4 Obituary Notices. [sess. li. 



which this praiseworthy effort entailed laid the foundation 

 of severe dyspepsia and its attendant evils, from which he 

 suffered from time to time in after life. 



Having seen the sad effects of intemperance in the case 

 of many whom he had known, he determined at this time to 

 become a total abstamer, and he remained through life a 

 strong advocate of that cause. At the Band of Hope festival 

 held at Dumfries after his decease, the chairman thus alluded 

 to our excellent friend — "The Dumfries and Maxwelltown 

 Band of Hope Union has in its infancy been deprived of the 

 fostering care of its "much-loved and highly respected hono- 

 rary president His influence was ever felt for good, 



and his presence will be much missed." 



He became also about this time a Sabbath-school teacher, 

 and Ijy his singularly interesting mode of conveying instruc- 

 tion he attracted and sustained the attention of his pupils, 

 and was the means of leading one of them at least to devote 

 himself to the ministry, wlio afterwards became an endnent 

 pastor of an Independent Chapel in London. 



Dr Gilchrist, even as a yoang man, had much earnestness 

 of purpose ; his motto seemed ever to be " life is real, life is 

 earnest," and hence the frivolities of youth had no attraction 

 for him ; lie, however, enjoyed innocent and healthy recreation, 

 and was an excellent skater, though he could not tell whether 

 liis first skates were on loan or bought, but tliis he did re- 

 ]nember, that on their account he was the admiration and 

 tlie envy of his companions. 



Having left the drapery business, he, after serious con- 

 sideration, was desirous of devoting himself to the ministry 

 in connection witli tlie United Presbyterian Church, and by 

 the help of some friends, and hj teaching in a boarding school, 

 he was enabled to secure a university education, and he 

 entered the Divinity Hall of his denomination. About this 

 time (1843), one who afterwards became Dr (lilehrist's 

 attached friend, )jut was then attending the Dumfries 

 Academy, thus speaks of his qualifications as a teacher — 

 "Gilchrist was tlicn sup])lying the place of a master who 

 was ill. His manner was quiet, reserved, and firm, and from 

 his bearing he soon gained control over the class." 



After attending for some time at the Hall, his health gave 

 way under continuous study, and after the delivery of a Hall 



