betheral

"Alexander Moldieward!" again cried the old "betheral," very loud, to some one on the top of the Dullarg Hill -- then in an ordinary voice, "come awa ', Saunders man, you and your mither, an' dinna keep them waitin '-- they're no chancy when they're keepit."

The Lilac Sunbonnet 1887

"The Lord be thankit for that! for gin the minister gaed speerin ', what chance wad there be for the betheral?"

The Lilac Sunbonnet 1887

Bibles, ye can hear the rattlin 'o' his banes, till it disturbs the congregation -- I hae dung them a 'heeds ower heels in their best days -- an' to tell me at the hinner end that ye wad ca 'in the betheral to pit oot Elspeth Mowdiewort!

The Lilac Sunbonnet 1887

"Fash na yer heid, Saunders, aboot them," said the old betheral at the door; "it's me that's to be grave-digger, but ye shall howk them a 'the same in the mornin', an 'get the siller, for I'm far ower frail -- ye can hae them a' by afore nine o'clock, an 'the minister disna pu' up his bedroom blind till ten!"

The Lilac Sunbonnet 1887

My relative used to tell of one of these officials receiving, with much ceremony, a brother betheral, from a neighbouring parish, who had come with the minister thereof for the purpose of preaching on some special occasion.

Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character Ramsay, Edward B 1874

A betheral of one of the churches of St. Giles, Edinburgh, used to call on the family of Mr. Robert St.venson, engineer, who was one of the elders.

Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character Ramsay, Edward B 1874

A more recent one has been told me of a betheral of a royal burgh much decayed from former importance, and governed by a feeble municipality of old men, who continued in office, and in fact constituted rather the shadow than the substance of a corporation.

Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character Ramsay, Edward B 1874

Perhaps the following may seem to illustrate the self-importance of the betheral tribe.

Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character Ramsay, Edward B 1874

This was so much the case in the betheral class, that an old lady, observing a well-known judge and advocate walking together in the street, remarked to a friend as they passed by, “Dear me, Lucy, wha are thae twa beddle-looking bodies?”

Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character Ramsay, Edward B 1874

“Weel, ye see, sir,” said David, looking very knowing, “when ye got your degree, I thought that as I had saved a little money, I couldna lay it out better, as being betheral of the church, than tak out a degree to mysell.”

Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character Ramsay, Edward B 1874