The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-06-14
(From the Belfast Witness
The Free Church Assembly.
BY AN IRISH EYE WITNESS.

BY AN IRISH EYE WITNESS.
1t is many years since we first visited
the Free Church Assem- bly,, and wher
we took our seat in the Moderator,
Gallery at the opening services last
week, felt as if | had mistaken my
way, and had been carried into land Of
Strangers. Cunningham was not, Guthrie
was not, Candlish was not, Duncan was
not, Buchanan was not, Bannerman was
not-all, all the old leaders and fathers
gone; and though surrounded by small
circle OF very pleasant friends, who had
encompassed me with their kind and
cultured hospitality, could not for
many an hour shake off the feeling of
sadness which took such hold of me as
we inquiringly looked down upon the
wilderness Of strange faces. 1t was with
feeling of some relief that in response
to the loud announcement" The Mode
rator by the officer of the Court, 1 rose
to greet him on his entrance, as did the
vast assemblage; for it turned our
thoughts into new channel, and set me
thinking what sort of fare would be sup
piled to us from that pulpit around
which there hung the memories of the
great and noble dead. The sermon of
DR.. Laughton, the retiring Moderator,
was fine presentation of gospel truth.
There was no attempt at oratory through
out it all but it was earnest and ele-
waited in tone, and thoroughly Scriptural
IN substance, holding fast by the old
lines, so dear to all true lovers of the
truth. The new Moderator, who was
received with great enthusiasm by the
whole Assembly, is man greatly be-
loved and esteemed That DR.. Mac
donald was one of the bosom friends of
M'Cheyne, invests him, in the eyes of
many, with special interest. Bat apart
from this, there is, I understand, in the
whole ministry of the Free Church, no
more earnest and successful pastor than
the present Moderator, and his great eff
fort Immediately after the Disruption on
behalf of their school fund-an effort
which brought in within a year some
95O,OOO-as well as his valuable writings
for the nourishing and development of
the spiritual life of the Christian family,
have made his name a household word
throughout broad Scotland. Through
out the sittings, DR.. Macdonald always
appeared in Court dress, even to the lace
adornments. The reports and speeches
in connection with the Jewish and For
elgn Missions We're most interesting and
valuable. 1t were well worth while to
cross not only the Irish Sea, but twenty
seas to hear such a speech as was de-
livered by the Rev. P Raiahgopaul, of
Madras, on Monday night. The Daily
ReUlea0, In characterising it, said no more
than the truth when it described it on
Tuesday as can oratorical triumph" 1t
is some thirty years since l first heard
this most eloquent and earnest convert
from heathenism, in DR.. Candlish's
church, preaching to one of the largest
congregations | ever saw assembled in
Edinburgh But though so many years
have passed away, the warmth, the burn
ing ardor, of this most modest but able
missionary have not in the slightest de-
gree abated. He received, as he de-
served, perfect ovation on all sides of
the house. But the great day of the
Assembly was not the day of the report
on religion and morals, nor the day of
the missions but the day of the Discs
Enlistment debate. AS early as SIX
y CIOCh IL W. ldOlGS were 10 De seen III
numbers, focking in to the Assembly
Hall to secure good places. When, at
eleven o'clock, the Moderator took his
seat, the house was crowded to its utmost
limits by an audience surcharged to their
finger nails with the electric fluid; the
younger and the student portion had
possessed themselves of sticks or UNI
brellas to large extent, through which,
and by means Of which, they gave very
audible and forcible expression to their
appreciation of their favorite speakers
Quite close to me there sat specialized
youth possessed Of one of these instru-
ments, the vigor and frequency of
whose strokes, when Dr. Rainy made
point inclined me to the belief that the
individual must have been at the last
Donnybrook fair The speaking on the
Disestablishment question was in some
instances of very high order; in some,
Of very poor and liinpid character
DR.. Rainy spoke an hour, and spoke
well so did DR.. Begg, whose appearance
in the house after his recent illness was
gladly hailed by friend and foe so did
Sir Henry 'Moncrief, Bart, but age is
telling on this venerable divine, and the
more is the pity, for he is a fine speci.
men of the good old ministry Of the best
days Of the Church Of Scotland. DR.
Bruce spoke ably, but not tellingly
II a soon crct ont 81 vol, 49, ,r;I a. 80.