Even the communion season was not noted for its orderly conduct at all times, partly owing, perhaps, to the liberal supply of liquid joy provided. The supplies for a communion season were of a most extensive character. On August 9, 1589, Walter Prior, Taxman of the Teens, Parsonage of Glasgow, was ordered by the Hie Kirk Ses sion to provide a hogshead of wine for the communion which was to be celebrated in the Hie Kirk on the following Sabbath morn ing at three o'clock. This enthusiastic method of celebrating the communion natur ally resulted in further whisker-pulling mati nees and impromptu dental operations of the Sir Matthew Stewart type, a state of affairs which finally made necessary further legislation. In 1644, the Hie Kirk Session issued a formal order directing the magis trates of the city to attend the communion seasons in their official capacity "to keep order." SUNDAY CLOSING LEGISLATION. Laws regarding the Sabbath day were of a most comprehensive character. In 1 594, it became necessary for the Presbytery to take action on the subject of ungodly bagpipes, and a law was enacted forbidding the playing of these instruments on Sundays. In 1608, the Session enacted a further law providing that no drink, wine or ale should be sold during time of sermon under penalty of twenty pounds. In 1640, the session ordered the Port of Glasgow to be closed on the Sabbath. Thus ungodly commerce received a check. In the year 1646, the Session enacted a law providing that no horse meat should be cried on the streets on the Sabbath, and that no water should be brought in after the first bell. Two years later (1648) the Session passed a law regarding the behavior of cattle on the Sabbath day. It was decreed that
no cattle should be kept out of doors on Sundays, except those in the town herd. In 1 64 1, the Session enacted a law against getting married on the Sabbath day. In addition to these were the general laws against labor and amusement on the Lord's day. LAWS REGULATING THE BEHAVIOR OF DEACONS AND ELDERS. It was deemed necessary that the deport ment of deacons, elders and officers of the church should always be models of orderly conduct and good behavior. Unfortunately, these men were more or less human beings. Accordingly, their gaieties and shortcomings frequently led to statutory enactments, that limitations might be put upon their joyful forays. As early as 1 583, the Town Council found it necessary to enact a law providing that elders and deacons found at banquets should be fined the sum of eighteen pence for each offense. Not only were the deacons and elders themselves required to be good, but they were required to see that others also behaved. On July 14, the Session authorized the elders and deacons to visit the change houses at ten o'clock Saturday nights and "delate" drink ers and houses to the magistrates. MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE LEGISLATION. Legislation regarding marriage and di vorce received especial attention. The law against Sunday marriages has already been mentioned. On December 20, 1 591, an elaborate law concerning the qualifications of candidates for matrimony was enacted by the Session. It was decreed that no proclamation of the banns should be celebrated without the con sent of the parents. Those to be married were, moreover, required to be able to repeat the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments,
