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The two ministers officiated in the same church, known as the East Church; and matters remained on this footing till 1730, when a proposal was made to fit up the West Church, and settle a third minister, ‘to dispense the ordinances in the West Church, and to take his proportionable part of the ministerial charge in the congregation, in conjunction with the other two worthy ministers already settled therein.’ This was adopted by the Magistrates by an act of Council, (Jan. 1731,) settling a stipend of 1200 merks Scots; and sanctioned by the Presbytery.
Mr Ebenezer Erskine was inducted into the new charge; but he having been suspended in 1733, and having subsequently seceded and been deposed in 1740, so many of the inhabitants adhered to him, that the Town-Council deemed it inexpedient to appoint a successor. This gave occasion to proceedings in the church courts; but the Synod of Perth and Stirling having, in 1747, ‘declared that they do not find sufficient foundation for perpetuation of the third charge,’ the matter was allowed to drop.
After an interval of between sixty and seventy years, complaints of want of church accommodation having begun to be made by the inhabitants, the Council, in 1817, when both the first and second charges happened to be vacant, resolved again to fit up the West Church, and employ an unordained assistant, to preach with the two ministers alternately in both churches.
The minute of Council, (March 12. 1817,) embodying this resolution, provides, ‘that the sum of L.150 sterling yearly shall be raised as a provision for the said assistant, in manner following, viz. That Cowan's Hospital shall contribute the sum of L.70 sterling yearly, Spittal's Hospital the sum of L.40 sterling yearly, and Allan's Hospital the like sum of L.40 sterling yearly.’
Mr Bruce was inducted into the third charge in October 1817, and became a contributor to the Widows' Fund, on which his widow has been an annuitant since his death in 1824.
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Common Room
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