Scotland/Scots > Reminiscences of a Highland parish

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A HIGHLAND PARISH.
other countries. But when their religious life is
suddenly quickened it is apt to manifest itself for
a time in enthusiasm or fanaticism, for the High¬
lander “ moveth altogether if he move at all.”
The people have all a deep religious feeling, but
that again, unless educated, has been often min¬
gled with superstitions which have come down
from heathen and Roman Catholic times. Of
these superstitions, with some of their peculiar
customs, I may have to speak in another
chapter.
The men of “the ’45” were, as a class, pos¬
sessed of strong sympathies for Romanism or Epis¬
copacy, as the supposed symbols of loyalty. I
mentioned, in a former chapter, how the parish
minister of that time had prayed with his eyes
open and his pistols cocked. But I have been
since reminded of a fact which I had forgotten,
that one of the lairds who had “ followed Prince
Charlie,” and who sat in the gallery opposite the
parson, had threatened to shoot him if he dared
to pray for King George, and, on the occasion re¬
ferred to, had ostentatiously laid a pistol on the
book-board. It was then only that the minister