Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-11-08

ANECDOTES OF ScoTTIsH LIFE AND CHAR
AcTER.-As an illustration of the Scotch taste
for sermons on dogmatic divinity and the pure
marrow of speculative theology, Dean Ramsey
relates good anecdote One clergyman at
least was in the habit of preaching on the dis
tasteful and vulgar subjects of practical life
and home morality but an ancient dame,
whose tastes lay in discussions ON predestina-
ton and essays on free WILL remarked OF the
preacher, "If there's an i'll tex in a the Bible,
that creturs sure to tax it," Few tales better
illustrate the fervor of Jacobite feeling than
the following Mr. Sterling of Kerr Il strong
Stuartite, attended a secret meeting at the
Brig of Turk, in 1708 The government was
very anxious to discover the leader Keir
was suspected, but the miller of Ker swore
positively and distinctly that the Laird was
not present. As it was generally known that
Kier was present. the witness, of course, was
asked how he could swear to so downright a
falsehood. "The miller, quite undaunted, ami
with feeling of confidence in the righteous
ness of his cause approaching the sublime, re-
piled, L would rather trust my soul to Gods
mercy than to trust Kier's life to their
hands,"
The Dean, with very natural prediction,
does not mind having a sly fling aths Presby
terrain brethren; but we must do him the
justice to say that none of his stories are ILL
natured, and it is reasonable enough that
Scotch humor should often find the old minis
ter either the hero or the narrator of the story.
Thus a minister in the north, returning thanks
in his prayers one Sabbath for an excellent
harvest, began as usual-"Oh Lord we thank
Thee" &C., and went on to mention its album
dance and its safe ingatberings but feeling
anxious to be quite candid and scrupulously
truthful, he added-"all except a few fields be-
tween this and Stonehaven, not worth men
tioning." A Scotch preacher, being sent to
country parish, was accommodated in the
manse, but in very small closet. On inquir-
ing, us this the bed room 2" he was answered,
deed ay, sir, this is the prophets chamber"
at maun be for the minor prophets, them"
Speaking of these reminds us Of the Ok
ford story. An undergraduate, weak in his
divinity" was asked, (Which are the minor
prophets ?" His reply was respectful to the
authors of the Bible, but it was a respect
which had evidently kept him at distance
from holy writ; "We he did not like to draw
distinctions"
But we must return to Dean Ramsay's vol
ume. Skirra, seeding minister OF Fife, ex-
pounding the 1lGth Psalm, came to the verse
~ said in my haste all men are liars !" and he
added, not quite inaudibly, Indeed David,
an ye had been i this parish, ye might have
said il at your leisure" Anotherminister, en-.
BHBeu III Nlsl'llE HIS HUN, hhONheu Nv uOOr
where his modest tap could not be heard for
the noise of violent quarrel within. After
waiting little lie opened the door and walked
in, and somewhat pompously inquired, 81
should like to know who is the head OF this
house," "Weel, sir, replied the husband,
eff ye sit doom a vice. wen maybe be able 10
tell ye, for we're just tryin' TO settle that
point" Another, far from popular and far
from brief preacher being asked, by way of
hint, of the intolerabIe length Of his sermons,
il be did not feel tired after such long preucl-
ing, replied INA, ma, I'm no tired but, Lord
hoo tired tile foulk whites are"