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referring shortly to the proceedings of the deputation at Oxford and other places, mentioned that he had that day been accosted on the street by a lady and gentleman from England, whom he did not know, but who addressed him by name, as having seen him at one of the English meetings. They had visited Edinburgh with the view of being present at the General Assembly, and were this day disappointed when they came down and found the doors closed; but they had resolved that tomorrow they would be present to hear the spirit-stirring address of Dr Chalmers. (Hear, hear.)

Dr PATTERSON then produced his motion in the following terms:-" The Assembly approve of the report,-express their deep sense of the cordial and substantial sympathy manifested towards this Church by individuals and congregations of evangelical Churches of various denominations in England,-their gratitude to the ministers, elders, and other gentlemen who have given their personal services in carrying out the object of this committee; and especially, their thanks to Mr Tweedie, the convener, for his zealous and efficient efforts; and re-appoint the committee, with authority to make arrangements for visiting those districts of England which have not yet been overtaken by any of the deputations. And the General Assembly having received the report of the committee appointed to obtain supplies for congregations connected with the Free Church in England, the Assembly approve of the report, and re-appoint the committee on deputations to adopt such measures as shall suit the vacant congregations in England connected with this Church, in securing the administration of Word and ordinances, and the settlement of stated pastors among them."

Dr CANDLISH said,-I cannot allow the resolution to be carried without taking the opportunity of expressing, along with my brethren who have preceded me, the very lively sense I entertain of the kindness and cordiality with which we have been received by the evangelical churches in England. It is not my purpose, after what has been said, to detain the Assembly; but I cannot help expressing a conviction which is deeply impressed upon my mind, that while on the one hand we owe a deep debt of gratitude to our brethren in England for the sympathy with which they listened to the tale we had to tell concerning the hardships and sufferings of our poor people in Scotland, we owe them also a debt of gratitude, and still more to the Head of the Church, for having made us acquainted with the great amount of worth and excellence, and Christian love existing amongst the evangelical Churches there. It has been one of the misfortunes of our position hitherto,-I mean before our recent separation from the Establishment,-that in these our circumstances we were far too much thrown into the situation of an isolated branch of the Church of Christ. This was partly our fault, and partly, perhaps, the consequence of our position. But it is matter of thankfulness, that since our separation from the Establishment, and it may be by means of it, God has been bringing us into a position in which we have been led into habits of closer intimacy and friendship with all the branches of Christ's Church. This, we cannot help thinking, is one of the lessons which we have yet more fully to learn from the great event that has taken place, namely, that there is more of Christian worth and excellence in other branches of Christ's Church than before, perhaps, we were prepared to expect; and besides, I cannot but hope that this mutual intercourse will be the means of great good being both communicated and received. We have heard on the one hand, how Christian Churches in other lands have been impressed by our testimony and example; and, on the other hand, I cannot but think we have yet not a little to learn from our acquaintance with them, from the sympathy they have manifested with us, and the admonitions and reproof which they have addressed to us. For, Sir, let us never forget, that while we have been directed and enabled by the providence of God to take a step which has drawn upon us the eyes of all Christendom, we have but too many faults and blemishes, both in character and in conduct, to permit us at all to dwell with any measure of complacency on what God has enabled us to do. Let us rather cherish a feeling of humility; and in our intercourse with other Christian Churches, let us consider what we may learn from them in reference to the affairs of our own Church. In every country, Christianity may be said to have a peculiar character and phase; and while,

perhaps, in Scotland, Christianity has worn often an aspect of sternness, and severity, and honesty of purpose, faithful even to the death; when in England, we cannot but have been struck with this circumstance, that evangelical Christianity does wear something more of an aspect of freshness and out-spoken frankness than perhaps is to be met with in the colder climate of Scotland. In this particular, then, we have something to learn; and let us hope that, by our intercourse with these evangelical Churches in England which hold the Head, we may at last be led to see eye to eye on those points on which we have seemed most hopelessly to differ. It has often struck me that one object which Providence bas had in view in the late disruption, has been to set up this Church as a common centre of attraction to other branches of the Church of Christ long separated from us, by drawing them by the bonds of Christian sympathy nearer to us, and uniting the one to the other. When one Church is honoured to suffer for His sake, it naturally draws towards it the sympathies of other branches of the same great community; and let us not forget that, in proportion as we are honoured to suffer for his cause, and in proportion as other Churches are drawn towards us by their sympathy with our sufferings,-in proportion as we are thus drawn nearer to one another, will we be drawn nearer to the great Head of all. There is one branch of the evangelical Church in England and Wales which I would particularly notice. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Congregationalists and the Wesleyan Methodists in England; and I have also had the pleasure of meeting, on more than one platform, with evangelical ministers of the Church of England. But I wish now to refer more particularly to the Calvinistic Methodists of Wales. It will be in the remembrance of the Assembly that they sent a deputation to the Assembly that met at Glasgow, and that that deputation refreshed our hearts with tidings of the work of God carrying on in that country. No deputation in return was appointed by that Assembly; but I am glad to learn that it will be convenient for one of our number to visit Wales about the time of the annual meeting of Conference, or the General Association of Calvinistic Methodists, which meets at Bala in the beginning of June. I understand that our excellent brother, Mr Arnot of Glasgow, will find it convenient to visit Wales at that time; and I would propose that Mr Arnot be authorised to represent this Church, as a deputation from the Assembly, at the meeting of the General Association of Calvinistic Methodists at Bala.

The proposal of Dr Candlish was then agreed to, and Mr Arnot was appointed to visit the Calvinistic Methodists in Wales at their Meeting at Bala.

The Assembly then adjourned shortly before twelve o'clock.

THURSDAY, MAY 23.

Assembly meets-Letter from Mr Buchan of Kelloe-Petition against the Irish Marriage Bill-Call to Rev. Mr M'Leod to Kenmore withdrawn-Call to Mr Thorburn of Forglen to Inverness sustained-Report of Colonial Committee, and Speeches thereon, by Dr Candlish, Dr Henderson, Dr Cunningham, A. E. Monteith, Esq., and the Moderator-Financial Report, and Speeches of Dr Cunning、 ham, A. Campbell, Esq. of Monzie, Dr Candlish.

After the usual exercises,

The Assembly met this day at one o'clock.
Mr CAMPBELL of Monzie read the following letter from

MR BUCHAN OF KELLOE.

"Kelloe, Ayton, 18th May 1844. "MY DEAR CAMPBELL,-I am sorry that I cannot attend the Assembly this year. I am still, as you know, very lame, and in my general health, though, thank God, much better, I still suffer from the effects of the accident I met with, now more than a year ago, to an extent that disables me from much active exertion. The circumstance is not material; but my interest in the cause of the Free Church continues unabated. I will thank you, if you think it of any use, and if any fitting occasion seems to call for it, to advert to the circumstance which has led to my absence from the post of duty.—Yours very sincerely, G. BUCHAN."

IRISH MARRIAGES AND DISSENTERS' CHAPELS BILLS,

Mr BEGG, Convener of the Committee on the Irish Marriage question, brought up the draught of a petition to Parliament on the subject; and the petition having been read and approved of, he proposed that the Moderator should be requested to sign it in name of the Assembly, and that a committee be appointed, with instructions to adopt or co-operate in such measures as may seem desirable to secure the object in view. It had also been suggested that congregations should be recommended to send petitions to Parliament on the same subject. (Hear, hear.)

Dr CANDLISH proposed that the same committee should also be appointed to watch over the Dissenters' Chapels Bill; and that congregations should be recommended to petition against that measure also.

Mr BROWN of Largo made some remarks on the importance of their resisting the encroachments upon their Irish brethren in the Presbyterian Marriage Question.

M. M. CRICHTON, Esq.-Allow me, Moderator, a single word to express my sense of the deep importance of the matter now before us; and I rejoice in both these subjects being remitted to a committee, with instructions to prepare a very strong representation to the ministers of the various congregations, recommending that congregational petitions be sent to Parliament against them. These may be said to be the two prominent measures of the session; marking the character not only of the ministry of the day, but of the Houses of Legislature. And, Sir, it will not do for us merely to term these measures iniquitous and unjust. It is not enough that we stigmatize them as repugnant to Christian and Protestant principles, and to content ourselves by opposing them with little exertion. There can be no doubt that if the Assembly does not call forth the notice of the Church, so as to give a strenuous and effective opposition to these measures, no small degree of the guilt will lie upon us. It will not do to rest contented with expressing our opinion against measures of such an anti-Christian and anti-Protestant character. The Free Church is bound, in its present position, to do everything against it which lies in their power; and İ do say, Sir, if we would not incur the guilt,-in part at least, the guilt of these measures being passed into laws, we must endeavour to call forth the voice of the people against them, by sending up numerously signed petitions to Parliament. I regret to say that the apathy hitherto shown on these subjects is not very creditable to us; and if the Assembly does not take effective measures to call forth a more decided protest against them, there will lie upon Scotland, and upon the Free Church of Scotland, deep guilt, if these dangerous and insidious measures are passed into laws. (Hear, hear.)

Mr DUNLOP intimated that he should to-morrow move an address to Her Majesty, of congratulation upon the anniversary of her birth.

THE REV, MB M'LEOD'S CALL TO KENMORE.

The Assembly proceeded to consider the Rev. Mr M Leod's call to Kenmore. Extracts from the Presbytery of Tain were read, and parties having been called, Mr Stewart and Mr Clark appeared for the Presbytery of Breadalbane, and Mr M'Intosh and Mr Campbell for the Presbytery of Tain.

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It was suggested from the bar, that it would facilitate the house in coming to a decision, if Mr M'Leod was at the outset asked to state his own views of the case. Dr CANDLISH said, he was not in the house when Mr Thomson of Yester stated his sentiments in regard to his proposed translation. He certainly thought if parties concerned in such a case had any desire to address the Assembly, he ought by all means to be allowed to do so. But when a case came before them for review from the inferior Courts, he was not sure that the Assembly should express any desire to hear him. It might be very proper for the Presbytery or the Synod to solicit, and draw forth an expression of opinion for the individual called, but he thought that the substantial ends of justice would be better served if the Assembly did not take any steps with regard to the wishes of the individual concerned. (Hear, hear.) At the same time, they ought to be willing to hear the individual concerned, if he was desirous to state his opinion to the Assembly. (Hear, hear.)

* Appendix, No. 2.

MR STEWART then stated the case for the Presbytery of Breadalbane, and urged the necessity of the translation of Mr M'Leod.

Dr CANDLISH remarked, that it appeared from the papers, that the people had not been cited in the case before the Presbytery of Tain. He did not deny their competency to refuse to cite the people, if they chose to take the responsibility of doing so; but the case came up in consequence in a state which would leave the Assembly no choice but to remit to the Presbytery of Tain to cite the congregation, and proceed in the case according to the rules of the Church. He thought this was a consideration which ought to modify the opinion of both sides of the bar. They should know, therefore, that the case could not be finally decided in this Assembly. Mr M'INTOSH went on to state the case for the Presbytery of Tain, and to show the superior claims of Mr M Leod's present charge, and the necessitous state of the district.

Parties having been withdrawn,

Dr CANDLISH reverted to the circumstance to which he had already referred, of the people not having been cited in the case, and remarked that a decision given by the Assembly in these circumstances would have the effect of hanging up the case for twelve months. He submitted to parties, therefore, whether it would not be better at once to withdraw the case. He did not attach the slightest blame to the Presbytery of Tain for not citing the people. He believed they acted for the best; but he suggested for the consideration of the Assembly and of Presbyteries the propriety of proceeding with such cases in such a way, that when they came up to the Supreme Courts they might be ripe for judgment. Had this been the case in the present instance, he felt that he was not in a condition to say that he would agree to the translation. He felt a difficulty as to how the case should be disposed of in its present form; for to affirm the sentence of the Presbytery would involve the Assembly in the same opinion with the Presbytery, not as to the merits of the translation, but as to the propriety of citing the people. He rather feared, therefore, that they were shut up to a finding of this sort,—that they should remit the case to the Presbytery, with instructions to proceed in it as they might see cause; but he did think, after the explanations that had been given, that it would not be for the interests of any party to this case to prosecute the translation farther, and he hoped that the party seeking the translation would see that the delay of a year was inevitable; while the prospect of securing a translation was not at all encouraging. It would therefore relieve the Assembly from a difficulty, if parties would see the propriety of withdrawing the case. He would, however, move that the Assembly sustain the appeal, but find it unnecessary to take any farther steps at present, as it does not appear that the Presbytery of Tain has cited the people, and remit to the Presbytery to proceed with the case as they may see cause. But he would deprecate the idea that such a finding held out any precedent of the party seeking the translation being ultimately successful.

After some remarks from Dr CLASON as to the necessity of sending back the case to the Presbytery on the point of form,

Mr MACNAUGHTAN of Paisley said that the reason why the Presbytery of Tain bad not cited the people was, that the call had been put into the hands of the Pres bytery only so late as the first of May.

Parties having been called in consented to withdraw the case, and the Assembly found accordingly.

The Assembly proceeded to take up the translation of

MR THORBURN OF FORGLEN, TO INVERNESS.

This case came before the Assembly on an appeal from a judgment of the Synod of Aberdeen, dated the 9th April last. The case originated out of the circumstance of Mr Thorburn having received a call from the congregation of the new Free Church, Inverness, to become their pastor. The Presbytery of Turriff, upon this call being laid before them, refused to sanction Mr Thorburn's translation, and the callers having appealed from that finding to the Synod of Aberdeen, they confirmed the judgment of the Presbytery, on the ground of Mr Thorburn's usefulness

in the district of country where he was situated; and hence the present appeal to the Assembly.

Extracts from the minutes of the Synod of Aberdeen were read, and parties being called, there appeared the Rev. Messrs Bryce of Aberdeen, and Moir of New Machar, for the Synod of Aberdeen; the Rev. Mr Manson, Fyvie, for the Presbytery of Turriff; the Rev. Mr Gordon of Monquhitter, for the Free Church congregation of Forglen; Rev. Mr Fraser and Mr M'Lauchlan for the Presbytery, and Mr M'Kenzie for the congregation of Inverness.

The Rev. Mr Thorburn having also appeared at the bar, it was asked whether he appeared as a party in the case; upon which the reverend gentleman replied that, being cited to appear at the bar of the Synod of Aberdeen, he did so, although he did not consider it altogether regular when he wished to speak and explain his mind upon the subject; and he had now come to the bar with these gentlemen, in order that he might fulfil the wishes of the General Assembly.

Mr MOIR wished to know whether, as Mr Thorburn had appeared before the Synod of Aberdeen and explained his mind upon the subject before the Synod came to a judgment in the case, he was to be allowed, in pleading the case at the bar of the Assembly, to refer to what Mr Thorburn then stated.

DR CANDLISH, in answer, stated that he presumed each party had a right to state whatever they conceived would be of use to the case.

Rev. Mr FRASER then rose and stated the case for the appellants. When the case first went before the Presbytery of Turriff, the appellants did not expect such opposition to the translation as had since been experienced. They thought they had only to lay the case before the Presbytery to receive their ready sanction. They were led to indulge in this thought from the circumstance of the importance of the field Mr Thorburn was called to in comparison to the one in which he at present laboured. Forglen was but a small parish. Its population only amounted to about 770 individuals, not more than the half of whom adhered to the Free Church, the ordinary congregation adhering being about 150 or from that to 200. On the other hand, the congregation of the new Church, Inverness, had given Mr Thorburn a call signed by 886 of the number. Independent of this, he considered there was abundance of evidence to support the translation. Inverness, as was well known, was the capital of the whole Highlands, which contained a population of 15,000. None of the ministers of the quoad civilia churches had joined the Free Church, although the quoad sacra ministers, with their congregations, had done so; and there was in consequence a large field unoccupied. In these two quoad sacra churches one end of the day was taken up with Gaelic services, and the other with English, so that those who did not understand Gaelic only got one sermon in the course of the day. In these circumstances, it was extremely desirable that there should be a purely English congregation established, in order that the people who did not understand the Gaelic might have an opportunity of attending to the means of grace throughout the whole of the Sabbath. At the time of the disruption, although the whole of the Gaelic population adhered to the Free Church, it was not so with the English, and it was at first thought that a sufficient number of English hearers could not be mustered to form a congregation. Several, however, appeared exceedingly anxious to make the attempt; and accordingly a commencement was made on the Sabbath after the disruption, when a few convened in the Methodist Chapel, where regular services were continued to be kept up. After a little time this place was found, from the increase of numbers, to be too small, and application having been made to the authorities, Bell's institution was got for the purpose of meeting in. By and by this place also came to be too small, and it was at length resolved to build a church. This was accordingly set about and accomplished without the least aid from the Central Fund, and now upwards of 800 sittings had been let in it. Now, he considered this a strong case for Mr Thorburn's translation, more particularly when they considered the importance of the station. It was the key to the Highlands,-the seat of the courts both Civil and Ecclesiastical,-the Sheriff and Justiciary courts met there, and it was moreover the seat of several very important seminaries of education, which attracted many families in the surrounding country to take up their

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