(Continued from page 91)
10th April, 1651.—”The assembly considering the great abuse which is committed by the poor and others who come unto houses on Saturday at night and do travel on the Lord’s day, therefore it is ordained that what person soever shall come to their houses on Saturday at night shall not be permitted to travel on the Sabbath, but shall continue with them till the Monday, and these who are able are to repair to the church with these with whom they are lodged.” (I. 200.)
15th October, 1651. “The translation of the Shorter Catechism into the Irish (Gaelic) language, which was committed to Mr. Dugald Campbell and Mr. Ewen Cameron, being openly read in the assembly and examined, and after examination voiced, it was approved, and appointed that hereafter the ministers within this Province shall make it the rule in examining their flocks, and it is recommended unto them that all convenient diligence be used whereby the people may come to the knowledge and understanding of the same, and for the better effectuating thereof it is appointed that Neil MacEwan be sent for and desired to repair to Mr. Ewan Cameron, who has the principal copy of the translation, and to draw up a copy according to the same in the Irish character for every minister to the number of seventeen ministers, for which there is ordained for the said Neil forty shillings for each copy, which is in Mr. Ewan Cameron’s hands to deliver to him when the work is done.” (I. 222.)
The previous extract shows that the proposal made to translate the Shorter Catechism into Gaelic had at last materialised. The following extracts are most interesting and constitute a history of the Shorter Catechism in its earlier stages as a manual of instruction among those whose only language was Gaelic.
19th May, 1652.—“The synod, understanding that Mr. Angus MacQueen has translated the Shorter Catechism into the Irish (Gaelic) language, and that Neil MacQueen, a man able in that language, has done the like, and seeing they are both present at this meeting, and being likewise very desirous of the best translation, do therefore appoint the above two with their translations be compared with the translation formerly seen and examined by the synod that one out of all may be agreed upon, and this to be done by Mr. Ewan Cameron, Mr. Angus MacQueen, and Mr. Neil Mackinnon, ordaining also that this work be perfected against the dissolution of this synod, which may be easily done seeing it only consists in the alteration of a few words.” (II. 3.)
“The synod, taking into consideration the great pains taken by Neil MacQueen in translating the Catechism, and moreover the said Neil’s necessity and penury, do appoint him twelve bolls victual out of the vacancy of Kintyre.” (II. 15.)