 Controversially having served as the Ruling Elder of the Church of Scotland at the Disruption of 1843 he left the established church to join the Free Church of Scotland in the Disruption of 1843.He had previously (1838 to 1840) been Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Scotland.His home in later life was 18 Manor Place in Edinburgh’s West End, a substantial terraced townhouse.