The times., 1897-11-07
XIX.

XIX.
AiUTTERINGS OF STORM
(The narrative of Quintin Mac Clellan re
sumed J
II was Il day Of high summer when thu
anger of mine enemies drew finally 10 Z
head, and that within the parish OF Bal
maghie Tie preshytery were in the habit
of meeting al place u little way from the
center oI the parish called Cullenoch, or
as one would say In English, The Wool
lanes
IL twos and threes they came riding side
by side On their ponies, or appearing singls
out OF some pass among the hills. SO the
presoyUery assembled at Cullenoch, ant
the master OF it, Andrew Cameron, was
there with his orders from willy Carstairs
the pope Of The restored Kirk of Scotland
To this day l can see his aspect as he
-uSe up among the brethren with a greai
RON IL ais hand solemn, portentlous, fun Of
suave easy words and empty, sonOrou
utterances.
Fathers ana brethren he said, ioOkini
on US wth d compfehending pity for ou
feebleness cf capacity, there hath cou'
that from her most noble and Christian
majesty whict it beRooves US TO treat with
all the respecUsius TO one who is at once tn,
Anointed of Cod and as the fountain OF all
authority, IN some sense also tue hea,
of the church. +"
As nc finsibeG he laid upon the table ;
great parchment and tappe d it iupressiycly
with his finger.
1t Is, II ! may be permitted the words
the message lof GOES vice eerant upon
earth, whom his own finger hath designed
TO ruiz over us. And / am Well assar ed
that no one among the brethren OF tie
presby5ery viii be so ill-adyised as not al
once to sign this declaration OF our sub
mission and drtifn{Dbedience to our Liege
Lady iii AL thinks
This ht uttered soundingly, with much
more to the same purpose, standing up ali
tie t;ne and glowering about him for con
tradictton.
Then, though / was the youngest mera
ber Of the presbytery lsave onel, / felt
that FOR the ancient liberty Of the kirk
and for the sake Of tie blood shed On tn.
moors, could not permit 81 great >cand7
to pass. I rose in my place. whilst Cameron
looked steadily AT me, eudeavoring 20 brow
beat me into silence.
Somewhat thus I spoke:
The most learned and reverend brother
brings as a paper to sigma paper which
we have neither seen nor vet heard read
It comes Che tells usl from the church,
head, from Gods yice-gerant 1t is T.
be reeeIvel with hushed breath and bow e
knee. The Head OF the Church!' say:
Mfr. Cameron alb, brethren, the men whC
entered into rest through warning stress
sealed with their blood the testimony that
the Kirl; OF Sod has no head upon earth
The Kirk or Scotland is the Kirk of JeSa'
Christ the alone King and Head Of the
church The Kirk OF Scotland is more
noble, high and honorable in herself thar
any government. She alone is Gods vice
gerant. She alone has power within hel
own borders to rule her own affairs. Tn,
kirk has tIany faults, but at least she viii
not surely lie ruled again by privy council.
and self-.eeking state craft. She is tn,
Bride, the Lambs wife. And for me. auC
for any that may adhere to me. we will
sign no test nor declaration which shaI
put our free necks beneath the yoke o1
any temporal pJwer, nor yet for fear o
this or that queens majesty deny thl
name that is above every name"
Whilst these words were put iilto my
heart and spoken by my voice, | seemed
as it were taken possession OF. A Voice
prompted me what was to speak. Iheard
the sound of rushing wings, and, though l
was but lately herd lad on the hills
of sheep, / knew that the time had conc
which, on the DAYS Of the killing on thu
Bennan top, had seen afar off.
Whist l was speaking Cameron stood
,Ise..,
the document on the table. dark rrown
had been gathering or his brow.
This is treason, black treason 1t is
blank defiance Of the Queen S authority" he
cried. Il VIII not listen To such words. 1t
is the voice Of man who woGld raise the
standard of rebellion and disturb the peace
Of all the Parishes of our Kirk, recently set
tied according to the laws of the land"
Butt had yet a word to say.
Il ara neither rebel nor heretic," said
L Il an, it is true, the youngest and
least among you But / am old enough
to have seen men shot like running deel
for the liberties of the kirk Of Gcd. l have
| heard the whistle of the dea dly bullet
! flying at the command of kings and queens
have seen the martyr fall, and his blood
| reddcn the ooze Of the moss hag We hav,
| heard rauch of tests and papers to SIGN, OF
| allegiances to other divine vice-gerauss
| upon earth even to such Lords Anointe.
as JarlcS ana Charles the father and Uncle
| of her in whose name the privy council o
| Scotland demands this most adjeet sub
mission Bu9 for myself, will sign nc
such undertaking, give countenance to 1t
bond which might deliver as who ha We
| fought for oar ancient Liberties with weap-
ons in our tands, bound hand and foot Il
| the powers temporal and wrest the powers
Of the spiritual arm from the Son of GOO
to deliver hem 10 tie daughter of Jane;
| STUART
And who are yol," said Cameron
thus to teach and instruct men who Were
| ministers when yet Were but BARN to
repro, e these who have wrought in sun an.
| shine, and in gloom and darkness alike
| to make the Kirk OF Scotland what she
| is this day2'
There was a noise of approval among
| the preSbytary. knew that had srnai
sympathy among those present, men fear
| fu Of losing their pleasant livings and fat
| stipeGds Nevertheless. very humtly I
made answer:
1T is not Quintin Mac Clellan. but the
| word he speaks that cannot be gainsaisl
| There is also an old sa ying that out of the