A Book of the Parish of Deir - Alexander Lawson

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1896. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. Education ano IReltef of tbe poor. (By Robert Wilson* Esq, Emeritus Sdwolmaster of Deir, with additions by the Editor.) DEGREESQREVIOUS to the Reformation there seems to have been in this quarter no [ provision for education save at the Abbey, and there the scholars were the novices and younger monks who had to be trained for the service of the Church. That there were other scholars here, as elsewhere, may be taken for granted, but as to their numbers, station, and acquirements we are in utter ignorance. One may hope that Dene Robert Stevenson, to whom Ferrerius paid so high a compliment, encouraged the studious of pregnant parts, whether they were clerics or laymen. After the Reformation the clergy, whatever their faults, were zealous beyond praise in the cause of education, and among our regrets for by-gone misfortune, none may well be more sincere than that which we feel for the partial failure of Knox's magnificent scheme for the instruction of the youth of the country. Had greed but permitted its realisation, many troubles would have passed by, or never have arisen. In 1608 the Presbytery of Deir ordered a school to be planted, but in spite of this order there was none in 1609, because the parish was too large. There is mention of a schoolmaster in 1613, and the Presbytery minutes record the praiseworthy efforts of the charitable persons by whom he is maintained. In 1615, the year prior to an Act laying the burden of maintaining a parish school upon the "parochinars," John Brown was appointed schoolmaster. In the following year he was likewise employed as assistant to Mr. Sibbald, and there was a threatening of trouble, because upon his appointment to the new paroche of Deir, he wished to retain his post as schoolmaster. What effect the statu...