Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-12-03
ANECDOTES OF SCOTTISH LIFE AND CHAR.
ACTER


As an Illustration of the Scotch taste for SER
mons on dogmatic divinity, and the pure mar
row of speculative theology, Dean Ramsay re-
lates good anecdote: One clergyman at least
was in the habit of preaching on the distastclul
and vulgar subjects of practical life and home
morality; but an ancient dame, whose tastes
lay in discussions ON predestination and essays
on free will, remarked of the preacher, "lf
there's an ill tex in a tn. Bible that cretur's
sure to tax it." Few tales better illustrate the
iervor of Jacobite feeling than the following:
MIR Sterling of keir, strong Stuartite, attend
ed secret meeting at the Brig of Turk, in
lOS. The government was very anxious to
discover the leader. keir was suspected, but
the miller of Keir swore positively and distinct
ly that the Laird was not present As it was
generally known that Kcir was present, the
witness, of course was asked how he could
swear to so downright falsehood. "'The mil
ler quite undaun,ed, and with feeling of con-
fdence in the righteousness of his cause APP
preaching the sublime, replied, i would rather
trust my soul to Gods mercy than trust Keir's
life to their hands"
The Dean, with very natural prediction,
does not mind having sly fling at his Prcshy-
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
]
hero or the narrator Of the story. Thus a min
lister in the north returning thanks in his pray
erS one Sabbath for an excellent harvest began
as usua-"Oh Lord, we thank Thee" &c.. and
went on to mention its abundance and its safe
ngathcrings but, feeling anxious to be quite
candid and scrupulouSly truthful he added
'a except a few fields between this and Stone
haven, not worth Mentioning a Scotch
preacher, being sent to a country parish, was
accommodated in the manse, but in a very small
closet. On inquring, as this the bedroom p
he was answered, deed ay, sir, this is the
prophets chamber Il maun be for the n,ino,
prophets, then"
Speaking OF these reminds us of an Oxford
story. An undergraduate, "weak in his divui-
~" was asked, (Which are the minor proph-
cts ~ His reply was respectful to the authors
of the Bible but il was a respect which had ev-
identity kept him at a distance from the holy
writ: well. he did not like to draw distnc-
TONS
But we must return to Dean Ramsay's vol
ume. Mr. Skirra, seeding minister of Fife
expounding the 10th Psalm, came to the verse
Il said in my haste all men are liars : and h,
added, not quite inaudibly, Indeed, Dauvid
an We had been i this parish, We might have
said it at your leisure" Another minister, en-
gagged in visiting his flock, knocked at doc
where his modest tap could not be heard 70
the noise of violent quarrel within. Ate
waiting a little he opened the door and walkeC
in, and somewhat pompously inquired, 81 shoulc
like to know who is the head of this house p
"Wcel sir" said the husband, "if ye sit door
a wee, we'll maybe be able to tell We, for we'r
just tryin' to settle that point" Another, ia
from popular and far from brief preacher
being asked, by way of hint, of the intolerabl
length of his sermons, if he did not feel tire
after such long preaching. replied: INA, nj
I'm no tied but, Lord hoo tired the foul
4 whiles are"