church of Scotland. The Marrow Controversy, in which Thomas Boston of Ettrick was a conspicuous leader, began shortly after Moncrieff's ordination, and he joined the little band who were contending for purity of doctrine in the church. The agitation regarding patronage, or the power of patrons to present to vacant churches, apart from the co-operation or even against the wish of the people, followed. Moncrieff joined the Erskines in denouncing attempts to invade the people's rights. He was one of the four ministers whom the assembly suspended, and who, having formally separated themselves from the judicatories of the Church of Scotland, formed on 6 December 1733, at Gairney Bridge, Kinross-shire, the Secession Church of Scotland. The new denomination met with much sympathy and success, and was soon able not only to supply ordinances in different parts of the country, but even to organise a theological hall for the training of its future ministers. In February 1742 Moncrieff was unanimously chosen professor of divinity, a position which he filled with great ability and zeal. He was also an active and influential member of the associate presbytery and synod. In 1749 his son was ordained as his colleague and successor in the charge of the congregation at Abernethy. Moncrieff published in 1750 a vindication of the secession church, and in 1756 'England's Alarm, which is also directed to Scotland and Ireland, in several Discourses, which contains a warning against the great Wickedness of these lands/ A little devotional work by him, entitled 'A Drop of Honey from the Rock of Christ,' was published posthumously at Glasgow (1778). He died on 7 October 1761, in the sixty-seventh year of his age and the forty-second of his ministry. He appears to have been a man of resolution and daring. He was jocularly called the lion of the secession church by his colleagues. With Erskine, William Wilson, and James Fisher he was joint author of the 'judicial testimony' against the church of Scotland, issued in December 1736. His church, since its union with the relief church, formed the United Presbyterian Church. Family He married: (1) 10 March 1722, Mary, eldest daughter of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, Bart., and had issue — Christian, born 1723, died in infancy Margaret, born 1724, died in infancy Matthew of Culfargie, minister of Associate Congregation at Abernethy, born 1725, died 11 June 1767 (2) 19 September 1728, Jean (died