The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

I/O The Highland Monthly
STUDENT LIFE AT ABERDEEN TWO
CENTURIES AGO.
THESE
BY REV. GEORGE MACKENZIE, B.D.
are only random notes. Somewhat loosely
strung together as they are, I should not have
presumed to claim the attention of the "general reader"
on their behalf but for the hope that they may cast a
glimmer of welcome light upon a phase and period of
Northern Academic life as interesting as it is unfamiliar.
Every student, on entering th^ " University and King's
College of Aberdeen," was expected to profess the Reformed
Religion, and to devote no inconsiderable portion of every
day thereafter to the reading of Scripture, the singing of
Psalms and Paraphrases, public and private prayer, and
attendance at various religious meetings and ordinances.
Rising at five in the morning, he had to appear at morning
prayers at six in spring and seven in winter. In later years
the hour was advanced to eight. Evening prayers were
held at six o'clock, and absence therefrom was followed by
pecuniary or even corporal punishment. On Sundays there
was additional drill. Each class met in its own room,
under its own master, sometime in the afternoon, and the
unfortunate Bursars were utilised in turn to start the sing-
ing and to lead in prayer. Those who were unable to
"take a dexterous part in public prayer " without the help
of books, were permitted to use the appointed forms in the
liturgy. At each of these Sunday services alms were
collected for the poor.
Then, as now, the Session began late in October or
early in November. If a bursar failed to present himself on
the opening day, he was fined sixpence per day during the