Church Attendance in the Olden Time.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 15, 15 October 1874, Page 3

Church Attendance in the Olden Time.

MAGISTERIAL DUTIES.

The following is an extract from.ti volume of the Inverness Burgh records, which has escaped examination until within the last few weeks. The spelling of course is modernised : — " The Burgh Court of Inverness, holden within the Tolbooth of the same, by William Cuthbert, Provost of the burgh of Inverness, and Jaspar Dempster^ bailie of said burgh, the third day of February, in the year of God 1573 years ; the suits called, the Court lawfully fenced and confirmed as use is. That day the Provost and bailies have statute and, ordained the four officers of this burgh—namely, Thomas Finlayson, James Bailie, James Macbarron, Johu Maekarrois — that they and each of them pass to their own quarter of the town, as they wero commanded thereto, and charge all the inhabitants of this burgh to come to the Kirk upon the Sabbath day, to the preaching, to hear the Word of God, and that under the pain of 40s the first fault, L 3 the next fault, and L 4 the third fault. , Each officer sh^ll warn and charge every man their own street as follows: — Thomas Finlayson, the Kirkgate [Churchstreet, James Bailie, Eastgate [ Highstreet. James Macbarron, Doomsdale [Castle-street] ,* and John Maekarrois, the Bridgend [Bridge-street] ; and the .said officers to keep the Kirk the Sabbath day -under the pain of 40s for not coming of the absents. And sic-like the Provost has ordained — the three bailies to take order for. the injuries and offences committed within the burgh, namely — jfohn Cuthbert to take order with the Kirfegate; Jaspar Dempster with the Bridgend; William Cuthbert with Dboinsdale ; and the Provost with the Eastgate ; and this to be observed and. kept enduring our office."