staff, in which his brother, Mr Thomas Davidson, now holds a prominent position; and he assisted the late Dr Findlater in the preparation of the second edition of "Chambers's Etymological Dictionary" (Edinburgh, 1882). During his ministry at St. Fergus he found time (as some of his predecessors in that charge had done before him) to keep up his connection with literary work. He has taken part in the preparation of the new edition of "Chambers's Encyclopædia," to which he has contributed a large number of articles on theological and other subjects, among which are the articles on Church History, The Language and Literature of Denmark, Daniel Defoe, the Gnostics, Origen, Tertullian, &c.
When he had been engaged in his work at St. Fergus for about three years, the Commissioners who had been for some time on the outlook for a suitable man for Knox Church heard of Mr Davidson, and both from personal intercourse and from reliable information communicated by those well-qualified to judge they arrived at the unanimous conclusion that he possessed in an eminent degree the qualifications stipulated for by the office-bearers and members of Knox Church. They accordingly placed the call in Mr Davidson's hands, and, after careful and mature deliberation, he intimated his acceptance. Steps were taken forthwith to obtain his release from his charge at St. Fergus, which was granted in due course.
The following is a summary of speeches made when the application for Mr Davidson's release from his charge was laid before the Free Presbytery of Deer:—
Mr D. M. Watson, of Bullion Field, one of the Commissioners, after giving an account of the position and circumstances of Knox Church congregation and the work carried on by it, said the Commissioners had made most careful inquiry as to the most suitable person for the office of junior pastor of that church, and from among all types of men that had been brought under their notice they had arrived at the conclusion that not only as a preacher, but as a man whose frankness and accessibility were leading traits of his character, Mr Davidson was the man peculiarly fitted for the colonies, not to speak of his higher qualities—his spiritual depth of feeling, and his realisation of the greatness of his work. They also believed that in Mr Davidson there was that tact and wisdom that would fit him to work with Dr Stuart, who had been long in New Zealand, and than
