joined with Mr. M'Millan around 1708. He was licensed as a probationer by the Church of Scotland Presbytery of Penpont on 10 May 1669 but was not ordained. He was in the fullest sympathy with M'Millan, and joined him in his "Protestation, Declinature, and Appeal," tabled before the Assembly 1708. The United Societies consistently refused to ordain him, no Presbytery having been constituted, and when he died, 10 December 1732, he had been a probationer for sixty-three years. John M'Neil married Beatrix Umpherston, who survived him, dying in her 91st year on 27 February 1763. M'Millan and the United Societies could not ordain their own ministers because in their own eyes they lacked the authority; they did not claim to be a separate church. Thomas Boston was very critical of what he called "the two preachers of the separation", being M'Millan and M'Neil. He preached a sermon in Ettrick on the subject of The Evil and Danger of Schism on 12 December 1708 which was aimed at what he saw to be their errors. Continued opposition to the deposition On 12 October 1710, Mr William M'Kie, was ordained minister of Balmaghie. Notwithstanding this appointment, such was the spirit of the times and the powerlessness of the laws, that Mr Macmillan retained possession of the church, manse, and glebe, for about fifteen years after his deposition, though various attempts were made to remove him. So much were the people of the parish incensed at the proceedings against their beloved minister, that they violently attacked Mr M'Kie, and treated him with much inhumanity, wounding his person and tearing his clothes. Mr M'Millan, at last, voluntarily abandoned the church and left the parish. During all this time, the lawful incumbent officiated in a barn, or in the open air, to those who were disposed to attend his ministrations. (Records of the Presbytery of Kirkcudbright.) 17 January 1710 "This day a protestation was presented by Hugh Mitchell, and others, protesting against the settlement of any other man to be minister in Balmaghie, except Mr John Macmillan, which protestation being read, they ordered the same to be kept in retentis, and appointed Mr Andrew Cameron to draw up answers and present them to the next presbytery. "A petition was also presented, [signed by 87 heads of families,] craving that Mr Macmillan might be reponed to the ministry at Balmaghie, which being read, they ordered the