Transactions. 55 



ed them, when a worthy dame who had not spoken before 

 on being applied to for her opinion, gave it honestly thus : — 

 " Leeze me abune them a' for yon auld, bell'd, clearheaded 

 man that spoke sae bonny on the angels, when he said 

 Raphael sings, and Gabriel strikes his goolden herp, and a' 

 the angels clap their wings wi' joy. bnt it was gran ! It 

 just put me in min' o' our geese at Dunjarg, when they 

 turn their nebs to the south an' clap their wings when they 

 see the rain's comin' after lang drooth." 



The abolition of tent preaching on sacramental occasions 

 was one of the greatest reforms in the Church of Scotland, 

 and for this we are, in a great measure, indebted to Burns's 

 satirical poem " The Holy Fair." The various descriptions 

 there given of men and manners may be thought more 

 plain than pleasant by some, but thousands can bear testi- 

 mony to the truthfulness of his representations as having 

 been witnessed in their own parishes on similar occasions. 

 It is well known that in times not very long ago, when 

 servants were engaged at the hiring fairs in the west of 

 Scotland, at Ayr or Maybole, they always stipulated for a day 

 either to Kirkmichael Sacrament or Ayr Races. Amusement 

 was their object, and they made assignations with friends 

 and sweethearts to meet at either of these places as might 

 be most convenient,' or where the greatest amount of 

 enjoyment was likely to be found. The results of such 

 gatherings we shall not seek to follow, but wish them blotted 

 from the Church Court Records, and forgotten as if they 

 had never been. So far as we are aware there is no such 

 thing now in any of the Lowland parishes of Scotland. It is 

 a thing of the past, and many of the present generation do 

 not know it even by name. Would it had been always so ! 

 Doubtless the clergy did not allow, far less approve of, the 

 indecorous scenes which then took place ; and doubtless also 

 they admonished, and exhorted, and rebuked in no lenient 

 degree those accused of their participation, but nevertheless 

 the custom continued to prevail with unabated vigour, and 

 amelioration was scarcely to be hoped for, if it could only be 



