 In 1888 he was a student missionary on Loch Lomond.He was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow on 2 June 1889 then became assistant minister at "St Matthew's Parish, Glasgow", before moving to Garelochhead (6 February 1890) where he served as minister until 1900.On 3 May 1900 he transferred to the Tolbooth Church in Edinburgh where he served until 1908.