SPIRIT OF THE SCOT

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1930, Page 18 (Supplement)

SPIRIT OF THE SCOT

EVIDENCE IN NEW ZEALAND. In th * course of some interesting reminiscences of his experiences while Gov-ernor-General of New Zealand,’ General Sir Charles Fergusson told the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church m Scoi 'and that in every big city there they would find a beautiful St. Andrew’s Church, great congregations, and a great spirit of vitality. But the sj>.‘ It of the Scot was not confined to the big cities of New Zealand. When he visited one little coral island with its lagoon and its palm trees, a small deputation camo cn board his ship and asked if they would dispense with ceremonies because it was Sunday, and their custom was n>t to hold ceremonies on a Sunday. Instead of ceremonies, he and his party said Sir Charles, attended church with practically the whole population of the island. They might have imagined -'.t that service that it was a service at theii own Scottish country kirk. They had the 100th Psalm, the 23rd Psalm, and the 2nd Paraphrase. The sermon, he admitted, was not up to the same standard. He was the preacher. These islands were Christianised by missionaries of their Wesleyan brethien, added Sir Charles, but in those services they saw the Scottish influence. In one little Scottish community in the far north of. New Zealand, they all bore Highland names. In that community of 1000 there were no fewer than 140 Mackays, and 70 of these were plain John Mackay. And the old people there still spoke tho Gaelic,