Rev. James Thomson, of Quarrelwood. 43 



might be carried on in connection with the Society by the Photo- 

 graphic Sec^'ion holding occasional meetings for general photo- 

 graphic work, the atliliation of the Section with the Scottish 

 Photographic Federation (members of the Section to be members 

 of the Society), and by the occasional reading of papers on the 

 more scientific aspects of photography, was adopted by the 

 Society. 



Rev. James Thomson, of Quarrelwood Reformed Presby- 

 terian Church. By Rev. W. M'Dowall, M.A., Minister 

 of Kirkmahoe United Free Church. 



James Thomson was a native of Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, and 

 was born in 1760. His parents were connected with the Re- 

 formed Presbyterian Church, and he had all the advantages of a 

 pious upbringing. Under his father's roof he received a religious 

 instruction, training and example, the true foundation of a 

 character of permanence. His father was a joiner, and he 

 himself learned the trade, but did not pursue it. In early life he 

 set his heart upon the ministry. In order to carry out his desire 

 he went to study at the University of Glasgow, and after the usual 

 curriculum — for in those days there was no choice of a curriculum 

 — he entered upon the study of divinity. The Reformed Presby- 

 terian Church had no Professors of Divinity in those days ; the 

 students were superintended in their studies by their own pastors, 

 and the Presbytery. Now, as we saw in the case of John Fairley, 

 the students were by no means neglected ; they had ample reading 

 in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin provided them, and also in Church 

 History, Systematic Theology, and the preparations of sermons. 

 The Scottish people have always insisted on a learned ministjv. 

 While each student was thrown largely upon his own resources, 

 James Thomson had an ample adviser in the Rev. John M'Millan, 

 of Stirling, the grandson of John M'Millan, of Balmaghie, from 

 whom the Cameronians sometimes took the name of M'Millanites. 

 M'Millan's abilities were afterwards recognised by his Church 

 and he was appointed their Profes.sor in Divinity. Having 

 finished the prescribed course of study, Mr Thomson at last went 

 forth among the vacancies. A preacher's first requisite in those 

 days— after a thorough preparation for his work — was a good 

 Galloway pony, with saddle and saddle bags, on whose back he 



