APP GN DD DoS, 
REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE ACQUISITION OF THE 
NEW ROOMS, 
Read Sth January, 1886. 
Av a special meeting of the Society, held on the 22d May, 1885, it was 
unanimously agreed to proceed with the scheme for acquiring the occupancy 
of the Presbytery House on lease for a term of years. A sub-committee, 
consisting of Dr Gilchrist, and Messrs Starke, Barbour, Lennox, Watson, 
and Wilson, was then appointed with full power on behalf of the Society, to 
make and complete the necessary arrangements, provided they should first 
obtain the promise of £60 towards the expense to be incurred before 
commencing operations. 
Since that date your sub-committee have met frequently, and, as arrange- 
ments had to be made between the Synod, Presbytery, Kirk-Session, 
and Town Council of Dumfries, their completion has been naturally 
tedious. 
We now beg to report that we have entered into an agreement with all 
the parties interested in the Presbytery House, and that the document has 
been duly signed by Mr Starke on behalf of this Society, and by represen- 
tatives of the different bodies already-mentioned. 
To give the minute of agreement here would occupy too much space, but 
it is copied in full in the minute book, and the following points form a 
résumé of it :—It is agreed that this Society have the free use and occu- 
pancy of the Presbytery House for fifteen years from Whitsunday, 1885, 
at the nominal rent of two shillings and sixpence per annum. The Synod, 
Presbytery, and Kirk-Session have the right to the use of the building for 
their meetings as heretofore ; and neither of the parties to the agreement 
has the privilege of sub-letting the building. The repairs and furnishings 
have been made at this Society’s expense. The Presbytery has the power 
of terminating the lease on giving notice in writing, provided that the 
Presbytery pays to the Society a sum equivalent to all the expenses 
incurred by the Society on the building and during the term of occupancy, 
less five per cent. per annum for depreciation. In the event of the Society 
vacating the building, one table and forty-two chairs are to be left, and 
these then become the Presbytery’s property. 
When the sub-committee was appointed their first object was to ascer- 
tain the probable cost of repairing the building, and subsequently to be 
guided in the furnishings as funds permitted. Mr Barbour gave a detailed 
estimate of the repairs needed, showing that £60 were at least required 
for the fabric, and the furnishings would have to be provided extra. This 
seemed like throwing cold water on the scheme, but it was soon dispelled 
by the enthusiasm of the oldest and most energetic members of the Society, 
including our late President — Dr Gilchrist —whose death we now so 
deeply mourn. 
