Michael T Tracy

The Illustrious Life of the Reverend Dr. John Buist (1754-1845) Michael T Tracy

"The Reverend John Buist of Tannadice and his beadle were a fair worn pair at four score. Both were magnifying their offices with much energy, notwithstanding bodily infirmities. The Minister was lame, and Johnny Young, the beadle, had feet that wanted some inches of the orthodox length, and for want of base he was easily thrown off the balance. But he was short and round, so he quickly got on one foot again. There was a diet of examination held in the church after the sermon, at which both old and young were catechized. Mr. Buist was always very sarcastic, and he put no restraint on his wild wit. Strangers came from the surrounding neighborhood to hear his quaint humour. One day his banker from Forfar put in an appearance. Buist was discoursing on the free grace of God, and contrasting it with the small mercies man gave. 'For instance, ' he said, 'there is a braw man with silver buttons on his coat in the east loft when you cannot meet his bills his days of grace are only three.' Another day the beadle told him not to say anything personal, as two students from Aberdeen were to be in the church, and they had note-books with them. During the sermon he noticed his servant maid sleeping, and told some person to awake her. Then turning to what he considered the strangers gallery, he said: ---'You may as well try to keep a Highland man from stealing as think to keep that woman from sleeping in church, and you can put that in your notebooks.'" Thus ran the Arbroath Herald Newspaper for 17 August 1899 giving a small glimpse of the wit and plain speaking manner of the accomplished life of the Reverend Dr. John Buist of Tannadice, Forfar.