A GREAT REFORMER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8304, 24 November 1915, Page 7

A GREAT REFORMER.

ANNIVERSARY OF JOHN KNOX'S

DEATH.

I John, Knox, the great Scottish reI former, was a native of Haddington, jand there ho received the rudinieius of h&- education, later going to. Glasgow, where ho obtained a liberal training in letters. He was ordained a priest, and I was appointed one of Edward Vl.'s ■ chaplains, aaid was" consulted on the .composition of Cranmer's Forty-Five i Articles. On the accession of Mary, he I retired to France> and on tho Continent ho published many controversial tracts and pamphlets, including the "Blast, of tho Trumpet Against ti Monstrous' -Regiment of Women," which gave great offence to Queen ' Elizabeth, and .effectually prevented iher- from showing any favour to tho' fiery divine. liv 1559^ being .then- in his '54th year,, 'Knox' ; returned- to Scotland, 1 aijd was shbr-tlj/ afterwards' chosen minister of Edinburgh. He took a ; large share in- the- proceedings of the Protestant leaders henceforth, and was mainly instrumental in drawing up the " Confession of Faith," accepted by Parliament in 1560. On the arrival of Mary Queen of Scots, the air x becanic electrical, aaid as the leader of the mostinfluential party, Knox and the Queen had many conferences, but with no result. The fearful length and the offensive personalities of the sermons the young Queen and her husband were obliged to listen to, could not ingratiate him into her .favour. One of his sermons gave such offence to the royal couple that he was called before the Council, and inhibited .from preaching. His participation in the affairs of that turbulent time often obliged him to floe for safety to other towns, and .the latter part of his life was spent in retirement, except for occasional reappearances at St. Giles's at the request of his congregation. Knox was the greate,st figure in the religious reformation of Scotla-nd; as a preacher he is chiefly remembered for his thunderous eloquence, which, however.,, wa.s mixed, with a . good ' deal .of .native humour and literary style. He died on November 24, 1572.