Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-08

"Presbyterianism asreeth as well Win
monarchies as God with the DEVIL said
James !, and Charles II declared tha'
'PreSbyterianism is no religion TOT d
gentleman" The democratic spirit of the
members of that denomination was con
tinually manifesting itself. to the annoy
ance of the authorities. The very essence
of Presbyterianism required that the peo-
pie should choose their own n1lliis'ei .
and the revolution was provoked De
cause they were not allowed to do so ana
refused to accept the choice OF some rich
and Indifferent earl or marquis VINO Nau
a poor relation or favorite to provide Tor.
That is the way the Free Church came
To exist and it is nearly as large as the
Established CHURCH.
What the Wee Church Did.
The Free Church and the United Presby-
terrain Church, which were practically one
and the same thing, were Joined in 1900
with an enthusiastic demonstration But
minority of twenty-four irreconcila bles,
out of a total of LOO in the Free
Church, refused TO concur in the union
and claimed ownership to all the proper
ty-to all the church buildings, parish
houses. schools. missions and everything
Of value that belonged to the Free Church
before the union. This number was IN
creased to thirty-siX, mostly Highlanders
and it was determined and stubborn
little band. They commenced process
in the law courts affirming that they were
the Free Church. and. as such. were
entitled to the property which the other
ministers and laymen OF that denomina-
ton had deliberately abandoned when they
united with another body. ~ long legal
struggle followed. which, to the astOnish-
ment of everybody, was finally decided in
favor of the Wee Church." as the mi
nority were Familiarity known. The de-
cision gave these thirty-siX Highland min
listers everything-millio of dollars
worth of real estate and millions more
In trust funds-whie the LOO other con-
gregatiOns were deprived or the houses
In which they had been worshiping, the
colleges and schools they had built and
the funds and endowments which they
had bestowed upon their beloved church.
House of Lords 1ntervenes.
Finally the question was taken 10 the
house of lords. which appointed COM
mission to take charge OF the property
and try to bring the disputants to an ami
cable understanding. All negotiations for
a friendly settlement proved failure,
and in 1906 the entire property, by act
of parliament. was vested in a board Of
trustees. vino We're empowered to adj
minister the estate If they were re-
ceivers of bankrupt corporation. and to
divide the property among both branches
of the church in the way that seemed just
and in accordance with the intentions of
the original donors.
twas a terrible struggle and has shaken
the faith more than anything else that
has occurred since the reformation.
The great body of the aristocracy in
Scotland belong to the Episcopal Church
The families of the nobility generally are
baptized. married and buried according to
its ritual. 1t is the fashionable church
When Scottish family of the middle
class becomes wealthy. sarcastic people
say. it always gravitates toward Episco-
palianism. particularly If the women of
the household expect to take part in Lon
don society, or desire to be presented at
court; but perhaps that is a SANDER The
creed of Calvin is adhered to most tena-
| ciously by tradesmen. mechanics and the
agricultural classes. The Episcopalians
have large, fine churches in all of the
principal cities. They pay great deal Of
attention TO their form OF worship. and
! make 1t as attractive as possible, and it