The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-09
CHAPTER XI.
Choirs and Christians

In spite OF being Kinks the three
churches dwelled in unity; that Is, for
the most part. To remark that compe-
tition was severe is only TO say that
they were Scotch and Presbyterian. But
the usual truck-and-barter of sporadic
discomfort was ruled out After all, they
were almost equally proud. and With
about equal reason.
The Aud Kirk. the Kirk Of the orig
inal Kirktown stnI northumberland.
indeed. but with its ancient bell tower
erect to witness. in its reverend age. 10
the exact spot where three centuries
ago they had burned the last Of the
KirktOwn witches The Aud Kirk of
Scotland was the mother Of a brood of
children who had set up for themselves.
But still. after all, they We're children 10
be proud OF.
The Kirk OF Forty-three" was known
as the Valley Kirk. just as the Cam
eronian was the Hill Kirk. and that of
the Establishment the ''Kirkyalrd'
Kirk
But the haughtiest sect. the most ans
tere. the particular assembly OF the stall
warts. who had never bowed the knee.
was. Of course, the Cameronian foid-a
Kirk Of the Martyrs indeed. set on the
hill which could not be hid. The very
names Of the three Kirktown ministers
were held to be signihcative. For the
Establishment was pastored by the Rev.
Angus Lamont, who TO a vague, dry.
official theology added something Of Gel
tic fire and true poetic sensibIlty. He
was man who would always be young
boyish at heart, not easily taking Of
Tense. nor meaning TO give it. but with
an unruly evil OF a tongue which fire.
quenty brought him trouble.
John Fowler was the Valley Kirk min
ister. learned man and a fine preacher.
living, perhaps. too much upon the noun
tain-tops of thought. But he educated
his congregation, and added thereto
daily. For his word was with power.
and 10 him duty had become weII-nigh
fetch. Bodily, he was trained fine.
perhaps too fine. For a mind Ike John
foWler's. vivid alert unsatisfed with
anything merely obvious or received
needs solid bodily envelope to support
1t. hard-driven engine ought to have
the support Of extra-solid bearings and
bedplate. For the rest Mr.. Fowler was
dark-eyed. alert. vivid. and sadly sbv
with strangers. and indeed. with ali
whom he felt instiHetively incapable OF
understanding him. Yet, curiously enough
ne was at home with all working folk.
me common people heard him gladly.
however abstruse his subjects OF dis
course, there was always a nail OF fact
or principle TO join them on TO everyday
l. l.
learning Tightly like a flower" and few
who met the rather dreamy and distant
man would have guessed at the swift
keen insight which went directly 10 the
neart OF problem, uprooted faIIacfes
and detected the true gold. grown dim
under the defilements OF street corners
and the mire Of thronging pavements.
Lastly. the Kirk Of the Hill was minis
tered to by the. Rev. BENJAMIN Iron
gray. He was the junior of the three
and bachelor-a man OF strict views
and stricter life. grown a little disheart-
ened from long battering the cold iron
anvil of his people s. belief No. melting
pots for the faith OF the Ironsides, No
refners fire for the seven times repured
gold The congregation on the hin was
''the People, and well II knew IT. And
so. sometimes TO his cost. did their min
lister.
To this congregation Jacob RoTner NOM
inally belonged. defender Of vested
rights, an upholder Of law and order. he
would naturally have been found I'm the
Establishment But something akin to his
own grim nature commended itself 20
Jacob Romer in the austere and undiluted
Calvinism Of the Gospel according to the
Martyrs.
IF man is saved. he is saved. and
there IS no more 20 be said.'" so Mr. Ro-
mer argued in his rare theological moods.
If he is lost-well. II was so arranged in
the Councils of Eternity. Either way, the