230 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
referring to the Bible as his authority, he always did so with the utmost reverence
and respect.
Had Andrew been dictator, the fashions and customs of society would have
been pristine indeed. He abominated superfluity; apd no one partial to a
fine house and gaudy attire could in his opinion have any pret,ensions to religion.
A gentleman with whom he was intimate, happening to be at Glasgow, embraced
the opportunity of calling on the Baptist preacher, Mr. Robed Moncreiff, brother
of the late Rev. Sir Henry MoncreX Wellwood, Bart. On his return from the
west he was closely questioned by Andrew as to what sort of a man Ro6el.t
MoncreifT was (for he never addressed any one by a higher appellation than his
Christian name)-had he a fine house-and did he dress richly0 On being
answered that in these particulars Mr. Moncreif was pretty much in the style
of other respectable people--“ 0, then,” said Andrew sorrowfully, “ he cannot
be sincere. The rich man was ‘clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day.’ ”
‘‘ Call no man master ” was a portion of Scripture upon which he acted in
the strictest sense. He never applied the terms Master or Mistress to anyone,
always using the proper name if he knew it. In cases where he did not, he
got over the difficulty in the following manner :-Two ladies, who stood in the
relation to each other of mother and daughter-in-law, by their uniform kindness
had secured his respect and gratitude. The elder being a widow, he spoke of
her without hesitation as Widow -. The younger, whose first name he
did not know, asked him how he distinguished her in conversation from her
mother-in-law. “0,” said he, “you read in the Scriptures of the wife of
Cleophas : I call you the wife of -.” If told anything detrimental to the
reputation, or tending to lower his good opinion of any one, he would sny-
“ I did not hear it before-I am sorry to hear it ;” and anything of this kind
he was never known to repeat to another.
Apparently well aware of the position in which he was placed by his singular
opinions and habits, he seemed anxious on all occasions to justify his principles.
Visiting at the house of an acquaintance one day, he asked permission to take
the infant daughter of his friend in his arms. Although somewhat surprised at
the request, it was nevertheless readily granted, He pressed the little one to
his breast-then holding her out-“ Now,” he exclaimed with triumph, “ dose
thou not see a convincing proof? If the beard of man was not according to
nature, that child would have cried at my appearance.” The same experiment
he frequently repeated by inviting children of a more advanced age to read
their lessons to him. His familiarity and ready approval generally gave them
confidence ; and he was much pleased if they did not seem afraid of him.
Andrew’s ideas as to cleanliness were as singular as his other notions, and
did not well agree with the practice of those amongst whom he sojourned. He
t8hought people gave themselves a great deal of unnecessary trouble. When
sweeping a room, he would say to the servant, “ Cannot you let the dust lie
quietly. You stir it up only to get better mouthfuls of it.” And when wash
