Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-30

never do anything they would be ashamed
Of. He mentioned Wallace Bruce. Crom-
well, Wellington and Havelock as ideal
types of soldiers, and explained that the
responsibility Of defending the flag and
promoting the peace and prosperity OF the
British empire was shared by the hum
blest man In the ranks. II was a practi-
cal sermon, and every man who heard
1t must have been improved thereby, but
do not think either John Knox. Thomas
of those old hard-headed Canvinists
would have considered II quite the thing.
Things Have Changed.
/ am sure If Mary Queen OF Scots
could have heard the offertory played by
the band she would have smiled derisively
at John Knox. her theological tormentor.
who was always admonishing her to put
away worldly thoughts and carna de-
sires. and, too. because they took up the
collection in that holy sanctuary to the
music of the love song from the opera
Of Samson and Delilah," those soft and
sensu6us strains with which the beautiful
Philist!ne woman in Saint-Saens' opera
sang to beguile the giant while she
clipped his hair. And IL Jenny Geddes
had been there and known that fact she
would have flung her stool at the band
master.
Everybody fingered awhile after the
form by companies and march away. A
crowd of American women gathered
around a stray Highlander who hap
pened to be out of ranks. inspecting him
curfously. as if he were wild animal
and asking questions about his uniform
and accouterments. l heard an animated
argument between a Yankee tourist and
white-bearded. brogued native as To
whether Onward, Christian Soldiers, is
an American or a Scottish hymn.
Prayed for Us and Our President.
But of all the service what pleased me
most was the earnest and eloquent man
ner with which the chaplain prayed for
the health. peace and prosperity of the
President and the people OF the United
States. and wilt Thou, o Lord, bestow
upon them Thy richest blessings" And
this was not unusual. In more than half
the churches Presbyterian of Scotland the
ministers pray for us and our President
after they have prayed for the king and
queen and the royal family OF Great
Britain. This custom, they tell me, has
been general since the beginning of the
prevailed before that date. There Is no
requirement. The subject has never been
discussed by the general assembly and
there is no reference to the United States
in the Presbyterian prayer book. It is
optional with Individual clergymen. but i'm
all the several branches OF the Presby-
terrain Church. especially In the cities, the
ministers interpollate a few words for
us after the prayer for the king.
When L asked Rev. DR.. .Aacgregor about
the custom he looked up In surprise and
said:
why. aren't We the same? Don't Wa
come OF the same stock and don't We
agree that blood is thicker han water?
Why shouldn't brothers or cousins, IL you
please. pray for one another, and IL
praying would unite the two nations there
would be plenty of il DONE"
Everywhere We have attended church in
Scotland the people and President of ther
United States have been remembered
Old Glory in Edinburgh.
There are good many United States
flags floating in Edinburgh. 1 counted
eight as 1 was walking up Princes street
one afternoon. am afraid a mercenary
motive was behind many of them. be-
cause they were over hotels and DEPART
ment stores much patronized by tourists.
Inc service of the Established Church
OF Scotland is very much like that OF the
church of England: the prayers are SINH
lar and some are precisely the same. The
choir intones the Lords Prayer and the
Creed the "'amens" and other
responses. The officiating clergy men wear
the same gowns without surplices but
with their academic hoods. and they are
conducted from the vestry TO the pulpit
by sacristan carrying a cross. In the
Cathedral of Glasgow the ushers wore
dress suits. low-cut vests and white ties.