25 OCTOBER 1873, Page 3

Mr. Knight, of Dundee, has been badgered out of the

Free Church, by the galling character of the fetters with which it seeks to enforce freedom, — and his congregation appears to be unanimous in following him. At the last stage of the tedious proceedings by which he has been worried, he was, indeed, successful, the majority of the Presbytery having declared him innocent of heresy. Even then, however, the minority appealed from the judgment of the majority, and Mr. Knight felt that a weary and fretting controversy, most injurious to the spiritual quiet both of himself and his Church, still lay before him ; —so, taking counsel with his people, he resigned his place in the Church. We believe he has done right, though we could wish he had vindicated for his views on prayer the right to a place in the Free Church, before personally quitting it. He himself, however, best knew his own powers and needs and those of his flock. Evidently " Free " Churches are not exactly the places in which to worship a God "whose service is perfect freedom." For Mr. Knight has been exceptionally fortunate in vindicating his position, but he finds even triumph too costly to his own peace.