Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 35.djvu/421

Malcom proposed publishing a Gaelic dictionary, to be based on the manuscript collections of Edward Lhuyd [q. v.] (, Lit. Anecdotes, i. 166), but the design went no further than a prospectus and specimen, though it received encouragement from a committee of the general assembly in 1737. He published anonymously ‘An Essay on the Antiquities of Great Britain and Ireland,’ 8vo, Edinburgh, 1738, which he reissued in a greatly enlarged form as ‘Letters, Essays, and other Tracts, illustrating the Antiquities of Great Britain and Ireland, together with many curious discoveries of the Affinity betwixt the Language of the Americans and the ancient Britons to the Greek and Latin. … Also Specimens of the Celtic, Welsh, Irish, Saxon, and American Languages,’ 15 pts. 8vo, London, 1744.

 MALCOM, ANDREW GEORGE, D.D. (1782–1823), Irish presbyterian divine and hymn-writer, was born at Hill Hall House, co. Down, on 15 Sept. 1782. He was the second son of James Malcolm (d. 3 Oct. 1805), who was ordained minister of Drumbo, co. Down, on 24 Dec. 1764, in succession to his uncle, Andrew Malcom (d. 2 March 1763). His mother was Fanny, third daughter of Andrew Kennedy, presbyterian minister of Mourne, co. Down. He was educated at Glasgow, where he graduated M.A. On 11 March 1807 he was ordained by Bangor presbytery as minister of Dunmurry, co. Antrim. He was not related to his predecessor at Dunmurry, John Malcome [q. v.] He resigned Dunmurry on 11 Sept. 1808, and was installed minister of first Newry, co. Down, on 14 March 1809. Through his mother he was the great-grandson of George Lang (d. 25 Jan. 1702), the first presbyterian minister of Newry. His ministry at Newry was one of marked success, and his position as a leader of educational and charitable movements was highly influential. His theology was Arian, of an uncontroversial type. Early in 1820 he received the degree of D.D. from Glasgow. On 27 June 1820 he was elected moderator of the general synod of Ulster. On 28 June 1821 the general synod approved an exposition of the principles of presbyterianism from his pen, and ordered it to be prefixed as an introduction to their forthcoming code of discipline. This order was not carried out, the introduction being set aside in committee after Malcom's death. He died of fever at Newry on 12 Jan. 1823. He married Eleanor Hunter, by whom he had five sons and two daughters. His children reverted to what they believed to be the original spelling of his surname—i.e. Malcolm. His eldest son, James Malcolm (b. 1811, d. 26 Dec. 1855), was unitarian minister successively at Carrickfergus, co. Antrim; Billingshurst, Sussex; Boston, Lincolnshire; and Chester. His fourth son, Andrew George Malcolm, M.D. (b. 7 Dec. 1818, d. 1857), was physician to the royal hospital, Belfast.

He published: 1. ‘A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs,’ &c., Newry, 1811, 12mo. This contains 405 hymns, twenty-three of them being by Malcom himself, and was long the most considerable collection put forth in connection with Irish presbyterianism. It was in use at Newry till 1887, and at Dundalk for many years. Many of Malcom's own hymns are of real merit; six are retained in ‘Hymns for Christian Worship,’ 1886, the authorised hymnal of non-subscribing presbyterians; a large number remain unpublished. 2. ‘A Catechism … for … Young Persons,’ &c., Newry, 1812, 12mo. 3. ‘The Communicant's Catechism,’ &c., Newry, 1812, 12mo. Malcom was one of the founders (1813) of the ‘Newry Magazine,’ and for years a frequent contributor. He had some hand in the Newry edition of 1816, 12mo, of Towgood's ‘Dissent,’ probably writing the section ‘Of Church Government,’ &c., in the Irish appendix.

 MALCOME, JOHN (1662?–1729), presbyterian polemic, probably a native of Scotland, was educated at Glasgow, where he graduated M.A. In December 1686 the presbyterian congregation of Killead, co. Antrim, was divided into upper and lower. Malcome was called to Lower Killead in June 1687, and ordained there on 5 Dec., hence his birth may be dated about 1662. Early in 1699 he was transferred to Dunmurry, co. Antrim, where an old malt-kiln was used as a meeting-house.

In 1703 the presbyterian clergy was divided on the question of the oath of abjuration [see, 1651?–1718]. Malcome was strongly in favour of taking the oath, and attacked a neighbouring minister, Alexander McCracken (d. November 1730), who,