Thomas Boston Johnstone

“ Calderwood threw himself heartily into many political and religious movements intended to benefit his fellow citizens, especially the lower classes of Glasgow. There was scarcely an organisation of a philanthropic nature in the city that did not receive his ready advocacy and help, and when he left Glasgow for Edinburgh he received a public testimonial from the citizens in token of their appreciation of his services. In 1861 Calderwood was elected examiner in philosophy to the university of Glasgow ”

“ Harris was constantly writing, lecturing, or preaching, and advocating Sunday-schools, benevolent funds, tract and book societies, and institutions for mutual improvement. He threw himself into many political and sanitary, educational, and moral movements. He was a keen radical, active for the repeal of the corn laws, on behalf of which he drew up the first petition sent from Scotland. ”

“ MACFARLANE, JOHN, LL.D. (1807–1874) , Scottish divine, born in Dunfermline on 7 Feb. 1807, was third son of James Macfarlane, for forty years colleague, and afterwards successor at Queen Anne Street Church, Dunfermline, of James Husband, D.D. (d. 1821) , whose daughter Grace was his wife. She died in giving birth to her ninth child when John was eight years of age. Of his brothers, James became the leading solicitor in Dunfermline, William Husband a well-known lithographer in Edinburgh, George and Wardlaw merchants in Glasgow, and Andrew, minister of Trinity U. P. Church, Greenock. ”

“ He believed it to be demonstrated by physiology that the direct dependence of mind on brain was confined to the sensory-motor functions, the dependence of the higher forms of mental activity being on the other hand only indirect. He endeavoured to establish the thesis that man's intellectual and spiritual life as we know it is not the product of natural evolution, but necessitates the assumption of a new creative cause. ”

“ In 1850 the university of Glasgow conferred upon him the degree of D.D., and in 1854 he was elected moderator of synod. He was an able preacher and debater. He advocated a national system of education, was a member of the committee on union with the free church of Scotland, and warmly supported temperance and other social reforms. He died in Edinburgh in May 1874, shortly after delivering in the synod a powerful appeal in favour of disestablishment. Johnston was a good scholar, and in 1843 was nominated, together with John Eadie [q. v.] ”

“ In 1881 he published his Morse lectures on 'The Relations of Science and Religion,' originally delivered in connection with the Union Theological Seminary, New York, and afterwards redelivered in Edinburgh. 'Evolution and Man's Place in Nature' was published in 1893, and enlarged in 1896. In these works Calderwood tried to prove that the primary function of brain is to serve, not as an organ of thought but as an organ of sensory-motor activity. ”

“ William received his elementary education at a school in Oxfordshire. In 1800 he resolved to study for the independent ministry. In his twentieth year he entered Hoxton academy, and entered on his first and only pastorate at Bolton in September 1807. At the suggestion of Dr. Simpson, formerly pastor of Duke's Alley Chapel, Bolton, and afterwards resident tutor at Hoxton, a second independent church had just been formed in Bolton, a chapel had been erected in Mawdsley Street, capable of accommodating a congregation of about eight hundred persons, and Jones was the first minister. ”

“ A third series of reprints, 'The Chertsey Worthies Library' (1876-81) , was in fourteen volumes, and supplied reprints of the complete works of Nicholas Breton, John Davies of Hereford, Joshua Sylvester, Francis Quarles, Dr. Joseph Beaumont, Dr. Henry More, and Abraham Cowley. A fourth series of equal interest was projected in 1881, under the title of the 'Huth Library,' after the name of the great book collector, Henry Huth [q. v.] , in whose library original copies of the volumes which it was Grosart's intention to reprint were to be found. ”

“ He was educated at the Edinburgh High School, and in 1835 he became a student in the university of Edinburgh. He gained the first prize in Sir William Hamilton's class, and was second in both the moral philosophy and natural philosophy classes. ”

“ An earnest preacher of the gospel and a devoted missionary, he will be specially remembered as an experienced scientist and a skilful lexicographer. Besides the works already mentioned, Hunter published: 1. 'History of India,' 1863. 2. 'History of the Missions of the Free Church of Scotland in India and Africa,' 1873.
[Information chiefly from the Rev. "W. Hume Elliot, Ramsbottom, by whom a memoir of Hunter is to be published shortly; in the Brit. Mus. Cat. Hunter's works are ascribed to two different persons.] ”

“ John Brown (1784–1858) [q. v.] , he entered in 1816 the Divinity Hall of the Secession Church, then taught by Dr. Lawson at Selkirk. While at Selkirk he received the freedom of the burgh along with Prince Leopold, afterwards king of the Belgians, who was then on a visit to Sir Walter Scott. ”

“ After 1868 he concentrated his energies on the reissue, by private subscription, of secular literature. Between 1868 and 1876 he printed privately for subscribers a series of thirty-nine volumes, which he entitled the Fuller Worthies library. The series included Thomas Fuller's 'Poems and Translations in Verse,' the works in prose and verse of Sir John Davies (3 vols.) ”

“ He next went to Hamilton, where he held office as one of the sheriff-substitutes of the county from 1816 up to 1822. He died in 1848. At no period did his income exceed a hundred a year, and yet out of this, with a family of twelve children, he educated four sons for liberal professions, often sending them his last guinea when they were students at college. ”

“ He gave nine years of distinguished service to the educational and evangelistic advancement of that populous district, and while doing so made several important discoveries in geological science. But failure of health compelled him in 1855 to return home. He subsequently assisted Alexander Duff [q.v.] in forming missionary associations in the free church, and from 1864 to 1866 he was resident tutor in the theological college of the presbyterian church of England in London. ”

“ A volume of his ‘Sermons’ ran through thirteen editions, and is remarkable both for style and power of thought. In 1869 he received the degree of D.D. from Edinburgh University. In 1876 Ker was chosen professor of practical training in the reconstructed theological hall of his church. His weakness obliged him to limit his labours; but, in spite of much suffering, he performed his duties successfully till his death on 4 Oct. 1886. Besides the volume of sermons already mentioned Ker published various sermons and pamphlets. ”

“ In November 1812 he matriculated at Glasgow University, having obtained a bursary on the foundation of Dr. Williams's trust, and attended classes in Glasgow during three winter sessions. His studies were much interrupted by numerous engagements as a preacher and lecturer. The Scottish Unitarian Association was formed in July 1813. ”

“ Beginning with the care of a few orphan children, Müller's work at Bristol gradually grew to immense proportions, latterly no fewer than two thousand orphan children being fed, clothed, educated, cared for, and trained for useful positions in five enormous houses which were erected on Ashley Down. ”

“ The church was large and influential. He soon won a reputation as a preacher, and at the same time became well known as an author of religious manuals and a literary antiquary. In January 1862 he declined a call to Woolwich, but early in 1865 accepted one from the newly formed congregation of Princes Park, Liverpool. ”

“ Nor were public engagements permitted to interfere with professional duties, as his pastoral and pulpit work in Brunswick Street congregation, his labours in presbytery, and the services he rendered to Lancashire presbyterianism abundantly proved. ”

“ In June 1828 he was offered an appointment by the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, and he arrived in London in March 1829 to study Hebrew and Chaldee and prepare for missionary service. ”

“ Macleod was a man of clear judgment, cultured mind, and extensive reading. His style was fresh, nervous, and attractive. He was a favourite with children, and prepared many addresses and ' talks ' in their behalf. Apart from separate sermons, addresses, and articles in the magazines, Macleod published: 1. ”

“ There for two years he ministered to a large congregation. In 1826 he removed to the parish of Kilbrandon, Argyleshire, and in 1830 to the parish of Glenelg, Invernessshire. In 1839 he was called to the first charge of Stirling. ”

“ His other works are:
‘The Life and Times of Alexander Henderson,’ Edin. 1836. ‘Clerical Economics,’ Edin. 1842. ‘Eight Weeks in Germany,’ Edin. 1842. ‘The Lands of the Messiah, Mahomet, and the Pope,’ Edin. 1852. ‘The Drying-up of the Euphrates,’ London, 1853. ‘St. Paul and his localities in their past and present condition,’ London, 1856. He held his living till his death in 1863. ”