The Ruthwell Cross and the Story it has to Tell. 109 



resigned. The deceased had a splendid practical knowledge of 

 educational matters. An ardent Freemason, he was in on small 

 way responsible for the revival of the local body (1-odge San- 

 quhar Kilwinning, No. 174), which had a great many years 

 previous fallen into abeyance. He was an enthusiastic curler 

 and bowler, and skipped not a few rinks to victory, annexing a 

 large number of trophies at these pastimes." — Extracted from 

 the "Dumfries and Galloway Courier and Herald," January 

 29th, 1910. 



The Ruthwell Cross and the Story it has to Tell. By 

 Rev. J. L. Dinwiddie, M.A., Minister of Ruthwell. 



Before proceeding to enquire as to the character and con- 

 tents of the story which the Runic monument at Ruthwell has to 

 tell us, it may be well to make ourselves acquainted with the few 

 salient facts relating to the vicissitudes through which the Cross 

 has passed, as these have been preserved to us in the ecclesiastical 

 history of the parish in which it is situated. There are four 

 dates of .special interest to us in this connection. The first of 

 these is the year 1642, when the General Assembly of the Scottish 

 Kirk — which met that year in St Andrews — passed an " Act anent 

 Idolatrous Monuments in Ruthwall." This Act was not printed, 

 and its exact terms are unknown. The title only remains. But 

 this is sufficient to shew that in it reference was made to an earlier 

 Act, which had, indeed, been pa.s.sed two years previously. In 

 1640 the General Assembly, convened at Aberdeen, had passed 

 an " Act anent the demolishing of Idolatrous Monuments, ' ' which 

 is of sufficient interest, and that of a quaint and peculiar kind, to 

 warrant its being quoted in full. It was in the following terms: 

 — " Forasmuch as the Assembly is informed that in divers places 

 of this kingdome, and specially in the North parts of the same, 

 many Idolatrous Monuments, erected and made for Religious 

 worship, are yet extant, such as Crucifixes, Images of Christ, 

 Mary, and Saints departed, ordains the saids monuments to be 

 taken down, demolished, and destroyed, and that with all con- 

 venient diligence: and that the care of this work .shall be incum- 

 bent to the Presbyteries and Provinciall Assemblies within this 

 Kingdome, and their Commissioners to report their diTigence 

 herein to the next General Assembly." In obedience to these 



