BATHGATE.

Bathgate is a town in Linlithgowshire, 18 miles west of Edinburgh, 24 east of Glasgow, and 7 south of Linlithgow.

LIVERY STREET (Now EXTINCT).

Several parishioners of Bathgate acceded to the Associate Presbytery in 1740, and became part of the Secession congregation of Craigmailen. Most of these drew off from this congregation, the majority of which adhered to the General Associate (Antiburgher) Synod at the Breach in 1747, and joined the congregation of West Linton, the majority of which had adhered to the Associate (Burgher) Synod. In 1749 a minister was violently intruded into the parish of Kirkliston, in consequence of which a number of the parishioners withdrew from the Established Church, and had sermon afforded them, upon petition, by the Associate (Burgher) Presbytery of Edinburgh, at the village of Kirkliston. About the same time the Associate Seceders in and about Bathgate, who had hitherto travelled to West Linton to attend public ordinances, obtained supply of sermon at Cathlaw, in the parish of Bathgate. In October of that year, the Associate (Burgher) Seceders in and about Linlithgow obtained supply of sermon in that town. These three stations continued to receive supply of sermon, each upon an average once a fortnight, till 1751, when a large secession took place in the parish of Torphichen. Sermon was then withdrawn from Kirkliston, Bathgate, and Linlithgow, and supplied only to Torphichen, where the Associate Seceders in these places were now required to attend. With this arrangement the adherents in Bathgate were not satisfied: nevertheless they continued to attend at Torphichen till 1763, when they built a place of worship in Bathgate, containing 400 sittings. Finding that a portion of the congregation would not willingly abandon Torphichen, they applied to the Synod to coerce them into it. The Synod decided that both parties should continue one congregation, with two places of worship and one minister, who should supply each on alternate Sabbaths. Both parties acquiesced in this decision, and the minister of Torphichen also supplied Bathgate accordingly.

1st Minister.—ARCHIBALD HALL, from Penicuik.

Ordained as minister of the Associate congregation, Torphichen, 13th February 1760. Became minister of the united congregations of Torphichen and Bathgate 1764. Translated to Wells Street, London, 1765.

After Mr Hall's translation, Torphichen and Bathgate became separate congregations, with a minister to each.

2d Minister.-WILLIAM HALL. Ordained 26th August 1766. Died 17th

October 1771, in the sixth year of his ministry.

The congregation called Mr Richardson, who was appointed by the Synod to Greenock.

3d Minister.-JOHN JAMIESON. Called to Longridge and Bathgate. Ordained February 1776. Resigned 14th August 1783. Emigrated to America, and became minister of a congregation, and died there in 1819, in the 70th year of his age, and 44th of his ministry.

4th Minister.-James Forrester, from Stirling (First). Called to St Andrews and Bathgate. Ordained 12th April 1785. Died 1786, in the first year of his

ministry.

P

5th Minister.-PATRICK CONNEL. Ordained 23d August 1787. Mr Connel withdrew from the Associate Synod at the division caused by the Old Light Controversy, 1799, and became a member of the Original Associate (Burgher) Synod, then formed. The majority of his congregation withdrew with him, and retained possession of the property. The minority took no steps to recover possession, trusting to the decision of the Court in the case of Perth, which had been already raised, and which would settle the question in all parallel cases. The case of Perth was decided by the House of Lords in 1819, in favour of the party which adhered to the Associate Synod. On the ground of this decision, the minority of Bathgate congregation claimed to be put in possession of the place of worship retained by the majority, which was yielded up to them on their issuing a summons of removal. Mr Connel died 23d January 1820, in the 56th year of his age, and 33d of his ministry. The persons who had adhered to Mr Connel built another place of worship, and called another minister after his death. The persons who had recovered the property continued to receive supply of sermon till 1828, when it was discontinued for want of encouragement, and the congregation became extinct. The place of worship has since been converted into a banking-office and dwelling-house.

This congregation, however, is still to be regarded as continued in the other portion of it, into which the remnant left at its extinction afterwards merged. In 1839, Mr Reid, previously minister of the United Associate congregation of Dalry, Dumfriesshire, but then minister of the Original Associate congregation of Bathgate, joined the Established Church, and got his people with great reluctance to accompany him. In 1840 he was translated to a quoad sacra church in Johnstone, Renfrewshire; and the congregation, left by this circumstance to an unfettered choice of their ecclesiastical connection, determined to return to the denomination to which they belonged at their original formation. In accordance with this determination, they were taken upon petition under the inspection of the United Associate Presbytery of Stirling and Falkirk, 1840.

After their return to their first connection, they called Mr Andrew Johnstone, who declined the call, afterwards joined the Established Church, and is now minister of the parish of Kinglassie; and Mr Fleming, who preferred Whithorn.

6th Minister.-Andrew M'FARLANE, D.D., from Queen Anne Street, Dunfermline, of which his father was minister. Called to Pell Street, London, and Bathgate. Ordained 1st May 1843. Translated to Falkirk, 13th March 1844.

The congregation then called Mr Darling, who preferred Stitchel; and Mr Sim, who preferred Girvan.

7th Minister.-ALEXANDER CUTHBERT, A.M., previously minister of an Independent congregation in Airdrie, where he was ordained in 1833. Received as a probationer by the United Associate Synod, 1840. Admitted to Bathgate 22d May 1845. Demitted his charge 24th July 1855. Lived privately in Glasgow, taking appointments as occasional preacher.

Author of "Statement of the Recent Proceedings of the Independent Churches in Glasgow, and the Committee of the Congregational Union of Scotland, in the case of the Church at Airdrie: being a Development and Specimen of the Tendency and Internal Workings of the Independent Form of Church Government;' "Refutation Refuted: a Reply to the Statements of Rev. W. Lindsay Alexander, M. A., contained in his pamphlet recently published in defence of the Independent Churches in Glasgow, and the Committee of the Congregational Union of Scotland;""Construction of Primitive Churches ;" and "Infants Asleep in Jesus; or, Light on Little Graves."

After Mr Cuthbert's resignation, the congregation became extinct. The building is now a Roman Catholic chapel.

SECOND (Now EVANGELICAL UNION).

The General Associate (Antiburgher) Seceders resident in and about Bathgate formed part of the congregation of Craigmailen, now the East Congregation, Linlithgow, till 1805, when, the place of worship there being out of repair, and the congregation having been greatly reduced by the formation of other congregations out of it, the question arose as to rebuilding it in the same place, or erecting another in Linlithgow, where the majority of the adherents resided. The latter course was preferred. By the removal of the place of worship thither, the distance was nearly doubled to the members resident in Bathgate. On this account they opposed the change. Their opposition being overruled, they soon after were disjoined, and applied for and obtained supply of sermon at Bathgate. Church built, 1808; sittings, 400.

1st Minister.-ROBERT MORISON, from Dalreoch. Called to Huntly and Bathgate. Ordained 2d June 1812. In 1841, Mr Morison published several pamphlets in vindication of the opinions then put forth by his son, the Rev. James Morison, of Kilmarnock, now Dr Morison, of Glasgow, by whose name such opinions are now generally known and distinguished. The Synod, having suspended him from office, appointed a committee of Presbytery to examine these pamphlets, along with Mr Morison's reasons of dissent from the decision suspending his son from the office of the ministry for propagating the opinions referred to, and to "take such measures in relation to them as they might see fit, according to the rules of the Church." At the subsequent meeting of Synod, another committee was appointed to proceed further in the case than had been done by the first. Mr Morison failed to appear before this committee, and the Synod, after deliberating on its report, found "that Mr Morison has neither abstained from the exercise of his office, nor attended the committee, nor appeared at the bar of the Synod, where he would have been fully heard, and his case regularly proceeded with. On these grounds, the Synod declare

him to be no longer a member of this Church." Mr Morison and his congregation became connected with the Evangelical Union. Mr Morison died 5th August 1855, in the 74th year of his age and 44th of his ministry. Author of "Review of "Statement of Principles,"" etc.; "Defence of Christ's Truth;" "Gospel Peace Necessary to Christian Righteousness;" "Infant Baptism Vindicated;" "The Case of Rev. R. Morison."

WEST.

In January 1812, there was presented to the Relief Presbytery of Edinburgh "The petition of a committee appointed and chosen by a numerous body of the people, formerly members of the Established Church of Bathgate, who, by resolutions dated 24th December last, have agreed to establish a Relief congregation in the town of Bathgate for themselves and in behalf of their constituents." The reason for taking this step was the recent settlement of an unpopular minister in the parish. The prayer of the petition was granted. Church built, 1812; sittings, 786.

1st Minister.-WILLIAM FYFE, previously of Pittenweem. Translated to Bathgate 22d July 1813. Died 26th November 1823, in the 41st year of his age and 13th of his ministry.

2d Minister.-GEORGE TODD, from Falkirk (West). Ordained 30th May 1826. Died 3d September 1846, in the 50th year of his age and 21st of his ministry.

3d Minister.-ALEXANDER BANKIER SCLANDERS, A.M., from Bridgeton, Glas

gow. Ordained 6th May 1847. Translated to Millhill, Musselburgh, 2d November 1853:

The congregation then called Mr David Anderson and Mr W. Scott, preachers. 4th Minister.-JAMES SCOTT, from Morebattle. Ordained 4th March 1856. Translated to Union Church, Kirkcaldy, 5th March 1867.

5th Minister.-ALEXANDER SHENNAN, formerly of Houghton-le-Spring. Admitted 25th November 1867.

MID-CALDER.

Mid-Calder is a village in the parish of the same name, Mid-Lothian, 12 miles west-south-west of Edinburgh, 5 east of West Calder, and about 8 south-east of Linlithgow.

The United Presbyterian place of worship is better known in the locality by the name of Bridge-end, which has been given to it because of a position it occupies about a quarter of a mile north-east from the village of Mid-Calder.

This congregation originated with members of the congregations of Craigmailen, now the East congregation, Linlithgow, and Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, who were desirous of having a place of worship in their own connection more conveniently situated for them than those they were then attending, and who accordingly applied for and obtained supply of sermon from the General Associate (Antiburgher) Presbytery of Edinburgh, 1761. First church built, 1765. Second built, 1854; holds about 400.

Before obtaining a fixed pastor, the congregation called the Rev. Mr Jerment, who continued at that time in his charge at Peebles.

1st Minister.-WILLIAM M'GEORGE, from Urr. Ordained 11th June 1766. Died 2d July 1799, in the 56th year of his age, and 34th of his ministry.

2d Minister.-ALEXANDER DUNCAN, D.D., from Nicolson Street, Edinburgh. Ordained 9th April 1800. Was one of the prime movers in the steps which led to the union in 1820, of the two branches of the Secession. Appointed Professor of Pastoral Theology by the United Associate Synod, 1834. Had the degree of D.D. conferred upon him by the University of St Andrews, 1842. Died 10th November 1844, in the 68th year of his age and 45th of his ministry.

Author of "Two Discourses on the Death of the Rev. William MacEwen, with Memoir;" "A Disquisition on the Lord's Supper;" a Sermon "On the Design and Advantages of the Christian Dispensation ;" "A Disquisition on the Being of a God," forming part of the first volume of the "Biblical Family Library," which was written for the Burnet Prize; "Memoir of the Rev. Robert Culbertson, Leith," prefixed to the second edition of his "Lectures on the Book of Revelation;" "A Summary View of the Great Plan of Heaven relative to Providence ;" and several articles in the "Encyclopædia Edinensis." A volume of his Discourses was published after his death, with a Memoir of his Life by his sons.

3d Minister.-ANDREW DUNCAN. Called to Church Street, Berwick, PortGlasgow, and Mid-Calder. Ordained, as colleague to his father, 20th September 1843. Author of "Persis and Eunice; or, Christian Women's Work of Service."

NORTH BERWICK.

North Berwick is a burgh town in East Lothian, 22 miles north-east-by-east of Edinburgh, 11 north-west of Dunbar, and 9 north-north-east of Haddington.

Several persons in North Berwick and adjoining parishes, dissatisfied with the

ministrations of the Established clergy in their district, travelled to Haddington and Dunbar to hear the Secession ministers in these places. Acquiring a relish for the Evangelical doctrine taught by them, they became anxious to have a place of worship in the same connection which they might conveniently attend, and with this view applied for and obtained supply of sermon from the Associate (Burgher) Presbytery of Edinburgh, 1771. The Rev. John Brown, of Haddington, exerted himself much to promote their interests throughout the thirteen years which elapsed from their being organised till they obtained a minister. During the session of the Divinity Hall at Haddington, his own pulpit being supplied by appointment of Synod, he either supplied North Berwick personally, or got the ministers of Musselburgh, Tranent, or Dunbar, to supply for him, he occupying their pulpits while thus engaged. When their church was building, Mr Brown subscribed £5 to the erection, though his stipend was only £50. First church built, 1779: second built, 1832; cost £630; sittings, 390. A new church was opened by Dr Cairns 24th August 1868. It is seated for 622, and cost, inclusive of £300 for site, £3100. Before obtaining a fixed pastor, the congregation called Mr Jeffrey, who was appointed by the Synod to Dalkeith.

Ordained

1st Minister.—JAMES SCRIMGEOUR, from Bristo Street, Edinburgh. 21st April 1784. Resigned, on account of ill-health, 1796. Became bookseller in Edinburgh, but afterwards emigrated to America, where he became minister of a congregation, first in New York, and afterwards in Newburgh, Little Britain, where he died in 1825.

2d Minister.-JOHN M'QUEEN, from Largs. Ordained 1801. Died 5th September 1803, in the 3d year of his ministry.

The congregation called Mr Paterson, who was appointed by the Synod to Alnwick, and Mr Ballantyne, who was appointed to Stonehaven.

3d Minister.-GEORGE BROWN, from Longridge, of which his father was minister. Called to Coldingham, Leslie, and North Berwick, and appointed by the Synod to North Berwick. Ordained 14th April 1807. Called in 1813 to Gorebridge, but remained in North Berwick. Died 24th April 1843, in the 57th year of his age, and 37th of his ministry. A volume of his Sermons was published in 1844, with preface by Dr Brown, Edinburgh.

4th Minister.-JOHN M'GILCHRIST DYER, from West Linton. Ordained 29th February 1844. Suspended 2d June 1857. Went to Australia.

5th Minister.-WILLIAM CALVERT, B.A., from Gorebridge. Called to North Shields, Potterrow, Haddington (East), and North Berwick. Ordained 18th May 1858.

QUEENSFERRY.

Queensferry (South) is a burgh town in Linlithgowshire, on the Forth, 9 miles west north-west of Edinburgh, and 9 east-by-north of Linlithgow.

The Rev. Mr Kid, minister of Queensferry for 40 years, was one of "the Marrow Men." When "the Four Brethren" were deposed, by the casting vote of the moderator, Mr Kid had Ebenezer Erskine assisting him at the sacrament on the Sabbath immediately following. When the Porteous paper came to the manse, Mrs Kid carried it to the study, and said, "Here is Captain Porteous for you." Mr Kid asked her to give the officer who brought it some refreshment, and sent for one of his elders. On the elder coming in Mr Kid asked him to read the paper, and then said, "Now that we have read it you may put it in there," pointing to the