Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

20 Introduction^
pavement, or the clapping of hands. So lately as the
commencement of the present century, the Reverend
Sir Henry Moncreiff, Bart., an eminent evangelical
clergyman at Edinburgh, walked from the vestry through
the church covered, only removing his hat when he
reached the pulpit. In rural parishes the peasantry
still enter the church covered. Neither minister nor
people engage in private prayer at the commencement
or close of the service. When the benediction is pro-
nounced, all rush from the building with alacrity, and
often with confusion.
The Presbyterian clergy conducted divine worship
long after the Reformation without any "regard to ex-
ternal reverence. Country ministers wore in the pulpit
" hodden grey." When the weather was cold, they en-
closed themselves in plaids and cloaks. The latter prac-
tice was disallowed by Act of Assembly in 1575. By
the same Act the clergy and their wives were enjoined to
wear grave and becoming apparel, and were prohibited
" all kind of light and variant hues in clothing, as red,
blue, yellow, and such like," also " silk hats, and hats of
divers and light colours," and " the wearing of rings,
bracelets, buttons of silver, gold, and other metal."
After his accession to the English throne, James VI.
was struck by the superior costumes of the English
clergy, and sought to impress on Scottish pastors the
propriety of adopting a more becoming attire while dis-
charging their public duties. At his royal request, the
Estates of Parliament passed a decree providing that
"everie preacheour of Goddis Word sail hereafter wear
black, grave, and comelie apparel ; " and the king was
further authorized to prescribe the precise style and
character of the pulpit robe. The General Assembly