Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-09-02
A VERY INTERESTING
LETTER.-BY REV. SHAW
To THE WOOD COUNTY REPORTER.


To THE WOOD COUNTY REPORTER.
Until now it has been impossible to
fulfil my promise to send you some
little account of our travels in the
Old Country. The demands on our
time have been constant. Wherever
we have gone our friends had planned
how to use more time than we could
give. Receptions, garden parties,
sails and drives have kept us moving
and fully occupied. This is the first
time since We arrived that have
been able to get quiet hour to tell
you part of very interesting story.
1 came here to preach for my friend
DR.. Anderson and wish the Congre-
gationalists of Grand Rapids could
have seen the audiences tlast Sunday
both morning and evening, we had
nearly thousand people, a fine in
spring scene it was. 1t was good to
see the children sitting with their
fathers and mothers. A wise arrang-
ment IS to sing a children'S hymn
and speak few minutes to them.
The congregational singing has a
grand uplifting influence. Here they
have choir of forty voices, all train
ed singers. You can imagine the
effect of such a volume Of musical
sound. 1 anticipate next Sundays
services in this church with eager
pleasure. On Monday had delight
full sail up the river Tay to Perth.
The river winds in graceful curves be-
tween the hills, it has been very titly
named the Rhine of Scotland. Here
and there castle is partly hidden
among the trees on the hillside.
There are ruins too of ancient
churches and curious traditions about
them. 1t is said of one, which dates
back to the seventh century, that
when it was building the Devil hap
pened to be on the FifeShire bank, of
the Tay and was SO irritated by this
encroachment on his domain that he
took up gigantic boulder and threw
it across the river intending to de-
molish the building, but the missile
fell short Of its mark and may now be
seen in the bed of the river. We may
easily recognize the element OF truth
in the tradition that a wicked purpose
must fail. The good cannot be de-
stroyed. 1t lives and grows in
strength from age to age.
Scotland is in the midst of a great
ecclesiastical struggle. Fifty years
ago there was union of Presbyterian
and Free churches, now few OF the
Highland churches, about twenty-sev-
en- have made protest against the
departure from the old Confession of
Faith by the Union churches num-
bering HOO. It, was tried by the
Scotch courts and decided in favor of
the United Free church. The twenty
seven churches appealed to the higher
court of the House of Lords with the
result of a favorable decision for
them. The application OF the Judge
ment means that the twenty-seven
churches can claim all the property
belonging to the 100 and can expel
all the ministers from those churches
and drive them out from their MauseS.
This decision has stirred the country
from one end to the other. Meetings
are being held, ministers and people
are asserting their spiritual independ-
ence, declaring their loyalty to the
larger Faith. Their readiness for
whatever sacrifice may be necessary.
The. time for great testing has come
Scotchmen have often suffered in the
cause of liberty. We shall see them
once again rise in the strength OF
their heroism. The result will un-
dOubtedly be a greater freedom of
faith. The bonds OF tradition and
narrow cruel creeds will be broken,
the people will claim liberty to think
and believe what is true to them. 1t
marks the transition from conserv-
ative to progressive Scotland. A
nobler view OF God and man will be
the inspiring faith of this profoundly
religious people. But l must move
quicker with my story or much that
would be interesting to our readers
must be left out. We stepped off our
steamer into a carriage awaiting US
and drove up to quiet home on
the mountain side to have tea with
the mother Of our hostess in Dundee,
lady eighty-seven years Of age and
yet Intellectually bright and vigorous
and not very feeble physically. Only
four years ago she climbed to the top
Of the mountain rising above the house
aad now her wonderful spirit won my
admiration. l counted it an honor to
sit by her side aud listen to her ripe
| wisdom. 1t was good to look into her
sweet and peaceful face, transfgured
by her faith in an Infinite Fathers
love. The blessing of her kindly
heart and generous hospitality made
me glad beyond the power of words te
describe. thought. what possihili.
ties of happiness IN the world it only
people had the sweet and noble piety
of this grand old Scotch woman. The
| hour however has come TO bid heI