Secular Meeting House Activities

 
In August 1859, Mr Howat inaugurated a Village Reading Room. He gave a lecture on “Newspapers and the place they hold in the literature of this country.” He first traced the history of papermaking from the ancient papyrus down to the materials at present employed in the manufacture; then gave a variety of details relative to newspapers proper, with special allusion to the Times of London and other journals.

Public Lectures.

As well as Sunday services and weekly Temperance Society meetings, the Meeting House was also used a village hall, where lectures were organized on a wide range of topics, by Mr (latterly Col.) Elder of St Margaret’s House who paid for the lecturers.

Some lecturers and topics were:

November 1859, Mr Turnbull, on “Health, happiness, and home”

November 1859, Mr Howat on “A run through the colonies, with brief glances at the settlers.” In the course of his lecture, Mr Howat transported his audience to Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, and gave a variety of interesting sketches of the manners, customs, past history, and social conditions of the people.

December 1859, Mr Howat on “The Lights and Shades of our great cities.” He commenced by showing how one half of the world did not know how the other half lived; exhibiting on one hand “The Shades – some of the saddest spectacles of depraved humanity. “The Lights” he treated in a religious point of view, such as the church, schools, and missionary labours.

December 1859, Mr John Anderson, teacher, “The Food we Eat.” The adulteration our food is now subjected to, and the mode of doing it, almost defying detection by the most scrutinising process.

December 1859, Mr Forsyth of Edinburgh, on “Physiology” which he illustrated by diagrams dwelling principally on the digestive organs.

December 1859, Mr Howat on “Scotland in the Olden Times,” illustrated by diagrams, contrasting the past with the present, more especially in a religious aspect.

January 1860, Mr Alexander McAnsh on “The Magnitude of Bodies” comparing great “bodies” with small, from animalculae invisible to the naked eye , to the mighty suns and systems careering through space.

May 1860, Mr A. McAnsh on “China”

October 1860, Thomas Elder (of St Margarets House) on “Algiers.” A historical account of its rise, and then the many vicissitudes it had undergone under the French Government. He then detailed the narrative of his own residence in that country.

October 1860, Thomas Elder on “Morocco.”

November 1860, Thomas Elder on “Palestine.” Mr Elder described what he had seen. The lectures were illustrated by diagrams of ancient and modern Jerusalem, and by relics of the past glory of Palestine, such a stones from the wall of Solomon’s temple, flowers from the garden of Gethsemane and a dagger procured at Damascus. Mr Elder also exhibited a quantity of water taken from the Dead Sea – which was freely offered for anyone to taste.

November 1860, Thomas Elder gave two lectures on “America” based on his travels there. He gave, a description of the country, mode of life, and general character of the Americans. He then detailed his own observation regarding the slave trade, denouncing slavery to be against all human sympathy, and a great barrier in the way of civilization

December 1860, Rev. J.D. Fleming, Inverkeithing, on “The Natural History of Man”

January 1861, Dr Bartholomew on “Food,” which was highly interesting, and gave great satisfaction, except to our temperance friends, who did not relish the Doctor’s remarks when he spoke of the alcohol as being an efficient food in many circumstances.

February 1861, instead of our usual lecture, we were favoured with “Readings interspersed with Music,” by Mr A. Thomson, of the Commercial Academy, Dunfermline. In the course of the parts, Mr Anderson, [local school teacher] sang several songs.

February 1861, Rev. James McKay on “China.” a very graphic sketch of the celestial empire – the dispositions and general character of the people – the absurd notions they entertain of being as they were in the past, counting all those enemies who introduced anything modern.

February 1861, Mr W. Allan of the Scottish Temperance League, on “Woman, and her Influence”

February 1861, Mr C, Connor, student of divinity, on “The Earth’s Crust.” The Meeting-house was decorated with diagrams illustrative of the lecture. Mr Connor covered Geology, from our earth’s surface to its foundations, and its relation to Him who created all.

February 1861, Mr A. L. Dick, Edinburgh, on “Nineveh.” The lecture on the former glory of that ancient city, was illustrated with large diagrams.

March 1861, Mr A. Murphy, Edinburgh, on “The Existence of the Deity.”

March 1861, Mr W., Pringle, Barns, on “Astronomy” illustrated by twelve large diagrams, comprising the solar system – sun, moon, planets, comets, the moons of Jupiter, rings of Saturn etc.

March 1861, Mr Alex. Macansh, Dunfermline, on “Knox and the Reformation.” The lecturer seemed perfectly conversant with the life and times of the great reformer.

February 1863, Mr Foullis of Fordell, on “Man’s First Abode, and how it was Prepared.”

February 1863, Mr Smith on “The Sea.”

1864 – Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Society

March 1864, Mr Bourhill, student of divinity, Inverkeithing, delivered a lecture in the Meeting-house, under the auspices of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Society, which was formed here some time ago. The object of the lecture was a very laudable one – viz., for promoting the pecuniary support of the Society, and the intellectual improvement of the inhabitants. Mr Bourhill chose for his subject. “Stray Thoughts on Education.”