38 Communion Tokens. 



Kirk-Sessions of the Established and non-Established Churches 

 throughout Dumfriesshire. For generous help of various kinds 

 thanks are due to the Rev. John Cairns, M.A. ; Robert C. Porter, 

 Esq.; James Barbour, Esq., F.S.A. ; and G. W. Shirley, Esq., 

 Librarian, Dumfries; to John Corrie, Esq., F.S.A., for the use 

 of the Glencairn and Aloniaive blocks ; and to the follo\\-ing for 

 the loan of some of the tokens illustrated: Mrs Henderson, 

 Logan, Cumnock; Rev. J. Richmond Wood, Sanquhar; Rev. 

 Wilson Baird, Mauchline ; Rev. J. M. Campbell, B.D., Torthor- 

 wald; Miss Kirkpatrick, Holywood; James Davidson, Esq., 

 Dumfries; Rev. George Orr and Kirk-Session, North U.F. 

 Church, Langholm; Rev. J. M. Campbell and Kirk-Session of 

 St. Michael's, Dumfries; Rev. R. Xeill Rae, M.A., Lochmaben ; 

 and the Trustees of the Thornhill Museum. Also to the Rev. A. 

 A. Milne, Cambuslang; J. P. Dickson, Esq., of the Kilmarnock 

 Standard; Colonel Montagu Campbell, Edinburgh; S. A. G. 

 Macquoid, Esq., Greenock; W. T. Ramsay, Esq., Dundee; Rev. 

 John M'Combie, B.D., Holywood; and others, is the author 

 greatly indebted. For the biographical and historical notes free 

 use has been made of Dr Scott's "Fasti Ecclesife Scoticance " 

 and Dr Small's " History of the Congregations of the United 

 Presbyterian Church, 1733-1900." 



Collectors will notice important additions to the special 

 issue in the notes under Tongland (12), Canonbie (87), Gretna 

 (144), Hutton (160), Johnstone (162), Keir (164), Kirkpatrick- 

 Fleming (176), Moffat (207), Sanquhar (237), Torthorwald (250). 

 and Bibliography (21, b, 4), and items (j) and (k) on page 125. 



If these imperfect pages succeed in securing for their subject 

 a portion of the interest of members of the society publishing 

 them, the writer will be pleased. If they provide an incentive to 

 some individual of more leisure and larger means to take up for 

 fuller treatment this branch of numismatic study, the work will 

 have gained its end and the labour its reward. 



I. — The Sign: Its Origin and Use. 



Communion Tokens have an important place in the history 

 of Church life in Scotland. It will be our endeavour to show 

 this in the short chapters that follow. The word " token " is the 

 equivalent of the Saxon " tacn " or "tacen," and of the Gothic 

 " taikns." It means a " sign " or proof-mark of some sure word 



