Scotland -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
On Sundays the feeling between the different denominations ran high, and
the middling good folk who did not go to church counted those who did.
In the Established Church there was a sparse gathering, who waited
in vain for the minister. After a time it got abroad that a flag of
distress was flying from the manse, and then they saw that the minister
was storm-stayed. An office-bearer offered to conduct service; but the
others present thought they had done their duty and went home. The U.P.
bell did not ring at all, and the kirk-gates were not opened. The Free
Kirk did bravely, however. The attendance in the forenoon amounted to
seven, including the minister; but in the afternoon there was a turn-out
of upward of fifty. How much denominational competition had to do with
this, none can say; but the general opinion was that this muster to
afternoon service was a piece of vainglory. Next Sunday all the kirks
were on their mettle, and, though the snow was drifting the whole day,
services were general. It was felt that after the action of the Free
Kirk the Established and the U.P.'s must show what they too were capable
of. So, when, the bells rang-at eleven o'clock and two, church-goers
began to pour out of every close. If I remember aright, the victory
lay with, the U.P.'s by two women and a boy. Of course the Auld Lichts
mustered in as great force as ever. The other kirks never dreamed of
competing with them. What was regarded as a judgment on the Free Kirk
for its boastfulness of spirit on the preceding Sunday happened during
the forenoon. While the service was taking place a huge clod of snow
slipped from the roof and fell right against the church door. It was
some time before the prisoners could make up their minds to leave by the
windows. What the Auld Lichts would have done in a similar predicament I
cannot even conjecture.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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