120 Communion Tokens. 



Da^•id.sone, and John M'Cartney to keep the entry at the M'Crair's 

 {sic) Isle, That the communicants be not thronged in going out, and 

 further the Session appointed those who are to keep the entries to 

 wait on the Cliurch Doors from six a clock in the morning, and 

 Robert Gordon to wait on the Churchyard and Isle, to call out 

 Minrs. to preach yr as yr is occasion. And finally they appointed 

 Dean Johnston and yr Thesaurer to provide new Table cloaths 

 and to see that the cups and Tables be all in good order. And 

 so, Mr Patoun concluded the meeting with prayer." This may 

 be taken as a fair sample of the minutes of the Dumfries Kirk- 

 Session at that period, for then the clerk was a very remarkable 

 man. He was none other than the Rev. Peter Rae, of whom 

 more may be seen in the Dumfriesshire catalogue under Kirk- 

 connel. Communion was celebrated again in June, 1702, but not 

 thereafter till 1706. In 1703, June 17th, we read that "Mr 

 Hutchesone, mnr. of Troqueer, desiring a loan of Communion 

 cups and tables the Treasurer is appointed to lend them and to 

 get the Deacon of the wrights to inspect the tables that they may 

 be restored without any dammage." What has become of these 

 old cups we do not know. Whether they were returned, or kept, 

 or melted down, or sold, we are not told. After this entry we 

 lose sight of at least the second set of Communion plate belonging 

 to the Old Church of St. Michael's. With the 7th November, 

 1706, begins the history of the plate at present in use, for "this 

 day Mr William gave in two large silver cups which he dedicated 

 to the Church of Drumfries to be used at the celebration of the 

 lord supper." This cup stands 8f inches high. The diameter 

 of bowl is 4| inches: its depth is 4§ inches. The diameter of 

 foot is •1-j^^ inches. The maker's initials are those of Thomas 

 Kerr, goldsmith, admitted 1694 and deacon 1708-1710. It also 

 bears the stamp of James Penman, assaymaster, 1697-1708, the 

 hall-mark of Edinburgh, and the date-letter for 1704-1705. The 

 inscription runs : " THE • GIFT • OF : Mr Wm VETCH : MINI- 

 STER OF DUMFRIES TO THAT CHURCH, 1705." Not 

 till 24th April, 1711, do we have tokens referred tj as "tokens," 

 and every subsequent mention of them is by taat designation. 

 The order to be observed on that sacramental occasion is almost 

 as last, but with one or two interesting variations : " To collect or. 

 Thursday and Saturday Deacon Ffairbairn and John Robson. 

 On the Sabbath provost Crosbie and John Paterson, to relive 



