WILLIAM QUARRIER was born in a humble home
in the East End of Greenock, in 1829.
He had a
thorough grounding in "the school of adversity."
His
father died abroad when he was still a child, and the
family moved to a small house in the High Street of Glas-
gow, where the mother had a hard fight to find sufficient
means to provide food and clothing for her three children.
The little lad knew what it was to be frequently hungry
and cold, and felt all the trials and limitations of extreme
poverty. It was in those long ago days when he was still
a child that the vision came to him that was in later years
to find its wonderful fulfilment in the Orphan Homes of
Scotland and their sister Institutions.
He was still in his middle ’teens when the grace of God
arrested him, showing him his need of the Saviour Christ,
and bringing him into the experience of His great salvation.
From that day he gave himself up with no reserve to
serve his new Master in every
possible way. After making
many and various efforts to help the "children of the
streets," of whom there were very many, it became
evident that something on a large scale and of a permanent
nature must be attempted. Led on by "infallible
signs"
he purchased land at Bridge of Weir, 40 acres, 86 acres,
220 acres--some 346 acres in all; on which, as the money
came in in answer to the prayer of faith, he proceeded to
build the Orphan Homes of Scotland, and at a later date
the Consumptive Sanatoria, and the Colony of Mercy for
Epileptics. When 74 he was suddenly stricken down, and
lies in the little graveyard behind the Church "till [H]e
come."