Into Edinburgh's St. Giles's Cathedral, cradle of Presbyterianism, marched some 1,500 leaders of the Church of Scotland last week. The occasion: the service preceding the annual installation of the Church's new Moderator.
Present were the King's Lord High Commissioner, the Duke of Montrose, in his Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve commodore's uniform; William Y. Darling, Edinburgh's Lord Provost, many a purple and ermine-trimmed civic and legal dignitary. Present also were about a dozen living ex-Moderators in their traditional black dress coats, white lace ruffled shirt fronts and cuffs, black knee breeches, black shoes with silver buckles.
The walls of the historic fane had witnessed more than four centuries of Scottish Church history. It was in St. Giles's that austere, turbulent, dissenting John Knox had thundered against the papacy; in the street outside he had distributed his thunderous treatise: "The Monstrous Regiment of Women," directed against Mary of Scotland and Elizabeth of England.
Reminiscent of the Scots' battle against English Episcopacy was the tablet on the wall commemorating Jenny Geddes. In 1637 Jenny (so the story goes) struck a stout blow for Presbyterian independence when the Dean commenced reading the collect from Archbishop Laud's high-church Prayer Book. "Fause loon!" she cried. "Daur ye say mass in my lug! (ear)," and chucked a stool at the Dean.
The King's Man. The service over, the Duke, civic dignitaries, ministers and elders went in formal procession from the Cathedral to the Church's Assembly Hall near by.
In the square, bare building the new Moderator was installed in his high office. The bullpit and the galleries were packed (the few women who attended were segregated in a part of the gallery). In a fenced-in square the ex-Moderators sat with their backs to the audience. Above them on a throne sat the Duke. Although representing the King (who is a Presbyterian in Scotland, an Anglican elsewhere in the Empire), his duties were purely decorative. For nothing in this world or the next would the Scots permit State interference in religious matters.
"Indefatigable As He Is Wise." Loud and clear rang the metrical psalms and hymns. Many were the ceremonial bowings between the retiring Moderator, Dr. C. W. G. Taylor, the Duke, the people in the hall. Cried Dr. Taylor, after reporting on his year's moderatorship (mostly visits to presbyteries, wartime camps, munitions factories): "I have the honor to submit to you . . . John Baillie . . . indefatigable as he is wise." Then he called for Baillie's election by the time-honored formula, "It is your will." The assembled Scots gave assent by vigorous handclaps.
Out went a clerk to fetch Dr. Baillie. Down from his chair came Dr. Taylor, clasped his successor's hand, placed on his finger the ring of his new office. Then the new Moderator took his seat of authority.*
The Duke, speaking in his best quarterdeck manner, read a brief message from the King, paid his own tribute to the new Moderator. After Baillie's polite response, the new Moderator turned to the people, gave them a triple bow, later shook hands with Presbyterian representatives from other lands, including four U.S. chaplains.