THE VERY REV. M. B. HUTCHISON

    THOUGH born on the Isle of Cumbrae, Dr. Hutchison, Dean of Glasgow and Galloway, is the son of a Glasgow merchant, and received his early education at Glasgow in the High School and Glasgow University. At school he formed an early taste for Classic literature, and at the old college in High Street he gained prizes both for Latin prose and Latin and English verse. He continued his studies at Oxford, first at Worcester College and afterwards at Lincoln, where he gained an open exhibition and was proxime for the Lincoln scholarship, graduating from Lincoln College in 1847. While chief classical master of Dreghorn College, in 1867, he was ordained deacon at Edinburgh, and afterwards became curate of St. Stephen's, Norwich. Thence he was called to Trinity Church, Paisley, to assist the Rev. James Stewart, then in failing health. Here, in the person of the incumbent's daughter, he found the lady who became his wife and able helpmeet. He was ordained priest at Glasgow in 1869, and after assisting the Rev. T. B. Walpole at Port-Glasgow for a few summer months, he became curate-in-charge of the South-side Mission at Glasgow.
    At that time the mission was the only Episcopal meeting-place on the south side of the city, and it was situated in the dingy Buchanan Court, off Eglinton Street. From that unpromising start, Dean Hutchison has built up, by his courage, energy, and kindly zeal, the beautiful church and crowded congregation of St. Ninian's, of which he is the first rector. The new church was built in 1873. At first there was little more than the bare walls for the scanty flock to worship in, but rapidly the reverent services and bright practical preaching of the incumbent took effect; the pews filled, pulpit, organ, choir stalls, and lectern were added, carved capitals and stained glass appeared, and St. Ninian's became one of the most beautiful and successful Episcopal churches in Scotland. Among its finest decorations is a series of notable frescoes on the apse walls on each side of the altar. They are the work of W. Hole, R.S.A., of Edinburgh, and are illustrative of the "Benedicite." The fane was consecrated in 1877. Ten years later two hundred sittings were added, with a church hall and a verger's house, and to-day the whole cost, nearly £10,000 has been paid, and the church is full.
    While struggling to set his own church on a prosperous footing, the rector of St. Ninian's found time to plant at Govan a mission which has developed into the congregation of St. Michael's, and at Polmadie he erected the mission church of St. Martin's. For several years also he acted as secretary to the Glasgow and Galloway Diocesan Home Mission Society, till its work was merged in that of the Representative Church Council. For twelve years he was Diocesan Inspector of Schools, and from 1881 has been Examining Chaplain to the Bishops of Glasgow. Among other interests he has for many years been a Director of the Glasgow Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, a Patron of Hutchesons' Hospital, elected by the Hospital, and one of the Governors of the Glasgow City Educational Endowments Board, elected by the Magistrates and Town Council.
    In 1895 St. Ninian's celebrated with much heartiness the semi-jubilee of its rector; and on the death of Mrs. Hutchison, three years later the women of the congregation, of all classes erected as a token of their love and esteem the marble altar steps and beautiful reredos of the church.
    On St. Matthew's Day, 21st September, 1903, the 34th anniversary of his ordination as Presbyter, and the 33rd of his taking up work in Glasgow, Mr. Hutchison was made Dean of Glasgow and Galloway, and in virtue of his office it fell to him in the following February to arrange for and preside over the election of the new Bishop of the diocese, Bishop Campbell.
    On the invitation of the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, given shortly after his appointment as Dean, Mr. Hutchison proceeded to the degree of D.D., which was conferred on him in the Sheldonian Theatre on the day following the "Encaenia" or "Commemoration" of 1905.
    Throughout these busy and anxious years Dean Hutchison has not forgotten the solace of his classical studies. Few probably have a better acquaintance with the poetry of the Mediaeval Church, and some fifteen years ago he issued through Messrs. David Bryce & Son a dainty volume, Hymnos Quosdam Hodiernos, in which he has presented some of our best modem hymns in the rhymed Latin verse of the church of the feudal centuries.

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