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A Famous Minister of Dauiot, 1672-1726. -IXI
men and oKlci'.s of tlu- parish ri,'i)ort(Hl of liiiii tliat tlioy wi-rc vi'i-y
well .satisfied witli hiin in cloctiinc, cUsciplino, life, ami conversation,
Mr Michael leturneil the compliment to the elders, and "they
were exhorted to continue in well-doing, in hopes to receive the
crown of righteousness." These notices reveal pleasant relations
between the clergyman and his people, and these relations continued
during his long and troubled incumbency of tifty-four
years.
No sooner was Fraser safely settled than he left the ])arish
on a visit to his brother Robert, who was an Advocate in Edinburgh,
and so long did he remain away that he was called before
the Bishop and sub-Synod at Elgin in November 1G74, and
ordered to be publicly rebuked before his congregation on 27th
December. But the congregation was not so exacting as congregations
are now-a-days, and the rebuke had very little effect. The
minister left them very much to the freedom of their own will
frequently absenting himself from the parish, and devoting his
time more to his favourite study of painting than to the teaching
of his flock. E\il rumours reached the Presbytery of the sad state
of the ])arish, and a visitation was ordered to be made on 11th
May 1675 ; but the })arishioners were perfectly satisfied with the
freedom which they were enjoying, and when the Brethren met at
Daviot " ther cam no elders or people present from neither of
the paroches except Donald INIacbain, of Faily." This slight was
reported to the Bishop, by whose order the Presbytery again visited
the parish on 9th November. But this trip was not more successful
than the last, for the only parishioners present were Angus
Mackintosh of Daviot. Lachlan Mackintosh of Aberarder, Duncan
Macphail of Inverarnie, and the faithful Donald Macbain of Failie.
These gentlemen " declared that the visitatione was intimated be
their minister two severale Lord's Days, but in respect of the
shortness of the day, and this day being the terme day of Martimes,
that they could get none of the people to keep this diet, and so
intreated the Presbytrie to prorogate their visitation to summer,
when the day is at the lenth, and that all the people will be most
willing to keep any diet then, and especially if
parish of Dunlechitie."
they meet in the
" The brethren taking this slighting of their meeting to consideration,"
ordered such of their number as were to attend the
ensuing meeting of the Synod on 24th November, to report the
matter. This they did, and it being suspected that the minister's
love of art was in some way accountable for the sad state of
affairs in the parish, he was enjoined by the Synod, in time coming
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