RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2135, 10 March 1870, Page 2

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.

J'UliliLvjriUUO To the Editor of the Evening Star

Sir,—The recent decisions of the Presbytery in connection with the Rev. Mr Scrirageour’s case remind one very forcibly of the enactments of the Established Church of Scotland prior to the disruption of 1843. The difference alone lies in this, that whereas in the one case the patron chinned the right of forcing a pastor upon a congregation

nolens rolens, in the other the Presbytery claim a right to wrench from a congregation the man of their choice. The principle is the same, only reversed in the present instance ; and as it involves an important question, it is of importance that all who do value their rights as Christians and citizens would take an inter st in seeking fair play between the contending parties. Everyone knows how fast scandal travels, and how it gathers like the snowball as it goes. Even among Christians self-interest sometimes works powerfully, and defeats good intentions and men’s rights, and has been known to illus- j trate th at unchristian maxim— ‘‘He is down ; keep him down.” I do not say without having reliable authority for it that the current scandal is scandalously exaggerated. It appears to mo and to many, to have grown from very small beginnings, such as the pernicious practice persisted in by the rev. gentleman of smoking a cigar, and having once been seen doing so while passing through the Arcade. Upon another occasion a strong sou’-wester blew off his hat at the corner of the street, and blew down some chimney-cans at different parts of the town. Furthermore, I could if I had time tell you of many other serious things which happened the same day from the wind ; among others, it blew off my own hat at the comer of the Octagon, and I’ll assure you upon my troth, / was not in the state the poet speaks of, neither has my good name suffered the slightest stain, because I had the mortification to keep running after the article for about live minutes, to the laughter of bystanders. J.G.’s recommendation of the Apostle’s advice, that an erring brother should meet forgiveness seventy times seven, in place of favoring the rev. gentleman as it was intended to do, does the very opposite—it takes for granted the thing not proven, and which I cannot credit myself. If a were the rev. gentleman—that is, if I had his known talents and Christian graces —I should throw up mankind if they trod upon me without a cause, and preach the gospel upon my own responsibility, under the smile of such friends as I possessed, none daring to make me afraid. I would not despair of gathering around me supporters from all churches. I should not only cast overboard all restraints of existing but of byegoue Presbyteries and church councils, and preach the pure gospel of Christ, as contained in the authorised English version, taking my stand upon that foundation, and upon no other of man’s creation. As I am, however, somebody else, in no way gifted to inaugurate such an event, I can do no more than give the suggestion. —I am, &c. Abel.