Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 404, June, 1849

NORTH

Ay, the Homily, which, one might say, interprets between Sunday and the Week – fixes the holiness of the Day in precepts, doctrines, reflections, which may be carried home to guide and nourish.

BULLER

Altogether, sir, it seems a meet work of worshippers met in their Christian Land, upon the day of rest and aspiration. The Scottish worship might seem to remember the flame and the sword. The persecuted Iconoclasts of two centuries ago, live in their descendants.

NORTH

But the Ritual of England breathes a divine calm. You think of the People walking through ripening fields on a mild day to their Church door. It is the work of a nation sitting in peace, possessing their land. It is the work of a wealthy nation, that, by dedicating a part of its wealth, consecrates the remainder – that acknowledges the Fountain from which all flows. The prayers are devout, humble, fervent. They are not impassioned. A wonderful temperance and sobriety of discretion; that which, in worldly things, would be called good sense, prevails in them; but you must name it better in things spiritual. The framers evidently bore in mind the continual consciousness of writing for ALL. That is the guiding, tempering, calming spirit that keeps in the Whole one tone – that, and the hallowing, chastening awe which subdues vehemence, even in the asking for the Infinite, by those who have nothing but that which they earnestly ask, and who know that unless they ask infinitely, they ask nothing. In every word, the whole Congregation, the whole Nation prays – not the Individual Minister; the officiating Divine Functionary, not the Man. Nor must it be forgotten that the received Version and the Book of Common Prayer – observe the word Common, expressing exactly what I affirm – are beautiful by the words – that there is no other such English – simple, touching, apt, venerable – hued as the thoughts are – musical – the most English English that is known – of a Hebraic strength and antiquity, yet lucid and gracious as if of and for to-day.

BULLER

I trust that many Presbyterians sympathise with you in these sentiments.

NORTH

Not many – few. Nor do I say I wish they were more.

BULLER

Are you serious, sir?

NORTH

I am. But cannot explain myself now. What are the Three Pillars of the Love of any Church? Innate Religion – Humanity – Imagination. The Scottish worship better satisfies the first Principle – that of England the last; the Roman Catholic still more the last – and are not your Cathedrals Roman Catholic? I think that the Scottish and English, better than the Roman Catholic, satisfy the Middle Principle – Humanity, being truer to the highest requisitions of our Nature, and nourish our faculties better, both of Will and Understanding, into their strength and beauty. Yet what divine-minded Roman Catholics there have been – and are – and will be!

BULLER

Pause for a moment, sir, – here comes Seward.

NORTH

Seward! Is he not with us? Surely he was, all hour or two ago – but I never missed him – your conversation has been so interesting and instructive. Seward! why you are all the world like a drowned rat?

SEWARD

Rat I am none – but a stanch Conservative. Would I had had a Protectionist with me to keep me right on the Navigation Laws.

NORTH

What do you mean? What's the matter?

SEWARD

Why, your description of the Pools in Cladich-Cleugh inspired me with a passion for one of the Naïads.

NORTH

And you have had a ducking!

SEWARD

I have indeed. Plashed souse, head over heels, into one of the prettiest pools, from a slippery ledge some dozen feet above the sleeping beauty – were you both deaf that you did not hear me bawl?

NORTH

I have a faint recollection of hearing something bray, but I suppose I thought it came from the Gipsies' Camp.

BULLER

Are you wet?

SEWARD

Come – come – Buller.

BULLER

Why so dry?

NORTH

Sair drooket.

BULLER

Where's your Tile?

SEWARD

I hate slang.

BULLER

Why, you have lost a shoe – and much delightful conversation.

NORTH

I must say, Seward, that I was hurt by your withdrawing yourself from our Colloquy.

SEWARD

Sir, you were beginning to get so prosy —

BULLER

I insist, Seward, on your making an apology on your knees to our Father for your shocking impiety – I shudder to repeat the word – which you must swallow – P – R – O – S – Y!