The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-19
miscellaneous.
JOHN KNOWS HOUSE.

JOHN KNOWS HOUSE.
We had occasion few days since to refer to
the intention of the authorities of Edinburgh to pull
down the house of JOHN KNOX. The subject ex-
cites much interest in Great Britain as the follow
ing article from the London .Ni,cs of the 29th ult
will show
There is an old house in the Canongate of Edin-
burgh not unpicturesque in itself, and regarded with
respect by all as an historical monument with en-
thusiastic veneration by the sturdy Presbyterians
OF Scotland. II is the house of John Knox. II
was tenanted in days of old by "the reformer OF
klngdom," as Milton called him, by HIM over
whose closing grave the regent Morton declared, IN
half soiloquy, there lies he who never feared the
face of man, Within that house the dauntless
champion of reformation SAT with unquiverlng nerve
when the assassin's bullet whstled Unexpectedly
through the window over his head, From its door
he stepped to preach the " Evangele," as COM
posedly any minister now commits himself to
an admiring flock though, for aught he knew, a
score Of hlrelng arquebusses might be eveed at
him before he brought his discourse to close.
II has been too much the fashion to talk of John
Knox as a ruthless iron man. He was no whin-
ing sentmentast, II Is true; the Establishments of
fair young Queen could not turn him from the
path of duty; but M'Crie has dsproved the menda-
cious stories about his wanton rudeness TO Mary
The simple Story of Knox's life shows that though
he might not pirate about his feelings the circle of
his friends and relations felt the glow of human a-
lection that burned voiceless within him, for with
out such consciousness none love man
Knox was loved by many. But as the teacher Of
a nation upon which knowledge had dawned before
wealth and art had softened mems tempers, or the
ntermsson of feudal broils favored the cultivation
Of the domestic virtues, hard task imposed
upon him. Every where he found himself called
upon to act the stern dscpnarian. He had to as
sail the defendants of superstition he had to lay
the strong hand of restraint upon those who would
cast off not only belief but the restraints
of morality with it; he had to beard selfish and
avaricous nobility, bent enriching themselves
with the spoils Of the church. His life was one of
ncessant warfare against the alterations of all
around him-of friends as well as of foes. To have
relaxed for one moment his strong bride hand
would have been to let loose the national passions.
the perfsrpid,m ingenium Scotorum-to headlong
rush over a precipice. His pure and well-balanced
mind taught him what was right, and his heroic
disposition enabled him TO assert it-ofen alone
and discounenanced To his Titan energies is
Scotland, under Providence, indebted for the en-
dowment and organization of its parochial schools;
for what Wordsworth has called the ''strong- hand
ed purity" of its religious discipline; in short for
chat national character which even those who can
not love are compelled to respect
The instinct Of nations gratitude has taught
house in the Canongate sacred shrine in their
eyes. II is one of the first sights in Edinburgh
to which the citizen leads the stranger and deep
and intense is the feeling Of honorable complacent
pride expressed in the distinct and audible whisper
with which he SAYS, "That is John Knox's
house"
Yet this Penaies of Scotland il is proposed TO de-
stroy While Englishmen are exerting themselves
10 insure the perennial maintenance of the house in
which Shakespeare is supposed to have been born
while even the house in which Cowley died is
cared for, and indicated by modest tablet-there
are Scotchmen who would pull down the house
consecrated by having been the dwelling-place of
the moral and intellectual father of them all.
And who are the Vandals who contemplate this
desccration, No neo-Romanists rendering their
new faith ridiculous by the extravaganza Of their
proselyte zeal; no Puseyite preatsts avenging the
interrupted apostolic succession no bgoted belley-
ers in the immaculate purity Of Queen Mary A
correspondent informs us that the destroyers are
the managing committee of the Free Kirk-the men
who would have the world believe that they alone
hold fast by and appreciate Knox and his doctrines
These men, we are told, have got the venerable
fabric into their possession, and are going to pull
il down to make room for their new schools, al
though worse site for the purpose, IN respect Of
neghborhood, cannot well be imagined.
Now the leaders of the Free Kirk cannot plead
m extenunton or tneir Vandalism purltanical ma
in the distribution of relIcs-some Of them of a
rather spurious character. They have published
fac-similes of the Solemn League and Covenant-ha
may pass They have reprinted memoirs and auto
biographies Of Presbyterian saints-some of them
valuable and interesting, some of them neffabl'
trash. And, finally, they have connived at the fab
rcation and sale Of silver brooches-of the size OF
moderate sancers-inscribed with their own names
and martyrdoms. We can scarcely bring ourselves
10 believe that men far gone IN relic worship
would destroy a fabric which is TO all true Scotch
the apple Of their eye, in order that their
sectarian schools may be pladd in an uniting To-
eality, il Is true, but where all men may them
This would be not little pharisaical.
IL the charge be true, we must say that the way
in which they setting about the Job betrays a
sneaking consciousness of its true character. Like
the Quaker who gave the dog which he could not
strike bad name, they are seeking to create an
impression that the house is in such state Of decay
us TO be dangerous TO the public. They are in
voking the Intervention Of the Edinburgh edlle
the Dean of Guild They would have people be-
leve that not they, but the law, has done it, This
is making cats paw Of the worthy civic digni-
tary we have named, for, were the house ten times
more ruinous than 1t is, 1t would be easy to main
tain il by interior building or otherwise
We are confident that the mere giving ofpublicty
10 this unpatroc design will be sufficient TO excite
burst OF indignation that will teach the Vandals,
whoever they may be, they about TO "bring down
an old house about their ears in more senses than
one. Nay, the storm is already rising. Several
gentlemen in Edinburgh have commenced an oppo-
sition in the Dean Of Guild Court and retained an
able lawyer to plead the cause Of John Knox's
house. The most eminent Scotch artists in London
are actively bestirring themselves in the cause.
We have known the mood Of our northern brethren
vebemently moved about matters Of less conse-
quence. Above all should the statement be correct
that the Free-Krk managers are at the bottom OF
the business, IL is incumbent the members OF
the Free Kirk TO protest against insult to the
national sentiment which, offered by their leaders,
will he imputed TO them all.
From the London Times