The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-11-01
Religion in Canada.

1t is an interesting experience to an
American citizen to go to church in Can
ada. Within the compass of few miles,
In some portions of the Dominion, the
traveller can attend mass in a French
Catholic chapel in the early morning,
the Anglican service at eleven o'clock,
the Scotch kirk in the afternoon, and the
Methodist church in the evening. But
this is not all. He sees each of these
services conducted in its primitive and
uncompromising forces. In the United
States all that we derive from the Old
World becomes quickly modified. There
is something In our air that subdues and
sottens whatever is most peculiar and
characteristic. Thus, party of emf
grants land in New York, clad in the
durable but uncouth costume of their
country and class; but in few DAYS the
honest old. clothes have begun to be dis
carded. Almost unconsciouslv. both
men and women have yielded to the
mortal dread of being peculiar, which is
among the strongest feelings of our ma
ture. Soon they secretly fatter them
selves that no one would take them for
foreigners.
Religion being the chief conservative
influence of the world, is slowest to sub
NIT to the modifying power of the new
land. But the process goes on unceas-
ingly: We can easily perceive that even
the French Catholic of Canada is some
what different from the French Catholic
of New York or Boston.
We have seen in front of the old catbe
dral of Montreal missionary box invi-
ting the contributions of the faithful. On
the outside of the box were wax figures
of hogs devouring priests and monks,
and underneath was a sentence intima-
ting that such was often the fate of de-
voted missionaries to the heather. 1t is
safe to say that in no city of the United
States would such an exhibit be. ven
tured. The interiors of many Catholic
churches of Canada differ in nothing
from those of village churches in the re-
moter provinces of France. The same
kind of votive offerings hang at the
shrines, and there is the same homely di
rectness in the remarks of the cure
which startles the ears Of Protestant
visitors to the departments of southern
France.
The most interesting experience of this
kind is enjoyed in the Scotch Presbyte
rian kinks of New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia. To attend one of these illumi-
mates for us the whole history of Scot
land since the Reformation. 1t is a
chapter of Sir Walter Scott come to life.
We wildly discern the secret of the hold
which the religion of Knox and Calvin
had upon the Convenanters and their
children for we see the kirk service per
formed in very much OF its original am
pltude and heartiness Only one thing
appears to be curtailed, and that is the
sermon, now reduced to a reasonable
length. All the rest appears unchanged
There is the prim, implanted, un-
carpeted, straight backed, utterly un-
attractive, and comfortless interior, in
Guiding the high gallery, the higher
pulpit, the sounding board, the elevated
front seat for the choir, and the great
square pews. There is no Sinking or
compromise anywhere; l, singing, in
which every worshipper joins heartily
standlng.-from the minister in the pull
pit to the little children in the pew
corners; 2, Old Testament reading 8,
prayer, the congregation all standing 4
singing again, every worshipper stand
ing 5, New Testament lesson 6. PRAYER
again; T. singing; g. sermon Q, singing :;
10, prayer; IL, collection u notices
IL, singing Ia, benediction.
The most obvious difference between
this service and that of our churches is
the greater amount of bodily exertion
put forth by the whole congregation.
At every singing and during every
prayer the people all stand. The sing
ing is done with an energetic unanimify
rarely heard in our cushioned and car
peted parlor- churches, wherein, for the
most part, the congregation sits passive
in luxurious ease, from beginning to end
This Scotch service is celebrating in
a high degree. 1t has CERTAIN sub
dued, festive character, which no written
description would lead person to an
ticipate. After attending such service
1T is easy to understand the proverbial
Sunday appetite Of the Scotch people, for
body and soul are conformity exercised
in the services of the old kirk Youths
Companion.
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