Thomas M'Crie: II. Student and preacher.

Thomas M’Crie took immediately to the Edinburgh University course. He had worked hard to be able to attend, and he wasted not one minute of his time when he was there. He graduated with distinction and in 1791 he entered the Divinity Hall of his denomination. In common with the Burgher Secession Divinity Hall taught by George Lawson of Selkirk, the Anti-burgher Hall was taught by one professor who was also a full-time pastor. The Anti-burgher Hall was taught by Rev. A. Bruce at Whitburn. When the Hall was not in session M’Crie taught a school in Brechin, where his ability as a teacher was such that the school soon became one of the best in the town.
He was licensed to preach in 1795 by the Anti-burgher Presbytery of Kelso, and the following year he was called to the pastorate of a congregation in the Potter-Row, Edinburgh. At first he suffered from a problem that is all too common among those recently out of theological college - the young graduate’s sermons were so rhetorical that they went straight over the heads of most of his hearers. Some despaired of ever being able to understand their pastor, but a visit to the Orkney Islands completely cured him.
He was going to Kirkwall to assist at an ordination and to preach on one of the islands swhere a revival had broken out in a prayer-meeting and a request for ministerial help had been sent to the Anti-burgher synod. There M’Crie saw the Gospel preached by older men in a simpler style than his to the salvation of many souls. He was convicted and vowed from then on to preach ‘not with words of human wisdom’ as he had before, but to ‘preach Christ, and Him crucified.’
The change was amazing. The poor folk of Potter-row were made glad when they had the Gospel preached to them.

Thus was Thomas M’Crie made an evangelical preacher, although he had been an evangelical believer before. Next time, God willing, we shall see what sort of a pastor he was.