The book Arran; - Cook Clan

144 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
ing moderate party in the Assembly were at least most
regardful of proper ecclesiastical procedure.
Comes now, as in other Arran tales, the paradoxical close
of this one. Mr. Stewart died in 1761, and in July of the
year following was admitted his successor, and that successor
no other than the aforesaid John Hamilton, transferred from
Saddell, who administered the parish till his death in 1798,
being seventy-seven years old and a minister for forty-four.
Under continuous pressure from him a new church was at
last built in 1785, and divine service was ' performed for
the first time in the New Kirk ' on December 4 of that year,i
the minister giving ' a discourse suitable to the occasion.'
This same Mr. Hamilton made report on the parish for the
Statistical Account.
Mr. Duncan Smith came to Kilmorie with a reputation
as an Oriental scholar, though in 1799 only twenty-seven
years of age. He died two years later, and his successor
(1802) was Mr. Neil M'Bride, son of Patrick M'Bride, farmer
at Achancairn. Thirteen years was his term in Arran, but
never had there been a time of such religious enthusiasm
as marked his concluding years. Of this experience more
will have to be said in a subsequent section.
On Mr. M'Bride's death the people were fain to have
the ministrations of Mr. Angus M'Millan, catechist at Loch
Ranza, a man of kindred temperament, but the patron gave
preference to Mr. Dugald Crawford, once assistant to Mr.
John Hamilton in the parish, and since 1799 minister at
Saddell, where in 1805 he had wished to resign his charge
on account of advanced years (he was fifty-three) and the
distances he had to travel. But the Presbytery, out of their
affection and regard for him, declined his resignation, and
he was ten years older when he was translated to Kilmorie.
There he had an unpleasant experience. The people, in
a mood for the pressed grapes of a zealous young evangelical,
^ Session Records.