THE FIRST CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 2974, 30 August 1872, Page 2

THE FIRST CHURCH.

To the Editor. “ A chiel’s amang you takin’ notes, And faith he’ll prout them.”

Sir, — What a glorious exhibition of strength was exhibited by th« liev. 0. Sutherland’s supporrers on the evening of Tuesday last. The game was first opened by a very good and well put together resolution by one of Mr Sutherland’s opponent*. This matter was shelved until commissioners were appointed by the meeting. Up

starts a big, burly, mi-whiskered, consequential looking man, and with an amount of impudence which I have never before seen, nor ever hope again to see at what is called a congregational meeting, and proposes that Messrs So-and-so are to be tbe commissioners from the congregation before the Presbytery. Three of the few are not even known as members or adherents of the Church. One man, I believe, lias been an adherent for some four weeks ; and even that man had the impudence and presumption to appear before the Presbytery as one of the representatives of the church. Tbe congregation on that evening, or those who called themselves the congregation,, were some twelve men, and double that number of women, who, even to give a mild name, conducted themselves worse than the occupants of tbe gallery of any theatre. The next business was tbe selecting of deacons from the deacon’s co ;rt. The same man inslantly starts up and in a sweet and melodious voice, which his lue companions might have heard in Maciaggan-strcet, proposes that as the deacon’s court did not possess the confidence of the congregation (congregation himself and brother rowdies), that no representatives be chosen from the deacon’s court. An amendment was proposed to the meeting; but (as the roughs were in tbe ascendancy that evening, as tlndr champion said “ we have it all our own way this evening”) it was lost. The same was attempted with the session, but as one of their chosen commissioners said, “ we have no wish to represent ‘ this meeting ’ before the Presbytery, but we will most certainly appear as commissioners from the kirk session.” Then came the glorious resolution which was propos'd at the first of tbe meeting. At this crisis things did not seem to be going so smoothly as “ the congregation ” (twelve men and twenty-four women) desired, when their red, learned, and ferocious champion again gets to his feet. While doing so some one near him said something which seemed to raise his ire He turned round, clenching his small delicate-looking hand at the iudivi’ual who had the hardihood to make the observation, and repeated in that tone of voice peculiar to him, “ D — u you, sir, if I had you in a quiet corner I’d” do so and so, &c., to you. Yea, sir, the English language is very tine when delivered in so clear and forcib'o a manner, ami in such a place ! Well may tiie reverend gentleram and his friends be weary at heart; but it is fur tbe good of tbe Church and indeed for the country at large. It is to be hoped they will lake themselves, as their beloved pastor has done, to a higher sphere, or, as they are among quiet and respectable people, they wid try and keep quiet and conduct themselves in future, —Yours, &c. Policeman X.