noise like the roar of 100 pieces of ordnance discharged at once and
gradually dying away in the distance. This earthquake was partially
felt throughout a great part of Scotland, as far as Inverness, Dunbar,
Berwick, and the banks of Loch Awe. In this neighbourhood it was very
alarming. Several individuals fainted, and most of the inhabitants of
the village of Comrie spent the whole night in the streets, or in the
churches, which were very properly opened for prayer. Many stone dykes
were thrown down, walls of houses rent, and chimney-stalks shattered,
the stones being frequently shifted from their places, but no serious
damage was sustained. The shocks have again diminished both in
frequency and violence since the autumn of 1839." Another severe shock
occurred in November, 1846, but from that date they have decreased both
in number and intensity. The cause of these subterranean commotions is
in this as in similar cases a matter of conjecture, but there is good
cause for thankfulness that they have hitherto been attended with no
serious damage to life or property.
The Session records of some parishes in Scotland are of some historical
value, but this is not so with those of Comrie. Beyond the perpetual
reiteration of cases of discipline and doles to the poor, there is
little to be found in them to throw light upon the Christian life and
work of the parish. So meagrely kept were these records that until the
year 1829 the Christian name and surname of the Moderator and Clerk
never appear in the minutes--not even the Secession of 1843 is
recorded, though the minister left the church with a great majority of
the congregation to worship upon Tomachessock. The only exception to
what we have just stated, perhaps, is a minute of Kirk-Session dated
17th November, 1772, recording the honour due to Patrick Campbell, Esq.
of Monzie, then deceased, and the Rev. Robert Menzies, minister of the
parish, for the active and benevolent part they took in the building of
the Dalginross Bridge over the Earn. The bridge was built in 1756 at a
cost of L230.
The Parish Church was erected in 1805, and holds 1044 sitters. The
manse was built in 1784, and an addition was made to it in 1822. A new
church was built in St. Fillans in connection with the Church of
Scotland in 1878, and in March, 1895, it was endowed and erected into a
parish _quoad sacra_ under the old name of Dundurn. It is curious to
note how the land has been changing hands during the last 180 years.
In 1715, the heritors were the Earl of Perth, Duke of Athole, the
proprietors of Aberuchill, Lawers, Monzie, Cultabraggan, Ardvoirlich,
Comrie, Strowan, Drummond-Ernoch, and Balmacuin. At present they are
the Earl of Ancaster, Marquis of Breadalbane, and the proprietors of
Ardvoirlich, Dunira, Aberuchill, Strowan, Lawers, Dalchonzie, and
Drumearn.
ON THE BANKS OF THE DEVON
By Rev. E. B. SPEIRS, B.D., Glendevon
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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