The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-10
A Famous scotch Divine.


A Famous scotch Divine.
Few people in this country and not
many In England comprehend the remarkable
disruption, which, about the middle Of this CEN
tury, Glove In twain tho Kirk Of scotland. We
know, Of course, that by the side Of the Estab-
lishment stands tho so-oIled Free Church, an
organization conspicuous for vigor and activity,
comm ndlne resources llt:le inferior. and an
almost equal number OF adherents But how
did II happen that so powerful body was ever
driven to secession. or failed to eject pacific
revolution within the pale Of the old Church
The causes and consequences Of this move
nent were In no small degree bound up with
the life OF one man, and we have found them
fully and uminously set forth in the Memoir Of
Norman Macleod d. DIR. Worthington)-
prepared by his brother the present editor OF
GOOD Words"
Prior to the quarrel in the Established Church
OF Scotland between the "Moderates" and the
"Non-Intrusionists," which eliminated In the
great schism or 1913, the life Of Norman Macleod
was not particularly eventful. The son OF a dis
tinguished minis er (who was at on time chosen
Moderator Of the General Assembly Of the Kirk,
aud became Dean of the Chapel Royal. he was
naturally bred to his fathers profession. The
young mum studied In the Scottish universities,
and afterward spent some time In GERMANY
ret altnouRh MS opportunities were ample, hi3
writings bear no evidence Of what Is techni-
cally called scholarship, nor does he seem
to have possessed profound OF accurate
attainments In any direction. But he had a
large, open, generous nature, and immense
physical vitality. and he exerted the personal
magnetism. which Is one OF It's outward indica-
lions. such stores his mind possessed
were always ready, and his opinions were en-
forced by singular charm OF manner az well as
by those gifts of voice and facial expression
which empower the orator. In short, Macleod
was one of those men VINO cannot write especi-
ally well, but who can talk quite As well as they
write. The result was that within the suhere OF
his personal acquaintance he came In
time to he the most widely known of Scotch
men-he gave the i'm pression OF a far more In
tense and potent individuality than would 9th.
ers who IN silence and retirement might accom-
plish better literary work. Thus endowed with
the capacity and the instinct Of command 10 Is
not strange that his sympathies should early
have been enlisted on the side Of the Est ibIish
ment q he fact Is that. as Dean : tanley used TO
sly, Norman Macleod ought to Ia I'VE been "A
bishop. IL would seem. Mt all events. that he
dld more than any other man to maintain the
Kirk Of scotland in Its traditional relation to the
st tie.
DIR. Macleod settled as mini, er at Lou
doun when the dispute about patronage drew tn
"a head. The noint at issue may be stated in a
sentence. The Moderates held that by the
charter OF the Kirk "A minister presented by the
he'itor or patron could not he rel -c'ed without
reasons given. whereas the Non lutrusinulsts
hirmed that the CONGREGATION might reject a !
presentee without trial and without assigning
any calse. 70. long time Macleod was IN |
willing 10 be IgIed into thi. contrlyersy He !
had much reverence for Chalmers. Welsh. and |
hut he was repealed 10y the violence Of temper.
the unf irness OF Judgment, ana the sniri,nsi
pride displayed by many Of that body. and he
set high value upon the checks imuosed hv
constitutional law. At last, however ma war
came to his own door, aud he was rousen IN ,
public defeuce OF his prlnciules A deputatinn
nad been sent to his parish for The purnose ~
promoting secession, whereupou he addressed
mis- parshioners with such effect as IN scc,ro
their loyalty almost TO "a man. lie next ,vrote
a ainphlet suited for the common people I'm
the form OF dialogue conducted in ntfbv
: otch, and entitled A Crack Aboutthe Kirl,."
Very soon afterNari he found himself placed
IN position Of weighty responsibility. /, had
ooen declared by the puolc organ Of the Nom
lntrusionsts, and the statement WAS nowhere
ontradicted, that It was the intention of tina
parry proposing to secede not TO retire
merely as section of the Chl-ch. but by gain
Ing majority ii the Assembly to declare the
connection between Church aud state al an
end and. moreover. to excon n.unicate those
VINO remained IN the Church AS b, law estab
shed. Now this majority could only be so.
cured by admitting unattached ministers To
vote in the Presbyteries or electoral bodies
rnere is little douot that it was the determined
itu.ude which Dr. Macleod assumed uton this
question coupled with the unwnycrng support
ia ,.tkn lfr.l