Smyrna times., 1877-08-01
A Country Church in Scotland,

|
ister, is now in Scotland, and he thus writes
home to his paper, the New York Observer,
about a visit to a country kirk, or church
| He says:
With the estate goes a pew in the parish
kirk of the Established Church of Scot
land. The gospel is supported in the Es-
tablishment by tax on the landed property
of the parish, and it is therefore matter of
right that each estate should hold a seat in
the kirk. The old church is about three
miles into the country from Broadfield,
and we rode out there in the morning of a
| bright Sabbath in June. 1t was the first
and only Sunday | had spent in a rural
church OF the Establishment in Scotland.
You know, or should know, that the
Established Church in Scotland is tie
Church, as the Established Church in
England is the Church there. The Epis.
copal Church in Scotland is dissenting
Church here, as the Presbyterian Church
over the border in England is dissenting
Church there. The Queen Of England has
her summer retreat in Scotland, and while
here she is a Presbyterian Her chaplains
are OF that persuasion. She worships in
the parish church, and communes with the
people, in a simple, primitive way. The
Queen Is sensible woman. Some Of the
feeble-minded clergy in England arc
shocked by the Queens partaling OF the
Lords Supper in this company, but she is
too much Of Christian to care ANYTHING
about the noise they make, and she docs
what she thinks is right and proper lcav.
ing them to grumble as they will.
The kirk Of Kilmalcolm lit is pro
nounced htkmo-komc) is surrounded by
very ancient cottages built of stone, covered
mostly with plaster they arc but one
story high and very small, some of them
with dates of two or three centuries ago
over the door The people come from the
surrounding country, on foot, five eight,
and even ten miles, men women and
children, the children in arms if too small
to walk, and all n punctual in coming
! that not one enters after service begins.
Within, the house was severely plain.
The pows were of Pine and unpaintcd.
The pulpit was very high almost on a
level with the galleries. What in our
churches would be the central aisle and
one row of pews was taken up with an en-.
closure in which tho communion tables,
with benches, extended the entire length
OF the church. These are not used except
on communion days. All the pews were
filled, each with its family, and it seemed
as if the whole family was present in each
pew, and not mere reprcsentation,-old
and young were there. 1t was rather sur.
prising to hear instrumental music, for we
had supposed it still prohibited. But in
front of the pulpit, and almost under it.
was harmonium, and around it Il choir
OF ten singers, male and female, who stood
and reverently led in the praise The
pastor, young and thoughtful, earnest
man, introduced the service by giving out,
instead of one of the old version Psalms,
human hymn, as they call the modern
lyrics, and the congregation rose and sang.
The singing was fair. Afterwards the
Psalms were used, alternately with the
Hymnal, which is now authorized to be
used in puplic worship. The sermon was
on the Lords Supper, which was to be
celebrated on the next Sabbath. The
preacher gave a very wide and urgent in.
vitation to all who loved the Lord Jesus
Christ, to come to the table.
Sermon being ended,-it was only thirty
minutes long, and read from very closely
written paper,-the ministeg gave notice of
fast day and special religious services in
view OF the approaching communion, in
which he would be assisted by two neigh
boring pastors. lie added that each men,
Der OF the church would receive card, on
leaving the church, on which he would
write his name, and any stranger who
desired to commune would be furnished
with blank card on which they should
write their name and address, and the
name of the Church to which they belong:
these cards would be returned on the
coming Sabbath, and those presenting them
would take their seats at the table imme.
diately on coming into the church.
This plan of requiring the name and
address of each person coming to the
Lords Supper, is a substitute for the token
system formerly in use, when no one could
commune without showing q small medal
or counter called a token, and previously
obtained of the officers of the church.
After the notices had been given, the
minister said; Marriage is intended be.
tween John Stewart, joiner of Port Glas.
gov, and Jane Mars, of Kilmalcolm this
is the third publication of the same" 1t
is still required by the law of the land that
the intention Of marriage shall be published
in the parish church, three times on sue.
cessive Sabbaths. II may be dispensed
with when the parties are married by
magistrate with no religious ceremony, or
when a special license is obtained. In
coming here from the English Lakes, we
crossed the border between England and
Scotland at Gretna Station, hear the Gretna