2d Minister.-JOHN GOODLET. Ordained 22d March 1749. Died 1775, in the 26th year of his ministry. Author of "Vindication of the Associate Synod."

3d Minister.-ANDREW THOMSON, from Howgate, called to Hamilton and Sanquhar. Ordained 22d August 1776. Died 2d September 1815, in the 40th year of his ministry. 4th Minister.-JAMES REID, from Newmilns. Called to Newmilns, Errol, Crieff, Moniaive, Lockerbie, and Sanquhar. Ordained 10th January 1816. Died 9th February 1849, in the 69th year of his age, and 34th of his ministry.

5th Minister.-DAVID M. CROOM, from Perth (South). Ordained as colleague to Mr Reid 10th January 1838. Called to Broughton Place, Edinburgh, 1841, and Regent Place, Glasgow; but remained both times in Sanquhar. Translated to Portsburgh, Edinburgh, 29th June 1852. Author of "Harmony and State of Doctrine in the Secession Synod."

The congregation called Mr Taylor, who preferred Kilmaurs; and Mr Hill, who preferred Scone.

6th Minister.-FORBES Ross, from Glasgow. Called also to Swalwell. Ordained 10th January 1854; laid aside on account of ill health. Died 21st February 1860. In 1857 the congregation called Mr T. Miller, who preferred Perth (Wilson Church).

7th Minister.-MATTHEW CRAWFORD, from Glasgow (Regent Place). Called to Alva, Lanark, Haddington, Springburn, and Sanquhar. Ordained 26th January 1858. Called to Bradford in May 1865, but declined the call. Called to Edinburgh (Lothian Road), but declined the call. Translated to Duke Street, Glasgow, 18th March 1869.

Called to Barrow, Leith, Stirling

8th Minister.-JOHN SELLAR, from Keith. (Viewfield), and Sanquhar. Ordained 26th April 1870.

NORTH CHURCH.

This congregation was formed by persons connected with the Associate (Burgher) Synod, who had come to reside in the district. Supply of sermon was afforded them, upon petition, by the Presbytery of Annan and Carlisle, 1815. Church built, 1818; enlarged, 1830; sittings, 500.

Before obtaining a fixed pastor, the congregation called Mr Inglis, who was appointed by the Synod to Stockbridge, Berwickshire.

1st Minister.-ROBERT SIMPSON, D.D., from Bristo Street, Edinburgh. Called to Dunse and Sanquhar. Ordained 16th May 1820. Received the degree of D.D. from Princeton, U.S., 1853. Died 8th July 1867, in the 72d year of his age, and 48th of his ministry.

Author of "Memorials of Pious Persons Lately Deceased;" "Traditions of the Covenanters," 3 vols;" "Life of James Renwick;" "The Minister and his Hearer;" "The Two Shepherds; Gleanings among the Mountains;" "The Times of Claverhouse, or Sketches of the Persecution;" A Voice from the Desert ;" "Martyrland," etc.

2d Minister.-JAMES HAY SCOTT, from Melrose. Called to Leeds, Biggar, Sanquhar, and Wolverhampton. Ordained 2d June 1868.

MONIAIVE.

Moniaive is a village in the parish of Glencairn, Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire, 8 miles south-west of Thornhill, and 16 north-west of Dumfries.

The parish of Glencairn is bounded on the south-west by that of Dunscore. The Rev. James M'Gilchrist, minister of Dunscore, was deposed by the General Assembly, 1715, for taking part with the Rev. Mr Hepburn, who had been deprived of office for following divisive courses. Mr M'Gilchrist continued, notwithstanding, to preach to his people, and they to adhere to him. He, along with Mr Hepburn previously referred to, Mr Taylor of Wamphray, and two probationers who coincided in their views, formed a Presbytery, which broke up in a few years from want of unanimity among its members. Mr M'Gilchrist's congregation dispersed after his death. Part of the members joined the Old Dissenters, better known in the locality as "The M'Millanites, or Mountain Men." The remainder abstained from any ecclesiastical connection till the origin of the Secession, when they joined themselves to it. They were associated with the Seceders in Morton, where Thornhill is situated, Glencairn, and surrounding parishes, and had sermon supplied to them by the Associate Presbytery at the village of Closeburn, 2 miles east of Thornhill, as central to most of them. At the formation of the congregation of Sanquhar, they were included in it, but still had occasional supply of sermon afforded them at Closeburn. Matters continued in this state till 1755, when they were organised as a congregation, under the designation of "The United Congregation of Glencairn and Closeburn," from the names of the parishes in which the members chiefly resided. It was shortly afterwards found that the majority of the persons in attendance were from the west, and that Moniaive, in the parish of Glencairn, would be more convenient for them as the place of meeting, while those in the south and east thought Thornhill, in the parish of Morton, the more desirable place for them. Closeburn was therefore abandoned, supply of sermon afforded alternately to the new-chosen places, and the name of the congregation changed into that of "The United Congregation of Moniaive and Thornhill." These were disjoined, and organised as separate congregations in 1805. First church built about 1775, on the farm of Kirkcudbright, about a quarter of a mile from the village, because the ground around the village belonged to the estate of Craigdarroch, the proprietor of which would not grant a site; second built in the village about 1800; third built 1834, on the same site; sittings, 478.

Before obtaining a fixed pastor, the united congregation called Mr Alexander Pringle, who was appointed by the Synod to Perth.

1st Minister.-James Pattison, from Colmonell. Ordained as minister of the united congregation of Moniaive and Thornhill, 30th July 1788. Mr Pattison preached on alternate Sabbaths at each of these places till the parties assembling at them were formed into separate congregations in 1805, when he preferred Thornhill.

2d Minister.-JAMES FRANCE, from Bucklyvie, of which his father was minister. Ordained as colleague to Mr Pattison 22d August 1805. Died 10th September 1813, in the 40th year of his age and 8th of his ministry.

The congregation called Mr Rattray, who was appointed by the Synod to Selkirk; Mr Reid, who was appointed to Sanquhar; and Mr Blyth, who was appointed to Urr. 3d Minister.-JAMES M'GEOCH, from Wigtown. Ordained 26th August 1817Died 7th August 1848, in the 58th year of his age and 31st of his ministry.

4th Minister.-ROBERT BORWICK, from Kirkwall. Ordained 26th June 1849. Demitted his charge 15th May 1863. Became master of a boarding-school near Liverpool.

5th Minister.-ALEXANDER W. DONALDSON, A.B., from Perth (North). Or dained 25th October 1864. Translated to Strathaven 5th July 1870.

The congregation called Mr John Boyd, M.A., who preferred Skelmorlie. 6th Minister.-THOMAS KIDD, M.A., from Glasgow (Lansdowne). Ordained 1st November 1871.

MAINSRIDDELL.

A hamlet in the parish of Kirkbean, stewartry of Kirkcudbright, 15 miles south of Dumfries.

THE RELIEF CHURCH (Now EXTINCT).

Originated in the settlement of an unacceptable minister in the parish, and the want of evangelical preaching in the other parishes of the district. Supply of sermon was afforded to the place, in compliance with a petition of several of its inhabitants, by the Relief Presbytery of Glasgow, 1791. Church built 1792; sittings, 450. The church was reconstructed in 1860, at a cost of £132, and is now seated for 250.

1st Minister.-JAMES SMART, called to Waterbeck and Mainsriddell. Ordained 14th July 1791. Translated to Largo 1795.

2d Minister.-EDWARD DOBBIE, from Dovehill, Glasgow. Called to Lanark and Mainsriddell. Ordained 13th April 1797. Called to Kilpatrick in 1807, but preferred remaining at that time in Mainsriddell. Translated to Burnhead, 20th July 1809.

3d Minister.-WILLIAM MUIR, from Sanquhar (First Secession). Ordained 12th June 1810. Called to Strathaven in 1819, but declined the call. Loosed from his charge 27th June 1820. Probationer till July 1824, when he withdrew from the connection, and became assistant to a minister in Newcastle connected with the Church of Scotland.

The further history of this congregation is given in the article which immediately follows.

SECESSION CHURCH.

After Mr Muir had been loosed from the charge of the Relief congregation of Mansriddell, the congregation resolved on changing its ecclesiastical connection, and with this view applied for and obtained supply of sermon from the United Associate Presbytery of Dumfries, 4th July 1825.

1st Minister.-ROBERT GELLATLY, from Kinclaven. Ordained 3d January 1828. Resigned 8th April 1840. After his resignation, Mr Gellatly raised an action at law for arrears of stipend due to him by the congregation of Mainsriddell. The members thus sued applied to the Presbytery for advice how to act. The Presbytery referred the case to the Synod, "considering it one of great importance, being an infraction of the principles of the Secession Church in regard to the temporal support of ministers, as declared by the deed of Synod, 27th September 1836." "After some deliberation, the Synod agreed to remit the case to the Presbytery of Dumfries, with instructions to summon Mr Gellatly before them to answer to the charge of having violated the laws of the Synod forbidding any minister to go to law with his congregation on pecuniary matters, and to proceed with him according to the laws of the Church." The Presbytery suspended Mr Gellatly from the office of the ministry,

but restored him some time after, on his promising to desist from the prosecution. He removed to Kinclaven after his resignation, and died there 15th April 1859, in the 75th year of his age.

The congregation called Mr Cowan, who preferred Buckhaven.

2d Minister.-PETER MERCER, from Lochee. Ordained 27th October 1846. Resigned 26th June 1849. Admitted to Drymen 1850.

The congregation called Mr Porteous, who preferred Spittal.

3d Minister.-THOMAS FULLARTON, from Cathedral Street, Glasgow. Ordained 5th November 1850.

BURNHEAD.

Burnhead is a hamlet in the parish of Penpont, Upper Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire, I mile west of Thornhill, and 6 miles north-east of Moniaive.

The congregation of Burnhead originated in the settlement of a minister in the parish of Penpont, after an opposition by a majority of the people for several years, during which the case had been pending before the General Assembly, and by which it was terminated in favour of the presentee. Though thus settled as the minister of the parish, he did not thereby become minister of the parishioners, for few of them submitted to his ministry, and for eighteen years afterwards the sacra ment was not dispensed in the parish for want of a congregation.

On the 26th November 1798, "a presentation of grievances" was laid before the Relief Presbytery of Dumfries by a respectable body of men in the parish of Penpont, accompanied by a petition requesting supply of sermon. The Rev. Edward Dobbie of Mainsriddell preached to them, by appointment of Presbytery, on the third Sabbath of December following, and a large congregation was almost immediately formed. A number of parishioners in other parishes, dissatisfied with their ministers, also found the formation of this congregation a relief to them, and speedily connected themselves with it. Church built in 1800; sittings, 800. Rebuilt, 1839.

1st Minister. -WILLIAM AULD, brought up in connection with the Reformed Presbytery, popularly known as "The Cameronians," and one of sixteen belonging to that body who attended at the formation of the Glasgow Missionary Society. For this alleged offence they were all brought before the sessions to which they respectively belonged. Mr Auld had not become a member of the body, and so escaped a summons. He, and almost all the offenders, joined the Relief or Congregational Churches thereafter. On obtaining license as a probationer, Mr Auld was called to Beith, Dunse, and Burnhead. Ordained 26th March 1801. Called to Dalkeith 1804, but remained in Burnhead. Translated to Greenock, 17th November 1808.

2d Minister.-EDWARD DOBBIE, A. M., previously of Mainsriddell. Inducted to Burnhead, 20th December 1809. Moderator of Synod in 1816. Died 22d February 1857, in the 85th year of his age and 60th of his ministry.

3d Minister.-JOHN SMITH, from Falkirk (West). Ordained as colleague to Mr Dobbie, 22d March 1836. Died 3d March 1853, in the 43d year of his age, and 17th of his ministry.

4th Minister.-WILLIAM MACDONALD, from Greyfriars, Glasgow. Ordained as colleague to Mr Dobbie, 23d February 1854. Author of "Security and Danger."

LOCHMABEN.

Lochmaben is a royal burgh in Annandale, Dumfriesshire, 4 miles west of Lockerbie, and 8 north-east of Dumfries..

The Rev. Mr Johnston, of Ecclefechan, intimated his intention to preach in Lochmaben, on a Sabbath in the year 1790, and a tent was erected for the purpose. But on coming to the place on the morning of the day specified, he found the tent demolished and the fragments of it floating in the lake which gives its name to the town. He was deterred by this circumstance from preaching there at that time, but afterwards carried his intention into execution, and was so encouraged by the attendance given him that he continued to visit the place occasionally, and each time with increasing success. A number of persons in and about Lochmaben were drawn by these visits to attend regularly upon his ministry at Ecclefechan, notwithstanding the distance between the places. When Mr Dunlop removed to Dumfries, he also paid occasional visits to Lochmaben, and preached to an immense concourse of people assembled in the open fields. Several of them were drawn to attend regularly upon his ministry, as others had been upon that of Mr Johnston. In 1812, the members of Dumfries and Ecclefechan congregations resident in and about Lochmaben, applied for and obtained supply of sermon from the Associate (Burgher) Presbytery of Selkirk. Church built, 1813; sittings, 800. In 1869 the church was thoroughly renovated at a cost of £500. It is now seated for 500, and was reopened by Professor Harper on 8th March 1870.

1st Minister.-ANDREW YOUNG, from Balfron. Called to Coupar-Angus, Kilmarnock, and Lochmaben. Ordained 26th October 1813. Called a second time to Kilmarnock 1814, but was continued by the Synod in Lochmaben, notwithstanding his strongly-expressed wish to remove from it, which circumstance led a number of persons in Kilmarnock to withdraw from the connection and form the Original Associate (Burgher) Congregation there. Mr Young resigned his charge in Lochmaben, 21st May 1828, and afterwards was admitted to Lanark in 1830.

2d Minister.-ANDREW MARTIN, from Lauder. Ordained 18th August 1831. Died 22d November 1865, in the 62d year of his age, and 35th of his ministry. The congregation called Mr R. Lindsay, who accepted Creetown.

3d Minister.-ALEXANDER M'DONALD, from Broughton Place, Edinburgh. Called to Cullybackey, Sandwick, and Lochmaben. Ordained 16th July 1867.

CASTLE-DOUGLAS.

Castle-Douglas is a town in the parish of Kelton, and stewartry of Kirkcudbright, on the road from Kirkcudbright to Dumfries, 18 miles south-by-west of Dumfries, and 10 north-east of Kirkcudbright.

FIRST CHURCH (Now EXTINCT).

Though Castle-Douglas be a town of considerable size and population, the church of the parish in which it is situated is nearly two miles distant from it; and up to the commencement of the present century it had no place of worship nearer it.

Many of its inhabitants found it inconvenient to travel so far every week, and were therefore led in the year 1800 to apply to the General Assembly of the Estab