The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-08-21
SCOTTISH CLERICAL LIFE,
Some Of the Annoyances to Which Minister
are Subjected in tue "Braw Land"

are Subjected in tue "Braw land"
A not uncommon and pcrhaps little
suspected cause of clerical worry and
annoyance, sometimes even of peril,
lies in the vagarios of people who arc
mentally unsound. Religious mania
is very frequent form of such un-
soundncss, AMI this often leads to tho
clergy being objects of attentions far
more marked than agreeable. Extra
VACANT devotion to, or equally extra
VACANT detestation of, some special
clergyman, is very common. Tho
former once, in our own experience,
gave rise to what, considering all tho
accidental circumstances and sur
roundings, was probably the most
ludicrous sceno ever witnessed IN q
church. In city boasting the pos
session of ono of the finest cathedrals
in England there lived IL spinster lady
somewhat weak in intellect, one whose
state, however, did not render any fur
thcr supervision necessary than tho
constant attendance of trustworthy
companion. The rector of the parish
in which she lived was the object of
her most ardent devotion. 10 her
great despair he resigned his living
and went abroad. Some few years
later, on returning to England, ho
happened to be in the ncignborhood,
and having been intimately acquainted
with many of the chapter, he went ono
afternoon to the cathedral in order to
SEQ some of them. Tho service was
just over, and ho was standing in tho
nave, to which there were ALWAYS
many visitors in the afternoon, waiting
to greet his old friends when they
should have disrobed.
just Mt the moment when choristcrs
and clergy were coming in procession
down the nave, tho poor little woman
entered at the west door. She instant
ly cspied her former rector, and be-
tore her companion could Interfere,
rushed toward him. She was cx-
trcmely small; he very tall man.
Fearing that in her excitement her
greeting would be rather more noisy
than was scemly under tho circum-
stances, he bent down, rs she drew
near, to speak to her in q whisper.
Rash man! In moment she clasped
him around the neck with both arms
and bestowed upon him II painfully
audible apostolic salutation. Tho
magnificent cathedral nave echoed to
strange sounds that afternoon. Not
even the pOrtcntous solemnity of q
cathedral vcrgcr, in the very presence
of the canons in residence, was proof
against the trial; and tho whitc-robed
procession disappeared from the sacred
precincts with a most indccorous ra-
pldity. The victim of this astounding
reception, man possessed of remark.
able power over the muscles of his
face, was the only person in the cathe-
dral who preserved IN unmoved
gravity of department.
A very common form of religious
craze is desire to argue out private
ly with q clergyman some question no
has touched upon in preaching. Wo
once heard a clergyman preach on tho
text: "All scripture is given by in.
spiration of God" and ho CHANGED to
mako some remarks upon tho occa-
sional value of apparently unimport-
ant portions of tho scriptures. For
some time afterward no was sorely
besicged by hearer who wished to
insist on having proved to them tho
r, ~ s0A9o y, CuupIoI ILL.,,
Song Of Solomon, liking Solomon
made himself chariot of the wood of
Lebanon" Fortunately, tho clergy
man in question had only been offici-
ating for a friend. Had lie been vicar
OF tho parish, liable to be buttonholcd
as he walked about tho streets, his
fate would have been pitiablc. Worst
OF all, and often absolutely dangerous
to tho clergy, is the craze of a mission,
either to insist upon or prevent tho
promulgation of some particular doc
trine. Wo remember, somo wears
since, seeing tho vicar of a largo Lon
don parish officiating for several Sum
days under protection of tho police.
Ono of those crazy enthusiasts had
taken it into his head that he was to
prevent some part of tho service being
performed, and had chosen that par
ticular church rs tho field of his opcr-
ations. His threats against tho vicar
were sufficiently vehement as to cause
it to be deemed advisable, pending
measures for some restraint being
placed upon the man. that a police
man in plain clothes should DO on du-
ty in tho chancel during the services.
The possibility that tho church might
become ut any moment tho scene of q
sudden struggle between n stalwart
policeman and IN excited lunatic could
not be held one likely to aid a calm,
devotional spirit on tho part of either
tho vicar or those of tho congregation
who were aware of the circumstances,
Scottish RcvicW.