SEPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1901 113 



of Bethel !' " The manse, at some distance from the church, 

 was built in 1659. It has been rebuilt, probably on the same 

 site. Quite recently it has been improved and modernised. 



Within a mile of the village of Gordon, and on the very 

 southern edge of the parish of Westruther, stands what was 

 formerly thought to be a pre-Reformation Chapel. It origin- 

 ally belonged to the nunnery of Coldstream, aud was dedicated 

 to the Holy Virgia. The ruin — known now as Bassendean 

 Church — measures 54| feet by 20 feet, and walls to the height 

 of 12 feet, in part, remain. Ecclesiastical architecture and 

 symbolism have survived the maws of modern masonry. The 

 building is now generally spoken of as a " mean post- 

 Reformation structure." It would seem that the burial-ground 

 surrounding it was used for interment as late as 1763. 



About one hundred years' ago the ruius of Whitechapel 

 were cleared away to effect improvement at Spottiswoode 

 House. It was built by John de Spottiswoode, during the 

 reign of David II. (1329-70). An old baptismal font has 

 been preserved. 



Nothing now remains of the chapel of Wedderlie. Until 

 seventy years ago a vault stood to mark its site. In the 

 reign of William the Lion (1165 1214), Gilbert, son of Adam 

 of Home, gave to the monks of Kelso the chapel of Wedderlie, 

 with "10 ac. of land, with pasture for sheep and cattle." 



In Convenanting times the minister of Westruther, John 

 Veitch, was conspicuous. There was, in 1863, in the 

 possession of the Rev. Walter Wood, M.A., a former minister 

 in Westruther, a Latin Bible, on the blank leaf of which 

 there was the following interesting inscription : — " Mr Jon. 

 Vetche, minister at Westruther, sonne of Mr Jon. Yetche, 

 minister at Roberton, was borne at Lanark, March 2, being 

 thursday, 1620. And was laureat 1639 and admitted minister 

 1648 May 8, and married to Agnes Hume, daughter to Alexr. 

 Hume, of Bassindean, Septr. 7, 1652." In the beautiful 

 little Free Church at Westruther may be seen a plain dark 

 slab, with these words: — "In memory of John Veitch, for 

 fifty-four years minister of this parish. He was ordained in 

 1649. He was twice forced to leave his manse because he 

 would not receive as ordinance the commandments of men, 

 and died on his return from attending the Commission of the 



