SCOTLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 13

SCOTLAND.

<FeOM OUB OwH COBSESPOin>ENT.J EDINBURGH, March 5. CHURCH RIOT IN ROSS-SHIRE.

I have had from time to. time to record the bitter feeling, culvinating In open violence, especially in the island of Lewis, 'caused in th» Highlands and Islands by the Union between the Free and United Presbyterian Churches. Time seems to do nothing to allay this feeling, which breaks out every now and again. The other SunCay evening, for example, the U. F. ad!herenta at Urquhart, Ross-shire, who have , had to leave their church, were worshipping - in the school at Kinkell, when some of tho anti-Unionists flung open the doors, smashed ■the windows, and threw stones into the. building, so that it was found impossible to continue the service, which was the first one held in the district by the Unionists. Further violence hag been hinted at, but so far it has not been attempted. It is ' difficult for the non-Celtic mind to under- " stand how zeal for Hie -worship of God can find expression in such cowardly rowdyism. Such acts, however, show how little the mere reKgionkm of the Highlands has to do with what is truly spiritual.