Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

Church Discipline. 345
along with the usual censures. The Kirk-session of
Aberdeen decreed, in 1568, that every one absent from
divine service should pay sixpence for each offence ; a
penalty of two shillings being exacted from elders and
deacons. Thirty years afterwards, the Town Council
of Aberdeen enacted that every burgess and his wife
should attend church on Sunday, under the penalty of
thirteen shillings and fourpence for each violation of the
law.
On the 22nd of October, 1588, the Kirk-session of
the united parishes of Anstruther, Kilrenny, and Pit-
ten weem, ordained that "the maister and mistress of
every house and sa many as are of years and judgment
(except when need requireth otherwise) sail be present
in the kirk in due time every Sabbath, to hear the
sermon before and after noon, under pain of 12 pence
the first fault, two shillings the second, and, for the
third, five shillings, and toties quoties thereafter."
Paupers were strictly enjoined to attend service in
their parish churches. In August, 1570, the Kirk-session
of St. Andrews resolved that the deacons should with-
hold alms from such poor persons as did " not frequent
sermons, public prayers, examination and communion,
present their bairns to baptism, say the Lord's Prayer,
the believe, and the commandments, or at least sail
learn the same within ane month." In 1615, the Kirk-
session of Lasswade, Mid-Lothian, enacted that " all
persons attend the kirke or be punished, gentlemen to
be damnified in 6s. 8d. Scots, men in 3s. 4d., servants
in twenty pennies." The penalties for non-attendance
varied in different localities. The Kirk-session of
Dunino, Fifeshire, ordained, in 1643, that "whosoever
shall be found absent from the hearing of the Word on