260 JOHN DUNCAN^ WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



movement made steady and satisfactory progress, training 

 through its various agencies a host of young men, who 

 gradually found positions of influence at a distance from 

 the limited rural village communities where they received 

 their first intellectual stimulus. Authors, editors, physi- 

 cians, ministers of various sections of the church, and 

 business men rose from these classes and occupied im- 

 portant stations at home and abroad. In consequence of 

 this removal of their best members, many of the societies 

 were weakened ; and the populations around them being 

 sparse, there was a lack of young men to fill the places of 

 those removed. Hence many of the classes decreased in 

 numbers, and under such discouragements, a few were 

 extinguished their very success contributing to this result. 



The Union ceased to meet in 1857, and thus a most 

 important bond was dissolved. Still, not a few societies 

 continued to flourish, and a number even now exist under 

 slightly changed names and conditions. Young Men's 

 Christian Associations and Science and Art classes absorbed 

 a certain proportion. The parent Rhynie class continued 

 to meet, with some slight interruptions, for twenty-eight 

 years, a Science and Art class occupying its place down to 

 the present time. 



The Auchleven Instruction Class lasted six or seven 

 years. Young Dr. Mackay took an active part in it, and 

 the meetings were held fortnightly in a room in the mill, 

 kindly allowed by his father, and sometimes in private 

 houses, till a cottage was built by Mr. Mackay, partly for 

 their accommodation. To Mr. R. H. Brewster, long secre- 

 tary of the society, I am greatly indebted for assistance and 

 information regarding John Duncan's life in Auchleven. 



