The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-25
<8fGHLAND COMMUNION.
Mr.. A Fraser Eobertson's Acoouns-is
simplicity.

In these days when the adaptation Oh
,rt aud invention to the needs oil OhiiS-
.,,, Worship sometimes robs 1t Of us
.,,,nl,citv and purity. Mr.. ~ Fraser
r,ohcrtson's account OF ~ Hlshidnu
communion' reads like a story OF the
on covcnanterS. II was when udhPi"s
across the moors Of Scotland last summer
on a Sunday morning mat MT. iId@e1
Robertson came upon an impressive
sight. ,.-o,..,
lie was first attracted towards pIo"n
ridge Of moor. purple win hea.i'oI' -.
aar1,. bloom bv The sound OF music
faintlv floating through the air. There.
beneath him, on reaching the summit OF
the hihock, he saw an open-air filshiaho
Communion. on a green plateau. soine-
,,haf beneath the level Of the moor they
had spread the simple feast Nothihg
more absolutely solitary than the spot
cnoscn could wen have been imagined
Save for the white-washcd church, stanu-
in, at the junction OF the croSsroans'
distant about n stones throw, there was
hardly a human dwelling in sight. STOP
ING brown hillocks, forming sort OF
natural ampitheatre, rose from the green
lat On the sides OF these. and clustering
densely about the table was gathered a
3 thousand souls. Some sat on wooden
forms. Here and there appeared camp
stool but for the most part, they simply
s1uatted on the green grass. 1t was a
,icfure dear 10 the Scottish heart, such
as has been preserved TO us in paintings
which vet strive feebly to convey the
original. Just so might our fearless Cow
enanting forefathers have met in fugitive
convertible, two hundred years ago, on
moor and plain-in dens and caves or
the earth-liable at any moment to the
rude interruption Of their prosecutors.
The central feature of the picture was
a long, white covered table, with wooden
forms running down each side. At one
end OF this, placed at right angles 10 H.
stood rough wooden cupboard on which
were placed two pewter cups. and plate
holding the sacred elements. = rude
covered box. open at one side. did duty
as a shelter for the various speakers.
Such we're all the simple preparations.
Round about the table, in a dense semi
circle sat the people. There We're old
and young. hale and feeble. But for the
most part they were old-old women with
black shawls and black bonnets, and neat
white lappets, shading wrinkied. weather
beaten faces and dark earnest eyes; old
men, with barred heads and floating white
hair bent shoulders and uncertain step.
Some Of the frailest had literally TO be
helped to the table, and tottered as they
walked. But 10 them their very feeble
ness was the strongest plea for being
there. The nearer they found them
selves to the end of Ife's appointed
span, the more urgent seemed to them
the call TO the sacrament. Not a few OF
th.sc old bodies had been Jolted in carts
over rough roads for distances or ten
and fifteen miles. One shuddered to think
how the feeble frames must have suffered
had Il been cold or inclement weather.
But the day was mercifully fine, neither
TOO powerful sunshine nor wind. There
wcre patches of brilliInt color made here
and there by tartan plaids and shavls
end colored wrappings, and On every
face was an expression Of profound
reverence.
About iifty sat dow, to the table at a
time Then the elders mo ycd down each
side. collecting the tokens" The minis
ter came cut OF the extemporzed pulpit.
and said a few words I'm Gaelic, placing
tho elements on the table. and these were
passed slowly down from top to bottom.
During the actual Communion, the
minister stood forward, and with uncov-
cred head, addressed the people. He had
abundant gesture, and a sing-song, rath-
er monotoncus voice. but he spoke well
ont. His attitude seemed to me perhaps
denunciatory rather than conciliatory. 1t
may have been that. i'm his opening re-
marks, he was following the ancient
Scottish custom Of fencing the tables"
But looking round on the upturned, ear
nest faces, one was fain to hope that
be was imparung 90 these poor souls
many Of them evidently weary and heavy
ladcn-somcthing of the love of the Cos
pei, rather than of the rigor of the
Law. When the minister had spoken for
about fifteen minutes he gave out the
Psalm. An old precentor. with gray, UNI
covered head. stepped forward and chant
ed the first line. after which the people
took IL up and repeated it. Ii is almost
Impossible 10 convey the effect pro-
duCcd No one who has not heard IL
for himself can hope TO realize 1.-THE in
eNpressble thrill that ran through one
as the wild. plaintivc melody rose and
fell on the air. There was the thin. ra-
thctic quaNer of age dragging behind here
ana there Then a mans deep. mellow
bass. and mingliug With these the clear.
Carolling note OF some young girl. rising
easily on the sim air. Again. a line by
the prcconter alone and again, the united
voice OF the congregation i'm the old Scot
tifh tunes dear To the Scottish heart.
The effect was little short of oycr-power-
ing.-l.xcllange.