New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-22
DIR. Thomas Chaimers-The Free Church Of
Scotland.

Distinguished among the noblest Of his country
men for piety. disnterestedness erudton, and con
sistent patriotism the late DR. Chalmers held shgh
place in the affections Of the British nation he
had been connected for nearly half a century Wild
the literature, arts, scientific researches, and the
political and religious economy Of Scotland; had
written much on important topics and written wen
was famed for the brillisncy Of his eoquence, and
the strength and soidty Of his reasoning, ss
Christian divine and ever DESTROYS to benefit, re-
ieye the wants and better the condition Of the hu'
man race.
In early life, he was not remarkable for that
evangelical turn Of mind which, united with his
native energy, solid requirements, and sterling
worth indie ted his fitness to lead five hundred
ministers of the Scottish Church from comfortable
epdowments by the State, held for life, to de-
pepdeDee on the God Of their fathers and the slender
collections Of their Hocks When the writer Of this
article FIRE, had the pleasure Of bearing him preach
nearly forty years since he the parish minister Of
Kilmsny In Fife. nesr the banks OF the Tsy-sDd 90
studious and sbstrsced he that oener than once
have We known him to be found In his Library after the
church bells had collected his flock, entirely uneon
scious that the service deiayed-but Ike Newton.
Milton and many other eminent philosophers and scho-
lars the more be studied the religious he became
Wherever he went admiring Thousands were bis hear
ers end many have gratefully acknowledged that
ACQUAINTANCE with the fervid zeal and esrnestness Of
this able divine had msde them better and happier men
But his time came and the faithful lsborer has gone
10 receive the rich reward Of life noby spent he
pred az calmly In Scotland the other day, are told
as the babe at It's mothers breast bright example TO
succeeding sges 10 the galaxy OF Scottish learn
ing and eenus of the very first magnitude.
foremost smong one Of the most enlightened and
best educated pstons Ia the WORLD be bis country's
idol-bsr fsvorite ton Peace 20 his memory He
broke through the letters Of self interest in establishing
the Free Church and preferred the dictates of con
science the OF manly Independence To the smiles
Of power the Establishments OF throne In his life
he revere6-in bis death he 10 deeply, sincerely,
sfectonstely mourned.'
The secession of nearly onehslf the clerical members
Of her General Assembly from the Church OF Scotland
aud Of almost half the ministers Of that Church IL
remarkable era in the history OF religion in Europe;
and Dr. Chalmers, then Professor OF Divinity In the
University Of Edinburgh stood the head Of the
ders from an ecclesiastical establishment on which his
pure. spotess sod useful life had conferred hon
or IL may not be out Of place in to state here the
causes of that secession In connexion with notice Of
one Of Its great movers.
After goriously enduring 2e years Of cruel persecu
ton for conscience sake, under Charles and James
Stewart, the Scottish nsuon r,sstablshed the plsin
simple and long cherished Presbyterian form Of Church
government worship and discipline. In l6ss it
by sccismson, and united II with the State. the very
Republican basis for their times that the church
beers Of each parish. females we believe. well
males should elect choose Its pastor In 1894,
tona system of education also adopted, with paro
chia scboolnssters whose duty II was 10 unite early
religious and moral instruction with the cultivation OF
the youthful intellect In 707 through bribery and cor
ruphon OF some, and inclination and policy In others
In the Legislature Of Scotland that ancient king
dom was united to Engand but the Scottish Church
was TO DO preserved In its purity being also
ing party. In l7l2 however ts Independence made
subservisnt to political objects by the passage of law
In the united Parliament, where England had eleven
representatives TO Scoands one taking from the people
the choice OF their thousand pastors and vestng that
power Ia certain noblemen gentlemen the kings minis
,ers and other authorities likely to choose clergymen
whose politics would suit the dominant State interest
This tended to seculsze and corrupt the Church and
the pcus and enlightened Erskines and others seeing
men Of loose morals forced godly congregations al
he oayonets point seeded more than hundred years
asoo sdherng to their Church anu
10 The solemn national covenants of by gone century
Of late year, the Church sefook up tbs question In the
spirit Of reform and while Its General Assembly was un
TO get nd of the bhghting curse of PATRONAGE, 1t
''red to consider no licensed clergyman qualified
b the pastor Of Scottish parish who wac unsccep,.
bic to the parshooers and only forced upon them by
spstroo. who probably of another creed and per
hsps had never the parish or its inhabitants
No sooner bad the National Church acted on this
ovssiug principle than nominations were made by pa
roos OF character exceedingly offensive to several
psr'shes-the Assembly stood by the peope-the Court
OF Session, the chief civil tribunal and constituted very
much like the PsElismen of Paris &c when under the
saeient regime gave Judgment sppesl.IOr the pre-
scnsses Several cases were believe carried to the
Houss Of Peers acting IN lite appellate Judicial capacity
which decided against the Church. and s the General
Assembly held In the very teeth ofihe provisions Of the
act OF Union The Church maintained lie supremacy In
matters Of religion and when reminded of the oath Of
allegiance. answered DIRECTORS that the oath Of 1872
was. IL do solemaly promise and swear. tina, will
bear faithful allegiance Queen Victoria while the old
oath Of les2 Tor refusal to take which the patriotic
C1stl, kenwick, and ether glorious martyrs whose
memories VIII remain dear ali true scotsmen.
hsd shed their hearts blood in the ned on the
fold ran in this slsvish style:
lido solsssly era and sssay tAai tAe Kiaxs Msjesy
10 sxyrszs al ntses etrsi ssd ecclesiastical
Perhspss more true and faithful OF the monarchy
than Thomas Chalmers never lved--yet when he found
the civil authorities successfully carrying the decisions
OF the Queens Courts into effect over those of the Ma
tona Church he resolved 10 throw mp bis hOnors AMI
emouments, aud did So did FIVE hundred other min
isters Of the Church, saording lesson Of ssfdenial
and selfrespect Of generous dslneresedness and Of
abiding confidence Ia the God Of their fathers peruss
Of the record of which viii send thrill Of Joy through
the hssrtsof millions yet unborn. Happy h that people
whose Instructors love principle with poverty better
than wealth Of the sacrifice OF honor truth and indie
pspdencsf In the language OF Chalmers IN is n tAs
wonrn ssea tiss IN Tie tssilSHoe and crs tAss
IN ~ dsea polcsi posv Of tie people taat ts va sss
Of iAs1 tsdqeassse, hes Sincerity the Poet OF the
seasons beautifully remsrks 10 "the FIRST of virtues
and ave hundred Presbyterian ministers OF Scotland
hero proved themselves SINCERE a. 1900 OF their
worthy brethren and sres, exenplss had done In Eng
lsnd and Scotland In the dark of the second Charles
when they gave up their hvngs lso years before Con
duct like theirs inspires people with love Of county
warms tbs youthful heart and cheers men onward 10
essds worthy OF noble race enshroaiss the sectors In
the affections Of virsuous community and stordns AMI
mating and envenns evidence that the presen, state Of
sria and probation earth will be succeeded BY so
a -. A.