[5] Lockhart comments that this was "a piece not given either by Currie or Gilbert Burns, though printed by Mr. Paul, and omitted, certainly for no very intelligible reason, in editions where "The Holy Fair", "The Ordination," found admittance.

[6] Both ministers were elected by their congregations, unlike the Rev James Mackinlay whose patron at the Laigh Kirk was the Earl of Glencairn and the resulting dissatisfaction led to Burns penning "The Ordination".

[12][13] At his Cromarty school he was remembered by Hugh Miller in his "Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland" as a "large, robust, dark-complexioned man, imperturbably grave, and with a sullen expression seated in the deep folds of his forehead".

[14] He was "more ready to thunder forth the terrors of the law than to woo the wicked from the error of their ways, by setting before them the Saviour's love, so fully and freely manifested in the soothing and soul-captivating strains of the gospel".

[15] On Sabbaths between Divine service, Russell patrolled the streets of Kilmarnock and even ventured into the countryside, walking stick in hand, on the look out for children or adults actively enjoying themselves.

[18] The two ministers had been friends however a dispute over the boundaries of their respectives parishes developed into a furious argument and public scandal that attracted Robert Burns's poetic talents with impressive results.

This dispute had come before the Presbytery at Irvine for resolution with many people present from the parishes in question, however "the two protagonists tore at each other like strutting cockerels, showing little Christian forbearance.

"[5] Lockhart's description was that the pair fell foul of each other "with a fiery virulence of personal invective, such as has been banished from all popular assemblies, wherein the laws of courtesy are enforced by those of a certain unwritten code.."[19] The story told locally may go some way towards explaining the heated exchanges for it is said that the pair were riding home from Ayr one evening when Moodie, being in a cheerful mood, "tickled the rear of his neighbour's horse with his switch, causing it to perform certain antics which sadly discommoded "Rumble John", and made him the amusement of passing wayfarers.

"[19] Burns's autobiographical letter to John Moore written at Mauchline on 2 August 1787 gives us some insight into the origin of the poem: "I now began to be known in the neighborhood as a maker of rhymes.

I had an idea myself that the piece had some merit; but to prevent the worst, I gave a copy of it to a friend who was very fond of these things, and told him I could not guess who was the Author of it, but that I thought it pretty clever.

[33] The 'New Lichts' were are referred to as 'Arminian', meaning that they had a moderate liberal theology as developed by Jacobus Arminius, were moralistic in their preaching and served their flock with understanding and compassion.