The book Arran; - Cook Clan

THE CHURCH AFTER THE REFORMATION 155
the benefit of marriage unless they have the Assembly's
Shorter Catechism by heart, under the penalty of five merk
Scots, which any such person, wanting said Catechism by
heart, is to pawTi in the hands of the theasaurer (treasurer)
of poors box, and which he is to forfeit unless he learn said
questions within the space of a year after his said marriage,'
Here one would infer that the restriction is to the bridegroom,
though it is not likely such an unfair discrimination was made.
After these dates, in Kilmorie and Kilbride, may we take it
that the love idylls of Arran resolved themselves into a
mutual exercise in the Shorter Catechism in the quiet places
favoured by such scenes ? or, alternatively, that there was
this drop of gall in the honeymoon cup ?
The alleged ' ignorance ' of the parishioners . may be
variously interpreted, but provision for education was of
the most meagre all over Scotland, and what we can gather
of its condition in Arran, little as it is, reflects rather more
credit than would appear if taken apart from the rest of
the country. Several Acts had been passed by the Scottish
Parliament with the intention of providing a school and
schoolmaster in each parish, the expense to be assessed
equally upon heritors and tenants ; all met with equal and
barefaced neglect. Neither party was keen to incur an
education rate. Thus such provision as was made came from
the efforts of the Church, and the Session-courts of Arran
are not remiss, though severely restricted in means. The
education of the island is in their hands ; they empower
a man to teach or forbid him as the case may be. And they
are wilUng to help scholars, though the numbers of these
are never many. Here are some items.
Kilmorie, May 6, 1703.—The Session ' gave a groat to a poor
scholar in order to by a Psalm book—Item to Angus Kerr Sehoolmr.
in Killmory two Shilling Sterling for teaching three poor scholars
for one quarter. Item to Ronald M'Alaster Schoolmaster in Sheskin
for 2 poor scholars a quarter Sixteen Shilling Scots.'