# Monthly scrap book, for August/Church of Scotland

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
The most eminent of the Scottish reformers was John Knox, a man of considerable abilities, of no less courage and resolution, a disciple of Calvin, and a warm admirer of the constitution and discipline which he had established at Geneva. Almost from the æra of the Reformation in Scotland till that of the Revolution, there was a perpetual struggle between the court and the people, for the establishment of an episcopal or presbyterian form of church government. The former model of ecclesiastical policy was patronised by the House of Stewart, on account of the support which it gave to the prerogatives of the crown; the latter was favoured by the majority of the people. The Church of Scotland was at first congregational; it afterwards assumed an episcopal appearance; and in 1690, Presbyterianism was finally established.
Scotland and England having been separate kingdoms at the time of the Reformation, a difference of circumstances in the two countries led to different sentiments on the subject of religion, and at last to different religious establishments. And when they were incorporated into one kingdom by the treaty of union, the same regard to the inclinations of the people of Scotland, to which Presbyterianism owed its first establishment in that country, produced a declaration to which both kingdoms gave their assent. "that Episcopacy shall continue in England, and that the Presbyterian church government shall be the only government of the church of Scotland."
​The doctrinal articles of this church are similar to those of the church of England; but it is generally understood that many of its ministers have widely departed from the national faith, as well as those of the Episcopal establishment. The popular party are considered as more zealous for the doctrines of grace, and for the articles of their church in all their strictness; and a very pleasing specimen of their pulpit compositions, as well as of the doctrine taught by them, may be met with in an able work, in four volumes, entitled "The Scotch Preacher."
The worship of the Church is extremely simple, and but few ceremonies are retained. Knox laid aside the Book of Common Prayer, and introduced a composition of his own, resembling the Liturgy of Geneva; but there is now no form or liturgy of any kind in use. The minister's sole guide is "The Directory for the Worship of God," drawn up by the Westminster Assembly of Divines, in 1644; nor is it thought necessary to adhere strictly to that, as its injunctions are but little regarded.
In general the Lord's Supper is not administered oftener than once or twice a-year; its celebration is preceded by a fast, usually on Thursday, and by a sermon on the Saturday; and on the Monday morning it is followed by a public thanksgiving. They have no altars in the churches, and the communion-tables are not fixed, but introduced for the occasion, and are sometimes two or more in number, and of considerable length. At the first table, after the close of the consecration prayer, the minister usually proceeds to read the words of the institution, and immediately distributes the elements to the two ​communicants who sit nearest him on each hand: the elders administer them to the rest. During the services of the succeeding tables, addresses at some length are made by the minister, standing at the head of the communion table.
The Church of Scotland has no public formulary, no creed or ten commandments, no festivals, no instrumental music, no consecration of churches or of burying-grounds, no funeral service or ceremony, no sign of the cross in baptism, and no administration of the sacrament in private houses to the sick or dying. Confirmation is rejected; but Ordination, by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery is now universally practised. Sponsors in baptism are disallowed; and the father, who generally presents to baptism, does not make any promise for the child, but for himself, that nothing shall be wanting on his part to lead the child, at some future period, to undertake the obligations of religion.
The discipline of the Church is chiefly admonitory. There is no officious interference in matters which fall under the cognizance of the civil magistrate, no solicitude to investigate private offences; the public censures of the church are reserved only for scandalous offenders. The sin of uncleanness is punished by the parties being required to present themselves in the church, for three different sabbaths, on a bench, called the Stool of Repentance, when they are openly rebuked by their minister in the face of the congregation; and those who do not choose to submit to it are excommunicated, or deprived of Christian privileges. In some instances, this punishment is changed into a pecuniary fine.
​Every regulation of public worship, every act of discipline, and every ecclesiastical censure, is the joint work of a certain number of ministers and laymen acting together with equal authority, and deciding every question by majority. The laymen of these courts are called elders, and ruling elders; but they do not labour in the word and doctrine. These elders are chosen from among the heads of families, of known orthodoxy and steady adherence to the worship, discipline, and government of the Church. Being solemnly engaged to use their utmost endeavour for the suppression of vice, and the cherishing of piety and virtue, and to exercise discipline faithfully and diligently, the minister, in the presence of the congregation, sets them apart to their office by solemn prayer, and concludes with exhorting both elders and people to their respective duties.
The lowest ecclesiastical court, called the Church Session, consists of the ministers and elders. The minister is moderator, but has no power to decide against the Session, nor any right to vote, except when the voices of the elders are equal and opposite. He may enter his protest against their sentence, and appeal to the judgment of the Presbytery; but this privilege belongs equally to every other member of the Session.
The next judicatory is the Presbytery, which consists of all the pastors within a certain district, and one ruling elder from each parish. The Presbytery treats of such matters as concern the particular churches within its bounds; as the examination, admission, ordination, and censuring of ​ministers; the licensing of probationers, directing the sentence of excommunication, the deciding upon references and appeals from the Church Sessions, resolving cases of conscience, explaining difficulties in doctrine or discipline, and censuring any heresy that has been propagated within the bounds of its jurisdiction.
From the judgment of the Presbytery, there lies an appeal to the Provincial Synod, which generally meets twice in the year, and exercises within its province, a jurisdiction similar to that which is vested in each presbytery over the Church Sessions. There are seventy-eight presbyteries, and fifteen synods, belonging to the Church of Scotland. The synods are composed of the members of the several presbyteries within the respective provinces.
The highest ecclesiastical court is the General Assembly, which consists of a certain number of ministers and ruling elders, delegated from each presbytery, and of commissioners chosen annually from the royal boroughs. The president of this assembly represents the Sovereign, under the character of Lord High Commissioner, who has a salary of fifteen hundred a-year, but has no voice in their deliberations. Appeals are brought from all the other ecclesiastical courts in Scotland to the General Assembly; and in questions purely religious, no appeal lies from its determinations.
The church of Scotland includes about nine hnudred parishes, and nearly as many benefices. The clergy are required to deliver a sermon with prayers twice every Lord's day, besides other ​occasional services. It is also expected throughout Scotland, that the prayers and discourses shall be the minister's own composition, and that they be delivered without the use of papers. They are to visit, to catechise, and to teach from house to house; to superintend all schools within their bounds, and are especially charged with the care of the poor. The provision made for the clergy consists of a stipend, a glebe of land of about six acres, and a parsonage-house. The livings on an average are not worth more than £200 a year, chiefly payable out of an assessment on the rent of land.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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