Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-11-12
From the American Mes,
Female Martyrs in Scotland.

1t was during the bitter prosecutions of tn
Scotch Covenanters in the years 1854 aud l6s:
when Baxter, Flavel, and about two thousau
other clergymen were shut out Of their puIpits
the Act of Uniformity, under Charles H.. tha
Margaret and Agnes Wilson. daughters of a wea
thy farmer in Wigtonshre were obliged to leav
their fathers house. and secretly wander from on
POverty-stricken hovel to another, to avoid th
Jury oil the watchful soldery. They had early re
eelVed religious education, aud as they grew to
wards Womanhood they became arlently attached
TO the Faith OF the Dissenters and could not be in
duced to attend the Established church. .
Though still so young Margaret was NOT
/ eighteen, and Agnes scarcely twelve-they had At
tracted the attention Of the CouCormists bv tbeir
adherence to the cause OF the Coyenanters. For
many weeks they we're concealed in the caves and
ravines of the mountains, spending long days and
nights exposed TO the piercing cold of a severe
winter while the ensuing summer found them suE
feriEg as intensely beneath the scotching heat. as
they wandered homeless in the swamps and mar.
shes, from which fear Of deadly sickness kent
their prosecutors. Yet amid all their trials, tbey
did not waver. "Out of weakness they were
made strong" by that faith which is the sub
stance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seem 80. .-,....
AT length came brief respite; the proHigate
and reckless Charles H. was called to his account
and for short space the troubled land had rest
Taking advantage of this pause in the persecution
the trembling girls came forth from their hiding
place. to stay for time with those who sympathi-
zed with them in their religious belief An aged
widow, Margaret NcLauchlan, a loBg.iyied friend,
who had herself been an outcast for conscience
sake, received them to her home, aad by her pious
counses and motherly care. greatly encouraged the
weary and almost heartsiek wander rers,
While enjoying this season OF praoe the sisters
were discovered and betrayed by a base fellow
named Patrick Stuart, and without the shadow of
trial wese thrOwu into prison Here they were
soon Joined by their friend Mrs McIauchlsn. who
was arrested about the same tine. They we're
treated with the utmost rigor, not allowed suffci
ent food, deprived of fire though the weather was
severely cold, and at night they stretched their
sching limbs on the bare stone floor
A document denying the peculiar doctrines Of
their faith was prepared, and presented to them
Apostasy or death was tue only alternative. The
father saved the lifa Of Agnes his youngest daugh
ter, by the payment of one hundred pounds, her
youth rendering her prosecutors Indifferent to her
fate but all the agOnized intercessions and bril-
liant offers of the afflicted parents could effect
nothing for Margsret's release The eleventh of
May was appointed for her execution, and that of
the aged Mrs. MclAuchlan. Two heavy stakes
were driven into the sand on WigtOn beach half
way between high and low water mark. The
shore, the rocks and the country around, for
great distance, were thronged by the clamorous
multitude eager 10 witness the terrific scene. A
band of soldiers surrounded tho two defenceless
women on their way to execution. The aged mat
ron was bound TO the post nearest the advancing
tide, while the young maiden was fastened to that
nearer the shore, in such position that she could
not avoid seeing the death of her friend Slowly,
yet surely, the surging bilows approached ; each
successive wave rose higher and higher, and soon
all that was mortal of Margaret McIauchlan was
buried beneath the waters
The shouts OF the rabbIe had died away, and
now they gazed with mute horror on the raging
food. Undismayed, the young girl watched her
tate: her prosecutors brought her once more TO
the shore and offered her the oath of abiurda-
ton," but she was strong even to the end Again
her slight form was bound to the stake aud in the
hush on the beach, her clear voice was heard dis
tinctly above the roar of the sea, saying, There
Is therefore now no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit" rnd still her tones grew
stronger and more triumphant, until she reached
the close of that glorious chapter; Nay, in all
things, we are more than cOnquerors through Him
that loved US. For am persuaded, that neither
life nor death, nor prncipalities, nor powers, nor
things present, things to come, nor height nor
depth, nor any other creature shall be able to sep
arate Us from the love Of God which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord" While the spelEbounl multitude
gazed the waters closed the fearful struggle
A small monument has been erected to the mem.
ory OF these martyrs in the ehurch-yard Of Wigton
They have long since joined that goodly company
" which came out of great tribulstion. and have
washed their robes and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb" f. A. IT,