Innovations
Following on from my commendation in the last posting on the Ten
Commandments, I read this amusing anecdote concerning the Rev William B Robertson, (1820 – 1886), who
was minister of the United Presbyterian Congregation in Irvine, (1843 – 1886):
“During his whole
ministry Dr. Robertson took a warm interest in the devout expression of the public
worship of the Presbyterian Church. He had no sympathy with the idea of
ministers being required to follow a prescribed liturg ; but, on the other hand,
he was often pained by the slovenly manner in which the various parts of public
worship were conducted. From time to time he introduced minor changes into the
forms of the service in his
own church, as he found that the people became willing to acquiesce in them. A
lady who was connected with another congregation in Irvine said to him one day
: " I hear that you are introducing some dreadful innovations into your
church service." "Indeed," he replied ; "what innovations?"
"Oh," she said, "I am told that you read the Ten Commandments at
the communion table." "Is that all you have heard of? " he
rejoined ; " We have introduced a far greater innovation than that." "What
is it ? " asked the good lady somewhat anxiously. "We try to keep
them," was his reply.”
“Scottish Clerical Stories and Reminiscences” by Jerdan,
Charles, Edinburgh 1920
No comments:
Post a Comment