incumbent, no Episcopal clergyman has conducted the public worship of the parish. It may not be wholly correct to describe the Rev. Michael Robe, M.A., as the successor of Walter M'Gill. He was sprung from a Cumbernauld family who held those estates now in the possession of Messrs. Brown and Duncan. He studied at the University of Edinburgh, and was a young man of good parts and ripe scholarship. He became a tutor in the family of the distinguished James Wodrow, afterwards Professor of Divinity in the University of Glasgow. Robe was appointed to a meeting-house in the Newtown of Monyabroch, and received ordination 7th December, 1687. He ministered to the parishioners who rejected Episcopacy. His stay was short. After three years he was appointed minister of the parish of Easter Lenzie (Kirkintilloch) and Cumbernauld in 1690. Seeing he was the father of the renowned James Robe, one of the foremost ministers of his time, it is interesting to note in this connection that he attacked with great vigour those who fostered schismatical divisions in the Church, and frequently proclaimed against the stage as a spring of vice and leading to error and profanity. Whilst in Monyabroch he married Isabella Dundas, the 6th February, 1688, and besides James had another son Thomas. He died 1718, in his 74th year.

The Rev. James Hay was translated from Kilmalcolm, and his induction took place the 29th December, 1692. He was a laborious and faithful minister, and in the yellowing leaves of the parish records there is to be obtained many an interesting glimpse into the habits and circumstances of the people. The names of the elders are names still familiar in the parish. These, amongst others, may be mentioned: John Murdoch, James Rennie, Walter Rankine, John Young, William Gray, John Pro

He had employed a professional charmer, a paucity of witnesses, he was "seriously ware of these things" and dismissed. I larly given in of those who habitually abse from public worship. The elders had the poor, and they decreed that "no po charity unless they came to kirk and att examination if able." They became u troubled the members of session, privatel for uncharitableness. To put an end to t appear before the session before receivi ances. The new arrangement only lasted Intimation was made that " no burials wer into the churchyard after the sermon was all who did not partake of the sacram deprived of the privileges of baptism." against those "who vagued and wandere and parks after public worship on th Penny weddings were prevalent. The n aged them, and one held at Auchenclos much scandal. Mary Lyle and Janet S fore the court on the charge of promis The former confessed that "she danced Wigtoun's footman." They were admo they did not carry better in tyme commi be made publick examples." A scan against a farmer that "he had thacked a stacks on the Lord's day." Witnesses

but no action taken. The blacksmith of Queenzieburn was an occasion of trouble. Having publicly in his smithy maintained that catechisings or examinations were not warranted by the Word of God, he was summoned before the session. In defence he said he had spoken in point of argument to try what answers those to whom he was speaking could give. He was informed that such expressions were of dangerous consequence and stumbled those that were weak. He was sharply rebuked, and ordered to be more cautious in the future. In a few months the smith was involved in another affair, an attempt to poison the mind of a young woman against the young man to whom she was engaged. John Forrester, the young man, was deeply wounded by the smith's conduct and language. In the libel which he prosecuted, he averred, amongst other things, that the smith said "there was no grace in his face, and that there was no grace of God within the place where he dwells-meaning the toune of Kilsyth-save only three families, and that they worshipped God politically." The smith denied the charges, but the court found the case fully proved, and he was appointed to appear in the place of public repentance next Lord's day. Cases of slander were of frequent occurrence, and it is how frequently the session were able to reconcile differences and restore broken friendships. That a man should curse his neighbour was rightly regarded as a most heinous offence. The discriminating reader will regard one illustration of this sphere of parochial administration as sufficient. "Walter Zuill complained in his libel against Agnes Hog, making mention that Agnes Hog, in Nether Gavell, abused him after the following manner. First She wishing he might be his own hangSecondly: She wishing God's curse upon him.

man.

pleasant to read

In one of these cases there is evidence tion in which Mr. Hay was held. A par cursed the minister, "wishing the devil him and in his words," and having denom

a toothless old runt,” he was called to expressions used. The parishioner con had used part of the language, but that great provocation, as the minister "had ta over his head." One of the witnesses cal Sword of Auchinvole, who had been a Kirklands, i.e., Bogside, and he deponed minister, "he had never lived beside a b that he had visited him when he was sich him money and other things that he sto This was a long case, and part of it, as heard while another minister-Michael bernauld-was moderator. Eventually was pronounced a malignant and notorio to say, after a long time had passed forward and confessed his fault and v buked.

During Mr. Hay's ministry the sum church door ranged from twenty to forty and the salary of the kirk officer was te and four loads of coals. On the Ist session having taken into consideration ary condition of our minister Mr. Jame earnest desire he expresses to have an