Their retired habits and familiar intercourse with their parishioners gave rise to many quaint and racy communications.

They were excellent men, well suited to their pastoral work, and did much good amongst their congregations; for it should be always remembered that a national church requires a sympathy and resemblance between the pastors and the flocks.

Both will be found to change together.

Nothing could be further from my mind in recording these stories, than the idea of casting ridicule upon such an order of men.

My own feelings as a Scotsman, with all their ancestral associations, lead me to cherish their memory with pride and deep interest, I may appeal also to the fact that many contributions to this volume are voluntary offerings from distinguished clergymen of the Church of Scotland, as well as of the Free Church and of other Presbyterian communities.