The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-23
For the National Era.-[COpyright secured
THE SHAM ROCK;
RECOLLECTIONS OF IRELAND
BY SLOW JAMIE.
CHAPTER VIII.
ReljujOn-PpSI,Uferi0DS.
april 10, 1859.

OF Prcsbyterians we had three kinds-Pres-
byterians of the Synod Of Ulster, Associate
Presbyterans or Seceders, and Reformed Pres
byterians or Cameronian Covenanters. | have
lately heard an American preacher say that he
did not know the difference among the various
kinds of Presbyterians, and wonder if they
knew themselves. Lest some of my readers
might happen to be as ignorant as the divine,
| will tell the distinction in three words-6lue,
light blue, and deep blue. The ambition of the
Synod of Ulster was, TO have a church which
would embrace all serious well-disposed per-
sons whether they had clearness to embrace
Calvinistic principles or not Their ministers
and elders however, were required to subscribe
the Westminster standards. The aim of the
Seceders was to have pure church, if it should
be small. The Arminan might possibly, in
their view, be good man and a sincere Chris
tan. AS such, they wished him we'll but they
would hold no communion with him. The Re-
formed Presbyterians endeavored to maintain
entire the high principles of the prosecuted
Covenanters, when they were driven by oppres-
Sicu W uiooWh ditOSCtuCt TIC bONtIu-
ment. A man might be good Christian, a
sound Calvinist, and Jealous Presbyterian
yet, if he would swear allegiance to the reign
ing monarch, he could not be admitted to their
communion.
These were all of Scotch origin, and generally
confined to the province of Ulster. The Scotch
immigration to Ireland was principally at three
different periods-during the reign of James l.,
after the conquest of Cromwell, and after the
accession of William III. The ancient Scots
and Irish were originally of the same race. l
believe it is generally admitted that not only
the Scots, but even the Picts, went from Hiber-
MIA to Caledonia. When they returned, how
ever, they were regarded as foreigners rather
than old relatives And no wonder; for they
had mingled with the Anglo Saxon, learned
another language, and taken up with new re-
ligion. Nor was this the worst they had given
a King to England, and England had invaded
and conquered Ireland. Nor was the conduct
of the newcomers well calculated to counteract
any prejudice that the Irish might have imbibed
against him. With the intelligence and power
of higher civilization, they had little of its
morality. The mi king of races often infuses
energy into the body, and imparts yigor to the
mind. Removing from place to place, also
calls out latent talents. Although the Gospel
was producing its happy fruits in both England
and Scotland, the colonists from either quarter
manifested but little of its spirit. The English
were bad, the Scotch far worse. The dregs Of
the fishing population along the coasts, the
emptyings of jails and hordes of untamable
boys who had broken loose from the restraint
of pious parents, formed the mass of the immi-
grant population that overran Ulster. Sober
and orderly families, who removed to the new
country when freed from the surveillance of the
kirk, soon followed the example of their coun-
trymen. They all agreed at least in hectoring
over the feebler Celt. The simple minded ma
tive, who, whatever his faults might be, always
cherished high regard for religion, looked on
the turbulent stranger with establishment and
horror. He saw his naughty bearing, he felt
his tremendous energy, and he heard his loud
mouthed profanity He very naturally arrived
at the conclusion that the Saxon had come
from part of the world where the devil ruled
supreme, and had deliberately made up his
mind, for present enjoyment, to brave hell-ire
in future. He was surprised again, when from
the same land there came ministers of religion,
wearing the same garb, and speaking tue same
strange dialect. He wondered most Of all when
he saw that, surrounded by their fierce audi
tory, they drew tears and groans from many,
and produced change of conduct in few.
Then first he learned, what it was hard for him
to know before, that the Scotchman had some
conscience.
The great success of those early preachers is,
till this day, matter of frequent remark. Our
grandfathers used to talk with enthusiasm about
the great revivals their fathers had seen, and
lamented the lukewarmness of Laodicean age
which could sit unmoved under the most heart
stirring appeals. But they overlooked the fact
that the Gospel was then producing its noise
less but happy effects around them. They for
got that, if men were less interested with preach
ing, it was because they had heard the same
truths so often before, and that, if their con-
science was less alarmed, it was because they
were not guilty of such fragrant sins. For it
cannot be denied that the great success of the
Scotch missionaries among their countrymen
in Ireland was owing to the excuses Of the pro-
fame as we'll as the piety of the religious.
Young men had left their homes in Scotland,
partly to escape disagreable parental restraint.
They had run the exciting round of worldly
pleasure, and found it all unsatisfying. The