Glasgow, that solders had to be stationed at the church to prevent the people from injuring themselves in the rush; and subsequently three hundred and forty of the principal citizens invited him to a public dinner. His departure from the city was a triumph. Entering on his duties as professor, he showed his genius by his independent course in his method of teach. ing, and also by making no account of rank when a spirit of turbulence showed itself in the "Quality." Outsiders were attracted by his eloquence, but he gave them a hint, which many preachers might improve upon in reference to their own methods, when he said, it was no part of his duty" to serenade the connoisseurs." His independence was also shown in his standing alone against certain abuses in the disposition of college funds, and he did not feel that he was in genial company because of what he denominated "the high church spirit." Meanwhile his father and a sister died; and following these, his mother departed to the eternal world, the son exhibiting one of the most touching and impressive spectacles of filial affection. He kept records of the days of her closing life, entitled, "Memorabilia of my Mother's Death," at the close of which he wrote, "There is a sacredness in the whole recollection which I want to preserve. I am now in frequent converse with her remains. That countenance that looked so ghastly in dying, has a peace and loveliness in death which is pleasing to look upon. Oh, may the hallowed remembrance of my dear mother guard my heart against every unlawful emotion, and may I bear to the end of my days an habitual regard for the memory of her who terminated her useful and respectable life on a death-bed of piety." He was now in his forty-sixth year. Chalmers now added to his labors the care of a class in Political Economy, and marked out a district near his own dwelling with the object of visiting the families; he invited the children to form a class at his dwelling, on Sunday evenings, and to this class he gave as careful preparations as for his students at the University. He also wrote his treatise on the "Civic Economy of Large Towns," and followed this by other publications. He was offered the Crown-living of St. Cuthbert's, in Edinburgh, but declined it, and this was followed by the ac ceptance of an invitation to the Professorship of Divinity in the Edinburgh university. Here his labors were suc cessful; and in the General Assembly he showed his uniform liberality by proposing the vote of thanks to the Government for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, following this with the support of the Catholic Emancipation-movement. This course he never regretted, yet he seems to have confessed that he had unwarrantable expectations as he afterwards said," it was a historical blunder to expect that gentle treatment could either strip Popery of its natural intolerance, or deaden its desire to rule." He was prompted, so far as education would permit, to be liberal, and speaking on the duty to be so, he employed this striking expression: "I am disposed to think that the breadth of every system of religion, which has Christ for its basis, is one of the best tests by which we may try its genuineness and its truth." In 1830, he made two visits to London, the first to give evidence to Parliament in reference to the Irish Poor Laws, and the second as one of the Edinburgh delegation to congratulate William the Fourth upon his accession to the throne. When in London previous to these visits, he had been the great lion, but now we find him more at leisure to write home a series of exceedingly pleasant letters of description, noticing all the minutiae of customs and usages which would particularly interest the daughters to whom he wrote. After his return he was deeply affected by the very sudden death of the eminent Dr. Andrew Thomson, with whom he had most sympathetically labored, and in portraying whose character he pictured his own. He now published his work on Political Economy; opposed the famous Reform Bill, having been freed from his early republican ideas, for he could "see no good reason why every citizen of a State had a right to be represented in its Legislature ;" and his next labor was in the preparation and publication of his Bridgewater Treatise. He then took a two months' stroll to realize a long cherished wish to ascend and take a view from the summit of all the cathedrals of England, and thirty large folio journal letters to his daughters contain the record of this tour. He is at home and engaged again in many re forms, when he declares that "the dearest object of his earthly existence is the elevation of the common peoplehumanized by Christianity, and raised by the strength of their moral habits to a higher platform of human nature, and by which they may attain and enjoy the rank and consideration due to enlightened and companionable men." "I will resist even to the death, that alienation which goes but to swell the luxury of the higher ranks at the expense of the Christianity of the lower orders." This was at the age of 54. In the address of which this makes a part, he had overwrought his energies, and something like a paralytic stroke affected him on his return home. ward, but it was shaken off with great cheerfulness as though the soul would triumph. This was followed with illness, from which he recovered to labor as heartily as before. He found that only 143 out of a population of 1356, in a district near his residence, had taken seats in any church, and a missionary was obtained for those to whom the gospel must be carried; and then commenced the Church Extension scheme, which sent Chalmers all over Scotland, talking, debating and preaching, till 222 churches were added to the number in the land. Over three hundred thousand pounds were obtained as subscriptions. During this time he preached in London, in behalf of National Endowments; and when the late Duke of Cambridge heard him, he asked, "What does he teach ?" Theology, was the answer; to which the Duke responded, "Monstrous clever man! he could teach anything." He received a doctorate from Oxford, the first Presbyterian who ever received that honor; and the same year, the French Institute elected him a corresponding member. He was looking forward to a season of repose, as his sixtieth year was hastening, and the zeal of the people seemed to be ripe to carry on the schemes of church improvement. But there was no such repose for him, as now began the movement which resulted in the Free Church of Scotland. A church living had been presented to a Mr. Young, when only two out of three hundred parishioners had signed the "call." The 287 resisted his induction, and the Presbytery rejected him, but he carried his claim before the Court of Sessions, and thus the civil courts were set above the ecclesiastical, in things of the Church. The General Assembly protested, but their appeal to the House of Lords and all other measures ended by the decision of the Lord Chancellor and Lord Brougham, who affirmed the decision of the lower court, and that according to the laws of the land, the Presbytery was entitled to examine the presentee in reference to 66 life, literature and manners," but that the assent or dissent of the parishioners had nothing to do with the matter. Hence the whole power of determining who should be the minister of a parish laid with the person who had the "living" in his gift. Thus opened the non-intrusion controversy, which involved the monstrous idea on the part of the State, that, by civil process, a Presbytery might be compelled to induct a presentee into office against the decrees of the Assembly, the wish of the parish, and their own will. The crisis came-450 ministers attended a convocation, and, after six days of deliberation, resolved, that if redress was refused by the legislature, the non-intrusionists would secede from the Church Establishment. Three hundred and thirty-three signed the declaration, and Chalmers exclaimed, "We are more than Gideon's army a most hopeful omen for us." The trial day came; by 241 votes to 76, the House of Commons refused to enquire into the grievances of the remonstrants; and two months afterward, on May 18, 1843, the General Assembly was to meet at St. Andrews' Church, which was thronged from four in the morning. At Holyrood Palace the Lord Commissioner held his levee at noon, and in the throne-room the portrait of William the Third fell to the floor. "There, there goes the Revolution settlement!" cried a voice. The procession moved in great pomp to the High Church. Dr. Welsh, the moderator of the Assembly, preached the sermon. The moderator then entered St. Andrews', and took the chair in presence of a multitude that had waited nine hours, and then, the vast assembly standing, the Lord Commissioner entered. Prayer was offered, and then the moderator `saying, "Fathers and brethren," read the Protest announcing the secession-finished it-laid it upon the table and with drew. Leaping from abstraction, Dr. Chalmers followed him, and then ministers and elders moved out, and cheers burst from the galleries. More than four hundred ministers thus left, with more than an elder for each, and through the streets they wound their way three abreast, till they reached the hall prepared for them. It was a noble sight, and the surprise to many is well evidenced by the act of Lord Jeffrey, who was reading in his room when the news was announced; he flung his book away, and leaping to his feet, exclaimed, “ I'm proud of my country! there's not another country upon earth where such a deed could have been done." To Dr. Chalmers came the task of preparing for the finances of the new movement. Scenes of most touching distress ensued, and it seems almost incredible, that these self-sacrificing people should have been driven to the holding of their worship below high-water mark on the sea-shore. But now was given a proof that men were in earnest about religion-that it was no matter of mere form, but the life of the soul. There was heart in that singing of 3000 voices when the psalm followed the prayer in the new assembly, "O send thy light forth and thy truth; And bring me to thy holy hill As the multitude sang this strain, a prophetic burst of sunlight filled the hall. These seceding ministers gave up a yearly revenue of more than one hundred thousand pounds. The light-hearted look which they wore after the act was performed, was remarked upon by Chalmers, as in singular contrast with their woe-begone look before. We now see Chalmers abroad with the zeal and animation of youth at the age of 63, raising money to support ministers and their families, to build churches and a college, and to open new charities in the hearts of the people. At the end of the first year, with a ministry of 470 members, nearly five hundred churches had been built, and a population of not one-third of Scotland had contributed three hundred thousand pounds. One hundred pounds were afforded to each minister, the first year. Chalmers in arguing his call for aid was witty as well as |