"The Rev Sam Rutherford was Presbyterian minister of the parish of Anwoth between 1627 and 1638, there are many stories told regarding the life of this most intelligent and pious man. In one of these tales archbishop Ussher, who had heard many stories concerning Mr. Rutherford and his religious devotion, was returning through Galloway to his home in Ireland. One of these stories related how the minister often spent the entire night in prayer. especially before the Sabbath. This interested the archbishop greatly and he resolved to observe the ministers' ritual in person. This, however, would not be an easy thing for an Episcopalian bishop to accomplish during this period of distrust and religious intolerance.
At length the archbishop, unsure of what his welcome may be, came to the conclusion that the only solution was to visit Anwoth in disguise. It was thus, dressed as a pauper, that he presented himself at Bush o' Bield, around dusk on a Saturday and requested lodgings for the night. Mr. Rutherford immediately consented and brought the poor man into the kitchen where he might be fed. Mrs. Rutherford, according to her custom on a Saturday evening, was examining the servants on their religious knowledge in order that they may be suitably prepared for the Sabbath. During the course of the examination Mrs. Rutherford asked the stranger if he could tell her how many commandments there were. When the pauper confidently answered that there were eleven commandments in the Bible the Goodwife was shocked and dismayed. Thinking him very ignorant she lamented his condition to the servants saying that any six year old child of the parish could, when asked the question, tell an elder that there were ten commandments. Mrs. Rutherford silently resolved to embarrass their visitor with no more questions and, at length, he was amply fed and shown to a room in the garret.
This location, directly above Mr. Rutherford's chamber, was ideal for the archbishops' purpose; here he would be able to observe the ministers' devotions without detection. However he was to be disappointed, after a short time he heard the minister make himself ready for bed then all was silent. The bishop did not retire himself but sat listening for a long time, still hoping to hear Mr. Rutherford at prayer. At length he concluded that he was out of luck and, being wide-awake himself, resolved to take a short walk down the wooded path (that, to this day, is still called "Rutherford's Walk") and view the ministers' church.
Once there the bishop decided to dispel his disappointment by taking the opportunity to offer up a prayer himself, and there, in the middle of the night, he poured out his heart with abandon. So involved was the bishop in his prayers that he didn't hear Mr. Rutherford, who commonly arose about three o' clock in the morning, enter the church with intent to observe his own devotions. On discovering the bishop so deeply involved Mr. Rutherford stood waiting at the church door until he had concluded his prayers; upon which he knocked gently at the door to make his presence known.
Mr. Rutherford took the bishop by the hand, saying, "Sir I am persuaded you can be none other than archbishop Ussher; and you must certainly preach for me today, being now the Sabbath morning." The bishop confessed who he was; and after telling Mr. Rutherford what induced him to take such a step, said he would preach for him on condition that he would not disclose his identity to the parishioners. Mr. Rutherford agreed and proceeded to furnish the bishop with a suit of his own clothes.
Later that morning, but before the household awoke, the bishop the house separately but returned together, with bishop Ussher being introduced as a strange minister passing by who had promised to preach for them. On calling the pauper to his breakfast Mrs. Rutherford discovered that he had departed the house before any of the family were out of bed.
After their domestic worship and breakfast the family went out to the kirk; and the bishop chose for his text, John xiii. Verse 34. "A new commandment I give unto thee. that ye love one another." In the course of his sermon, the bishop observed that this might be reckoned to be the eleventh commandment. This was not lost upon Mrs. Rutherford who, remembering the answer she had received the night before from the stranger, was greatly astonished and struck with the strange coincidence. Looking to the pulpit, she still could not believe that the visiting minister and the vagabond from the previous night were indeed one and the same person.
After the public service the archbishop and Mr. Rutherford spent the rest of the day in
convivial conversation; and on Monday morning the former went away in the clothing
that he had arrived in. Their deception remained, for a very long time. a secret between
the two men."
Source: Anecdotes Religious and Moral by Rev. Charles Buck, 1843.