The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-30

se"'eciy OBSERVES place alongside OF The peace
ful missionary.
The rebellion of 1898 next came on. 1t is
not likely that Mr.. Barber had anything to do
with it, but mary of his members were impli-
Gated, and his influence among the people was
well known. While he was preaching, the
s,ldlers came to arrest him. They had so
much respect for his coat as to stay outside,
and send In word that they wanted him. He
returned answer, that if they would wait till he
was through with the services, he would go
with them. When the congregation was dis
missed, the sexton raised window, and pointed
significantly to thick copse. "Noi" said the
preacher; had they come in at first, | might
have tried such game but since they waited,
60 with them" In jail, when any one came
TO see him. the jaier gave him the key, to let
his friend depart when he wished. There were
many prisoners confined with him, but he knew
he could trust the strength as well as the honor
OF the sturdy gownsman. 1t will give our re-
publican readers some idea of the manners OF
2 demineering nobility, to be told that Lord
Ansiey, on one occasion, struck Mr. Barber
with his riding whip Nor was it thought so
strange that he did so, as that the high spirited
preacher told HIM not to repeat the insult, and
the halfintinidated Earl drew back.
The Associate Presbyterans, or Seceders
did not differ materially from the SYNOD of
Ulster; they were simply stricter in doctrine
and discipline. Since we left Ireland, the two
denominations have become one body. The
Seceders date their origin from the Ersknes OF
Scotland, who, in l743, broke off from the
established church on account of patronage.
Few OF our readers need to be told that patron
age is a relic of the feudal system, which con-
sidered the noble everything, and the peasant
nothing By this law, the patron could force
minister
With this question we had nothing to do in
Ireland But such is the power of sympathy,
that question purely local gave rise to new
determination in the United States and in Ire
land, as well as in Scotland.
The Seceder congregations being smaller, it
was easier keeping them up to the strict Pres
byterian model. Each congregation was di
vided into praying societies, which met week
y or semi-mOnthly for. social worship. In each
society there was lay elder. When all these
elders met IN council, with the pastor at their
head, they were called the congregational SEES
SION. This court before which all the
members must bring their difficulties instead
OF going to law. To this body, too, it belong
ed To admit and exclude members. The pas
tor, accompanied by lay elder, visited every
family III the congregation once year, to con
verse with the parents and catechize the chill
dren. This made him familiar with the at
tainmehts and dispositions of his people as
with their faces, and he could the easier suit
his nlnlstratlois to their capacities.
Among all Presbyterian bodies, 1t was Gus
tomary, in administering the Lords Supper to
use tokens, or medals, which admitted the
bearer to a seat at the table. Some claimed
that this custom had precedent in the white
Stone given by the Jews to the proselytes of
the covenant, and mentioned Rec ii, H.
al, al.
uted by the lay elders to all those whom they
knew to be i'll good standing. But among the
Seceders the elders stood up in a row, while
the whole congregation defiled before them,
and each member received token from the
hand of the minister. If single elder had
anything to object to member, he received
no medal till his case was canvassed in ses-
siop.
sf a young woman had so far forgotten her
professions as to attend dancing party. she
passed the long of grave faces and sharp
eyes with FACILITATING heart, happy if her
right were not challenged. The whole affair
was SO well calculated to remind the spectator
of the solemn ordeal expected hereafter, that
the exhortation which followed generally pro-
duced deep impression. Mr.. Main was the
late pastor Of the Seceder congregation in
Rathtriand. / have mentioned him before,
and will take occasion to speak of him again.
So L will only say now that the purity of his
own life excused his severity towards others.
Mr.. TAFT was his successor, a handsome, clever
looking man, with face nothing the paler for
brandy. Conscious of little selfindulgence
in himself, he was disposed to be lenent to-
wards the tailings of others. But Andrew Nor
row. mentioned before, was a member of his
session, and, having the majority on his side,
ordinarily carried out his views in opposition
to the Moderator. If a member was found
guilty OF drunkenness, or such an offence moth
ing would satisfy him but making acknowledg-
ment before the public congregation.
The Cameronian Covenanters, or Mountain
men, formed the extreme section of the Irish
Presbyterian church. They have been de
scribed Presbyterians highly spiced, and a
little overdone. Like the Seceders, they had
small Congregations and could for that reason
maintain their rules more strictly. Their disci-
pine was even more rigid They differed from
the Secedere In refusing allegiance to the British
Government. Although the regium dO,tum was
simply gift bestowed on PRESBYTERIAN minis.
ters, yet, because there was an oath of allegi-
ance connected with it, and because it might
soften their opposition to what they considered
All immoral Constitution, they always declined
it. To crafty their humor in this instance
was no small sacrifice, for they were generally
poor; and by the payment of tithes and cess,
they had to contribute to the support of the Els
tablished church, the Presbyterian church. and
the Popish College at Maynooth.
The accommodating spirit of their religion
sometimes gave a tincture to their whole de-
pertinent. There one who kept store ia
Rathfriland. He was counted perfectly honest,
but very hard. Whenever his customers be<nn
To cheaper his goods, he began to lay them
away. a.
I" i can get spade cheaper atfThomas AL
lens" says one. "Well, Thomas Allen keeps
4 right over there" says the storekeeper, motion
ing him to go there and deal Jack McMurray
was another member of the same congregation.
Getting warm in a controversy with Method
list, he jumped up and struck him. /" That's
right" exclaimed the Methodist, 4" smite with
the fist of wickedness." The Covenanter sat
down, and felt himself discounted. To preach
against others, formed an important part Of their
worship. If ANY Of their preachers happened to
be reniss in this duty, or if he manifested Il
kindly disposition towards other denominations,
his orthodoxy was at once suspected. Johnny
McHool, his brother Jamie, and Peggy his sis
ter, lived together, and were strict Covenanters.
1t was said that when johnny was praying,
Peggy would say, "Oh Johnny, We haze forgot
10 curse the Irish (Catholics.'') Oh, I'm no
lgot that far yet, would be the cool reply. The
story was probably manufactured, but still it
was characteristic. 1t is but justice, however,
to say that the Mountan-men often treated the
Celtic population with kindness that might
we'll have been initiated by their more charita
Die neighbors. When they had denounced An
lichrist and his doctrine, and given a catechism
10 some Roman Catholic, who would probably
burn it when he got home, they dealt out zeal
which others vented in curses and blows. In
deed, the Covenanters hatred of Orange prin-