The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-04-17
CHRISTIAN MANLINESS.


er than do wrong, and will never shrink from
frank apology for an error of judgment or
conduct. An admirable illustration is given
in the autobiography of DR.. Guthrie. When
the church of st. Johns was building for
DR.. Guthrie, in Edinburgh, as Free church,
after the old parochial plan of Scotland, Lord
Medwyn, strong Episcopslian, was much
interested il the PROJECT He persuaded the
managers of a savings bank, with which he
had been long connected, to subscribe about
$4,000 of surplus fund in the bank for
the new church. After it was built, be was
delighted with the success of the enterprise,
and with the good accomplished among the
poor, and became warm friend of Dr.
Guthrie.
But when the conflict arose in the civil
courts between the judges and the leaders Of
the Free Church party, Lord Medwyp, who
was himself judge, took decided stand in
favor of the civil courts. DR.. Guthrie, with
all the enthusiasmsof his nature, enlisted in
defence of the church, and preached in dis
tricts from which ministers were barred out
by the edicts of the judges.
AS the controversy grew more bitter, Lord
Medwyn wrote pungent letter to DR.. Guth-
rie, charging him with deception in regardto
the opinions held when the house was built,
and saying if the real opinions had been
known, the money from the bank would
never have been given. DR.. Guthrie was re-
luctant to offend one who had been SO kind
to his parishionera, but could not rest under
the charge OF deception. He wrote, there
fore, manly but earnest letter, proving that
his sentiments we're wellknown at the time
of his call to the church, and had then pro-
vOked opposition, and adding, "WhoeVer may
have deceived your lordahip, was no party
to the deception" No answer was returned
to the letter, and the next time DR.. Guthrie
lifted his hat in the street to his old friend,
he received the cut direct Twice more the
same treatment was experienced, and then
the patient minister said to himself: "Three
times is fair play. You will get no more hats
from me, my lord
Not long afSer, . rsSpectabie.look;ng wO-
man called ct the study, with an earnest re-
quest for seat in the gallery of the church.
The floor was reserved for the parish, out
siders being allowed only in the gallery. But
the gallery was already crowded, and there
we're hundreds of applicants who could not
be accommodated. DR.. Guthrie, therefore,
was compelled to refuse the woman, but as
che was leaving, with mortified counte.
nance, he asked her name. She replied, 81
am the house-keeper of Lord Medwyn."-
Here was fine opportunity for weak man
to vent spite. But DR.. Guthrie at once
called her back, told her what her master had
done for the church, which fairly entitled her
to seat, and offered her seat in his own
pew till some seat should be vacated in the
gallery.
The next morning his study door opened
suddenly, and Lord Medwyn entered. Before
be could recover from his astoni8hment, Lord
Medwyn said: g" Mr.. Guthrie, before ask
how you are, let me say how sorry am that
l ever wrote that letter. l have heard from
my housekeeper the manner in which you
received her and spoke of me, and have
hastened over here to acknowledge my error,
and tender this apology"
There was true Christian manliness on
both sides. It was manly in DR.. Guthrie to
repeat the recognition in the street second
and third time, after the open insult; and
more manly to do favor gladly to the house.
keeper of the man who had insulted him. 1t
was manly in the nObleman to honor the
magnanimity of bis injured friend, and to
make prompt and frank acknowledgement
of his own error. Our world would be bet
ter place to live 10, aud alterations would be
fewer, if such specimens Of manline8s we're
more common Watchman.