The West Parish Monthly Letters of Rev Roderick Lawson
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The Reverend Roderick Lawson was parish minister in Maybole from 1863 - 1897: 34 years during which he encouraged, guided and lectured the whole community towards a fuller and better life. More important to us, all his life he suffered from what he called 'an itch for scribbling '- an itch which resulted in a series of pamphlets and books, many on local history, and Monthly Letters which build up into remarkable picture of a community during the latter half of the 19th century.

He wrote the West Parish Monthly Letter for over 16 years, the first being issued in April 1880. He had a great insight into human character and a keen intelligent. Remarkably many of these letters have survived and have been scanned and indexed by date and topics below. Rev. Lawson wrote on a great variety of subjects and was not hesitant to express his opinion regarding many of the civil and social events of the town. He was in fact a very energetic civil organizer and his involvement in town activities ranged far beyond the pulpit of the West Church.

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The Rev. Roderick Lawson wrote the West Parish Monthly Letter for over 16 years, the first being issued in April 1880.

The circulation was about 1600, with about 1100 distributed in the town of Maybole and 500 sent to different parts of the world.  Indexed below are some of the West Parish Monthly Letters by Rev. Roderick Lawson.

Date   Topics
1886    
December  

Various reports on parish activities. Discussion of Lawson's book publications.  Are you a Christian Worker?

     
1887    
July  

View of the new burgh buildings ( Town Hall)

August  

Various reports on parish activities

September  

Question regarding the Public Green.  Notice of lecture on Ailsa Craig.

October  

Band of Hope Demonstration. Johnnie Stuffie. Wee Spout in the Glen now re-opened.

November  

Communion Season. Penny Savings Bank report. Some sayings of the Rev. William Gebbie of Dunlop.

     
1888    
March  

Annual Evangelistic Conference. Town showing signs of progress. Saint Cuthbert.

April  

Act regarding Public House closing hours. United Temperance Societies. Our Old Collegiate Church

May  

Town has been remarkably health of late. Twenty- Five Years Ago. (Lawson's 25th year in Maybole)

June  

List of historic items on Exhibit. Service at Crossraguel Abbey. A Class of Schoolfellows (An account of 30 boys - where are they after 24 years. Four have passed away and only ten of the lot, so far are married.)

July   Open air services. Visit to Ailsa Craig - total population -15. Some men of Maybole - captains of industry.
August   Loan Exhibit - 400 articles of historic interest.   Lady Ailsa.
October   Rev. Lawson prepares for his voyage to India. Life on board the ship.
November   Rev. Lawson describes departure from Portsmouth. Arrival in Malta.
December   Rev Lawson nears the end of an 8,000 journey and arrives in Calcutta.
     
1889    
January  

Rev. Lawsons tour of India

April   Rev. Lawson returns home to a reception in his honour.
May   Houses in Maybole now are numbered. Rev. Lawson suggests new names for some of Maybole's streets.
June   Organization of the Maybole Boys Brigade. Portrait of Mr. Thomas Hunter.
July   Engraving of Agricultural Implement Works of Messrs Alex. Jack & Sons. More about Boys' Brigade.
August   Trips to Ailsa Craig and Edinburgh.  Band of Hope Demonstration. Boys Brigade caps and red-tape at HQs.
September   Discussion of problems with Maybole school building. Lord Cassillis writes that he is off on a yachting cruise.
October   A strike by the operative shoemakers begins. Welltrees Fountain inscription and discussion of its meaning.
November   The shoemakers strike continues and many are suffering. The question is asked. How is the town to be saved?
December   The Wee Spout at Welltrees. New book - What I saw of India and its People
     
1890    
January   Drawing of old Collegiate Church. Book about trip to India now ready. Eleventh year of Monthly Letters.
February   Drawing of Maybole Castle. Story of Johnnie Faa. Letter from Maybole soldier stationed in South Africa.
March   Drawing of John Knox's House, by Mr. Whitelaw Hamilton. More about affairs in India.
April   Drawing of Welltrees Spout. About Sir Peter Coats. Mr. John Fairlie to preach in New Hebrides, Pacific Ocean.
May   Drawing of Kirkmichael Church. Notes on building of new shoe factory and school buildings.
June   Drawing of Minishant Memorial Church. William Niven of Kirkbridge, schoolfellow of Robert Burns.
July   Drawing of Kirkoswald Churchyard. Rev. John Fairle's trip. Sunday school trips. Wee Spout in the Glen.
August   Engraving of Killochan Castle - Girvan river. Friendly Societies. Robert Hetrick, Dalmellington Poet (Wikipedia).
September   Drawing of Covenanters' Memorial in Ladycross Road. Rev. Lawson's holiday trip to sacred places in Scotland.
October   Engraving of New Hebrides school house. Tour of Galloway and Dumfriesshire sacred places.
November   Drawing of Culzean Castle from the sea. New book - Places of Interest about Maybole. Christian Shoemaking.
December   Drawing of Kilhenize Castle. Rev. John Fairlie. Missionary to the New Hebrides. The Wee Spout in the Glen.
     
1891    
January    
February    
March    
April    
May    
 June  

Jock Aird, the Kirkmicahel Natural.    Lendalfoot to Ballantrae.    The Rev. P. Hately Waddell, LL.D.

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1892    
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1893    
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1894    
January  

Maybole Green.   The View from Maybole.   Why I am a Churchman

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1895    
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1896    
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1897    
January   

Right Honourable Sir James Fergusson, Bart. of Kilkerran, G.C.S.I.  Early Reminisceces.  Night and Morning

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December