Page:Martha Spreull by Zachary Fleming.pdf/121

Rh tea meeting took place. The grievance grew by being talked aboot, till at last the men folk, wha were members o’ the session, had to enter the field and set the battle in array against each ither. The moderates declared the red-stocking party were interfering wi’ the richts o’ private judgment; while they, in return, quoted St. Paul’s directions to bishops—hoo they should be grave, sober-minded, avoiding onything by which they micht cause their brother to offend. Time oot o’ mind the vestments o’ Protestant ministers had been black, and ony departure frae orthodox forms and principles tended to unsettle the mind, and opened the door to strange and divisive courses. Meantime the Eev. Horace Haveral, wha had heard o’ the dissatisfaction i’ the flock, got into a bonny rage, and denounced the agitators as busy-bodies and impident bigots, wha were mair carefu’ aboot the ootside o’ the cup and platter than aboot the cleanliness o’ the inside. So he had twa or three guid flings at them ower the pulpit, but, as ye may jalouse, this didna tend to improvement. At first these discussions amongst the moderates and the red-stocking party took place at street corners and in public-hooses, but the matter wis noo carried into the Session-hoose itsel’, where they fell to high words, and there wis threatened sic a strong-handed disturbance as wis never before heard of within the four wa’s o’ a kirk.

At last Dr. Drumlie, wha wis confined wi’ a sair attack on his liver, invoked the aid o’ four members o’ the Presbytery, wha for the time laid aside there ain differences to deal wi’ this new element o’ ecclesiastical dispeace. They had an unco job. First, they had a hale week o’ prayer to solemnise the minds o’ the congregation; then they set aboot takin’ evidence, and efter an investigation, lasting the better pairt o’ three weeks, they traced the matter back to Mrs. M‘Nab and the Bible-wumman. The latter wis dismissed withoot mercy.