The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-10-15
Professor Blackie on "Itinerant Preach.
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rEdfnbtrgh Scotsmdn:l
In proposing the toast OF the clergy at the
INITIAL meeting of the Argy!eshire Society,
held on Tuesday evening, Professor Blackie
said that it seemed to have entered some
minds that the clergy were the authors 81 all
observation-disclosures that no good could be
done in the world until they were sent out OF
the way, and the Liberal newspapers got
every,hihg under their thumb. iCries of
"Uh," and laughter.) The Clergy, he thought.
were really at the bottom OF q groat quantity
Of good, and they deserved the utmost credit
for the work they did, which could not be
overtaken by any other class in the co,nmu-
nifty. 1t seemed to him. however, that the
pres nj was a fitting opportunity for him to
give the clergy q word OF two OF advice.
was the besetting sin Of all sects. and he urged
them to take good advice from old. Blackip:
who loved them all; and whom they, all loved
although he made no pretensions to ortiio-
doxy at Northumberland henceforth to
make 1t their object to perfect one another.
not In harsh wOrGs or hard deeds. but only In
love and good works. Cheers and laughter.)
not 10 go to war with the spirit of the age.
but If any mfn showed q little tendency not
to be quite comfortable Within the folds Of the
jacket made by men some 800 years ago-
(laughter-liking a little more rOom-ltt
them not kick that man out Of their Church,
II he was a pious man and q learned man :
rather let them extend, their boundaries
slightly. CHEERS and laughter.) He told
tncm rs 81 man WHO lONeQ Diui1 spceCu} tltl
the Church. be 1t Established or Free, that
sought to exclude a man of such earnest ,picty
and extraordinary learning as Professor
Smith was simply. cutting its own throat.
(Cheers.) Theh, In the third place, he said
that not only the people Of Scotland, but
much more, the clergy Of Scotland, were suf-
fering from sermons. CHEERS and laughter
1t was simply cruelty to animals to ask the
write tw sermons a Northumberland al
though 1t was natural that those who were
engaged In commercial pursuits should like
TO have their ears tickled and the empty
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS present system was do
ing an immense amount of harm, as any d.
luted trash was used TO fill up n h%alf-hour.
tLaughter.) 1t scented to him that 1t would
be well to establish an order Of preachers,
men who could preach, and send them round
the counties and through the towns, instead
Of making poor men cOncoct sermons, whom
God never made for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
able but natural results OF sending people to
sleep. (Laughter.) The clergy would, he
hoped, take his advice to heart. and endeayour
to act upon 1t. CHEERS and laushter.) THE
Rev. F.. L. Robertson, replying to the toast,
admitted that it would be better for all parties
II there were fewer sermons and more devo-
tional services. The idea of establishing an
order Of perlpatetic parsons wasa good one,
Mt least for those who would receive offices
under 1t. Naughter.) 1t appeared to him
that 1t would be we'll to endeavour TO get lay
men to speak TO them from their p%ulpits-not
the converted convict. or the converted pugil-
list, or the converted sweep, or the converted
butcher, or any Of that rot and nonsense,
since their opinions were not of the smallest
value TO any one except persons of their re.
spectivc classes-but laymen OF culture and
ability. (Cheers.) The effect or this course
would be TO stir the waters OF the clerical
mind, which were apt to become sluggish. and
help ministers to preach sermons OF a practi-
cal nature which would assist men to lead
good useful lives, and be a credit to them
selves and those with whom they were con-
hected. (Cheers.)