Communion Tokens. gj 



tokens become which are connected with these great names The 

 small oblong of PORTMOAK, bearing the initials P • M / • K • 

 was possibly in use during the ministry of Ebenezer Erskine who 

 was ordamed there in Sept., 1703. On 8th July, 1731 he was 

 mducted at Stirling, West Church. Suspended by Commission 

 of Assembly m November, 1733, he and his three brethren, 

 Fisher, Wilson, and Moncrieff, on 5th December, met at Gairnev 

 Bridge and formed the first Associate Presbytery. For seven 

 years the Seceding Fathers retained possession of their pulpits 

 until the year 1740, when acts of deposition and expulsion were 

 carried into effect. The "Ebenezer Erskine" token of 

 STIRLING, bearing initials E.E. and date 1742, is one compara- 

 tively easy to obtain. Not so procurable is that of Ralph 

 Erskine, the Sonneteer of the Secession. Ordained to the col- 



DUNFERt^UHt 



DUMFERnUME. 



Sh h- kTk .^^f FERMLINE in 1711, he took part along 

 uith his brother in the Marrow Controversy, and stood by th^ 



thTF^Kr T"'''-" ''''• ^^^°"^^ ^^ ^^d "°^ withdraw from 

 he Establishment till 1737, he was present at Gairney Bridge at 

 the forming of the first Associate Presbytery. Mair, Nairn 

 James Thomson of Burntisland, and he were associated with the 

 first four in the acts of libel and deposition of 1740. The Ralnh 

 Erskme token of this year, illustrated above, is an interesting 

 hnk with an important chapter in Scottish Church history 

 Another excitmg passage was the intrusion of Mr Richardson upon 

 the Inverkeithmg Parish in 1752. To this event the Relief 

 Lhurch in Scotland owes its origin. Thomas Gillespie of Car- 

 nock and five others laid on the table of the Assembly a signed 

 protestagamst this unpopular settlement. The result was that 

 Gillespie was selected for discipline, and, within twenty-four 

 hours, without a libel, without any formal process, was 

 arraigned, condemned, and deposed." Ordained in January 



