30 JANUARY 1841, Page 13

THE SCOTCH KIRK HUBBUB.

THE war ecclesiastic in Scotland seems to wax hotter than ever. The more immediate topics of controversy are—the action of da- mages brought by the Reverend Mr. YOUNG, presentee to the parish of Auchterarder, against the Presbytery, for refusing to carry into effect the judgment of the House of Peers in his favour; and the ordination of Mr. EDWARDS to the parish of Marnoch, by the Presbytery of Strathbogie, in conformity with the decree of the Court of Session. In the action of Mr. Young, Lord CUBING.. HAME has disposed of the preliminary defences of the Presbytery in a very elaborate note, in which he expresses a distinct opinion that Mr. YOUNG is entitled to damages equal to the full value of the emoluments of the benefice of Auchterarder, together with such additional sum as a jury shall think fit to award for the injury to his feelings ; the discretionary power of the jury being limited, in his Lordship's opinion, to the fixing of the proper amount of the latter claim. This verdict has elicited rather violent lan- guage from some of the orators at Nonintrusion meetings, with a view apparently to hint to the jury what it ought to do. At Greenock, the Reverend Mr. GUTHRIE said—" This action of damages must go before a jury; and if there was one man on that jury of the same mind with him, neither Lord Kinnoull nor Mr. Young would ever finger one farthing of the money. There must be an unanimous verdict ; and he should like to see twelve Scotchmen, picked out by ballot, who should say Mr. Young was worth two thousand pounds." The settlement at Marnoch is described by a local journal in a strain unrivalled since the publication of the "Deserted Village." The reporter describes in glowing language the beauties the surrounding country would have presented had it not been covered with snow ; and regretted that the same provoking snow prevented a number of Nonintru- sionists from Aberdeen and elsewhere from attending on the occa- sion. His regrets seem to be greater than the facts of the case warranted ; for a goodly number of strangers were present, and the snow furnished them with part of the missiles which they burled at the head of the Moderator when he mounted the pulpit to preach the ordination-sermon. It is evident that the spirit ofJENNY GEDDES is not yet extinct in Scotland: the mantle (or petticoat) of the old dame has dropped upon some of the present generation.

The question, however envenomed the minds of the disput- ants may have become, is and must continue a mere provincial question—in which, too, only the members of one sect are in- terested. It is entirely a quarrel within the Kirk. The lax mem- bers of the Kirk, the Nothingarians, (in all communities a numerous body,) and the Dissenters, look on ; the last-mentioned waiting to see how they can turn the dispute to their own account. The In- trusionists say that their opponents scorn the law ; which is true, although we remember some of those who bring the charge making light enough of the law when it was against themselves. The Non- intrusionists say that the law commands them to violate their consciences ; which perhaps it does, if they cannot leave the Esta- blished Church ; but what prevents their becoming Dissenters ? They may rant as they please, but between quitting the Church and obeying the existing law there is no alternative. The courts of justice have decided that the law is against them ; neither Whigs nor Tories will alter the law so as to meet their views ; and when they appeal to the people, out of Scotland no man can comprehend what they would be at, and in Scotland the bulk of the population tell them, "When the Secession and the Relief found their con- sciences cramped in the Church, they went out of it—the same resource is open to you." The Nonintrusionists would find no difficulty in getting out, but that they want to carry of the sti- pends with them.