Theological Essays and Other Papers, vol 2 | Page 4

the claim to a spiritual jurisdiction, in
collision with the claims of the state, would not probably have offered
itself to the ambition of the agitators, otherwise than as a measure
ancillary to their earlier pretension of appointing virtually all parish

clergymen. The one claim was found to be the integration or sine qua
non complement of the other. In order to sustain the power of
appointment in their own courts, it was necessary that they should
defeat the patron's power; and, in order to defeat the patron's power,
ranging itself (as sooner or later it would) under the law of the land, it
was necessary that they should decline that struggle, by attempting to
take the question out of all secular jurisdictions whatever.
In this way grew up that twofold revolution which has been convulsing
the Scottish church since 1834; first, the audacious attempt to disturb
the settled mode of appointing the parish clergy, through a silent
robbery perpetrated on the crown and great landed aristocracy;
secondly, and in prosecution of that primary purpose, the far more
frantic attempt to renew in a practical shape the old disputes so often
agitating the forum of Christendom, as to the bounds of civil and
spiritual power.
In our rehearsal of the stages through which the process of induction
ordinarily travels, we have purposely omitted one possible interlude or
parenthesis in the series; not as wishing to conceal it, but for the very
opposite reason. It is right to withdraw from a representative account of
any transaction such varieties of the routine as occur but seldom: in this
way they are more pointedly exposed. Now, having made that
explanation, we go on to inform the Southern reader--that an old
traditionary usage has prevailed in Scotland, but not systematically or
uniformly, of sending to the presentee, through the presbytery, what is
designated a 'call,' subscribed by members of the parish congregation.
This call is simply an invitation to the office of their pastor. It arose in
the disorders of the seventeenth century; but in practice it is generally
admitted to have sunk into a mere formality throughout the eighteenth
century; and the very position which it holds in the succession of steps,
not usually coming forward until after the presentation has been
notified (supposing that it comes forward at all), compels us to regard it
in that light. Apparently it bears the same relation to the patron's act as
the Address of the two Houses to the Speech from the Throne: it is
rather a courteous echo to the personal compliment involved in the
presentation, than capable of being regarded as any original act of
invitation. And yet, in defiance of that notorious fact, some people go
so far as to assert, that a call is not good unless where it is subscribed

by a clear majority of the congregation. This is amusing. We have
already explained that, except as a liberal courtesy, the very idea of a
call destined to be inoperative, is and must be moonshine. Yet between
two moonshines, some people, it seems, can tell which is the denser.
We have all heard of Barmecide banquets, where, out of tureens filled
to the brim with--nothings the fortunate guest was helped to vast
messes of--air. For a hungry guest to take this tantalization in good part,
was the sure way to win the esteem of the noble Barmecide. But the
Barmecide himself would hardly approve of a duel turning upon a
comparison between two of his tureens, question being--which had
been the fuller, or of two nihilities which had been seasoned the more
judiciously. Yet this in effect is the reasoning of those who say that a
call, signed by fifty-one persons out of a hundred, is more valid than
another signed only by twenty-six, or by nobody; it being in the mean
time fully understood that neither is valid in the least possible degree.
But if the 'call,' was a Barmecide call, there was another act open to the
congregation which was not so.
For the English reader must now understand, that over and above the
passive and less invidious mode of discountenancing or forbearing to
countenance a presentee, by withdrawing from the direct 'call' upon
him, usage has sanctioned another and stronger sort of protest; one
which takes the shape of distinct and clamorous objections. We are
speaking of the routine in this place, according to the course which it
did travel or could travel under that law and that practice which
furnished the pleas for complaint. Now, it was upon these 'objections,'
as may well be supposed, that the main battle arose. Simply to want the
'call,' being a mere zero, could not much lay hold upon public feeling.
It was a case not fitted for effect. You cannot bring