Cassell's Old and new Edinburgh: its history, its people, and its places . of thePresbyterian Church, mainly promoted by the greatChalmers, to put an end to the connection betweenChurch and State. In 1834 the Church had passeda law of its own, ordaining that thenceforth nopresentee to a parish should be admitted if opposedby the majority of the male communicants—a lawwhich struck at the system of patronage restoredafter the Union—a system involving importantcivil rights. When the Annual Assembly met in St. AndrewsChurch, in May, 1843, is generally understood George Street.] THE DISRUPTION. 145
Cassell's Old and new Edinburgh: its history, its people, and its places . of thePresbyterian Church, mainly promoted by the greatChalmers, to put an end to the connection betweenChurch and State. In 1834 the Church had passeda law of its own, ordaining that thenceforth nopresentee to a parish should be admitted if opposedby the majority of the male communicants—a lawwhich struck at the system of patronage restoredafter the Union—a system involving importantcivil rights. When the Annual Assembly met in St. AndrewsChurch, in May, 1843, is generally understood George Street.] THE DISRUPTION. 145 that a great schism would take place ; but calmonlookers believed that a mere few would relin-quish their comfortable stipends, their pleasantmanses, and present advantages of its moderator, Dr. Welsh, and in presence protest against further procedure, in consequenceof the proceedings affecting the rights of the Churchwhich had been sanctioned by Her MajestysGovernment and by the Legislature. After readinga formal protest, signed by 120 ministers and. ST. ANDREWS CHURCH. of the Queens High Commissioner and a brilliantassemblage of spectators, the Assembly met, whilea vast multitude thronged the broad area of GeorgeStreet, breathlessly awaiting the result, and pre-pared to see the miserable show of eight or tenmen voluntarily sacrificing themselves to what wasthought a fantastic principle. When the time came for making up the roll ofmembers. Dr. Welsh rose, and said that lie must67 seventy-two elders, he left his place, followed firstby Dr. Chalmers and other prominent men, tillthe number amounted to four hundred and seventy,who poured forth along the streets, where generalastonishment, not unmingled with sorrow, admira-tion, and alarm, prevailed. When Lord Jeffrey was told of it, an hour after,he , Thank God for Scotland ! there isnot another country on earth where such a deed 7 46 OLD AND NEW EDINBURGH. [George Street. could be done. On leaving th
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