28 Transactions. 



one toot six inches. The bird was picked up by Mr William 

 Beattie, gamekeeper to Dr Dickson, 3 Royal Circus, Edinburgh, 

 who is proprietor of Monybuie, and forwarded to me for confirma- 

 tion. The little wanderer bore evident marks of exposure, and it 

 seems probable that it had been blown inland by the gales of the 

 15th and 17th October. 



IV. — Shortbread at the Lord's Supper. 



Dr Chinnock stated that he liad made enquiries regarding the 

 use of shortbread at the communion, which the Rev'. J. 11. Thom- 

 son, Hightae, had stated at last meeting prevailed in the north of 

 Ireland, and he had received the following reply from Dr Robert 

 Ross, of Londonderry : 



Shortbi-ead is used by my congregation, and I believe by all the other 

 Presbyterian congregations in this city, at the Lord's Supjier. This has been 

 the custom from time immemorial. The reason why shortbread is used at the 

 Lord's Supper is not that the Jews used unleavened bread at the Passover, 

 but it is in conformity to our Lord's example in using unleavened bread when 

 he instituted the sacrament of the Supper. It is certain that He used the 

 bread they were eating when observing the Passover, and that was unlea- 

 vened bread. The Presbyterians here would not sanction any departure 

 from the rule of strict conformity to his example when that is cleaily 

 known ; and " leaven " in Scripture iisage is the symbol of " hypocrisy " or 

 " malice," in a word of " evil," which permeates society as " leaven " does 

 the substance with which it is mixed. Unleavened bread then is the 

 symbol of purity, sincerity, charity, and is therefore used by the Presby- 

 terian churches here at the Lord's Supper. Our Lord's parable of " leaven " 

 hid in three measures of meal is an exception to the general rule of ScriiJ- 

 ture usage. In the parable it is the symbol of life — life multiplying with 

 great rapidity and causing what we call fermentation. I have no doubt 

 but that the custom is adhered to by the churches here on the ground of 

 conformity to our Lord's example, and of the spiritual import of " leaven " 

 regarded as a symbol. 



Mr Thomson stated that he had a letter from the Rev. Mr 

 Weir, who regi'etted that he was not able to be present, and who 

 enclosed a number of letters on the subject. He had also some 

 other letters, of which he proposed to submit a synopsis to another 

 meeting. Mr Weir had written to Dr Sprott of North Berwick, 

 one of the chief authorities in the Established Church, but he was 

 not able to give any information on the subject. The Rev. 

 Jardine Wallace, Traquair, wi'ote : 



Shortbread was used in St. Michael's Church, Dumfries, up to 

 November 20, 1864, when my father, Dr Wallace, died. I remember the 



