275 
of Edinburgh, Session 1873 - 74 . 
exchange it for a single charge as soon as arrangements could be 
made for erecting a new parish in one of the more densely crowded 
and spiritually destitute parts of the city. This was accomplished 
when the new church was built in what used to be the West Bow, 
but where Victoria Street now stands ; and on this Mr Gluthrie 
entered as the minister of the new parish of St John’s in 1840, 
determined, as far as in him lay, to work out the theory of tho old 
parochial system in the centre of the city, and among a population 
many of whom were sunk in vice and degradation. Here he con- 
tinued till the great secession from the Church of Scotland in 
1843, when, having cast in his lot with the retiring party, of 
whose principles he cordially approved, and in whose proceedings 
he had taken an active share, he resigned his parochial charge 
and removed from the church of St John’s, carrying with him his 
congregation. After some time, during which he preached in the 
Methodist Chapel, Nicolson Square, a new place of worship was 
erected not far from that which he had left, and to this, which 
came to be called Free St John’s, he removed in 1844. In this 
church, where subsequently he had for his colleague the Rev. Dr 
Hanna, he continued to preach from Sunday to Sunday to audi- 
ences which crowded every corner, where room to sit or to stand 
could be found, for twenty years. During this period he was un- 
doubtedly the most popular preacher in Scotland, perhaps in 
Britain. Persons of all ranks, and of every variety of culture, 
were found among his regular auditors; and illustrious strangers, 
statesmen, economists, and men of literature who visited the city, 
were often seen in the crowded pews. The care which he bestowed 
on the preparation of his discourses, the skill with which he 
arranged his topics, the vigour and perspicuity of his style, and, 
above all, the felicity of his illustrations and the truth and vivid- 
ness of his descriptions, with the earnestness of his tone and the 
ease and naturalness of his delivery, combined to secure him this 
pre-eminence among the pulpit orators of his day. 
But it was not only in the pulpit that, at this time, Mr Guthrie 
distinguished himself and drew to him popular esteem and homage. 
Even more, perhaps, as a philanthropist than as a preacher was his 
fame spread through the community. In him all good causes 
found an able and willing advocate ; but it is chiefly with efforts 
2 N 
VOL. VIII. 
