DISCIPLINE OF THE KIRK

Evening Star, Issue 22817, 27 November 1937, Page 25

DISCIPLINE OF THE KIRK

emus FORMS OF REPENTANCE OLD SCOTTISH 6HCTOMS The ancient registers of the various Scottish Presbyteries contain much quaint information, and give us, at the same time, some idea of the rigorous discipline maintained by the “ Kirk ” in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. There abound instances of persons doing penance in sack-cloth, or “ linen cloths ” —sheets—for what seem to us very trivial offences: while, on the other hand, a man who had killed another generally escaped with a com parntively slight penalty. Small, was the value placed upon human life at that period. Thus, George Thompson, for killing Andrew Clark, was ordered by the Presbytery of Glasgow to make his repentance six several Sundays in sackcloth, “ ay, till he be found penitent,” and to pay £4 (Scots). John Provant, for working on Sunday, was ordered to pay 10s to the treasurer of his cliurch; Margaret Brotherstone, who watered her cabbages on that day, and Agnes Gourley, who was reported to have laid a charm on cows, so that the milk did not produce cream, were adjudged to repent in sackcloth. Witchcraft, being fully credited at that time, it was no light offence to call a person an old witch. Mary Martin, for applying the term to one of her neighbours, was ordered to stand on the following Sunday at the church door from the ringing of the second bell to the ringing of the third, and after the sermon to “ sitt downe upon her knees and crave pardon.” For playing his pipes on Sunday, Mungo Craig was to be excommunicated, and four men who appeared and confessed their fault in dancing the sword dance on that day, and in playing superstitious games at Christmas time, were ordered to do penance in sheets. The same sentence, for two Sundays running was noted for Annie Young for absenting herself from church on one occasion, and being disobedient to the voice of the minister and elders, who thrice summoned her to answer for her conduct. She had also to find a surety that she would never do the like again, under pain of 10 marks. Another culprit was summoned for his “ contemptuous shearing of the grass in the kirkynrd,” and a third, a miller’s wife, for profaning the Sabbath by holding a candle to Walter Pinkerton while he set the mill going. Joan Cadyo, a servant maid, was called before the Sessions for disguising herself in male attire. Margaret Dickson, summoned for using strong language, that she “ did utter this fearful imprecation, * The divell sweepo away such persons out of town.’ ” For this fault Margaret was fined 40s and she made her repentance in public.