from the pulpit." Other matters occupied him till nearly midnight. His brethren bore up wonderfully, and after he concluded they thought it best to refer the whole affair to the Synod.
When the Synod met in April Mr Ramsay was not present, and instead of taking up the case they appointed the Presbytery to meet on 13th May along with correspondents from other Presbyteries. The congregation
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 29
having agreed, with only five dissentient voices, to oppose the resignation no longer the connection was dissolved, and next day Mr Ramsay "went home to his house with a serious but an easy and serene mind, and a glad heart." He now spent his Sabbaths at home. He had been sitting loose to. Secession principles for many years, and he now set himself to examine the foundations of Presbyterianism, with the result that the whole fabric crumbled into ruins among his hands. A book followed on the Nature, Constitution, and Administration of Gospel Churches. He was an out-and- out Independent now, and, some of his former people having gathered round him, they met for public worship in the Trades' Hall, and formed a church of about 30 members. We are quite prepared to hear after this that " Mr Ramsay preached with astonishing power three times every Sabbath for several months." This would go on while the excitement lasted, and then there would be the reaction. The fact that he had renounced his witnessing .profession with serious aggravations was brought before the Synod, and he tfas deposed, ist May 1801. In 1802 his health failed, and Mr William ['Gavin, the author of" The Protestant," though only a layman, was installed his colleague. But though the little company had now a chapel of their 5wn in Hutchesontown there was gradual decline, and in 1807 Mr M 'Gavin isigned, and Mr Ramsay, it is to be inferred, withdrew into private life. In parting with him let us record Mr M'Gavin's testimony to his merits : "All le old Seceders who knew him in his prime, and who have conversed with le on the subject, have confessed that as a preacher they never heard his 6qual." Mr Ramsay died at Rothesay, 12th August 1824, in the seventy- seventh year of his age. His old congregation paid him an annuity to the close. All we know of his family is that his eldest son. Captain James "lamsay of the Columbian Navy, encountered a sad fate. The Glast^ow ierald recorded in February 1826 that, when asleep in his bed on ship- sard, he was assassinated by his gunner, who immediately terminated his )wn existence.
Of Mr Ramsay's controversial writings the first was a goodly pamphlet, jublished in 1778, entitled "The Relief Scheme Considered," in which he Struck out against Free Communion, and was at the opposite pole from Independency. This involved him in warfare with the Rev. Patrick Hutchison Df Paisley, and led to a second publication of a similar kind. In 1782 he lingled in the "Lifter" Controversy, recommending forbearance in his [" Irenicum," But in the end his pen got ample employment in the opening )ut of his own grievances and in bitter and sometimes amusing animadver- sions on all and sundry.
Mr Muter was ordained, 14th August 1800. There were numerous k^ithdrawals from the membership at first, but there was also rapid increase, ind on 29th November 1801 a new church was opened, fronting Duke Street, nth sittings for 1224, and built at a cost of ^4500. In 1817 there was a [stipend of ^280. The word "ambitious" has been applied to Mr Muter in those days, and his discourses seem to have had more of the high-wrought Style than was common in Antiburgher pulpits. In 1832 he had the degree of D.D. from Rutger's College, New Brunswick. But two years before this le had been promoted to the rank of senior minister in Duke Street, though le was not quite threescore. At this point the congregation entered on a [train of experiences altogether unique.
Fourth Minister. — Walter Duncan, son of the Rev. Alexander Duncan [of Mid-Calder. Appointed by the Synod to Glasgow in preference to Dum- [barton, and ordained as colleague to Mr Muter, 17th June 1830, each linistcr to have ^240. Deposed, 14th April 1835, and submitted to the sentence in 9 penitential spirit. Further reference to Mr Duncan will come
30 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
up in connection with the churches in East Regent Place and Pariiamentary Road.
Fifth Minister. — Hamilton M. MacGill, from Mauchline. Chose Glas- gow in preference to Buchlyvie and Thornliebank, and was ordained on 2nd February 1837. In little more than three years we are among the normal workings of a collegiate charge. By that time about three-eighths of the names on the communion roll had been added since the commencement of Mr MacGill's ministry, and it became evident that among them there was a growing wish to have the senior minister thrust into the background. Amidst strong opposition from the majority this was followed by the dis- junction of a large party from Duke Street on loth November 1840, with Mr MacGill for their minister, but this belongs to the history of Woodlands Road Church. Dr Muter was now left sole pastor again, but that was only to be for a few months. Twice had disruption cut down the membership, but now there was to be a repairing of the breaches by amalgamation.
Sixth Minister. — John Graham, brought in, along with his people, from Blackfriars Street Relief Church. At a meeting of Presbytery on 9th March 1841 the two ministers and commissioners from both congregations had declared their wish for coalescence. Difficulties came up, but these were got over, and the union took place on 25th March 1841. After sermon the questions of the Formula were put to Dr Muter and Mr Graham, and the people having signified their acceptance of both as their ministers by holdmg up the right hand Mr Graham was set apart by prayer to the collegiate charge of the congregation. At next meeting of Synod the ministers who examined the Minutes of Presbytery reported that they con- sidered the proceedings in this case "not only as most anomalous but irregular and unconstitutional in the highest degree, inasmuch as there does not appear to have been either a call given or an edict served." Dr Muter died, 5th May 1842, in the seventy-first year of his age and forty-second of his ministry. He was a son-in-law of the Rev. Andrew Mitchell of Beith and a brother-in-law of Dr Mitchell of Wellington Street.
We come now to a third disruption in Duke Street. A certain newspaper had come out with the report of a congregational banquet held in the Assembly Rooms, at which the rules of propriety were infringed, and on nth February 1845 Mr Graham asked the Presbytery to investigate into this matter. The committee of inquiry reported in April that the meeting, besides being unduly prolonged, had been disfigured by spirit-drinking and story-telling, with an utter absence of edifying entertainment. A sentence of strong condemnation, was to be read from the pulpit, and inquiries affecting the minister were also to be instituted. On 15th July a libel was framed ; but on the 23rd Mr Graham renounced the authority of the Presby- tery, and on 9th September he was declared no longer a minister or member of the United Secession Church. He made no attempt to retain possession of Duke Street pulpit, but withdrew to the Lyceum Rooms with a consider- able number of his people. A church was afterwards built for him in Barrack Street, to which we shall come shortly.
Seventh Minister. — Alexander Duncan, the eldest brother of Mr Walter Duncan. The congregation was much reduced in numbers, and for their encouragement the Presbytery agreed to occupy Duke Street pulpit Ijy turns every alternate Sabbath. Amalgamation was now arranged for with the congregation of East Regent Place, Mr Duncan, the minister there, being to remove with his people to Duke Street on 9th December 1845, but the particulars come in more fitly in connection with the winding-up of East Regent Place Church. Mr Duncan died, 27th February 1853, in the fifty- first year of his age and twenty-sixth of his ministry. The first-born of the
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 31
six brothers, he was also the first to be called away. He had been seized with apoplexy at a children's soiree in the church on the preceding Thursday, and died on Sabbath forenoon.
Eighth Minister. -]o\in Brown Johnston, from Kirkcaldy (Bethel- field), his second charge, where he had been junior colleague six years. The call was signed by 129 members and 22 adherents, which shows how much this old congregation had suffered and how little coalescence had done to repair its ruined fortunes. The stipend named was ^200, but, fore- casting better days if the call were accepted, they came up other ^50. Inducted, 26th January 1854. Had the degree of D.D. from Hamilton College, State of New York, in i860. Four years after this Dr Johnston declined a call to Dublin ; but on 12th September 1868 he was translated to Govan, leaving Duke Street congregation in something of its early strength.
Niftth Minister. — Matthew Crawford, from Sanquhar (South), where he was ordained eleven years before. The stipend was now ^450, and this call, in contrast with the former, was signed by 516 members and 159 adherents. Inducted, i8th March 1869. The present church in Cathedral Square, with nearly 1000 sittings, and built at a cost of ^20,000, was opened, 30th May 1880. The old building had been sold to the North British Railway Company two years before, and brought ^18,500, but of this sum ^5000 went for the new site. In January 1886 it was stated to the Presbytery that Mr Crawford, finding himself unable for ministerial duty, had agreed to accept a yearly allowance of ^75, and was to be freed from all responsibility
Tenth Minister. — Joseph L. Skerret, translated from School Wynd, Dundee, which was his third charge, and inducted, 5th August 1886, his stipend to be ^375. Shortly after this Mr Crawford went to reside in Partick, partly, perhaps, to give his colleague greater freedom. But when a retired minister goes beyond the bounds of his congregation his former services and his present claims are in danger of passing into the background. Whatever may have been the explanation in this case complications arose, which led ultimately to the appointment of a Synodical Commission to meet with parties and give judgment. An adjustment was arrived at through Mr Crawford consenting to accept ^250 in satisfaction of all claims. Five years later a larger commission, entrusted with more important work, visited Cathedral Square, and on 24th May 1894 they suspended the Rev. J. L. Skerret from office si7te die., on the ground of culpable imprudence, and loosed him from his charge.
When Glasgow Presbytery decided on 3rd April 1894 to proceed against Mr Skerret by libel they interdicted him from exercising the functions of his office meanwhile ; but next Sabbath he and his adherents worshipped in the Argyle Halls, Duke Street, and his explanation was that instead of preaching he conducted evangelistic services. There they continued to assemble regularly, and after sentence of suspension sine die was passed a number of ihis sympathisers from Cathedral Square Church demanded a meeting of the congregation to take up a resolution for the immediate sale of the property. This being refused by the session, of whom ten elders kept by the congrega- jlion, while only one or two followed Mr Skerret, the case passed into the civil courts. The impression of the pursuers appears to have been that if they inly got the merits under the notice of the Lords of Session all would be put llo rights. There was failure at eveiy stage, and the expenses to the gainmg Jarty reached ^207, of which the Synod relieved them. As the result of recent events, it was stated that the congregation had been reduced by about f^a half, and its financial resources correspondingly impaired. In September 1894 they called the Rev. John Forsyth of Kilwmning, who declined.
32 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
Eleventh Minister. — James Primrose, M.A., translated from Broxburn, where he had laboured nearly fifteen years. Inducted, 25th April 1895. In the following December the membership was 375 ; whereas three years before it was returned at 807. The stipend was to be ^300. In 1896 Mr Primrose published " The Mother Antiburgher Church of Glasgow," being a compre- hensive yet carefully minute history of his own congregation, written and arranged in a way that makes it verj' attractive. This was followed in 1898 by "Strathbrock ; or, the History and Antiquities of the Parish of Uphall," a book of wide antiquarian research, for which native aptitudes are required. The volume was favourably reviewed by the Press, and the author shortly afterwards elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Scotland. At the Union the membership of Cathedral Square came close on 600, and the stipend was ^350.
KELVINGROVE (Relief)
This congregation represents the original Relief Church in Glasgow. In 1763 the magistrates of the city were declared by the Lord Commissioners for the planting of churches to be the exclusive patrons to vacant parishes in the town, and a presentation to the Wynd Church was issued on this footing soon after and carried into effect. These proceedings gave great offence to many, as the General Session, or the session of the vacant parish, used to share the right of nomination. This led to the erection of a chapel in Cannon Street, with 1800 sittings, which was designated " The Meeting- House of the Free Presbyterian Society." The church was opened on 17th August 1766 by Mr Baine of College Street, Edinburgh. Two months before this the congregation had been taken under the inspection of the Relief Presbytery, but when they proceeded to fix on a minister difficulties arose. Boston of Jedburgh was first thought of, but in September he wrote them, stating that he could not see his way to remove to Glasgow. How- ever, the proposal to have his son from Alnwick inducted as his colleague, should the call be accepted, was favourably entertained, and on that under- standing Boston preached a day in Cannon Street, but at a meeting on 28th October a motion for delay was carried by 112 to 89. We find from Gillespie's manuscripts that he officiated in Glasgow on Sabbath, 21st December, and intimated a moderation for the following Wednesday ; but it must have come to nothing, and within two months Mr Boston died.
First Minister. — William Cruden, M.A., who had been ordained at Logie-Pert, 12th September 1753. Mr Cruden was the choice of Logie parish, Stirlingshire, in 1759, but patronage prevailed in favour of another. The Evenitig Courant of nth April 1767 announced that on Tuesday last Mr Cruden of Logie, near Montrose, was unanimously chosen to be minister of the Relief Church, Glasgow ; and he was inducted on i6th June following. Having no session he gave in to the Presbytery on 9th November a list of those deemed suitable for elders and deacons, and he was empowered to serve an edict and proceed to their ordination. When the question of Free Communion came before the Relief Synod in 1773 Mr Cruden, along with Mr Cowan of Colinsburgh, took up strongly conservative ground, and, when it was carried that it accorded with Relief principles to hold occasional communion with Episcopalians and Independents, he withdrew from further connection. In the beginning of 1774 he became minister of Crown Court Church, London, where he remained till his death, on 5th November 1785. His tombstone in Bunhill burying-place gives his age as sixty, and in Wilson's History of Dissenting Churches in London he is characterised as "a worthy
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 33
;ind respectable minister, of approved talents and piety, and lived in London, greatly respected by his brethren." He was the author of a collection of iiymns, entitled " Nature Spiritualised," and a volume of his sermons was published in 1787.
On 17th April 1774, as we find from a newspaper report, it was carried by a majority of Mr Cruden's former congregation to apply to the Established Church to have their place of worship placed on the footing of a Chapel of I^ase, members retaining the right to choose their own minister. The terms were agreed to, and on 8th May " The Meeting-house of the Free Presby- tciian Society " was opened as a church under the inspection of the Established Tresbytery of Glasgow. On the following Tuesday a section of the members petitioned the Relief Presbytery to be recognised as a forming congregation, which was done, and thus the continuity was preserved. Next year they built Dovehill Church, at a cost of ;^i88o, with sittings for 1400.
Second Minister. — Thomas Bell, from Jedburgh (High Street), where he had laboured for nine years. The translation was twice forbidden by the Relief Synod, though Mr Bell pleaded his unhappy situation, and Jedburgh people did not wish to retain him against his will. Mr Bell and Dovehill congregation took the matter into their own hands, and without formal recognition by any Church Court he entered on his ministry at Glasgow, and for nearly three years he and his people were out of all ecclesiastical connection. On 17th January 1780 they applied to the Presbytery to be readmitted, but this could not be done without the infliction of sharp censure. On ist March, besides rebuke, in which the commissioners shared, Mr Bell was suspended from office for two Sabbaths. The guilt of rebellion being now wiped out Dovehill congregation came forward on 14th April with a call to the Rev. Thomas Bell, " late minister of Jedburgh," which was at once accepted, and his induction followed on the 28th. The Church Courts of the Relief never again exercised authority in the case of a trans- porting call, with one notable exception at Auchtergaven.
In the latter part of 1797 the congregation was called to consider what they were to do owing to their minister's inability to preach. When waited on he gave it as his opinion that help was needed, but declined to be more specific. He was so infirm that he could not even write his brethren for assistance, and the Society was left to provide pulpit supply as it best could. The proposal carried to have a colleague, who should receive ^140, the stipend which Mr Bell had and was to retain. Before proceeding to an election a remarkable Article in the Constitution was read to the congrega- tion. The elders in a body were to vote first, then the managers, then the committee chosen by the congregation, and, last of all, the communicants and proprietors, being members. At the first moderation Mr Watt of Blairlogie had a majority in whatever way the balance may have been struck, but the session, managers, and committee agreed to desist from the prosecution. The congregation, however, did not acquiesce, and though the Presbytery sustained the call Mr Watt refused to accept. It bears the marks of a contest between the classes and the masses. From this point dates the origin of Hutchesontown on the one hand and John Street on the other.
Third Minister. — John Brodie, from Aberdeen, where he was ordained eighteen years before, and where he was described by Dr George Brown as "the popular minister of the Relief congregation, Shiprow." Inducted on nth October 1798 as colleague to Mr Bell. Invited back to Aberdeen within six months, but remained in Dovehill. After a time Mr Bell was able to take some share of public work ; but he died, 15th October 1802, in the sixty-ninth year of his age and thirty-fifth of his ministry. He was a weighty preacher, with more of the doctrinal in his discourses than was usual among
n. c
I
34 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
his brethren of the Relief. His publications include "A Treatise on the Nature and EfTects of Saving Faith " and " Discourses on the Supreme Deity of Jesus Christ." He even approximated to the Antiburgher standard on certain points, being opposed to the use of hymns and paraphrases in public worship, besides writing with vigour in defence of Covenanting. He translated Witsius on the Antinomian and Neonomian Controversies, and his scholarship is attested by his translation from the Dutch of Dr Wynpersse on " The True and Eternal Godhead of our Lord Jesus Christ." *
After becoming sole pastor Mr Brodie received a yearly gift of ^50 or ^60 in addition to the regular salary of ^140. He died, 7th October 181 1, in the sixty-first year of his age, according to the Scots Magazine^ and thirty- second of* his ministry. All that remains of his pulpit work is a sermon, entitled " The Preaching of the Gospel the great Means of Salvation," published the year he left Aberdeen. His son was long minister of the Relief Church, East Campbell Street.
Fourth Minister. — JOHN Barr, from Beith (Head Street). A prior call to Langholm (South) led to sundry complications, which are given in their own place. Ordained, 24th March 18 12, the stipend to be ^200, which was raised to ^270 in 181 5. Mr Barr was laid aside from all public work by a sudden stroke of illness in June 1831, and though he survived for a number of years he never preached again. He was the author of " Plain Catechetical Instructio.ns for Young Communicants," a little book which ran through at least sixteen editions. But a colleague being required now to take the entire work, the congregation called the Rev. John French of Strathaven, who declined, much to the Presbytery's regret.
Fifth Minister. — WiLLiAM Lindsay, who had been ordained at John- stone two and a half years before. Inducted, 22nd November 1832. At the close of 1836 Mr Lindsay's stipend was £,110., and Mr Barr had a yearly allowance of ;^ioo. Up till then it had been ^150, which he wished to surrender entirely, but the people would agree to nothing more than a deduction of ^50. In Dovehill, as in most of the Relief churches in Glasgow, the proprietorship system prevailed, and at this time more than half the sittings belonged to private individuals, for which they paid an annual rent to the congregational funds. The debt on the church amounted to fully ^750, which was reckoned of little account. The right of electing managers belonged originally to the proprietors, but for some time they had shared the privilege with the congregation. Mr Barr died at Rothesay, 17th March 1839, in the sixty-second year of his age and twenty-seventh of his ministry. A daughter of his was connected by marriage with a well-known Campbeltown family, and was the mother of the late Mr John Colville of Motherwell, M.P. for the North-East Division of Lanarkshire.
At the Relief Synod in May 1841 Mr Lindsay was appointed to the Chair of Exegetical Theology and Biblical Criticism, and in 1844 he received the degree of D.D. from the University of Glasgow. In December of the latter year a new church was built in Cathedral Street, with 1 100 sittings,
* Mr Bell's son James was the author of "Bell's System of Geography," pub- lished in 1 83 1 in six goodly volumes. He is described in the Life of Dr William Anderson as " an insatiable book glutton," from whose stores of-information the Doctor drew largely when a student. He figures more graphically as a walking encyclopaedia in the early life of Dr James Hamilton of London. But "although his mind was stored with the knowledge of the world his treasure lay in heaven, and thither- wards his heart tended." A small annuity was settled on him by his father, and the last decade of his life was spent in Campsie, where he died on 3rd May 1833, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. The minister of Strathblane found "the rural philo- sopher," when the end was near, " leaning like a child on the Saviour's breast."
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 35
and there the congregation remained thirty-five years. The Union of 1847 necessitated a readjustment of Chairs in the Theological Hall, and to Dr Lindsay was assigned the department of Biblical Criticism and Sacred Languages, a province in which he and Dr Eadie partially overlapped, and after Dr Brown's death in 1858 he held the Chair of Exegetical Theology alone. Of his work in this department we have a valuable specimen in his " Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews," published in two volumes the year after his death. Admirable were the care and thoroughness with which Professor Lindsay wrought out his conclusions. In this respect Mr Brooks, his successor in Johnstone, contrasted him with Dr William Anderson: "If you inquired," he said, "what was Dr Lindsay's opinion on any subject he would not answer unless his mind were matured ; Dr Anderson would have told what were his present views." There was a like contrast in the Junior Hall between the two colleagues, Drs Lindsay and Eadie. But his judicial characteristics are best brought out in his little volume on "The Relationships which bar Marriage," published in 1855. There is also his "Life of the Rev. Thomas Gillespie" in the "United Presbyterian Fathers," where he was under the disadvantage of having slender material to work on. Dr Lindsay died suddenly on Sabbath, 3rd June 1866, after officiating twice in his own church. He was in the sixty-fourth year of his age and thirty-sixth of his ministry.
Sixth Minister. — THOMAS Whitelaw, M.A., from Perth (North). Or- dained at South Shields (Mile End Road) on 23rd March 1864 as colleague and successor to the Rev. Thomas M.'Creath, whose son-in-law he became. Called to succeed Dr Lindsay, and inducted, 25th April 1867. The stipend was to be ^400, and the call was signed by 279 members and 32 adherents. On iith December 1877 Mr Whitelaw accepted a call to King Street, Kilmarnock. On Wednesday, i6th October 1878, intimation came that the church was in an insecure state owing to underground railway opera- tions, and the congregation never worshipped in it again. Next Sabbath they met in the Berkeley Hall, about a mile to the west, and continued there till they were about to emerge from the vacant state. Prior to leaving the old church the congregation had secured a site at Kelvingrove Park, but a number of the Presbytery were opposed to the removal, believing that the Western district of Glasgow was already overchurched, and that Cathedral Street was more necessitous now than when the former place of worship was opened. After a discussion of several hours the transfer- ence was sanctioned in November 1878.
Sei'enth Minister. — Peter Rutherford, translated from Bristol, where
he had been seven and a half years, after ministering five years in Falkirk
(now Graham's Road), and inducted, 30th April 1879. The call was signed
by only 149 members and 80 adherents, which attested how much the
church had suffered in the transition state. The weight of the congregation
had been swaying westward, but a goodly proportion of families must have
lieen left behind, the more so that they were without a fixed ministry. The
congregation was now worshipping in the Queen's Rooms, Sauchichall
Street, but on Thursday, 13th May 1880, the new church, with sittings for
|822, was opened by Dr Edmond of London. It cost, with the site, fully
J 1 8,000, but the price paid by the railway company for the old building
iras ^21,000, which, but for extra expenses, would have covered everything.
lelvingrove is a mile and a quarter west from Cathedral Street, but, taken
11 in all, it was as suitable a position as could have been fixed on. The
lembership at the close of 1899 was 430, and the stipend, including expenses,
iras ^525. Mr Rutherford is a son-in-law of a predecessor of his in
falkirk, the Rev. William Steel.
36 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
ANDERSTON (Relief)
The origin of this congregation requires to be traced with minuteness. To begin at the beginning, a pamphlet, entitled " Unity and Peace Recom- mended," was published in Glasgow in the summer of 1766. It was written from the Antiburgher point of view, but it found fault with the censures pronounced on " the separating brethren " ; it pleaded for union between the two branches of the Secession ; and it argued against making promiscuous hearing a matter of Church discipline. The publisher was John Bryce, an elder in the Havannah Church, and two of his brother elders and a deacon were believed to be implicated, but they explained to the session that they were not the authors, nor did they subscribe to everything it contained. Still, on 6th July 1767 some members of the congregation brought up a complaint against those office-bearers who were involved in the publication of the obnoxious pamphlet, and the session agreed to refer the whole affair to the Presbytery, which condemned the conduct of these four men as " offensive, rash, and inconsistent." They also required them to express to the session their approbation of the Antiburgher Testimony, and they were to refrain from disseminating scruples about the sentence of excommunica- tion passed on the separating brethren. There the case might have ended, but at a subsequent meeting certain members of Presbytery urged that the offenders had been too mildly dealt with, and the Synod was appealed to, by whose directions the Presbytery met on 4th October to enter fully into the merits. Several correspondents were with them, and, Adam Gib being among the number, it was clear that severity and not compromise was to be the order of the day. Mr Gib opened the proceedings with a sermon from Haggai ii. 5 : " According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth among you : fear ye not." The application would be : Fear not to go straight forward with disciplinary work when fidelity to covenant engagements is concerned. Mr Gib and four others were afterwards appointed to draw up matters of complaint against the offenders, one of whom was James Monteith, who became the head of a well-known family in Glasgow, and was afterwards the central pillar of the Relief cause at Anderston. It was not his name, how- ever, that stood first on the culprit list — it was that of John Bryce, from whose shop in the Saltmarket issued most of the Secession sermons and pamphlets published in those days.
When the several articles of offence were brought forward Mr Monteith admitted that the sentences pronounced on such men as the Erskines and James Fisher had been matter of grief to him. He acknowledged also that he had been favourable to union with the Burghers. At the close of the examination the three elders were required to be done with their scruples before next meeting, under pain of being suspended from office. Against this edict Mr Monteith dictated a protest, and when it was objected that there was no accompanying appeal the parties replied that there was no use carrying an appeal to Edinburgh, as they had Edinburgh with them already, meaning in the person of Mr Gib. At next meeting, on 22nd November, there was a communication from the other elders but none from James Monteith, who was, therefore, found guilty of contumacy, and for this and former offences he was laid aside from the eldership. On 17th January 1769 he petitioned to have the sentence reviewed ; but he never followed up his request, and this is the last time his name appears in the Antiburgher records. He then passed over to the Relief, and took the lead in the erection of the Relief church in Anderston, which was opened in 1770, with 1140 sittings.
This narrative sets aside the story which has found currency through Dr
I
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 37
Strang's " History of Glasgow and its Clubs," published in 1856. It ascribes the origin of Anderston Relief congregation to the action of Glasgow Anti- burgher session in suspending Mr Monteith from fellowship and office for having heard sermon in the Tron Church one Sabbath when he sought shelter there with his delicate wife from a thunder-shower. In the Minutes of the Havannah session there is no trace of any such thing, and the allega- tion that in those days cases were not engrossed in session Minutes where the parties refused submission to Church censure, and broke away, is a sheer fiction. Dr Strang's book only affords another specimen of the way in which floating traditions will transmogrify simple facts. So much for the origin ascribed to Anderston Relief Church in Dr M'Kelvie's Annals and con- tended for in the memorial volume of that congregation's history.
First Minister. — Joseph Neil, who had been ordained at Keighley, Yorkshire, in 1756. In Miall's History of Congregationalism in Yorkshire a curious account of Mr Neil's antecedents is given. It is stated that, having offended his Presbytery by marrying when a student, "and having been expelled in consequence," he came from Scotland with views not favourable to Presbyterianism, and that his congregation was Independent. It is added that, " though a man of diligence and success, the smallness of his income at length compelled Mr Neil to retire from Keighley, and return to Scotland in 1770." Expulsion by a Presbytery for an ill-timed marriage cannot be true, and as for having to leave Keighley on account of scanty means, it does not harmonise with the testimony he bore to the liberality of his people in his farewell sermon : " Exerting yourselves more, I believe, than any congrega- tion in England (circumstances being considered) to render me and my family easy in reference to the things of this world." Mr Neil was inducted to Anderston, igth November 1770. The church was finished before this, and on 1st January 1771 two elders were constituted into a session, one of them being Mr James Monteith, and eight others were ordained. Mr Neil died, 20th February 1775, in the forty-eighth year of his age and fifth of his ministry in Anderston. In 1773 he published a sermon on "The Nature and Necessity of Christian Communion in order to Everlasting Happiness," and this was followed the year after his death by a volume of his discourses. Some ill-judged expressions such as this: "The obedience of the Divine Surety recommends our sincere though imperfect obedience to the divine acceptance and reward," gave Ramsay of Glasgow occasion to charge the author with Arminianism — but there seems to have been no reason to question his general soundness in the faith.
Second Minister. — James Stewart, from Dunblane, and a licentiate of Glasgow Established Presbytery. Five months before Mr Neil's death he was engaged as his assistant, and on 15th August 1775 he was ordained as his successor. Among the dissenting denominations in Scotland the Relief took the lead in the introduction of hymns into public worship, and in this movement Mr Stewart was first among the foremost, having compiled a volume for the use of Anderston Church five years before the innovation was sanctioned by the Synod. About this time the meeting-house required to be enlarged to 1250 sittings. Three detached discourses of Mr Stewart's were published \y; himself, each of them bearing on the times. The first, entitled " Britain's Fall," led him to speak of her fall in religion, her fall in victory, and her fall from empire both by sea and land, and then this dark state of things is ascribed to a variety of guilty causes. Another, of a brighter stamp : " A Plan of Reform proposed to the Christian People," appears in the centenary volume of Anderston Church, and is direct, practical, and comprehensive.
Third Minister. — G.WIN Struthers, from Strathaven (East). Having
38 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
chosen Anderston in preference to Kilbarchan he was ordained as colleague to Mr Stewart, 31st July 1817. The stipend was ^180, with ^15 for sacra- mental expenses. Mr Stewart died, 4th June 1819, in the seventy-fourth year of his age and forty-fourth of his ministry. In 1836 the communicants were 1050, and the debt on the property was £6yo. The stipend at this time was ^265, and it had been made up to ^250 shortly after the death of the senior minister. The present church was opened, i6th February 1840, with the same number of sittings as the former. Mr Struthers had the degree of D.D. conferred upon him by Glasgow University in 1843, and at the second meeting of the United Presbyterian Synod he was chosen to the Moderator's Chair. In the summer of 1854 Dr Struthers showed tokens of failing strength, and his work in Anderston closed with the communion services in October of that year. In a few months he was completely prostrated every way, and another was required to perform the whole work. He died, i ith July 1858, in the sixty-eighth year of his age and forty-first of his ministry. A well-compacted and ably-written sketch of his life appeared in the U.P. Magazine for that year.
From among Dr Struthers' published writings we select his History of the Relief Church, a book of permanent value. It betokens thorough ac- quaintance not only with the Rise, Progress, and Principles of the Relief but with the various phases of denominationalism in Scotland throughout the period embraced. Altogether, Dr Struthers was deservedly looked on as the ablest man in the Relief Synod, though by no means the best orator. The Campbeltown Case brought out his mental grasp and legal acumen, and later on the Relief Magazine ever and again bore witness to his powers as a con- troversialist. His " Treatise on the Principles of Christian Communion as held by the Relief Church '' also did nmch to clear the way for the Union of 1847.
Fourth Minister. — JOHN LOGAN AiKMAN, translated from St James' Place, Edinburgh, and inducted as colleague to Dr Struthers, 28th February 1856. The stipend was to be ^300, with ^20 for expenses, and the senior minister, though entirely laid aside, was also to have ^300. In 1861 Mr Aikman published the largest and the least known of his works, the " Cyclo- paedia of Missions," a book on which a great amount of labour must have been expended. In 1869 he had the degree of D.D. from New York, which was duplicated from Glasgow University the year of his death. Meanwhile Anderston Church, though less favourably situated than some others, kept up well, having a membership of about 1000, and giving a stipend of ^600. Dr Aikman died on Sabbath, 13th September 1885, aged 65. He preached on the preceding Sabbath from : "Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." In no other case has the U.P. Synod lost its Moderator by death, and the same thing, I believe, may be said of the Secession and Relief Synods all through. Anderston congregation now called the Rev. John G. Train, Buckhaven, who declined, and within a month accepted an invitation to Hull.
Fifth Minister. — Alexander R. MacEwen, B.D., who had been nearly six years in Moffat. Inducted, 2 1 st September 1 886. The stipend was ;^6co, as before. Accepted a call to Claremont Church, his native congregation, on 1 8th June 1889, leaving a membership of 1030.
Sixth Minister. — Alexander L. Henderson, son of the Rev. Dr Henderson, Paisley. Having declined Rockvilla, Glasgow, Mr Henderson was ordained at Durham in 1879. Called to Erskine Church, Stirling, in 1882, and removed in a few years to Camphill, Birmingham, to succeed the Rev. James M. M'Kerrow. Inducted to Anderston, 13th February 1890, the stipend to be ^525, which continued for the next ten years. The membership at the close of 1899 was 903.
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW ^g
SYDNEY PLACE (Burgher)
The first notice of a movement towards the formation of a second BurgJier congregation in Glasgow came before the Presbytery on nth February 1789. It was time for Church Extension to take shape in both sections of the Secession. Since 1747 the population of the city had increased from 20,000 to nearly 60,000, and it was now mounting upwards at the rate of 1500 a year. No wonder that the church in Shuttle Street was becoming too strait for the attendance, and that the supply of sittings came short of the demand by 620. The first proposal was to erect a second place of worship on the church grounds, have a second minister, and make the charge collegiate. But wiser counsels prevailed, and it was resolved to build the additional church in a different part of the town altogether. This issued in the erection of the large building in East Campbell Street at a cost of ^1500, with sittings for 1361, and in an application to the Presbytery for supply of sermon. After a committee had conferred with all parties the petition was granted, the reason assigned being that " many of the members have no access to hear the gospel ; the meeting-house is so crowded." This was on 4th May 1789, and the new church was to be opened on the following Sabbath.
On 1 6th June a petition from 148 members to be disjoined from Shuttle Street Church was agreed to, a decision against which the Rev. John Thomson of Kirkintilloch, who had strong proclivities that way, protested to the Synod, alleging that the disjunction was granted "on principles neither proper nor scriptural," but his protest was dismissed without a vote. Mr Thomson expressed himself so unguardedly against the Building Committee at one of the Presbytery meetings that they summoned him before the Lords of Session, a step for which they afterwards expressed regret. It was needful now to be provided with an eldership, and twelve of their number having been chosen the Presbytery arranged for the ordination on the second Sabbath of November. It was a vigorous beginning.
J^yrs/ Mim's/er.- -William Kidston, previously of Kennoway. Mr Kidston preached in East Campbell Street on an early Sabbath after the church was opened, and on 28th January 1790 he was chosen to be their minister, though under appointment to be ordained at Kennoway, as will come up under the history of that congregation. The Synod refused to sustain the call from Glasgow, and the settlement at Kennoway went on. There was quietness now for over a year, but a second call to Mr Kidston from Campbell Street came before the Synod in September 1791 signed by 41 1 members and 233 seat-holders. The translation carried, and Mr Kidston was inducted on the i8th of the following month. The stipend was to be ^120. The increase, we may well believe, was rapid, but a partial arrest came through the Old and Nesv Light Controversy, which began to stir in 1795. Opposition to any interference with the Formula had its headcjuarters in the west, and the two Glasgow congregations had their full share of the turmoil it occasioned, but, so far as we can judge, Campbell Street was the greater sufferer. Dr John M'Farlane, who had good means of knowing, said the losses were about 400, and it is certain the seat rents fell from ^198 in 1799 to .^iio in 1801. The Old Light cause was strong in Glasgow from the first, and in other two years one of the calls they issued carried the signatures of 691 members. They built their church near by, and obtained the Rev. William Watson of kilpatrick for their minister. This was the pulpit occupied for some time by the Rev. John Clark, whose Life, with its mteresting pictures of college days and college studies, was written by his
40 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
friend and fellow-student, afterwards Principal Cairns. It is now Campbell Street Free Church.
But with only five churches of the Secession in its various sections, and the population of Glasgow up now to 83,000, it was no hard matter to regain lost ground. Mr Kidston in no long time gathered a full congregation around him again ; but about the close of 1813 his health suddenly gave way, and "he was laid aside from all public duty until 1817." In the Presbytery Minutes of their first meeting in 18 14 it is stated that Mr Kidston, their clerk, being absent through indisposition, another was appointed pro tempore. For almost four years his name is entered in none of the sederunts, though he still engrossed the Minutes and subscribed them. In June 181 5 commissioners appeared wishing arrangements made for a second minister, but the Presbytery delayed in hopes that the season would have an influence for good on Mr Kidston's health. In July they applied for a moderation, and a letter was read from Mr Kidston expressing his desire to have this gone into at once, which was agreed to.
Second Minister. — William Brash, from Bristo Church, Edinburgh. Called already to Ecclefechan, but the Synod, in keeping with his expressed wish, gave Glasgow the preference. Their call was signed by 509 members and 183 adherents, and Mr Brash was ordained, 26th December 18 15. The stipend was to be ^160, and two years later the ministers had ^200 each. There was rapid increase now, the number admitted to Church fellowship amounting in three years to 430. The preaching of Mr Brash was " fervid and graphic," and the effect was heightened by the youthful appearance of the preacher, who was only in his twenty-second year. In December 181 7 Mr Kidston appeared in the Presbytery anew. It was a sign that his activities were finding their way back into the old channel. The charge was now to be for twenty years collegiate in the full sense. In 1833 Mr Kidston had the degree of D.D. from St Andrews University, and again in 1837 from the University of Glasgow. The year before this the communion roll stood at 800, and the stipends were as above named, with ^19 each for expenses. A much larger sum than the original cost had been laid out on the property, on which there was a debt of ^1400. In 1838, owing to growing infirmities, Dr Kidston retired from active duty. A year previously he resigned the clerkship of Presbytery, which he had held for forty-one years, and in 1839 he resigned the Synod clerkship, which he had held for nearly twenty years. The Synod, in accepting the resignation, sympathised deeply with him in the severe indisposition under which he laboured. This accounted for the laying down of the threefold burden.
But though Dr Kidston was older than his colleague by twenty-six years he was to be the survivor. Mr Brash was but a little way into his majority when he entered on his ministry, and for the first two years he had the sole charge of the congregation. It was both an early and a heavy beginning, and this was to have as its counterpart an early breakdown. Trying experiences of another kind may also have told on his powers of endurance. Disease of the heart began to manifest itself prior to 1849, and though he resisted for a time it gradually gained the mastery, and laid him aside from all public work. Dr Kidston was still able to preach occasionally, but little could be looked for from one who was in the sixtieth year of his ministry. For the requirements of that large congregation it was essential that a third minister should be obtained to undertake the whole responsibility.
Third Minister. — John Ker, M.A., a native of Tweedsmuir, but brought up under the ministry of Dr Brown, Broughton Place, Edinburgh. Or- dained at Alnwick (Clayport Street), nth February 1845. ^^ is strange to read that on the moderation day Mr Ker was carried over Mr David
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW
41
[Laughland, afterwards of Nevvarthill, by only 18 votes. In 1849 he was called to Barrhead, and in the beginning of 1850 to Campbell Street, Glasgow, but he did not yet see his way to leave his first charge. Campbell f Street then made choice of Mr David Young, who had already written accepting Milnathort, and though this new development made him pause [he adhered to his former decision. A second call was now brought out to 'Mr Ker, which proved successful, and he was inducted on 19th March 1851 [as colleague to Dr Kidston and Mr Brash. Then commenced an inflow of [prosperity, 588 new members being admitted within three years.
Mr Brash died, 24th November following, in the fifty-eighth year of his |age and thirty-sixth of his ministry. A brief Memoir, with a beautiful tribute [to his Christian worth, appeared soon afterwards in the U.P. Magazine from [the pen of his junior colleague. Of Mr Brash's family his son John was Iminister at Wamphray for some years, and then went to America. From [the period of Mr Brash's death Dr Kidston gradually sank, and on 23rd {October 1852 he died, in the eighty-fifth year of his age and sixty-third of [his ministry. As the oldest member present, Dr Kidston was chosen Moderator of Synod at the Union in May 1847 — Dr Jamieson of Scone, who twas his senior in age though not in office, being absent. He opened the j Synod in October with a sermon from the text : " We are all one in Christ [Jesus," which was published. That and another discourse, preached in con- fnection with the Glasgow Missionary Society some years before, are all that 1 remain of Dr Kidston in print. An animated sketch of his life and character iwas given by his son-in-law, Dr John M'Farlane, in a sermon preached in ; Campbell Street Church the Sabbath after the funeral, of which the sub- E stance is to be found in the U.P. Magazine for the following year.
Mr Ker was invited to remove to Bristol in 1855. There a congregation Ihad been recently formed, and there was an impression abroad that England [had a right to draw on the best men Glasgow had to give. The stipend was I to be ^400, with his life assured for ;^iooo ; but Mr Ker put the proposal t aside, and remained in Campbell Street. Inspirited by this decision the [congregation resolved next year to dispose of the old church, for which they [obtained ^1000, and erect a new one in Sydney Place.
At next Synod Mr Ker was chosen to be the first Home Mission
I Secretary, but in the face of strong pressure he firmly declined to accept.
He stated that the managers of Sydney Place had undertaken heavy re-
;sponsibilities in connection with building operations, and he was pledged
I to stand by them as far as in his power ; besides, he felt that he wanted
those aptitudes for business which the office required. The committee
appointed to converse with him, in presenting their report, suggested a
meeting with the congregation, but the Synod resolved instead to proceed
I with a new election. Looked at now, the whole conception seems pre-
iposterous, but some may have apprehended that Mr Ker's health would
not hold out under the incessant demands of heavy ministerial work, and
their wish may have been to avert the danger by assigning him another
sphere of usefulness. If so, their fears were to have a speedy fulfilment.
Before the month was ended he came to a pause in the middle of a
1 prayer-meeting address — the hand of God had touched him. The church
m Sydney Place, with sittings for 1200, and built at a cost of ^8200, was
opened on 28th November 1858 by Drs Cairns and Edmond ; but their
own minister was away, " in extreme suffering and weakness."
Fourth Minister. — J.\MES Frame, from Perth (York Place), where he thad laboured for two years on his way from Peterhead to Glasgow. In- jducted as junior minister, 9th September 1863. He was to have ^350 lof stipend, and Mr Ker's allowance was ^250. It was only occasionally
42 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
that the latter could appear in the pulpit, but his name was a tower ofj strength to the congregation. For Mr Frame the burden was great, and] in the summer of 1870 there were signs of failing energy, but he toiled on till July, expecting that the holidays would put all to rights. Instead' of this languor remained, and then gastric fever set in, and on 14th July 1870 he died, in the thirty-ninth year of his age and seventeenth] of his ministry. His son, of the same name, was ordained at Millportj thirteen years afterwards.
The congregation now called, without success, the Rev. William Graham of Liverpool to be colleague to Dr Ker, who had obtained the degree of « D.D. from Edinburgh University in 1869. A year later they called thcj Rev. A. S. Matheson of Alloa, but with the same result.
Fifth Minister. — James MacEwp:n, M.A., from Hawick (East Bank),! after a ten years' ministry there. Inducted, 25th September 1872. The^ stipend was to be ^500, with ^25 for expenses, and Dr Ker, who was to be responsible for no part of the work, declined to accept more than ^150 a year. This arrangement continued till the latter was chosen by the Synod to the Chair of Practical Training in 1876. Though never accepting the status of Professor, Dr Ker discharged the duties of the office with high efficiency, except during one session, when he was laid aside by ill-health, and substitutes were provided. He died suddenly, 4th October 1886, in the sixty-eighth year of his age and forty-second of his ministry. His sudden removal made a wide blank in the U.P- Hall and in the front rank of the U.P. ministry. Of the works he has left behind him his "Lectures on the History of Preaching" may be singled ^ out as an endujing memorial of his professorial work. There are also! his two volumes of sermons, which were published, the one in 1869 and! the other in 1886, both of which passed rapidly through successive j editions; and most suggestive of all are "Thoughts for Heart and Life,"] being extracts from unpublished material, written for the most part inj note-books without any view to publication. A volume of Letters came] last, of interest going far beyond the circle of friendship to which they] were addressed. Since Dr Ker's death Mr MacEwen has been sole pastor, carrying on the entire work of that large congregation un-j aided. At the Union the stipend was ^525, and the membership at] the close of 1899 was a few units over 700.
EAST CAMPBELL STREET (Relief)
Thls was the second Relief congregation in Glasgow, keeping Anderstonj out of view. On 8th August 1791 a number of heads of families appliec' to the Relief Presbytery to be recognised as a forming congregation,! but in the absence of Mr Bell, the minister of Dovehill, the petition wa^ allowed to lie on the table. On i6th August Mr Bell was present, anc the prayer of the petition was granted without opposition, but the churcl not being in readiness it was not till the fourth Sabbath of April 179^ that services were begun. The building, exclusive of the site, cost little over ^2000, and it contained 1372 sittings.
First Minister. — James Dun, called from Kilsyth, where he hac been ordained twelve years before. Inducted, 6th September 1792. TheJ stipend promised at first was ^146. On 2nd October Mr Dun brought forward a list of names, 6 in number — " persons chosen by the proprietors of his congregation for elders" — and he was authorised by the Presbyterv to set them apart to office according to the Rules of the Church. Ol
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 43
Mr Dun we are informed by a successor of his, the Rev. WiUiani Ramage, that some of his admirers spoke of him as the foremost man the Relief Church had ever produced. He died, 2nd January 1805, in the fifty- sixth year of his age and twenty-fifth of his ministr>^ A sermon preached by him at the opening of the Synod in May 1792 is all that remains of his pulpit work. As a preacher, says Mr Ramage, he was not impassioned and rhetorical but calm, conversational, and almost wholly without action. The congregation now called the Rev. Robert Walker of Cupar, who after some hesitancy decided not to remove, and then the Rev. John Pitcairn of Kelso, who resisted all attempts to draw him to Glasgow.
Second Minister. — Robert Brodie, M.A., son of the Rev. John Brodie of the mother church in Dovehill. After some hesitancy about signing the Confession of Faith he was ordained, nth June 1807. Mr Brodie seems to have been a tasteful and refined rather than a powerful preacher, and hence we are told his audience was latterly select rather than large. In 1836 the communicants were about 650, and the stipend averaged ^250. The debt was only ^500. Mr Brodie died, 6th August 1846, in the sixty-second year of his age and fortieth of his ministry. A volume of his discourses was published in 1848, under the editorship of the Rev. William M'Dougall of Paisley, who had been brought up under Mr Brodie's ministry, and was expected to furnish a befitting memoir, which was never done.
Third Minister. — William Ram.\ge, called from Kilmarnock (King Street), where he had been four and a half years, and inducted, 6th May 1847. The call was signed by only 196 members, and the stipend was to be ^300. On 1 2th March 1856 a large wing of the congregation petitioned to be dis- joined along with their minister and transferred to a new church which they had erected in Berkeley Street, and on 9th April this was agreed to, their brethren who kept by the old walls wishing them all success.
Fourth il//«/j/t'r.— Alexander Wallace, translated from Potterrow, Edinburgh, and inducted into his fourth and last charge, 30th April 1857. The stipend was to be ^340. It would lead us to doubt whether the con- gregation had been large enough to divide when we read that the members who remained, though they formed the majority, were only 360 in number, but under Mr Wallace there was rapid increase. In May i860 he was invited to remove to Sydney, New South Wales, and in September 1861 he was called to succeed Dr Alexander Fletcher as minister of Finsbury Chapel, London. As these congregations were not under the U.P. Synod neither gall came before Glasgow Presbytery, and both were declined. There was a general wish that Finsbury Chapel should be accepted, in order to bring Dr Fletcher's congregation into connection with our Church, but Mr Wallace decided to remain in Glasgow. Then Albion Chapel, in the same part of London, sought to obtain his services, but was equally unsuccessful. The present church, with sittings for 1400, was built on the old site at a cost of ^6500, and opened by Dr Cairns of Berwick on Sabbath, loth March 1864. That year ^Ir Wallace received the degree of D.D. from Westminster College, United States. In the new building the membership kept increas- ing, till a maximum of 1300 was reached in 1875. ^^ Wallace the while had been active with his pen. In i860 his "Memoir of James Stirling" ap- peared, a book of lastmg interest, in which the service he rendered to the temperance cause is condensed and perpetuated. In 1868 he published "The Desert and the Holy Land," a field which gave full scope to his exuberant powers of description. There is also his volume of lectures on "The Peasant Literature of Scotland," a subject in which he took warm interest and was quite at home. But as years passed energy began to fade, and it was said that after an attack of whooping-cough, out of season " like
I
44 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
snow in summer," he never was quite the same man again. In 1890 Dr Wallace retired into the background to make way for a colleague.
Fifth Minister. — W. Shaw Stewart, from Buckhaven where he had been ordained three and a half years before. Inducted, 15th January 1891, and obtained the degree of D.D. in 1892. Each of the ministers was to have ^300, and the membership was slightly over 900. On 14th February 1893 l3r Wallace passed into the emeritus position with an allowance of ^50 a year. He died on 20th August 1893, in the seventy-eighth year of his age and forty-eighth of his ministry. In the beginning of 1900 East Campbell Street membership was 657, and the stipend ^400.
GLASGOW, WELLINGTON CHURCH (Antiburgher)
This was an offshoot from the old Antiburgher church in Duke Street, which, through the growth of the town, was filled to overflowing. The applicants for disjunction, 81 in number, were described as residing in Anderston, Partick, Meikle Govan, up the water of Kelvin, and places adjacent to the west of Jamaica Street. They had a place of worship nearly finished, and, with the concurrence of the minister and session of Duke Street, they were erected into a separate congregation, the three elders and three deacons resid- ing within the bounds to be constituted into a session. This was on 5th November 1792, and Mr Ramsay, their minister, was to preach to them on the following Sabbath.
First Minister. — John Mitchell, son of the Rev. Andrew Mitchell, Beith. Mr Mitchell was also called to Whithorn ; but at the Synod in May 1793 Anderston was preferred, as the Minutes show, by 20 votes to 16, the reasons assigned being priority in time and superiority in numbers. The calls were signed by 56 and 18 male members respectively, and Mr Mitchell was ordained, ist August 1793, the stipend being ^80. From the first the young minister cultivated the graces of style, a thing little attended to by Secession ministers in those days. Neil Douglas, Relief minister in Dundee, who heard him give an ordination address at Rothesay in 1797, described it as "a piece of finished composition, perhaps too much so for the audience and the occasion." In 1804 Mr Mitchell obtained ^100 for a prize essay on the Evangelisation of India. In 1807 he received the degree of D.D. from Princeton College, New Jersey, and thirty years afterwards the honour was duplicated by Glasgow University. In 1810 galleries were erected in the church, and the sittings increased from 550 to nearly 1000. In 1818 the communicants numbered about 450, and the stipend was ^300. In September 1825 Dr Mitchell was chosen by the .Synod to the newly instituted Chair of Biblical Literature. He was now fifty-seven, and he pleaded his advanced years and heavy ministerial duties as a reason for declining the appointment, his brother, Mr Andrew Mitchell, urging similar arguments on his behalf, but the will of the Synod prevailed. On 15th July 1827 the new church in Wellington Street, with 1492 sittings, was opened, the cost of the whole being about ;^ 1 0,000. Of Dr Mitchell's appearance in his own pulpit on a Sabbath forenoon in 1834 we have the following account from the pen of a gifted lady, to be met with again. The whole aspect and demeanour of the preacher prepossessed her in his favour, and she wrote : " The devotional service was solemn and appropriate and spiritual. In the lecture there was a ground- work of substantial thought and sound consecutive exposition, with a grateful glow of fervent godliness pervading the whole. In expression much elegance ; in counsel much practical wisdom." She adds : " With a little more various modulation of voice and somewhat more energy of action the
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 45
preacher would be still more acceptable and impressive." But years were now beginning to tell on Dr Mitchell's vigour, and in 1840 it was deemed proper to proceed with the election of a colleague, the junior minister to have ^300 and the senior at least as much.
Second Minister. — John Rohson, M.A., from Lasswade, where he had been ordained seven and a half years before. At the moderation 183 voted for Mr Robson, 93 for Mr Johnston of Limekilns, and 64 for Mr James Robertson, preacher, ultimately of Newington. The induction took place, 2nd June 1840. The membership was fully 800. In the third year of his Glasgow ministry Mr Robson had to sojourn for a time in Jamaica for the benefit of his health ; and he was seated beside his brother-in-law, the Rev. James Paterson, when the latter was thrown from his gig, and killed on the spot. In February 1843 Ur Heugh, after administering the Lord's Supper in Wellington Street, wrote that the old minister could do nothing, and his young colleague was away an invalid. In May of the previous year Dr Mitchell notified the Synod that he could not undertake to teach the class next session, and it was arranged that the junior section of the Hall should meet in Glasgow, and that certain ministers should be associated with the Professor in the superintendence of the class ; but the work devolved mainly on the Rev. John Eadie, who succeeded to the Chair. At next Synod Dr Mitchell resigned, stating that owing to growing frailties the duties of the Chair, "alvvays heavy, would now be oppressive." He died, 25th January 1844, in the seventy-sixth year of his age and fifty-first of his ministry. In addition to the prize essay already mentioned and some stray discourses Dr Mitchell was the author of a discriminating Memoir of Pro- fessor Paxton, prefixed to an edition of the " Illustrations of Scripture " published in 1842. The fullest estimate of his own gifts and excellences is given in the sermon preached by his colleague on the occasion of his death, most of which appeared in the Secession Magazine for 1844.
Soon after returning from Jamaica Mr Robson was invited to succeed his brother-in-law at New Broughton, but, feeling quite restored, he had no difficulty in deciding to remain in Glasgow. Had the degree of D.D. from Glasgow University in 1844. Next year we find the congregation raising over ^900 for missionary and benevolent purposes. The £3000 of debt on the new church they were at the same time clearing off. In a year or two the communion roll showed between 1250 and 1300 names, and at this high figure it remained for years, till by the organising of congregations in the suburbs its numerical strength was slightly reduced. In December 1864 Dr Robson's semi-jubilee as minister of Wellington Church was celebrated, when he was presented with 1000 guineas. But about this time there came symptoms that his usefulness might be extended but a little way into the second half of the jubilee period. The healthy action of the heart was impaired, and though he moved on for a time it was under the conscious- ness of failing strength, and in 1866 he found it needful to suggest a ' colleague.
Third Minister. — J.VMES BLACK, translated from St Andrews, and inducted, 6th February 1868. The senatus of that old University conferred on Mr Black the degree of D.D. almost immediately after he left. Each minister was to have ^550 of stipend, and for some years Dr Robson was able to take a fair share of ministerial work. But the ailment at the citadel K life gained ground, till, on the morning of the communion Sabbath, 21st l^nuary 1872, he peacefully passed away. He was in the sixty-eighth year of his age and forty-first of his ministry. Under Dr Black's sole pastorate ,the congregation maintained its old level of prosperity, and in 1880 it was "^ :ided to remove to the west end of the city. The new church, seated for
46 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
1015, was opened on Saturday, nth October 1884, by Principal Cairns, and the name changed to Wellington Church. The site and the buildings together cost about ^26,500. To meet this outlay ^12,000 was obtained by the sale of the old church, which certain preparatory expenses reduced to ;^9ooo. Over ^11,000 was raised at the opening services, and the balance of ^6000 was cleared off in 1888 and 1889 by special effort. In 1892, owing to partial decline in Dr Black's health, it was deemed proper, first by him- self and then by the congregation, to have steps taken with the view of obtaining a junior minister.
Fourth Minister. — David W. Forrest, M.A., called from Moffat, and inducted on 15th March 1894. Each of the colleagues was to have a stipend of ^630. In 1897 Mr Forrest published his volume of Kerr Lectures, entitled "The Christ of History and of Experience," and in the following year he received the degree of D.D. from Glasgow University. On loth July 1899 he was loosed from Wellington Church on accepting a call to Skelmorlie, where the strain would be less, and where he would have more leisure for the exercise of his pen. On applying for liberty of moderation the commis- sioners intimated that the stipends were to be the same as formerly. A call to the Rev. G. A. Johnston Ross, Westbourne Grove, London, followed, and his unexpected declinature left severe disappointment behind it. Dr Black remains meanwhile with the responsibility undivided, but the con- gregation keeps in the waiting attitude. Of the Doctor's publications we go back with interest to what, so far as we know, was the earliest — the sermon preached at Largo after the premature death of their minister. Rev. David Hay, a young man who had been brought up in St Andrews congregation. Passing by several discourses of a similar kind we might single out for special mention "The present Attitude of Science to Religion." But by much the most important production of his pen is " The Christian Life : an Exposition of the 'Pilgrim's Progress,'" published in two volumes in 1875. Coleridge knew no book comparable to the " Pilgrim's Progress" "for teach- ing and enforcing the whole system of saving truth according to the mind which was in Christ Jesus." So instead of amplifying on the flowing drapery Dr Black deals with the essential merits, and employs Bunyan's allegory "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness." At the Union Wellington Church had a membership of 1032.
JOHN STREET (Relief)
A NUMBER of Glasgow people having begun to build a place of worship in John Street they petitioned the Relief Presbytery to be received as a forming congregation, which was agreed to on loth October 1798, but with the condition annexed that in the election of a minister after the first occa- sion the right of voting was to be limited to those in full communion. The church, built at a cost of ^4440, and containing some 1500 sittings, was opened on the third Sabbath of November. In the early part of 1799 a call was given to the Rev. John Pitcairn of Kelso (East) ; but he could give them no encouragement to go on, and the call was withdrawn. It must have been a severe disappointment to the parties concerned, as it was to obtain him for their minister that they withdrew from Dovehill.
Fi7'st Minister. — John Watson, who had been ordained scarcely two years before at Duns. Inducted to John Street, 29th May 1800. It proved an unfortunate choice in the end, although Mr Watson's ministry lasted twenty years. On 2nd May 1820 two petitions came up to the Presbytery, ODP /jpm the session and the other from the managers, wishing inquiry into
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 47
the circumstances of the congregation. Mr Watson was conversed with, when he admitted that reports unfavourable to his character for sobriety had gone abroad, and that these were in some instances well founded. Sorrow was expressed and amendment promised ; but on 7th June 1820 he demitted his charge, feeling that his usefulness in John Street was at an end. The connection, as the congregation requested, was dissolved, and their minister was suspended from office sine die. He removed to the Isle of Man, where he died in 1823. The first payment to his widow from the Widows' Fund was made in August of that year. The congregation allowed him ^100 per annum till his death. His successor, fifty years afterwards, spoke of the dismal state in which he found the church, " through the failure of the once promising, but latterly lamentable, ministry of his predecessor."
Second Minister. — William Anderson, son of the Rev. John Anderson of Kilsyth. As his troubled entrance into John Street pulpit has been much commented on we shall give the particulars from the Minutes of Presbytery. Mr Anderson got licence on 5th September 1820, and was appointed to preach in John Street on Sabbath week. The congregation having tested his abilities a call in his favour was sustained on 6th March 182 1. On loth April Mr Anderson delfvered a homily before the Presbytery on ist Timothy iv. 7 : " Refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness." In the discourse he struck out against the system some ministers had of praying in the introductory exercises that the Spirit would bring seasonably to their recollection the truths they had been meditating on, or suggest something better fitted for edification. It was, he said, as if they put themselves on a level with the apostles, who were to trust to the aids of the inspiring Spirit, and take no thought what they were to speak. The petition, he ofttimes judged, was put up in thoughtlessness and formality, if not in the spirit of designing hypocrisy. When he finished the Presby- tery agreed "for many weighty reasons not to sustain." At a subsequent meeting other parts of his trial exercises were approved, but before proceed- ing further it was deemed needful to inquire into certain reports about his way of preaching, and specially they wished a pledge that he would discon- tinue the practice of reading his discourses. On i8th July he gave in a paper, in which he urged that, so long as he had the approval of John Street congregation, he saw no impropriety in making free and public use of his manuscript. Delay was still resolved on, and on 6th November Mr Anderson was subjected to what some might deem an inquisitorial e.xamination. He had previously acknowledged that he had used ill-considered expressions in the pulpit, and for this offence he was willing to be admonished by the Moderator. But satisfaction was required on three points — doctrine, prud- ence, and the non-delivery of his discourses. Of the ten questions with which he was now confronted some were frivolous, such as that relating to repeating lines from Shakespeare, which he admitted he had been four times guilty of in fourteen months. But two or three of the questions went a great way deeper. Was it the case that in one of his public discourses he had represented the Saviour's argument for the resurrection of the dead from the words spoken to Moses at the bush as invalid ? In reply he read from his manuscript that had such reasoning been used by any interpreter but Jesus Christ, or one taught by His Spirit, we would have been ready to pronounce it sophistical. But, worst of all, he had said from the pulpit that, rather than the hallelujahs of heaven, many sinners would prefer the company of that other place, could they but "carry on a lucrative brimstone traffic there, or did they find that there were wine and women and theatres in hell." It is doubtful whether very many Presbyteries, even in our own time, would look on this as " sound speech which cannot be condemned." But sorrow was
48 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
expressed for some "hard sayings" he had used ; and as for the manuscript, he would meanwhile dispense with it, and if after eighteen months he felt unable to go on he would resign his charge. On 22nd January 1822 he was asked if he were willing to harmonise with his brethren, and having given satisfaction on a variety of points he was ordained on 7th February following.
At the Synod in May 1829 strong measures were in course of adoption on the organ question, and Mr Anderson stood up boldly for toleration. He argued that the use of instrumental music in public worship was not opposed to our Presbyterian standards, nor in the case before them did it endanger the unity of Christian fellowship. A motion against interference with Roxburgh Place Church concluded the speech, and he felt so strongly on the subject that he hinted "he might be speaking there for the last time." Mr Anderson's father seconded, but when the vote was taken all the support they had came from two elders. This slight number, however, did not represent the entire minority, as 15 declined to vote, 8 of whom favoured a middle motion, declaring the introduction of the organ to be highly inex- pedient, though they weie not prepared to say it was opposed to Scripture or the spirituality of gospel worship. After the Synod Mr Anderson published two pamphlets, the one "An Apology for the Organ," and the other "A Chapter of Organ History." His position being assailed these were followed by an Appendix to the " Apology for the Organ." Soon after this he entered on the public advocacy of Pre-Millenarianism, and in 1831 he published " An Apology for the Millennial Doctrine as held by the Primitive Church." To this theory he clung to the last, and it gave a colouring to some of his discourses, and particularly to a discourse on "The Prospects of the World," to which full reference has been made under Aberdeen (St Paul's).
Of Mr Anderson's pulpit appearances about this time we have a graphic picture from the pen of a lady of cultured mind, the wife of the Rev. James M'Crie of Old Meldrum. Happening to be in Glasgow one Sabbath in 1834 she embraced the opportunity "of hearing the first preacher, as report would have it, in the Relief denomination." She describes him as "rather tall and swarthy complexioned, his large dark eyes indicating strength of mind and perhaps more vehemence of temperament than even strength of mind. There is a wildness and fear-nothingness, with a haze of mysteriousness, apparent in his whole aspect and contour. The discourse was an exposition of ' The lost Piece of Silver.' There were many excellent thoughts in it. The figure was usefully and impressively unfolded. The illustrations of character were truthful, occasionally stirring, though now and then grotesquely absurd." This last feature she animadverts on, with the wish that he would throw away his oddities ; but she adds : " As it is, he holds no mean place in the service of the Redeemer."
The purifying and compacting of John Street Church had meanwhile been going on year by year — work in which the minister found himself much hampered. "The secular affairs were administered by a committee of pew proprietors, some of them not members of the church, who, instead of being helpful, were for many years obstructive of our progress." From the report given in to the Commissioners on Religious Instruction in 1836 it appears that the seats were originally portioned out among those who subscribed for the building of the church, and who became bound in return to pay an annual feu-duty, amounting in all to ^296, which was on an average 4s. a year on each sitting. The congregation was in course of buying up the sittings "at an extortionate price" as they came to be disposed of, and at this date they held about one-half. The rates fixed by the managers should have yielded ^520, but the proprietors kept by the
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 49
original feu, some of them letting their seats and pocketing a good per- centage. The membership was now 900, and the stipend ^^270. Of the debt ^loco rested on the building, and for this the proprietors were responsible. Other ;^6oo stood against the congregation. The financial affairs of John Street required to be put on a simpler basis, and this may not have been fully done till the new church was built.
In 1850 Mr Anderson published his well-rounded-off treatise on Regenera- tion, and had the degree of LL.D. conferred upon him by Glasgow University. In 185 1 he published his book on "The Mass," which has been characterised by his biographer as "a terrible piece of critical anatomy," and it was followed by " Penance and the other Romish Sacra- ments." Most of the lectures included in these volumes were originally delivered to crowded audiences in the City Hall, and they were such as probably no other man could have produced. They helped him to earn the encomium with which the inscription on the tablet to his memory in John Street Church concludes : "A fearless Advocate of every good Cause, and an eloquent Denouncer of all Unrighteousness." When afterwards challenged by the Secularists of Glasgow to meet Holyoake in public debate he made the characteristic reply that " to prepare for such a thing was what he had neither leisure nor inclination for, and that the Council of Trent had long enough occupied his head with jargon, immor- ality, and impiety."
Third Minister. — ALEXANDER M'Leod, who had been eleven and a half years in Strathaven (West). Dr Anderson, though only in his fifty- seventh year, had requested his people to provide him with a colleague. Deafness was growing upon him, and it impaired his fitness for the ministrations of the sick-chamber and the conducting of Bible classes. But though he was to take his full share of pulpit work he firmly declined to accept more than ^250 of stipend, the junior minister to have ^350. Mr M'Leod was inducted, nth October 1855, the call being signed by 701 members and 129 adherents. The present church, built on the old site, was opened on Sabbath, ist January i860. It was seated for 1400, and the collection amounted to £\ 134. Though the total cost was little under ^10,000 in seven years it was free of debt. The two ministers kept all through on friendly terms ; but it comes out that there were party preferences in the congregation, and on 9th February 1864 Mr M'Leod accepted a call to Claughton, a suburb of Birkenhead, where a congregation had been recently formed. The call was signed by only 43 members and 17 adherents, but they promised a stipend of ^400, with expenses. Next year Mr M'Leod received the degree of D.D. from Glasgow University. Great must have been the contrast between the huge congregation in John Street and the little company to which he ministered in Claughton ; but success was only a question of time. In 1866 the new church, with sittings for 800, was opened, the cost being set down at ^9000. In 1871 Dr M'Leod was invited back to Glasgow by Parliamentary Road Church, but he resolved to go on in Claughton. He died, 12th January 1891, in the seventy-third year of his age and forty-seventh of his ministry. His "Christus Consolator" was published in 1870, and his earlier works have already come in under the heading of Strathaven (West). Of-Dr M'Leod, Dr Anderson wrote thirty years before : " He is a great man, both intellectually and morally, my colleague."
Fourth Minister. — DAVID M'EwAN, from College Street, Edinburgh, after ministering there for nearly thirteen years. Inducted, 12th October 1865. The congregation had previously called the Rev. James M'Owan of Perth (North). Dr Anderson now retired from regular pulpit work, though
n. D
50 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
he generally preached in John Street once a month. He was to have an annual allowance of ^300, and his colleague's stipend was not to be less than ^400. The congregation showed no signs of decadence as yet, the membership reaching 1 140. Dr Anderson, who resided during the last decade of his life in Prospect House, Uddingston, died, 15th September 1872, his last wordsbeing: "Near the Kingdom." His Life,by George Gilfillan, was published next year, a book marked by the fervour and critical skill for which its author stood pre-eminent. For compactness, however, and literary grace we prefer his portrait of William Anderson, which appeared first in Hogg's Instructor and then in his Second Gallery. Another discriminating estimate of Dr Anderson's gifts as a thinker, a preacher, and a writer we cannot afford to overlook — that by Dr Hutton of Paisley, prefixed to the volume of discourses headed by "Reunion in the Heavenly World" published in 1876.
Mr M'Ewan received the degree of D.D. from Glasgow University in 1873, ^iid '" May 1875 he was invited to succeed Dr John M'Farlane in Clapham Church, London, being carried over the Rev. John Dobie by 105 votes to 88 ; and, having accepted the call, he was loosed from John Street on 13th July, and was inducted to Clapham on 7th October. In his new charge he had a membership at first of fully 500, and it steadily increased till in sixteen years it reached a good way over 900, and furnished a stipend of ^looo — the largest, next to that of Dr Monro Gibson, of any Presbyterian minister in London. In 1898 Dr M'Ewan obtained for his colleague the Rev. Thomas Currie, M.A., from Warrender Park Free Church, Edinburgh.
Fifth Minister. — John Brand, from Bell Street, Dundee, where he had been ordained eight and a half years before. Inducted to John Street, 31st March 1876, the stipend to be ;^6oo. Four years after this it was ^700, and the membership was returned at 1 100, but there was now to be a rapid decline through emigration to the suburbs. Mr Brand found the incessant pastoral work required, extending over far distances, too much for him, and on 8th June 1886 his demission was accepted. After a brief pause he undertook the building up of a new cause at Downfield, in the neighbour- hood of Dundee, his old centre, and there the rest of his ministerial life was to be spent.
Sixth Minister. — John F. Blair, previously of Gardenstown, where he had ministered nearly six years. Inducted, 1 6th August 1887. John Street membership, which used to go up among the four figures, was now reduced to 600, though the stipend named was ^450. A return to the inflow of better days no one could look for, and in eleven years the numbers were down another hundred. In March 1899 Mr Blair resigned owing to diffi- culties of various kinds, and on nth April he was loosed from his charge. He then removed to New South Wales, where he was inducted soon after into Campbell Street, Balmain, in the Presbytery of Sydney.
Seventh Minister. — Alexander Wylie Blue, from Campbeltown. Or- dained, 26th April 1900. The membership at the beginning of the year was 480, but the stipend was still to be .1^450. During the brief period between the above date and the Union there was good promise of increase under a new ministry.
HUTCHESONTOWN (Relief)
On 9th February 1799 the Relief Presbytery of Glasgow received a petition, from the Gorbals to have a congregation formed there. On 9th April this was agreed to, and the church, built at a cost of ^3000, was opened by Mr
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 51
Hutchison of Paisley on the second Sabbath of May. In Clelland's Annals the sittings are placed at 1700. This congregation and that of John Street were nearly contemporaneous and much alike in their origin. Both sprung from the same contested election in the parent Relief church at Dovehil). John Street was begun by friends of the Rev. John Pitcairn, Kelso, the minority's candidate, and Hutchesontown by friends of the Rev. John Watt, Blairlogie, the majority's candidate. Though the latter had declined the divided call from Dovehill the impression was that he would accept Hutchesontown, where all was harmony. The moderation took place in January 1800, and as Mr Pitcairn disappointed his friends in John Street, so Mr Watt disappointed his friends in Hutchesontown.
From the Society's Rules and Regulations, which got the sanction of the Justices in 1826, we obtain insight into the workings of the proprietor system so common in the early Relief churches. The secular affairs in this case were under the control of twelve managers, including a preses and treasurer. Only proprietors in full membership could hold office or vote on any occasion, and none but proprietors could be managers. The treasurer was to uplift the whole revenues, except extraordinary collections required by the session for purposes such as the relief of the poor or sacramental expenses. Proprietors in arrears with feu-duty for two years were to forfeit their sittings, and any proprietor wishing to sell his right was to make his first offer to the managers at the price they had cost him. If the offer were declined he might dispose of them to any other purchaser ; but the managers were not bound to divide the property or, in the case of heirship, to enter the seats under more names than one. A proprietor might sublet his pew, but not at a higher rate than 5 per cent, on the original cost, exclusive of repairs.
First Minister. — William Thomson, from Beith (Head Street), where he had laboured twelve and a half years. Inducted, 14th August 1800. The call had been protested against, but the protest was withdrawn, and Mr Thomson having expressed his wish for Glasgow the translation was agreed to. In 1836 the communicants numbered between 800 and 900, and were admitted to be on the decrease. The debt was £700, and the stipend, which had been ^200 in 18 17, was now ;^300, with ^26 for sacramental 'expenses. Three years after this Mr Thomson required a colleague, being now on the verge of fourscore. He died, 25th July 1842, in the eighty- [third year of his age and fifty-fifth of his ministry. Mr Thomson was char- acterised by Mr Ramage of Berkeley Street as a man of great force of character, and a natural orator, with "homely ways and pithy Doric, [quickened by the true Promethean fire."
Second Minister. — James vS. Taylor, translated from Coldstream (East),
Iwhere he had been ordained twelve years before. Inducted, igth November
11839, as colleague and successor to Mr Thomson, with whose uncultured
strength his own tasteful style and manner must have been in striking
contrast. As junior minister he was to have a stipend of ^200. Mr Taylor
tas much respected by his brethren, and took a high place among the
preachers in Glasgow. At the Union in May 1847 he was one of the three
ministers fixed on from the Relief side to address the huge evening audience
in Tanfield Hall. But along with his gifts and graces there was a one-idead
sensitiveness which led to unhappy results. In 1845 a fretting case from
,his session came before the Synod by protest, which was sustained by a
[majority. Then, as we read in the Minutes, "the Rev. James S. Taylor,
peeling himself aggrieved by the decision, intimated his intention of resigning
this charge." This was specially awkward, as he was Moderator of Synod at
Lthe time ; but after a committee had conferred with him the explanations
52 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
they gave so far satisfied him, and he did not now "feel himself under the painful necessity of separating from his ecclesiastical connection." But matters were not always to be thus adjusted. In 1872, when the Synod sanctioned the introduction of instrumental music into public worship, Mr Taylor wrote the Moderator renouncing connection, because, he said, "I a,m obliged to regard the U.P. Church as having on a point of vital moment ceased to be a witness for truth in the land." A committee was appointed to have an interview with him, but he declined all conference on the subject, and the case was remitted to the Presbytery of Glasgow. Again attempts to have conversation with him were baffled, " because his mind had long ago been made up on the matter in question," and on 13th August Mr Taylor's resignation of his charge was accepted. After this he went over to the Baptists, and preached till 1880 to a few of his people who kept by him. He died at Helensburgh, suddenly and unseen, on 29th December 1888, in the eighty-sixth year of his age and sixty-first of his ministry. Though distance came between him and the clerical friend- ships of his youth and manhood a graceful tribute to his memory appeared in the denominational magazine soon after his death.
Third Minister. — WILLIAM NAIRN, M.A., translated from Keith, where he had been nearly four years. Inducted, 2nd July 1873. The stipend was to be ^450. In 1887 Mr Nairn published a volume of sermons, entitled "The Books were Opened." On 8th July 1888, when enjoying his holidays at Arran, he fainted while out fishing, and was carried to his lodgings, only to die. He was in the fiftieth year of his age and nineteenth of his ministry. We read that his heart was weak, and that after preaching he was liable to weary, sleepless nights. This may partly account for his closing illness and sudden death.
Fourth Minister. — James B. NICHOLSON, M.A., from Kettle, where he had been ordained four years before. Inducted, 19th February 1889. On Sabbath, 14th May 1899, centenary services were conducted in the venerable building, which stands as it stood before the intervening century was born. At the close of the year the membership was close on 1000, and the stipend was ^525.
GREENHEAD (Relief)
On 2nd July 1805 a petition for sermon was laid before the Relief Presbytery of Glasgow in the name of a body of people residing in Bridgeton and its vicinity. The application was granted, and the station was opened on the last Sabbath of that month. Along with a set of rules drawn up previously it is stated that the movement arose from the wish to obtain the blessings of a gospel ministry, the village standing in need of a house for public worship. The Articles agreed on bore that the money contributed was to be paid in five instalments, two months apart, and the subscribers were to have their choice of seats according to the sums given, and where two or more were equal the order was to be determined by lot. In calling a minister all who brought certificates of church membership and took sittings were to have the right to vote, but the election of managers was to lie with the proprietors only. On this footing the building was proceeded with, and when completed it had 1293 sittings, and cost almost ^^1600. For more than thirty years this was the only place of worship in Bridgeton. In 1807 the congregation issued three unsuccessful calls — first, to Mr M'llquham of Milngavie, but, having his choice of ToUcross, he wrote them to go no further ; second, to Mr M'Farlane of Waterbeck, but his time to
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 53
accept had not yet come ; and third, to Mr Walker of Cupar, who declined Bridgeton, as he had done Campbell Street a little before.
First Minister. — John Reston, who had been in four charges, the fourth being Carrubber's Close, Edinburgh, where he had not much to keep him from accepting a fifth. Inducted, 17th March 1808. Within two years he was libelled by his elders, mainly for insobriety, and the Synod in May 18 10 found the charges proven ; but, satisfied from the evidence " that he has been labouring under distress of body and debility of mind, they see it their duty to blend mercy with judgment." Their decision was to loose him from his charge and suspend him from office, leaving it to the Presbytery of (ilasgow to remove the sentence if they should see fit. Mr Reston must have had popular gifts, but he was erratic and unreliable. A complaint was made to the Presbytery in 1819 that he had been allowed to preach in John Street Church, though still lying under suspension. We find from the newspapers that he died at Wilmington, after a short illness, on nth August 1829.
Sccottd Afinistcr. — John M'Farlane, who had been seven years in Waterbeck, and now accepted what he had declined three years before. Inducted, 20th .September 1810. The stipend was to be ^180, with £\2 for expenses and ^20 for a house. He died, 6th December 1829, in the tifty-ninth year of his age and twenty-seventh of his ministry. His son James entered the Relief Hall in 1825, but joined the Establishment before his Theological course was finished. He was ordained to the third charge, Stirling, in 1831, and after being in St Bern;. id's, Edinburgh, for a number of years he became known as Dr M'Farlane of Duddingston. Instead of taking the evangelical side during the ten years' conflict he was the author of a pamphlet upholding Patronage and the policy of the Moderates throughout. He died in 1866, aged fifty-seven.
Third Minister. — JOHN EDWARDS, from Campsie. Ordained, 23rd September 1830. Five years after this the membership, which had increased 300 during that period, numbered 916. Mr Edwards' stipend, which had been ^180 at first, was now ^216, having risen slightly year by year. There was a debt on the property of fully ^1400, and the proprietors still held 219 of the sittings. In 1858 the church buildings were renovated and improved at an expenditure of ^3000, and the sittings reduced to looo. In 1870 Mr Edwards received the degree of D.D. from Philadelphia, United States, and two years after this arrangements were made to provide him with a colleague, the junior minister to receive a stipend of ;^400 and the senior minister ^200. In November 1872 the congregation called Mr Jeffrey of King's Park, Dalkeith, but he remained in the east for the time.
Fourth ii/zV/Zj/^-r.— Alexander Hislop, M.A., from Earlston (West). Ordained, 2nd October 1873, and loosed, 13th February 1877, on accepting a call to Helensburgh. In a few months the congregation called Mr Robert S. Wilson, but he deemed it inexpedient to accept, and was ordained soon iafter at Castle- Douglas.
Fifth Minister. — JOHN Steel, called from St David's Free Church, [Kirkintilloch, where he had been ordained, 26th August 1869. Inducted to ^reenhead, 24th April 1878. Dr Edwards died, 20th August 1888, in the sighty-fourth year of his age and fifty-eighth of his ministry. Though slightly ailing for some time he rose that morning and dressed as usual, and short time after it was found that the long life journey was over and that le had entered into rest. Little remains to attest what Dr Edwards was, )ut we go back with undimmcd interest to a lecture of his on ".Self-Educa- tion," which, after appearing in a volume of Lectures to Young Men, formed two articles in Hogg's Instructor for 1845. ^^ contained stimulus and lirection for youthful readers bent on self-improvement in the face of
54 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
difficulties, and it showed the author to be a man of wide reading, mental culture, and solid attainments. Mr Steel received the degree of D.D. from Glasgow University in 1896. The congregation at the close of 1899 had a membership of 732, and the stipend was ^440.
TOLLCROSS (Relief)
On 1st July 1806 a large body of people in and about ToUcross, a village a mile east of Parkhead, petitioned the Relief Presbytery of Glasgow to be received as a forming congregation. They stated that they were building a house for public worship, and it appears from a newspaper paragraph that the work was going on in the early summer. The application was granted forthwith, and Sabbath services were begun. The church, when finished, had 1 23 1 sittings, and it cost ^2300.
First Minister. — WILLIAM M'Ilquham, translated from Milngavie, where he had been for eight years. A competing call came out from Bridgeton at the same time ; but of the two newly-formed congregations Mr M'Ilquham preferred Tollcross, where he was inducted, 21st May 1807. The stipend in 1817 was ^180, with a manse. Mr M'Ilquham died, 2nd September 1822, he and his eldest daughter, aged sixteen, being buried in the same grave. He was in the fifty-third year of his age and twenty-fourth of his ministry.
Second Minister. — WlLLIAM Ney, from Kilsyth. Ordained, 25th May 1824. Though Mr Ney's course was brief, and had a troubled close, the biographer of Dr William Anderson, his fellow-townsman, tells us "there was no man in the Relief body of whose abilities and commanding eloquence Anderson entertained a higher opinion." But the gold became dim, and on 8th November 1831 Mr Ney had to be loosed from his charge and sus- pended sine die. He died in his father's humble cottage at Kilsyth about a year afterwards. The precise date cannot be given ; but his widow received the first payment of her annuity at Whitsunday 1833. His age was thirty- seven, and they had been married only two years when he lost his ministerial standing through intemperance.
Third Minister. — William Auld, son of the Rev. William Auld, Greenock. Ordained on a harmonious call, 28th February 1833, and in three years the communion roll rose 400, and reached a total of 916. The church was crowned with a steeple and bell in 1834 at a cost of ^280, and about the same time a manse was built at a cost of £700. Since the close of Mr Ney's ministry the funds had improved by at least ^100, but the stipend was only ^140, with house and garden. This was partly owing to a debt of ;^ 1 400 on the property. At this time one-fourth of the congregation were from Old Monkland parish, and 45 families came from more than two miles. Of the membership, the report bore that one-fifth were hand-loom weavers and one-fifth were miners. The proprietors numbered 127, and they included, in addition to the original contributors and their heirs, those who had subscribed at least a guinea for the erection of the steeple. The management of the Society's secular affairs was entirely in their hands, including even the fixing of the seat rents, and they were not all members of the congregation. In 1876 it was arranged to provide Mr Auld with a colleague, whose stipend was to be ^250, the senior minister to have ^150, with the manse.
Fourth Minister. — Charle.s M'Evving, from Stornoway, where he had been minister four and a half years. Inducted, nth December 1876. Three years after this the membership was 361. On the evening of Tuesday, 24th
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW • 55
October 1883, Mr Auld's jubilee was celebrated with much interest, befitting discourses having been preached from ToUcross pulpit by his colleague and others on the preceding Sabbath. But he was now nearing what the con- gregation in their congratulatory address called "the dawn of the better life day," and on 17th April 1885 he died, in the seventy-ninth year of his age and fifty-third of his ministry. Mr Auld's son, the Rev. James M. Auld, was ordained on 22nd February 1875 by Glasgow Presbytery as a missionary to Kaffraria. For some years the station of Elujilo was under his charge, but since then he has laboured at Columba, in the same colony. After becoming sole pastor Mr M'Ewing's salary was raised to ^300. At the close of 1899 there was a membership of 625, and the stipend was ^345.
REGENT PLACE (Antiburgher)
In November 1817 a petition was presented to the session of the old Anti- burgher congregation in Duke Street craving to have the reading of the line in the praises of the sanctuary restored and repeating tunes discon- tinued. It was the conservative element in conflict with modern innova- tions. The session refused to interfere, declaring that these were matters which it lay with the minister to arrange, a dictum which the rules and forms of the present day do not sustain. Irritation wrought on for more than a year, when it found a salutary outlet in Church Extension. On 2nd March 1819a packet of papers was given in to the Presbytery, and a committee was ap- pointed to examine the various documents and report on them at next meet- ing. On 23rd March it was agreed to lose sight of disputes about the non-reading of the line and such things and keep by the simple question of granting a disjunction. To ascertain whether the petitioners were backed by a large enough constituency two petitions were to lie in the session-house of Duke Street on certain evenings, to be signed, the one by members and the other by adherents, who wished to be disjoined. On 27th April the petitions were brought up, the one signed by 1 57 members, of whom 13 were from Anderston congregation, and the other by 69 adherents. Thereupon it was agreed to erect the applicants into a separate congregation. Thus at the Union in the following year Edinburgh and Glasgow had each five Secession congregations ; but while in Edinburgh three were Burgher and two Antiburgher, in Glasgow three were Antiburgher and two Burgher.
But the meeting-house in Regent Place was not finished, and sermon was not required till the first Sabbath of August. That day the new church, with 1446 sittings, was opened by Mr Muter, whose appearance in the pulpit was the pledge of peace between the two congregations. An election of elders was next to be proceeded with, and a session was formed on the fourth Sabbath of October. The first call came out on 30th December, signed by 85 male members and adhered to by 61 female members and 1 14 non-communicants. The stipend was to be ^300, and it was reported that there were 600 seats let. The call was addressed to the Rev. Hugh Heugh of Stirling ; but at the Synod in May he indicated strong attachment to his people, and it was decided not to translate. He was called again in June 1820, but the former decision was repeated. There was nothing more done now till April 1821, when the Presbytery held a special meeting to receive an application from Regent Place for a moderation. The whole proceedings connected with this call were condensed into the shortest space possible. On Friday the moderation was granted ; on Saturday and Sabbath the pulpit intimation was made ; on Monday the election took place ; and on Tuesday the call was set aside. The preacher chosen was Mr James
56 HISTORY OF U.P. CONGREGATIONS
Whyte, for whom seven calls gathered up for the Synod's decision a year later. In Regent Place Church Mr Whyte's gifts were not universally ap- preciated, the signatures fell short, and in the Presbytery it carried not to sustain "on account of the divided state of the congregation." They were now to fall back on their former choice.
First Minister. — HUGH Heugh, who had been fifteen years in Stirling (now Viewfield). The numbers signing in his favour now amounted to 260 members and 203 adherents. Along with this call another from Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, to be colleague to Dr Jamieson, came before the Synod on 13th September 1821. The discussion lasted eight hours, when it carried to translate to Glasgow. Mr Heugh, as was given in a report at the time, "stated his known attachment to his congregation, which was undiminished, begged the Court to throw out of view every secular consideration connected with himself or his family, and entreated that, wherever a doubt existed in the minds of members, Stirling should have the benefit." The vote stood thus : Glasgow 55, Stirling 52, Edinburgh i, and he was inducted, 9th October 1821. What about repeating tunes now and the reading of the line 1 The minister, before the year was out, put such matters at rest by desiring the precentor to introduce the new music and by consenting to wear the gown and bands. It was unworthy prejudice denied house room even in its own temple. Some families of the sterner sort might seek else- where, but the congregation was safe into the tide of progress.
Mr Heugh had the degree of D.D. from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1831, but of such honours he wrote some years afterwards : " They are of vastly little value — a mere shoulder tinsel knot." He took an active part in the Voluntary Controversy, and published a pamphlet in 1833, entitled "Con- siderations on Civil Establishments of Religion." In 1836 Regent Place had a membership of about 1 1 50. There was a debt of ^2245, which was being reduced by the yearly overplus. The stipend, including expenses and life insurance, was ^468. The congregation also, besides supporting two city missionaries of their own, bestowed ^90 a year on Inveraray church, and ^250 on Bellevue, Jamaica. About the year 1843 Dr Heugh felt the evening shadows beginning to gather, and a sojourn on the Continent was recom- mended, the fruits of which we have in his " Notices of the State of Religion in Geneva and Belgium." But, though partial restoration came, he felt persuaded that he would never be able to resume full work again, and steps were taken to procure a colleague. At this juncture Dr Heugh stepped forward to take his part in the Atonement discussions, and at the time when a breach was threatened he acted as a mediator. On neither side did he go to extremes, and his " Irenicum " helped to smooth the way to better things. It was a motion of his that carried at the Synod in May 1845, when the Clerk's table was laden with conflicting Memorials. But when July came, and Dr Brown was libelled, his state of health was such that he could not go beyond a silent vote. At this time the Rev. David Croom of Sanquhar was under call to be his colleague, but declined.
Second Minister. — James Taylor, translated from St Andrews. Having been called with much harmony he was inducted, 26th February 1846. The stipend was to be ^300, and he had scarcely settled down in Glasgow when he received the degree of D.D. from St Andrews University. With Dr Heugh the fibres now yielded one by one. Once he addressed his people at the communion, once he was present at the prayer meeting, once he took his seat in the session, and once in the Presbytery. Once he accompanied his colleague in a round of pastoral visitation, and once in some visits to the afflicted. Then he might have said : " It is done." It was when in this worn state that he had to suffer for the part he took in the
f
PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW 57
Atonement Controversy ; but the recital pertains to the history of Kirkgate, Leith, and the Rev. William Marshall. Dr Heugh died, loth June 1846, in the sixty-fourth year of his age and fortieth of his ministry. His memory survives in a biographical volume of much merit by his son-in-law, the Rev. Hamilton M. MacGill, D.D. A companion volume of his discourses was pub- lished at the same time, of which a friendly critic wrote that, " wanting his admirable delivery, they have lost much of their charm," a remark which admits of wide application. Mrs Heugh, who was a daughter of the Rev. John Clarkson of Ayr, died, 15th September 1877, in her ninety-eighth year. On nth July 1848 Ur Taylor, with a large proportion of his congrega- tion and a larger proportion of its wealth, was disjoined from Regent Place and transferred west to Renfield Street. By request he was to occupy the pulpit till the first Sabbath of August, and dispense the communion on that day. The Presbytery expressed gratification at the spirit displayed by both parties.
Third Minister. — John Edmond, translated from Dennyloanhead, where he had been Dr Stark's colleague for eight years. The congregation which remained in Regent Place were in readiness for a moderation at next meeting of Presbytery. Mr Edmond was described about this time by a brother minister of strong literary bent as "one of the most effective speakers in the U.P. body, mildly animated, tremulously powerful, with sweetness now and then soaring almost into strength." The first call having been declined another followed, but they were induced by the object of their choice to have it withdrawn. They next fixed on Mr Andrew Morton, probationer, but he preferred Sir Micliael Street, (irecnock. Now the resolve was formed to call Mr Edmond again, believing that in the circumstances he would not a third time say them nay. He yielded, and his induction took place, 5th June 1850. During the ten years which followed there was steady progress in Regent Place Church, and though the situation was unfavourable the membership at the close of that period was about 1000, with a revenue of ^1600 a year. But now Church Exten- sion was commencing with vigour in London, and as the first-fruits a con- gregation was formed in Highbury on 31st October 1869.