hands for charitable purposes. On the commencement of the marrow controversy in 1717 he sympathised with the views of Thomas Boston and Ebenezer Erskine, concurring with these ministers on 11 May 1721 in the ‘representation’ against the condemnation of ‘The Marrow of Modern Divinitie’ by the general assembly. In 1732 a further cause of difference arose. The general assembly passed an act ordaining that when the right of presentation was not exercised by the patron, the ministers should be elected by the heritors and elders, and not by the congregation. This displeased Erskine, Wilson, and others, who regarded the congregational right as sacred, and Erskine preached a vehement sermon on the subject, for which he was censured by the synod of Perth and Stirling. The censure was confirmed by the general assembly, and on 14 May 1733 Wilson joined with Alexander Moncrieff and James Fisher in a protest. The assembly, indignant at the terms of the protest, required a retractation, and failing to obtain it, the standing commission suspended Wilson and his three associates on 9 August 1733, refused to hear a representation offered by Wilson and Moncrieff justifying their conduct, and on 12 November declared them no longer ministers of the Scottish church. On 16 November the four ministers put their names to a formal act of secession, and on 6 December they constituted themselves an Associate Presbytery. On 14 May 1734, however, the assembly, repenting their action, empowered the synods to reinstate the four ministers. Wilson was anxious for reconciliation, but further differences had arisen, especially through the support afforded by the assembly to patrons against the congregational veto. On 5 November 1736 the Associate Presbytery appointed Wilson their professor of divinity, and on 15 May 1740 the seceders, now eight in number, were finally deposed. Wilson enjoyed the support of a large part of the people of Perth, who built a church for him and thronged to hear him. He was, however, deeply affected by the controversy and broken in health by his labours. He died at Perth on 8 November 1741, and was buried at Perth, in Greyfriars' cemetery, where a monument was erected to his memory with an epitaph by Ralph Erskine. Family He married 20 June 1721, Margaret, daughter of George Alexander of Peffermill, advocate, and had issue — William, died aged 11 Katherine George, died in infancy Isabella (married John Muckersie, minister of