This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ...times. In the days of the grandfathers and great-grandfathers of the men who built the church manners were coarse, people were rude, and law and religion were often hard put to. " Staffs were given to beadles," therefore, " for keeping quiet in church and comely order," as they walked up and down the aisles, very much as policemen perambulate their beats, " and likewise for crubbing unruly children." That there was some need for the beadle and his staff the history of the First Charge in Glasgow leaves no doubt. The combination of excellencies required in a modern beadle is manifold, and not usually found complete in the one person. When to the gifts and graces of the church officer have to be added the qualities that belong to an ideal sexton, the problem of fixing upon the right man becomes still more involved and perplexing. The experience of many a congregation like ours, with a graveyard attached, must have taught church authorities to regard with some respect the reputed saying of an old worthy of the beadle order, " An' it were ane o' thae minister bodies, or maybe a precentor callant, a hantle o' them are aye ready to han'; but a guid beadle's no easy to get, I'm thinking." The succession in Tollcross Church is James Sommer-ville, James Marshall, Edward Marshall, James Marshall the second, Robert Brechin, William Anderson, James Morton, and Alexander Young. Poor old James Sommerville was branded with " imbecility" by the meeting of subscribers in 1827, but much, of course, Edward Marshall and William Anderson. 71 Marshall Lang's " Glasgow and the Barony thereof." could not be expected for 5 a year. A side light is thrown upon the growing work of the church in a memorial of Edward Marshall, church officer, setting forth the...