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By THOMAS DE QUINCEY, AUTHOR OF
[1844.]
A great revolution has taken place in Scotland. A greater has beenthreatened. Nor is that danger even yet certainly gone by. Upon theaccidents of such events as may arise for the next five years, whetherfitted or not fitted to revive discussions in which many of theNon-seceders went in various degrees along with the Seceders, dependsthe final (and, in a strict sense, the very awful) question, What isto be the fate of the Scottish church? Lord Aberdeen's Act is wellqualified to tranquillize the agitations of that body; and at an earlierstage, if not intercepted by Lord Melbourne, might have prevented themin part. But Lord Aberdeen has no power to stifle a conflagration oncethoroughly kindled. That must depend in a great degree upon thefavorable aspect of events yet in the rear.
Meantime these great disturbances are not understood in England; andchiefly from the differences between the two nations as to the languageof their several churches and law courts. The process of ordinationand induction is totally different under the different ecclesiasticaladministrations of the two kingdoms. And the church courts of Scotlanddo not exist in England. We write, therefore, with an express view tothe better information of England proper. And, with this purpose, weshall lead the discussion through four capital questions:—
I. What is it that has been done by the moving party?
II. How was it done? By what agencies and influence?
III. What were the immediate results of these acts?
IV. What are the remote results yet to be apprehended?
I. First, then, WHAT is it that has been done? Up to the month ofMay in 1834, the fathers and brothers of the 'Kirk' were in harmonyas great as humanity can hope to see. Since May, 1834, the church hasbeen a fierce crater of volcanic agencies, throwing out of her bosomone-third of her children; and these children are no sooner born intotheir earthly atmosphere, than they turn, with unnatural passions, tothe destruction of their brethren. What can be the grounds upon whichan acharnement so deadly has arisen?
It will read to the ears of a stranger almost as an experiment uponhis credulity, if we tell the simple truth. Being incredible, however,it is not the less true; and, being monstrous, it will yet be recordedin history, that the Scottish church has split into mortal feuds upontwo points absolutely without interest to the nation; first, upon ademand for creating clergymen by a new process; secondly, upon a demandfor Papal latitude of jurisdiction. Even the order of succession inthese things is not without meaning. Had the second demand stood first,it would have seemed possible that the two demands might have grownup independently, and so far conscientiously. But, according to therealities of the case, this is not possible; the second demand grewout of the first. The interest of th