On comparing Scotland past with Scotland present, we cannot evade the question, Are “scenes like these”—­devotional domestic scenes like these—­become less frequent than they were?  Do they still hold their place by the cottar’s fireside, or are they becoming only a reminiscence of what was once a national distinction?  Whatever be our religious opinions, or whatever be our views on questions of ecclesiastical polity and church order, no Scotsman who desires the happiness and honour of his country could avoid a deep regret at the very idea of Burns’ “Cottar’s Saturday Night” having become a thing of the past; and yet we must not shrink from inquiry into the true state of the case.  I have asked the opinions of friends both of the Established and the Free Church, who have met my inquiries in a fair and candid spirit, and, from the answers I have received, have come to something like the following conclusion:—­I believe such scenes as Burns’ “Cottar’s Saturday Night” are still to be met with in all their freshness and all their fervour in the dwellings of a good religious peasantry; but in some places the cottar population itself has undergone a great change.  Two causes have combined to produce this effect:—­An extensive system of emigration has thinned the older families of the soil, whilst the practice of bringing in mere labourers has in many districts made the old family domestic firesides less numerous.  Then, alas! alas! we fear cottar MORALITY has not been such as to keep up the practice.  Reports made to both the General Assemblies of 1871 on this question were far from being satisfactory.  Dr. Begg, too, in his striking and able pamphlet on the “Ecclesiastical and Social Evils of Scotland,” refers to “symptoms of a nation’s degeneracy which seem multiplying in Scotland;” also to a “growing amount of heathenism and drunkenness.”

With such representations before us regarding a decline of domestic morality, we cannot expect to see much increase of domestic piety.  Burns, after he had become lowered in moral feelings by those licentious habits and scenes into which he unfortunately fell after he had left his father’s house, was not hypocrite enough to profess the same love and interest for the scenes of his innocent and early days.  The country clergy of Scotland have their many difficulties against which they are to contend; and many obstacles which they have to meet.  But let not the domestic piety of the lowest cottages of the land be lost sight of.  The results of such worship are so blessed upon the inmates, that the practice should everywhere be urged upon their flocks by the clergy, and encouraged by all means in their power; and in that view it would, I think, be desirable to circulate short forms of prayer for family use.  Many such have lately been published; and, whatever difference of opinion may be entertained as to the comparative merits of extempore or liturgical prayer for the public worship of the church, there can be no question that in many instances a form must be very useful, and often essential at the commencement, at least, of cottage worship.  I have known cases where it has been declined on the plea of inability to conduct the service.