This letter removed the objection that many felt about going to the manse, and the company filled the dining-room. We expected to find Mr. Barrie dejected and downcast, and were surprised to find him not only cheerful, but more demonstrative in his heartiness than usual. How to introduce the matter had puzzled the deputation. This was not needed. Mr. Barrie very fully, but in moderate language, stated the case as between the Free Church, the Government, and the remaining ministers of the Established Church, making it appear very different to me from what Sir John had made it. None of us ever saw him so animated as when he described the meeting of the Assembly from which, after the Protest and Declaration was made, hundreds of ministers walked out for conscience’ sake; the perplexed look of the remaining members of Assembly; the awe-struck, solemn silence of the crowd as the line of reverend and grave men became longer and yet longer; the tumult of joy and sorrow as they crowded into Tanfield Hall; the reception they got from ministers of other denominations and the Christian public. As, however, these are fully described in the chronicles or annals of the times, I will not repeat them here, but would commend the subject to the attention of the student of history, and of the Scotch people, whichever side of the questions in dispute they may favour.
When he had laid the case before us, Mr. Barrie with great earnestness said, “I wish no one to join the Free Church, for”—here he hesitated, and looked as if debating something with himself, then resumed, “for—for—well, excuse me for using the term, for my sake. I wish every man to act only on distinct conviction; and, if I know myself at all, I consider the right of private judgment in such matters such a holy thing, that I will respect those who, on conviction, differ from me on this matter, as much as I will those who go along with me in it. And now, Christian friends, I leave the matter in your hands. Consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.”
FRIENDS IN COUNCIL.
A long, impressive silence followed Mr. Barrie’s remarks. The deputation looked down, then up, then at one another. At length Mr. Taylor said: “Gentlemen, ye’ve heard Mr. Barrie—I can answer for myself—with great satisfaction. I’ve been reading the Merqry” (an Edinburgh newspaper called the Caledonian Mercury) “and the Scotsman on this matter—thanks to Mr. Smith for it. I’ve mair time for readin’ than I once had, and I never was prouder o’ my country than when I read that abune[4] four hunder ministers had courage enough, and faith enough, and principle enough, to leave the Kirk when they saw that her birthricht was wrested frae her by the sec’lar power, and their consciences scandaleez’d by open defiance to the fundamental principles of the Christian economy. I needna tell you, gentlemen, that this leaving o’ the Kirk means loss o’ house and ha’, and way o’ livin’, or stipend as it’s ca’d; an’ nae doubt there’s a sair heart in mony a minister’s breast, when he thinks o’ his family and them that depends on him. And nae wonder, for in that respect it’s a step in the dark,—a’ the eerier that he has his nearest and dearest on his back, and a wrang step might finish them a’.” Here Mr. Barrie winced, and emitted a sudden sound as if cold water had been poured on his back, which led Mr. Taylor to change his graphic style to one of practical application. “But no’ to detain ye, gentlemen, I for one side wi’ the Free Kirk, and will dae all in my power to back Mr. Barrie; and I hope and trust that the world’ll see that Scotland hasna lost the Covenanter’s spirit yet, and will countenance what I may ca’ the martyrs o’ her third Reformation, that have gi’en up sae much for their Maister’s sake, and never let them want a ‘competent portion of the good things of this life.’ ‘Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.’”
[4] Above.
Others expressed themselves to the same effect. The oldest man in the party, George Brown, verging on eighty years of age, a “Nathanael,” after a few words said, “Mr. Barrie, and Christian friends, I propose that we renew the Covenant.” He made the same proposal in one of the early Assemblies, although his weak voice, and the unexpectedness and inexpediency of the motion, prevented its being taken up.
It was resolved, on Mr. Barrie’s suggestion, to call a meeting of the parishioners for Saturday afternoon, so that he might have an opportunity of explaining the “Disruption” fully to all who would meet with him, and to let the meeting be known in the parish, so that there might be a good attendance. Mr. Barrie also said that, as he considered it inexpedient to conduct the Sabbath service in the (he called it for the first time) “old” church, he would on Sabbath preach on the Annie Green, a nice grassy common, with its banks sloping upwards in a fairly-sized semicircle, formed at a bend of the burn.
Before leaving the manse there was a service. The daylight had begun to fade; Mr. Barrie said that on that account we would sing what we all knew so well as not to need books, the 2d Paraphrase. As he read it, his voice faltered, and there was not a dry eye, or a throat without a lump in it, as it was sung. I give it in full below, although it must be familiar to nearly all of my readers, leaving them to judge of its singular applicability to the case:
“O God of Bethel! by whose hand
Thy people still are fed;