of Edinburgh, Session 1875 - 76 . 
19 
to take the oversight of the G-eneral Assembly’s Scheme for the 
Conversion of the Jews. 
In 1853 he entered the arena of controversy by publishing first 
a pamphlet, entitled “ Presbyterianism Defended against the Exclu- 
sive Claims of Prelacy,” and thereafter another pamphlet, entitled 
“Presbyterianism or Prelacy; which is the more conformable to 
the pattern of the Apostolic Churches.” His views on these sub- 
jects were reiterated by Dr Crawford in the Address which he 
delivered from the Chair of the G-eneral Assembly, as Moderator, in 
the year 1867. This public advocacy of Presbyterianism, to the 
prejudice of Prelacy, drew forth some letters from Bishop Words- 
worth, which were published in the “ Scotsman ” newspaper, 
“The Fatherhood of God” was Dr Crawford’s first important 
contribution to purely doctrinal subjects. Dr Candlish, some of 
whose views were controverted, replied to this publication. 
At this time Dr Crawford was Professor of Divinity in Edinburgh 
University, having succeeded the Rev. Principal Lee in the year 
1859. 
He published also a volume on the “ Atonement,” in the year 
1871. 
In the year 1874 he was appointed the Baird Lecturer. His 
lectures, first delivered in Glasgow, were afterwards, by special 
request, re-delivered in Edinburgh, and were published in a volume 
under the title of “ Mysteries of Christianity.” 
The immense amount of study which these lectures entailed, I 
have heard, weakened Dr Crawford’s health, and prepared his con- 
stitution for the illness to which he ultimately succumbed. 
In the winter following the publication of these lectures, he was 
obliged to reside in the milder climate of the south of England. 
He suffered from great delicacy of lungs. But he returned to 
Edinburgh last spring, whilst the sharp east winds were still pre- 
vailing, and moreover betook himself again to College work, against 
the advice of his medical friends. 
During the summer of 1875 he went to Germany, sojourned a 
while in Switzerland, and then went to Italy. There he so far 
recovered his strength, that he could walk considerable distances, 
and even up steep hills, without suffering inconvenience. But the 
weather in the north of Italy is often dangerous to persons with 
