History of the Fife Pitcairns

CANON PITCAIRN'S LIFE AT ECCLES. 329
the man's feelings by refusing it, as he saw how kindly
it was meant.
The vicar used to give small bottles of port to sick people
on their showing a doctor's order that it was necessary.
One child came up and said she was coming for it, and
added, " When do you open? " Evidently thinking the vicar-
age was a kind of inn that opened at stated times !
Visiting a sick woman in my district, I asked her sister-
in-law how the invalid was. She made this astonishing
reply : " Oh, she's a deal of trouble ; as I says to her, if
you'd only give yourself up, you'd go directly." Adding,
" But there, she's that obstinate, she won't ! "
Canon Pitcairn had collected for Church purposes during
his clerical life as Rector of Longsight and Vicar of Eccles
more than £20,000. Through his untiring energy Long-
sight Schools and Rectory were built, and the Church
beautified.
At Eccles the old Parish Church was twice restored and
beautified, new schools built, and also a first-rate vicarage,
besides all the help Mr Pitcairn gave, by collecting subscrip-
tions for various churches in his large parish, which were
built since he became Vicar of Eccles.
He certainly carried out the text, " Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with thy might."
He was most liberal-minded, and kind in his judgment of
other men. We often, I am sorry to say, criticised a sermon
by a stranger; but he would only say, "Well, it was far
above the average." He never stinted his praise for other
clergymen's work and efforts to do good, and he was the
first to praise and the last to blame.
He had a very clear delivery, and a beautiful and very
flexible voice.
I have been told over and over again, by very many
people, that they never heard any one read the service,
particularly the lessons, as he did. An old woman at
Eccles told the writer that, " Eh, I did enjoy that lesson
on Sunday, I did for sure. Your father read about Shad-
rach, Meshach, and Abednego, and I really thought I saw