The History of Montrose

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 edition. Excerpt: ... old. Some of us who heard his trial discourse, must remember of a dove flying about in the church, and hovering over the pulpit, and more perhaps were looking at it than at the minister. It must be said of Dr. Paterson that he has an earnest practical way of preaching, which must come home to the hearers, as it is evident he speaks from the heart, and from a feeling of the preciousness of the truth in his own experience. His popularity has always continued from the first; and there was always a marked difference between the attendance when he preached and Mr. Mollison. The writer of this was ten years away from Montrose, between 1823 and 1833, and when he returned and heard the Dr. again, as he had often heard him before, he felt himself more than ever really at home, from the power of early associations. The Dr. is still most assiduous in the visitation of his people; and not of them only, but of all in distress, and that, although at the age of 84, in the severest weather. One time I met him last winter in a drifting fall of snow, and remarked that it was very hard to bear this weather, "Ugh !" said the Dr., and passed on. Among the ministers in the neighbourhood that occasionally preached in the Old Church, there was none I liked better to hear than Mr. Foote of Logie. He was a lively, earnest, and attractive preacher, and had a good deal of suitable action, which set off his discourse well, and as to which Dr. Cook made the remark, that it would leave him as he grew older. The same feeling of reverence and respect, as having once been minister in our own good town, as well as for his talents, came over the writer, when in 1823, being at Pitkaithly Wells, he heard Mr. Esdaile preach in the church of Dumbarney. I remember hearing his...