BLESSING COWS

MINUTES OF THE ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERY OF MOIRA & LISBURN 1774-1786
26th December 1781, Hillhall (Co.Down)

“…a reference from the session of Markethill relative to John Gibson,
a member of said session, representing his having been concerned in desiring
a woman, supposed to be a witch, to make use of God’s Holy Name in blessing
cows, to recover the good of their milk, and requesting the Presbytery’s advice,
and a paper containing the said John’s account of the steps taken by him in
that affair was given in and read….the Presbytery unanimously agreed in thinking
his conduct culpable, as being a profaning of God’s Holy Name, abusing it by
way of charm, and recommended it to the session to deal closely with said John
to bring him to a conviction of the evil thereof, and to take such steps as
may be most for the edification for removing the scandal thereby given…”

REFERENCE
PRONI MSS D/1759/1D/22