Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-08-01
PRICEsoFADVERTIsIN
Frsm the N. Y. Tribune.
DISRUPTION OF THE CHURCH OF
SCOTLAND. e..

We have delayed, for lack of room,
much longer than we intended, such a
statement, brief as j! must necessarily be,
of the prominent facts attending the re.
cent disruption Of the Church of Scotland
as should enable our readers 10 form at
least some notion of the merits Of the
controversy and the importance Of the
movement. But as the question is one
permanent aud not merely oftempora.
ry interest, we may render our readers
a service by doing now what we should
have done before.
1t will not be easy to trace to its source
the difficulty which has now reached its
climax. Secessions from the Church
establishment in Scotland have been fire.
quent during all the last century; but
they have been small, and in comparison
with this quite important. The ques
tiOns which have been of most influence
10 efecting this separation are two:
"a. The first relates to what is called
the legality Of the Veto Act, passed in
1884, 4,--sinoe which time the subject has
continued 70 excite great attention, and
the division between the opposing par
ties has become yearly more and more
decided. Previous to that time, the pre-
ssntations 10 very large proportion of
the Scottish Churches we're wholly pri
vGte property, in the hands some Of them
Of the crown, aud others of individuals.
The patronage thus possessed, as all pat
ronage inevitably does, Socn became
more or less corrupt; and the presents
tons were made with very little reference
or regard to the wishes or welfare of the
members of the churches. OF course
they became unpopular, and the opPosi.
ton 10 them became so strong and uni'
versal thatth General Assembly-the
ConvOcaton or Ecclesiastical Parliament
of the Kirk--in 1884 passed an Act Civ
ing authority to the male heads of fami-
lies in communion with the church, to
veto or reject any minister whom pat
ron might present TO a vacant parish
This act, of course, was the occasion of
NO little excitement and discussion, and
it's legality was loudly denied. Cases
soon arose in which it was tested. The
first was that Of the Presbyterian OfAuch'
terVarder. The pressntee was ueEOed by
the congregation to which he was pre-.
senled, and in consequence rejected by
the Presbylery, which acted under the
General. Assembly. In conjunction with
his patron he at once appealed 10. the
CiUl Courts, bringing an action against
thePresbytery, maintaining that they bad
no right TO reject him on the nero ground
Of the UeiO of the parishioners. The de.
cision was in favor of the patron and pre-
sentee Itwas carried BY the PreSby-
terry TO the House of Lords, and there
confirmed. A'similar question arose in
the case Of the Ministers Of StrathbOgie,
with similar result. a..
2. The other principal question was
OF still more importance, as its decision,
as given, would have more extended
Retrospective actiOn--excludIng in fact !,
from their seats in the Church Courts,
277 ministers sndas many elders. 1t
arose thus:-tbe General Assembly is
composed Of representatives from the
different Presbyteries, from Royal Bor.
oughs and from the Universities, and as
each parish minister is a. member Of his
particular Presbytery he is eligible as q
representative in the Assembly. During
the several years last past there being a
great demand f0g such extension, subsid-
iaFy places Of worship, called chaPels Of
course, were erected, and there being
great difficulties in the way ofcOnstruct-
ing new parishes, various localities mex
tensive districts were converted into par
ishes qnOGd sGOra, thelminisIers Of which
were provided Tor BY q crown grant call
ed the Royal Bounty. The ministers oil
such chapels and pafisheshaVe become
very numerous, and the General Assem-
bly, had conferred upon them the privi
leees ofEegulaF pavOchial ministers, thus
constituting them members Of their sew
eTal presbyteEiss, and 90 eligible to ths
Aesemblg itself. These acts have beer
called e question: and appeals hsve beef
taken q the civil coutts,by which tke Gct