HIS FREE CHURCHISM. 219 



opponents might have as deep convictions as himself, and 

 think themselves in the right as much as he did. But 

 when the heat of that controversy died out, the strength 

 of which we can now scarcely realize, John became broader 

 and more tolerant, as have even the bitterest of both 

 parties. He thought that in the Old church " they were 

 na sae weel tellt it ; " that is, what was held to be evan- 

 gelical doctrine was less firmly and unhesitatingly preached 

 there than in the Free ; and so far he was no doubt right. 



The Moderatism of Aberdeenshire at that time was cold 

 and worldly, and was wanting in the earnestness and reality 

 that should be the soul of all vital religion, which certainly 

 then characterised the new body more than the old, and 

 by which the Free Church has done itself and the Establish- 

 ment great good. Though this good has not been by any 

 means unmixed, the Disruption of '43 was a great event, 

 for which both parties should be thankful, and of which 

 Scotland has reason to be proud. 



Duncan's attendance at church was marked by the 

 greatest regularity, and as one that knew him well says, 

 "that day was a bad one when he was not to be seen 

 walking to church, clean and tidy, dressed in a suit of his 

 own weaving. His errand at church," he declares, "was 

 not to see and be seen, but to worship, and to hear the 

 sermon, of which, with his excellent memory, he brought 

 a large part home with him. His religion was real and no 

 hypocrisy, and I can see him now," he continues, " holding 

 his well-worn pocket Bible very near his eyes, as he sat 

 reverently in his accustomed seat in church." 



He remained in connection with the Free Church of 

 Keig till he left Netherton for Auchleven again, in 1849. 



