116 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1901 



Accepting the invitation of Mr Muirhead, we then visited 

 the present Parish Church, on the opposite side of the road, 

 which was erected in 1840. Here were shown four old Com- 

 munion cups, bearing dates 1718, 1778, and 1825. The cups 

 are kept in a box made out of bog-oak, found in Westruther 

 glebe. The box was made by a former incumbent — Eev. Mr 

 Birrell — and presented by him to the church in 1830. Mr 

 Muirhead read from the kirk session records, which extend 

 back to 1660, particulars of a trial of Thomas Fairbairn, 

 Flass, in 1725, for sorcery. He was accused of burning a 

 horse alive iu order to abate sickness amongst horses and to 

 allay witchcraft. It appeared that the kirk session had been 

 anxiously exercised over the matter at several meetings, with 

 the result that the charge was found not proved. The Presby- 

 tery of the bounds, however, took up the matter, and caused 

 a very explicit announcement to be read in the church, 

 beseeching the people to abstain from all such practices, and 

 intimating that any conviction would be severely dealt with 

 according to the laws of the church. 



On returning to Gordon, which we reached about four o'clock, 

 we dined at the Gordon Arms Hotel, to the number of twenty- 

 six in all. Sir George Douglas presided, and Colonel Milne 

 Home was croupier. After dinner the usual toasts were 

 proposed and honoured. Mr Muirhead exhibited specimens 

 of Westruther Communion tokens, bearing dates 1758 and 

 1840. 



Opening of Whitehurn Inn. 



[An account of the opening of Whiteburn Inn by Mr John 

 Spottiswoode, at Westruther, in the year 1800, reprinted from 

 the Kelso Mail of that date, and communicated by Colonel 

 David Milne Home, may here be interesting to those who 

 took part in this day's meeting.] 



Monday, October 27th 1800. — On Tuesday last the new inn 

 at Whiteburn, in the parish of Westruther, was opened by 

 John Spottiswoode, Esq, the proprietor, who gave there an 

 elegant dinner to his trustees on the new road from Whiteburn 

 to Kelso, and also to a very numerous company of gentlemen 



