William Maxwell Hetherington

His relations to Professor Wilson developed rapidly into intimate friendship ; and it was under his encouragement, that he ventured to publish in 1829, before completing his Theological Curriculum, a small volume of poems, under the title of "Dramatic Sketches.During this period of comparative leisure which extended over several years, he devoted himself to the study of general history; and in the course of his research became impressed with the idea that there was room for a popular exposition of the course of providential discipline by which the world was prepared for the advent of the Son of God.In prosecution of this idea, he published in 1834 an elaborate treatise, titled "The Fulness of Time," in which he traced the progress of the mental and moral development of the race during the Patriarchal Age, and under the dynasties of Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.[1] During these opening years of his ministry, Mr Hetherington gained the confidence of the more public leaders of the Evangelical party ; he was looked to as a representative in his district of the country ; and was in frequent and intimate communication with them.[1] His ministry at Torphichen was a period of great literary activity ; his "Minister's Family," the article "Rome" for the "Encyclopaedia Britannica," and numerous contributions to the Presbyterian Review, and other Magazines, being amongst his lighter efforts."[5] In 1840, Mr Hetherington was one of the General Assembly's deputies to the refractory Presbytery of Strathbogie, and in the discharge of his work received the usual attention of a Civil Interdict, which he defied on the strength of his higher commission as a servant of Christ and of His Church.[1] In addition to the enormous labour of organising the Free Church, the leaders of the Disruption wanted to expound its principles far and wide, at the earnest solicitation of friends interested in its history.[7] Among the labours of love in which he engaged during his Edinburgh ministry must be reckoned a course of lectures to young men on the Popish controversy, which he delivered in connection with the Protestant Institute — then commencing its operations in the city.He married 1 June 1836, Jessie (died 2 September 1871), daughter of William Meek, D.D., Hamilton, and had issue — Before completing his studies for the church he published, in 1829, Twelve Dramatic Sketches' founded on the Pastoral Poetry of Scotland, with delineations of scenery and manners.