Macfarlan does not write in the Scottish dialect, but in fluent and resonant English. He shows originality and elevation of thought. His works are: 'Poems: Pictures of the Past,' 1854; 'City Songs, and other Poetical Pieces,' 1855; and 'Lyrics of Life,' 1856. Subsequently he published two tracts, 'The Wanderers of the West,' a poem, and a series of acute and suggestive prose reflections, entitled 'An Attic Study; brief Notes on Nature, Men, and Books,' 'The Poetical Works of James Macfarlan, with a Memoir,' appeared in 1882.
[Memoir by Mr. Colin Rae-Brown, prefixed to Poetical Works; Grant Wilson's Poets and Poetry of Scotland; Irving's Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen.]
MACFARLAN, JOHN (d. 1846), Scottish advocate, elder brother of Patrick Macfarlan [q. v.], was eldest son of John Warden (1740-1788), minister of the second charge, Canongate, Edinburgh, who took the additional name of Macfarlan after marrying Anne, daughter of Hugh Macfarlan of Kirkton or Ballencleroche. John, who succeeded to the family property, was brought up to the law, and obtained a good practice as an advocate. He was one of Sir Walter Scott's friends, and studied German with him about 1788. He was intimate with Dugald Stewart and Sir Henry Moncrieff, was interested in philosophy, and a good lawyer. He is mentioned in Cockburn's 'Memorials' as 'an apostle, and worthy of the best apostolic age.' He published two pamphlets, 'Who are the Friends of Religion and the Church?' 1838; and 'The Presbyterian Empire, its Origin, Decline, and Fall,' 1842. He died 18 Dec. 1846, leaving a son,
Macfarlan, James (1800-1871), who was born in 1800, licensed by the presbytery of Glasgow in 1831, and became minister of Muiravonside, near Linlithgow, on the presentation of William IV, in 1834. He was a Hebrew scholar, and published in 1845 an English version of the 'Prophecies of Ezekiel.' He married, 31 Oct. 1837, Matilda Marianne Christie, daughter of Captain Christie of the 78th regiment, and granddaughter of William Morehead of Herbertshire. By her he left, among other children, a son,
James Macfarlan (1846-1889), who was born 6 Jan. 1845, educated at the Edinburgh Academy (1858-61) and university (1861-4}, and licensed as a minister. From 1869 till 1871 he assisted at Dundee, and was appointed minister of Ruthwell by the Earl of Mansfield in 1871. He was an archaeologist, and by his exertions in 1887 the runic cross of Ruthwell, on which he wrote a monograph, 1885, was removed to the church. He died at Foulden, Berwickshire, 7 Oct. 1889, and was buried at Ruthwell. A memorial hall has been since built in commemoration of his work in the parish. He married a daughter of Professor Allan Menzies of Edinburgh University, and left several children.
[Information kindly furnished by Dr. Douie of Sevenoaks; Cockburn's Life of Jeffrey, i. 21, 113, ii. 26, 63; C. Morehead's Mem. of R. Morehead, pp. 6 et seq.; Cockburn's Memorials, pp. 1 50, &c.; Lockhart's Scott, p. 56; Hew Scott's Fasti; Dumfries and Galloway Standard, 9 Oct., and Dumfries and Galloway Courier and Herald, 12 Oct. 1889; Memoirs of James Macfarlan (1845-1889), 1892.]
MACFARLAN, PATRICK (1780–1849), Scottish divine, younger brother of John Macfarlan [q. v.], was educated at the Edinburgh High School, was licensed by the presbytery of Edinburgh on 28 Dec. 1803, and was presented to the charge of Kippen in 1806 by David Erskine of Cardross. In 1810 he was transferred, on the presentation of George III, to Polmont, Stirlingshire; in 1824 he became minister of St. Johns, Glasgow, in succession to Chalmers; in 1825 minister of St. Enoch's, Glasgow; and in 1832 he was transferred, on the presentation of Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, to the west parish of Greenock, the richest living in the church of Scotland. He was examined on 20 and 25 March 1834 before the committee of the House of Commons on church patronage, and was moderator of the general assembly the same year. At the disruption he adhered to the protest, joined the secession, and was declared no longer a minister of the kirk on 24 May 1843. He was moderator of the free general assembly in 1845. He died on 13 Nov. 1849. Macfarlan married, on 8 Jan. 1808, Catherine, daughter of Robert Clason, minister of Logie; she died in 1815, and left a son John, a free church minister at Greenock, and two daughters.
His chief works were:
- 'Thoughts on Popular Election, Patronage, and Calls,' Edinburgh, 1833, 8vo.
- 'Letter to the Friends of the Established Church,' Edinburgh, 1842, 8vo.
- 'The Past and Present State of Evangelical Religion in Switzerland,' Edinburgh, 1845, 8vo; the first of a series of lectures on foreign churches.
- 'A Vindication of the Church of Scotland,' London, 1850, 8vo; an answer to the Duke of Argyll's 'Essay on the Ecclesiastical History of Scotland.'
In 1826-7 he engaged in a controversy with Greville Ewing [q. v.], occasioned by a speech of the latter at a meeting of the Glasgow Auxiliary Bible Society. He edited Warden's 'Essay on the Lord's Supper,' Leith,
