In his parish of Strathblane he was the moving spirit of all corporate
life. In the early and more troublous years of the School Board he
was its chairman, he was chairman of the Conservative Association, of
the Mutual Improvement Association, of the Curling Club, of the
Bowling Club, of the Golf Club. It is a proof of the elasticity of his
spirit that he became a keen golfer when well past middle age. The
golf course at Mugdock is entirely on his land, and his cheery welcome
doubled the pleasure of playing on that breezy upland. In everything
that concerned the welfare of the parish he gave help, counsel, work,
with an unsparing hand. He held, and with his whole soul acted on
the belief, that it was the duty of all to do what in them lay to bind
all classes of the community together by the ties of kindliness and
fair dealing. He embraced eagerly the chances which these public
duties gave him of carrying his belief into practice, and verily he had
his reward in the sense of duty done and good performed, to say nothing
of the affection of all with whom he came in contact.
