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FIELD MEETINGS. 



14th JunCf 1902. — In the Irving Country. 



The Towers of Kirtle and Bruce's Cave. 



The first field meeting for the season of the Society took 

 place on Saturday, 14th June. A party numbering a dozen pro- 

 ceeded to Annan, and thence drove or cycled across country 

 by way of Stapleton and Broats to the Kirtle, which they crossed 

 at Beltenmont ; then along the highway on the east side of the 

 river as far as Kirtlebridge, where they re-crossed and paid a 

 visit to Bonshaw Tower, the residence of Golonel Beaufin Irving. 

 Good weather favoured the drive, and the country presented a 

 very fine appearance, woods and fields clad in the fresh green of 

 a late summer and masses of hawthorn here and there adorning 

 hedgerow and copse. 



The first halt was made at Kirkpatrick-Fleming Parish 

 Church, where a brief exploration was made of the burial-ground. 

 Among the most interesting features which it presents is a stone 

 set into the front of the Mossknow vault, bearing a Latin inscrip- 

 tion to the memory of William Graham, who is designated as 

 '• Rector of this church," and who died just before the Revolution. 

 This gentleman was one of the conforming Presbyterian clergy, 

 who, as his title indicates, accepted institution at the hands of the 

 bishop when the prelatic form of church government was estab- 

 lished. He was in his own right proprietor of lands in the 

 district, including Redhall, " Skarles," Pennereaughs, and " Blow- 

 beoul ;" and by his marriage to the daughter of David Irving of 

 Mossknow he became first of the Grahams of that territorial 

 designation. Another family revenge an ancient injury by an 

 accusation written in stone. It is upon a small tombstone : " Here 

 lyes the body of John Scot, who was murthered by the hand of 

 Fergus Graham of Mossknow upon the 21st day of November, 

 1730, of age 51." 



