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Show His Conversion a Sensation in Scotland. The announcement -that Rev. John Charleson has left the Church of Scotland Scot-land and resigned the pastorate of the Thornliebank parish church. Paisley, in order ' to become a Catholic, has caused quite a sensation in Scotland. The reverend gentleman addressed his congregation for the last time on a recent Sunday, when there was a large attendance. It was, he said, his duty to say the most painful word that could ever fall to his lot to say to them, his people, who were dearer 'to him than life it-selfthe it-selfthe word farewell. After long and deliberate study and prayer and struggle, a vision of God had come to him, and he could not but obey the heavenly call. Perhaps he did not do wrong in confessing how hard had been the conflict of his soul before he could resolve . to leave that church which had been built and raised, as it were, out of his very heart's life; but that was a smaller matter compared with the saying of farewell to those who had lovingly and devoutly assisted ! mm ana joined w ith him in that house In worshiping the Eternal Father. How-dear How-dear and helpful and comforting they had all been to each other, or rather they had been to him, especially during dur-ing the last few years, words could not express. That pulpit was not a proper place for his expressing the reasons for his withdrawal from the church, and no doubt they would have an opportunity op-portunity of learning them later on. His prayers would never cease to be offered up for them that they might be led in the way of truth. After his statement, Mr. Charleson completely broke down, and many of the ladies in the congregation were moved to tears. The benediction was solemnly pronounced, and for a min ute or two afterwards Mr. Charleson stood facing the altar, engaged in earnest ear-nest prayer. The congregation retained their seats until he had entered the vestry and the silence was most impressive. im-pressive. The editor of the Glasgow Evening News was greatly disturbed over tho conversion, and does his best to discount dis-count its importance. He says: "Mr Charleson is not the first Presbyterian minister who has gone over to Rome not as 'pervert,' as he may declare, but as a 'revert.' It is unlikely that any of his congregation, hysterical and tearful tear-ful ladies or tearless men, will follow him. They may weep in secrecy or their hearts, but they will let him go, in the hope that they may find in his successor a thinker and preacher free from religious relig-ious hirsteria and sacerdotal theatricality. theatri-cality. Nor is it at all probable that the Presbyterian Zion will be shaken through the departure of one who, after all, goes to seek peace as a Christian in another Christian fold." Mr. Charleson was appointed to the charge of Thorliebank eleven years i ago. |