ECCLESIASTICAL MOVEMENTS. 2 1/ 



on the Leochel, which John attended, as he did all others far 

 and near ; for he would walk any distance to see and hear 

 a popular speaker on the side he had espoused. 



To organize the new seceders round Tough, there arrived, 

 in the Disruption year, a worthy man, the Rev. William 

 P. Smith, who has been rendered famous through his re- 

 markable son, W. Robertson Smith, recently expelled from 

 a professorship in the church his father then entered. The 

 prospects of the Free Church in the Vale of Alford were 

 long very dark. For a considerable time, Mr. Smith was 

 obliged to preach to his people in the barns above Tough, 

 till Sir Andrew Leith Hay allowed them a site at Brindy, 

 above the church of Keig, where they erected a wooden 

 house in which they worshipped for some time. At last, 

 the late Lord Forbes granted them the present beautiful 

 site between Whitehouse and the Bridge of Don, where the 

 existing church and manse, tasteful, picturesque and com- 

 fortable, were erected amidst surrounding trees, with Cairn 

 William and Benachie behind, and there Mr. Smith was 

 ordained in 1845. 



Religious activity amongst the small band of seceders 

 was very great, and unwonted life and zeal were infused 

 into all church work and worship, in both preachers and 

 people. John Duncan was one of the most earnest labourers 

 in the cause. Prayer meetings were held at many places 

 before and after the Disruption. In these he took his 

 part along with other laymen, in reading and expounding 

 scripture very creditably, as one of his hearers tells, 

 backward though he was in public appearances. His first 

 attempt at public prayer at Tillykeerie was not very 

 successful, however earnest ; his attitude, words, and utter- 



