Transactions. 47 



and the galleries were not exempt from being similarly dealt with. 

 The minute referred to rnns : " The Session resenting and taking 

 into their earnest consideration the slender resorting to the house 

 of God by sundry tradesmen, but esjjecially of Masons and 

 Wrights, and the}' for that effect being convened, are admonished 

 to repair to the kirk in tyme coming better than heretofore they 

 have done, otherwise their Loft which is erected in the church 

 will be taken down." 



The Trades, like the Heritors, Avere not without some ambi- 

 tion to make a display in the church, inasmuch as they were 

 accustomed to affix to the front of their lofts the emblematic 

 deA'ices of their several Crafts, so much so that the Session found 

 it necessary to put some check on the practice, and on the 11th 

 March, 1G83, " enacted and ordained that no Trade put any broad 

 (painting) or sign (emblematic) upon the forepairt of their Loft, 

 but ilk ane to be sighted and showed to the Sessione." 



The only relic of the Old Church of 1744 preserved is one of 

 these signs dated 1722, which had no doubt been duly "sighted 

 and showed " to the Session, It consists of three wooden panels, 

 which were until recently attached to the south wall of the present 

 church behind the Squaremen's Gallery, and are now preserved in 

 the Session-house. On one of the jtanels is displayed the numer- 

 ous emblems of the Squaremen's Trade, artistically grouped 

 together, and the following curious lines are inscribed on the 

 other two : — 



The • Ark • the ■ Church • 



From • Final • Ruin • Savd • 



When • God • on • Sinners' head 



The • Deluge ■ Lavd : 



And • Tho • By • Virtue • 



Of ■ this Art ■ of oui-s 



Proud • Babell • Lifted • up 



Her ■ Lofty ■ Towers : 



Against • it • Solomon's " 



Glorious • Temjjle • built. 



Where • God • the Vast Creation's 



Framer • dwelt ; 



Jesus ■ our ■ Cheif, 



The fabrick • once Renewed • 



When ■ on ■ the • cursed • Tree ■ 



His Blessed ' head • He • Bowed • 



His • Blood • the • shattered 



Works • of • God • Together • Glewd • 



