Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1891 — Sign of Grace. [ARTICLE]

Sign of Grace.

In 1843 the great mass of Scotchmen left the Established Church, and cast in their lot with the Free Church. Those who remained were called moderates, and were rather despised as lukewarm church members by their more decided brethren. In “Scenes and Stories from the North of Scotland” is an anecdote concerning a new,, minister in the parish of Alness, who resolved that he would act as if all church members were his parishioners, whether they would or Dot. One day he visited a Free Church elder, who was no friend of the moderates. The minister did his best to be affable and conciliatory, but his reception was cold, and, in fact, little more than civil. At length, without any special intention in the act, the minister drew his snuff box from his pocket, and invited the elder to make a trial of its contents. A decided thaw set in immediately. “Oh, ye tak’ snuff, do ye?” said the Free Kirk man, yielding to'a gentle smile. “Oh, ye 3,” said the visitor, somewhat afraid that the admission might lead him into trouble. “I take snuff, but what of that?” “Well,” said the elder, “that’s the first sign o’ grace I’vo seen about ye. ” , “Sign of grace! Why, how do yon make out that snuff-taking is a sign of grace?’ “Nothing easier.” said the elder, with, a knowing twinkle in his eye. “Don't you remember that in the ancient temple, all the snuffers were of pnre gold ? That denotes the best of all qualities.” Youtldts Companion.