DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY 19TH DECEMBER 1946
COCKERELS ‘ENTERED THE MINISTRY’
Loud, hearty laughs resounded within the crowded Institute Hall at Cairneyhill, near Dunfermline.
Occasion was the induction social of Rev William L Cunningham and the laughter was the result of stories told by his ‘cronies’.
Rev F M Musk, Dunbar, confessed he had been worried about what he was to say to the Cairneyhill people, and being ‘worried’ had reminded him of the man who was fidgeting about the house and wouldn’t go to bedd.
His wife asked what was wrong. He said he was too worried. He owed a man £1000 and hadn’t the money to pay his debt. His wife went out. When she came back she said ‘It’s all right. I’ve told the other man. He can worry now’.
Rev J C Gordon, Cadder, told of the old Aberdoniian and his wife who had reached their golden wedding. To celebrate, their friends baked a special cake with 50 candles.
When the old man saw the candles lit, he turned to his wife and said ‘Maggie, dinnae waste them. Bile the kettle on them.’
After congratulating the congregation for the fine ‘spread’ he had enjoyed, Rev William Steven, Dunfermline, spoke of the farmer who entertained two ministers. To feed them, he killed two if his best cockerels.
Later, in the farmyard, when he was showing his guests around, one of the ministers noticed a particularly fine looking cockerel strutting about with a high head. He remarked that it seemed very proud.
‘Prood,’ said the farmer.’It has guid reason to be prood. Two of its sons have just entered the ministry.’
Fife people were not flatterers, Mr Steven said, but they appreciated a good minister like Mr Cunningham.
But, he warned Mr Cunningham, if anybody came into his vestry and said his sermon was a masterpiece that person would either be an American passing through or a Scotsman who had too much to drink the night before.
Cairneyhill People and History 