The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-02-14
The Beadle and Precentor.

Beadles and precentors are important
personages in all rural parishes in Scot
land. The beadle is often an oldish man,
and intimately acquainted with all the
ms and outs of the family affairs within
the bounds. His good offices are in re-
quest at baptisms and funerals, and in
time he comes to consider that these
things can only be properly managed by
himself. Precentors are kind of birds
of passage. The singing apparatus is apt
to get out of order and used up long be-
fore what is necessary to make beadle
valuable gets deranges, and hence a
cause of change, thus in most cases max
ing the latter the senior officer. Little
jealousies occasionally crop up, though
not to such an extent as to disturb the
equanimity of the parish, or prevent
them from enjoying pinch or two of
snuff with any decent parishioner The
precentor cannot feel more pride in slur-
ring up the turns of Gainsborough" or
" Arnolds than the beadle does when
marching up the turns of the pulpit stair
with the pulpit Bible beneath his arm
At one time when there was no settled
minister in the West Church of Grief a
worthy, named Emsley Drummond, was
precentor, and Sandy Scott, a man OF
short stature, was headle. The latter,
being a musical enthusiast, considered
himself both officially and unsteady
superior, and occasionally limited that
the psalm-singing might be better than
it was. Emsley was riled at this, and
resolved to have his revenge. Sandy at
this time was factotun for the church.
He gave stranger ministers instructions
as to how to proceed, and also lifted
the collections, for there were no elders
then. Elmsley often insisted to have
day about at the plate" but Sandy
would not yield a point. The salary at
tached to the beadleship was allowed for
some time to remain unpaid and Sandy s
appeals to the Presbytery anent his ar
rears were UNDECIDED The collections
some way or other did not cover the
outlay, and the beadle was at loss what
to do
a Presbytery meeting was to be held
IN the church. and Elmsley advised the
beadle to keep the doors locked and al
low the reverend brethren to send for the
keys. Sandy considered the advice
wholesome, and did as advised. The
Presbytery appeared at the appointed
time, and found the doors shut. They
felt quite indignant, and the clerk
sought out the beadle, and both repaired
to the church-gate, where the reverend
brethren had assembled. The sbeadle
told them that he would neither open
the doors nor give up the keys till all
arrears were settled This was salts
factorily arranged. and the brethren got
into the church and transacted their bust
ness.
On another Presbyterial occasion the
meeting extended beyond twilight, and
the clerk called Sandy, and instructed
him to procure candles. Sandy, in re-
ply, said that the last candles he got for
them were not paid for, and he would not
trust them another penny The clerk
felt his pockets, but could find no cop
pers, as also did others Of the court. At
last the minister of Monte found six
pence in his pocket, which cleared ar.
rears, and left balance enough to procure
more light.
One evening the beadle and precentor